Does X really Mark the Spot?: Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X

we tried the Bilstein-equipped black Evo X (Premium Package with BBS rims, Bilstein suspension, Brembo 2pc brakes) a little while back and the ride was surprisingly pliant for something that has its roots in hardcore performance motorsports. this red car sits on stock suspension and the ride is pliant for the most part, but there's just a hint of crashiness over poor road surfaces.





the galant-esque looks still continue to polarise opinion. it certainly is aggressive looking and it bristles with all manner of bulges and protrusions. the ubiquitous vents and naca ducts on the bonnet are still there, while the gaping maw of the bumper reveals a shiny intercooler within. however, is it everything a lancer evolution should be? there's an TC-SST (automated twin-clutch manual like VW's DSG system) version and the cars are even equipped with traction control!


unlike earlier incarnations of the evo, the X feels as big to drive as it looks on the outside, but that doesnt mean it's not as nimble as before. steering is sharp but that electronic throttle is a pain.

the limits are so high they're unlikely to ever be breached on normal roads; that could go some way towards explaining why the car never feels terribly stressed even when you're pushing as hard as you dare on normal roads.


the TMNT-look (teenage mutant ninja turtles) recaro bucket seats grip snugly but the driving position isn't as ideal as i'd hoped (yes, yes im short and oddly shaped!).



the S-AWC (Super-All Wheel Control) toggle is positioned on the steering wheel, but the RS spec of the X omits this for those who prefer a purer drive. there's lots of room in the back for rear occupants and the boot is generous enough for the average nuclear family (husband, wife, 1 kid, 1 maid); the X stays true to the 4-dr sedan roots of the Lancer Evolution, unlike the upcoming Subaru Impreza WRX STI, which is taking on the shape of a hatch-back.



the X marks the debut of the 4B11 mivec turbo engine in place of the venerable 4g63. there's quite a fair bit of turbo lag from the 2L engine. the turbo hits full boost around 4000rpm with rev-cut just shy of the 8000rpm mark.


this aint no JDM car that's limited to 180km/h either lol!



the gear-shifts from the 5-speeder are firm, precise and satisfyingly notchy, although slightly closer ratios would have been nice. The brake pedal is feel-some and easy to modulate; word on the street is the SST (clutchless manual/auto) has been delayed due to reliability issues, but we expect that variant to be the hot-seller among convenience-minded singaporeans. after all, we all want our cake and be able to eat it too! :)


brembo brakes offer stupendous stopping power even from the crazy speeds the evo X is capable of hitting. the car is fast and effortless to drive hard, but lacks a certain rawness that many have come to associate with the Lancer Evolution model.

*yep, we're back to the familiar blurry pictures thanks to a SE W910i and an original Motorola V3 (eeks)

Fast Facts: Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X
Engine: 1998cc, in-line 4 cylinders, turbocharged, MIVEC
Maximum power: 280bhp at 6500rpm
Maximum torque: 422Nm at 3500rpm
Transmission: 5-speed manual
0-100km/h: < 6 seconds
Top speed: n/a
LxBxH: 4495x1810x1480 mm
Wheelbase: 2650mm
Kerbweight: 1520kg
Price: $136,988 (with COE)
Agent: Cycle & Carriage (Mitsubishi)

'Bim' Me In: BMW 650i Convertible

errr.. not quite.

Apologies in advance for not waxing lyrical about the car...

as much as i tried to enjoy the V8-hearted 6-Series convertible, it wasn't as elemental as I'd hoped for. In fact, the earlier 645i seemed more potent in the a-b stakes. Like the 335i, the 650i is undoubtedly quick, but there's something sorely lacking in both cars: character.



my pick of the lot would have to be the 630i, which boasts an engine that seems perfectly suited to the car, with characteristics that surpass the engine's other applications (oddly enough). and the good news is, there's a power hike to accompany the recent revision of the 630i.

of course, there will be the usual 'fanboys' who only look for the biggest, newest, shiniest models even though they may be flawed. in this case, the 650i doesn't impress us as much as the 645i did when it was first introduced.

it's a great car to cruise (pose) in and garners its fair share of attention wherever you go, good or ill. it also seemed to evoke the worst in human nature with the occasional animosity directed towards what some felt was a display of conspicuous consumption.



the car picks up some styling elements from the M6, including LED bits and clear clusters etc. new aluminium-effect trim adorns the cabin, which boasts a solid build quality that oozes a premium feel.


the V8 sounds fantastic but we experienced some bog-down when moving off at low speeds or from stand-still. also the car is a great cruiser but not as nimble nor as balanced as we would have liked. Off-the-line acceleration is stupendous though, with the 100km/h sprint dispatched in under 6 seconds.


With 'sport' mode engaged, throttle response is sharpened and shift-times become faster.


Roof off, the car looks fantastic; it's just a pity it takes such a long time to deploy.

sexy bottom includes a more prominent boot-lip with integrated brake lights.


*excuse the 'clear' photos, the darn P1i is dead, so i'm stuck shooting with the trusty dslr for these pix...

Fast Facts: BMW 650i Convertible
Engine: 4799cc, V8,
Maximum power: 367bhp at 6300rpm
Maximum torque: 490Nm at 3400rpm
Transmission: 6-speed Auto
0-100km/h: 5.8 seconds
Top speed: 250km/h
LxBxH: 4820x1855x1374 mm
Wheelbase: 2780mm
Kerbweight: 1935kg
Price: $363,800 (with COE)
Agent: Performance Motors Limited

Clean, Green & Mean: Lexus LS600h L

This entry has been a long time coming... but it's been a beeeeezzzzyyyy few months!

it's not often that you come across a rolling incongruity like the Lexus LS600h L (L for Long Wheel-Base).


The familiar (and some might even say, innocuous) form of the LS is home to the latest in Lexus Hybrid Drive technology, a fusion of electric engine and a finely tuned 5L V8 powerplant to serve up a platter of 6L V12 whoop-ass, while simultaneously delivering tree-hugging levels of fuel economy (equivalent to a 3L petrol engine).




Say what you want, but there's something sleek and almost predatory to the LS's styling, while the humongous exhaust ports that are integrated into the rear under-skirting should serve as sufficient warning to pesky hot-hatches who might be tempted to 'have a go' at the hulk.

As it is, the occupants won't even feel a thing when the driver puts his foot down and pulls convincingly away from the contender... all in absolute, fuel-sipping silence no less! As if the LS460 wasn't quiet enough, this one takes the phrase 'silent but deadly' to whole new heights!

This 'green' car is distinguished by its rims and blue 'L' emblem in the front grille and trunk lid.


The interior is a veritable command centre, with lots of knobs and buttons to help the car maximise efficiency.


The LS600h L even comes equipped with adjustable damping to enhance the car's dynamism on the move. Crazy, we know... but i likeeeee!


From standstill, this car is crazy quick, even with the extra load of the all-wheel drive transmission. Of course, all the creature comforts associated with the regular LS can be found on this range-topper (which means both 5-seater and massaging Ottoman versions are available).

This is the sort of car that will appeal to those with a rather warped sense of humour. on the one hand, it's the feather in Lexus' cap, the sum of the company's hybrid technology r&d. On the other, the performance the car is capable of is a clear finger in the face of all the bleeding heart environmentalists out there, since for some reason, they're happy to imagine eco-friendly cars to look like what passes for Noddy's car in Toyland and possess the performance of a dirty old spark plug.

The LS600h proves them all wrong; this green car will really make them see red. And i'm glad for it!

Fast Facts: Lexus LS600h L
Engine: 4969cc, V8, D-4S with Dual VVT-i
Maximum power: 389bhp at 6400rpm
Maximum torque: 520Nm at 4000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed CVT
0-100km/h: 6.3 seconds
Top speed: 250km/h
LxBxH: 5150x1875x1480 mm
Wheelbase: 3090mm
Kerbweight: 2320-2410kg
Price: $POA (with COE)
Agent: Borneo Motors

Rubber & Steel: csc3 + enkei GTC01 PART 2

over to YHI...

slapped a set of these spanking 17-inch beauties on:



they may not be forged but they're noticeably lighter than the standard Honda Modulo alloy rims, which were already pretty badly kerbed by this point.

given my hideous track record, im keeping my fingers crossed for the Enkei rims!





some tech specs available here:
http://www.enkei.co.jp/en/products/wheels/gtc01/index.html

Rubber and Steel...: ContiSportContact 3 & Enkei GTC01

well it's been a whirlwind couple of months, what with the Tokyo Motor Show 2007 (YAY!) and having 11 days worth of reservist (NAY!)...

tokyo bits will probably be uploaded over the next few weeks, so i'm going to start with the latest stuff first:

now what could this friendly fella from Stamford Tyres be up to?


and what could this dynamic duo be standing at attention for?


ive decided to swop out the stock Bridgestone Potenza RE050s from the car for the CSC3.

new shoes for the car:


Stamford Tyres doesnt just slap the rubber on and send you on your merry way, they give your rims a-cleaning as well!


brushes are soft so the truly anal-retentive need not have to worry about picking up scratches on the alloys. add a dash of detergent, close it up and the water jets work with the brushes to give it a good scrubbing.

still running in the Continental ContiSportContact 3s and it's been wet roads for the past day!

more specs found here:
http://www.conti-online.co.uk/generator/www/uk/en/continental/automobile/
themes/car_tyres/high_performance/conti_sport_contact_3/
contisportcontact3_en.html
(cut and paste link)

next stop... YHI!

MINI Treats: Makansutra Breakfast Trail

what could possibly make any sane person hop out of bed at 615am on a saturday morning? well, cars and food create an excellent combination for a weekend morning wake-up call, especially if it means driving to different location for eats.



MINI teams up with the Makansutra team for another food trail. However, rather than dinner like the last one, they've decided on breakfast as the theme this year.

it's obvious the true-blue MINI owners were equally enthusiastic, since by the time we got to the MINI Habitat, it was already packed to the brim.



Not being MINI owners, we were packed three journos to a car - a Cooper S manual - and the plan was to alternate for the duration of the half day event... until i realised navigation wasn't really my cup of tea, hence...



moreover we were one-man down when the third occupant was too sick to get out of bed.

Suffice to say, we were stuffed even before the half-way mark (TEN stops in total). the drive brought us from the industrial scrap-yards of Defu Lane to the HDB heartlands of Bedok and Jurong West and the hustle and bustle of Chinatown. The food ranged from prata to chapati to bak kut teh to chwee kueh and much much more. the mind, not to mention the stomach, boggled at the variety.

Before you think it was a straightforward convoy from point to point, think again. we were made to solve clues that would point the way to each destination. Makansutra reps at each point would only hand-over the next clue when 75 per cent of the dish was finished.

but in our case, well, we made it clear to our hotline operator that we were only in it for the food and not in the running for the competition, so he basically gave away the destinations as we were finishing up at the preceding stops. it got to the point when he started calling US to check on our progress! LOL

the most astounding fact was, even with our ahem, cheating, there were always some other MINI owners ahead of us and we're pretty sure they didnt get any outside help!

anyway, some snap-shots of the food:







meeting back at the Habitat around 2pm ended the day for us. prizes presented, friendships forged, but by then, everything was in a sort of a blur and i could sense my soft bed at home beckoning.

Fast Facts: MINI Cooper S
Engine: 1598cc, 4-cylinder, turbocharged
Maximum power: 175bhp at 5500rpm
Maximum torque: 260Nm at 1700-4500rpm (overboost)
Transmission: 6-speed manual
0-100km/h: 7.3 seconds
Top speed: 220km/h
LxBxH: 3714x1683x1407 mm
Wheelbase: 2467mm
Kerbweight: 1230kg
Price: POA
Agent: Trans Eurokars Pte. Ltd., tel: 6473 3777

CaddyShag: VW Caddy 1.9TDI DSG

well, it was a matter of time i guess... but VW's much vaunted 6-speed DSG (Direct Shift Gearbox) has finally made it into a ... Van; a Light Commercial Vehicle, to be precise, in the form of the Caddy.

this may come as a cruel blow to the many GTI/R32/Jetta 2.0TFSI owners out there but it was only a matter of time considering VW is the 'people's car'... and how much more accessible can the brand get than by making this sexy shifting box available to everybody.

the irony: the caddy isn't likely to be bought by the load-lugging workman since it's more lifestyle vehicle than sweat-speckled work-horse.

Chiselled good looks, sports rims all-round and a full complement of disc-brakes are just the tip of the ice-berg.





No HIDs but there's a factory-fit MP3 head-unit also found in the petrol-powered passenger cars, steering wheel adjustable for reach and rake and that 6-speed DSG box (no steering wheel mounted paddle shifters though).



with low to mid range a real knockout, the Caddy easily surprises cars like the Suzuki Swift/Ignis Sport off the lights. the diesel clatter on start-up is quite noticeable though, but the ratios are stacked closely to really let you capitalise on the 1.9L turbodiesel's power-band. Handling is almost car-like and the Caddy is even equipped with ASR (traction control) as standard.



just shy of the 2700mm wheelbase mark, there's ample cargo area in the back. bed, mini-sofa and all sorts of knick-knacks will be easily swallowed up in the cargo area.



Up front, there are plenty of cubby-holes and other cavities to really allow driver and passenger to stow their stuff.

the caddy cruises easily at 110km/h and while the 100km/h sprint is completed in around 13 seconds, the 0-80km/h time for this feisty LCV is easily under 9 seconds.

Fast Facts: VW Caddy 1.9TDI DSG
Engine: 1896cc, 4-cylinder, turbodiesel
Maximum power: 103bhp at 4000rpm
Maximum torque: 250Nm at 1900rpm
Transmission: 6-speed DSG
0-100km/h: 13.3 seconds (0-80km/h: 8.8 seconds)
Top speed: 163km/h
LxBxH: 4405x1802x1833 mm
Wheelbase: 2682mm
Kerbweight: 1510-1628kg
Price: $50,500 (with COE)
Agent: Volkswagen Centre Singapore

Kerbed Again!

*$%@#%!!!

this klutz did it again... after the close encounter of the kerb kind when i first picked up the S2000 some months back, that same rim has been hit by another stray bullet. poor judgement on my part has led to this...



NOW YOU KNOW WHY I NEVER EVER INTEND TO DROP BIG BUCKS ON A SET OF FORGED ALLOY RIMS!

LOL

Taking a Deep Breath : Honda S2000 (AP1) J's Racing Carbon Fibre Air-intake

this just in, a J's Racing Tsuchinko carbon fibre air intake for the S2K. Essentially, a 'snorkel' draws air in from the front of the car into the shielded conical air filter; the gourd-shaped chamber after that keeps air in 'reserve', which helps improve throttle response at stationary/low speeds.



another angle:



The car is breathing a lot better but Im sure it'll improve a lot more with exhaust/manifold mods...:)

Apart from looking good, it sounds great now and the induction roar when VTEC kicks in is a lot more pronounced.

The F20C engine is certainly revving a lot cleaner and happier; 9000rpm never came quicker!

HOWEVER... bear in mind the bonnet WILL NEED to be CUT to accommodate the snorkel, fine if you're running an after-market carbon bonnet, but a bit 'heart-pain' if you're running the stock aluminium bonnet.

for a point of reference to what's new, check out this 'BEFORE' shot:



more gratuitous carbon fibre bits... !



for those who asked, here's a shot of the cut made to the c/f bonnet on the underside... note that only the fibreglass skeleton is cut, not the c/f weave itself:



another angle:

VW EOS 2.0T : Greeting The Dawn

this photo courtesy VW Media


named for the greek goddess of sunrise, the EOS is VW's interpretation of a hard-top convertible. most significant is the roof, which consists of five parts, as well as a generously expansive moonroof. The cabin is otherwise similar to the other cars in VW's stable.


Powered by the same turbocharged 2L found at the heart of the Jetta and Golf GTI, the EOS punches its way to the 100kmh mark quickly enough, but the engine's performance is blunted by the additional weight over the former two cars.

DSG makes for brisk progress and the EOS will make an ideal companion to those who want to pose, yet want a little push to avoid getting any bloodied noses as well! the brakes though, are lacking in feel and seem a little vague at the limits.

It's clear the car needs some tightening up before it goes on sale, as we detected an annoying rattle from the rear with the roof up, but this disappeared when the top came down. Otherwise the EOS is as involving (or UNinvolving) as one would expect as the drive experience feels pretty much the same as any other VW with the turbo'd 2L FSI w/DSG set-up.

cool boudoir chic thanks to the burgundy leather interior:


Rear seats offer true '+2' seating capacity:


the EOS' proportions are perfect and its posterior doesn't look as bottom-heavy as its French rivals, the Renault Megane Coupe-Cabriolet and Peugeot 307 CC. The drive too, is significantly more involving than the two French marques. But this comes at a price...



25 seconds up and down. trust me, this can feel like an interminably long time when you're trying to beat the traffic light change!



Fast Facts: Volkswagen EOS 2.0T DSG
Engine: 1984cc, 16-valves 4-cylinder
Maximum power: 200bhp at 5100-6000rpm
Maximum torque: 280Nm at 1800-5000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed DSG
0-100km/h: approx. 7.8 seconds
Top speed: 232km/h
LxBxH: 4407x1791x1443mm
Wheelbase: 2578 mm
Kerbweight: 1536-1645kg
Price: $154,800 (with COE)
Agent: Volkswagen Centre Singapore