Blown Job: BMW 335i Convertible

The 335i Coupe was the first of the new breed of BMW cars to return to forced induction and the Convertible now has one of these beasts lurking under its bonnet as well.


Very little fazes the engine and even less can actually stand in its path under full-throttle runs. Apart from the addictive rasp, there's even the accompanying complement of wheezes, gurgles and gasps that accompany most turbocharged cars. mid- to high-end urge is strong and oddly enough, it feels quicker than its 6 seconds 100km/h sprint timing otherwise suggests. too bad the steering seems unnecessarily heavy at low speeds and the ride can be harsh over bad roads.

The engine is also nicely mated to a 6-speed steptronic transmission that includes steering wheel mounted paddle-shifters.


And it certainly has the butch, muscular looks to accompany the turbo'd engine's performance:


in action, the roof deployment is a complex, multi-piece affair that is best appreciated from the rear:


And all this lifestyle cachet neednt come at the price of versatility either, since the 335i Convertible will happily seat 4 in relative comfort, although considering my height, that's not saying much...even the rear seat of a kia picanto would seem roomy to me LOL

Honey Roasted: BMW 335i Convertible

Well, that's how dark one would get driving around top-down in the 335i Convertible. It's a retractable hard-top now by the way, as opposed to rag-top the E46 was stuck with, although most traditionalists would prefer a soft-top. the hard-top adds a decent degree of rigidity to the chassis though. thankfully, the backside doesn't look as heavy or droopy-bottomed as some of the other hardtop convertibles in the market.


So rather than be burnt to a golden brown crisp, the next closest thing is...?

A hearty lunch of BBQ char siew and roast duck of course, at Alex Eating House along Beach Road, a place I've heard a lot about from their many fans.


the place was packed and the service, slow. the meat was a little too salty for my tastes too. i think ill stick to my usual bbq meat fix in Ubi where the meat is juicy and flavourful without recourse to too much salt.

Thankfully, there was this to get back to after lunch:


Fast Facts: BMW 335i Convertible
Engine: 2979, 24-valves, in-line 6, twin turbocharged
Maximum power: 306bhp at 5800rpm
Maximum torque: 400Nm at 1300-5000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed Steptronic
0-100km/h: 6.0 seconds
Top speed: 250km/h
Price: $265,800
Agent: Performance Motors Ltd., 6319-0100

TypeRidden : JDM Honda Civic Type R (video clip)

sounds grrrreat if you ask me... :)

But then again, Im a sucker for the power of VTEC...

(* i know it's short, so am i)
(** excuse the quality, shot with phone LOL)

TypeRider : JDM Honda Civic Type R (FD2)

Hmmm... The more things change, the more they stay the same...



The arrival of the first batch of JDM Civic Type Rs (FD2) closely follows the showroom launch of Kah Motor's very own UK Civic Type R hatchback (FN2) and attracts nearly the same amount of interest from the hordes of salivating fans.



The hatchback shape is arguably more unique to our shores and while more seem in favour of the JDM variant, one problem will the the masses of body-kitted Civic 1./1.8/2.0 models out there vying for attention.

And while some may be pleased with this anonymity, others may not appreciate being just another brick in the wall, especially since the car costs approximately $20k more than the standard Civic 2.0.

There seems to be a whole lot of controversy over JDM vs UKDM, i.e. brakes, power etc., which i find quite unfounded considering how most serious Type R buyers ditch the brakes (yes, even the Brembos) and start tweaking around with the engine to the extent that these JDM/UKDM differences become moot issues and serve only to provide good discussion fodder.

And besides, the guys who end up buying either of the two normally put their $$$ where their mouths are rather than discussing the pros and cons till kingdom come... Or the next Type R LOL

But there's no denying the fact that the Type R really has large shoes to fill...

Three colours of the JDM are available: Blue, Silver and White, with the White (NH0X) arriving with a striking black+red colour combination interior. In fact, the red cloth panel/seat inserts are identical to the material found in the run-out NSX-R (NA2), a little nugget of information that gets a big thumbs-up in our books!

All the little touches are there, including:
Brembo brakes under the smart 18-inch rims (225/40R18 RE070 tyres):


Doesn't the gear-knob look familiar?


snazzy meters:


decorative garnish:


obligatory big zorst tail-pipe


But the car isn't all about the vroom vroom either since the 2700mm wheelbase affords decent legroom for the rear occupants:


But be warned, like the EG9 Civic VTi, the hump in the middle of the rear seat precludes anybody taller than 1.3m sitting comfortably in the centre, effectively relegating the FD2 to 2+2 status despite its sedan-shape.

Under the bonnet resides the familiar K20 ivtec unit tuned for 225bhp:


Like the FN2, the car rumbles to life when you hit the red starter button. Don't forget to clutch-in first! The instruments are arranged in that familiar multi-tier configuration but there are minor differences between the meters on the FN2 and this car, the FD2...

On the move, the ride is hard but there's no mistaking the rigidity of the chassis. The gear-shifts feel tighter overall than the UK version.

Short video in following post...

Fast Facts: JDM Honda Civic Type R (FD2)
Engine: 1998cc, 16-valves, in-line 4, i-VTEC
Maximum power: 225bhp at 8000rpm
Maximum torque: 215Nm at 6100rpm
0-100km/h: approx. 6.9 seconds (?)
Top speed: 180km/h (limited)
L x B x H: 4540 x 1770 (excluding mirrors) x 1430 mm
Wheelbase: 2700mm
Kerb-weight: 1270kg

Digitally Remastered : BMW 740LiA

There's nothing more satisfying than squeezing really big things into really tight spaces...

And before the feminists, PC brigade and general internet do-gooders and busybodies start getting up in arms over the perceived inappropriate comment, get your mind out of the gutter!

Im spending a little time with a 'refreshed' and 'Digitally Remastered' BMW 7 Series, the 740LiA and it's 'L' for Long Wheel Base. So as you can imagine, fitting this monster into my modest porch really took some effort, lots of arm twirling and the occasional bout of cold sweat.

All it took was 25 minutes... and just think, i have to repeat the entire process in reverse tomorrow morning!

RESULT:


Performance Motors now offers the 7 Series with reverse parking camera, which has been neatly integrated into the iDrive screen and BMW's 'Park Distance Control' and a pair of dvd-ready monitors (BMW's Advanced DVD System) to keep the rear passengers happy. The entire kit consists of a 6-disc multimedia changer, two headphones, two remote controls and even two footstools for even greater comfort.


Keyless start/go/entry come standard so the key can be left in one's pocket at all times.


The 7 Series has always offered surprising responses for something of such proportions and nimble to drive to boot. Straightline speed is decent at just under 7 seconds to the 100km/h mark, but the 2000+kg 740LiA is the 'minimum' if you expect to get anywhere in a hurry...



Fast Facts: BMW 740LiA
Engine: 4000cc, 32-valves, V8
Maximum power: 306bhp at 6300rpm
Maximum torque: 390Nm at 3500rpm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
0-100km/h: 6.9 seconds
Top speed: 250km/h
L x B x H: 5179 x 2133 x 1484 mm
Wheelbase: 3128mm
Kerb-weight: 2010kg
Price: $318,800
Agent: Performance Motors Ltd.

Watering the Lotus: Lotus Europa S

Well, i was hoping to post some videos this time around to capture the sound and experience of the Europa S, but fate is obviously conspiring against me.

First off, some more pix of the car before everything went awry...

Front view:
i still can't quite put my finger on the bits that remind me of a Proton, but it's there somewhere...
I guess this is what Proton's interpretation of a sportscar would look like


and seeing as there's a GM heart mounted in the mid-ship, i figured it would make sense to shoot it in front of the GM offices in tuas... LOL




Boot space:


After a light drive around in search for a location, we eventually decided to stop for fotos in the vicinity of pasir panjang. When the engine was cut, there was a huge hissing sound before a geyser-like mix of water and coolant erupted from the front louver and subsequently, from under the car.

This is the amount of water that eventually found its way out from under the belly of the Europa S. This pretty much ended our drive for the day!


I've heard about watering lotus roots, but this really is a little ridiculous. :) Hopefully, it's just this particular car and the good folks at EuroSports will have everything sorted out for the next drive!

don't get me wrong, the Exige / Elise were great fun to drive. At least those cars knew what they wanted to be: focused, raw, hardcore road-racers that excelled in offering enthusiasts an uncompromising drive.

The Europa S tries hard to balance comfort with performance but ends up coming across as middle-ground. With cars like the BMW Z4 Coupe, Porsche Boxster and Audi TT in a similar $278k segment, the Europa S faces stern opposition in the face of the Teutonic trio, unlike its crazy siblings.

Root of Desire? : Lotus Europa S

A Lotus that's comfortable?? No way! Well the Europa S could well prove you wrong... Or not...



The Europa S is touted as the brand's foray into the world of GTs, or Grand Tourers, cars that are equipped and fettled to effortlessly conquer continents in sublime comfort. In fact a quick peek into the cabin reveals leather door inserts, carpets (!!) and some perforated plastic cladding the passenger console.

crappy interior shot, cant imagine where the phone was focusing *sigh*


there's even decent boot space (154L) in a storage area that's separated from the mid-mounted engine.



And 2 AIRBAGS! *gasp* Say good-bye to the small and great to hold steering wheels found in the Elise and Exige, cos the one in the Europa S is a little too ungainly for comfort, especially with the huge air-bag hub.



Inside, the seating position is pretty faultless for drivers of modest heights (ahem) and the car is easy to place and judge. Brakes, clutch and steering weighting don't make it a pain to drive around town, although parking in tighter confines that require lots of steering wheel twirling could prove tiring.

The car runs on the same turbocharged engine found at the heart of the Vauxhall (Opel) VX220 Turbo, a Elise-type roadster that offered similar levels of race-track-for-road thrills, even if it was never available here.

Just a smidgen of turbo lag up to the 2200rpm mark before the car gets into its stride. this isnt a crazy-revving unit like the Toyota engines in the Elise and Exige so there's no high-rpm mayhem. but the car's flyweight sub1000kg kerbweight means the century sprint is dispatched in under 6 seconds.

In fact, with the amount of mid-range grunt available, changing past 6000rpm is pretty pointless. once you get over the looks of the stubby gear-knob (feels great though), the shifts are direct enough and not nearly as notchy as its racier siblings.



whilst it's always good to break into a new segment (like porsche did with the cayenne SUV) sometimes, it may be a better idea to stick to what one does best. The Europa S isn't quite focused enough, yet not comfortable enough to really rumble with cars like the Porsche Cayman or BMW Z4 Coupe, especially since its price ($80k omv?) puts it right smack in Teutonic performance territory.

Even if you could accept the 'compromises' to both comfort and performance, you'll still have to get over the looks. The rear has a lean, chiselled treatment that is nicely topped-off by the centre-exit tail-pipes, but the front doesn't have the 'face' to go with the car's pace. not to be mean, but these jaded eyes see hints of Proton in the shape of the nose and head-light clusters...

...More pix and short clip to follow...when i get off my lazy ass and post them lol

Fast Facts: Lotus Europa S
Engine: 1998cc, 16-valves, turbocharged
Max. Power: 197bhp at 5400rpm
Max. Torque: 272Nm at 5000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Dimensions (LxBxH)mm: 3900x1850x1120
Wheelbase: 2330mm
Kerb-weight: 995kg
0-100km/h: 5.8 seconds
Top speed: 230km/h
Estimated price: $278,000

C-T heRo: Honda Civic Type R (FN2)

Im sure a lot of people have been waiting for the euro-hatch Swindon-built Type R and it's finally arrived. First shown in a cracking hot yellow at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show, the FN2 CTR's OTT styling has certainly kept enthusiasts salivating at the thought of owning what many consider the epitome of a 'hot hatch', particularly in light of predecessors such as the EK9 and EP3 Civic Type Rs. The FN2 will have big shoes to fill...

And not a moment too soon either, considering PIs have started racking up orders for the 4-dr JDM Honda Civic Type R (a first for the range), which will be fielded by Honda Malaysia in this year's Merdeka Endurance Race.

Many of the concept car's in-your-face styling have been carried over, except the yellow. Red, Silver and Black are the colours on offer and this is a car that will prove sensitive to colour choice.



Pick poorly and your chariot could well look like a wannabe hack-and-slack (or cut-and-paste) aftermarket effort. As loud, brash and obnoxious as any british soccer hooligan with none of the light-touched finesse of a Japanese hand, evidenced by the earlier DC2/DB8, DC5 and EP3 offerings. Those earlier JDM cars were cleanly styled, yet had enough aesthetic overtures to exude a 'don't f**k with me' air.



Engine the familiar K20A with type R red crackle finish:


The FN2 is 'fully-loaded' with loads of equipment as standard (although not all may be welcome, while some absent bits will be missed): 18-inch rims,

6 airbags, passenger air-con controls (!!),

factory hi-fi with steering wheel controls,

...cruise control, freezing climate control, vanity lights (both driver+passenger visors), but no HID, no Brembos, no Recaro seats (although the JDM won't have these too). It's also got an i-VTEC indicator and the new Civic's multi-tier instrument meter display.

Little details add to the sense of occasion:
aluminium gear-knob in a titanium finish...

the overall 'triangle/prism' theme finds its way to the door handles...


sporty looking fuel-filler cap...


racing pedals...


Regular sports seats like the UK-EP3 (non-Recaros):


this is a car that obviously has the young/affluent Max Power demographic in the UK in its sights. Large exhaust garnish, multi-spoke rims, filler cap, glitzy interior all panders to the very popular 'Max' culture. But how does it 'go'? Stay tuned!



Fast Facts: Honda Civic Type R (FN2)
Engine: 1998cc, 16-valves, i-VTEC
Compression ratio: 11.0:1
Max. Power: 200bhp at 7800rpm
Max. Torque: 193Nm at 5600rpm
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Dimensions (LxBxH)mm: 4276x2046x1445
Wheelbase: 2635mm
Kerb-weight: 1267kg
0-100km/h: 6.6 seconds
Top speed: 233km/h
Estimated price: $105,000

FiNal Countdown: Honda Civic Type R FN2 (Euro)

The euro-hatch Honda Civic Type R (FN2) has finally landed in Singapore!

Expected official launch? April... with cars sold delivered in July

Photos to follow but here's a short video of the start-up sequence: