Luxe launches

Superlative cars hog the limelight in week of high-end launches

Singapore tycoon S.K. Quek with his Lightweight E-Type, unveiled by Jaguar agent Wearnes Automotive on Wednesday. Cars launched this week included Porsche 911s (above) and the GTA Spano supercar (left).
Singapore tycoon S.K. Quek with his Lightweight E-Type, unveiled by Jaguar agent Wearnes Automotive on Wednesday. PHOTO: WEARNES AUTOMOTIVE
Singapore tycoon S.K. Quek with his Lightweight E-Type, unveiled by Jaguar agent Wearnes Automotive on Wednesday. Cars launched this week included Porsche 911s (above) and the GTA Spano supercar (left).
Cars launched this week included Porsche 911s (above) and the GTA Spano supercar. PHOTO: STUTTGART AUTO
Singapore tycoon S.K. Quek with his Lightweight E-Type, unveiled by Jaguar agent Wearnes Automotive on Wednesday. Cars launched this week included Porsche 911s (above) and the GTA Spano supercar (left).
Cars launched this week included Porsche 911s and the GTA Spano supercar (above). PHOTO: EUROSPORTS GLOBAL

Usually, half a dozen or so high-end cars are unveiled or launched every year in Singapore.

But this week alone, four took to the stage.

The first was Porsche's six-model extravaganza at Marina Bay Sands. The 911 Carrera, 911 Carrera S, 911 Carrera S Cabriolet, 911 Carrera 4S, 911 Targa 4S and the top-of-the-line 911 Turbo were launched on Tuesday.

It was the biggest launch event for a mid-life revamp. But because the cars underwent significant changes - including having engine replacements - the manufacturer and agent Stuttgart Auto felt it was worth the glitzy treatment.

The cars, all packing turbochargers with variable turbine geometry, offer better performance and fuel economy.

The 911 Carrera starts from $446,088, while the 911 Turbo starts from $743,688, excluding COE.

On Wednesday, Jaguar agent Wearnes Automotive unveiled one of the rarest cars in the world - a Lightweight E-Type.

In 1963, Jaguar set out to make 18 of these track-only aluminium racers. But only 12 were made. In 2014, the British marque decided to make the remaining six.

The last car was snapped up by Singapore tycoon S.K. Quek, 70, a racing ace who hogged the Singapore Grand Prix podium more than 40 years ago.

Mr Quek, the grandson of rubber magnate Quek Bak Song, is said to have paid $2.3 million for the car, which cannot be registered for road use.

Asked if he will race it, Mr Quek says: "Yes, but not here. Probably in England. It's too hot and humid here."

On Thursday, something a tad more modern than the E-Type was launched - the GTA Spano, a Spanish supercar that starts from $3.58 million before COE.

Featuring a 7,990cc twinturbocharged V10 that puts out 925bhp and 1,220Nm, the GTA Spano hits 100kmh in 2.9 seconds and a top speed of more than 370kmh.

This is the second model of the car produced by Spania GTA. The company would not say how many of the first version were sold or produced, but said the current car will be limited to 99 units.

EuroSports placed an order for five units last year, but has since revised it to three in the light of the economic environment.

And yesterday, the highly anticipated Bentley Bentayga SUV was launched at Fullerton Bay Hotel.

Starting from $900,000 before COE, it qualifies as the costliest SUV here.

The massive 2.44-tonne car is swifter than it looks. With a 6-litre twin-turbo W12 that produces 608bhp and 900Nm, it goes from zero to hundred in 4.1 seconds and on to a top velocity of 301kmh.

The launch was the Bentayga's debut in South-east Asia.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on April 16, 2016, with the headline Superlative cars hog the limelight in week of high-end launches. Subscribe