Fast lane: Hyundai Ioniq 5 N on PlayStation, compact Skoda EV unveiled
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Ioniq 5 N’s virtual delivery on PlayStation
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N will be available on the Gran Turismo (GT) 7 racing simulator on the PlayStation gaming platform through an update in January 2025.
This marks the debut of Hyundai’s high-performance electric crossover on the gaming platform.
Ahead of its debut, the car was used during the GT World Series 2024 World Finals Esports tournament in Amsterdam on Dec 7 and 8.
In the physical realm, the Ioniq 5 N is Hyundai’s first high-performance electric vehicle (EV). The dual-motor EV has a maximum power output of 478kW and 770Nm of torque. Hyundai said it has developed a specific thermal management system for the N to ensure the 84kWh battery can cope with the stress from track use.
The real car is for sale in Singapore for $441,888 with certificate of entitlement (COE).
Compact Skoda EV unveiled
Another option: The Elroq will be Skoda’s second EV model when it arrives in Singapore in the fourth quarter of 2025.
PHOTO: SKODA
Unveiled on Dec 9, 2024, the Elroq is the second EV from Skoda after the Enyaq.
At 4,488mm long, the compact sport utility vehicle is roughly as big as the Audi Q3 and shorter than the larger Enyaq (4,653mm).
However, the 2,765mm wheelbase is nearly identical to the larger EV’s, so the Elroq should be nearly as spacious. Underpinning the car is the same architecture as the other models in the Volkswagen group, including the Audi Q4 and Volkswagen ID.4.
Three versions of the Elroq were announced with power output ranging from 125kW to 210kW. All of them are single-motor, rear-wheel-drive EVs. The operating range is between 375km and 581km.
The spokesman for Skoda Singapore said the EV is expected to arrive in Singapore in the last quarter of 2025, but details such as the variant and pricing have yet to be worked out.
Mercedes for sunny days
Natural ventilation: The Mercedes-AMG PureSpeed has a Formula One-inspired hoop and does without any weather protection.
PHOTO: MERCEDES-BENZ AG
The Mercedes-AMG PureSpeed is the first from the German luxury brand’s Mythos series. It was unveiled in Abu Dhabi at the Formula One (F1) Grand Prix weekend on Dec 7.
The PureSpeed is a two-seater without any windscreen or roof. Instead, it has a F1 halo-style tubular hoop that extends from the base of the dashboard to the rear of the cabin. To protect occupants in the event of a rollover, rigid bars are hidden within the scoops behind the seats.
The car’s red colour and No. 10 competition number on its front fender are references to the Mercedes that won the Targa Florio race in Sicily, Italy, in 1924.
The car will be delivered with two aerodynamically optimised helmets designed for the PureSpeed. The helmets are equipped with an intercom system for the users to communicate with each other or to pair with smartphones to stream music and calls.
In terms of performance, the PureSpeed’s 4-litre bi-turbo V8 engine makes 576hp and 800Nm of torque, capable of getting from 0 to 100kmh in 3.6 seconds and on to a top speed of 315kmh.
Production is limited to 250 units. Mercedes-Benz did not say how much the PureSpeed will cost. In Singapore, the standard, non-limited SL63, on which the speedster is based, retails for $1.16 million with COE.
No hyper Lotus for Singapore (yet)
Fashionably late: Global deliveries of the Lotus Evija started only in 2024 instead of 2020 because of delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
PHOTO: LOTUS
Previously planned to be delivered to customers by the end of 2020, Lotus started to hand over the keys to the Evija only in 2024, according to British car magazine Autocar. This followed delays to the development programme of the 1,500kW hypercar because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Production is limited to 130 units. Despite being available only in left-hand drive, preventing it from being registered in countries like Singapore, a handful of units are said to have been allocated to customers in the region.
