Fast Lane: Launch of Audi A6 e-tron, Honda Step Wgn and Leapmotor C10
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For the first time, the Audi A6 is available as an electric car.
PHOTO: AUDI SINGAPORE
Electric Audi saloon launches
Going against the convention of electric cars being sport utility vehicles (SUVs), Audi has launched the A6 Sportback e-tron in Singapore.
The arrival marks two firsts – the first electric A6 and the first time the mid-sized saloon is available in the liftback, or Sportback, format. Until the return of the Audi e-tron GT, this will be the only non-SUV electric model from Audi, which now consists of the Q4 e-tron and Q6 e-tron.
The A6 Sportback e-tron uses a single motor on the rear axle with 210kW and claims to be able to travel up to 563km on a fully charged battery. A dual-motor S6 version, which has a combined output of 370kW, has an operating range of 643km. In Europe, the A6 e-tron is also available in station wagon, or Avant, form.
Alongside the electric model, the latest A6 was also introduced in petrol-engine form, exclusively in the conventional three-box saloon format. The car is offered in 2-litre, 201hp form. The engine does without any mild-hybrid assistance, unlike the past two generations of the A6.
All versions of the latest Audi A6 are available from the brand’s showroom at 18 Cross Street.
Official Step Wgn arrives
The official Step Wgn is now available at Honda’s agent, Kah Motor.
PHOTO: HONDA
In a case of better late than never, the Honda Step Wgn is now available from Honda’s authorised distributor after the model has been sold here by parallel importers for some time.
The agent, Kah Motor, launched the mid-sized seven-seater in 2-litre petrol-hybrid form at its Alexandra Road showroom on Nov 6. This is the second multi-seater in the line-up, joining the smaller Freed, with no sign of the replacement to the Odyssey seven-seater in sight.
The arrival of the Step Wgn comes after its Toyota rival, the Noah, which was also a popular parallel-imported model, became officially available through Toyota’s distributor in September.
Leapmotor makes debut with C10
More choices: The Leapmotor C10 is the latest Category A COE electric car to be launched in Singapore.
PHOTO: CYCLE & CARRIAGE
Singapore is the third South-east Asian country to launch Leapmotor, a Chinese car brand that is partly owned by global automotive group Stellantis.
The brand kicks off with the C10, a Toyota Harrier-size electric SUV. The car is launched here in 100kW power output form, which is lower than the 160kW versions that were introduced in Malaysia and Thailand recently. This is to qualify the car for the Category A certificate of entitlement (COE).
Stellantis invested €1.5 billion (S$2.3 billion) to acquire a 20 per cent stake in the Chinese carmaker in 2023 with the aim of boosting sales in China as well as exporting the brand abroad. The C10 is the first Leapmotor model developed for global consumption.
Leapmotor is distributed by Cycle & Carriage in Singapore, joining the ranks of Ora, Maxus and Smart to be among the multi-brand motor dealer’s electric car offerings.
The C10 is available for viewing and test drive at the motor dealer’s complex at 239 Alexandra Road.
BMW track events
Driving force: BMW’s dealer hosted Singapore customers at a special track event in Austria.
PHOTO: PERFORMANCE MOTORS LIMITED
Performance Motors Limited, an authorised BMW dealer, held the PML BMW M Experience in October, which included time at the Salzburgring race circuit in Salzburg, Austria.
In all, 13 drivers from Singapore went through the BMW M Race Track Training, which involved timed challenges and controlled drifting in the BMW M4 Competition, a 530hp two-door coupe.
The motor dealer said it has more driving events planned, including one to Pahang, Malaysia, from Dec 13 to 15. Previous road trips included destinations such as Johor, Desaru, Penang and Ipoh.
