Fast lane: Nismo’s 40th anniversary, Lamborghini Urus SE and Zeekr MPV in S’pore, Ducati deals

Nismo turns 40

Short for Nissan Motorsport International Co Limited, Nismo is the in-house tuning, motorsports and performance arm of the Japanese carmaker, and it is marking its 40th anniversary in September.

A special exhibition featuring some of Nismo’s creations is being held at the Nissan Global Headquarters Gallery in Yokohama, Japan, until Oct 15.

Road-going models represented include the 270R, which is based on the S14 generation 200SX, and the 400R, which is based on the R33 generation of the Nissan Skyline GT-R.

Racing cars on display include the Nissan R390 GT1, which was a podium finisher at the 1998 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race, and the Calsonic Skyline GT-R Group A racer from the Japan Touring Car Championship.

Lamborghini charging up

Lamborghini is showing the Urus SE to customers in the region, with more than 200 customers in Singapore invited to the launch at the Cloud9 Piazza at Jewel Changi Airport on Sept 24. The show car arrived from Taiwan and is headed for Australia after the Singapore stop.

Besides design updates like a re-profiled front end and revised design for the rear hatch, the highlight of the sport utility vehicle (SUV) is the powertrain.

The 4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine under the sculpted bonnet is supported by a 141kW electric motor. The set-up produces a combined output of 588kW at 6,000rpm and 950Nm of torque. With all-wheel-drive traction, the car has a 0-100kmh timing of 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 312kmh.

As a plug-in hybrid, the 25.9kWh battery can be filled up by a home charger or while the SUV is being driven. The Urus SE has an electric-only range of 60km.

Delivery of the Urus SE for customers in Singapore will start in April 2025. The car is priced at $1.15 million before certificate of entitlement (COE) and options.

The arrival of the updated Urus is expected to give the brand a significant boost as it refreshes its product portfolio, starting with the Revuelto flagship launched earlier in 2024 and, by next year, the Temerario, which replaces the Huracan.

In 2023, the Raging Bull registered just 12 cars, six of which are the pre-facelift Urus SUVs sold by parallel importers.

Fast and posh electric MPV

The Zeekr 009 multipurpose vehicle (MPV), which has technical specifications that look excellent, has been approved for sale in Singapore.

The dual-motor electric vehicle (EV) has 450kW of power, which is more than the Porsche 911 Turbo. The MPV’s 0-100kmh timing is 4.5 seconds and its 116kWh battery gives it a range of up to 582km.

Air suspension is standard, as are soft-closing front doors. The second row seats have features like massage, ventilation, memory function and powered leg rests.

The seven-seater version of the 009 is priced at $409,999 with COE and the six-seater version commands a $10,000 premium.

Ducati’s 100th MotoGP wins

Ducati picked up its 100th victory in MotoGP at the Emilia-Romagna GP race on Sept 22. With the win, the Italian brand also took the World Constructors’ Championship crown for the sixth time in its history.

Besides refreshment and company with other fans, Ducati Singapore is offering deals that include up to 63 per cent off MotoGP apparel, 30 per cent off accessories and deals on motorcycles.

1.1 million cars recalled in Britain so far

In the first eight months of 2024, 41 car manufacturers have issued more than 170 recalls, affecting 1.1 million cars in Britain. Mercedes-Benz had the most with 16 recalls, affecting 337,000 vehicles.

British automotive consumer advice website, The Car Expert, which published the data, says it is 10 times more likely for a car to be recalled today than it was 30 years ago.

The platform estimates that there will be more than 250 recalls in Britain, impacting up to 1.8 million vehicles, by the end of 2024. These include all types of vehicles, although cars make up the majority. As the number of recalls increase, the platform said owners need to appreciate the importance of getting their vehicles booked for the needed repairs swiftly.

In Singapore, motor dealers are required to notify the Land Transport Authority and inform affected customers when there is a recall. Motorists can check if their vehicles are affected on the OneMotoring website (onemotoring.lta.gov.sg).