Fast Lane: Tesla, Monterey Car Week, Porsche at Jewel
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Elongated: The Tesla Model Y L is a six-seat electric sport utility vehicle.
PHOTO: TESLA
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Tesla packs six
Tesla is taking orders for a six-seat version of its electric sport utility vehicle in China. Known as the Model Y L, the six-seater is 179mm longer (150mm comes from stretching the wheelbase) than the five-seat version. The total length of the Y L is 4,976mm, which is 26mm more than a Volvo XC90.
The Y L has a pair of individual chairs in the middle row, ahead of two seats at the back. Both the second- and third-row seats can be folded electrically.
While the Y L is currently offered only in China, the car has been spotted undergoing testing in Germany, according to online motoring news site CarBuzz, suggesting that a global launch may be in the pipeline.
Ultra-rare cars at Monterey Car Week
PHOTOS: LAMBORGHINI, GORDON MURRAY SPECIAL VEHICLES, MCLAREN
Car companies are using the annual Monterey Car Week, which ran in California from Aug 8 to 17, to launch their special models.
This year’s edition marked the debut of the Lamborghini Fenomeno, two unique creations from Gordon Murray Special Vehicles (GMSV), and McLaren’s race car for non-professional drivers.
Just 29 examples of the Lamborghini Fenomeno will be made. Created to mark the 20th anniversary of the Italian supercar brand’s design department, the car has 1,065hp, sourced from a naturally aspirated V12 engine and three electric motors. It is the fastest accelerating Lamborghini, with 0-100kmh in 2.4 seconds and 0-200kmh in 6.7 seconds.
Gordon Murray, the famed car designer best known for the McLaren Formula One (F1) road car from the 1990s, launched GMSV, a company that creates unique supercars. The GMSV S1 LM is the company’s first creation with a design that references the McLaren F1’s 1995 win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race. Wrapped in 18-karat gold-foiled heat shielding is a 4.2-litre V12 engine that revs to 12,100rpm and makes over 690hp. The company will be building only five S1 LMs, all going to the same buyer.
The GMSV Le Mans GTR bears references to the “longtail” Le Mans racers from the 1970s to the 1990s. Just 24 Le Mans GTRs will be built and all have been sold.
The McLaren Project: Endurance is a customer partnership programme involving the company’s latest race car, which will compete in the 2027 FIA World Endurance Championship. Included with the car is a two-year McLaren customer track programme held at race circuits around the world. The owner will get driver coaching with individual pit crew and race engineers.
Porsche boutique at Jewel
Pit stop: Porsche at Jewel has a cafe, a merchandise store and an exhibition space for unique cars.
PHOTO: PORSCHE ASIA PACIFIC
German carmaker Porsche takes its brand of lifestyle experiences to the skies, or at least, to Jewel Changi Airport.
The space at the mall facing Changi Airport Terminal 1’s arrival hall has its own cafe, a merchandise store and an exhibition area that will periodically showcase rare Porsche vehicles and other themed exhibits.
Info: Porsche at Jewel is at 01-205/206, and opens from 10am to 10pm daily.
