Fast Lane: The Car Expo, Lotus SUV arrives, more Chinese EVs on the way
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The Cars@Expo show held in April. This weekend's Car Expo will feature more than 30 brands of cars and accessories.
ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
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The Car Expo
The Car Expo, organised by SPH Media, is on at the Singapore Expo, Halls 4B and 5, on Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 8pm.
There will be more than 30 participating brands of cars and accessories.
The first 1,000 visitors to the show, which offers free admission, on each event day will get a foldable tote bag.
Those who purchase a car – new or pre-owned – at the event will receive up to $1,000 worth of SPC cash vouchers. The first 100 buyers of pre-owned cars will also get an SPC SpeedyCare car servicing voucher worth $115.
Both offers are available while stocks last.
Bumper crop of new cars in town
It has been a busy week. Since Oct 6, a new crossover, a limousine multipurpose vehicle (MPV), a premium sport utility vehicle (SUV) and an all-electric “hyper” SUV have made their debuts in Singapore.
1. Seven-seat limousine with maximum presence
The Lexus LM.
PHOTO: LEXUS SINGAPORE
Priced at $510,800 without certificate of entitlement (COE), the seven-seat LM is not only the roomiest model from Lexus, but also nearly the most expensive, coming after the LS flagship sedan and LC coupe.
Launched last week, the LM is mechanically related to the latest Toyota Alphard, but lavished with more than enough luxury touches to earn it the Lexus branding and price premium.
The best seats in the house are those behind the driving quarters. The two captain chairs in the second row have their own stowaway tables, wireless touchscreen control and massage functions.
Lexus Singapore said most of its allocation of the LM’s 30 or so units for 2023 have already been spoken for.
2. Refreshed Porsche Cayenne
The Porsche Cayenne was launched at The Warehouse Hotel on Oct 6.
PHOTO: PORSCHE ASIA PACIFIC
The extensively updated Porsche Cayenne was launched at The Warehouse Hotel on Oct 6. The biggest update to the exterior is the new matrix LED headlights – standard on all versions of the car.
More significant is the cabin, which has been extensively overhauled. It inherits the touchscreen operating concept and digital instrument pack that debuted in the 2019 Porsche Taycan electric vehicle.
The Cayenne’s dynamics have also been upgraded with a new optional adaptive air suspension with dual air chambers.
Prices, before COE, start at $397,588 for the 3-litre Cayenne and go up to $958,688 for the Cayenne Turbo e-Hybrid Coupe with GT package. The cars are available for viewing and test drives at the Porsche Now pop-up at Guoco Tower, 7 Wallich Street.
3. Hybrid Subaru crossover
Mr Glenn Tan, deputy chairman and managing director of Tan Chong International, at the launch of the Subaru Crosstrek on Oct 6, 2023.
PHOTO: MOTOR IMAGE
The Subaru Crosstrek e-Boxer Hybrid is now in Singapore. Powered by a 2-litre flat-four engine with 150hp and 196Nm of torque, and assisted by a 16.7hp electric motor, the new all-wheel-drive crossover claims a 0-100kmh timing of 10.5 seconds and a top speed of 199kmh.
The replacement for the XV crossover also features the brand’s latest suite of safety and driving assistance technology.
The car is priced at $216,800 with COE.
4. Lotus electric SUV with a two-speed transmission
The Lotus Eletre is the first all-electric sport utility vehicle from the brand.
ST PHOTO: LEE NIAN TJOE
The Eletre, the first electric SUV from Lotus, was presented at a media launch on Thursday.
Two versions of the high-performance SUV are available at launch: the Eletre S and Eletre R. Excluding COE, they are priced at $598,800 and $693,800 respectively. The first units are expected to be delivered in the remaining months of 2023.
The Eletre R joins the Porsche Taycan to have a two-speed transmission at the rear motor, rather than a single-speed set-up, which is the norm for electric vehicles.
Lotus claims that the 112kWh battery needs just 20 minutes to get from 10 to 80 per cent charge on a 350kW rapid charger. Currently, the fastest commercially available chargers in Singapore are rated at around 150kW.
The Eletre S has a range of 600km, while the R claims 490km.
Hong Seh amps up its EV portfolio with new electric crossover and trucks
The Seres 3 electric crossover vehicle seen at Hong Seh Evolution’s showroom in Alexendra Road.
ST PHOTO: LEE NIAN TJOE
The Seres 3 electric crossover vehicle has been spotted at Hong Seh Evolution’s showroom at The Alexcier along Alexandra Road.
Seres is a brand from the Chinese company behind DFSK. The global DFSK website shows that the Seres 3’s motor is rated at 120kW, with a driving range of 405km.
Hong Seh has been distributing DFSK’s range of electric light goods vehicles.
More recently, the motor dealer was appointed to distribute electric and hybrid commercial vehicles from Farizon, starting with an electric heavy goods vehicle, the H9E, in December.
Second-generation BMW X2 makes global debut
Expected to arrive in early 2024, the new BMW X2 is bigger and more premium than the original.
PHOTO: BMW
The new BMW X2 is likely to be here by early 2024.
Compared with the outgoing model, the coupe SUV is 200mm longer, 21mm wider and 64mm taller.
An all-electric iX2 was announced at the global debut, as well as a performance M35i xDrive version, which has 300hp and four-wheel drive capable of getting from 0-100kmh in 5.4 seconds.
Globally, the entry-level model is the front-wheel-drive sDrive20i, which uses a three-cylinder, 1.5-litre engine that makes 170hp.
The variant for Singapore has yet to be announced.
