Fast lane: Rolls-Royce of the future

103EX concept car. PHOTO: ROLLS-ROYCE
Volkswagen’s new Touran seven-seater. PHOTO: VOLKSWAGEN
Mini Vision Next 100. PHOTO: MINI
NSX-inspired EV concept car. PHOTO: HONDA
Astra arrives. PHOTO: ST FILE
Subaru Legacy. PHOTO: SUBARU
TT RS Coupe. PHOTO: AUDI

Rolls-Royce of the future

Three months after BMW showed off its radical concept car to mark its centenary, it is sister brand Rolls-Royce's turn.

The wild-looking 103EX concept car is a peek at what Roller might produce in the next 100 years (sorry, it is not a flying car).

The zero emission, autonomous limousine is 5.9m long and 1.6m tall, mirroring the dimensions of today's Phantom Extended Wheelbase.

It will have an extra cargo area under the bonnet, since the massive V12 in today's car is no longer needed. The 103EX rides on 28-inch wheels. The front wheels are narrow for more efficiency.

It should have enough room for up to six people, since the cockpit no longer requires a steering wheel.


New seven-seater Touran

New seven-seater Touran Volkswagen's new Touran seven-seater is here, with prices starting from $138,300.

The new MPV features more versatile fold-flat seating, three-zone filtered air-con, a host of active and passive safety features, LED headlights and a 1.4-litre turbo engine producing 150bhp and 250Nm. It purportedly consumes only 5.6 litres of petrol per 100km.


Mini of the next century

What will BMW-owned Mini make in the next 100 years? The hint may well lie in the Mini Vision Next 100, which will be part of a sophisticated car-sharing platform.

The manufacturer envisions a fleet of Mini cars shared by a group of discerning and impossibly fashionable people. The car will be able to switch its colour to suit each user. Even the lighting and the interior can be transformed as the next user - whose preferences are stored- approaches. Cool, right?


Honda fields e-car for Pikes Peak Hill Climb

Honda will attempt this year's Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb with an all electric, NSX-inspired EV concept car. It features an evolution of the experimental four-motor all wheel- drive system which won last year's Pikes Peak Challenge Exhibition class.

The concept will be piloted by Tetsuya Yamano, who campaigned last year's CR-Z-based electric prototype to its class win.

The powertrain produces three times the total system output of last year's electric prototype and is mated to the NSX body.


Astra arrives

Opel agent Auto Germany launched the new range of Astra cars on Thursday. The company is confident that the 2016 European Car of the Year will put Opel back in the driver's seat in Singapore. It unveiled the hatchback and station wagon versions, both available with either turbocharged 1-litre or 1.4-litre engines.

Prices start from $99,888, which means it is competitive even when compared with the Korean choices.


New-look Subaru Legacy

The facelifted Subaru Legacy is here. It comes with Blind-Spot Detection, Lane Change Assist and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, making it the most highly equipped Japanese car in its segment.

Anti-glare rear-view mirror, adaptive high beam and Siri Eyes Free (an Apple voice control system) are the other features the Legacy comes with. Prices start from $130,800.


Audi's upcoming models

Audi will show off the new five-cylinder TT RS Coupe at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this weekend.

Another model to be displayed is the new Q7e-tron quattro, a plug-in hybrid capable of going up to 54km on electric power alone.

It is shown alongside the 4-litre turbodiesel SQ7.

Christopher Tan

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on June 25, 2016, with the headline Fast lane: Rolls-Royce of the future. Subscribe