Fast Lane: Mini unveils race livery, Lotus Emira Turbo SE and updated Nissan Qashqai in Singapore
Mini's 24 Hours Race livery
Mini has unveiled the livery of its contender at the Nurburgring 24 Hours race in June, a 24-hour annual touring car and GT endurance racing event. The black-and-white racer is based on the Mini John Cooper Works 2-litre hot hatchback and will be campaigned by the Bulldog Racing team.
Featured prominently on the flank is the logo of lifestyle brand Deus Ex Machina. The team will also be dressed in the brand's new collection at the race. Mini hinted that there will be more to this partnership down the road. This may include co-branded merchandising.
The striking car will be competing in the SP-3T class, which Bulldog Racing won in 2024, also in a Mini John Cooper Works.
Lotus Emira Turbo SE now available
Zippy: Lotus Emira SE's 2-litre engine makes 399hp and goes from 0-100kmh in four seconds.
PHOTO: LOTUS
The Lotus Emira is now exclusively available in Singapore in the Turbo SE trim, replacing the 2-litre First Edition.
The Mercedes-AMG-supplied 2-litre turbocharged engine has been tuned to make 399hp, an upgrade of 39hp over the 2-litre First Edition. This brings the 0-100kmh time to four seconds, which is 0.4 seconds quicker than before.
The Turbo SE name is a reference to previous Lotus models like the Esprit from 1989, where SE referred to Special Equipment .
The Emira Turbo SE is priced at $548,800 before certificate of entitlement and options.
Updated Nissan Qashqai SUV lands
Face it: The updated Nissan Qashqai has an aggressive stance, thanks to a glossy black grille and tweaked headlight design.
PHOTO: NISSAN
The facelifted Qashqai is now at the Nissan showroom. The large glossy black grille and tweaked headlight design make the car look more aggressive . The digital driver instrument display is said to be improved too.
Mechanically, the compact sport utility vehicle is mostly unchanged, with a 1.3-litre turbocharged, four -cylinder engine connected to a continuously variable transmission.
Power and torque output are identical to the version tested in 2022, but the claimed fuel consumption is poorer at 6.2 litres/100km, compared with 5.5 litres/100km for the pre-facelifted car.
Two variants are available. Other than having more comfort features and larger wheels than those found on the Premium, the Prestige also has a more sophisticated multi-link suspension rather than torsion beam on the rear axle.
The Qashqai Premium costs $235,300 with COE before rebates, while the Prestige costs $10,000 more.
Bentley adds 671hp plug-in hybrid
Plugging in: Bentley's Continental and Flying Spur models are now bolstered with a 671hp plug-in hybrid variant.
PHOTO: BENTLEY
The refresh of the Bentley Continental, Continental GTC and Flying Spur models continues with the introduction of the 'high performance hybrid' variant for the three cars. Instead of 760hp and 1,000Nm of torque, the V8, 4-litre, turbocharged plug-in hybrid is tuned to make 671hp and 930Nm.
This set-up is sufficient to propel the two-door Continental GT from 0-100kmh in 3.7 seconds – 0.5 seconds behind the Continental GT Speed, which features the 760hp set-up.
Expected to be available in Singapore in the last quarter of 2025, the lower output should translate to a $350,000 reduction in price, compared with the Speed.
Before COE and options, the Flying Spur Speed four-door saloon stands at $1.46 million, the two-door Continental GT Speed is priced at $1.54 million and the GTC Speed goes for $1.69 million.
Those unwilling to wait can check out the previous-generation GT and GTC in the Azure trim level that the Bentley dealer has in stock.
Mercedes unveils VIP shuttle
Upper crust: The concept shows off Mercedes' new electric vehicle architecture for vans.
PHOTO: MERCEDES-BENZ
The Mercedes-Benz Vision V concept is an ultra-luxurious multi-purpose vehicle that was announced ahead of the Shanghai motor show that opened on April 23. Calling it 'the vision of Mercedes-Benz vans', the focus of the concept is on the interior, where the designers have tried to create a lounge-like ambience with a 65-inch retractable cinema screen, 42 loudspeakers and seven projectors in the headliner and floor.
Underpinning the luxurious concept car is Mercedes' scalable electric vehicle architecture for its vans. Expect a range of vehicles, from basic people movers to VIP shuttles, to be based on this platform from 2026.
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AsiaOne
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Mini John Cooper Works Convertible review: Flawed, but fun
[SINGAPORE] Driving the Mini John Cooper Works Convertible reminded me that having an open-top car is a bit like being a dedicated marathon runner. Some prune-faced people will think you're a sucker for punishment, but most will admire you and quietly wish they could be more like you. But at the very least, owning the latest Mini Convertible is bound to mark you out as someone other people love to hang out with. It's essentially a heavy facelift of the model that came out in 2012, with freshened up looks and a redesigned dashboard that has a big OLED screen in the middle, all of which are intended to keep it feeling contemporary without losing the car's adorably sunny expression or cheeky proportions. It's still such an icon that Anna Wintour herself would approve, especially since the seemingly endless colour choices mean you could easily pair your Mini with your favourite pair of pumps. While the Mini practically supplies its own sunshine, convertibles do ask more of you when you use them as intended (which is something you can actually measure in this car, thanks to a quirky timer that keeps count of how much you drive it with the roof down). For obvious reasons, you're in for a sweaty time in one. You also give Aura, Greek goddess of the breeze, carte blanche to wreak havoc on your hairstyle. And sooner or later, a passing bird will score a bullseye on your scalp (ask me how I know). But really, what kind of grinch focuses on those instead of the many upsides? Between the wind in your hair, the sun on your face and all the smells and sounds swirling around you, driving a car with the roof down gives you the sense that the world isn't just something you're passing through, but something you're part of. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up The latest Mini Convertible is essentially a heavy facelift of the model that came out in 2012, with freshened up looks and a redesigned dashboard that has a big OLED screen in the middle. PHOTO: BIG FISH PUBLISHING Everything feels faster in an open-top car, too, simply because you're more exposed. Not that this particular Mini needs help feeling quick. The John Cooper Works, with 231 horsepower, bounds to 100 kmh in 6.4 seconds. The way the tailpipes pop and crackle, the car sounds like it's enjoying itself alongside you when you're giving it the beans. The handling is just as eager, but it isn't sharp or precise. Chopping the roof off a car always introduces compromises, and you can feel the chassis flex enough to subtract a degree of steering accuracy. That makes the less-powerful Cooper S version the better buy, if you ask me. It's only marginally slower, so you might as well save yourself S$20,000. Driving experience aside, there are packaging issues, too. The boot starts out small and gets tiny when the roof is stowed, shrinking from 215 litres to 160. The back seats are upright enough to be considered cruel and unusual punishment. And with the fabric top raised, rearward visibility is dire, so the 360-degree parking camera is less gimmick than necessity. Still, convertibles are inherently flawed creatures, so it's partly about whether Mini makes those flaws easy to live with, and partly about knowing what you're letting yourself in for – expecting an open-top car to be practical and sharp is like buying a fridge to heat up your food. Whatever the case, a convertible Mini is not something you buy because you need one, but because you want to live a little. Maybe you're young, carefree and can afford to drop S$312,888 on a tiny car, and you want the world to know it. Or maybe the kids have finally left the house for good, and you want them to know you didn't retire just to become the grandkids' chauffeur, so you're eyeing a fun toy to ride off into the sunset in. The setting sun looks way better when you have the roof down, after all. Mini John Cooper Works Convertible Engine 1,998 cc, in-line four turbocharged Power 231 hp from 5,000 to 6,000 rpm Torque 380 Nm from 1,500 to 4,000 rpm Gearbox 7-speed automatic 0-100 kmh 6.4 seconds Top speed 245 kmh Fuel efficiency 7.2 L/100 km Agent Eurokars Habitat Price S$312,888 with Certificate of Entitlement Available Now
