a day ago
Fast Lane: Xiaomi, Hyundai, Aston Martin, Land Rover
No child's play: The Xiaomi SU7 will be available on the Gran Turismo 7 driving simulator game on the PlayStation console. PHOTO: XIAOMI
First Chinese EV on Gran Turismo
The Xiaomi SU7 Ultra will be the first Chinese electric vehicle (EV) to be featured in the Gran Turismo racing simulator game for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 gaming consoles in a future update.
In the real world, the SU7 Ultra is a three-motor EV with a combined output of 1,138kW that is capable of getting from 0-100kmh in under two seconds. The car holds the lap record on the Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit in Germany with a timing of 7min 4.96sec , beating the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT (7min 7.55sec).
Mr Lei Jun, founder and director of the Xiaomi Group, said that with the rapid growth of the Chinese automotive industry, he hopes more Chinese cars will appear in Gran Turismo games in the near future.
Mr Kazunori Yamauchi, game designer and producer of the Gran Turismo series, said he had sincere respect for the Chinese electronics appliance company that has made the leap from making smartphones to producing wearable devices and cars. 'I am deeply moved by its courage, inquisitiveness, passion and the industriousness to make it happen,' he added.
Children's workshop at Singapore's only car factory
Play with food: Children learn about food origins at this 60-minute workshop at the Hyundai plant in Singapore.
PHOTO: HMGICS
Every weekend from June 21, the Smart Food Lab will hold sensory workshops for children aged between three and six, where they can enjoy hands-on exploration of food origins and innovations.
The programme is an addition to the existing Discovery Tour hosted by the Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Center Singapore at its plant in the Jurong Innovation District. On the tour, families can harvest and taste produce grown at its Smart Farm.
The 60-minute Smart Food Lab sessions, which cost $15 a child, are held on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 to 11am and from 4 to 5pm, for up to eight children a session. Find out more at
Le Mans-spec track toy for sale
Track toy: Buyers of the Aston Martin Valkyrie LM will get special training by coaches and engineers at special track-day events.
PHOTO: ASTON MARTIN
British sports car brand Aston Martin is selling a special version of the racer it is fielding at this weekend's 24 Hours of Le Mans in France.
Limited to 10 units, the Valkyrie LM uses the same 6.5-litre V12 engine and other technologies as the Valkyrie Hypercar racer. These include the seven-speed sequential transmission and special suspension set-up.
Buyers can either take their new car home or have Aston Martin take care of it. The owner can simply turn up at the various track events on the Aston Martin calendar for a customised driver training programme that offers 'the ultimate top-flight motorsport experience'.
The company will supply the driving coach and experts, even providing data and on-board video analysis. This is similar to what Ferrari did with the FXX programme in 2005.
Valkyrie LM deliveries are slated to begin in the second quarter of 2026.
Infotainment upgrade for Defender
Mild upgrade: Updated Land Rover Defender gets better infotainment and new off-road driving technology.
PHOTO: LAND ROVER
An updated Land Rover Defender will be available in Singapore in the first quarter of 2026. The exterior is almost unchanged from 2020, other than a slight tweak to the design of the lights and a new wheel option.
The infotainment system has been upsized to 13.1 inches, from 10 inches previously. It now sits flush to the climate control panel.
The off-roader is also supposed to be more capable now, with the introduction of an adaptive off-road cruise control that maintains the car's speed when driven on off-road trails, leaving the driver to concentrate on steering.
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