A luscious new Jaguar saloon will glide into Singapore mid-way through next year. The sensationally styled XF replaces the S-Type and is the new face of the elegant British marque. While the S-Type had retro-inspired styling, the XF is totally modern. The mid-size luxury model has a contemporary look and feel - outside and inside - that is completely different from more traditional Jags. The cabin, for example, still sports some wood trim but there is no gear lever on the lower centre console, only a rotary knob. And to make the interior ambience even more appealing, the XF will have an outstanding sound system by B&W.
The leaping cat will also be fast. Petrol engines include a three-litre V6 and a 4.2-litre V8, either naturally aspirated or supercharged. Prices here are expected to start from $213,000.
Fiat 500
Most small cars you see here can't help but scream 'budget'. But come end-March next year there will be one very classy addition to the super-mini ranks. The impossibly stylish Fiat 500 will set a new benchmark for motoring chic with its cool retro looks and high levels of personalisation. The diminutive Italian car is the modern day incarnation of the Fiat Cinquecento - Italian for '500' - which was first introduced 50 years ago and went on to become a national icon, like Germany's Volkswagen Beetle and Britain's Mini. Despite being only 3.5 metres long, the Fiat 500 managed to achieve the maximum five-star Euro NCAP crash safety rating. It comes with seven airbags as standard (including a knee airbag) and boasts a high level of build quality and reliability.
This cute little number will be offered here with a 1.4-litre, 16-valve engine. Costing from about $68,000 onwards, the 500 will come with either a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission, plus the option of a panoramic skydome roof.
Toyota Corolla Altis
A new version of Singapore's most popular car should shake up the moribund market very soon. The new Toyota Corolla Altis will be launched in early March and orders have been pouring in even though the price has not been confirmed yet - though sources say it will start from $67,000. Prospective buyers are no doubt encouraged by the promise of a $1,000 early-bird discount. The new model is the 10th generation Corolla and the second to bear the Altis suffix. Like the one before - the last of which was sold less than two weeks ago - it will be assembled in Thailand. Also as before, two engine sizes will be available - 1.6 and 1.8 litres - and both are only available with a four-speed automatic transmission.
The new model will look like a mini-Camry with so-called dynamic design. It incorporates the bigger model's 'sweeping cuts' to the front section, from the bonnet to the headlamps. The wheelbase is the same but the car is longer and wider, benefiting the interior space with more shoulder room. In the cabin, one striking difference is the flush centre console, with climate control aircon buttons instead of the erstwhile big knobs. The backlit Optitron meters for the instrument cluster now come standard on the 1.6-litre model, whereas once this was only available on the 1.8-litre version.
BMW 1 Series
The nifty-looking BMW 1 Series coupe and convertible will arrive in the middle of next year to help revive the Munich-based marque's reputation for compact good looks and sporty dynamism.Now that the 3 Series has grown in size and weight it no longer has that same 'chuckability' that Beemer fans have long revelled in. So it is timely that BMW Asia will introduce the whole range of 1 Series models here, including the hatchback, which was the first body style to be launched three years ago.
Seen as the spiritual successor to the brilliant 2002 model of the 1960s and 1970s, the 1 Series Coupe has the same low shoulder line. Together with a shorter wheelbase and trimmer kerb weight, this agile, rear-wheel-driven four-seater promises superb handling, either with or without a fixed roof. Best of all, if the 125i still isn't enough to get your adrenaline pumping, a souped-up variant will be available for enhanced motorsports fun.
Volkswagen Tiguan
Widely regarded as a 'baby' Touareg, the Volkswagen Tiguan will be raring to clamber all over the SUV competition some time in the third quarter. VW's second SUV is a compact model based on the Golf platform.
Although smaller than the accomplished Touareg, it will be just as versatile. It is a fully functioning sport-utility vehicle with all-wheel-drive and a special off-road mode that boasts a range of safety features like hill descent control and hill climb assist.
The Tiguan will come with a choice of five engines - all of which will be charged in one way or another. One of these units will be the brilliant two-litre, direct injection turbo-charged power plant found in the dynamic Golf GTI. Together with a chassis that will set new standards among SUV models with its dynamic properties and high level of active safety, the Tiguan should be as fun to drive as the GTI, except you can do it off-road as well.
Mini Clubman
Extra space never looked this trendy. The Mini Clubman is a three-door Mini with an extended wheelbase and two extra doors. But far from being a conventional hatchback, this stylish shooting brake actually has an asymmetric rear-hinged 'suicide door' - called the Clubdoor - on the right side of the car, as well as two side-opening rear doors for the tailgate. Being 240mm longer than a conventional Mini, the Clubman allows for two adults to sit more comfortably in the rear and can also carry a bit more luggage. Yet it retains all the dynamic qualities that are much loved by Mini fans, such as go-kart-like handling and grip. Performance may be slightly dented by the increased body weight but a surprising consequence of the longer wheelbase is the improved ride comfort.
Expect the Clubman to be parked in the hip Mini showroom on Leng Kee Road around the first quarter of next year. Also, expect prices to be higher than the basic body version.
Mazda6
The new Mazda6 is again available as either a four-door sedan or a five-door hatchback - just as earlier generations of this mid-size model used to be. One of the more unusual highlights of this new and more attractively designed car is that while it is bigger and more powerful than the model it replaces, it is also lighter with a more rigid bodyshell. There are two engine sizes and two equipment levels. The 2.0-litre engine is carried over from the previous Mazda6 but the 2.5-litre unit is new and was developed from the previous 2.3-litre engine.The 2.5 has 170 hp and 10 per cent improved torque of 226 Newton-metres for better response. The engine is mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. And because the Mazda6 shares the same basic chassis as the Ford Mondeo - Ford owns part of Mazda - you can expect the Japanese car to handle just as sportily.
The new Mazda6 is due to be launched in February with a starting price quoted as 'below $90,000' at current COE levels.
Honda Jazz
The best-selling hatchback in Singapore has become even better. The Honda Jazz, which is known as the Fit in Japan's domestic market, now has a roomier cabin and a more fuel-efficient engine - two of the qualities that have made it so popular here. From the outside, the new Jazz looks broader and sports a more steeply raked front windscreen. Inside, the space of the versatile interior has been enhanced by a 50mm longer wheelbase and carved-out door panels that offer more elbow room. However, the most significant change to the cabin has to be the re-styled dashboard, which is refreshingly modern. Another interesting feature of this small hatchback's interior is that there are 10 cup-holders, some of which are so big they can accommodate bottles. The new Jazz has more powerful electric power steering for a better feel. And ride comfort has also improved, especially for backseat passengers, who should no longer complain about being bounced around.
The Jazz will arrive at authorised distributor Kah Motor's showrooms in April, although the Fit is already here as a grey import.
