BENTLEY POWER TRIP

If your millions are still pretty intact, here is a new toy to consider: the Bentley Azure T, a more powerful version of Crewe's luxury open-top.

The car's bi-turbo 6.75-litre V8 produces 500bhp and 1,000Nm of torque - an 11 per cent increase in power and a 14 per cent increase in torque over its Azure stablemate.

It sprints to 100kmh in 5.5 seconds and peaks at 288kmh, versus 5.9 seconds and 274kmh for the Azure. The car comes with 20-inch five-spoke "bright finish" alloy wheels.

Bentley agent Malayan Motors says it will bring in the car from the middle of next year if there are firm orders. It may not be costlier than the $1.38 million Azure launched last year because the British pound has depreciated since.

THREE AUDI ADDITIONS

It is raining Audis in Singapore. After introducing half a dozen new models so far this year, the German car-maker is capping 2008 with three more.

Yesterday, it unveiled the A3 hatchback, S3 (topmost, a souped-up A3) and the A4 Avant (station wagon).

The A3 comes in two versions: a three-door 2-litre 200bhp all- wheel-drive ($139,800) and a five-door 1.8-litre 160bhp with a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox ($116,200).

The S3 is a 2-litre 256bhp three-door capable of a 5.5-second century sprint ($166,700).

The A4 Avant has a 3.2-litre V6 producing 265bhp channelled to all four wheels ($195,000).

DIESEL ENGINES FOR PORSCHE

Porsche has joined the ranks of car-makers that offer diesel engines. From next February, the Stuttgart marque will launch a Cayenne SUV with a 240hp 550Nm 3-litre V6 turbodiesel that consumes just 9.3 litres of fuel per 100km and emits 244g of carbon dioxide per kilometre.

Porsche says the decision is made in response to new regulations in European markets that result in tax incentives for vehicles with diesel engines. Apparently, Porsche customers are particular about running costs, too.

LEXUS REVS UP HYBRID SALES

Lexus agent Borneo Motors says petrol-electric hybrids will make up one-third of sales next year, up from 14 per cent this year.

The latest hybrid Lexus to arrive here is the GS450h. It joins the RX400h and LS600h. The remaining IS250 will have a hybrid variant eventually, Lexus chief engineer Yoshihiko Kanamori says.

"Our plan is to have hybrid technology for all Lexus models," he adds. Lexus, a division of Toyota, just unveiled the RX450h at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

The GS450h, available in Japan for over two years, is powered by a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine and an electric motor. It is said to be the fastest Lexus hybrid. Lexus claims it is also the world's cleanest car in its class, emitting 180g of carbon dioxide per kilometre. It does not have nitrous oxide or hydrocarbons figures though.

CRUZE CRUISES ON

Despite the financial woes of parent group General Motors, Chevrolet Europe is not letting up on its World Touring Car Championship programme.

Run and managed by UK motorsports and engineering group Ray Mallock, the team will field the all-new Chevy Cruze, which replaces the Optra.

The Cruze WTCC, based on the Cruze sedan, was put through its paces in a gruelling test session at the Estoril circuit in Portugal with Alain Menu and Robert Huff at its helm.

Menu said: "It was the first time I drove the Cruze and I could already tell the car feels good. The wider track makes it easier to drive on certain portions of the circuit, while lap times show promise but also indicate the amount of work still needed.

"The car responds well to all set-up changes, which should make it easier for us to make progress in the coming months."

Additional reporting by Tony Tan

This article was first published in The Straits Times on Nov 22, 2008.

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