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July 18, 2009 Saturday
New rides to look out for
Don't blow all your dough on another condo. Save some for hot cars set to hit roads here before Christmas
AUDI
Continuing its product offensive, Audi has a slew of new launches, starting with a facelift of the Q7 SUV due next month.
The 525bhp R8 V10 should be here in September. Expected to be priced close to the Porsche 911 Turbo (around $600,000), the car will take you to 100kmh in 3.9 seconds. It will be the first car here to have full LED headlamps.
The A5 Cabriolet, a canvas-top version of the stunning A5 coupe, will be here in October.
CHEVROLET
The new Chevy Cruz, which replaces the Optra, will be here middle of next month. It will have two engine variants: 1.6-litre and 1.8-litre 16-valve four-cylinder.
KIA
Kia's first sporty car, the all-new Cerato Koup, will be here by September. It is a good-looking Korean powered by a 2-litre 156bhp engine mated to a four-speed automatic with manual select.
MERCEDES-BENZ
The E-class is probably the year's most anticipated new car. It will be launched here next month, with either a 1.8-litre 204bhp four-cylinder engine or a 3.5-litre 292bhp V6. The former is a five-speeder while the latter has seven cogs and steering-mounted paddle shifters.
NISSAN
A GT-R from authorised Nissan agent Tan Chong offers something more than exhilaration: peace of mind. With a higher open-market value, the cars will also fetch better resale prices.
OPEL
Opel's big and lovely Insignia executive sedan will be here in time for Christmas.
PEUGEOT
The sizeable 308CC should be the most affordable stylish coupe-cabrio in town. Watch for it next month.
PORSCHE
Porsche's first four-door saloon, the Panamera, will be unleashed here in September. The price will range between $408,888 and $535,888 for basic cars. Be prepared to throw in another $20,000 to $40,000 for options.
About two dozen well-heeled folks have already placed orders. The top-liner is the Panamera Turbo, which has a force-fed 4.8-litre V8 that churns out 500bhp and a tremor-inducing 770Nm of torque.
SUBARU
The long-awaited Legacy has size and sizzle, and rivals Mazda's sporty 6. A Japanese domestic version has already landed and agent MotorImage is aiming to soft-launch the model next month.
TOYOTA
The new Wish seven-seater will be here by September but Borneo Motors salesmen are already taking bookings. The 2-litre, four-speed automatic is retailing at around $86,000.
VOLKSWAGEN
The sixth-generation Golf GTI, arguably the hottest hatch on the planet, will be released next week. Expect 210bhp of driving fun that will take you to 100kmh in 6.9 seconds and a top speed of 238kmh.
Christopher Tan
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Originally Posted by mr funny
