Maserati Levante Previewed in the form of the Kubang concept car (pictured) since 2011, the closest thing to a Ferrari SUV will reach our island in time for Christmas. According to Maserati, the Levante will maintain the brand’s core values of sportiness, style, elegance and craftsmanship.
Mazda 2 Sedan The notchback offshoot of the cheery 2 supermini is like a shrunken 3 saloon, in both size and price. Imported from Thailand, the Mazda “2.5” will start its battle against the Toyota Vios, Honda City, Mitsubishi Attrage and Suzuki Ciaz at the Singapore Motorshow.
Mazda CX-3 Mazda’s answer to the popular Honda HR-V/Vezel is a good one, designed and packaged for modern urban motoring. Features include tasteful red cabin accents, well-shaped seats, a 350-litre boot, a user-friendly multimedia system and plenty of safety devices.
McLaren 675LT Spider The alfresco edition of the “Longtail” (LT) coupe is said to be the fastest and most focused open-top McLaren ever – apart from the company’s Formula 1 racecars, of course. The retractable-roof 675LT makes 666bhp and 700Nm, and zips to 100km/h in a blistering 2.9 seconds.
Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class The GLC uses the C-Class saloon’s dashboard and platform, neatly wrapped in sports-utility bodywork. Permanent all-wheel-drive, adequate ground clearance and optional air suspension allow the car to go off-road. Arriving before June, the GLC targets the Audi Q5 and BMW X3.
Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet Towkays who wish to feel the breeze in a limousine can do more than lower the windows when this wind-swept flagship debuts in the second half. The topless S-class has a grand design, cutting-edge technology and intelligent air-conditioning customised for wind-in-the-hair cruising.
MINI Clubman This is MINI’s idea of a deluxe wagon, which will be seen regularly at hipster hangouts from this month. Split rear doors are still the Clubman’s design highlight, but the car has been upgraded from middle class to upper class in terms of refinement, equipment and materials.
MINI Convertible Fun in the sun will get funkier when the new drop-top Mini arrives, tentatively in the second half of this year. It’s bigger, prettier and less cramped than the old model. The fabric roof operates more smoothly, and it can be ordered with a woven Union Jack to complete the look.
Mitsubishi Mirage This humble Thai-made hatchback is out to shatter the illusion that a basic runabout has to be crappy. It’s decently equipped, delightfully fuel-efficient, practical and very easy to drive. The no-nonsense Mirage will go on sale here within the next few months, joining its Attrage sibling.
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV The most high-tech Mitsubishi is a 2-litre plug-in petrol-electric hybrid with ultra-low emissions, remarkable fuel efficiency and a unique driving experience that includes electric-vehicle mode with a range of 50km. This is eco-friendly performance that is also versatile and cost-effective.
Nissan Pulsar An old Nissan nameplate has a new role with this hatchback, which combines European qualities and Japanese usability. The reborn Pulsar has a punchy yet frugal 1.2-litre turbo engine, a long 2700mm wheelbase (same as the roomy Sylphy), and various systems for safety and comfort.
Opel Adam More than three years after its international premiere, the chic city car has finally been pencilled in for Singapore. You don’t have to be called Adam or Eve to appreciate the little Opel’s colourful personality, scope for customisation and fantastic value for money (at least in Europe).
Opel Astra This is Opel’s best-ever attempt to beat the VW Golf at its own game, thanks to obvious improvements in aesthetics, ergonomics, connectivity, active safety and mechanical efficiency. The new-age Astra will spearhead the German firm’s assault on the Euro-hatch sector.
Peugeot 208 The entry-level French five-door will return to the showroom with a facelift, fresh colours, improved infotainment and a 3-cylinder engine. The 1.2-litre turbo unit puts 110bhp through a 6-speed automatic. The 208 will be reintroduced together with the closely related 2008 crossover.
Porsche 911 Carrera Porsche’s iconic number has undergone a major makeover, centred around a turbocharged 3-litre flat-6 powerplant. It produces 370bhp/450Nm in the Carrera and 420bhp/500Nm in the Carrera S. The coupe’s exterior and interior have also been updated successfully.
Porsche 911 Turbo Launching here around the same time (second quarter) as the renewed Carreras are the latest 3.8-litre Turbos. Their power has been boosted by 20bhp to 540bhp (Turbo) and 580bhp (Turbo S), and their performance is even more potent now, yet they remain usable on a day-to-day basis.
Renault Megane The replacement for Renault’s core model might be here before the end of the year. The new Megane is described as a high-quality hatchback loaded with higher-segment features, such as an 8.7-inch “tablet” touchscreen, a colour head-up display and advanced driving gizmos.
Renault Kadjar This is essentially the value-driven French version of the Nissan Qashqai, with which it shares underpinnings. The Kadjar is larger than Renault’s own Captur and has more goodies on board, so it’s a more useful crossover in Singapore’s suburban context.
Rolls-Royce Dawn Superlatives tend to accompany any Rolls-Royce revealed for the first time, and the Dawn continues the tradition – “the most uncompromised open-top motoring experience in the world”; “the most social of super-luxury drophead motor cars”. It will see the light of day in May.
Subaru Levorg Sportier than the Forester, more impressive than the Impreza and almost as spacious as the last Legacy wagon, the 1.6-litre 170bhp Levorg is one of the most complete Japanese cars in recent years. It’ll be Subaru’s first 2016 model to hit the streets of Singapore.
Suzuki Vitara Smaller than the S-Cross but with similar lifestyle aspirations, this “soft-roader” is a concrete-jungle animal that can be personalised with complementary accessories and a mix of colour schemes. It’ll take centre stage at Suzuki’s booth in Suntec this month.
Toyota Prius The star of Toyota’s Singapore Motorshow stand is less geeky and more funky than the previous Prius. The 1.8-litre hybrid drivetrain has also been made cleaner and even more efficient, but its performance is uninteresting. Incidentally, lime green is one of the bold new colours.
Volkswagen Touran The VW dad’s-cab makes a comeback soon. The Touran’s “Golf for seven folks” formula is familiar, but it’s comfier, smoother and even more family-friendly now. Household duties are happily handled by the multi-purpose cabin, which is claimed to have a whopping 47 storage points.
Volkswagen Passat Variant The estate variation of Europe’s Car of the Year 2015 has the same clever gadgetry, subtle luxury and businesslike conduct, but with much more boot space – 650 litres versus the saloon’s 586. It’s just the ticket for senior executives whose daily life requires a professional station wagon.
Volvo S90 The Swedes did a great job with the XC90 and seem to have done it again with the S90, which will sail to Singapore together with the V90 estate version in the last quarter of 2016. The S90’s technical aspects and key features are shared with Volvo’s superb SUV, including its T8 Twin Engine option.
