Porsche and BMW offered previews here of their two new models – the Porsche Panamera and BMW 5 Series.
Last Wednesday, Porsche unveiled the second-generation Panamera to the automotive press at Freeport, a free trade zone in Changi.
The car, which had its world premiere in Berlin in June, will be launched in Singapore in mid-February.
A Panamera Turbo went on a “city tour” atop a trailer towed by a Porsche Cayenne, making stops at Ion Orchard today and W Hotel. It was at the Fullerton Hotel and Dempsey and at Suntec City last week.
The public could only view only the exterior, though. A look inside the car can be made by appointment only.
The Panamera 3.0 is expected to retail for about $450,000 and the Panamera 4S at $650,000. Both prices are without COE.
The Porsche fastback is slightly more elegantly styled than its predecessor. It is bigger and heavier, but also more powerful. Its new gadgets include a system which synchronises damper rates, rear-axle steering (optional), dynamic chassis control and torque vectoring.
At BMW agent Performance Motors, a sneak preview of the seventh-generation 5-series was held for select customers behind closed doors. The executive model will have its world premiere only in March next year at the Geneva Motor Show.
Performance Motors expects the new 5 Series to be launched in Singapore at around the same time.
BMW released images and details of the car last month. Design-wise, it is an evolutionary change from the current generation car, which could well be the most successful 5er ever.
The sedan is a tad larger, but up to 100kg lighter than the current model. New features include more hand gesture controls, wireless CarPlay, remote parking and scented air-conditioner.
Engines include a turbocharged 2-litre 530i with 252bhp and 350Nm, which hits 100km/h in 6.2 seconds. Then, there is a turbocharged 3-litre straight-6 540i with 340bhp and 450Nm, which reaches 100km/h in 4.8 seconds.
Besides being lighter, it is also sleeker, with a drag coefficient of as low as 0.22.
The Straits Times understands that one unit was flown in for the preview. As with similar previews in the past, BMW customers are asked to give their views on the car’s design and features – not that the manufacturer will make changes even if it could.
Related story: Porsche Panamera review
Related story: BMW’s new 5 Series
