JAPAN’S NO.1 CAR MAGAZINE TURNS INTO SINGAPORE!
S$6.00 AUGUST 2011
BEST SCOOP
BEST SHOWDOWN
INTRODUCING SUBARU’S NEW IMPREZA
LEXUS TAKES ON NISSAN PRIUS α AGAINST THE WORLD
SKYLINE TO THE 13TH POWER
THE
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BEST WHIZBANGS
BEST A-LIST
MICHELIN’S ENERGY XM2 TESTED!
MEET SINGAPORE’S FIRST RED BULL ROOKIE!
SERIAL FEATURE:
MIMOTO’S AUTOMOTIVE SCRAPBOOK VOL. 3
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BEST GOURMET
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MARVELLOUS Mega priz e! MOONCAKES insid p FOR MID-AUTUMN Turn the
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JEWEL IN TOYOTA’S CROWN
MTX XTHUNDER 502X • 150 WATTS RMS, 2-CHANNEL AMPLIFIER • POWER OUTPUT: 50 WATTS RMS X 2 CHANNELS AT 4 OHMS < 1% THD+N • SIGNAL-TO-NOISE RATIO (1WATT): >75 dB
CTX-262 6.5” COAXIAL • IMPEDANCE: 4 Ω • RMS POWER: 55 WATTS
“LIKE” BEST CAR SINGAPORE ON FACEBOOK BY 31 AUGUST AND STAND A CHANCE TO WIN A MTX AMPLIFIER AND SPEAKERS WORTH $1,000 COURTESY OF RAVE I.C.E.
• PEAK MUSIC POWER: 140 WATTS • SENSITIVITY: 91 dB • FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 80 Hz – 20 KHz
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CONTENTS
TA B L E O F
目 次
6 ス ク ープ
デ ビ ュ ー
BESTSCOOP 6
BESTDEBUTANT
TOYOTA’S CROWNING GLORIES
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Toyota takes the development of luxury cars to an art form with its upcoming 14th generation Crown and the new-and-improved Lexus LS. 12
A CHIP OFF THE SUBARU BLOCK
Like a proud parent, Subaru introduces its newest, overachieving Impreza to the world. 16
NISSAN SKYLINE EPISODE 13: THE LEGACY CONTINUES
Nissan triumphantly returns with a brand new Skyline in tow.
MAZDA’S DREAM MACHINE
Mazda bares its claws with the recent release of the new Demio and the commercial premiere of its highly anticipated SKYACTIV series!
対 決
BESTSHOWDOWN 36
42
BESTREPORT-O! EROTICAR
50
The big question is this: are Japanese cars still sexy? 29
FOLLOW THE MONEY
Some sequels just do not hold a candle to the original.
36 We Are Looking... If you have a story to tell, or would like to contribute to Best Car, drop us an email at bestcar@comm.com.sg.
PRIUS α PREENS ITS FEATHERS
The arrival of the newest member of Prius family, Prius α, just might give its base model something to worry about.
HATS OFF TO NISSAN
Convertibles exude a spirit of freedom and luxury, and no automaker has quite mastered the art of manufacturing them like Nissan has. 32
TO BE, OR NOT TO BE
Best Car’s resident experts revisit Porsche’s Cayman and predict the fate of Toyota’s FT-86.
レ ポ ー ト
26
THE AMAZING RACE
Nissan and Lexus lead the way with the upcoming releases of their latest sports models!
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ガ ジ ェ ッ ト： 車
特 集
BESTWHIZBANGS: CARS
BESTFEATURE 59
REMEMBERING THE LOST WORLD
Dinosaurs and Japanese sports cars have one thing in common: though they have gone extinct, they remain unforgettable. 64
73
MIMOTO’S AUTOMOTIVE SCRAPBOOK VOL. 3: THE RISE AND FALL OF THE 1.6ℓ JAPANESE SPORTS CAR
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Michelin’s brand new Energy XM2 tyres blow away the competition during a set of rigorous tests in Thailand! 86
ガ ジ ェ ッ ト：ラ イ フ ス タ イ ル
BESTA-LIST 70
FUN CAR LABORATORY VOL. 9
Some cars fit the bill, says Terry Itoh, but none like Honda Fit. 73
SUPER CARLIFE VOL. 7
The catty Koji “Prince” Aoyama sings the praises of the roaring Jaguar XJ. 76
FUELLED BY INSPIRATION
Honda fan Ian Lim emulates the automaker’s philosophy, showing that know-how and a lot of passion will go a long way. 79
BESTWHIZBANGS: LIFESTYLE 90
HOT REELS
Three mysteries and a period piece. 95
96
HOT PLAYLIST
BEST RUNWAY
We peek into Best Car’s archives and pick out several models that are worthy of a reintroduction. グ ル メ
BESTGOURMET 100
FLY ME TO THE MOON
Happily, one need not look further than these fine establishments to indulge in the most decadent mooncake delights. ラ イ フ ス タ イル
BESTLIFESTYLE 106
HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS
Make a date with 988online’s DJs as you kick back at the end of a long day.
MASTERS OF LAND AND SEA
Brave the onslaught of the elements with these functional and fashionable timepieces. 94
BESTRUNWAY
VERI CARS STANDS TALL!
Despite the grim state of the automotive industry, Veri Cars founder Freddy Tan proves that resilience does reap rewards.
Kazuhiko Mimoto recalls the rise of the humble 1.6ℓ Japanese sports car and laments its inevitable fall. キ ー パ ー ソ ン
GOING FAST AND FURIOUS WITH MICHELIN’S ENERGY XM2!
フ ァッシ ョ ン
ギ フト
BESTGIFTS 108
FREEBIES R US
You Like, we give, you take.
Familiar names, fresh tunes.
RUNNING WITH THE BULLS
The talented Emmiline Ang becomes the first Singaporean to ascend the ranks of the Red Bull Rookies!
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BEST SCOOP
揺 る ぎ な い 王 者 の 風 格
TOYOTA’S CROWNING GLORIES Toyota takes the development of luxury cars to an art form with its upcoming 14th generation Crown and the new-and-improved Lexus LS.
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TOYOTA CROWN
スク ープ
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hen Toyota released the original Crown in 1955, it never would have guessed that 56 years later, the model’s 13th generation would still enjoy the privilege of being Japan’s top luxury car. Not only is Crown one of Japan’s longest existing models, but it also sports the most advanced technologies of its time. In the 1980s, Crown passed its luxury car status to Celsior—retailed as “Lexus LS” internationally—but when Celsior adopted the LS name in 2005, Crown again rose to the summit of Japan’s luxury model list.
Crown is also one of the Japanese models that are most renowned worldwide. When the 12th generation Zero Crown was released in 2002, its functionality and ride surpassed even those of European sedans—unfortunately, it was mainly sold in Japan. But its influence seemed to transcend geographical boundaries: in China, Crown inspired FAW Hongqi to develop its own luxury car, which, like BMW’s 5-Series and Mercedes Benz’s E-Class, is a status symbol. Crown is due for another full revamp next year. Codenamed “480A”, the 14th generation’s
development has been progressing smoothly, and its final design has only recently been finalised. In the last few years, the designs of Toyota’s cars have been widely discussed, especially its massproduced sedans like Corolla Axio, Premio, Allion and even the much smaller Vitz. The automaker’s latest project was LF-Gh—the design prototype for the next Lexus GS—which was exhibited at the New York Auto Show last April. Its distinctive feature is its front mask, imposing because of its so-called “spindle” grille—the commercial model will have an additional bumper, which will separate
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BEST SCOOP
13代目 ス カ イラ イ ン デ ザ イン 決 定 ! 強烈第一報!
Original Skyline ALS1 (1957~1963)
S50 Skyline, 2nd Generation (1963~1968)
R31 Skyline, 7th Generation (1985~1989)
R32 Skyline, 8th Generation (1989~1993)
NISSAN SKYLINE EPISODE 13:
THE LEGACY CONTINUES Last year, Nissan signed an agreement with fellow automaker, Daimler-Benz—but fans were crushed when it announced the suspension of its lauded Skyline series. Now, the automaker triumphantly returns with a new Skyline that is more powerful than before.
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C10 Skyline, 3rd Generation (1968~1972)
R33 Skyline, 9th Generation (1993~1998)
スク ープ C110 Skyline, 4th Generation (1972~1977)
R34 Skyline, 10th Generation (1998~2001)
C210 Skyline, 5th Generation (1977~1981)
V35 Skyline, 11th Generation (2001~2006)
The V37 Skyline is the first car to sport Infiniti’s new design scheme, which debuted in Essence. The V37 is slated for release in 2013.
R30 Skyline, 6th Generation (1981~1985)
V36 Skyline, 12th Generation (2006 onwards)
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hen a car as renowned as Nissan’s Skyline receives a new generation model, enthusiasts and casual drivers alike are bound to be interested. Indeed, a new model seemed unlikely when Skyline was suspended last April following the announcement of Nissan’s collaboration with Daimler-Benz. Fortunately, the development of the new Skyline’s chassis has continued, and the decision on its final design has been made. The car was completed last month, and is slated for release by 2013. Nissan’s initial announcement concerning the V37 Skyline indicated that it would be a slimmed-down version of the Infiniti Etherea. Since the release of the V35 Skyline, the car has been sold in North America under the Infiniti marque as the “Infiniti G Series”. We predict that the new Skyline will be the brand’s main model, and will appropriately receive Infiniti’s unique integrated design. In fact, Infiniti’s new design scheme— inspired by Nissan’s Essence coupe—debuted at the Geneva Auto Show; it will be incorporated into Etherea this year, and in the new Skyline by 2013. Unlike Etherea, the V37 Skyline will have the FF layout, making it a
Essence debuted at last year’s Geneva Auto Show, and is the poster child of Infiniti’s new design sensibilities. Since the V37 Skyline will be retailed under the Infiniti marque, its image will be spruced up by freshly designed front and rear pillars.
At the Geneva Auto Show, Nissan unveiled its FF Hybrid to compete with Lexus CT 200h. Meanwhile, Infiniti’s Etherea received new front and rear pillars that are reminiscent of Essence.
sportier and sleeker combination of Etherea and Essence. While the current model has a long, barreltype front grille, its successor will sport a modified design. Also, the sides of the current model’s front mask will be modified to yield a new design. The modification will also be performed on the car’s rear, where angular shapes will make it similar to Essence and Etherea, with fine lines to distinguish it. The tradition of separate Skyline
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LFA’S SIDE INTAKES AND OVERALL DESIGN HAVE BEEN MODIFIED, BUT IT IS STILL UNCLEAR WHETHER ITS REAR WING WILL BE FIXED OR CAN BE STOWED.
LFA’s 4.8ℓ V10 1LF-GEN engine will generate 570bhp/8700rpm— 10bhp more than before. This is achieved through electronic control alone, and overall performance will also be enhanced.
LFA’s Nürburgring Package boasts a sleek black cabin, but the commercial model may not be so ostentatious. The racing model’s expected price is a staggering ¥40 million*!
Expected Specifications** NISSAN GT-R SPEC R
LEXUS LFA II
Overall length
4670mm
4505mm
Overall width
1895mm
1890mm
Overall height
1370mm
1200mm
Wheel base
2780mm
2605mm
Weight
1650kg
1480kg
Engine
Turbocharged VR38DETT V6 DOHC
1LR-GEN V10 DOHC
Total displacement
3799cc
4805cc
Maximum power
560bhp/6600rpm
570bhp/8800rpm
Maximum torque
63kgm/3200~6000rpm
49kgm/6800rpm
Transmission
6-AT
8-AT
Price*
¥12 million
¥40 million
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As announced, the design of LFA’s air intakes have been changed—the wing fittings can also be seen.
DUELLING GIANTS Sports cars are no strangers to competition on and off the circuit. When Lexus upgraded LFA’s maximum power to 530bhp last year, Porsche and Nissan raced to keep up. This time, Nissan may be tuning its GT-R to beat the regular LFA, which is Japan’s most powerful car with its 560bhp maximum output. Last year, the American auto magazine, Motor Trend, published a feature comparing the acceleration of the commercial models of LFA
and GT-R—the results showed that in terms of 0~400km/h acceleration, GT-R had the slight advantage. The tested LFA model was not equipped with launch control and produced 485bhp, but has been upgraded to 530bhp—also, it accelerates from 0~100km/h in three seconds, compared to its previous time of 3.6 seconds. Still, in another magazine test, GT-R again emerged victorious. Regardless, GT-R’s main objective is to become Japan’s most
powerful sports car, which is the reason behind Nissan’s insistence on a power upgrade to 560bhp. If Lexus could do it, then Nissan certainly can. But it seems that Lexus is unwilling to bow to its fellow automaker because it launched its Circuit Edition variant—which generates an even higher 570bhp—last year. Also, following the highly anticipated debut of its LFA II, it is likely that Lexus will remain at the top of the
performance rankings. It is still too early to reach a conclusion regarding LFA II and GTR’s actual performance. Suffice to say that if GT-R weighs 1650kg and generates 560bhp, its 2.94kg/bhp power-to-weight ratio will raise to it “pure super sports car” status. It will surely be a treat when it is released late this year, followed by LFA II in 2013.
* Prices are only indicative of the Japanese automotive market. For local pricing, please contact the relevant dealerships. ** Specifications of available models may vary. For more information, please contact the relevant dealerships.
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Cayman’s 4345mm overall height and 1800mm overall width make it much larger than FT-86—it is also 15mm taller at 1305mm. Cayman’s wheel base also seems too short for its size.
TOYOTA FT-86 AND PORSCHE CAYMAN COMPARED
The 2687cc Cayman engine that generates 245bhp that is installed in the Boxter will be upgraded to a 2892cc that achieves 265bhp. Its horizontally opposed engine is installed in the centre of the body, further improving its already excellent handling.
As pertinent as FT-86 and Cayman’s centres of gravity are, their equipment also merits some attention. FT-86 will be equipped with Subaru’s next generation FB20 engine, which will replace the EJ20 that was mounted in Forester last year. It can also be considered as Subaru’s first long stroke engine. Toyota jointly developed the engine head and its surroundings, and the newly designed fuel saving device, exhaust headers and power enhancer make the engine more compact. What is more, the FB20 engine will be a horizontally opposed direct injection 4-cylinder that will enhance torque at all revolution speeds. Maximum torque will be 20.9kgm/6000rpm and maximum power will be 200bhp/6800rpm. But what is so surprising is the FB20 engine’s bore/stroke value—its 86mm x 86mm dimensions reveal that it will be a
“square” engine. Previously, Toyota’s 3S-G and Nissan’s SR20 series employed similar measurements, as did most 2ℓ sports engines. Tuning is also possible from low to high revolutions. (An insider divulged that the name “FT-86” alludes to the measurement but this has not been confirmed.) Meanwhile, Cayman has a horizontally opposed 6-cylinder engine with 265bhp/7200rpm maximum power and 30.6kgm/4400~6000rpm maximum torque. These are actually low for a Porsche sports model, but overall the car performs relatively well. The 1380kg Cayman’s power-weight ratio is 5.2kgm/bhp, which is average for a naturally-aspirated (NA) sports car. Again, it has an advantage over the 1150kg FT-86, whose power to weight ratio is 5.75kg/bhp, which is acceptable for a car of its class. FT-86 and Cayman are similarly
Viewed from the side, the symmetry of FT-86’s design is more pronounced, especially with the front and rear lights. Its low nose might be even lower in the commercial model.
sized: while FT-86 measures 4200mm x 1755mm x 1290mm, its rival measures 4345mm x 1800mm x 1305mm. However, FT-86’s 2570mm wheel base is slightly longer than Cayman’s 2415mm. FT-86’s length was stretched to accommodate its engine, so its body’s measurements may not be the most accurate indicator of its size. Additionally, its FT layout cannot compare with the turnaround and responsiveness of the agile Cayman. Both cars are equipped with similar traditional suspensions. Whereas all of Cayman’s wheels are fitted with struts, FT-86 has struts in front and double wishbone suspension in the rear. Since Toyota has declared that FT-86 is to provide a direct handling feel, the extent of the improvement of its handling—especially since it has the FR layout—will be closely scrutinised. Also, Porsche is
internationally renowned for the quality of its braking system, but Toyota is not one to sit idly by. Since the braking system comprises a huge chunk of a car’s market price, it is crucial that the tuning be painstakingly implemented. Cayman sports 205/55R17 tyres in front and 235/50R17 ones in the rear. Meanwhile, the base FT-86 model will have 205/55R16 tyres while the higher grade will be fitted with 215/45R17 types. While these tyres were specifically selected to meet the requirements of each car, FT-86 could have done with tyres that are a size bigger—not only would this streamline its image, but it would also make it a more enjoyable drive. Porsche Cayman is certainly a tough act to follow. But if Toyota is able to successfully strike a balance between price and performance, the future will doubtless be opened up to FT-86.
The FT-86 skeleton that was released by Subaru reveals a front midship layout, and a direct injection engine whose bore/stroke measurement is 86mm x 86mm.
BEST SHOWDOWN 対 決
TEXT • NAOYA SUZUKI
α
本 当 の ライバ ル はど れ だ！？
PRIUS プ リウスα … お っ 、い い ク ル マ だ ね ! THE FRONT SEATS CAN COMFORTABLY SIT A PERSON WHO IS 190CM TALL.
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THE SECOND ROW CAN COMFORTABLY SIT A PERSON WHO IS 180CM TALL.
Toyota’s infamous Prius is internationally adored for its stellar environmental performance—but the arrival of the newest member of the family, Prius α, just might give it something to worry about.
PREENS ITS FEATHERS A THOUGH THE OFFICIAL SPECIFICATIONS CLAIM THAT THE THIRD ROW CAN SEAT SOMEONE WHO IS 170CM TALL, WE FEEL THAT 165CM WOULD BE MORE PRECISE.
ccording to Toyota, the 3-row, 7-seater Prius α is more than just a variation of the popular Prius. Though the newest Prius variant shares many of the base model’s features, matters are hardly that simple. The first row can supposedly sit passengers as tall as 190cm, the second row can sit passengers as tall as 180cm, and the third row can sit passengers as tall as 170cm, or 165cm since it can be slightly cramped. Toyota’s objective in developing Prius α is to add a small 3-row, 7-seater minivan to the Prius line-up. This could be done in two ways: the first is to launch a Prius-grade car, and the second is to build an entirely new model that is based on Prius’s existing platform. At first glance, the first option seemed the most likely TOYOTA PRIUS
approach—however, Toyota chose the latter. Prius α is an entirely new model equipped with the base Prius’s platform, and contains several innovations that are not yet incorporated in the original. It is the first Toyota hybrid to receive a lithium-ion battery. The size of the previous cell made it impossible to create a 3-row Prius, so a smaller battery that could be fitted beneath the centre console was a necessity. That explains the rationale behind Prius α’s design. Since Prius α shares the base model’s platform, many users would think that driving them would be closely similar—that cannot be further from the truth. Prius α’s manoeuvrability and drivability have been greatly enhanced, and sitting behind its wheel feels just like handling a completely different car.
α PRICES
Passenger Capacity Battery Seven Lithium-ion (three rows of seats) Five (two rows of seats)
Nickel Hydride
* Prices are only indicative of the Japanese automotive market. For local pricing, please contact the relevant dealerships.
Grade G Touring Selection Skylight Package S Touring Selection L Selection G Touring Selection
Price* ¥3 million ¥3.3 million ¥2.5 million ¥2.8 million ¥2.4 million ¥2.8 million ¥3 million
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BEST A–LIST キーパーソン
Ian, tell our readers a bit about yourself. I’m currently in the car trade, but I have about 10 years of experience in the military. I’m the Managing Director of Inspire 21, so we do performance enhancements, servicing and repairs for Honda cars. How did your love affair with Honda begin? When I started looking at motorsports, Honda was winning in the F1. I think that was in 1988, all the way to 1991. I was still young—around 10 years old—and my dad had a Honda Accord. I was just a passenger, but then the key thing is to find a brand that offers affordable performance. And nobody else could repeat the performance. F1 is the pinnacle of motorsports. So for Honda to be able to supply engines and win with McLaren was a big influence, I think. So that basically speaks volumes about their passion in pursuing engineering finesse. Actually, the key appeal of Honda is the high-strung engine performance—for example, its Type R engines. It is able to create a car that is very attractive to the driver. Anyone who drives a Honda will know what the car is doing. It is easy for the driver to communicate with the car. Another thing is that it can create tough cars like the Type Rs that can take it to the track without doing anything—the power, handling and other aspects are all there. Even when Honda pulled out of the F1, what kept me there was the spirit rather than what it had achieved.
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Fuelled By
Inspiration PHOTOGRAPHY • STAN NGO
Honda fan Ian Lim emulates the automaker’s philosophy, showing that know-how and a lot of passion will go a long way.
How many Honda cars have you owned? In total, I’ve owned around 11 of them. The first was the automatic Honda [Civic] ESi— that was I think in 2000. I had that for around a month, and then an EG9 for about a year. And after that, a 3-door EK4—that’s the longest, probably about four years. That was also around the time that I started with a lot of modifying and enhancements. After that was an EP3 for about a year and three months or so, followed by a Honda Fit for about six months in 2007. After the Fit were two cars: the Beat—which I bought in September 2007—and the Civic Type R FD2R, for about another year and after that a FD2M Si, the normal one. Honda Beat! Tell us more about it. I bought it in 2007, so I’ve had it for about four years. The reason it initially appealed to me aside from the Honda enthusiast aspect was that it has a multi-throttle engine, and it’s very rare for a factory engine to be multi-throttle. So with that also comes some performance advantage, though it’s still not as much compared to a turbocharged engine. But then again, the handling of the car is almost like a go-kart, so no power steering— wherever you point, it goes. And when you manage to get enough power on the corner, you are able to perform some drifts. I did a major reconditioning of it, so I have quite a bit of Mugen parts, like Mugen
suspension , the shockers, the extractor, the silencer, the cooling system, thermostats. On top of that, other things like the strut bars that you can only find in JDM. The coolest thing about the Beat is that it turns heads wherever it goes. [Laughs] I don’t think that many people would know where the engine is, but those who do know that it has a midship engine will find it pretty attractive for a small car. Would you consider replacing your Beat? I’m quite open to it! [Laughs] Because at the moment, I’m looking at the very attractive CR-Z. Being a Honda enthusiast, NSX is always in my mind—the reason I got the Beat was because it was known as the “mini NSX”. So we’ve already seen how the HSV performs— it has already won the Super GT Championship—but my purchase will be determined by when the new models release. As a Honda enthusiast, what would you like to say to the automaker? At the moment, the major criticism is, where’s the next R? Because it seems that Honda has not launched anything to replace the series, and now there’s a vacuum. So while other manufacturers are still keeping the pressure on with a lot of new models, like FT-86 and the new Impreza, where’s Honda’s sports car? It ought to be releasing a high perfor-
mance CR-Z and it should start to release news about what its plans are going to be for the NSX and maybe the Beat. These three models may not be bestsellers, but many people are looking up to Honda as a leader for the Japanese car market. How did your love for Honda influence your career path? By the age of 12, I had decided that whatever car I buy will be a Honda, and that my line of work would be related to Honda. It would be ideal to be able to work for Honda itself, but of course it seemed quite remote. [Laughs] At school, I chose Business to pursue a career in the car business. I specialised in Marketing, so a lot of projects that I did was about Honda. Watching Honda win so many champion-
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BEST GOURMET グ ルメ
F ly
me
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th
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Mini Snow Skin Almond with Black Sesame Paste Mooncake
Mandarin Court Chinese Restaurant
Baked Mooncake with Mixed Nuts and Jamón ibérico
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of four). For a lighter and healthier treat, sample the Baked Mooncake with Macadamia Nuts and Low Sugar White Lotus Paste ($50+ for a box of four), which is sure to delight even the most discerning gourmands. For those with an insatiable sweet tooth, Mandarin Court’s delicate snow skin mooncakes promise to enrapture with their refreshing and Happily, one need not look complementary flavours. further than these fine Inspired by the much-loved establishments to indulge Cantonese dessert, Yuan in the most decadent Yang—a combination of black sesame and almond mooncake delights. pastes—the new Mini Snow Skin Almond with Black Sesame Paste Mooncake ($48+ for a box of eight) features the subtle flavour of almonds and the sweetness of black sesame beneath a pristine white snow skin wrapper. Another must-try is the Mini Snow Skin Purple Sweet Potato and Amaretto Truffle Mooncake ($52+ for a box of eight), a sophisticated and delicious affair where smooth sweet purple potato paste conceals a white chocolate ganache flavoured by a dash of almond liqueur. Back by popular demand, the Mini Snow Skin Green Tea with Melon Seeds Mooncake ($48+ for a box of eight) delights with its refreshing blend of smooth aromatic green tea-infused For a Mid-Autumn treat, lotus paste and crunchy melon seeds, head down to Mandarin Orchard, all packed with antioxidants. And do which is one of the last remaining not go heady with the Mini Snow Skin hotels in Singapore to lovingly Lychee Martini Mooncake ($52+ for handcraft its mooncakes. Chinese a box of eight), a delicate saccharine Executive Chef Sunny Kong takes the creation that carries a hint of your helm at the award-winning Mandarin favourite cocktail. Court Chinese Restaurant, where he For a taste of everything, indulge in oversees the entire creative process, the Assorted Mini Snow Skin Selection from the preparation of the dough to ($58+ per box), which contains two the wrapping of the filling to the baking pieces of each snow skin mooncake of these traditional pastries. The flavour and which is sure to delight newest addition to his selection is the sweet-lovers. Meanwhile, the Mandarin decadent Baked Mooncake with Mixed Premium Jewel Box Collection ($228+ Nuts and Jamón ibérico ($58+ for a per box) is the perfect gift for family, box of four), infused with the combined friends and business associates, and flavours of rich Spanish ham and features the Baked Mooncake with crunchy nuts. Other time-honoured Mixed Nuts and Jamón ibérico, Baked favourites include the Baked Mooncake Mooncake with Double Yolks and with Double Yolks and White Lotus White Lotus Paste, Baked Mooncake Paste ($56+ for a box of four), Baked with Single Yolk and Red Lotus Paste Mooncake with Single Yolk and White and Baked Mooncake with Macadamia Lotus Paste ($54+ for a box of four) Nuts and Low Sugar White Lotus and Baked Mooncake with Single Yolk Paste. and Red Lotus Paste ($54+ for a box
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For orders and enquiries on discounts and promotions, please call Mandarin Court Chinese Restaurant at (65) 6831 6262/66 or email dine.orchard@meritushotels.com.
The Regent Singapore
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White Lotus Paste with Double Yolk and Melon Seeds and Parma Ham and Pork Floss with Assorted Nuts
The Regent returns with its popular baked Parma Ham and Pork Floss with Assorted Nuts mooncake ($56+ for a box of four, $35+ for a box of two). Inspired by its flagship Italian restaurant, Basilico, this savoury, crunchy delight melds premium Parma Ham—cured for 24 months—with generous helpings of an assortment of nuts, white sesame, winter melon and melon seeds. Accentuated with the light, subtle taste of pork floss and a twist of orange peel, its tantalising taste and texture make it a treat for all ages. Other delicious baked signatures include White Lotus Paste with Double Yolk and Melon Seeds ($56+ for a box of four, $33+ for a box of two), White Lotus Paste with Single Yolk and Melon Seeds ($52+ for a box of four, $31+ for a box of two), and White Lotus Paste with Melon Seeds ($48+ for a box of four, $29+ for a box of two). For lighter, sweeter delicacies, sample The Regent’s diverse selection of hand-crafted snow skin mooncakes, which includes favourites like the Signature Black Sesame Paste with Melon Seeds ($49+ for a box of eight), the aromatic Green Tea Paste with Melon Seeds ($49+ for a box of eight),
Celebrate the 2011 MidAutumn Festival with The Regent’s assortment of snow skin mooncakes.
the lauded White Lotus Paste with Yolk and Melon Seeds ($49+ for a box of eight), and the bestselling Durian Paste ($49+ for a box of eight). Also try The Regent’s two newest creations: the mouth-watering Pandan Paste with Yolk and Melon Seeds ($49+ for a box of eight) and Persimmon Paste ($49+ for a box of eight). These exquisitely smooth mooncakes are both tender to the palate and are a rich source of vitamins and anti-oxidants. The packaging of The Regent’s mooncakes fully encapsulates the joy of the season. The jewel-toned box is enlivened by swatches of red, silver and gold, and a prized Song Thrush in a golden cage is depicted. A fruitbearing Persimmon tree symbolises joy, life and abundance. Inside, Tang Dynasty poet, Wang Wei’s, immortal words glorify the simple elegance of the mountains and their kaleidoscope of Autumn colours. Cheerful birds augment this landscape of tranquillity and peace. Placed in an eco-friendly recyclable woven bag, the packaging draws attention to The Regent Singapore’s “Green” Hotel status, as its five environmental awards will also attest.
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