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Is car blocking black cars the new trend? Apparently it is, because after the infamous Causeway license-plate-plucking incident, another copycat comes fast on its heels! This time, in the heart of one of the seediest neighbourhoods in Singapore, and in broad daylight! You can watch the video here: Fuyoh, Mercedes Vs Woman Wow, what could have possibly possessed her to do that? She should have known that it is quite frowned upon (in general) to try to block moving vehicles. It is also quite dangerous anyway. We investigated and apparently the series of events went like this: The woman approached the driver with an aggressive stance. Cue hostile body language. She jabbed her finger right into his face. Definitely very confrontational. The woman was also seen striding off momentarily to confer with a woman of smaller stature, but it is unsure to us the nature of their discussion. The driver seems to want no part of this, and at some point, gets fed up and tries to brush her off. He then got into his car. It doesn't stop there! Undeterred, the woman planted herself in front of the car, thinking that it would stop him. Unfortunately and expectedly, it did not. Some fun facts; we did some research and the brake horsepower of the vehicle (which we found to be a Mercedes Benz C180 Kompressor A) turned out to be: The brake horsepower of a human, or the woman would equate to: The car is exerting over a 150 times of the brake horsepower she has! Well, she's definitely very plucky for trying, we will give her that... Eventually, the force of the impending car proved too great for her and she was pushed to the side, where she raised her arms in a show of protest, before slinking away. The public opinion was ruthless. As soon as the video made its rounds on the internet, there was an outpouring of comments. Naturally, there came the expected comparisons to a certain carplate-ripping incident: Well, they are quite similar! Safe, indeed. Haha! Well, the females at MyCarForum would beg to differ, OK! Just as well, there were more reasonable comments: Whereas this person provided a very good joke about the possible circumstances regarding this situation... Oh my! Moral of the story If anything is to be taken away from this incident, it is that you should never be deliberately using your body to block the path of a moving vehicle. It could get you injured, or even worse... Have your pictures plastered over the online walls of shame. We'll be eagerly awaiting the backstory of this car-blocking lady, however. ========= Be the first to get the latest road/ COE news, and get first dibs on exclusive promos and giveaways in our Telegram SGCM Community. Join us today!

Horsepower has always been a universal indicator of a car's performance. So, let's find out what are the cars that offers the lowest cost per bhp! To a car enthusiast, every detail in the specification sheet of a car is important as they all play a part in painting a complete picture of the car in point. To most people, however, information such as 'double wishbones suspension', 'Carbon fibre monocoque' or 'gasoline direct injection' are just technical jargons that serve little purpose. Horsepower, however, is much simpler to understand. As the term suggests, the origin of this unit of measurement came from the desire to compare the output of an engine to that of horses (which were used to complete tasks such as pulling carriages in the past). So, more horsepower equals to more energy which is surely a plus point! Our aim here is to find the cars that give you your metaphorical horses at the lowest price point, which will no doubt means the best deal (because, clearly, power is the only thing that matters). Here are the top 20 new cars with the cheapest horsepower. 1. Skoda Octavia 2.0 TSI RS245 $539/bhp Price: $129,900 (including COE) Bhp: 241 OMV: $26,004 Annual Depreciation: $11,600 2. Kia Stinger 3.3 GT V6 $542.46/bhp Price: $197,999 (including COE) Bhp: 365 OMV: $42,239 Annual Depreciation: $17,200 3. SEAT Leon CUPRA 2.0 TSI DSG $543.36/bhp Price: $155,400 (including COE) Bhp: 286 OMV: $33,884 Annual Depreciation: $13,500 4. Maxus G10 Executive 2.0T Luxury $544.18/bhp Price: $116,999 (including COE) Bhp: 215 OMV: $25,085 (Flagship) Annual Depreciation: $10,343.95 5. Subaru Forester 2.0 XT $549.58/bhp Price: $130,800 (including COE) Bhp: 238 OMV: $16,760 Annual Depreciation: $12,200 6. Mazda CX-3 2.0 Standard $575.64/bhp Price: $89,800 (including COE) Bhp: 156 OMV: $17,024 Annual Depreciation: $8,100 7. Hyundai Elantra 1.6 GLS $587.29/bhp Price: $73,999 (including COE) Bhp: 126 OMV: $12,424 Annual Depreciation: $6778.7 8. Skoda Superb 2.0 TSI Ambition $589.40/bhp Price: $127,900 (including COE) Bhp: 217 OMV: $27,255 (Ambition Plus) Annual Depreciation: $11,282.15 9. Subaru WRX 2.5 STI M $593.92/bhp Price: $175,800 (including COE) Bhp: 296 OMV: $26,700 Annual Depreciation: $16,100 10. Subaru WRX 2.0 M $597.73/bhp Price: $157,800 (including COE) Bhp: 264 OMV: $24,239 Annual Depreciation: $14,500 11. Renault Megane RS 1.8T TCe $597.82/bhp Price: $164,999 (including COE) Bhp: 276 OMV: $30,800 Annual Depreciation: $14,700 12. Honda Civic Type-R 2.0 Turbo $598.04/bhp Price: $182,999 (including COE) Bhp: 306 OMV: $41,257 Annual Depreciation: $15,800 13. Toyota Harrier 2.0 Elegance (MY18) $599.07/bhp Price: $135,988 (including COE) Bhp: 227 OMV: $32,604 Annual Depreciation: $11,700 14. Kia Cerato 1.6 L $603.17/bhp Price: $75,999 (including COE) Bhp: 126 OMV: $11,115 Annual Depreciation: $7,000 15. Perodua Bezza 1.3 Premium X (M) $604.26/bhp Price: $56,800 (including COE) Bhp: 94 OMV: $10,986 Annual Depreciation: $5130.70 Source: https://m.sgcarmart.com/articles/articleinfo.php?CT=e&AID=3628

@kusje have spurred me thinking what exactly is a sports car? In today aspect, the line seems to be blurred out by quite a bit. So let's do a debate car by car. And we should start with the not here not there Honda Accord Euro R. From my understanding from Netcarshow.com. Honda produced 2 euro R variant, the CL7 and the CL1. I never include CL9 as it is the ang mo Acura version. Honda Accord EuroR The Honda Accord is an automobile manufactured by Honda, redesigned in 2003 and sold worldwide. Accords sold in Japan (and elsewhere in the world) vary greatly from the US models. In Japan, full-featured Accords are offered. Until 1997, the Accord bi-yearly facelift or four-year redesign was always released a year prior in Japan. Older generations of Accords such as the US 1990-1993 (4th Generation) was actually offered in years 1989-1992 in Japan, and 5th Generation from 1993-1996. Other differences were in features. The 1989-1992 (4th generation) offered in other countries received unheard of equipment for an Accord (until recently) such as a Navigation System, TV, mini-disc player, digital automatic climate control, traction control, Anti-Lock brakes, side-marker lights, heated mirrors, outside temperature gauge, an in-cabin air refiner, map lights, seat heaters, standard fog lamps, headlight washers, rear fog light, full-power seats, telescoping bumper pole, half-mast antenna switch. An Accord Si and Si-T model can also be found in some countries including Japan along with a "Euro R" trim in Europe. In 1998, a major redesign took place for the Accord for its sixth-generation, the largest Accord to date reverted back to its more conservative roots. The wagon was discontinued in North America but remained available elsewhere. Internationally, the Accord split into two distinct versions, one for North America, and another for sale worldwide. The models are often referred to as the Japanese and North American Accords. The larger North American model is based on the Japanese Honda Inspire, while Japanese Accord is sold in North America as the Acura TSX. The Accord was redesigned in 2003 without a size increase of a similar magnitude to the North American model. In comparison, clearly, the North American version is distinct from the worldwide model, being both larger and heftier. The F-series VTEC engines made its debut in the European and Japanese Accords, and the 90° C-series V6 engine was replaced by a more-compact 60° J-series unit for the US Accord. Honda offered the North American Accord in a number of Asian markets, with mixed sales. Both variants of the Accord are sold in Australia-the North American model and the worldwide model. The Japanese model offered a number of hi-tech features not seen elsewhere in the North American range, and minor adjustments to body styling. The Japanese Accord and Inspire also feature Honda's Intelligent Driver System or HIDS which feature safety enhancements such as the Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) and adaptive cruise So what you all think? Is Honda Accord Euro R a sport car? @chaosmyth @kusje @kdash

SYDNEY—BHP Billiton Ltd., the world’s No. 1 miner by market value, recorded its worst-ever annual loss as US$7.7 billion in charges exacerbated a deep slump in commodity prices. Melbourne, Australia-based BHP reported a net loss of $6.39 billion for the 12 months through June, compared with a year-earlier net profit of $1.91 billion. Underlying profit, stripping out one-time charges, slumped 81% to $1.22 billion. HEARD ON THE STREET Heard on the Street: BHP Billiton Mines Cash for Uncertain Future As recently as 2011, annual profits topped $20 billion. The loss deepens the gloom in the global mining sector, which has responded to global economic uncertainty and low prices for commodities from copper to iron ore by closing mines, laying off workers and slashing returns for investors. BHP’s earnings also took hits from problems not shared by many of its mining peers: a deadly disaster at an iron-ore mine in Brazil and weak oil and natural-gas markets. Those enormous charges were largely against the Brazilian venture and U.S. onshore energy assets—$2.2 billion and $4.9 billion, respectively. BHP’s petroleum business, intended to help it through bad times in metals markets, lost $7.72 billion after its write-downs. BHP Billiton’s annual loss was the first at group level since it was formed in 2001 through a merger of Australia’s BHP Ltd. and U.K.-based Billiton PLC. Prior to that, BHP last posted a full-year loss in 1999, also a time of weak prices. ENLARGE “We are clearly very disappointed with this result. However the underlying performance of our business... remains and is getting stronger,” Chief Executive Andrew Mackenzie said. The company, which in February abandoned a policy of stable or rising capital returns, cut its final dividend by 77%. Still, at 14 U.S. cents a share, it was higher than the 8-cent minimum required under its policy, which BHP said reflected confidence in the health of its balance sheet. BHP didn’t signal a recovery in commodity prices was imminent, instead saying that abundant supplies of crude oil and metals such as copper are likely to persist. Also, it sees the economy of China—top consumer of most of BHP’s commodities, including iron ore—as merely stabilizing rather than rebounding. Advertisement In response, BHP said it continues to seek $2.2 billion in savings over the two years ending next June by making its operations more productive, while cautiously advancing new projects such as a U.S. Gulf of Mexico deep-water oil field that can boost revenue. “We are starting to open up at long last a decent margin and therefore strong cash-generating capacity,” Mr. Mackenzie said. The company’s London-listed shares were up 3.5% in midday trading, helped by forecasts BHP could double free cash flow in the year ahead if commodity prices remain stable. Last year, BHP shifted assets in several niche commodities such as manganese and alumina into a new company called South32 Ltd. that was listed in Australia, London and South Africa. Mr. Mackenzie has justified the overhaul—one of the biggest attempted by global miners in the current downturn—as a way to boost BHP’s profits by focusing only on its biggest assets. The strategy hasn’t paid off yet: While South32 shares are up by a quarter over the past year, BHP’s are down 20%. Mr. Mackenzie insists BHP would be worse off now if it hadn’t restructured, and calls the company’s current portfolio “pretty close to what I would say is ideal for BHP Billiton right now.” Credit Suisse said the 2016 financial year should be the low point in the cycle for BHP’s earnings, despite global uncertainty that includes China’s economic slowdown and the U.K.’s vote on June 23 to leave the European Union. Other analysts think BHP may also need to set aside more money due to last year’s deadly dam failure at the Brazilian iron-ore mining operation it jointly owns with Vale SA. To be sure, BHP isn’t alone in grappling with tough commodity markets. In July, Anglo American PLC reported a first-half loss of $813 million as it recorded a $1.2 billion impairment for some Australian coal assets. However, BHP’s purchase of energy assets near the peak of oil and gas prices have compounded its mining woes. The company plowed about $20 billion into U.S.shale assets in 2011, becoming one of the biggest petroleum producers outside of large integrated oil companies such as Exxon Mobil Corp. The oil-price slump has made that unit “a problem child,” Credit Suisse said in an Aug. 9 note. Still, Mr. Mackenzie on Wednesday stood by the energy business for what he called its damping effect on long-range volatility. “Our petroleum business is a better business by being inside a minerals business; our minerals business is a better business by being alongside our petroleum business,” he said.

will anybody be interested to participate in an Alfa dyno day? just power run, about 20min per car. tentative date will be sometime in late Feb or Mar. cost and venue i will confirm if there is enough interest. FWD should be around $60 (based on a previous one i organised at Uber). AWD i'm not so sure.

Recently, we chanced upon a comparsion article where a few of the current and best hot hatches went head to head with each other. What caught my attention was that Volkswagen’s Golf GTI was faster in a straight line to 100km/h and 160km/h as compared to its peers; the Megane 265 Cup and Focus ST. That said, the tested GTI had the Performance Package and DSG, which meant around 227bhp (7bhp more than what we get locally). A little digging on the net revealed that owners of the new GTI have little or no problems keeping up with modified previous generation GTIs. Could it be that Volkswagen underrated the GTI’s output? We estimate it might actually be producing around 250bhp. On another note, if you need more power, one can always opt for a tune up from Oettinger. They claim to be able to make your GTI produce up to 350bhp with the help of a sport exhaust system, new intercooler and new custom air intakes. We believe they will also be changing the mapping of your ECU to help optimise the available potential from the latest EA888 engine. Other upgrades available include Oettinger’s aerodynamic package, which consists of a front spoiler with separate splitter, side skirts, rear diffuser and rear roof spoiler. In addition to the sonorous exhaust system with twin tailpipes either side, the strikingly designed roof spoiler with open R-Flaps provides a sporty stance.

The Lamborghini Cabrera spotted for the first time ever Earlier, about a week ago, I told you that the Lamborghini Cabrera was likely to make its appearance at this year's Frankfurt Motor Show. Now, things are getting closer to reality. The supposedly long-awaited Gallardo replacement has finally been spotted for the first time ever and it has been attracting plenty of hype on the World Wide Web. The previously rumoured Lamborghini Cabrera Unlike what most people believed before, it seems that Italian automaker Lamborghini has changed its mind and that the Cabrera will no longer borrow styling cues from the Lamborghini Aventador. Judging from its front fascia from what I can see in the picture, the model is looks pretty similar to the current generation Lamborghini Gallardo. Yet, the bonnet feels rather long somehow, keeping in mind that the raging bull is supposed to carry a mid-mounted engine. It's also likely that the Cabrera will count on a 600bhp V10 engine mated to an AWD drivetrain and an automatic transmission. Oh, a RWD drivetrain may also show up later as a special edition, I believe. Sadly there isn't much else I can tell you for now since the super car isn't likely to be offered for sale for another two years anyway, so we still have plenty of time to find out more, don't we?