BMW M8 GC Geneva

01: Bentley Bentayga Hybrid

What is this? A six-cylinder Bentley? Yes, but that is not quite the full story. Crewe’s behemoth sport utility vehicle has finally received an eco-friendly powertrain option: a hybrid that mates the said engine with an electric motor to bring carbon emissions down to a hatchback-like 75 g/km.

A 2.5-hour charge using a Philippe Starck-designed dock can juice the car up for a 50 km-long sojourn. This means, in Singapore at least, that you can make the average daily commute without ever stopping by a petrol station. Mind-boggling for an object that will weigh over an estimated three tons.

02: BMW M8 Gran Coupe

Reviving a neglected – but well-loved – nameplate at Munich’s Bayerische Motoren Werke, the 8-series is a long-awaited replacement for the iconic 840i/850i (pop-up headlamps, anyone?) last sold in the previous century. Still in the concept stage, the M8 Gran Coupe will serve as the range topper and is slated in 2019 to complete the family of two-doors and convertibles due out this year.

Expect typical BMW M touches, such as a roof made of carbon fibre reinforced plastic and a 4.4-litre V8 motor that will most certainly exceed the M5’s 591 bhp power by a sizeable margin.

03: Ferrari 488 Pista

The 360 Challenge Stradale, 430 Scuderia and 458 Speciale are all legends in the annals of Ferrari history – and now, the 488 Pista is about to top the lot. The successor to the Ferrari V8 special series pushes out 720 hp (up by more than 100 hp from its predecessor) from the now-familiar turbocharged lump used throughout the prancing horse product line, albeit at its most highly strung state of tune yet.

The headline figures – 2.85 seconds to 100 km/h, 7.6 seconds to 200 km/h and a Vmax in excess of 340 km/h – come courtesy of modifications from the standard 488 such as a nip tuck of 90 kg and Formula One-inspired aerodynamic tweaks.

04: Jaguar XJ6

Deserving of a double take is this blast from the past: a 1984 luxury sedan, updated to 2018 standards. Built over 3,500 hours by Jaguar Land Rover Classics on commission by Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain, the Series 3 XJ6 receives 4,000 modern parts including LED headlamps, an infotainment screen and push-button start.

This one-off piece is finished in a brilliant mauve paint and trimmed in stunning Pimento red leather, befitting of the flamboyant, ardent Jaguar fan. And naturally, the speakers are powered by no less than a 1,100-watt sound system.

05: McLaren Senna GTR

The closest thing to a Formula One car a mere mortal can buy – if you have a million pounds to spare. Hot on the heels of the “standard” Senna introduced only last December, the GTR is a track-only model created for one sole purpose in life: blazing lap times. Power goes up by 25 horses to a breathtaking 814hp.

The increase does not seem much, but that is because the go-faster trick here is the extreme aerodynamics makeover. The massive front spoiler and rear diffuser generate one metric ton of peak downforce – equivalent to the weight of 10 baby elephants created on demand – that ensures the GTR drives around corners as if it were on rails.

06: Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door

Here’s one for scaring the offspring in. Following the SLS and GT 2-Door coupes – and offering the same tail-happy drifting dynamics – the first family car by Daimler’s high performance arm comes in three variants, with the most powerful of the lot capable of reaching 100 km/h from standstill in a seriously quick 3.2 seconds.

Despite the sexy fastback silhouette, the car possesses rear seats that dish out a surprising amount of legroom and headroom. If you are not carrying passengers at the back, the boot expands from a modest 395 litres to a truly usable 1,324 litres. Proving to be a bona fide daily driver, this.

07: VW ID Vizzion

The idea of a car with no steering wheel or pedals may scare the bejeezus out of you. But consider this: instead of struggling with morning traffic, you may instead catch up on Facebook (or whatever the social media platform du jour is in 2022). Or you can send your kid to school, while you are still in bed.

Piloted by a “digital chauffeur”, the Volkswagen I.D. Vizzion is a clean-slate design for an autonomous future. The dashboard – if it can be called that – has no visible controls, and the drivetrain is completely electric. Range is up to 665 km and top speed is 180 km/h – this car will render the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail obsolete even before the first locomotive rolls out in 2026.

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