Category: Wheels

Of Land and Sea: Azimut and Apollo party a true VIP event

Luxury yacht maker Azimut and Apollo, the boutique hypercar manufacturer, hosted an exclusive event at the Hong Kong Yacht Club to celebrate their newest products. Azimut unveiled its latest Grande 27 Metri design, while Apollo put the spotlight on Intensa Emozione, a V12 superleggera automobile. Local celebrities and socialites turned up in full force for this unique event including Cantopop star Pakho Chau, singer/actress Shiga Lin, model Zelia Zhong, JW and Kelvin Kwan.

From start to finish, Azimut and Apollo pulled out all the stops to ensure the celebrations were truly memorable. The evening began with Hong Kong celeb Julian Cheung serenading guests with a live set atop the Azimut Grande 27 Metri. Dinner entertainment featured a procession of seven Azimut yachts through Victoria Harbour near the venue, much like models walking down a fashion runway. The VIPs were even treated to a first look at Apollo’s stunning new flagship Intensa Emozione hypercar.

Nelson Piquet Jr makes Jaguar team debut at HK Formula E

The streets of Hong Kong played host to the FIA Formula E electric race series for the second time last weekend. Ten teams representing top automotive brands from around the world participated in what was the first race of the 2017-2018 season. Among the eager drivers clamouring for a podium position was Nelson Piquet Jr, the winner of the E-Prix’s inaugural series in 2015.

Coming from a strong familial racing heritage – his father, Nelson Piquet Sr, won three Formula One championships – Piquet Jr made his Panasonic Jaguar team debut this year, placing fourth in the first race. His teammate Mitch Evans went on to grab a prized podium spot the following day.

We sat down with Nelson Piquet Jr to find out more about his passion for racing, his views on Formula E, and his hopes for the Panasonic Jaguar team.  

Fit for a road trip: Maserati’s new GranTurismo is built for long-distance cruising

How should one choose a car? Some would argue that cool-headed analysis is the way to go, using dispassionate logic to compare objective measurements of size, performance and value for money. One criterion, however, cannot be quantified and slapped onto a spread sheet. How does the car make one feel?

The heroic battle cry escaping the exhausts on Maserati’s GranTurismo will quell any doubts over which luxury grand tourer reigns supreme. The sound seems to bypass the ears, speaking straight to the soul with more conviction than any salesman could ever summon.

Updated for 2018, the Sport – introduced alongside the GranTurismo MC – is something of a welcome antidote to the modern trend of high-performance uber-coupes. Ferraris, Porsches, Aston Martins and Mercedes-Benzes all seem to be trying too hard. Their strenuous efforts suggest a certain lack of confidence – a fidgety need to outdo one another with this statistic or that.

The GranTurismo Sport, by contrast, is comfortable in its own Pininfarina-designed skin. Confident in its innate excellence, it seems to have nothing to prove. Much of this personality stems from its engine. The GranTurismo Sport shuns forced induction in favour of a 4.7-litre V8.

This is, admittedly, something of a trade-off. Turbo-chargers do indeed increase power output when performance is called for, while also enabling lower fuel consumption when a gentle cruise is enough. The downside is that they strangle the exhaust note, robbing it of its bellicose glory.

Free of turbos, the GranTurismo Sport can let loose a full-blooded roar at full throttle. When lifting off the gas pedal, it spits and crackles on overrun. And with 338kW under one’s right foot, the Maserati is far from lacking in the power department. Channelled to the rear wheels through a six-speed ZF semi-automatic gear box, it’s sufficient for a 4.8-second sprint to 100kph–plenty fast for any practical, real-world application.

The way the engine delivers its power is old-school. At lower revs there’s less torque, so an injudicious tap on the throttle won’t send the car lurching into the back of a truck in queuing traffic. This makes it more forgiving to drive in cities and parking garages.

Handling is less knife-edge than a sports car. The suspension is flexible rather than harsh, tuned for travelling through the imperfect real world instead of the artificially silky confines of the race track.

And unlike sports cars, the Maserati offers a softer, more forgiving ride which absorbs imperfections without losing grip, letting the driver comfortably sustain higher speeds with less exertion. Hard cornering does induce pronounced body roll and one has to wait for the car’s mass to transfer onto the outside wheels as the long-travel springs compress.

As a result, swift driving requires carefully judged timing and a measured wave of the hands on the wheel instead of aggressive stabs. The steering is accurate but lacks tactile feedback. However, what would be a downside for a track-focused car is a relaxing boon for longer journeys traversed at less than racing speed on rougher roads.

If pressed right to the limit of cornering ability, the GranTurismo Sport does produce an impressive dose of lateral force. Pushed too hard, the car will understeer, but thanks to that flexible suspension, a lift off the throttle will transfer weight forward to neutralise the imbalance.

For highway driving, the Maserati is a delight. That big V8 settles down to a baritone purr in high gear, wafting along effortlessly. The ride is smooth, with little hint of road imperfection interrupting the serenity. The cabin is a nice place to relax for hours on end while the scenery blurs past. As one would expect from a prestigious marque, there’s plenty of exquisitely stitched leather everywhere, complemented by alcantara suede.

The interior design charms with small touches of whimsical flair, from the cat’s iris-shaped central dash clock to the oversized gear selector paddles.

The updated GranTurismo range offers an 8.4-inch central touchscreen, making access and control of the satnav and other functions that little bit easier. The car is a genuine four-seater, rather than a two-plus-two, and luggage space is ample, too.

There are faster cars on the market. There are bigger and more comfortable cars on the market. The GranTurismo, however, is arguably one of the most likeable cars money can buy.

www.maserati.hk

Kowloon Bay Showroom: 2627 8986
Wan Chai Showroom:2627 8983

Text: James O’Donnell
Photos: Maserati

For the full article, please check out the latest issue of Gafencu’s print magazine or the Gafencu app. Download the app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

Car Craze: Gold Coast Motor Festival thrills city’s car enthusiasts

The Gold Coast Motor Festival, Hong Kong’s premier motor event, returned for a wildly successful second instalment earlier this month. Officially opened by HK Secretary of Development Michael Wong Wai-lun, the festival’s main attraction was a display of over 80 showstopper models ranging from vintage cars to the latest in hypercar royalty.

Vintage car lovers were enthralled by a mint-condition classic Ferrari 250 GT/E, which first debuted at the legendary Le Mans 24-Hour Race in 1960. Modern petrol heads, meanwhile, were given a first look at Bugatti’s new automotive marvel, the Chiron.

Other standout cars included a limited-edition Lamborghini Sesto Elemento, a Toyota 2000GT (Japan’s first supercar), a one-of-a-kind Pagani Zonda Fantasma Evo and a 1926 3-litre Bentley. 

The fun-filled weekend event also put the spotlight on burgeoning local talents, showcasing two award-winning and innovative electric vehicles designed by HKU and Institute of Vocational Education students.

Boasting an impressive range of activities such as children’s electric car racing, bumper boats, live performances and even a Concours d’Elegance competition, the Gold Coast Motor Festival proved to be a thoroughly entertaining and educational event for all.

 

Raze the Roof: McLaren’s 570S Spider merges Formula 1 tech with open-top sexiness

Imagine, gentle reader, a cardboard box. Picture this box fresh and new, securely taped shut – both top and bottom.

Strong, isn’t it? Nice and rigid, resisting forces applied to it with stern resilience.

Now slice the top off and see what it becomes: a feeble, floppy mess, twisting this way and that at the slightest pressure. Removing the extra support provided by the top dramatically reduces the strength of the box as a whole.

The same, on a larger scale, is true of cars. A strong coupé or saloon body shell can be rendered a bendy embarrassment by cutting the roof off in a bid to manufacture wind-in-the-hair glee.

Car makers are usually faced with a choice between accepting the sloppy handling a weakened chop-top chassis inevitably creates or adding strengthening girders to the remaining bottom portion of the car to stiffen things up, resulting in extra weight.

The new open-topped Spider edition of McLaren’s 570S sports car, however, is neither heavy nor floppy. The convertible is every bit as stiff and agile as its fixed-roof siblings, while squashing the scales with about the same heft.

The source of this have-your-cake-and-eat-it miracle is a solid chunk of racing car technology at the heart of all modern McLaren models – a carbon fibre ‘tub’. Most cars derive their strength from a continuous metal body shell, with forces spread across the floor and roof. By contrast, McLaren’s carbon fibre tub – so called because it’s shaped like a broad bathtub – holds strong with or without a roof.

The benefits of this carbon fibre backbone are numerous. Increased stiffness makes for more predictable and consistent handling, with the suspension geometry undisturbed by chassis flex. Reduced weight makes the car more agile, allowing for quicker acceleration and improved braking around corners.

The tub also acts as a survival cell, armouring occupants against crash damage. But perhaps the biggest boon is the feeling of shared experience with professional racers that a 570S Spider owner derives from knowing that this car is based on Formula 1 technology.

That sense of kinship with those who wear scorch-proof onesies and spray champagne for a living is further underlined by the Spider’s driving experience. It’s amazingly fast.

From a standing start, the 494kw 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 will hurl the McLaren’s 1,498kg to 100kph in just 3.2 seconds. Given enough road and enough bravery, a top speed of 328kph is possible.

These abstract numbers do little to communicate the startlingly rapid way that the world rushes to meet the driver.

After the mental shock comes the physical. Accelerating hard isn’t so bad; simply lean back and let the headrest take the strain. Braking is a different matter. Squeezing on the optional carbon ceramic brakes is like crash landing in water. Neck muscles strain to keep one’s focal point ahead rather than straight down.

The brakes are one of the few flat notes in the Spider’s symphony of speed. While they respond well –  translating foot pressure into deceleration promptly and predictably – there’s little feel through the pedal, making the job of judging grip levels more difficult.

As a high-speed attack weapon, the Spider is an impressive performer, but it’s capable of more than one trick. With the roof fixed in place and a gentle touch on the controls, it’s also a civilised and comfortable everyday car.

Offering good all-round visibility and taking up a sensible portion of road space, it’s easy to drive through crowded city streets and manoeuvre into cramped parking spots. Although stiffer than an SUV, the suspension will soak up lumps, bumps and potholes well enough to prevent discomfort.

It’s also a competent long-distance weekend cruiser. With the roof in place there’s little clue that the Spider is in fact a convertible. The wind roar at high speeds is minimal and the road noise is acceptable, albeit more than one might expect from a typical luxury saloon or coupé.

Overall, the Spider does everything a fixed-head 570S does, with the added element of open-top driving pleasure. The only question is whether those advantages justify the HK$205,000 price increase over the Coupé. A quick top-down, full-throttle blast through a tunnel should be answer enough for anyone.

Text: James O’Donnell
Photos: McLaren

For the full article, please check out the latest issue of Gafencu’s print magazine or the Gafencu app. Download the app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store

BMW’s 6-series GT promises sportier, roomier ride

Car enthusiasts listen up! The latest line of BMW luxury cars has just landed in our city. The new 6-series Gran Turismo, first unveiled at Frankfurt’s International Motor Show back in September, promises a sportier, speedier and more spacious ride than its predecessor.

Several variations of the 6-series GT will be up for grabs. Here’s a quick look at the entry-level 630i petrol model’s stats. There’s a 2-litre four-cylinder TwinPower Turbo engine with an eight-speed Steptronic transmission that delivers 258bhp and 400Nm of torque and goes from 0-100kph in just 6.3 seconds. Fuel consumption averages around 15-16km per litre.

Countless tweaks and updates have been made, but let’s skip over the technical mumbo jumbo and get right to what really distinguishes this car from the popular 5-series model.

For starters, over 150kgs have been shed and ride height lowered slightly for a lighter sportier drive experience.

There’s also more room in the boot for your suitcases, golf clubs or other paraphernalia – 110 litres more, to be precise. If that’s not enough, the rear seats drop down for yet more storage space.

But the best upgrades are in the driver’s seat. Opt in for some optional extras, it almost feels like you’re driving a spaceship, especially with the enlarged Head-Up Display and gesture control. There’s also a 10.25-inch touch screen control pad, intelligent voice-control assistance and eight massage programmes in the plush leather seat.

Dr Ian Robertson, board member for BMW AG commented, “The BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo offers a unique combination of luxurious interior comfort and flexible practicality, packaged within a truly elegant design.”

Official sales for the BMW 6-Series Gran Turismo get underway in November 2017.

Text: Tenzing Thondup
Photos: Gigi Ip, BMW

The Rolls-Royce Phantom VIII is more than just a car

Want to own the most expensive car in the world? Of course you do, but that aspiration has become a little more challenging with the advent of the 2018 Rolls-Royce Phantom VIII. Starting prices will be high, that is true, but there’s also no cap on the maximum price you can pay.

You see, with the modernisation and redesign of such an iconic model, the car is no longer just a car. Not that a Rolls was ever just a car, but with this latest model, buyers have unlimited options for customising and beautifying their personal Phantom.

That’s because the vehicle designates a portion of the dashboard for displaying artworks. Dubbed “The Gallery”, it encapsulates the idea that not only should the car’s interior be up to the aesthetic standards of a major art gallery, but it should also house major works of art. Perhaps very valuable ones. Rolls-Royce have commissioned pieces from major artists, hence the potential shift in the cost of your new Roller from pricey to priceless. The manufacturer, however, has been mum about the starting price.

Giles Taylor, design director for Rolls-Royce, explains that Phantom owners can “stage beautiful materials and textures and fine objets d’art – real three-dimensional pieces – that can sit behind this piece of glass”.

With the UK asking price starting at £300,000 (HK$3.2 million) for the 2017 issue of the Phantom VII, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to install a £200,000 work of art in a car of the Phantom VIII’s stature.

This could have an intriguing effect on the vehicle’s ongoing value. Even a Rolls-Royce will depreciate in value with age, but art has been known to do the opposite. This could present buyers with an irresistible investment challenge.

But what of the car? If the Phantom VIII turns out to be a lemon or does not significantly improve on the VII, the best art in the world won’t want to sit in it. Have the designers at Rolls produced a car that will match he accolades received by the first Goodwood Phantom produced under BMW ownership, the VII, released in 2003?

Only time will tell the full story, but the reaction from the industry so far is sounding like a resounding “Yes!”

The Phantom has gone from conservatively classic to classically stylish. The austere lines of the sedan have finally been sculpted and softened into perfectly proportioned beauty – a true journey from royal barge to royal yacht. The proud, high bow sporting the classic Rolls- Royce Pantheon grille represents the ultimate in VIP conveyance. A generous freeboard incorporating the classic coach-door configuration and a gently tapered stern and cabin top make for an automotive masterpiece that looks like it could cruise majestically above traffic.

Riding in a Phantom VIII might well give you that sensation. The Rolls as a means of transport has always been more about what it feels like to be inside one than what it looks like from the outside. Internally, Rolls-Royce design ideology seems more about what you don’t notice than what you do.

The first thing you won’t notice in the cabin of the Phantom is the noise. This is hands-down the quietest car in the world. On top of the 135kG of sound insulation cocooning the cabin, the tyres have special layers of foam built into them to cut down cavitation noise by 9dB. The almost seamless construction of the all-aluminium body shell also contributes to the phenomenal sound insulation performance, and it significantly reduces the weight of the vehicle, too.

Once you get going you might not notice you’re moving. Apart from not being able to hear it, the smooth and gentle acceleration provided by the massive 6.75-litre V-12 engine and GPS-aided 8-speed automatic gearbox – combined with the self-levelling air suspension – ensures the most magical ride ever delivered by Rolls-Royce.

Of course you can get to 60mph (97kph) in around 5 seconds if you need to. That 6.75-litre monster can chuck it out. And the top speed of 155mph (250kph) ensures you will leave those pesky paparazzi floundering in your wake. However, the engine is tuned for steadiness rather than speed, with particular attention paid to smooth motion at low speeds – ideal for those cross-harbour tunnel crawls at rush hour.

Another thing you might not notice, since they are so cleverly built into the seat-backs, doors, armrests and such, is the full compliment of amenities such as screens, table trays, lighting configurations and a drinks cabinet.

Everything you would think of – and some you wouldn’t – is elegantly and discretely provided. Wifi? Hotspot. Phone? Hands-free. Winter chill? Heated seat. The list goes on.

Even if it’s not on the list, Rolls- Royce will put it there. After all, you are buying a hand-built car with incredibly low production numbers (only 1,000 a year).

The artisans at Goodwood will make any modifications you desire. Diamonds embedded in the paint finish? No problem. Hand-made sculptural Champagne cooler? What colour would you like, Madam?

All this factors in nicely with the whole car-as-gallery concept. Indeed, purchasing a Phantom VIII is akin to commissioning a comfortable and competently mobile work of art, rather than just an incredibly nice car.

Luxury and comfort are what it’s all about with Rolls-Royce, and you certainly won’t feel any discomfort inside the Phantom. The slight inward angling of the seats makes for a more intimate ambience, allowing easier engagement with the other passenger without having to shift into an awkward position. Various seating options are available, including the new sleeping seat.

All things considered, though, is the new Phantom a car to own in Hong Kong? Rolls-Royce certainly have history here. The Governor’s Rolls-Royce, a Phantom V with landaulette coachwork, was used to convey Queen Elizabeth II when she made a visit to Hong Kong in 1975. HSBC also had at least one Rolls, and the famous Peninsula Hotel had a fleet of dark green Phantoms.

The brand’s illustrious history in the territory may answer that question, but if price is no object and you have a passion for the priceless, a cocoon of comfort and a seat of luxury could be just the remedy for this crazy, noisy city of extremes.

The downside? Only one really – not being able to afford it in the first place. It’s a Rolls after all!

Text: Clive Keep

MINI hosts YDC 2017 to support young fashion designers in Hong Kong

Fashion and automobiles have something common in their DNA. They both go a long way in revealing about their owners’ personality.

So it should hardly come as a surprise that iconic carmaker, MINI, known for the unique make of its models MINI Clubman, MINI Countryman and MINI Cooper, has been supporting budding Hong Kong fashion labels for quite some time now.

As a natural extension of that, MINI recently sponsored the Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers’ Contest 2017 (YDC). Young, upcoming designers like Aries Sin, Mim Mak and Derek Chan showcased their talents in the contest.

As a tribute to MINI, each of the designers created small MINI-inspired mementos for the occasion.

Apart from the beautiful designs on the ramp, what caught our attention was the MINI John Cooper Works Convertible which was displayed for the first time at the venue.

Happy Camper: hit the road in a ‘mobile mansion’

For those who need the comforts of home when they embark on a road trip, the EleMMent Palazzo Superior motor home is a must. Costing a cool HK$23.5 million, the “mobile mansion” is designed by the famed Luigi Colani, a German industrial designer. Built on a Volvo chassis and powered by a Volvo engine, the RV is a testament to excess. The world’s most expensive RV comes equipped with a master bedroom and king-sized bed, a lounge area and a modern kitchenette. At 13.7m in length, the RV has plenty of room to travel comfortably. It also boasts an expandable roof deck, which comes with banquette seating, a mood-lit canopy, an audio system and a wet bar.

The floor plan of the EleMMent Palazzo Superior is designed for leisurely travel, and a 4m-long couch is within quick reach of the bar, wine cabinet and icemaker. There’s also a large-screen TV and an open kitchenette, making guests feel as if they never left home.

The master bedroom lets guests feel like royalty: the bed was manufactured by the same supplier of the British royal family. To really unwind, the bathroom comes with a spa area and rainfall shower. The cockpit features a panoramic, helicopter-like windshield that can be darkened in two stages using an adjustable sun protection system.

 

Rover Supreme

Clive Keep jets off to Norway to test drive Range Rover’s new luxury SUV: the Velar

When we were first approached by Land Rover about a trip to Norway, we were intrigued. The rugged landscape and picturesque scenery seemed an ideal place to put the latest addition to the Range Rover family of luxury SUVs – the Velar First Edition – through its paces. In a word, adventure sprang to mind, and that’s exactly what it turned out to be.

The charter flight from Farnborough in England to Molde in Norway was spent engrossed in a plethora of highly informative video presentations, photos and spec sheets about the car. Conveniently delivered through distributed iPads, this was a foretaste of the quality and attention to detail we were about to find lined up on the tarmac at Molde Airport. After a short briefing we were allocated cars, and soon we were en route to our first destination, the village of Meringdal.

As far as first impressions go, the Velar made a big one. At 4.8m long, 2.1m wide (including mirrors) and almost 1.7m high, it makes its presence known. The Velar is slightly larger than the 2017 Jaguar F-Pace – measuring 4.7m by 1.9m by 1.7m – but it’s still reassuringly human-scale by SUV standards. The nearly 1,250-litre (44 cubic foot) boot space easily accommodated our luggage, and we were soon on the road.

We felt a slight squeeze while passing oncoming vehicles on the narrow roads leading to the airport’s exit, but thanks to the sensors in the car’s wing mirrors displaying tracking status and alerts, confident handling and a sense of the car’s dimensions came quickly.

The cabin and dashboard layout are a testament to refined simplicity – a true triumph of ergonomic design. Within minutes we were happily playing with the entertainment system and exploring other settings and features on the two centrally-located 10.5-inch HD touchscreens. With a windscreen heads-up display showing navigation, tracking, speed and speed limits, we were soon comfortably cruising through the beautiful scenery of rural Norway.

After a delicious lunch in an idyllic setting in Meringdal, we were on the road again to the Storfjord Hotel, named after the municipality where it’s located. Unfortunately there are few motorways in that part of Norway and we were itching to open up and see what the powerful and innovative Ingenium 2-litre engine could do. A couple of chances to overtake slower-moving vehicles later on gave us a taste of the raw power under the hood. And impressive it was, letting us quickly and safely pass dawdlers with a throaty roar, leaving them in our wake.

Zero to 100kph in 5.7 seconds for the 3-litre V6 petrol version is impressive for a car of this size, and the 8-speed automatic gearbox was so smooth that gear changes were hardly noticeable. Even during the brief patches of rain we encountered, road holding was firm and solid, and braking was smoothly incremental.

To succinctly sum up the Velar – it just works. It seems to be a car that can take anything you throw at it. This impression was borne out when we got to Salmon Wharf, where we were greeted by an odd arrangement of misshapen ramps, sloping walls and a giant hump. As a driver with little off-road experience it was exhilarating, if not a bit terrifying, to drive around this obstacle course and see exactly what this car could do.

This demonstration afforded us a close-up look at the Velar in its off-road driving mode with the double wishbone front and integral link rear suspension (air or coil springs and continuously variable dampers). We also got to witness the torque on-demand all-wheel drive in full action. The Velar proved to be a car that can take it fast and sharp or slow and steady with equal mastery.
During pre-dinner drinks at the hotel, a short presentation was given about the design of the car. Here we were told about the designers’ aspirations to reduce visual noise and clutter, following the concept of reductionism. This is best exemplified by the flush fit door handles and slim-line Matrix-Laser LED headlights. The overall integrity and minimalism in the Velar’s waistline is one of the most attractive aspects of its exterior design.

The sleekness of the First Edition is impressive too. Its relatively low height was achieved by making adjustments to the suspension in order to increase ground clearance to suit the terrain. This allowed designers to move away from the boxy look of the early Range Rovers. Window height is also minimal, further adding to the impression of a big, powerful beast ploughing through the elements.

The lines of the car perfectly accentuate the streamlining. The base line at chassis height slopes gently upward towards the rear and incorporates the geometry of the front air intakes and additional rear lights, as well as the wheel arches and side panel contours.

The waistline, with an even gentler upward slope, brilliantly integrates the front grille, headlight, bonnet edges, rear lights and the elegantly badged boot lid lip.

The bonnet and roof silhouette complete the picture with the roof-line sloping down towards the stern, creating the impression of a bulbous front with a sleekly tapered tail. Indeed, the car is topologically similar to a tear drop – the geometrical ideal for streamlining.

This reductionist theme also extends to the car’s interior. The dual HD touchscreens – plus an additional dashboard and heads-up display – keep knobs and buttons to a minimum and make for a clean and simple yet highly functional and intuitive layout. As is often the case with luxury vehicles, adding devices via Bluetooth or USB was simple and straightforward. Four USB charging sockets, all centrally located, are an added convenience for passengers.

So why might a driver in Hong Kong opt for the new Range Rover Velar? The city isn’t exactly known for its off-road driving scene. If you had to take your child to hospital in the middle of a typhoon it would certainly be a good choice, but that’s not a scenario that pops up too often.

Off-road adventure isn’t the only thing the Velar has to offer, though. A big, sturdy vehicle with the full compliment of on-board safety features, it’s a car that’s enjoyable to drive under any road conditions.

For comfort and roominess, as well as the feeling of sheer luxury, the Velar has a lot to offer. While the price tag may not be too much of an issue in such a wealthy city, Hong Kong people still want value for money.

Starting at around HK$800,000, or $1.45 million for the top model, the Velar is top-of-the-range in price in Hong Kong. The premium Porsche Macan Turbo starts at HK$1.34 million, but bear in mind that the Velar comes with premium features as standard – not to mention the satisfaction of owning the first of a completely new breed.

For those that simply must have the latest and greatest, the Velar First Edition may become an irresistible choice.

Story: Clive Keep