Singapore showcase: The cars of Singapore Motorshow 2023

The Singapore Motorshow 2023 concluded its first show post-pandemic — and the 34,000 visitors saw up close the 140 vehicles on display from 26 automotive brands. The selection of metal proved that motoring is indeed entering electrification — as 58 of these were EVs and hybrid electrified vehicles.

So, today, let’s look back at the carmakers who strutted their stuff at the Singapore Motorshow 2023, and their vehicles that we think made an impact at the returning auto event.

• Alpine
• Audi
• BMW
• BYD
• BYD (CV)
• Citroën
• Ducati
• Honda
• Hyundai
• KIA
• Land Rover
• Lexus
• Lotus
• Mazda
• Mercedes-Benz
• MG
• Mini
• Nissan
• Peugeot
• Polestar
• Skoda
• Subaru
• Suzuki
• Toyota
• Volkswagen
• Volvo

BMW New 3 Series and M3 Touring

Carefully executed exterior design upgrades highlight the character of the 2023 BMW 3 Series and its emphasis on driving pleasure. The interior is modernized and digitized thanks to a newly designed cockpit with BMW Curved Display.

The front and rear aprons now come standard with a sporty new design. The standard full-LED headlights are now slimmer, with clear contours and inverted L-shaped daytime driving lights.
Lightly modified contours and new double bars give the BMW kidney grille a more powerful look while remaining instantly recognizable.

Inside, the standard BMW Curved Display features frameless glass surfaces angled slightly toward the driver. A 12.3-inch information display behind the steering wheel and a 14.9-inch control display merge into a single, fully digital, high-resolution unit. With its latest BMW iDrive, the 2023 3 Series infotainment also hosts various technologies such as BMW Maps, BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant, 5G, and Personal eSIM.

For the first time, a Touring model joins the BMW M3 model family, offering an enticing blend of exhilarating performance and practicality. It is offered exclusively in Competition guise with the M xDrive all-wheel-drive system.

The 510hp six-cylinder in-line engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology sends power to the four wheels of the 2023 BMW M3 Touring via the eight-speed M Steptronic transmission with Drivelogic. The BMW M3 Touring takes just 3.6 seconds to power from zero to 100kph and 12.9 seconds to reach 200kph from rest.

The versatility and space of the 2023 BMW M3 Touring are two features that set it apart. It has three full-size rear seats, with the backrest split 40:20:40 depending on the number of passengers and cargo carried. The load capacity of the BMW M3 Touring can thus be increased from 500 to 1,510 liters.

BYD - Seal and Dolphin

The 2023 BYD Seal EV appears clean and minimalist on the outside, with large LED headlights and C-shaped DRLs at the front. There is still a lot of flair in the style, such as the intricately designed LED lighting elements in the side air vents and bumper trim bits.

Supporting the car is the e-Platform 3.0 underneath the bodywork. It uses CTB (cell-to-body) technology, which integrates the battery pack into the car's body frame, allowing for significant weight savings.

The Long Range variant of the 2023 BYD Seal has an 82.5kWh battery pack with a range of up to 700 kilometers (claimed). It has a dual-motor all-wheel drivetrain (AWD) that allows it to go from zero to 100 mph in 5.9 seconds. A smaller 61.4kWh variant with a 550km driving range is also available. In the Chinese market, an AWD Performance variant is available that accelerates to 100kph in 3.8 seconds.

A single charge lasts 300 kilometers in the five-door electric hatchback known as the BYD Dolphin.

The BYD Dolphin is powered by an AC permanent magnet synchronous motor paired to a BYD Blade Battery LFP. The motor generates 70kW and 180Nm of torque. Meanwhile, the battery has a capacity of 44.9kWh and it can be charged from 30% to 80% in just 30 minutes through DC fast charging.

Aside from being energy-efficient, the Dolphin is also packed with advanced safety features. These include an electronic stability program (ESP), electric parking brake (EPB), traction control system (TCS), controlled deceleration for parking brake (CDP), electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD), hill-start hold control (HHC), and a rearview camera.

Kia Niro EV

The Kia Niro eases the shift to sustainable mobility by offering a variety of low- and zero-emission powertrain options, including hybrid electric (HEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV), and BEV. The Niro combines environmental and practical benefits with a 463-kilometer electric-only range.

Striking and dynamic design that is based on Kia’s famed “Opposites United” design philosophy, particularly the design pillar “Joy for Reason,” highlights the 2023 Kia Niro EV. The colors, materials, and finishes were chosen to achieve the perfect mix of an environmentally responsible approach to mobility and a forward-thinking passenger car vision.

Inside, recycled materials with a premium effect surround the cabin, enhancing the interior space and emphasizing Niro's environmental credentials. To offer a distraction-free yet straightforward user experience, the dashboard and driver controls have limited clutter and clean lines.

Lotus Emira

The 2023 Lotus Emira represents a quantum leap forward for Lotus, building on the legacy of the Elise, Exige, and Evora.

Weighing around 1,400 to 1,500kg, the 2023 Lotus Emira is based on the recently unveiled Lotus Sports Car Architecture. It employs the same ground-breaking Lotus bonded extruded aluminum chassis technology that debuted with the Elise.

Two gas engines are available, a Lotus-engineered 2.0-liter four-cylinder unit from technical partner Mercedes-AMG, and the much-loved and characterful 3.5-liter V6 from the Exige and Evora. Each is calibrated by Lotus to provide a unique and distinctive character for maximum driver engagement. A manual, automatic, or dual-clutch are the transmission options.

Mazda MX-30 EV

To help customers form a personal bond with the electric crossover, the 2023 Mazda MX-30 EV upholds Mazda's key characteristics of compelling driving dynamics and distinctive design.

The 2023 Mazda MX-30 EV is powered by a 35.5kWh lithium-ion battery and Mazda's e-Skyactiv technology, making daily drives more fun. With an EPA estimated range of 160km on a full charge, the Mazda MX-30 EV was developed to suit the needs of urban residents.

As for styling, the MX-30 is contemporary and unmistakably Mazda, while also integrating distinctive design elements like freestyle doors and a floating center console to convey the vehicle's openness. Cork is used in the interior to add warmth and honor Mazda's history as a cork manufacturer.

Mini Strip and Paul Smith x Recharged

The Mini Strip, a one-of-a-kind model co-designed by Paul Smith and Mini, highlights the issue of sustainability in automotive design and manufacturing.

The 2023 Mini Strip, guided by the overarching theme of 'Simplicity, Transparency, Sustainability,' showcases inspirational ideas for a more sustainable method of automotive design. As the name implies, the process began by completely disassembling the MINI Electric and reducing it to its structural bare bones.

Only then were the elements deemed absolutely necessary by the designer defined and implemented, with sustainability taking precedence. Inside, all trim parts have been purposefully omitted (except the dashboard, topper pad, and parcel shelf), turning the bodyshell into the dominant visual feature of the cabin.

A legendary classic is transformed into a modern electric car for emissions-free driving. Sir Paul Smith, a designer with over 50 years of experience, is the creative force behind the Mini Recharged.

Similar to the Mini Strip concept car, the Mini Recharged also features a sustainable and minimalist interior. By deliberately leaving out trim parts, the bodyshell with its bare floor pan remains, but rustic floor mats made of recycled rubber have been added as the interior material.

The engineers from Recharged Heritage Limited are also responsible for making the Mini Recharged. The new carmaker's partner gave the classic Mini an emission-free 72-kilowatt electric motor.

Peugeot 408

With the new 408, Peugeot is offering a new fastback silhouette at the top of the C segment. The 408 sports a feline stance, electrified power, and other convenience features.

The 2023 Peugeot 408 stands out with its dynamic fastback silhouette and feline stance typical of the brand’s models. To complement the sharp lines, the grille is the same color as the bodywork to blend in perfectly with the front end that also proudly boasts the new Peugeot emblem with the head of a lion.

The range of engines powering the 408 includes two rechargeable hybrid versions with 180 and 225bhp and a 130bhp petrol version. All three power plants are paired with an eight-speed electronic automatic gearbox. An all-electric version of the 408 will follow a few months later after the hybrid and gasoline cars' release.

Volkswagen ID. Buzz and ID. Buzz Cargo

The 2023 Volkswagen ID. Buzz and ID. Buzz Cargo features an iconic, bold, and welcoming look. The aerodynamic body’s short overhangs match aesthetically with its nimble drive qualities.

Both ID. Buzz variants are built on Volkswagen Group’s Modular Electric Drive Matrix (MEB). In the ID. Buzz, the MEB system is composed of a permanent-magnet synchronous motor (PSM), a power electronics unit, an automatic single-speed gearbox, and 12 lithium-ion battery modules.

In the five-seater 2023 Volkswagen ID. Buzz, the driver, and front passenger sit in separate seats with internal adjustable armrests. The front seats in higher specification variants also feature armrests on the outside. The MPV comes standard with two sliding doors. They can be opened and closed electrically as an option. With five passengers, there is 39.6 cubic feet of luggage space behind the second row, increasing to 77.9 cubic feet when the second-row seat is folded. The five-seater ID. Buzz has a payload capacity of 1,166 pounds.

Meanwhile, the ID. Buzz Cargo comes with three seats in the cab: the driver’s seat and a double bench seat. An individual seat for the front passenger is also available for the ID. Buzz Cargo as an option. Behind the seats, there is a fixed divider separating the cargo area from the passenger area. The option to have a window or opening through which items can be loaded is accessible for this partition. The ID. Buzz Cargo can carry up to 1,429 pounds of cargo. There are lashing rings in the floor and rails on the side walls to secure loads.

Given this selection of electrified and exciting metal, the Singapore Motorshow 2023 made an immensely memorable comeback. We can’t wait for next year’s installment.

Photos from Singapore Motorshow 2023, BMW, BYD, Kia, Lotus, Mazda, Mini, Peugeot, Volkswagen