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The Performance Pack ramps up the dynamic capabilities of the outstanding Hyundai i30 N without compromising its everyday liveability. 29 Aug 2019 Not exactly subtle, eh? Yes, this is an i30 N (as if the GIGANTIC decals wasn't obvious enough), but importantly, this isn't your typical i30 N. This one here is the i30 N Performance Pack. So, it's got more performance? As the name suggests, this car has had several upgrades to enhance the i30 N's performance capabilities. The Pirelli P Zero tyres are made specifically for the i30 N Power from the turbocharged 2.0-litre engine has been bumped up to 271bhp (an increase of 24bhp), while peak torque remains at 353Nm. This allows you to shave 0.3 seconds off the car's 0-100km/h time (6.1 seconds). The Performance Pack also adds an electronically-controlled Limited Slip Differential (LSD). The effect of this is clear - when you floor the car in first gear, wheelspin is largely absent, and the car doesn't feel as wayward as before. The backfires from the rowdy exhaust is childishly delightful There are also bigger brakes, 19-inch wheels (compared to the 18-inch on the standard car), as well as stickier Pirelli P Zero tyres. There's also a variable exhaust valve system, which a louder, more backfire-y exhaust. The backfire sounds aren't the most naturally generated but, hell, it is still endlessly entertaining. N Grin Control gives you maximum customisability of the car's powertrain and chassis settings Inside, you also get a tad more equipment, such as heated front memory seats with lumbar and cushion extension, a heated steering wheel, and factory-fitted leather/suede upholstery. Also, the i30N PP features N Grin Control. Yes, it's kind of a silly name, but essentially what it does is it allows you to customise a wide variety of powertrain and chassis settings - engine response, rev matching, exhaust sound, electronic controlled suspension, steering and electronic stability control. The i30N PP comes factory fitted with leather/suede upholstery So the car's better now? What's that done to the car? The Performance Pack has definitely has made it a more focused vehicle. The LSD and tyres definitely aid the car's tractability and handling, especially on the limit. The rowdy exhaust also ratchets up the overall drama of the car. The car's greatest party trick, though, has got to be the rev-matching. It makes you feel (and sound) like an absolute hero every time you downshift as you brake towards a red light. It's almost unheard of to find a new car offered with three pedals The blips are perfectly executed (infinitely better than we can manage with our meager abilities), and anyone outside the car would easily be fooled into thinking you are executing perfect heel-toe technique. Which, of course, you are not. Brilliant, eh? Importantly, the inherent joy, driveability and daily usability of the car have not been compromised. In the Comfort setting, the car is pliant and forgiving, making everyday use a breeze. The car's professionally precise rev-matching means that every downshift is joyous fun Time to get one? It's not quite as dynamically sharp and aggressive as the Renault Megane RS, the cabin not quite as sleek and upmarket as the Volkswagen Golf GTI, but the i30N PP holds its own against these two stellar hot hatches. It's undeniably involving and fun to drive, especially since it's offered with three pedals. It's just a really, really good hot hatch. The i30 N PP delivers ample fun and driver involvement without compromising on comfort for everyday driving Question is, is this worth the $20,000 upgrade over the standard model? The price jump is significant because the i30 N PP falls into the C1 VES category, hence netting a $10,000 penalty over the standard i30 N (B category). $20,000 is a pretty big jump, but all things considered, it's probably still worth it - this i30 N PP is Hyundai's hot hatch in its most extroverted, most authentic and most excellent form. With ample dynamic capability mixed with everday usability, the i30 N PP is a hot hatch that's right up there with the best of them That said, settling for the standard model isn't a significant sacrifice if you don't intend to take your car to the track or push it to its dynamic limits. However you choose, there's no doubting that you're getting one hell of a car. Desmond Chan Photos by Low Fai Ming Source

Songdah ....now just relax at airport first

The new Opel Corsa GSi - driven by passion, optimised for great driving fun. Fuel consumption Corsa GSi in l/100 km combined: 6.4-6.1; CO2 emissions combined in g/km: 147-139 (acc. VO (EG) No. 715/2007) Disover the Opel Corsa GSi: With better vision and visibility, drive up scenic routes in your Opel Corsa GSi along the country side in comfort and next level style. Leather-covered flat-bottom steering wheel and dark-tinted rear windows to impress from the inside out. The sport chassis known from the OPC version and the brakes with red calipers ensure precise athleticism, outstanding handling and short braking distances. Whether you are going solo or with mates, stay tuned and connected with our built-in IntelliLink satellite navigation and infotainment systems. Advanced German engineering has never tasted sweeter.

ADATA Reveals XPG SX6000 Lite: An Entry-Level NVMe SSD ADATA has introduced a new lineup of PCIe SSDs aimed at the entry-level market. The XPG SX6000 Lite drives are based on the same controller as the XPG SX6000 Pro, however they're paired with cheaper NAND that lets ADATA price them a bit lower. The manufacturer touts the SSDs as high-performance alternatives to drives with a SATA interface. Set to be available in 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, and 1 TB configurations, ADATA’s XPG SX6000 Lite SSDs are based on Realtek’s RTS5763DL controller as well as 3D TLC NAND flash memory from an undisclosed manufacturer. The same controller is used for the XPG SX6000 Pro drives launched earlier this year, so the new SSDs are are NVMe 1.3 compatible, support a robust LDPC-based ECC and RAID engines, dynamic SLC caching, and AES-256 encryption. Meanwhile, less is know about the NAND being used, though ADATA's specificaitons make it clear that it'll be lower performing than the NAND used on the SX 6000 Pro. The resulting performance specifications are 1800 MB/s for sequential reads and 1200 MB/s for sequential writes. ADATA’s SX6000 Lite SSDs will start to show up in retail in the coming weeks as the company ramps up their mass production. The entry-level 256 GB model will have an MSRP of $65 in the US, the mid-range 512 GB version will officially retail for $98, whereas the highest-capacity 1 TB flavor will carry a $178 recommended price tag. Though considering how volatile the market of SSDs is, I won't be surprised if we see these drives hit the street at prices tangibly lower than their official MSRPs.