Singapore: Sales of Infiniti range to start 4th quarter of 2011

Wearnes Automotive, Infiniti’s Singapore dealer, will commence sales of the initial Infiniti range which includes the luxury performance sedan M37, the stylish G37 sports convertible and the highly distinctive FX37 & 50 sport crossover in Q4 2011. Wearnes Automotive will start taking pre-launch bookings from 1 July 2011.

As the newest premium automotive brand in Singapore, Infiniti offers a stunning range of truly dynamic vehicles. In a matured automotive market with a strong demand for premium cars, Infiniti will deliver a unique proposition of vehicles with distinctive design, high performance drivability and progressive luxury.

Toru Saito, Corporate Vice President and Leader of Infiniti Business Unit said, “Infiniti has appointed Wearnes Automotive as the official dealer in Singapore. Leveraging on their rich expertise in managing premium automotive brands, we are confident that Infiniti will be well represented in Singapore. This is an important step to underline Infiniti’s growing focus on South East Asia. We are confident that Infiniti will bring a fresh, new luxury alternative to satisfy the high expectations of Singaporean customers, offering inspired performance and attentive customer quality care and hospitality. Infiniti is not about doing what everyone else is doing. It is not about copying traditional, conservative notions of luxury. We will not try to be all things to all people but everything to some people. “ Andre Roy, Group Managing Director, Wearnes Automotive, adds, “Infiniti was established in North America more than 20 years ago. We are pleased that right-hand drive Infiniti cars are now available. We look forward to launch the new model line-up which offers consumers stylish choices befitting their needs and lifestyles. Combining strong design cues and the highly regarded VQ37 engine, Infiniti vehicles will provide customers with excellent handling and an exhilarating driving experience.”

Works are underway to create the Singapore Infiniti Centre, which will feature a unique 11-metre tall illuminated exterior façade that will become the beacon of Singapore’s premier automotive belt. Located at 45 Leng Kee Road, alongside other premium marques established by Wearnes Automotive, the Singapore Infiniti Centre will be a one-stop destination, fully integrating the sales, service and parts departments. The interior of the Singapore Infiniti Centre will be reminiscent of a boutique hotel, with avant-garde art pieces, bespoke furnishing and a fresh and inviting ambience. The centre is expected to be officially opened in last quarter 2011.

The recent appointment of Formula One World Champion Sebastian Vettel as Infiniti’s first ever Global Brand Ambassador further reinforces the team’s passion and dedication for performance. The first customers to book an Infiniti will be treated to a once-in-a-lifetime Red Bull Racing Team Paddock experience at the 2011 Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix. Customers will get to feel the pulse of the race with an exclusive VIP tour of the Red Bull Racing Team garage, as well as get to meet the Red Bull Racing team while indulging in an evening of first-class cuisine.

All interested parties can register their interest at www.infiniti-singapore.com to receive priority updates and pricing information. Alternately, they can call our Infiniti Brand Ambassadors at +65 6378 2623 or email infiniti.sales@wearnes.com to find out more.

VIP Formula Drift Singapore Day 2

VIP Formula Drift Singapore's final day kicked off under a hot sun and hopefully stayed sunny all along, preventing the wet fiasco of the qualifying sessions.

From the moment the track opened, the drivers eagerly lined up to get as much practice time on the dry track as possible, but also to experience their competitors' skills as this time they were allowed to train in tandem. The dry track allowed the drivers to express their skills with clouds of tyre smoke to the enjoyment of the crowds that filled the grandstands and walkabout areas.

Team GT Radial's five qualified drivers were back to ripping the asphalt and the atmosphere in the pits was electrifying as more last minute tweaking and some eventual fixing had to be done with every practice round. As usual, drivers from different teams were sympathizing, sharing thoughts and giving each other advices on their performances, but much more attention was paid to the drifting skills of the ones practicing on the track, each team analyzing the styles, speeds and angles of the others to see how to outshine them in the next three phases of the competition: the Sweet 16 followed by the Top Eight which inevitably led to the Final Four and the podium.

The fierce tyre-burning competition pushed both drivers and cars to the limit, and some inevitable rubbing action had the mechanics in the pits rushing to repair damages on the cars, such as Kohkae's Cefiro which needed a quick radiator replacement after hitting another competitor's car.

On a side note, one aspect of Formula Drift that I really enjoy is the friendly atmosphere between the teams and drivers, where everything is shared, from advices to apologies in case of crash. This is something that is being lost in quite a few motorsports disciplines as drivers get too caught up in the competition. All I hope is that drifting will stay a fun sport in the future, keep it up drifters!

At the end of the round of 32, the organizers called for the public's attention to the jumbo-tron for a lucky draw. The winner's name appeared and Ms. Grace Tay made her way to the centre of the track to receive her prize. This is when her boyfriend, local drifter part of Team Stamford Tyres, Adam Toh who couldn't compete for this season of Formula Drift as his car wasn't ready, arrived at the wheel of his Nissan ER34 Skyline and burned the asphalt around her before alighting and, in front of the crowd, dropped a knee and proposed to her. Under the cheers of the grandstands, the engaged couple then headed off in a plume of tyre smoke. Congratulations to Adam and Grace, who totally stole the show on this day!

After the break, the competition got back in gear, and the number of drivers kept on being thinned with every passing round, and when the smoke cleared, four men were still standing: Team SPARK Motorsports's Daigo Sato and Ken Gushi, Team M150's Saranon Pornpatanarak and LTM Bridgestone's Ivan Lau.

The duel for third and fourth place pitted Ivan Lau in his AE85 with Ken Gushi and his Chaser. Ivan's skills, which propelled him to the Final Four club, were unfortunately no match to Ken's amazing performance which had the American claim the third step of the podium before the cheering crowd could enjoy the run for the gold that opposed Saranon to Daigo. 

“Ken had a slow start”, stated Ivan Lau after his run, ”and I came in too hot in the straight. I slowed down on the first clipping and missed a gear. I had to then upshift to fourth – that mistake cost me the third place today.”

The first run had the Thai driver leading, but he couldn't shake away from the Altezza, which seemed to stick to him like his shadow, never more than a few meters away. When his time came to lead, Daigo Sato left the S15 Silvia eating the smoke of his tyres and created a gap that Saranon never managed to close, leaving the Thai drifter with the second place as the Japanese climbed to the top of the podium.

After receiving the title, Daigo shared: “Happy for the win as it is the first leg of the series, and I am happy to have gotten off to such a great start. It is amazing to be racing on an F1 circuit and the crowd really got behind Formula Drift. It was an encouraging victory, considering that none of them have competed in Singapore before. I am planning on keeping up my performance for the whole series this year with the Spark Motorsport team.”

With Daigo Sato finishing first and Ken Gushi third, Team SPARK Motorsports claimed the Team Title for this leg of the Formula Drift ASEAN Series with 183 points, a title that will be contested during the next three rounds of the series by the other teams during Formula Drift Indonesia in October, Thailand in November and the finale in Malaysia in December.

Enjoy the gallery!