Category: Photography

When one of our own shooters get hitched, we do the pre-wedding shoot our style. Self scripted, directed and acted, with the help of a fellow shooter.

Here is the shoot summary.
Theme: Cityscape, pre-wedding
Cars: 2017 Honda Civic (FC) 1.5 VTEC Turbo
Owners: J & S

This is the 381bhp engine that underpins Mercedes AMG A45’s position as the world’s most powerful series-produced 4 cylinder road legal car. Hints of fast can be drawn through it’s oversized intakes, canards and diffusers, screaming-red big brake kits, a devilish looking spoiler and twin tailpipes. All these, and still maintaining its svelte body contours of the current Mercedes design language. It would be lovely to shoot this special sports hatchback against Singapore’s beautiful iconic skyline. And we did exactly what we need to.

Here is the shoot summary. 
Theme: Cityscape, urban
Car: 2017 Mercedes AMG A45
Owner: Tay

A perfect ride for the cool and chic in the city. Sporty, stylish and sophisticated. You name them, it has them all. Drive it with the top down and you will get at least a 50% increase in viewership. We check out this seductive creature before it’s released back into the wild.

Here is the shoot summary.
Theme: Urban
Cars: 2009 BMW Z4
Owner: Lim

MINI meet happened and it was an amazing sight to witness with so many different bug-eyed rides of colour, shape and sizes congregate.

Starting from Seletar Airbase, convoying to Kranji, and then forming up at the rooftop of Carros Centre, the hardworking production crew and many multi-talented MINI drivers documented the whole process with tons of high quality footages, photos and wefies. So, if you thought the MINI community is invisible, scroll to see the sheer numbers that eventually lined up to the letters “MINI” in a group formation. Special appearance by Red Bull MINI and hosts Carousell Motors and Carros Centre for their fantastic support. Before everything else, here’s a minute of drone footage for this MINI MAFIA Mega Meet.

Theme: Urban industrial
Cars: MINI Cooper, MINI Cooper S, MINI Countryman, MINI Countryman S, MINI Paceman, MINI Clubman, MINI Cooper Convertible.
Hosts: Carros Centre, Carousell Motors.

We had our hands on the all new 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line, courtesy of Volkswagen. Amazing ride that drives like a hot hatch (We’re serious), packed with high tech wizardry, 4 wheel drive, tons of practical space and 350Nm of torque to spare. One wonders where the bulk and higher clearance have disappeared to while driving it.

For more detailed information of the new Tiguan R-Line, click here.

Here is the shoot summary.
Theme: Industrial countryside
Cars: 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0 TSI R-Line
Car Owner: Volkswagen Singapore

2017 marks a prodigious 8 years since the car group “Sembakakis (38One Team)” was born. You may wonder why the name? The group started with like-minded Honda Fit/Jazz owners who were residing in the northern part of Singapore – Sembawang, which explains why they named themselves “Semba-kakis”. 38One is simply a direct translation from Chinese.

Image courtesy of Sembakakis Car Club.

Regular meetups for coffee sessions, stripping of car bumpers, sharing of “poison” became a weekly affair for the group. The interest group developed strong friendship over time and soon the meetups were no longer only limited to car modifications. From dinner to movies, from house visits to holidays, from car parks to tracks, they have done it all.

8 years is definitely not a short time and it’s with great effort that the group stays well connected over the years despite the hectic work and family commitments. Like most car enthusiasts, changing of ride is inevitable in our COE controlled country. Therefore the group has currently mostly got different rides but their friendship stays strong.

Rides now within the group:
Leslie (Honda Vezel)
Alan (BMW 1 series Coupe)
Eric (Honda Accord)
Cheryl (BMW Z4)
Joseph (Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X)
William (Mercedes C-class)
Lenard (Honda Civic)
Frank (Honda Civic Type R)
Adrant (Kia K3)
Kevin (Honda Accord)

This Pizzas ‘n’ Cars shoot meet in collaboration with us and Carousell Motors for Team Sembakakis is certainly a highlight of their 8 years, and marks a milestone event for them. We wish them forever friends!

By the time we publish this post, this minimally tuned 1.6L NA, manual Suzuki Swift Sports is no more. Such is the bane of our COE system, a perfectly working car being taken off the road. We shot this Swift Sports overlooking the heartlands with the central business district in the far distance, and beauty shots in the warehouse area. Kelvin was the proud owner of this JDM hatchback who after this, would have moved on to another hatchback that he fancies next.

Here is the shoot summary.

Theme: Industrial
Cars: 2007 Suzuki Swift Sports 1.6L
Car Owner: Kelvin

Aftermath of track days.
These are the battle scars that will be a part of an important lesson. The road to become wiser and emerge stronger than ever before. The owner of this beautiful Honda S2000 is a NA purist who fancy neither forced induction nor superchargers. He prefers the age old trusty F22C inline-4 engine block produced by Honda for reliability and track stamina. One that displaces 230 horses to the wheels and redlines at 8000 RPM. And the good news for us car enthusiasts, we will see this legendary roadster on the roads through the next 10 years.

Here is the shoot summary. Theme: Industrial
Cars: 2007 Honda S2000 2.2L Roadster
Car Owner: ZZ

And the technical specification laundry list.

Engine:  Stock
AT Power ITB 88mm Trumpet
DTA standalone ECU S060
Spoon Radiator
Spoon Radiator Stay (black)
Spoon Thermo switch
Spoon Low Temp Thermostat
Spoon Oil Cap

Bodykit:
Spoon front fender

Wheels:
Works Meister S1 monoblock 17 inch 7.5jj 35 (Front), 17 inch 9jj 40 (Rear)
Brake Ap racing 4 pot 5200R
Front: Hawk pads (Street) Dixicel RAR (Track)
Rear: Stock caliper Hawk pads Exhaust:
J’s header and J’s 70rr cat back

Interior:
Defi A1 gauges with seeker Gauge holder
Defi C2 (pink) AEM Air fuel ratio
Zoom engineering mirror
ASM side mirror
Personal 350mm steering wheel
Tillet carbon seat B5
Arvou gear knob 950g
Recaro Super Stark

Handling:
Carbing front struct bar
Cusco rear struct bar
Cusco ARB front and rear
Cusco chassis bar
Spoon rigid collar
Spoon steer bracket
Spoon steering rigid collar
Spoon center brace bar
Spoon drive shaft spacer kit
Spoon suspension bushing set
Spoon LSD 1.75 way
Moton 1-way suspension

Together with the usual suspects from Carousell Motors​, we co-hosted Club A4, a purist car marque club consisting of only Audi A4s to their anniversary shoot meet at The Three Peacocks, just beside Labrador Park​. The event started in the morning and ended around noon. Activities galore for the members as they drove and stopped by the photobooth to pose with racequeens, joined the group formation at the parade square and then proceeded for catered food & drinks, followed by a club level lucky draw at The Three Peacocks restaurant.

Exclusive sponsors Stamford Tyres Retail Singapore​, Motoren – MTR​, Oxygen Performance Grooming​, Revo Technik​, Continental Tire​, Castrol​, Project de Creation​, Red Bull GmbH​ and XADO Singapore​. Supported Venue by The Three Peacocks At Labrador Park​.

Once again special mention to the core admin team for the unwavering support, and talents Vanessa and, Rachel​ for braving the scorching sun with their smiles.