Ultimate Road Trip Weapons: Special Edition Cars That Deserve Special Mention In Singapore

Browsing through car classifieds for hours can sometimes leave petrolheads feeling apprehensive - if you have the means to place a deposit for a car, there might still be a possibility that the decision was made on impulse.

But all of us can agree to a certain extent that cars serve as emotive tools too, and can function as an extension of the driver’s personality. This is precisely why manufacturers often market cars and subsequent variants to different, more niche customer profiles.

Three special edition cars here prove that they are distinctive in their own ways. Sure, given limited production runs they are more desirable than their more “mainstream” sibling. But more importantly, did they elevate the overall appeal of cars of their specific generation, to encourage you to embark on the ultimate road trip?

Some refer to the BMW M3 CRT as the sedan version of the E92 M3 GTS. Only 67 were produced, and a couple of units made their way to Singapore. CRT stands for Carbon Racing Technology, and saw the introduction of Carbonfibre Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) before the i3 and i8 were manufactured. It was 70kg lighter than the standard M3 sedan, and sprints to 100km/h in 4.4 seconds propelled by a 450 Bhp 4.4-litre V8 motor.

All units came with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and were painted in a shade BMW called “Frozen Polar Silver”. Look closer and we’ll notice subtle red accents on the front lower lip, bonnet, front fender and boot lip. It might be more likely for a CRT to change hands via private auctions for the well heeled, but you can still source for a proper M3 of the same generation now.

Apart from cosmetic upgrades over the standard Mk5 Golf GTI (yellow interior stitching, tyre thread inserts on the seats and a Pirelli badge at the rear), you will get to enjoy 227 Bhp and 300 Nm right off the bat from the familiar 2-litre turbocharged motor. A couple of units made their way to Singapore, along with other special edition GTIs like the Edition 30 (which the Pirelli Edition is based on) and zebra-patterned VP1 (Singapore market-specific).

Historical data showed a couple of units in trademark Pirelli yellow made their way to the classifieds and were snapped up in a jiffy. The sheer desirability of the Pirelli Edition coupled with its rarity has elevated the appeal of the “standard” GTI of that generation. Grab them before they disappear.

The S204 was limited to a production run of only 600 units. It was initially designed only for the Japanese domestic market just like its predecessors - S201, S202 and S203. By special arrangement, 30 S204s made its way to the South-East Asian region via regional Subaru dealership Motor Image in 2006 at a starting price of S$160,000, and each subsequent unit would then be sold at a price increase of S$1,000.

Beneath the hood sits a 2.0-litre 4 cylinder turbocharged Boxer engine that pushes 316 Bhp and 432 Nm at 4,400rpm. The motor is tuned in a way that torque sits comfortably above 350Nm from 2,700rpm onwards, ensuring that proper shove is available when you work the 6-speed manual transmission that powers all four wheels. Perhaps the two most striking visual cues that separates the S204 from “regular”, no less desirable “hawkeye” examples will be the rear wing and carbonfibre-clad Recaro bucket seats, with full carbon weaves entirely visible from the back.

Find your ideal road trip warrior on Carousell.

Credits: Gerald Yuen