Top Gear Festival to Return to Jhb

After a surprise cancellation of what would have been the 4^th Top Gear Festival held in Durban, local organisers have announced that the show will return to Johannesburg on 12 14 June. Tickets will be on sale from 20 March.

South Africas powerhouse city was the first place outside of the UK to host the show back in 2008. The show will return to that same location, the NorthGate Dome.

The show will be hosted by all three of Top Gears reasonably-well dressed presenters, Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond.

James Cooke-Priest, COO of Top Gear Live said South Africa has always been one of our favourite destinations on the tour not least because they were the first fans outside of the UK to welcome our Top Gear Live show so enthusiastically.

They return year after year to support us and remain some of the most enthusiastic not to mention the loudest fans we experience worldwide he continued Were delighted to be able to bring Top Gear Live back to the Dome and have been overwhelmed by the support from previous partners, sponsors and ticket holders alike who have also welcomed the news.

The festival has attracted over half a million South African fans in the last eight years, and organisers have promised to entertain fans with an all new format.

On a personal note, I have attended every Top Gear Festival in South Africa since inception, and the issue is that they have set the bar incredibly high with the Durban Festival. The combination of an in-stadium racetrack, in what is an incredible stadium, coupled with a top-notch street circuit and enormous show grounds, all blessed by Durbans incredible winter weather is going to be very hard to beat.

Some of the best memories of my career were forged at Durbs Top Gear Festivals, and I know for a fact that the British team absolutely love coming here. So I am cautiously optimistic that they will be able to pull of something special, within the new constraints.

Ford Ecosport Facelift Shown in Geneva

Ford has announced at the 2015 Geneva Auto Show that there’ll be a number of changes to the next-generation EcoSport.

The Ford EcoSport has been a popular model in South Africa and owners have loved its hatchback characteristics packaged into a little crossover body. Made in India, the cute-looking EcoSport offers practicality, a range of decent engines as well as great value for money.

What’s New for 2015 EcoSport?

For the first time customers will be able to order the Ford EcoSport without a rear-mounted spare wheel. On the interior side, there’s a restyled instrument cluster with chrome surround, light dimming function, and chrome tips for window switches.

The suspension gains a revised rear twist beam, as well as revised spring and damper rates. There’s also a 10mm drop in ride height as well as retuned traction/stability control. Finally, the power steering system has been tweaked. A Winter Pack has also been added and this includes a heated windscreen, heated mirrors and heated front seats.

Noise, vibration and harshness levels have also been addressed and there’s now thicker sound deadening materials in the doors and dashboard, as well as tighter seals around the pedals. Options for the Ford EcoSport now include satnav and a reverse camera.

Ford EcoSport is already popular with customers in Europe who are looking for a flexible, stylish, and economical compact SUV, said Joe Bakaj, vice president, Product Development, Ford of Europe. This range of enhancements including an EcoSport that is now available without the rear-mounted wheel makes EcoSport an even more compelling choice as part of our growing SUV range.

Pictured here is the Ford EcoSport S, which comes with the above mentioned tweaks. It has a distinctive Deep Impact blue colour as well as a black roof and unique 17-inch alloy wheels. To round off this sporty model, there’s also a rear diffuser and privacy glass.

Here’s a list of all the Ford EcoSport enhancements:

The full list of EcoSport enhancements includes:

Spare wheel optional, with a tyre mobility kit in place of the spare as the standard offering
Colour 4-inch display
Charcoal black lower instrument panel, centre console and door boards
Partial leather seats standard for Titanium models
Significant Noise, Vibration and Harshness reworking via enhanced sound package
Significant dynamics upgrade with revisions to springs, dampers, spring aids, steering gear, rear axle twist beam, Electronic Stability Programme settings and steering assistance profiles
Increased torque band in lower gears provides more available grunt for both EcoBoost and TDCi diesel
Instruments can be dimmed, have chrome-surround rings, window-lifter switches have chrome tabs
Heated windscreen, heated mirrors, and heated seats available as a combined Winter Pack which also adds rear seat ducting at floor level to improve comfort in the rear seat in cold conditions
Privacy glass optional
The handbrake is relocated to improve accessibility
Powertrains are upgraded to EU6.1 emission standard, with the diesel gaining a bit more power.

Koenigsegg Regera Showcased In Geneva

Koenigsegg has officially revealed its Regera megacar which it says is its first car to operate all body closures completely automatically.

A luxury Megacar

The Swedish manufacturer further explains that the car was created as a luxury Megacar alternative to Koenigseggs traditional extreme lightweight race-like road cars.

The Regera name is the Swedish word for reign a suitable name for a machine that offers a never seen before combination of power, responsiveness and luxury – creating a true Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde persona.

Under the hood of the megacar is a twin-turbo 5-litre V8 that puts out 808 kW and 1 280 Nm of torque, and is mated to not one, but three different electric drive units which are powered by a 9.27 kWh, 620 Volt battery pack for a total output of way over 1 118 kW and an incredible torque figure of 2 000 Nm.

The first of the electric units is a 160kW motor which is attached to the crankshaft generating 300Nm. The two driven rear wheels then get one 180kw 260 Nm motor each. Koenigsegg says this is the most powerful electrical motor set-up in production car history. The car has almost triple as many electric Bhp (522 kW) and over 222 kW more than its closest hybrid rival.

Koenigsegg Direct Drive

The Regera also features a Koenigsegg Direct Drive Transmission (KDD) which replaces the combustion engines traditional transmission and gives the added benefit of pure EV mode. The system creates direct drive to the rear axle from the combustion engine without the need of multitude gears or other traditional types of variable transmissions. For example when traveling on the highway, the KDD reduces drivetrain losses by over 50%, compared to traditional transmissions or CVTs.

The complete KDD system, including the battery, adds a mere 88kg to the Regera´s weight which stands at 1420 kg, compared to what it would have weighed with a traditional ICE, coupled to a 7 speed DCT transmission instead of the KDD.

In addition, the automaker confirmed that it would take the Regera 2.8 seconds to accelerate from 0-100 km/h, 3.2 seconds from 150-250 km/h and only 20 seconds from 0-400 km/h.

Worlds first fully foldable, active, top-mounted rear wing

The Koenigsegg One:1 featured the worlds first top mounted active rear wing, but the Regera has taken it to another level by allowing the wing to fully fold down into the body work enhancing the cars elegance while parking and reducing drag while cruising. The car also features an Akrapovic exhaust system and is the first car in the world that operates all body closures completely automatically. These operations can be controlled from a smartphone, truly turning the Regera into a transformer.

The Koenigsegg Regera will be handcrafted in only 80 examples.

Renault Clio RS 220 Trophy Edition Announced

The latest edition on the Renault Clio RS came in for a bit of stick regarding its timidness, hesitant gearbox and clunky shifts. At this years Geneva motor show Renaultsport has revealed a renewed version that claims to have fixed all the problems of before.

Renault Clio RS Updates

The Clio Renaultsport 220 Trophy is due to go on sale mid-way through 2015 and will offer a number of enhancements including increased power and torque with Stop & Start technology and reduced CO2 emissions. A refined EDC transmission, quicker steering, a lower and stiffer chassis and upgraded tyres make Renaults hot hatch a more attractive proposition.

Maximum power has been increased to 220hp (164 kW) at 6 250rpm (up 15 kW)
Maximum torque rises to 260Nm (a gain of 20Nm)
Torque Boost feature in fourth and fifth gears raises peak torque to 280Nm (a gain of 40Nm)
Maximum revs increase from 6 500rpm to 6 800rpm
Complying with Euro6 emissions standards, the cars CO2 output improves by 6g/km to 138g/km.

Refined EDC transmission

Gear shifts are now up to 40 per cent faster in Normal and Sport modes and 50 per cent faster in Race mode thanks to software recalibration, with a 30% reduction in steering wheel paddle travel for more immediate changes. Earlier downshifts, for example under heavy braking on track, are permitted by optimised software calibration and the raised rev limiter.

Sport mode is now more flexible with gearshift change patterns more reactive to current driving style. A Stop & Start system works in Normal mode, but is deactivated in Sport and Race modes. The Clio is lower by 20mm at the front, 10mm at the rear. Firmer shock absorbers, and revised springs (40 per cent stiffer at the rear), have been fitted and are coupled to the existing motorsport-derived hydraulic units.

More details will come soon as the car is rolled out towards the middle of 2015.

Aston Martin DBX Concept Shown Off at Geneva

Supercar maker Aston Martin has unveiled a concept for the 2015 Geneva Motor Show which takes on the crossover segment. The Aston Martin DBX is claimed to “widens the appeal of the iconic British luxury brand and reaches out to a more diverse global audience than ever before.”

Aston Martin CEO Dr Andy Palmer said: “The DBX Concept is a challenge to the existing status quo in the high luxury GT segment. It envisages a world, perhaps a world not too far away, when luxury GT travel is not only stylish and luxurious but also more practical, more family-friendly and more environmentally responsible. I asked my team at Aston Martin to expand their thinking beyond conventions, to explore what the future of luxury GT motoring would look like in years ahead, and the DBX Concept you see before you is the result.”

Aston Martin DBX details

This all-wheel drive and all-electric Aston Martin DBX resembles a crossover which can easily accommodate four adults. It can also carry large amounts of luggage thanks to its dual cargo areas at the rear trunk and front load bay. Being an Aston Martin the DBX is both opulent and cutting edge. Finished in a unique colour called Black Pearl Chromium, the Aston Martin DBX is crafted from machined billet aluminium, while the interior is covered in velvet-like Nubuck leather.

While it remains a concept, Aston Martin claims its DBX is powered by electric motors which are located inboard of the wheel. Power is supplied by lithium sulphur cells. The Aston Martin DBX Concept also features drive-by-wire electric steering, toughened glass with an auto-dimming ‘smart glass’ inter-layer, and bespoke driver and passenger head-up displays are further examples of its cutting edge technology. Other cool features like Active LED exterior lights, carbon ceramic brakes with a kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) and rear view cameras in place of conventional mirrors also underline the eccentricity of this luxury GT concept.

Covers Lifted Off The Lamborghini Aventador LP 750-4 SV

Lamborghini has finally lifted the covers off its new Aventador LP 750-4 SV at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show.

A new dimension in performance and driving dynamics

As mentioned previously, the SV model benefits from a 6.5-litre V-12 delivering 552 kW and 690 Nm of torque. The weight has been further reduced by 50 kg through enhanced lightweight engineering including significant use of carbon fiber. This setup further enables the supercar to achieve a 0-100 km/h sprint in just 2.8 seconds before reaching a top speed of 350 km/h.

In the Superveloce Lamborghini’s expertise in lightweight engineering is clearly evident. With technological features which combined with design, quality standards and craftsmanship, the Superveloce results in the most exclusive, pure and emotional production model in the history of our brand, says Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini.

Optimised aerodynamic balance

Apart from the increase in power, the Lamborghini Aventador LP 750-4 SV benefits from aerodynamic bodywork which has been made 150% more efficient, giving the SV 170 % more downforce than the standard Aventador.

Also new is a large racing-style rear wing which improves aerodynamic efficiency and generates additional downforce. It can be manually adjusted to three different positions to suit a driving style.

The completely redesigned front end is opened up more, redirecting air through the new wider breathing cavity with two front wings: one central body colour, and the other, a black lower lip.

Inside, an instrument cluster is entirely new, so is the TFT screen which is dominated by the colour yellow, with an RPM shifting indicator in light blue, and a G-force indicator in the lower part of the cluster similar to racing cars.

The launch colour of the Lamborghini Aventador LP 750-4 is the specially developed Rosso Bia, with black Alcantara in the interior. Five further colours are available with owners able to specify their cars to their own individual tastes, with virtually unlimited options under Lamborghini’s Ad Personam personalization program.

Lamborghini has announced sales of the Aventador LP 750-4 SV will kick off later this year.

New Vehicle Sales in South Africa for February 2015

The National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA) has reported modest overall growth in February on par with expectations, compared to the same period last year. Vehicle Exports recorded strong growth during the month. Top sellers in South Africa were dominated by the popular Hilux and Ranger models. Here is a new vehicle sales breakdown for the month of February 2015.

New Vehicle Sales Summary February 2015

52 368 aggregate new vehicle sales up by 1.1% (+584 units) compared to February 2015.
29 760 export sales up by 35 .6% (+7 819 units) compared to February 2015.
34 909 passenger car sales up by 1.5% (525 units) compared to February 2015.
15 139 light commercial vehicle sales up by 1.8% (268 units) compared to February 2015.

Top Selling Car Brands in South Africa February 2015

Brand	Total Sales	Market Penetration %
1. Toyota	10 147 (-1 044))	19.4%
2. Volkswagen	8 367 (+25)	16.0%
3. Ford Motor Company	6 358 (+686)	12.1%
4. GMSA	4 772 (+405)	9.1%
5. Nissan	3 916 (-527)	7.5%

Top Selling New Cars in South Africa February 2015

Model	Total Sales
1. Toyota Hilux (LCV)	3 097 (+95)
2. Ford Ranger (LCV)	3 078 (+473)
3. VW Polo Vivo	2 401 (-63)
4. VW Polo	2 155 (-210)
5. Toyota Etios	1 599 (+394)

New Vehicle Sales Outlook

Marginal volume growth in domestic sales is expected over the duration of 2015 amidst projected improvements in economic growth (2%), relative stability in the automotive industry, regulating consumer price inflation and stable interest rates and credit ratings. Challenges remain however and these are centered the security and stability of electricity supply.

Cars.co.za Announces iPhone 6 Winner

Cars.co.za has announced the winner of the iPhone 6 competition held in February 2015.

This competition ran over Facebook and Twitter, and had thousands of entrants.

The winner is: Thapelo Moetsi , who is from the Northern Cape. Congratulations!

Thank you for entering. We’re running more competitions soon, so keep your eyes open for more chances to win with Cars.co.za.

Honda Civic Type R Breaks Nurburgring Lap Record (Video)

Honda has finally revealed details of its much anticipated production-ready Civic Type after months of teaser images and heavily disguised spy shots.

Update: Civic Type R Breaks Nurburgring Lap Record

Honda announced that a development car had achieved a 7 minutes 50.63 seconds lap time of the 20.8 km/12.9 mile Nürburgring Nordschleife in Germany.

This time is unmatched by any other front-wheel drive performance hatchback.

The lap time was achieved during the final phase of pre-production testing in May 2014 by a Civic Type R development car. The development car was in a standard state of engine tune, with suspension, drivetrain, exhaust, brakes and the aerodynamic package identical to those of the production Civic Type R.

The removal of equipment such as air conditioning, the front passenger seat and audio equipment offset the additional weight of a full roll cage (installed specifically for safety reasons and not to add rigidity).

During the test cycle, the development car used production-specification high-rigidity 19-inch alloy wheels. these were fitted with 235/35R19 road tyres being developed in conjunction with a major European tyre manufacturer especially for the new Civic Type R. The test cycle during which the 7 minutes 50.63 seconds lap time was achieved was part of the tyres development and testing process.

Honda has now vowed to follow up this achievement by sending a production Civic Type R around the Nürburgring Nordschleife later this year with the aim of setting a new lap record for a front-wheel drive production car.

The 2015 Civic Type R

Dubbed as a race car for the road,” the Civic Type R will take on the new Focus RS with its powerful turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine that develops 228 kW and 400 Nm of torque. It is connected to a six-speed manual transmission which enables the car to sprint from 0-100 kph in 5.7 seconds before hitting a top speed of 270 kph. The rev limiter is set at 7000 rpm.

The styling changes that are unique to the Civic Type R include a new front bumper with larger air intakes, a front splitter, ventilated front fenders, extended side skirts and flat underbody panels that channel air to the rear diffuser. The car is also equipped with 19-inch alloy wheels with 235/35R19 tyres, a prominent rear wing, and a four-tailpipe exhaust system.

Inside, theres a pair of high-backed suede seats with red contrast stitching, a leather-wrapped sports steering wheel, aluminium gear knob and roof lining trimmed in black fabric.

An all-new GT Pack offers further enhancements such as red exterior accents as well as front and rear parking sensors, dusk sensing headlamps, rain sensing wipers and power folding door mirrors. Other notable features include a premium audio system, GPS navigation, Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning, and Traffic Sign Recognition.

New suspension technologies

The Civic Type R has a Dual Axis Strut Front Suspension that helps to reduce torque steer by 50 percent – compared to the standard Civic suspension. Theres also a rear “crushed pipe” that improves rear roll rigidity by 180 percent. In addition, the car has a four-point Adaptive Damper System and a Brembo front braking system with four-piston callipers and 350mm drilled discs, as well as a Dual Pinion Electric Power Steering system which promises to deliver “rapid yet linear steering response and abundant feel.”

The all-new Honda Civic Type R is said to go on sale across Europe sometime this year. South African availability is confirmed and we’ll see it on our roads in 2015.

Race car for the road

Hyundai ix20 Facelift Hits Geneva

Hyundai has revealed a refreshed ix20 at the Geneva motor show. The compact MPV may not have made it to SA, but I can tell you that the big wigs at Hyundai SA have thought long and hard over the decision. The facelifted ix20 claims not to have changed the essence of the ix20 whilst improving on the design and tech. The Hyundai ix20 is a very European spec car so much of the improvements have been focused on them.

Raf van Nuffel, Head of Product Management at Hyundai Motor Europe, commented: New ix20 retains the versatility and roominess of the original model, while refreshing its design and adding technological enhancements, increasing appeal to a wider range of buyers in Europe.

IX20 Design Update

The ix20 facelift includes newly-designed bi-function headlamps and LED rear lamps and a new hexagonal front grille- there are two versions on offer a mesh- or bars-type with chrome finishing. There is a new 15-inch wheel cover design and new 16- and 17-inch alloy wheel options.

Interior Updates

Loading space is impressive with a 440-litre boot (seats up) increased versatility comes from sliding dive and fold rear seats allowing up to 1 486 litres luggage capacity. A heated steering wheel and a new generation audio system with iPod connectivity and 1GB on-board storage as well as Bluetooth connectivity and a USB and AUX connection are available. Customers also benefit six airbags, ESP, ABS and EBD all fitted as standard.

New Six-Speed Auto and Engine Upgrades

A new six-speed automatic transmission, as well as power and torque upgrades to the overall Euro6 emissions-compliant engine line-up brings even better drivability, with lower fuel consumption and emissions.

The two diesel engines have been enhanced to provide more torque 240 Nm (1.4-litre) and 260 Nm (1.6-litre) from 1 500 rpm.

The Continuous Variable Valve Timing (CVVT) 1.4- and 1.6-litre petrol units have both had efficiency boosted, with the 1.6-litre now available with a six-speed automatic transmission, replacing the previous four-speed unit and delivering improved real-world fuel economy.