Volkswagen Cross Coupe GTE Concept

Volkswagen has added its third Cross Coupe Concept to the range before the car has even rolled out of the factory. The Cross Coupe GTE Concept is an American specific model that showcases slightly different styling and an interior said to accommodate the American lifestyle – whatever that is.

Cross Coupe GTE Details

The Cross Coupe GTE is painted in a specific Grand Pacific Glacier blue. Most of the differences with the GTE variant are in the front end with a more aggressively designed face, accented with aluminium, LED headlights and gloss black. The GTE also maintains the coupe styled sloping roofline whilst sitting on 22-inch alloy wheels.

The new American design language continues at the rear with the design of the rear lights. The horizontal look of the tailgate and an aluminium panel extending right across the bumper follow this language. A skidplate with an integrated diffuser forms the final major design element at the back of the SUV.

Interior

Volkswagen says the interior has taken on completely new architecture so that the infotainment and instrument panel appear to be a single unit, but from the images we don’t really see it. All functions are controlled via touchscreen. The digital displays can be modified by the driver so that they have only what they want to see on the instrument cluster.

The driver and front passenger can manage all infotainment functions and the basic vehicle configuration via the 10.1-inch touchscreen, using proximity sensors and gesture control. Gesture control is a completely new feature, and allows occupants to swipe over a playlist from some distance away to browse and play tunes.

Two Electric Motors

The Cross Coupe GTE is powered by a 3.6-litre VR6 petrol engine, aided by two electric motors. The petrol engine pumps out 205 kW and 350 Nm on its own. The front electric motor helps out with an extra 40 kW and 220 Nm whilst the more powerful rear electric motor puts out 85 kW and 270 Nm. That makes the Cross Coupe an AWD vehicle with combined power capabilities of 265 kW and 380 Nm. VW claims it will hit 100kph in six seconds and top out at 210kph. The Cross Coupe GTE has the ability to run for up to 32km in pure electric mode.

The Cross Coupe GTE is slated for production at the end of 2016.

2015 Ariel Nomad Off-Roader Unleashed

Following a sneak preview last month, Ariel Motor Company has taken the wraps off their new model dubbed the Ariel Nomad, which it has described as “a modern buggy designed for the rough and tough of the wild but just as home in the city.”

The latest addition to the Ariel family – the Ariel Nomad

The bronze welded off-roader features a similar tubular steel frame design as the Atom model, but at 670 kg it weighs 200 kg more than the Atom. It further comes with an increased ground clearance, long-travel suspension, a complex rollover protection as well as a reinforced chassis.

The long-travel suspension provides up to 300mm of ground clearance as well as 71-degree approach and 82-degree departure angle. It also benefits from a wide range of Yokohama tyres ranging from high speed road, All Terrain and full Mud Terrain right through to Gravel/Forest Rally and Sand/Paddle, with 15″ and 18″ rims in both alloy for both off/on road use and magnesium for road use only.

Power comes from a 2.4-liter four-cylinder iVTEC engine sourced from Honda and tuned to deliver 175 kW at 7200 rpm and 300 Nm at 4300 rpm, which is then sent to the rear wheels via six-speed transmission with hydraulic clutch and a limited slip differential.

This setup allows the modern buggy to complete the 0-96 km/h run in 3.4 seconds, reaching a top speed of 201 km/h.

The interior comes with individual lightweight waterproof seats, as well as an open cockpit with LCD dashboard and programmable shift lights, while the exterior is additionally illuminated by Hella halogen headlamps and LED indicators.

“There are things that we can do at low volume that you simply couldn’t contemplate with mass production.” said Simon Saunders, Director of Ariel.

“We understand niche markets and we understand customers’ demands completely. Everything we have learnt from the Atom has gone into Nomad and it shows. Nomad is Atom’s tough brother and a continuation of our ‘SERIOUS FUN’ philosophy. If we can put a smile on people’s faces, on road or off it, we have done our job”.).

Honda CR-V to Feature Innovative Cruise Control

The facelifted Honda CR-V is set to debut later this year. We know some of the basic details from the official reveal back in 2014 but Honda is now giving us a few more in-depth features it will feature.

Honda Cruise Control Predicts Cutting-In

The latest trick up its sleeve is the Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control system that does more than just keep distance and speed with vehicles in front of you. The cruise control system uses radar as well as cameras to sense what cars around you plan to do. It is able to predict the likelihood of a car alongside cutting-in and react quickly, safely and comfortably.

The new system is able to compute the likelihood of a cut-in up to five seconds before it occurs, and is therefore designed to react very smoothly so as not to startle the driver, who might not yet be aware of the imminent cut-in. In this case the system applies just a mild brake initially, with an icon appearing on the driver display, informing the driver why a slow-down occurs. It then proceeds to apply a stronger brake to adapt the velocity to keep a safe distance.

The i-AAC system as it is officially named will be available on the executive spec model only, we still wait to see what model offerings we will get here in South Africa.

Volvo S60 Cross Country Revealed Ahead Of Detroit Debut

The Volvo S60 Cross Country has been revealed as the first sedan to have a go-anywhere attitude, incorporating sedan features with rugged styling cues and a higher stance.

“We want to further explore the market with our Cross Country brand. We did this back in 1997 with the V70 Cross Country and it led to the birth of a whole new segment. We have included all the capability-driven benefits of the Cross Country brand in this new model, while offering a completely unique expression of adventure and all-road readiness in a distinctly sporty and stylish package,” said Lex Kerssemakers, Senior Vice President Product Strategy and Vehicle Line Management at Volvo Cars.

The go-anywhere Volvo S60 Cross Country

The S60 Cross Country shares an increased ride height of 65mm with its recently introduced V60 Cross Country sibling, as well as the same all-wheel drive system, and front-wheel drive – available in Europe and selected markets.

Along with its raised suspension, the model rides on 18- or 19-inch alloy wheels with high-profile tyres, which the company says, not only “improve comfort, but also reduce noise and boost wheel protection in both on- and off-road circumstances. “

Powertrain options include a powerful T5 All-Wheel Drive specification delivering up to 186 kW available in the US (189 kW in Europe and 186 kW in Russia).

The Volvo S60 Cross Country will make its official debut next week at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show.

Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Teased (Video)

The Aston Martin Vantage GT3 has been teased in a short video ahead of its official debut scheduled to happen at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show.

The video shows the Aston Martin Vantage GT3 in full force at the Nurburgring track and ends with a design sketch that leaves room for speculation on what the model will look like.

Details are still very scarce at the moment, however it’s reported that the V12 Vantage GT3 racer will be the company’s most extreme road car ever made, with a power output of around 447 kW, which is about 26 kW more than the V12 Vantage S. The GT3 moniker is normally reserved for race models, however this may be such a hardcore road version that the GT3 name is befitting. The sports vehicle is also rumoured to feature a more aggressive front end with a redesigned bumper and engine cover.

The sports vehicle will make its world premiere during the Geneva Motor Show in March this year.

Aston Martin Vantage GT3 coming soon

New Vehicle Sales in South Africa for December 2014

2014 ended on a high in terms of vehicle sales according to the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA) with an improvement of 10.7% compared to the same period in 2013. Here is a new vehicle sales summary for December 2014 as well as a look into what to expect in 2015.

New Vehicle Sales Summary – December 2014

  • 51 461 aggregate new vehicle sales up by 10.7% (4 979 units) compared to December 2013
  • 21 833 export sales down by 1.6% (357 units) compared to December 2013
  • 35 924 passenger car sales up by 9.3% (3 071 units) compared to December 2013
  • 12 965 light commercial vehicle sales up by 14.7% (1 664 units) compared to December 2014

 

Top Selling Car Brands in South Africa – December 2014

Brand Total Sales Market Penetration %
1. Toyota 10 372 20.2 %
2. Volkswagen 9 179 17.8 %
3. Ford Motor Company 6 654 12.9 %
4. GMSA 4 412 8.6 %
5. Nissan 2 811 5.5 %


Top Selling New Cars in South Africa – December 2014

Model Total Sales
1. VW Polo Vivo 3 547
2. Toyota Hilux (LCV) 3 343
3. Ford Ranger (LCV) 3 003
4. VW Polo 2 411
5. Toyota Corolla 1 920

Total Sales and Exports for 2014

Total new vehicle sales in South Africa in 2014 showed a marginal year-on-year decline of 0.7% overall due to a slowing economy, interest rate increases and new vehicle price inflation. A total of 644 523 vehicles were sold in South Africa in 2014. A total of 439 179 passenger cars were sold in 2014 which reflects a decline of 2.5 % compared to 2013. A total of 173 790 Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) sales were recorded, representing an improvement of 3.4 % compared to 2013.

Exports were negatively affected by strike action in 2014 which resulted in a loss of 16 000 vehicles. Total aggregate exports amounted to 276 874 units which reflected a slight improvement of 0.2 % compared to 2014. Despite this, 2014 vehicle exports was still the third highest figure on record and an increase of 50 000 vehicles or about 17 % increase is expected in 2015.

New Vehicle Sales Outlook for 2015

For 2015, NAAMSA projects modest domestic sales volume growth with a projected total of 666 500 vehicles. Domestic production of vehicles is set to increase by about 10.7% to approximately 600 000 vehicles in 2015. NAAMSA states that 2015 is “likely to represent another challenging year for the SA automotive industry”.

2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek Special Edition Unveiled

The 2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek Special Edition has been unveiled, with production set to be limited to 1000 units.

Versatile 2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek Special Edition announced

The model is based on the XV Crosstrek 2.0i Premium trim level, and features a bold five-door design, an exclusive Sunrise Yellow exterior with black fender and rocker trim, as well as 17-inch black alloy wheels. The Special Edition is additionally equipped with a moonroof, body colour mirrors with integrated turn signals and blackened headlight bezels.

There’s also a leather-wrapped shift lever handle and steering wheel, Keyless Access and a STARLINK infotainment system with a 7-inch touchscreen display with satellite radio and dual USB ports. The all-weather package adds heated seats and mirrors and a windshield wiper de-icer.

The 2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek Special Edition doesn’t include any power upgrades, but comes with mechanical features identical to those of the non-hybrid 2015 XV Crosstreks equipped with the continuously variable transmission, which has been reprogrammed to provide stepped shifting during forceful acceleration, plus a CVT version of “second-gear” starts for slippery conditions.

It has the same 2.0-litre Boxer engine that develops 110 kW and 196 Nm of torque as the rest of the line-up which includes the 2.0i base trim, 2.0i Premium, 2.0i Limited and the XV Crosstrek Hybrid.

South African availability and launch dates are yet to be revealed.

Three Final Land Rover Defender Special Editions Introduced

Land Rover has revealed its plans to end production of the iconic Defender, with the last example scheduled to roll off the assembly line at Land Rover’s Solihull plant in the UK in December. However, an all-new family of Defender models is said to debut in 2016.

Heritage, Adventure and Autobiography Defender special editions announced

To mark the final year of the long-serving model, three unique Defender special editions have been introduced, to “celebrate a different element of the vehicle’s versatile character.”

The first being the exclusive Defender Autobiography Edition, which the company says “promises more performance, luxury and comfort than ever before.” Its comprehensive equipment list includes unique duo-tone paintwork, full Windsor leather upholstery and a power upgrade from 90 kW and 360 Nm to 110 kW and 400 Nm. Production for this special edition model will be limited to 80 units, and will be produced exclusively as a 90 Station Wagon version.

The Heritage Edition is said to be inspired by early Land Rover models and mixes nostalgic design cues with modern elements such as the distinctive Grasmere Green paintjob contrasted by a white roof. The model, which will be limited to 400 units, can additionally be distinguished by a heritage grille and HUE 166 graphics, recalling the registration plate of the first pre-production Land Rover known as “Huey”.

Lastly, the Defender Adventure Edition is dubbed as a model for those who “who relish the great outdoors and embrace the Defender’s ‘go anywhere, do anything’ attitude.” It comes fully equipped with extra underbody protection and rides on Goodyear MT/R tyres. It also features unique decals and a leather trimmed cabin. Production will be limited to 600 units.

Largest sand drawing ever

“We wanted to mark the end of Defender production at Solihull with a special edition but coming up with a single identity was impossible, so we developed three very different interpretations of the Defender to reflect its strength and breadth of character,” Land Rover vehicle line director Nick Rogers said in a statement. “Whether our customers want to celebrate Land Rover’s unrivalled off-road heritage, demand the ultimate in terms of design and performance or have a genuine thirst for adventure, there will be a limited edition Defender that will be fit for purpose.”

To mark the launch of the three Defender special editions and the start of the current Defender’s final year in production, Land Rover created the largest (one-kilometre) sand drawing of the vehicle at Red Wharf Bay in Anglesey, U.K. The unique image is a tribute to the moment in 1947 when the engineering director of Rover at the time, Maurice Wilks, first sketched the shape for the original Land Rover in the sand of Red Wharf Bay and proposed the idea to his brother Spencer, Rover’s managing director.

 

Audi Self-Parking via Your Smartwatch (Video)

Audi is also at the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show at Las Vegas. The first technology its exhibiting is a self-parking system controlled via a Smartwatch. The watch also displays useful info about the car’s battery status.

The video Audi has released to showcase the self-parking system is quite entertaining as it features a pair of dogs being taught tricks. It’s nice to see the rather cool-looking Audi A3 e-tron, a car which we’d like to see in South Africa.

Also interesting is the wireless charging system that’s now available. You simply drive over the charging mat, hit the charge button on your smartwatch and the Audi E-tron starts charging. It then notifies you as to the charge level via the watch.

Audi Self-Parking and Wireless Charging Video

Lexus GS F Joins High-Performance “F” line

The Lexus GS F has officially been unveiled ahead of its 2015 Detroit Auto Show debut.

Much-anticipated Lexus GS F performance sedan revealed

The BMW M5 rival is the latest vehicle to join Lexus’ high-performance “F” line that already includes the RC F coupe. Teased late last year, the model showed off an aggressive front fascia with a mesh spindle grille that is flanked by large air intakes and LED headlights.

Official details now mention that the car will additionally feature “structural reinforcements and suspension exclusively designed to optimise this super sedan’s handling envelope without detracting from its ride quality.”

We can also see a boot-mounted spoiler, tinted taillights and a four-tailpipe exhaust system. The car also rides on 19-inch alloy wheels.

The cabin follows through with the sporty theme with two-tone sport seats and carbon fiber trim, as well as contrast stitching and metallic accents.

Power comes from the automaker’s 5.0-litre naturally aspirated V8 engine which develops 348 kW of power and 527 Nm of torque. All this power is sent to the rear wheels through Lexus’ eight-speed automatic transmission with manual–shifting capabilities.

Additional details are yet to be revealed, however the company did mention that one of the highlights of the GS F will be the innovative Torque Vectoring Differential (TVD), also found in the RC F. The TVD will features three operating modes: Standard (default) provides a balance of agility and firmness; Slalom emphasises nimble steering response and agility; while Track emphasises control during high-speed circuit driving.