Audi TT (2015) First Drive

The Audi TT was launched to the South African market this week, and I attended its launch in Mpumalanga. The TT has sold 515 000 units globally, with 4 811 finding their way to South Africa.

The TT is a special car for me as I can recall going to Europe pre-millennium and seeing a pretty Audi coupe. I didn’t know what it was and was blown away by its compact and sporty looks. Fast forward to 2015 and I’ve just emerged from a breathtaking drive in the third incarnation of the Audi TT.

Design

Styling wise, this is a sleeker and sharper design when compared to the older model. Gone are the curves and in their place is a sharply angled sports coupe which has subtle yet aggressive touches all round. Starting with the redesigned headlights with square daytime running lights and imposing grille and ending with a pair of exhausts and an integrated spoiler which rises at speed, the new Audi TT is a smart-looking coupe. Most importantly, the new Audi TT is 50kg lighter than the outgoing model.

Engine and Interior

In terms of engines at launch, we drove both the quattro and front-wheel drive equipped models which come with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four cylinder. With 169kW and 370Nm on tap, the new Audi TT offers brisk performance. Expect 0-100kph to come up in a claimed 5.9 seconds for the front-wheel drive version, while the quattro does the same sprint in a quicker 5.3 seconds.

Both cars have the fabulous six-speed S tronic twin-clutch transmission. Both cars have a top speed of 250kph. Fuel economy is impressive with the front-wheel drive consuming just 6.3L/100km, while its all-wheel drive sibling is a little thirstier at 6.8L/100km.

If the looks don’t do anything for you, then the interior will change your life. Its a completely digital affair, with not a single analogue dial or gauge in sight. The rev counter, satnav, infotainment and speedometer have been cleverly integrated into the dashboard using one exceptionally high quality screen. Supplied by graphics specialists Nvidia, this screen boasts a superb display and the information is clear and legible.

Audi calls this interface Virtual Cockpit and I am properly impressed by what it can do. If there was one way to appeal to a younger digital generation, this is it!

The Drive

The route for the launch of the new Audi TT took us on the sweeping roads of Mpumalanga. Despite the occasional pothole, the road surface is generally good and the sporty TT was up for some dynamic driving. This is an enthusiast’s dream as the car is responsive, has wonderful acceleration and the handling is precise. The new Audi TT doesn’t need to be pushed to the limit to get the best of it either.

It’s a car which flatters the over eager driver and responds well to educated inputs. Coupled with the distinctive S tronic gearshift popping sound, the car can easily shake its hairdresser image. This is a sportscar through and through, and its simply marvelous.

If you had to ask me to pick, I’d go for the front-wheel drive version as its cheaper and also around 75kg lighter than its all-wheel drive sibling. Price wise, the new Audi TT goes head to head against the BMW Z4 and the Mercedes-Benz SLK where it undercuts them in terms of price. I suppose you could also consider the BMW 2-Series coupe as a rival too.

Audi TT Price in South Africa

There are two models available for now. There will be a hotter TTS with 210 kW and 380 Nm following in July 2015. The mighty TT RS is about a year and a half away, and there’s talk of a manual 1.80-litre turbo entry level model. At this stage the Audi TT convertible is unconfirmed. The car comes standard with the 5 year/100 000km Audi Freeway Plan.

Audi TT Coupe 2.0T FSI S tronic R558 000
Audi TT Coupe 2.0T FSI S tronic quattro R642 000

Our Lamborghini Huracan Blast Through Cape Town

Almost every aspect of the new Lamborghini Huracan is terrifying, starting with the price – R4.75 Million. Once you move past that however, you find a car that can accelerate from 0-100kph in 3.2 seconds, 0-200kph in 9.9 seconds and onto a top speed of 325kph.

Now those are just numbers and they fall hopelessly short of describing the sensation of putting your foot down – terrifying.

The noise, the brutal surge and the g-forces all combine to overwhelm the senses, resulting in a small moment of panic which blissfully gives way to feelings and emotions that you wouldn’t want to describe to your mom.

We’ve tried to capture all of this in our Huracan video, which you should definitely watch in full HD, with the sound turned right up.

Godere.

To read our Lamborghini Huracan review click here

Our Lamborghini Huracan Blast Through Cape Town

Opel Corsa (2015) First Drive

Opel is coming back strong after a period of obscurity blamed on the global recession in 2008. The new Opel Corsa is the brand’s second model to be launched this year in South Africa and from initial impression, seems to be a striking offering. We had a chance to sample the new Corsa over a day’s drive around the Western Cape. Here are our thoughts so far.

All-New Opel Corsa

The Corsa is an entirely new model from the ground up, there are no carry-over parts from the previous model and the engine is a brand new unit for the Corsa. The Corsa’s body has been stiffened, the suspension improved, the styling now looks more appealing and there’s a raft of safety and technology features available.

Two Engine Line-up

The Corsa’s main power unit is the 1-Litre turbo powerplant transported from the Adam. There is a 1.4-litre naturally aspirated model in the range but that’s only connected to an automatic transmission. The 1-Litre turbo unit is capable of 85 kW and 170 Nm of torque. Whilst a 1-Litre turbo engine may seem tiny, the new turbo technology makes it more powerful than most 1.4s and there’s also more torque available, which helps with everyday driving.

The Corsa overtakes with ease even when in higher gears at freeway speeds and there always seems to be a little bit more oomph when you need it. The Corsa claims 5L/100km combined fuel consumption and from our experience with the Adam a few months ago, we noticed the exact same figure of 6.4L/100km after our 300km trip of the Cape.

Interior Satisfaction

The interior of the Opel Corsa has a lot of similarities with the Adam, and that’s a good thing. It’s quite stylish inside and all the dials feel like they’re newly fashioned as opposed to being evolutions of past Corsas. It’s also spacious inside, more so than the Adam, and obviously carries two more doors. Rear space looks impressive and the boot is large enough, although there doesn’t seem to be an exact figure on its load capacity. The infotainment system is brought in from the Adam and is a modern, responsive touchscreen that’s fully Smartphone compatible, although slightly iPhone biased with its App suite.

Ride and Handling

The Corsa’s new chassis seems to be a good match for the car’s physical appeal, it’s comfortable in town and on the long run and does a decent job of handling. The new steering setup, whilst being electric and power assisted still retains a nicely weighted feel as you work on the lock in faster bends. There’s a City Driving button that lightens up the wheel entirely and will allow you to navigate shopping centre car parks with one finger.

The new Corsa comes with a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating and features all the new safety systems you’d expect from a modern day premium car. ABS, traction control and EBD are all standard. The traction control system is also equipped with a whole bunch of other add-ons to keep you on the Tarmac such as: Straight line stability control, cornering brake control, drag torque control, active rollover protection and hill start assist.

Round Up – Opel Corsa Price in South Africa

The new Opel Corsa enters a tough segment of the market dominated by the VW Polo. There’s also strong competition from the Renault Clio and Ford Fiesta. Hyundai has a new i20 and there’s a Kia Rio lurking in the background as well. The new Corsa feels right up there in terms of style and interior quality, and its entry level model hits a strong price point at R185 500.

There are option packs to beef up the three spec levels of Essentia, Enjoy and Cosmo that take the tech levels above and beyond what others in the segment can offer. Top of the range Cosmo is R236 300 and even with the R5k self-parking system option added it comes in at the same price as a top spec Polo, which has less equipment.

It will be interesting to see which of the two German brands will win out in the long term.

Update: McLaren P1 GTR Production Version To Premiere In Geneva

The McLaren P1 GTR production version has been fully revealed, ahead of its intended 2015 Geneva Motor Show premiere.

McLaren P1 GTR fastest model ever to wear McLaren ‘speed mark’

The model has been put through the paces across Europe and the Middle East, and as testing continues, the McLaren P1 GTR is set to be one of the fastest ever to wear the company’s ‘speed mark’.

According to McLaren, “these tests have pushed the performance of the car to its limits, and have been designed to further enhance cooling and aerodynamics over the design concept previewed at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in the summer of 2014.”

Under the hood of the McLaren P1 GTR is a revised V8 3.8-litre twin-turbo engine which now delivers a total of 735.5 kW of which 147 kW of that comes from an uprated electric motor.

Aerodynamic changes

The track-only P1 GTR speed monster will come in with an incredible power-to-weight ratio of more than 515 kW/ton. This will be over 10% higher than the road-going P1 – through significant weight saving measures and circuit-oriented optimisation of the hybrid powertrain.

McLaren was able to reduce the weight by 50kg, applying a series of pure motorsport solutions such as the motorsport-spec polycarbonate side windows (with a driver’s side sliding “ticket window”), carbon fiber panels in the roof and engine bay. The huge, twin exhaust pipes made from an Inconel and titanium alloy, helped shave off more than 6.5 kg.

The car will be making its world debut at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show in a few days sporting a set of 19-inch centre-locking motorsport alloy wheels, shod in Pirelli slick tyres, an aggressive front splitter, as well as lower bodywork trimmed with a sleek aerodynamic blade, which cleans the flow of air along the car’s flanks.

To read more on the model and its F1 inspired interior click here.

Audi TT (2015) Specs and Pricing Announced

The specs and pricing for the 2015 Audi TT have been announced for the South African market.

Initially, there will be just the TT coupe followed by the more powerful TTS later on this year. On the cards is the TTRS as well as a bottom of the range 1.8 equipped with a manual gearbox. Powering this model is a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 169kW and 370Nm. There’s a front-wheel drive version as well a quattro option.

Performance for this sporty coupe is brisk, with the 0-100kph sprint coming up in a claimed 5.9 seconds for the front-wheel drive derivative, while the quattro is a tad faster at 5.3 seconds. 250kph is the claimed top speed for both cars and fuel consumption is rated at 6.3L/100km (6.8L/100km for quattro)

Making its debut in the new Audi TT is the all digital dashboard. Dubbed Virtual Cockpit, this innovative display does away with any analogue dials and replaces them with a high-quality screen supplied by Nvidia. Standard features for the new Audi TT are quite comprehensive.

Audi TT Coupe 2.0T FSI S tronic
Virtual cockpit with Audi MMI navigation Plus and Touchpad control
17-inch alloy wheels
Xenon headlights
Keyless entry
Audi drive select
Audi music interface with USB
Bluetooth interface with audio streaming
Alcantara/leather upholstery
Light/rain sensor
Front centre armrest
Leather trimmed 3-spoke flat bottom multi function steering wheels
Shift paddles
Front sports seats
Cruise control
Digital air conditioning
LED interior lighting

Audi TT coupe 2.0T FSI S tronic quattro
New generation quattro all-wheel drive with adjustable torque split via drive select
18-inch wheels
Milano leather upholstery
quattro badges
Virtual cockpit with Audi MMI navigation Plus and Touchpad control
Xenon headlights
Keyless entry
Audi drive select
Audi music interface with USB
Bluetooth interface with audio streaming
Alcantara/leather upholstery
Light/rain sensor
Front centre armrest
Leather-trimmed, 3-spoke flat bottom multi-function steering wheel
Shift paddles
Front sports seats
Digital air conditioning
LED interior lighting

Audi TT Price in South Africa

The price of the new Audi TT in South Africa has been announced. Both models will come standard with the five year/100 000km Audi Freeway plan

Audi TT Coupe 2.0T FSI S tronic R558 000
Audi TT Coupe 2.0T FSI S tronic quattro R642 000

Powerful Lotus Evora 400 Unveiled

The “fastest and most powerful” production Lotus Evora 400 has officially been unveiled.

‘Fastest and most powerful production Lotus ever’

Updates to the Lotus Evora 400 sport’s car include a supercharged 3.5-litre V6 engine that delivers 298 kW and 410 Nm of torque, and can be connected to an improved six-speed manual or an optional six-speed automatic gearbox.

The superfast Lotus Evora 400 is said to accelerate from 0 – 100 km/h in 4.2 seconds before hitting a top speed of 300 km/h. According to the company, the model also lapped the Hethel test track six seconds faster than its predecessor. The car also has a retuned suspension, bigger brakes and a standard Limited Slip Differential (LSD) on models equipped with the six-speed manual.

Design features

Looks wise, the company has pimped the Evora 400 with a new front bumper with larger air intakes and LED daytime running lights. The car also sports a new rear bumper, lightweight composite rear diffuser and three element rear wing. Other features include restyled mirrors and 19- / 20-inch lightweight forged aluminium wheels with Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres.

The new and revised interior is fully equipped with new front seats, trim upgrades in full Alcantara, or Scottish leather, with each featuring specific trim detailing, a new dashboard, modified centre console and an improved instrument cluster. Other interior highlights include a forged magnesium steering wheel with a red position stripe, improved switchgear and an upgraded infotainment system.

“The Evora 400 is the fastest road-going Lotus that we have ever produced, possessing performance that can only be matched by cars costing significantly more,” said Lotus Cars boss Jean-Marc Gales. “It delivers supercar looks allied to supercar performance.”

New Opel Corsa Price in South Africa Revealed

The new Opel Corsa has been introduced in a three model range in South Africa, featuring extensive upgrades.

All-new fifth generation Opel Corsa in SA

The new Corsa will be made available with Opel’s three-cylinder 1.0-litre turbocharged ecoFLEX engine, and will be offered in three trim levels namely: Essentia, Enjoy and Cosmo. The new Opel Corsa 1.0T Essentia is fully equipped with the new ecoFLEX engine and six-speed manual gearbox, while standard features include start/stop engine control, a gear shift indicator, halogen daytime running lights, City Mode steering, electric windows up front, electric mirror adjustment, tinted glass, a folding key, 15-inch steel wheels, GEMSTONE black cloth upholstery, Gunpowder Grey decor, single-piece folding rear seats and a storage compartment beneath the front passenger seat.

The 1.0T Enjoy adds items like the audio system and steering wheel audio controls, an on-board trip computer, an accented gear knob and steering wheel, 60/40-split folding rear seats, LED daytime running lights, front fog lamps, air conditioning, 16-inch alloy wheels and colour-coded door handles.

The range-topping Corsa 1.0T Cosmo is fully furnished with cruise control with a speed limiter (active from speeds above 25 km/h), bi-xenon headlights with cornering light control, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, rain-sensing wipers and automatic headlights. There’s also a leather steering wheel, IntelliLink, chrome detailing, GRAPHIK black upholstery with Morrocana vinyl bolsters, RHUTHENIUM decor, silver highlights on the instrument cluster, interior ambient lighting, flexible cup holders and two seat-back pockets. Our Journalist Ashley Oldfield is currently attending the local launch in Cape Town. Look out for his full driving report tomorrow.

New Opel Corsa Price in South Africa (February 2017)

Click here for the latest Opel Corsa pricing in South Africa

Opel Corsa 1.0T Essentia – R 201 800
Opel Corsa 1.0T Enjoy – R 234 800
Opel Corsa 1.0T Cosmo – R 255 800
Opel Corsa 1.4 Enjoy Auto – R235 100
Opel Corsa 1.4 Turbo Sport – R276 200 

All new Opel Corsa derivatives will be sold as standard with Opel’s 5-year/ 120 000 km warranty and a 3-year/ 60 000 km service plan.

Option Packages: Corsa Essentia Option Pack 1: Radio with Bluetooth & USB, AC – R 12,200 Opel Corsa Essentia Option Pack 2: IntelliLink, AC, 15” alloy wheels – R 15600 Opel Corsa Enjoy Option Pack 1: IntelliLink – R 4000 Opel Corsa Enjoy Option Pack 2: IntelliLink, Advanced Park Assist 2 – R 8000 Opel Corsa Cosmo Option Pack 1: Advanced Park Assist 2 – R 5000    

Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Special Edition Revealed

Aston Martin has revealed first details of the track-inspired Vantage GT3 special edition.

Aston Martin Vantage GT3 is Built for the Track

Said to be inspired by the company’s track-version GT3, the special edition features new flared carbon fibre front wings, carbon fibre bonnet, a lithium ion race-derived battery, carbon-fibre door casings plus optional carbon fibre roof and polycarbonate rear windows. Through weight saving measures, the car has shed a total of 100 kg over the Vantage S, leaving it with a weight of 1565 kg.

There’s also a carbon fibre hood, a black mesh grille, ceramic coated tailpipes and 19-inch forged alloy wheels with Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres.

The sporty theme is carried through inside with an Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel, carbon fibre sport seats, carbon fibre centre stack with touch-sensitive controls, leather door pull straps and an infotainment system with GPS navigation.

Bespoke engineering upgrades

Described as the “most potent and uncompromising Vantage to date,” the GT3 packs a 6.0-litre V12 engine producing 441 kW and 625 Nm of torque. It’s connected to a seven-speed automated manual transmission which allows the car to sprint from 0-100 km/h in 3.7 seconds before reaching an estimated top speed of 297km/h.

Among other upgrades found under the hood, Aston Martin has equipped the Vantage GT3 Special Edition with a track-tuned suspension featuring revised springs and dampers, as well as an enhanced Adaptive Damping System with three different modes: Normal, Sport and Track.

Other highlights include the magnesium inlet manifolds with revised geometry, a lightweight magnesium torque tube and a full titanium exhaust system with centre outlets.

The Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Special Edition will have its world premiere at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show before going on sale in a limited production run of just 100 examples in the third quarter of 2015.

Video Update: McLaren MSO 650S Project Kilo Unveiled

McLaren Special Operations (MSO) has unveiled a one-of-a-kind 650S Project Kilo model described as one of the most individualised 650S ever made featuring new carbon fibre body panels.

McLaren MSO 650S Project Kilo

The new McLaren MSO 650S Project Kilo comes with a carbon fiber options including the roof, new sill panels, the rear diffuser, and instrument cluster bezel with integrated shift lights.

The vehicle also features new aluminium water and oil filler caps painted in body colour with McLaren Orange logos, McLaren Orange painted inner door seams with MSO logos and a 24 carat gold plated exhaust heat shield.

There’s also a small drawing of a kiwi bird on the engine cover, which the McLaren says is a reference to New Zealand, “the birth place of our founder, Bruce McLaren”.

The one-off 650S Coupe is also distinguishable by its unique Kilo Grey paint, orange brake callipers, MSO lettering on the side skirts and by the titanium wheel bolts.

McLaren 650S MSO Project Kilo – extensive bespoke customisations

New Audi R8 Teased with Laser Technology

Audi has partially teased the new R8 with an image showing off its LED headlights. Audi has revealed that the second-generation R8 will also feature a high-beam laser lighting as an option.

Laser Tech for 2015 Audi R8

Audi claims that the laser lighting uses high intensity laser diodes which produce high amounts of light energy from a small component, effectively doubling the lighting range compared to LED high-beam headlights.

The laser lighting system includes a laser module with four high-intensity laser diodes, which ‘bundles’ four blue laser beams. A phosphor converter then converts the blue light into white light. The new Audi R8 will however be fitted with an LED headlight system as standard, which includes a total of 37 LEDs per headlight.

Making its first appearance in the R18 e-tron quattro race car and followed by the Audi R8 LMX limited edition model in 2014, laser spot technology is the latest lighting innovation from Audi alongside previous innovations including LED daytime running lights and Matrix LED headlights.

The new Audi R8 will be shown at the Geneva Motor Show on 3 March and will stand alongside its fully electric e-tron derivative. We will provide further details regarding the Audi R8 as and when they become available. Stay tuned!