Renault Introduces Limited Edition Megane Coupe Ultimate
Renault has unveiled its limited edition Megane Coupe Ultimate Edition which will be available exclusively in France.
Limited Edition Megane Coupe Ultimate detailed
The coupe is based on the Intens equipment level and features specific styling such as sportier bumpers, 18-inch alloy wheels with a gloss black finish and a fixed glass sunroof.
Inside, the model is comprehensively equipped with heated leather front seats, a Renault R-Link multimedia system, dual-zone automatic climate control and Black Lacquer interior trimming details. The car also has a leather-wrapped steering wheel, aluminium pedal caps, electrically folding door mirrors and ultimate badging.
Engine options include the petrol Energy TCe 130 and the diesel Energy dCi 130.
2015 Mazda MX-5 Officially Revealed
The Mazda MX-5 is the worlds best-selling two-seater sports car. Now, after much waiting and anticipation we have official images of the new MX-5. The headlining numbers reveal that this new model is shorter, lower and wider.
Mazda MX-5 Details
This is the latest Mazda to follow the KODO design philosophy of soul in motion as seen previously on the Shinari concept car and the current CX-5. It definitely looks athletic and the overall design is quite pleasing in our opinion.
The proportions of the new MX-5 mean that it is 105 mm shorter in length than before, 20 mm lower and 10 mm wider. The overall weight has also said to be slashed by as much as 100kg due to use of aluminium in key weight saving areas.
No specific details have been released as to power outputs of the MX-5 but Mazda has said there will be two petrol motors available using SKYACTIV technology. The engine has been mounted slightly further behind the front axle in order to achieve perfect 50:50 weight distribution.
The spirit of the sports car convertible is still intrinsic to the MX-5 and the soft-top roof remains key to its design. They have also improved the wind noise whilst the roof is down, deflecting it away from the passengers. Speakers have been built into the headrests to increase ‘driver enjoyment’.
Suspension-wise the MX-5 has a simple setup with double wishbones at the front and a multilink rear suspension. The key to the Mazda MX-5 has always been simplicity and purity so things look good so far, we await final details like engine choices at the official launch before it goes on sale in 2015.
All-New MG3 Super-Mini Finally Arrives in SA
After months of waiting, MG has announced that the all-new MG3 super-mini has finally arrived in South Africa, with a range consisting of the standard MG3, the MG3 Wired, and the top-of-the-range MG3 Style.
The model stands out with its sporty exterior style that includes a full width black mesh grille incorporated into the colour-coded front sport design bumper, black A and B-pillars, ‘wraparound’ windscreen and sleek lines as well as LED daytime running lights which are standard across the range.
Inside, the model is equipped with a rolled and raised’ front dashboard design which according to the brand, creates an airy forward cabin space and increased legroom. The model also comes with leather upholstery, six airbags, electronic stability control, corner brake control and traction control.
All models will in addition benefit from a powerful 1.5-litre engine driving the front wheels through a 5-speed manual transmission, and offering well balanced performance, acceleration and economy.
All-new MG3 price in South Africa
The three-car line-up is said to cost less than R180 000. The top of the range MG3 STYLE is priced at R179 900, while the mid-range will sit at around R165 000, and the entry-level MG3 will come to around R145 000.
The new MG3 will be sold with a 3-year/100 000 km warranty with a 2-year/60 000 km service plan, including free AA Road Side Assist for 12 months.
2015 Hyundai i20 Revealed
The new version of the Hyundai i20 has been shown ahead of its debut at the Paris Motor Show in October 2014. The new car has undergone extensive chassis changes as well as a new design and interior. The i20 will go on sale across Europe from November 2014.
Hyundai i20 Details
The New Generation i20 has been designed and developed in Europe, the mantra followed in the creation of the new car was to create class-leading interior space, high-technology and comfort-enhancing features, and clean, refined design.
Sitting on a new platform, the wheelbase has been extended by 45mm to 2570mm creating more space for occupants. Additionally theres more front and rear legroom, whilst boot capacity is up to 326-litres from 295 in the previous model.
New Premium features
The inclusion of front and rear parking assist, heated steering wheel, static bending headlamps and automatic defog system are impressive for a B-segment hatch. Other new features include a dashboard-integrated seven-inch satellite navigation system, automatic folding door mirrors and smartphone docking integration. USB and auxiliary connectivity is fitted as standard and can be specified with an integrated My Music function along with Bluetooth hands free, where up to 1GB of music can be stored and played.
Safety Update
Standard across the range is Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and Vehicle Stability Management (VSM). The ESC has been carefully tuned to be as unobtrusive as possible during driving.
Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS) is a welcome addition to the range and alerts drivers if they are veering off course without signalling their intention to change lane during motorway driving.
Cornering headlamps, activated during cornering when the steering wheel is turned left or right by more than 25 degrees and illuminating the direction of travel have been added.
Engine Lineup
The engines remain the same from the previous generations except that they have been engineered to deliver torque lower down the rev range. The more accessible torque improves the throttle response and makes town driving more exciting.
There are three petrol models and two diesels in the range. Petrols include a 1.25-litre with two different outputs 55 kW with 122 Nm or the higher output 62 kW with the same 122Nm. The top spec petrol engine is a 1.4-litre with 74 kW and 134 Nm of torque. The 1.2 lays power to the ground via a five-speed manual whilst the 1.4 has a choice of a six-speed manual or four-speed auto.
The diesel power comes courtesy of either a 1.1-litre three-cylinder turbodiesel with 55 kW and 180 Nm or a 1.3-litre four cylinder turbodiesel with 66 kW and 240 Nm
Two Door Coupe Sketch
Hyundai simultaneously released a sketch of a possible two-door variant of the i20. Here it is.
Updated Infiniti Q70 To Debut At Paris Motor Show
The upgraded Infiniti Q70 premium sedan is set to make its European debut at the Paris Motor Show next month.
Upgraded edition of the Infiniti Q70 premium sedan
Exterior updates to the Q70 have been made to bring it in line with the all-new Q50, including changes to the grille, the front and rear bumpers and the addition of standard-fit LED headlights.
The model also comes with a retuned suspension which Infiniti says minimises initial impacts over road imperfections, new 18-inch wheels and an upgraded interior with additional storage space and more 12V outlets.
The upgraded Infiniti Q70 additionally now comes with the option of Around View Monitor (AVM) cameras giving the driver a 360-degree view around the car for improved visibility when parking and pulling out at junctions.
Under the bonnet you find a new economical 2.2-litre turbodiesel four-cylinder engine with 125 kW and 400 Nm of torque. Another on-board enhancement is improved HVAC logic for the climate control that syncs up with the Start/Stop function on the 2.2 turbo-diesel engine, allowing cabin comfort to be maintained as necessary whenever the engine is stopped.
First deliveries of the 2015 Infiniti Q70 are said to start in Europe in December. South African availability is yet to be confirmed.
Jeep Grand Cherokee Updated for 2015
The Jeep Grand Cherokee has come in for a small update as well as the introduction of a Red Vapour Special Edition SRT model for 2015. This comes after Jeep launched the standard Cherokee to SA earlier in 2014.
Jeep Grand Cherokee Details
A new Grand Cherokee Summit Argentina Tan leather interior is now available in addition to Morocco Black and Grand Canyon Jeep Brown. Covering the seats, centre console armrest, upper door panels and upper dashboard, the new hue is accented with black stitching. Other new interior features include illuminated Summit door sills and a new Berber carpet cargo mat.
An acoustic laminated windshield and second-row side glass are now standard. Combined with a new Active Noise Cancellation system, exterior road noise is reduced within the cabin. The result is a claimed 10db decrease in noise within the cabin.
Customers can enhance Summits design further with the available Summit California Edition appearance package. It features body trim, mirror caps and door handles, platinum chrome accents on the grille, lower fascia and side sills, fog lamp bezels, rear step pad and badging. Carbon painted 20-inch aluminium wheels are also part of the package.
The Big SRT has more Power
The big news is the range topping SRT has been given an engine update. The 6.4-litre HEMI V8 gains small power and torque increase of 3kW and 6Nm. That means it pounds out 354kW and 637Nm. Zero to 100kph takes just 4.8 seconds and the SRT will top out at 257kph.
Finally the new Red Vapor special edition is available on three body colours: Redline Red Pearl Clear Coat, Brilliant Black Crystal Pearl Coat and Bright White Clear Coat.
On the exterior, standard five-spoke 20-inch Goliath wheels are finished in Black Chrome with bright chrome centre caps, while additional gloss black additions include the SRT liftgate badge, bonnet and rear lights, Grand Cherokee door badge, lower and upper grille bezels.
Inside, the exclusive SRT logo on the steering wheel is backlit and the steering wheel bezel changes to a silver finish. Radar Red accents are used throughout the cabin to enhance the Jeeps masculinity.
Opel ADAM ROCKS AIR Revealed
Opel is extending its range of the ADAM family with a new urban-chic ADAM ROCKS AIR crossover model.
ADAM ROCKS AIR combines the toughness of a crossover with the coolness of open air driving, said Stuart Harris, Vauxhalls Head of Carline Brand. Its the perfect ADAM for active drivers wanting to stand out from the crowd.
Powertrain options
The ADAM ROCKS AIR is the first model from Opel to feature the all-new 1.0-litre ECOTEC Direct Injection turbo three-cylinder engine which packs 85 kW and 170 Nm of torque at 1800 rpm. It’s capable of reaching 0-100 km/h in 9.9 seconds and has a top speed of 195 km/h and can return 4.2-litres/100 km with CO2 emissions of 119 g/km.
The engine line-up also includes a 52 kW 1.2-litre unit and a 1.4-litre delivering 64 kW and 130 Nm. Both engines are mated to five-speed manual transmission and can be specified with an ecoFLEX technology pack to further enhance efficiency.
Contemporary style of ADAM
Following on from the concept model shown at the Geneva Show last year, the ADAM ROCKS AIR features revised and retuned dampers, springs and rear suspension geometry and sits 15 mm higher than standard ADAM models.
The higher, wider looks are matched by a choice of standard 17-inch or optional 18-inch alloy wheels. These can be further personalised with new wheel clips in Wild design and different colours that are unique to ROCKS AIR.
The rugged look is further enhanced by anthracite-coloured cladding, a trapezoidal grille with a chrome central brand bar embedded in the cladding. The car also benefits from silver skid plates, a new exhaust trim, a number of new paint colours and three roof shades.
The ROCKS AIR is in addition available with two new exclusive interior trims. One is taken straight from the Rocks concept with Brandy-coloured fabric/Morrocana seats and door panels, leather steering wheel, gearshift and handbrake in the same colour, and Surf decor trim. The other trim features a Coffee Bean design with rich dark brown seats in a black cabin trimmed with bright blue stitching.
BMW 335i M Performance (2014) Review
The BMW 335i M Performance Edition garners loads of attention from onlookers. Here in its Valencia Orange hue with carbon fibre accessories it makes a visual impact and with its straight-six turbo youd hope it packs a fierce punch to match. Does the M Performance edition turn it into a 3-Series for the enthusiast? Or is it just a 335i with some fancy garnish?
What is an M Performance Edition?
BMW has introduced the M Performance edition for additional sporty flavour to its 3-Series. It starts with an M Sport package that includes a few chassis tweaks including lowering the suspension by 10mm, stiffening up the springs and dampers and the stabilisers are hardened. The exterior is then accessorised to the next level.
M Sport brakes are added with blue calipers, side skirts are added with ‘M Performance’ decals, there’s a carbon spoiler on the boot lid and a special M Performance front grille. Its hardly subtle but Im beginning to get its not the point of this vehicle. What’s more is there’s just 500 of these available, so there’s the exclusivity factor to add in.
M Performance packaging doesnt end there as the interior steals a few parts from the M Sport package. Theres a nice fat M-branded steering wheel, red-stitched sport seats and a large M logo on the door sill. The rest of the interior remains top notch 3-Series with i-Drive hosting all the functions you could ever want for. One of the most useful functions within the i-Drive system I found was the message reader that offeres to read your phone messages to you on the move. Its a good way to decrease cell phone use on the roads.
Gun Show
The 335i is motivated by the tried and tested 3-litre straight-six turbo. The M Performance has the exact same credentials as the standard car. Power sits at 225 kW and torque is 400 Nm. Maximum torque is available pretty much the whole way through the rev range, it starts at an almost idle 1 200 rpm and is still pushing all of it at 5 000 rpm.
That provides a perfectly linear acceleration curve, for a turbo engine it is incredibly smooth and climbs the revs evenly right to the redline shift. I wouldnt call it ballistic acceleration though, theres no sense of how fast youre going until you look out the side window or down at the speedo. The best way to describe it is possibly as luxurious performance.
Eight Clicks
In order to keep fuel economy down, BMW decided on the eight-speed automatic gearbox. In auto mode the shifts feel seamless and before youre even aware, youre in top gear cruising at 100kph. The revs are kept low to keep fuel economy down before the next gear is called to task. Adjust the chassis selector button into sport and the shifts get a bit more noticeable as the computer allows the engine to rev higher and the gear shifts to strike faster. Coming back down the gears can be a bit clunky in Sport mode, but theres always the manual mode to spruce the excitement up. With eight gears to play with in manual mode, I kept getting lost as to where I was and needed to glance into the instrument cluster to rectify the problem.
Driving Pleasure
When it comes down to it, driving a BMW has to be about the driving experience. The lowered and stiffened suspension doesnt hamper the slow speed ride of the M Performance. Yes its firm but not annoyingly so and even with the large front bumper its high enough off the ground to not scrape over speed bumps or sloped kerbs.
At speed and in the bends is where the M Performance package makes sense, the chassis feels planted and theres loads of grip to be tested. The M Performance changes direction beautifully with great poise and balance, the weight transfer when shifted quickly still feels central so theres no scary moments of snap oversteer. If I were to change one thing it would be the electronic steering, whilst the weighting of the steering feel is good, it could do with better feedback as it loses some of the connection with the front wheels and that detracts from the overall thrill.
Verdict
The BMW 335i M Performance has all the shiny add-ons and go faster bits to make it stand out from the regular 335i and when finished off in carbon fibre they certainly attract attention. It would be nice to say the M Performance version was a little faster than a normal 335i, but the improved numbers will only be found on the track. Its a better handler with firmer suspension and a lower centre of gravity and its fun to wield down a good road. The steering could provide more feedback, but the chassis is still the benchmark for executive sedans. The 335i M Performance offers something a little extra for the owner who wants a little more show and can do some bragging about handling and exclusivity at R50 000 extra.
Second Opinion
The BMW 335i M Performance edition boasts some cool carbon fibre visual bits like mirrors and boot spoiler. It also gains some blue M-branded brakes and side skirts amongst other things. The result is a car that finally looks as exciting as it is to drive. David Taylor
BMW 335i M Performance quick specs
Price
R712 600
Engine
3-litre 6-cylinder turbo petrol
Power
225 kW
Torque
400 Nm
Transmission
Eight-speed Automatic
Wheels
19-inch alloys
0-100km/h
5.5 seconds (claimed)
Fuel economy
7.2 l/100 km (claimed)
We like:
. Luxurious performance
. Improved handling from an already impressive chassis
. M Performance parts bring added aggressiveness
We dislike:
. Lack of connection between steering wheel and tyres
. All show with no extra go
Theres been a vast amount of teasing and stalker videos and headlamp shots of the anticipated Land Rover Discovery Sport. Now we can officially report that it has been launched, with details and loads of images. The Discovery Sport replaces the Freelander in Land Rovers lineup.
Discovery Sport details
As a midsize or compact SUV, the Discovery Sport still manages to pack in seven seats with the third row featuring a foldable pair of seats. The middle row of seats can be reclined as well as fitted to rails in order to slide back and forth, this makes the seating arrangements particularly adaptable.
Land Rover also claim that the Discovery Sport can be fitted with up to five 12V sockets and three USB charging ports servicing all three rows of seats. An entirely new infotainment system has been built in and is powered by an eight-inch touch screen in the centre of the dash.
Off road credentials remain firmly cemented as the Discovery Sport is equipped Terrrain Response allowing it to adjust and cope with differing terrains at the push of a button. It also has a multi-link rear suspension setup, which Land Rover says improves rear occupant comfort levels, even in the back row where it can be notoriously bouncy.
The headline grabber as far as safety systems is concerned is the introduction of a pedestrian airbag, which we first saw being introduced on the current Volvo V40. The Discovery Sport is also equipped with autonomous emergency braking, where if the system detects an imminent accident it will apply the brakes.
At launch the Disco Sport will be powered by the 2.2-litre SD4 turbodiesel, which we recently drove in the Range Rover Evoque. In the Disco Sport it will produce 140kW and will be connected to either the nine-speed automatic or a six speed manual. There is also talk of a two wheel drive eD4 turbodiesel engine that will join the range later in 2015 with CO2 emissions from just 119g/km.
The Discovery Sport will go on sale in Europe in January 2015.
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Concept-S Teased
Mitsubishi has released two teaser design images of the Outlander PHEV Concept-S ahead of its reveal at the 2014 Paris Motor Show.
Sporty and sophisticated concept
Mitsubishi first introduced the Outlander PHEV at the Paris Motor Show two years ago, and the company has once again chosen the same venue to unveil another PHEV vehicle: the Outlander PHEV ConceptS.
The concept is described as a “special package” that has a refined interior and exterior design that magnifies the Outlander PHEV’s unique driving experience.
Details are still limited at the moment, however according some reports, the Outlander PHEV ConceptS will be set up with the same four-cylinder 2.0-litre turbocharged engine from the previous model. This engine will work together with two electric motors and a 12 kWh lithium-ion battery to provide a combined output of 149 kW and 337 Nm of torque. This setup is said to be enough to pump the Outlander to 0-100 km/h in 11 seconds before reaching a top speed of 170 km/h.
Expect more details when the concept debuts later this year at the 2014 Paris Motor Show.
