Nissan X-Trail (2014) Review

The Nissan X-Trail scored many admirers with its go anywhere, durable look and perceived off-road ability. Add a compliant ride into the mix and space for a family and their regalia and Nissan had an attractive offering in the SUV segment for those wanting something larger than a Qashqai. The new model, released in 2014, has done away with the butch styling in favour of something easier on everyone’s eyes. We spent some time with the new model to see if there’s been some real improvement in the X-Trail.

What’s New?

In essence, not much. The X-Trail is still a capable off-road tool when equipped with four-wheel drive systems, it’s still spacious inside, comes in a seven-seat option and has a comfortable ride. Get down to the nitty gritty and you start to understand the raft of improvements made to the new X-Trail. The car has a touch more ground clearance, but the overall height of the X-Trail is reduced slightly. Nissan has managed to reduce the overall weight of the X-Trail by 90kg while actually building a larger vehicle than before. A 75mm longer wheelbase has improved space inside while the practicality of the interior has been taken a step further.

Engine Lineup

This is a bit of a strange one to wrap my head around as the new X-Trail gets the old X-Trail’s petrol engines. That means a 2-litre and 2.5-litre petrol. The turbodiesel though is the same 1.6-litre unit from the Qashqai. The 1.6-litre felt a little bit laggy up at reef altitude, but proves its worth at the pumps as it is impressively economical over a tank.

We averaged 6L/100km in the four-wheel drive variant of the diesel. Power for the diesel is 96 kW and 320 Nm of torque and it’s the torque that you rely on to keep the X-Trail moving quickly and at low revs. We also had the entry level 2-litre petrol with 106 kW and 200 Nm of torque, but while it did the job of ferrying one or two passengers, it starts to struggle with bigger loads. That said the manual six-speed gearbox is a light shifter and particularly easy to get in and out of gear.

Interior

Seven seats are optional on the X-Trail as you’d expect from a large SUV and the rear row of seats are reasonably comfortable, but you only really want to be sending small children to those seats. The boot is quite large at 550-litres and with the seats folded down that increases to 1405-litres. Standard equipment is actually pretty low on the base model with cloth seats and a basic radio interface.

It’s a no-frills setup, but at least they haven’t skimped on safety as the entry 2-litre still comes ABS, traction control, airbags everywhere and hill start assist. What’s a bit annoying is that you can’t even spec the nice Techno pack on the entry level that would add some nice touches like a seven-inch touchscreen, all-round cameras, NissanConnect apps, lane departure warning and some heated door mirrors. Thankfully you can have the Techno pack on the more expensive models.

Ride and Drive

The Nissan X-Trail still has an extremely comfortable ride, it’s cushioned over bumps and soaks up dirt roads with aplomb. It’s the best feature on this new X-Trail. The X-Trail’s steering feels communicative and does a good job over the rougher stuff of being nice and light. On the road it’s still nicely weighted and inspires confidence on freeways that you have total control, even in a 50kph Cape wind. The X-Trail doesn’t lean terribly when cornering sharply, but it’s not particularly sporty and I’m okay with that. It’s a family vehicle that’s comfortable and capable.

Verdict

The new X-Trail improves on the previous generation’s formula. It rides comfortably, is spacious and practical, and can cope with a bit of rough terrain thrown its direction. Nissan has also managed to keep the price down quite well so that it’s not too much more than a Qashqai, that does mean that the entry level models are quite bare though. Nissan say that turbocharged petrol engines may be coming in the new year and that would help with the lack of torque on the current ones as well as making them a bit more powerful. For now though, the X-Trail is a good choice of SUV for the family that wants a bit of everything.

Second Opinion

I feel the Nissan X-Trail is in a spot of bother. While it does most things okay, it doesn’t do anything really well. A jack of all trades and a master of none. Worryingly, I think its biggest threat is going to come from its Nissan Qashqai sibling, which I think is excellent. So if you’re not needing a big boot or seven seats, then it’d be a better bet to consider the smaller of the two Nissan SUVs. – David Taylor

Nissan X-Trail Price in South Africa

The range starts at an impressive R327 700 for the 2-litre petrol and rises to R473 600 for the four-wheel drive top spec 1.6-litre turbodiesel.

We like:
. Interior space and practicality
. A soft-roader that has off road talent
. Keen pricing

We Don’t Like:
. A bit scant on features
. Petrol engines
. No rear parking sensors

Also Consider:
Hyundai Santa Fe
Honda CR-V
Toyota RAV4

Compare the X-Trail against the CR-V and the RAV4 here

Nissan X-Trail 2.0 Quick Specs

Engine 2-litre, 4-cylinder petrol
Power 106 kW
Torque 200 Nm
Transmission 6-speed manual
Wheels 17-inch Alloys
0-100 km/h 11.1 seconds (claimed)
Fuel economy 8.3-litres/100km
Fuel Tank 60 L

Ford Kuga Receives Significant Range Upgrade

The Ford Kuga has been refreshed with a number upgrades including new powerful EcoBoost engines and advanced technologies.

“We’ve updated the Kuga range with new engines that deliver more power but also lower emissions – two things you don’t see very often,” said Tracey Delate, Marketing Manager, Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa.

“It’s part of our strategy to offer eco-friendly vehicles that don’t compromise on driving enjoyment or excellent consumer technologies.”

Improved powerful engine range

Ford has increased peak power of the 2.0-litre TDCi engine by 12kW to 132kW and peak torque to 400Nm, up from 340Nm, a significant increase of 12kW and 60Nm. Combined with Ford’s Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system, this engine is said to deliver the most pulling power ever for Kuga.

The Kuga also adopts the 2.0-litre EcoBoost engine, which powers the Focus ST and delivers 177kW with 340Nm of torque.

The new 1.5-litre EcoBoost petrol engine replaces the outgoing 1.6-litre petrol engine and delivers 110kW and 240Nm in the front-wheel drive manual model and 132kW and 240Nm in the all-wheel drive automatic derivative. It additionally reduces CO2 emissions to 143g/km from 154g/km – an improvement of more than seven per cent over the outgoing engine.

Advanced driver assistance technologies

In addition to the Cruise Control with Adjustable Speed Limiter that is offered as standard, the updated Ford Kuga also offers Adaptive Cruise Control including Forward Alert, which warns drivers if they are travelling too close to the vehicle ahead.

Other standard technology features include the Tyre Pressure Monitoring System, which warns if any of the tyres lose significant pressure during a journey. There’s also a Hands-Free Tailgate, Blind Spot Information System, Active City Stop, Auto High Beam, Lane Keeping Aid, Lane Keeping Alert and Driver Alert.

An automatic Start-Stop system and the wind-cheating Active Grille Shutter will now also be standard on all Kuga models.

Ford Kuga price in South Africa

Ford Kuga 1.5 EcoBoost Abmiente – R314 900

Ford Kuga 1.5 EcoBoost Trend FWD – R355 900

Ford Kuga 1.5 EcoBoost Trend Auto FWD – R367 900

Ford Kuga 1.5 EcoBoost Trend Auto AWD – R394 900

Ford Kuga 2.0 EcoBoost Titanium Auto AWD – R437 900

Ford Kuga 2.0 TDCi Trend PowerShift AWD – R419 900

Ford Kuga 2.0 TDCi Titanium PowerShift AWD – R454 900

2015 European Car Of The Year Finalists Announced

Seven finalists have made the shortlist for the 2015 European Car of The Year Awards, with the winner set to be announced at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show in March next year.

2015 European Car Of The Year Finalists

The seven finalists were selected from an original list of 33 contenders back in July 2014. The finalists include the BMW 2-Series Active Tourer, the Citroen C4 Cactus, the Ford Mondeo, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, the Nissan Qashqai, the Renault Twingo and the Volkswagen Passat.

The winner of the 2015 European Car of The Year Awards will be chosen by a panel of judges that represent 23 European countries and is made up mostly of journalists and other members of the auto industry.

Last year’s winner was the Peugeot 308, which is said to be up to 140 kg lighter than its predecessor and offers a 420-litre boot. It also comes with an “i-Cockpit” interior featuring a big 9.7-inch touchscreen display from where the driver can have access to all controls.

To read more about the Peugeot 308 click here.

*Pictured is the 2014 BMW Active Tourer*

2015 Mazda CX-5 Introduced Before Geneva Motor Show Debut

The 2015 Mazda CX-5 along with the 2015 Mazda6 have been introduced ahead of their 2015 Geneva Motor Show debut.

Improved features and technology systems

Both models are said to be introduced with ‘more advanced safety technology, more powertrain choices and a new more refined interior’. Mazda was a bit coy on specifics but confirmed the models will be equipped with Adaptive LED Headlights – an autonomous high-beam system with four independently controllable blocks of LEDs per headlamp.

The cars will further benefit from new safety features including Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) which extends the existing Rear Vehicle Monitoring (RVM) system’s range while also adding Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), which warns the driver of approaching vehicles when reversing.

Lane-keep Assist System (LAS) provides steering torque assistance to help prevent unintentional lane changes, thus complementing the Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS).

Additional enhancements will come in form of a SKYACTIV-D 2.2 clean diesel fitted to the Mazda6 and is available with Mazda’s new-generation all-wheel drive (AWD) system. The engine also features the world’s first front wheel slip warning detection system and now employs a specially developed low -viscosity oil to further improve fuel economy. The 2015 Mazda CX-5 will be offered with a 2.5-litre SKYACTIV-G petrol engine with i- ELOOP technology.

More refined interior

Interior upgrades include the new-generation human-machine interface (HMI), MZD Connect in-car smartphone connectivity system as well as a 7-inch touchscreen display and added infotainment features. The Mazda6 will additionally feature a head-up display.

Limited-Edition Aston Martin Works 60th Anniversary Vanquish Revealed

Six limited-edition Aston Martin Works 60th Anniversary Vanquish cars have been unveiled.

Six bespoke models to celebrate Aston Martin Works’ 60th anniversary

The bespoke models are all based on the Vanquish and each of them are subtly different and have been tailored to reflect one of the six decades being celebrated.

“This Vanquish and its five siblings are a celebration of 60 glorious years of Aston Martin at Newport Pagnell,” said Paul Spires, commercial director of Aston Martin Works.

“The team have created a series of cars that are forward looking and dynamic. Their anniversary accents ensure that they are certainly not a retro pastiche of our history.”

Each vehicle is powered by the standard Vanquish’s 6.0-litre naturally-aspirated V12 engine delivering 423 kW and 630 Nm of torque. It is mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox, and can do the 0-100 km/h sprint in a claimed 3.6 seconds before reaching a top speed of 321 km/h.

Unique colour and trim treatments

The Works Anniversary models are additionally identifiable by their Anniversary Yellow side strakes and two-tone alloy wheels, the new Aston Martin Works 60th Anniversary logo which, like the cars’ colour schemes, has been designed by the team at Gaydon. The vibrant and distinctive logos are etched into each car’s sill plates.

The interior is as uniquely styled as the exterior with two-tone seats, contrast yellow stitching and “heavy weave” carbon fiber trim. There are also special sill plates and a bespoke rotary knob which was created from metal used in a previous Aston Martin engine.

Paul Spires added: “We certainly gave ourselves some challenges with this project. Coloured side strakes such as these have never been attempted by Aston Martin before, and sourcing pistons from the correct engines in the correct decades was, of course, no small feat either.

“However, we’re all very happy with the end result and we’ve already taken a number of orders from collectors keen to own a piece of the brand’s history.”

Mercedes-Benz SL400 (2014) Review

The Mercedes-Benz SL is something of a motoring icon, with the badge being applied to the brand’s products since 1954. Recently, a new engine made its way into the luxury convertible. Meet the Mercedes-Benz SL400.

This new engine from Mercedes-Benz does duty in a number of products such as the E-class and CLS-class. Essentially, in an effort to fight the demons that are economy and emissions, the brand has done away with the old 350 motor and replaced it with this. Gone is the 3.5-litre naturally-aspirated V6 and in its place is a bi-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6. The result makes for impressive reading. Power and torque are both increased, but economy and emissions are reduced.

New Engine

Speaking of power, you’re looking at 245 kW and 480 Nm, considerably better than the older 225 kW and 370 Nm from the outgoing motor. The result is performance that is brisk. You can get the SL400 to 100kph in about 5 seconds, which is more than enough to brush aside the little boys in their hot hatchbacks. Top speed is a limited 250kph, but I feel the SL400 isn’t about top-end runs.

This engine is hooked up to the tried-and-trusted 7G-Tronic gearbox that makes for a fine pairing. Economy for the SL400 is claimed at 7.7L/100km, however during our week with the SL400 it’s more likely you’ll see a figure closer to the 9L/100km mark.

Technology

Worth mentioning is the technology in the SL400. Admittedly, not all of it comes standard with the car, but there’s such incredible tech perhaps its worth paying a little extra for it. First up is my favourite. Seeing as the SL400 comes with a panoramic glass roof, the sun still manages to enter the cabin and dazzle the occupants. Worse still is the risk of sunburn. Enter Magic Sky Control which is an electronically-controlled tinting feature. Push a button and the window magically darkens or lightens. Awesome.

My second favourite feature has to be the Air Scarf. This has been around for awhile, but its dead useful on a cold winter’s morning. It allows you to drive with the roof down on cooler days, but warm air gently blows on your neck. You can still get the full convertible experience, without suffering from the cold. Finally, you can say cheers to all those nasty speed bumps and steep driveways as the SL400 boasts a hydraulic lift setup which, raises the car by a substantial amount.

The Drive

How does it drive? Well, if relaxed cruising with the top down is your thing, you can do very little to beat the SL400. It’s a supremely competent roadster and comfort levels are in excess. The engine and gearbox are best left to their own devices, but if you want to get more involved, simply switch to manual mode and change gear via the paddles behind the steering wheel.

When in manual mode, the engine noises increase and there’s a delicious exhaust pop when you come off the throttle. The best part of this engine is the mid-range torque, meaning you can overtake slower traffic with a minimum of fuss. If you are fond of throwing cars around corners, make sure you have the Active Body Control suspension option ticked as it makes the car a little more athletic.

Conclusion and Summary

I find this new engine in the Mercedes-Benz SL400 magnificent. It’s such a pleasant surprise to find that a non-AMG engine can be this vocal and performance orientated. It sounds great and the car delivers effortless cruising ability. It also happens to look damn pretty too and combines with a ton of incredible technology.

The only downside here is its not as dynamically involving as, say a BMW 6-Series. The average owner probably doesn’t really care about this and instead chooses to gracefully float along in luxurious comfort – something the Mercedes-Benz SL400 does exceptionally well. As it’s the flagship convertible in the Mercedes-Benz range, you can expect pricing to be at a premium. As it stands, the SL400 starts around the R1 200 000 mark.

Second Opinion

The Merc SL is the only Benz I don’t like the styling on, the front is too ‘beaky’ – like a bird’s face for me. That doesn’t mean I don’t like it though, it’s a great cruiser and the 3-litre V6 twin turbo is a pearl to listen to. I also like my two-door coupes a bit sportier in the handling department and this SL feels like it caters to a more gentlemanly segment than I’m ready for. -Ashley Oldfield

We Like: Style, sophistication, luxury, technology, excellent engine

We Don’t Like: Price of extras (this test unit had almost R300k worth of extra kit!), not as dynamic as hoped.

Also Consider: BMW 6-Series, Porsche 911, Jaguar XK

Mercedes-Benz SL400 Quick Specs

Engine 3.0-litre, twin-turbocharged V6
Power 245 kW
Torque 480 Nm
Transmission Seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox
Wheels 17-inch alloy wheels
0-100km/h 5.2 seconds (claimed)
Top Speed 250 kph
Fuel Economy 7.7L/100km (claimed)
Fuel Tank Capacity 65 Litres

Volkswagen Kombi 2.0TDI DSG SWB (2014) Review

The popular Volkswagen Kombi recently saw the addition of a 7-speed DSG gearbox for the short wheelbase derivative and I tested its capabilities in and around Cape Town. I wanted to do something out of the ordinary for this test and seeing that the Kombi is first and foremost a people mover, I needed a few people to join me on my escapade. To solve the problem, I rounded up four under privileged kids from a surf outreach program in Muizenberg and in true Kombi spirit, embarked on a surf mission.

Imposing Presence

The Volkswagen Kombi is a large vehicle with imposing dimensions at just over 4.8 m in length and almost 2 m in height. This test unit came in a rather attractive Olympia Blue Metallic colour with optional dark tinted windows all round and rides on 16-inch alloy wheels, which are standard for this Kombi in Comfortline trim.

The oversize exterior mirrors in body colour help immensely and there are two sliding doors on either side, which greatly improves access to the rear seats. A large rear tailgate provides access to a low loading bay, which makes loading heavier items easier.

Space Galore

The Kombi is designed to seat eight people comfortably with a generous cargo bay that offers 1 200-litres of space with all the seats in place. The seats can be folded in various ways to create more space or they can be taken out completely that turns the Kombi into a van. The seats are rather heavy though and require some man power to move them around. The Kombi swallowed five surfboards and general surfing paraphernalia with ease.

The front seats offer decent lumbar support and arm rests for both the front passenger and driver are standard. Air conditioning is standard and flows through to the rear, keeping all passengers cool on those hot summer days. Passenger windows feature roller blinds to block out the sun as well.

Storage space up front includes a lockable glove compartment with a storage net on the underside, stowage pockets in the doors and front cup holders.  Other standard niceties include an 8-speaker Radio/CD/MP3 player, electric front windows, electric side mirrors, multifunction on-board computer and step illumination lights for the sliding doors. This model also came fitted with an optional tilt and slide sunroof with a sunblind, which was a nice feature.

Bus Driving

Powering this Volkswagen Kombi is a 2.0-litre TDI engine that develops 103 kW and 340 Nm of torque. This is mated to a 7-speed DSG gearbox. These numbers are sufficient to power the Kombi around town, but it’s on the highway where that torque ensures decent overtaking power, making the Kombi a great long distance cruiser.

The DSG gearbox works hard to find the ideal gear in congested traffic situations and doesn’t always get it right, which results in jerky, indecisive gear changes at slower speeds. On an open highway however, gear changes even out nicely with consistent acceleration inputs. With the DSG, you don’t have to worry about shifting gears and can rather focus on keeping the Kombi on the road, which makes it that much easier to live with.

Like driving a bus, the driver sits high up in the Kombi, which improves all-round visibility and you can’t help but feel like a bus driver behind the wheel. The Volkswagen Kombi can be a challenging vehicle to drive in the city. It’s big and long which means the driver needs to be extra alert around every corner and care needs to be taken when choosing a place to park, so the optional Park Distance Control (PDC) will definitely be useful.

In terms of fuel consumption, Volkswagen claim 8.0L / 100 km, but in the week we drove the Kombi we managed to achieve in the region of 10.6L/100 km.

Conclusion and Summary

The Volkswagen Kombi is a decent product overall with high levels of versatility. It can be a comfortable people mover or it can transform into a house mover if need be. Engine performance is good but I feel the DSG could be better. The Kombi is quite expensive so it’s worthwhile comparing the Kombi with its competitors. If a smile on a child’s face is anything to go by, then the Kombi could very well be the perfect companion on a long-distance family holiday and is well worth consideration if you are looking for loads of space.

Second Opinion

The Volkswagen Kombi is hard-coded into South African history so it’s hard not to feel a little nostalgic when jumping behind the wheel of the new one. It’s now expensive but infinitely easier to drive thanks to the DSG gearbox, even though it can be a bit sluggish between shifts at slow speeds. There’s nothing small about this bus as it handles eight passengers and luggage with ease. If you have a big family you want to cart around or you’re starting a kids lift club, this is the vehicle for you.

Volkswagen Kombi Price in South Africa

The Volkswagen Kombi is available in both short and long wheelbase formats with Trendline and Comfortline trim on offer. This Kombi Comfortline SWB with DSG is priced at R549 500. The Kombi Manual SWB is priced from R459 100 and the Kombi Comfortline LWB is priced from R557 500.

We Like:
– Practicality and versatility
– Loads of space
– Long distance capability

We Don’t Like:
– DSG could be better
– Expensive

Also Consider
Mercedes-Benz Viano
Hyundai H-1
Ford Tourneo Custom
Opel Vivaro

Volkswagen Kombi Quick Specs

Engine 2.0-litre TDI
Power 103 kW @ 3 500 rpm
Torque 340 Nm @ 1 750 – 2 500 rpm
Transmission 7-Speed DSG
Wheels 16-inch Cartagena alloy wheels
0-100km/h 172 kph
Fuel Economy 8.0L/100 km (claimed)
Fuel Tank Capacity 80-litres

 

Lamborghini Huracan LP610-4 (2014) Review

Lamborghini. The word alone elicits excitement from every petrolhead. Seeing a Lamborghini up close makes even the most non-car person take notice. As for driving one, well, that’s a completely next-level experience.

The Lamborghini Huracan is the successor to the popular Gallardo. If you wanted a Lamborghini, but couldn’t quite afford the mental Murcielago or jet-like Aventador, the Gallardo offered a great alternative. Here was a car that could still deliver fireworks in terms of driving experience, aural soundtrack and visuals. What a success that car was, and it landed up being Lamborghini’s most popular model in terms of sales.

Fast forward to 2014 and there’s a new Lamborghini in town. It’s the successor to the Gallardo and it’s called the Huracan. Visually, well just look at it. True to the unofficial Lamborghini design philosophy of making pretty much every other car look dull and bland, the Huracan looks remarkably like something out of a top-secret military program with wheels. Come to think of it, the only thing that looks even more dramatic is its older brother, the Aventador. Clad in a shimmering matte white paint, my Huracan pretty much stopped the traffic in Cape Town’s city center.

The door handles sit flush with the door, until you unlock the car and then they pop out. Climb in, close the door, put your seatbelt on and flip the start button safety catch located in the centre of the dashboard. Put your foot on the brake, depress the button and the big V10 fires up. When I say fire up, I mean unleash a symphony of ten cylinders which lets you know that you’re in something very special.

Powerplant

This all-new 5.2-litre V10 engine has 448 kW and 560 Nm, putting it squarely in supercar territory. Power reaches all four wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission so there’s no chance of you stalling or burning the clutch out. Great. With all that power, performance is going to be exceptional. While I didn’t have the bravery to try it, Lamborghini claims the Huracan can hit 100kph in just 3.2 seconds. I find the fact that the Huracan can hit 200kph in just under 10 seconds far more impressive.

I feel sorry for these supercar manufacturers as they’re forced by governments to be as economical as possible. Lamborghini has had to put in trivial things like Start/Stop technology and cylinder deactivation. I suppose these technologies do help slightly, as Lamborghini claims a fuel consumption figure of 12.5L/100km.

Interior

Clad in a vivid lime green colour, the interior of the Lamborghini Huracan is an interesting place to be. I particularly loved the infotainment screen that was integrated into the driver’s binnacle, removing the need for a secondary screen which would then complicate the interior. The centre dashboard is dominated by a row of switches, reminiscent of a fighter jet.

Here you’ll find things like window controls and hazard lights, but I found the most important thing here is the nose lift, which raises the front of the car by a few centimetres so you can clear speed bumps and steep driveways. Despite being a hardcore supercar, you still have plenty creature comforts like satellite navigation, climate control, park assist and reverse camera.

The seats are comfortable for a tall adult and despite the Huracan being very low, access is straightforward. The most important thing in the cabin is the epic multi-function steering wheel. This clever wheel has negated the need for things like wiper and indicator stalks, and the buttons are located neatly on the wheel itself. At the bottom of the wheel is a red button, marked ‘Strada’, ‘Sport’ and ‘Corsa’. These are your driving modes. I had the car mostly in sport mode which made the exhaust a lot louder and coming off the throttle resulted in big backfires and pops, which delighted onlookers.

Practicality

Gone are the days when supercars were hot, uncomfortable and impractical vehicles that terrified you when you used more than half throttle. McLaren turned the supercar industry on its head with its effortlessly simple to drive and traffic jam friendly MP4-12C, and Lamborghini has followed suite. The Huracan is so simple to drive and as mentioned earlier, there’s no risk of stalling. You could have the car in normal mode, climate control gently blowing 18degC cool air and have Classic FM on while sitting in peak hour traffic, and you wouldn’t feel like the car or you were suffering. It’s clear that Lamborghini has really wanted to make this car a candidate for a daily driver. But that’s not what supercars or Lamborghini are about.

The Drive

Once I had left the cramped and busy confines of Cape Town’s centre, it was time to see what the latest offering from Lamborghini could do. I headed for the mountains and engaged Sport mode and put the gearbox in manual, so I could change gears using the steering wheel mounted paddles. What an incredibly hands-on vehicle. With that V10 engine screaming behind you, you’re in for a very dramatic and visceral experience. You put your foot down and the car leaps ahead in a savage manner.

The car’s outright pace is exceptional and overtaking is simply a case of changing down a gear, and then flooring it. There’s no drama either when it comes to corners, and the car’s all-wheel drive does a good job of maintaining maximum traction. Essentially, the car doesn’t feel like it wants to kill you and pushing the limits is more confidence inspiring than previous Lambos.

Conclusion and Summary

The Lamborghini Huracan continues where the Gallardo left off, only this time its faster, lighter and greener. It’s a superb thing and the technology from parent company Audi makes this a terrific offering. If you’re after a supercar that delivers an experience that touches four of your five senses, then take the plunge. Your children don’t need a university education, but you do need the Lamborghini Huracan LP610-4.

We Like: Looks, engine, performance, technology, easy to drive.

We Don’t Like: Lack of visibility around you. This car has many blind spots! Speed bumps and steep driveways mean the car can easily scrape.

Also Consider: Ferrari 458, McLaren 650S, Porsche 911 Turbo

Lamborghini Huracan Quick Specs

Engine 5.2-litre, naturally-aspirated V10
Power 448 kW
Torque 560 Nm
Transmission Seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox
Wheels 20-inch alloy wheels
0-100km/h 3.2 seconds (claimed)
Top Speed 325 kph
Fuel Economy 12.5L/100km (claimed)
Fuel Tank Capacity 80 Litres

Our Blast in the Lamborghini Huracan Video

2015 Audi Q7 Officially Revealed

The 2015 Audi Q7 has been officially revealed ahead of its global debut set to happen at the Detroit Motor Show in January.

“The new Audi Q7 is a statement of our competence, said Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Audi Board Member for Technical Development.”

“Weighing 325kg less, it sets the benchmark in its class. It is around 26 percent more efficient and is equipped with the latest assistance systems, infotainment modules and connect features.”

2015 Audi Q7 heavy on quality

With a curb weight of just 1995 kg, the 2015 Audi Q7 is billed as being the lightest model in its class. The model further features a multi-material body design with aluminium doors, hood, front fenders and rear hatch.

The exterior mirrors are mounted on the shoulders of the doors, while blades run from the front to the rear doors and bear embossed quattro logos. There’s also options to choose either xenon, LED or matrix LED headlights, which will include double arrow LED daytime running lights. High-end models will additionally benefit from dynamic turn signals in the taillights – like the R8 has.

Inside, the new Q7 gets the Audi virtual cockpit seen on the third-gen TT, as well as the latest MMI infotainment system with a bigger touchpad. The flagship SUV will be offered with either a Bose sound system with 3D sound or a more expensive Bang & Olufsen Advanced Audio System with 3D sound and 23 speakers packing 1920 watts of power.

In seven seat configuration, the Q7 offers 295 litres of bootspace and 770 litres with the third-row seats folded flat, while in a five-seat set-up there’s 890 litres and 2075 litres with the seats folded flat.

Other features include a rear seat entertainment system with one or two optional 10.1-inch tablets powered by an Nvidia Tegra 4 processor and featuring a full HD camera, 32GB of internal storage as well as Bluetooth, NFC and LTE connectivity.

Engine specs

Audi has confirmed that from launch the SUV will be available with a 3.0 TDI rated at 200 kW and 600 Nm, which takes it from 0-100 kph in 6.3 seconds before reaching a top speed of 234 kph. It consumes just 5.7L/100km and has CO2 emissions 149 g/km. There is also a less powerful 3.0 TDI with 160 kW and 500 Nm that will be available later.

Also on offer is a 3.0 TFSI with 245 kW and 440 Nm and does the 0-100 kph run in 6.1 seconds to reach 250 kph. Its fuel consumption is rated at 7.7L/100km with 179 g/km of CO2.

Other markets will also get the 2.0 TFSI engine which delivers 185 kW and 370 Nm of torque. There will additionally be an e-tron quattro plug-in hybrid model which has a combined output of 275 kW and 700 Nm. This will be Audi’s first ever production plug-in hybrid diesel (its Le Mans racers providing the inspiration) and has a fuel consumption of just 1.7L/100km with CO2 emissions of 50 g/km and a 56 km electric range.

Audi RS3 Sportback Unveiled

Audi has officially unveiled the RS3 Sportback dubbed as a “world-beating car” with a class-conquering engine.”

Last generation Audi RS3 Sportback detailed

Notable features include an aggressive front end styling with large air intakes and a uniquely shaped quattro-branded grille. There are also widened front wings, chiselled side sills, matt aluminium-look mirror housings and large roof spoiler, while at the rear the differentiation is made by a remodelled bumper with high-gloss black diffuser insert, honeycomb grille and four bars, from which two large, oval tailpipes boldly protrude.

Also available are matt titanium or high gloss anthracite black 19-inch alloy wheels with 255/30 profile tyres up front and 235/35 profile tyres at the rear.

The interior is fitted with Nappa leather sport seats, a leather and Alcantara-bound flat-bottomed multi-function steering wheel, a leather and aluminium-trimmed gear lever, unique instrument graphics, stainless steel pedals and Alcantara door trim elements.

The high-performance hatchback is said to boast a class-leading power output of 270 kW from an updated turbocharged 2.5-litre five-cylinder petrol engine along with a 0-100km/h sprint time of 4.3 seconds.

This upgraded engine is mated to a seven-speed S tronic transmission which sends power to all four wheels through Audi’s quattro system with torque vectoring, that is designed to provide maximum driver enjoyment and involvement. There’s also high-performance brakes and a progressive steering system which is capable of varying its ratios.

Deliveries of the Audi RS3 Sportback are expected to happen in 2015. We could see the new Audi RS3 Sportback by the end of 2015.