The new 2014 Volkswagen Polo price plan for South Africa has been released.
The car has been given a minor facelift, including a new 1.2 TSI petrol engine.
The car will also be offered in three equipment levels: Trendline, Comfortline and Highline. The CrossPolo will join the line-up later, while the TDI and GTI versions are scheduled to arrive in the first quarter of 2015.
2014 Volkswagen Polo price in South Africa
2014 Volkswagen Polo 1.2 TSI 66 kW Trendline – R188 300
2014 Volkswagen Polo 1.2 TSI 66 kW Comfortline – R209 700
2014 Volkswagen Polo 1.2 TSI 81 kW Highline – R233 300
2014 Volkswagen Polo 1.2 TSI 81 kW Highline DSG – R247 800
2014 Volkswagen Polo 1.2 TSI 81 kW CrossPolo – R241 000
The new Polo comes standard with a three-year or 45 000km service plan, three-year or 120 000km warranty and a 12-year anti-rust through warranty. Service intervals15 000km.
We drive the top of the range Peugeot RCZ THP 200 coupe. If its looks are anything to go by, this is one very special car. But what’s it like to live with for a week? David Taylor found out.
Clearly Peugeot is jealous of the success by Audi’s TT sportscar. So much so, the French engineers were commissioned to create their own definition of what a sporty, two-door coupé should be. The results are outstanding. Visually, the Peugeot RCZ THP 200 is gorgeous and eye-catching. There’s a retractable boot spoiler as well as daytime-running lights, which add to its nice dynamic look.
Everywhere I went, people ogled the car and I’m sure pics of the vehicle found their way onto social media. This car made quite an impact and a great moment occurred as I parked outside by local coffee shop one morning. ‘Nice Porsche, man!’ came from an onlooker.
Peugeot RCZ THP 200 Engine
That’s a good start then, a Peugeot being compared to Porsche! Underneath that sculpted body has to be a performance engine, no ifs or buts. No hybrid nonsense allowed here. Peugeot has equipped the RCZ with the top-of-the-range THP200 motor. This 1.6-litre turbocharged four pot is the same motor as found in the Peugeot 208 GTI, Citroen DS5 and last-generation MINI Cooper. It has 147 kW and 275 Nm – enough to give the Peugeot RCZ a pleasantly sporty demeanour.
If the sportiness doesn’t make you smile, the fuel economy will. Despite my enthusiastic driving on the beautiful fuel economy route to Cape Point, the car returned figures of 7.5/100km – astonishing given the nature of the car. Finally there’s a sportscar which you can drive hard and not suffer abysmal fuel consumption.
Ride and handling
While it’s not breathtakingly fast, it has sufficient performance to make for an exciting drive. There’s a delicious induction noise under hard acceleration and the revs scream right around the dial freely. As for that sportscar freedom feeling, the Peugeot RCZ has it in droves. Due to its shape, the Peugeot RCZ THP 200 sticks to the road and is a joy to throw around bends. It’ll take a lot of unnecessary effort to unsettle the RCZ, by which time you’re bordering on careless. Despite its sporty nature, the ride isn’t hard and punishing – a quality which makes this tick the box for being a great daily driver.
The driving position is good. You sit quite low down and there’s a heavy-duty six-speed manual gearbox to your left. It feels like you’re sitting in a low-slung sportscar, which is lovely. The clutch action is simple and shifting gear feels very manly. There’s an automatic gearbox option too, but you’ll have to accept a detuned motor.
Standard full-house specification
Unlike its German coupe rivals, everything except for paint options is standard. You’re getting plenty of toys and comfort features. Let’s start with those seats. Embossed with the Peugeot lion logo, these leather-clad seats offer electrical adjustment and are even heated, making winter mornings less unpleasant.
There’s satellite navigation, cruise control as well as Bluetooth/USB connectivity. The infotainment screen pops out from the centre of the dashboard and while it is quite far from the driver, is still easy to read. The satellite navigation isn’t the most intuitive, but after taking the time to learn its interface, it becomes straightforward.
Summary and conclusion
While the Peugeot RCZ THP 200 is undoubtedly one of the finest vehicles I’ve ever had the chance to evaluate, all this loveliness comes at a price. Import duty and the Rand’s freefall against the Euro have both combined to destroy any chances of major success for the Peugeot RCZ. R350 000 would be fair for this sexy and sporty coupé, but sadly that’s a fantasy price.
The car retails for over R500 000, which’ll make many of you wince. It’s not all doom and gloom though as over 450 South Africans have ignored the price tag and followed their hearts by purchasing an RCZ. When you’re buying something this good and different, it’s probably worth it. Interestingly, an equally-specced Audi TT goes for R576k and that’s after ticking a few option boxes for features which come standard in the Peugeot RCZ THP 200.
Peugeot RCZ THP 200 Price in South Africa
R524 000 gets you the Peugeot RCZ THP 200. This price includes a three year / 100 000 km warranty and a five year / 100 000 km Premium Plan (Maintenance Plan). Roadside assistance is also thrown in.
Peugeot RCZ THP 200 Quick Specs
Engine
1.6-litre four cylinder turbo petrol
Power
147 kW
Torque
275 Nm
Transmission
Six-speed manual
Wheels
19-inch alloys
0-100km/h
7.5 seconds (claimed)
Fuel economy
6.7 l/100km (claimed)
We like:
. A viable alternative to the Audi TT
. Fun to drive, yet frugal
. Pretty looks
. Huge boot
We dislike:
. Rear seats are best used for luggage
. The exchange rate which has made the RCZ a little pricey
Ferrari loves taking the roof off of its cars, just about every model they currently make has a Spyder derivative except for the FF. It looks like an F12 Berlinetta may also lose its top any day soon, which means Ferrari’s overall plan to launch a new model every year is off to a great start in 2014.
La Ferrari Spyder breaks the bank
So its no surprise that in the near future well see the La Ferrari with no roof, and why not? With the engineering skills they possess nowadays theres a minimal loss in structural rigidity which means, it handles just as well as the hard top and will accelerate and reach the same top speed. In fact in most cases the only difference is the price and in the case of La Ferrari Spyder we hear it could be double that of the R10-million-ish you would pay for the hard top.
You do get to hear an unfiltered 6.3-litre V12 hurl over 700 kW directly into your soul, but for double the price tag I might be inclined to roll down the window instead. Then again if youve got 10-million rolling in the bank, what’s 20-million?
Ferrari expect to make just 50 soft top version of the La Ferrari Spyder so exclusivity wont be a problem.
Visually the Daihatsu Copen doesnt look that different to the concept model, boasting a customisable composite body featuring thirteen removable outer plates. It measures 3 395 mm long, 1 475 mm wide, and 1 280 mm tall and is built on a lightweight monocoque framework called the D-Frame, which is said to be three times stiffer than the one in the original Kopen.
In addition, its said that the Daihatsu Copen will benefit from significantly increased torsional rigidity improving not only handling but also the ride comfort, while the power-operated roof will need around 20 seconds to open or close.
The interior is finished with carbon fibre accents, leather wrapped steering wheel and gear shifter, as well as standard air conditioning, heated seats, push-button Start, keyless entry, and the infotainment system mounted on top of the nicely shaped central console.
Power for the Daihatsu Copen will be provided by a turbocharged 660 cc three-cylinder engine that develops 47 kW and 92 Nm of torque. It can be connected to a five-speed manual or an optional seven-speed super active CVT, both sending power to the front axle.
Range Rover Sport Special (video)
The Range Rover Sport is already an absolute beast of a machine and now they want to make it even sportier?
Well that’s the idea according to this video released by Land Rover. Hints suggest that this special edition Range Rover Sport being launched at the Goodwood festival of speed 2014 may push power beyond 400 kW and torque over 650 Nm. That could well mean a ridiculous supercar matching 0-100kph sprint of 4.5 seconds.
This is the second special edition Range Rover we’ve heard about set for Goodwood as they intend to also unveil the Range Rover Sport Stealth Pack at the event too.
Range Rover Sport on the Nurburgring
Normally the home of sportscars and lap record hunting the Range Rover Sport seems to have been lapping the ‘Ring according to this video. No doubt we may even hear about a fastest SUV lap soon.
Range Rover Sport Teaser Video
Nismo Powered Renault Sport Teased
The lads over at Renault Sport Technologies they do all the performance stuff for Renault have created a Nismo-powered Renault Sport Trophy for its World Series Championship.
The Nismo (Nissan’s performance arm) engine dropped into this Renault race car develops 368 kW and uses a seven-speed sequential gearbox. Add in a carbon monocoque and specifically designed Michelin slick tyres and the Nismo powered Renault Sport Trophy only weighs in at 1 100 kg.
Unfortunately all we’ve been given is this silly teaser pic so well have to wait until the car is unveiled at the Moscow motor show in late August to see what it really looks like. The Renault Sport team have been busy of late as they’ve just come back from setting a new front-wheel drive lap record at the Nurburgring – take a look at the awesome lap here.
2015 Peugeot 508 Facelift Revealed
Peugeot has presented the facelifted 508 with a top-of-the-range appearance and specification to express the brands move to the upmarket segment.
Redesigned features for 2015 Peugeot 508
The Peugeot 508 was first unveiled at the 2010 Paris Motor Show and was described as the best sedan to come from the company.
Now revamped, the 2015 Peugeot 508 bears a new grille design with the Peugeot lion badge placed at the centre, restyled LED headlights and a re-sculpted hood. The rear end is more structured with restyled taillights, and redesigned rear bumper which is distinguished from the boot while enhancing its protective function.
Inside, a 7-inch touchscreen display with access to Peugeot Connect Apps has been added and most of the buttons have been removed for a de-cluttered look similar to the 308. Other interior highlights include a four-zone climate control system, a JBL audio system and a heads-up display. As part of the refresh the 2015 Peugeot 508 comes with two new options including a rearview camera and a blind spot monitoring system.
Efficient Euro 6 power units
There are two new engines to choose from for the 2015 Peugeot 508. For the petrol variant there’s a 1.6-litre THP 123 kW with start / stop technology, while the new 2.0-litre BlueHDi 112 kW six-speed diesel counterpart has CO2 emissions of just 105 g/km and is accompanied by a new 134 kW high-output model.
The 2015 Peugeot 508 is scheduled to debut at the 2014 Paris Motor Show later this year.
Infiniti Q50 Launched in South Africa
The Infiniti Q50 has just been launched to the South African market. The brand has high hopes for a car that faces up against German favourites like the Audi A4, BMW 3-Series and Mercs C-Class. Throw in a Lexus Is to the mix and its a full to the brim segment, so whats the Infiniti got to attract buyers?
Diesel and Hybrid motors for Infiniti Q50
The range opener is the 2.2-litre turbodiesel which, in base price is good value R399 000. Obviously there are extras and other things youll want to add so thats its comfier inside or a bit sportier. The diesel motor puts out 124 kW and 400 Nm and will apparently use 4.9-litres to every 100 km.
The second variant is called the performance hybrid, fitted with a Nissan sourced 3.5-litre V6 and can be ordered in all-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive. Its definitely got some grunt though at 263 kW and 546 Nm, and thatll do the job of shunting the Q50 to 100km/h in 5.1 seconds. The hybrid part does the job of making sure the consumption figure stays relatively low at 6.8l/100km.
Steer by Wire
Infiniti calls it Direct Adaptive Steering but steer by wire works too and it allows you to adjust how responsive your steering feels, you can also adjust the weighting as well. The system works together with Active lane Control which, reduces the amount of driver adjustments needed to stay in your lane on freeways.
Two touch screens
Infiniti is now up to two touch screens in the cabin. They call it InTouchT which features two LCD VGA touch screens that allow you to fully customise any setting in the car possible. It comes standard with a CD player, Bluetooth, USB and voice operated controls. If the standard 6-speaker sound system isnt up to scratch theres an optional Bose system that can be chose from the option packs.
Welcome Pack (Standard on Sport and Hybrid models) R21 800: Tyre pressure monitoring with individual display, power and heated door mirrors with folding and reversing synchronisation, intelligent key with smart access and advanced features, welcome lighting, powered adjustment for rake and reach on the steering column, powered front seat adjustment with memory and powered lumbar support for the driver.
Visibility pack R20 310: Adaptive front lighting, smart beam to help prevent high beam blindness to oncoming traffic and around view monitor for clear and safe parking
Steering Pack (Standard on Hybrid Sport models) R12 000: Direct Adaptive Steering and Active Lane control to give a more customised and precise feel to the steering whilst maintaining a more central path within a lane without the need for minor steering adjustments.
Safety Shield Pack R27 000: Intelligent cruise control, lane departure warning and lane departure prevention, blind spot warning and blind spot intervention, forward emergency braking, predictive forward collision warning and automatics also get distance control assist and back up collision intervention.
Infiniti Q50 Pricing for SA
Q50 diesel: Standard from R399 000 Premium – from R429 000 Sport – from R474 000
Q50 Hybrid: S Hybrid – from R559 000
Lexus RC F Now Comes In Blazing Solar Flare Finish
A month ago Lexus challenged its fans via social media to come up with a name for the eye-catching orange paint finish which is now available for the 2015 RC F high performance coupe.
‘Solar flare’ was the winner and was chosen out of 400 suggestions that were submitted. The new orange paint colour is completely new in Lexus line-up and has been created to visually enhance the new RC Fs spirit and capabilities.
We were impressed by the huge response and the creativity shown by our Facebook fans, who took up the challenge with enthusiasm, said Lexus UK director Richard Balshaw. Solar Flare was chosen as we think it captures the power and excitement of the RC F, as well as the impact of the paint finish itself.
The 2015 Lexus RC F was officially revealed at the Detroit motor show in January. Official performance specifications are yet to be released, but Lexus says the coupe will pack a 5.0-litre V8 engine that develops more than 343 kW. This engine is not too dissimilar to the one used in the previous generation Lexus IS-F.
The powertrain is coupled with an eight speed direct-shift transmission, and has been engineered to switch between different operating cycles in order to secure optimum efficiency and performance in driving. Find out more about the model here.
Ford Fiesta Red and Black Editions Unleashed
Ford has taken the wraps off the new two-tone Fiesta Red Edition and Fiesta Black Edition models boasting fierce looks, a more powerful version of the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine, as well impressive fuel efficiency.
The most powerful 1-litre volume production cars
The Ford Fiesta Red and Black Editions are equipped with the new 103 kW 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine connected to a five-speed manual gearbox, and features a unique calibration with new settings for turbocharger boost control, valve-timings, intercooler and throttle management.
These settings help the engine deliver 12% more power and offer an even sportier driving experience with 0-100 km/h acceleration in 9.0 seconds and a top speed of 201 km/h, while still delivering 4.5 litres/100 km fuel efficiency and 104 g/km CO2 emissions.
Distinctive design
Both cars have an execution thats bold, distinctive and contemporary, but the Red and Black present subtly different personalities that will appeal to different customers, explains John Mcleod, Vehicle Personalisation chief designer for Ford Europe.
For me, the more provocative car is the Black Edition; the red detailing and especially the grille surround deliver a high contrast for drivers that want to be noticed. The Red Edition car is highly expressive yet a little bit more subtle for the less exuberant owner.
Finished in Race Red or Panther Black, the models can be easily distinguished from the standard versions by their three- door guise, sporty front and rear bumpers, roof mounted spoiler, 16-inch Panther Black alloy wheels or optional 17-inch ones, as well as the front upper and lower grille surrounds. Inside you find the glossy black centre stack and door handles, contrasting red stitching, and a black leather wrapped gear shift lever and steering wheel.
Already available on order, the Ford Fiesta Red and Black Editions extend the range of high specification Fiesta cars that so far this year have accounted for almost half of Fiestas sold, and will go on sale later in 2014.
South African launch dates and availability is yet to be confirmed.
