Clearly Renault’s nose was put out of joint by the Seat Leon Cupra which beat the old Megane RS’ time by a considerable amount. The old Renault Nurburgring time was 8:07:97 and was accomplished in a road-going Megane Rs265 Trophy – a vehicle you can readily buy in South Africa off the showroom floor.
The article from a few weeks back mentioned that Renault will make a fuss if the brand is going after the Seat Cupra’s time, and that’s exactly what’s happening. The racing division RenaultSport has posted a Renault Nurburgring video, showing the preparation for the time attack.
Renault Nurburgring vehicle details
This red Renault Nurburgring has gained a performance exhaust from specialists Akrapovic, who also supply pipes for BMW’s M products. This specialist exhaust will provide more power and torque, while the system is considerably lighter than the factory-supplied system. Rumours are doing the rounds that the car will be called the Renault Megane RS270R and could have as much as 200 kW and 400 Nm on tap. Pirelli will also be supplying specialist tyres for the vehicle. The French guys at RenaultSport are so excited for the project there’s even a social media hashtag called #under8.
Let’s hope for two things. Firstly that Renault’s Nurburgring Hunter can beat the Seat Leon Cupra’s time and secondly, a production model of this car makes its way to South Africa.
Renault Nuburgring Hunter Teaser Video
Mercedes Benz Announces 2017 Upgrades for the G Class
The Mercedes-Benz G-Class off-roader will receive significant upgrades in 2017 with new exterior details, a newly appointed interior, powerful engines, and the latest safety features.
Improved range of luxurious appointments
The iconic off-roader will maintain its W463 codename and will come with an array of changes including a 200 kg reduction as a result of using additional aluminium, as well as a 100 mm increase in width taking the car to 1860 mm.
The G Classs new front suspension will use a three or four-link set-up, while a more modern electro-mechanical steering system is also being fitted. Additional styling cues such as the angular design are said to be taken from the Ener G Force concept that debuted at the 2012 Los Angeles Motor Show.
Power comes from a variety of different engines including all-new inline six 3.0-litre petrol and diesel engines currently in development for the next-gen E-Class scheduled to debut in 2016.
In the facelifted 2017 G Class, the petrol engine will deliver more than 268 kW whereas the diesel variant will produce over 224 kW. Both engines will be paired with Mercedes new nine-speed 9G-Tronic automatic gearbox as standard.
Interior changes for the model will include additional space in the cabin, a new multifunction steering wheel and some additional safety and driver assistance systems as well as LED lights.
Mercedes-Benz plans to release range-topping AMG variants shortly after the launch of the standard models.
The last G Class update in South Africa was introduced in 2012, more details and prices can be found here.
Jeep Wrangler Conservation Edition Launched in SA
There’s yet another Jeep derivative now available. The Jeep Wrangler Conservation Edition goes on sale from early May 2014 and this version continues the successful story for the product in South Africa.
The limited edition Jeep Wrangler Conservation and Wrangler Unlimited Sahara Conservation are mechanically identical as normal Wranglers, and instead benefit from cosmetic upgrades as well as Mopar accessories. The vehicles both come with the award-winning 3.6-litre V6 petrol Pentastar or 2.8-litre diesel engines.
Jeep Wrangler Conservation accessories
– Mopar Light bar with 4 spot lights, Mopar fuel filler cap, Mopar tail light guards
– Unique and eye-catching Conservation Edition decaling
– Two nights for two guests at any SAN Parks (value varies based on park, availability and timing)
– Big Five Bracelet from The Bead Coalition
– Exclusive Access to JeepRPA.com Owners section, including RPA Jeep Cam and other exciting efforts
– Voucher for Jeep Apparel / Merchandising from any Jeep Store to the value of R3 000.00
– A copy of the ‘Jeep Off Road Essentials’ hand-book
These vehicles have a nice charity angle to them and the Reserve Protection Agency (a non-profit and public benefit organization at the forefront of the protection of South Africa’s endangered wildlife species) has been partnered. For every vehicle sold, Jeep South Africa will contribute R10 000 to the RPA.
There’s yet another great twist. Five lucky Jeep Wrangler Conservation owners stand a chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime five-day adventure for two guests with the RPA team at Amakhala Game Reserve (courtesy of Lion Roars) in the Eastern Cape. If you’re a nature fanatic, this prize is right up your street.
Jeep Wrangler Conservation edition price in South Africa
There are just 50 vehicles coming to South Africa, consisting of 40 Wrangler Unlimited and 10 Wranglers. There’s a choice of three exterior colours; Anvil, Dune or White.
Wrangler Sahara 3.6L V6 A5 R475 990.00
Wrangler Unlimited Sahara 3.6L V6 A5 R515 990.00
Wrangler Unlimited Sahara 2.8L CRD A5 R569 990.00
Volvo S60 T5 (2014) Review
In March 2014, we attended the launch of the all-new Volvo Drive E engines. We came away impressed and longed for more time with the vehicles. A Volvo S60 T5 was delivered to our Cape Town offices and David Taylor got behind the wheel of this executive Swedish sedan.
The Volvo S60 T5 isn’t the most striking of luxury sedans and in typical Swedish fashion, styling is considered quietly reserved. Don’t misconstrue this and assume I’m calling the vehicle boring, as the Volvo S60 T5 is anything but. There are some subtle sporty signs, like the optional rear spoiler, twin chrome exhausts and 18-inch Titania wheels.
Volvo S60 T5 engine
While there’s nothing that’s noticeably new on the outside of the Volvo S60 T5, the engine is completely out of the box as is the transmission. It’s a pleasant engine and is quite refined.Volvo has downsized its powerplants to a 2.0-litre displacement and offers various states of tune. In S60 T5 guise, this 2.0-litre turbocharged four cylinder thumps out 180 kW and 350 Nm, giving it a bit of a performance edge. If you think this sounds exciting, you’re going to love the R-Design and Polestar versions…
Transmission and economy
All that power goes to the front wheels through an all-new eight-speed gearbox. Yes, you read correctly. Eight-speed gearbox. It’s quite smooth too, while there’s a pleasant mechanical thud between gears in sports mode. You can change gears by pulling the paddles located behind the steering wheel too. These paddles are unfortunately an optional extra. Should you tick that option? If you’re a performance enthusiast, then yes.
The idea behind the eight-speed gearbox is improved fuel economy, but I honestly think the car has one too many ratios. Speaking of fuel economy, the Volvo S60 T5 is claimed to consume 5.9 l/100km. In reality, it’s a different story as traffic and enthusiastic driving saw the readout reach 10 l/100km at one stage. Driven properly and sensibly, you should get under 8.5 l/100km – acceptable for a high-powered big sedan.
Standard and optional features
Inside, the Volvo S60 T5 is a bit of a button festival. There’s a digital dashboard with different themes, a high-quality audio system with Bluetooth, Mp3 and USB functionality, electronically adjustable leather seats with memory function, electronic climate control, bi-xenon cornering headlights, and a rather smart voice control interface.
This particular car was fitted with the Techno Pack which means it also comes with heaters for the front seats, satnav, keyless operation, front/rear park assist and 18-inch alloy wheels. Options fitted was the Driver Alert system, adaptive cruise control, auto braking, paddles for changing gears, speed dependent steering and auto dimming wing mirrors.
Safety features
The Swedes pride themselves on safety and the Volvo S60 T5 is quite an astonishing vehicle. The vehicle comes with City Safety which is an automatic braking system for low speeds. Think about when you’re driving in a parking lot and suddenly a pedestrian steps out. This system will react and brake the car automatically for you. If you unknowingly drift out of your lane, the car will vibrate the steering wheel to alert you. The car will even brake and match the speed of other traffic while you’re on the highway with cruise control engaged. Adaptive cruise control is incredible and should be on all cars. There are also plenty of airbags, as well as a system which loudly beeps when the car in front of you has braked hard and you haven’t reacted.
Summary and conclusion
The Volvo S60 T5 is a class act. It has a nice performance edge, yet still remains a luxurious and refined offering. The ride is smooth and you get the impression it’s more of a gentle executive cruiser than a speedster. The build quality and interior is something to be commended, and I feel Volvo has a great offering which can rival its German counterparts.
Volvo S60 price in South Africa
The Volvo S60 range starts from R335 500, with this S60 T5 Elite costing R454 100. All Volvo vehicles come standard with a five year / 100 000 km warranty and maintenance plan. A five year / unlimited mileage road assistance as well as a Skytrack tracker unit is also included.
Volvo has confirmed its autonomous Drive Me project is underway in Gothenburg, Sweden, with 100 autonomous prototypes already in use under real driving conditions on public roads.
The test cars are now able to handle lane following, speed adaption and merging traffic all by themselves. This is an important step towards our aim that the final Drive Me cars will be able to drive the whole test route in highly autonomous mode. The technology, which will be called Autopilot, enables the driver to hand over the driving to the vehicle, which takes care of all driving functions, says Erik Coelingh, Technical Specialist at Volvo Car Group.
Under the very specific conditions set by the program, 100 people will “drive” the self-driving cars on a predetermined set of roads. Approximately 50 km of roadways will be part of the test and they include everything from commuter arteries to highway conditions that are subject to frequent queues.
Other companies are already working on their own autonomous driving systems, however Volvo say project Drive Me is notable because it brings something new to the game including legislators, transport authorities, a major city, a vehicle manufacturer and customers.
Volvo Self Driving Cars video
New R-Line Package For Volkswagen Golf Variant and Scirocco
Volkswagen has announced the range for the Golf Variant and the new facelifted Scirocco will be expanded with new R-Line packages which are claimed to underline the dynamism and sporty appearance of the models. The Golf Variant will additionally be available with the R-Line Sport Package.
Golf Variant R-Line package
The Golf Variant features an R-Line exterior package that comes with modified bumpers, revised side skirts and a new grille. The package also has fog lights, a rear spoiler and a rear diffuser.
The models optional R-Line interior package includes sport seats, a leather-wrapped sport steering wheel and stainless steel pedal caps. Other highlights include “Black Lead Grey” trim, piano black accents, a black headliner and stainless steel sill plates.
Theres also an option to order an R-Line sports package that includes a sport-tuned suspension, a progressive steering system and tinted rear windows.
Scirocco R-Line package
The facelifted 2014 Scirocco offers an R-Line exterior package that includes new bumpers, aerodynamic side skirts and rear spoiler. There’s also fog lights, a revised grille and 18-inch Salvador-style alloy wheels.
The R-Line interior package comprises of a leather-wrapped sport steering wheel, fabric / Alcantara seats and a black headliner. The package also adds Carbon Touch trim, piano black accents, stainless steel pedals and R-Line branded sill plates.
Prices and availability for South African models is yet to be confirmed.
New Geely Emgrand Cross Hybrid Unveiled
Geely has unveiled a new plug-in hybrid model the Emgrand Cross which runs on a dual motor system.
Geely says the new concept sedan, is powered by a 65 kW + 40 kW dual motor system combined with a 10 kWh battery. It has a top speed of 190 km/h and a range of 650 km. The car can cover a distance of up to 50 km in EV mode only.
The company promises a production version will go on sale in China in the second half of 2015.
There are also plans to launch its first conventional hybrid model adapted from the petrol-powered Emgrand EC7 compact car. Further details about this vehicle have not been made available as yet.
Trident Iceni Takes Fastest Diesel Sports Car Crown
British sports car brand Trident, has announced its flagship Iceni sports car as the world’s fastest and most fuel efficient diesel sports car. That’s quite a claim!
Trident Iceni details
The Trident Iceni is the fastest diesel-powered sports car thanks to a 6.6-litre V8 turbodiesel engine, which delivers 294 kW and 948 Nm of torque in standard form. An optional performance upgrade pack raises output to 320 kW and 1286 Nm, while the track performance pack ups to 492 kW and 1422 Nm.
Top speed for the Trident Iceni is claimed to be over 306 km/h, with the ability to run for 3 218 km on a single tank of mineral diesel or bio-diesel (cooking oil, virgin rapeseed, linseed, palm, soya bean oil, kerosene and paraffin), which sounds rather impressive. All of this performances comes with a combined return of 4.1 litres / 100 km.
This is quite an interesting claim from the Trident Iceni and it’s refreshing to see diesel vehicles being marketed for something other than economy. There are some dynamic diesel vehicles out there and these combine both performance and low fuel consumption. Overseas you can purchase a diesel-powered Volkswagen Golf GTD, while locally the BMW 535d offers great performance but not at the expense of economy.
MSO 650S Coupe Concept Shown In China
McLaren Special Operations (MSO) has released images of a unique MSO 650S Coupe Concept which combines optimised aerodynamic performance with a more dramatic appearance, as well as a range of new styling options.
Bespoke upgrades developed by MSO
The model is currently being shown in China, featuring a number of bespoke MSO features including a newly-designed carbon fibre rear diffuser and MSO-branded carbon fibre side blades. The new styling options are also compatible with the 650S Spider, 12C Coupe and 12C Spider.
The MSO 650S Coupe Concept is additionally finished in an Agrigan Black exterior paint scheme consisting of a metallic black hue specially developed in-house with a deep ruby red metallic flake. MSO says this paint effect gives the exterior bodywork a dramatic colour change in direct sunlight, contrasting with the extensive use of satin-finished carbon fibre highlights.
At the rear, the GT3-inspired rear bumper features a carbon fibre centre section, and the lightweight material carries through to the carbon fibre airbrake and unique MSO rear diffuser. The engine bay has been further enhanced with satin black engine covers and a satin finish to all carbon fibre parts. The satin black 650S alloy wheels are wrapped around in Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres.
On the inside, MSO has fitted fixed-back carbon fibre seats wrapped in leather derived from those fitted inside the P1 and are 15 kg lighter. Carbon fibre elements finished in satin are also used throughout the cabin, which is further enhanced by the switchgear and bezels that are finished in contrasting gloss black.
The MSO 650S Coupe Concept is a one-off design study, but the carbon fibre side blades and rear diffuser it sports are already available for purchase.
MINI has officially unveiled the Paceman Adventure concept.
The car was a creative collaboration involving young apprentices and their instructors at the BMWs plant in Munich and Dingolfing, to create a completely unique vision for the MINI brand.
The two-seater concept is based on the pre-facelift Cooper S Paceman and features a Jungle Green metallic exterior with a bakkie-style cargo area and lights mounted on the front cross member of the roof rack for even clearer visibility at night.
The MINI Paceman Adventure Concept has also been equipped with offroad tyres and a snorkel-like roof level air intake which enables the truck to tackle river crossings with ease. Additionally, the model rides on a modified chassis with extended ground clearance.
Power is provided by a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine that produces 135 kW and up to 260 Nm of torque and is connected to an ALL4 all-wheel drive system.
The MINI Paceman Adventure is a true one-off and there are no plans for series production sadly.
