Powered by a highly-modified version of the current 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit found in the GTI, the Golf R boasts 221 kW and 380 Nm. New cylinder heads, exhaust valves, valve seats and springs, bigger turbocharger as well as new pistons differentiate the Golf R from its lesser-powered GTI sibling.
Performance will be quick, thanks to a combination of 4Motion all-wheel drive and DSG. Expect the Golf R to hit 100km/h in 4.9 seconds. A manual derivative will also be offered and will be fractionally slower.
Top speed is limited to 250km/h. Interestingly, fuel economy is claimed to hover around the 7l/100km figure – impressive considering the performance credentials of the Golf R.
Volkswagen Golf R price in South Africa
The new Volkswagen Golf R with DSG will be available from R486 200.
Renault KWID Concept Unveiled In India
Following last week’s teaser, the Renault KWID concept has had its official global debut at the Auto Expo currently happening in New Delhi, India.
A new vision tailored for new markets
Designed by an international team for international markets, including inputs from Renault Design India, the Kwid concept features very short overhangs, a two-tone grey and yellow body and has an increased ride height along with big alloy wheels.
The snug cocoon-like interior features seats that are suspended over a solid white base while their 2-tone elastomer material provides a sense of brightness. The rear passengers benefit from air conditioning with the controls mounted on the back of the drivers seat. The dashboard is an integrated tablet for commanding the navigation of the Flying Companion.
A high-tech concept car
The KWID concept was created in a way that it would be compatible with an electric motor and batteries for a potential Z.E. version.
Its powered by the latest-generation downsized 1.2-litre petrol turbocharged engine mated to dual-clutch transmission EDC to combine driving enjoyment with low fuel consumption.
Additional highlights of the concept include the “Flying Companion” which takes off from the rotating rear portion of the roof and can be manually controlled but also has an automatic mode via a pre-programmed flying sequence using the GPS location.
Renault has said there aren’t any plans to put the Kwid into production, however there will most likely be an affordable crossover model for India and other emerging markets is in the works.
Renault KWID Concept gallery
The Updated Peugeot 3008 Launched In SA
Peugeot South Africa has released details of its updated version of the 3008 crossover vehicle which comes with a fresh new styling package.
The 3008 range has also been extended with three models Access, Active and Allure offering a choice of three specification levels and a revised choice of drivetrains.
Fresh contemporary styling
The front has been totally redesigned with an all-new floating grille, a trapezoidal grille featuring a polished metal surround, slim horizontal bars and signature daytime running lights, while top-end models will feature high-intensity Xenon lighting elements.
Other updates include new dark-tinted tail light clusters with LED elements, exterior mirror housings in chrome finish, prominent wheel arches, as well as metal sill trims.
On the inside, the 3008 boasts updated fabrics and smarter finishes. The head-up display unit of the Allure derivative now features colour-coded graphics for the first time.
The model further comes with leather upholstery and a panoramic glass roof complete with motorised blind as standard. Adjustable ambient strip lighting continues the theme of innovative lighting after dark.
Three drivetrains
The updated Peugeot 3008 range offers a choice of three drivetrains two petrol, and one turbodiesel.
The new Access model is equipped with a naturally aspirated 1.6-litre VTi petrol engine which delivers 88 kW of power at 600 rpm and 160 Nm at 4250 rpm.
Power is driven to the front wheels through a five-speed manual gearbox, while acceleration from 0-100 km/h task is completed in 13.3 seconds.
Fuel consumption is rated at 6.7-litres/100 km in the combined cycle. Peugeot has confirmed that this model will become available in April.
The 1.6 THP Active turbopetrol engine delivers 115kW and 240Nm of torque at 1400rpm. It will accelerate from 0-100km/h in 8.9 seconds, while benefiting from a combined fuel consumption of 7.0-litres/100 km.
The flagship of the updated 3008 range, the Allure, uses a 2.0-litre HDi engine producing 120kW and 340Nm of torque fed to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic gearbox. Its combined fuel consumption is rated at 6.1-litres/100km.
Advanced safety systems
With its five-star Euro NCAP safety rating, the Peugeot 3008 crossover boasts an extensive list of passive safety features, including six airbags, inertia reel seatbelts and head restraints for all seating positions, and deformable, energy-absorbing crumple zones in the case of a collision.
Active safety features include electronic stability control, advanced ABS anti-lock control for the all-disc braking system, and hill assist. Theres also an electric parking brake, auto-activating headlights and rain-sensing windscreen wipers.
Peugeot 3008 price in South Africa
Peugeot 3008 Active 1.6 THP R309 900
Peugeot 3008 Allure 2.0 HDi R380 750
Prices include a three-year or 100 000km warranty, a five-year or 100 000km maintenance plan and three years’ roadside assistance.
Pricing for the 1.6 VTi Access will be announced at the SA launch in April 2014.
Peugeot 3008 gallery
All-New Chevrolet Sonic RS Launched In South Africa Specs and Prices
The all-new Chevrolet Sonic RS has just officially launched in South Africa, sporting high levels of specification and enhanced design elements.
Turbocharged performance
The new Sonic RS is equipped with a 1.4-litre turbocharged ECOTEC petrol engine which delivers 103 kW of power at 6000 rpm and 200 Nm of torque at 4000 rpm. Power is sent through the front wheels via a six speed manual gearbox.
Acceleration from 0-100 km/h takes place in 9.5 seconds to reach a top speed of 197 km/h, while fuel consumption is rated at just 6.6-litres/100 km on the combined cycle with CO2 emissions of 155 g/km.
Tuned suspension, which takes shape in the form of a MacPherson strut design up front and a multi-link setup at the rear, allows for improved handling especially under sportier conditions. The Sonic RS further features a lower ride height with stiffer suspension and performance-tuned dampers to deliver a communicative and firm-yet-comfortable ride.
Enhanced design elements
The new Sonic can be identified by its aggressive front bumper flagged by expressive and angular fog lights with chrome detailing, gunmetal-painted 17-inch alloy wheels, new side skirts and black-painted door mirrors with integrated LED indicators.
At the rear, the motorcycle-inspired tail lights are joined by a new roof spoiler, an accented rear diffuser with a striking trapezoidal exhaust tip and special Sonic RS badging.
The interior boasts red detailing with a new sports steering wheel, new aluminium sports dials and seats decorated in RS emblems, high-resolution 7-inch touch screen, as well as a Chevrolet MyLink infotainment system. An upgraded rev counter also features an RS badge, while the centre console features piano black finishes.
Safety equipment includes disc brakes all-round with ABS, EBD and BAS, ESC and Traction Control, a full-size spare wheel, ISOFIX child seat anchors and four airbags.
Chevrolet Sonic RS price in South Africa
The new Sonic RS retails for R225 300 and is available as standard with a 5-year/ 120 000 km warranty and a 3-year/ 60 000 km service plan linked to service intervals of 15 000 km.
Chevrolet Sonic RS gallery
The Simola Hillclimb Festival Back With Jaguar As Sponsor
Speed lovers and performance car enthusiasts are invited to experience a festival of passion at the fifth running Simola Hillclimb taking place on 16-18 May 2014 in Knysna.
The event that started back in 2009 comes back after it took a break in 2013 due to the unforeseen withdrawal of their sponsor at a late stage.
Jaguar becomes Simola Hillclimb title sponsor
Announcing its sponsorship for the event, Jaguar Land Rover South Africa and sub-Sahara Africa Managing Director Kevin Flynn, said that the Simola Hillclimb is custom-made for Jaguar, a brand which not only has an incredibly rich heritage but an impressive current line-up and an equally exciting future.
We are thrilled to be the headline sponsor of an event which pays homage to the past but is firmly rooted in the present.
The Jaguar Simola Hillclimb transcends the mere metal however, and is ultimately a weekend for those who love car culture and what it embraces: it is a celebration of all that personal mobility is about, bringing people with a common passion together. I cant wait for May to come around and enjoy the sensory pleasures that are part and parcel of the weekend, he added.
The entertainment
The festival is expected to attract 9000 spectators over three days and will include Classic Car Friday for pre-1975 cars and the King of the Hill Shootout for modern, exotic and supercars on the Saturday and Sunday.
Jaguar will be showcasing some of their old school models from the elegant SS100 of the 1930s, through D-Type competition cars, the iconic E-Type and MkII saloon cars. There will also be modern R cars and there are rumours of the company launching the F-Type Coupe there.
The Jaguar F-Type coupe resembling the C-X16 concept comes with a range topping R variant that is equipped with a 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine that gets to 0-100 km/h in 4 seconds achieving an electronically limited top speed of 300 km/h. It also comes with a number of technologies that help it deliver not only exhilarating performance but also tremendous efficiency.
As part of the Speed Festival the Hillclimb is preceded by the Knysna Motor Show, run by the Garden Route Motor Club, on Sunday 11 May, and the Speed Festival Charity Golf Day on Thursday 15 May.
Audi A1 R18 Le Mans Limited Edition Introduced In SA
In celebration of its 24 hours of Le Mans heritage Audi South Africa has introduced a special edition A1 model in anticipation of the 2014 Le Mans race.
The A1 R18 Le Mans Limited Edition is purely cosmetic and includes styling elements from the R18 Le Mans race car which has been adapted for the Audi A1, and only a 100 units have been secured for the South African market.
Limited edition features
Starting with the exterior, the car has been equipped red and grey decals, “378” badging and a unique tailgate-mounted spoiler. The number “378” represents the number of laps which led the Audi R18 to victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in 2012.
The limited edition model also includes the winning drivers signatures on the top corner of the rear window, as well as a front lip spoiler and stylish alloy wheels with black accents.
Interior changes are limited but include special floor mats and a unique centre console that mimics the exterior’s design.
The R18 package further includes the following equipment as standard: 17-inch cast aluminium wheels in 5-V-spoke titanium look design, a competition kit front spoiler and side sills, rear diffuser and competition kit rear roof spoiler, sport tail-pipes, exterior mirrors in Ice Silver or Misano Red, and air vents, rear-view mirror, and door handles in decorative R18 Le Mans design.
The special edition model is available with a choice of the following exterior colours: Amalfi White, Glacier White, Misano Red, Phantom Black and Brilliant Black.
Audi A1 R18 Le Mans Limited Edition price in South Africa
The Audi A1 R18 Le Mans Limited Edition pack is available on all Audi A1 Hatchback and Audi A1 Sportback SE models at R10 800 over and above the standard price of the vehicle.
Audi A1 1.6 TDI SE manual
R262 500
Audi A1 1.4T FSI SE manual
R269 000
Audi A1 1.4T FSI SE S tronic
R286 500
Audi A1 Sportback 1.6 TDI SE manual
R270 000
Audi A1 Sportback 1.4T FSI SE manual
R276 500
Audi A1 Sportback 1.4T FSI SE S tronic
R294 000
Prices include the standard 5-year/100 00 km Audi Freeway Plan.
Audi A1 R18 Le Mans Limited Edition gallery
2014 Ford Figo Concept Unveiled
The 2014 Ford Figo Concept was revealed by the American car manufacturer at the Taj Hotel in Delhi, India. Cars.co.za was one of the few media invited to attend the live unveiling.
The Ford Figo is an important model for the brand and represents a big chunk of both local and Indian B-segment sales. Given the fact this segment is rapidly growing, the future of the Figo needs to be secured. This question of longevity is partly answered by the 2014 Ford Figo Concept.
2014 Ford Figo Concept design
It features the same aggressive styling on the front end as the current generation Ford Fiesta, but if you were expecting a stylish hatchback, you’re going to be a little disappointed. The Indian market has a special emphasis on practicality, so the car you see here is a sedan. Usually there’s a negative aspect to B-segment sedans as they tend to be rather boxy, but this is rather pleasant and disapproves the thought process of sedans compromising intellectual design. The 2014 Ford Figo concept design is refreshing and upmarket and was penned by Egyptian-born US-based Ford designer Ehab Kaoud.
Currently there’s no talk on engines or detailed specification, but I can tell you the Americans are keen on putting in a fair whack of technology into the 2014 Ford Figo concept. Things like places to charge and mount mobile Mp3 players and phones are considered through use of a rather clever device dock and there’s a strong emphasis on space. Given the current crop of great motors found in the Ford EcoSport and Fiesta, it would be no surprise to see the little 1.0-litre Ecoboost motor doing duty.
Watch this space. I predict we’ll see a production version of the 2014 Ford Figo concept within a few months. It’s great to see cheap and affordable vehicles which don’t look cheap and affordable. In the meantime, Cars.co.za will be heading to the Delhi Auto Show on Wednesday to bring you the latest concepts and news.
Mitsubishi Pajero SWB Updated For 2014 Model Year
The Mitsubishi Pajero SWB has been given a number of improvements for the 2014 model year, including the addition of advanced safety features.
Updates for 2014
Updates to the car include a rear diff-lock as part of the standard specification. This feature is linked to the shift-on-the-fly Super Select system which offers 2WD and 4WD (4H) without locked centre differential, where the power is split 33/67 between front/rear wheels giving the driver the benefits of an all-wheel drive vehicle, including better control for high-speed driving.
The Pajero SWB is powered by a 3.2-litre common rail turbodiesel engine producing 140 kW of power and 441 Nm of torque which drives the wheels through a five-speed automatic transmission with the Super-Select all-wheel drive system.
Additional off-road enhancements
Other upgrades to the 2014 model include the addition of a rear-view camera, privacy glass, colour-coded door handles and side-mirrors, as well as a USB port.
Standard safety features include six airbags, Active Stability and Traction Control (ASTC) and high intensity discharge headlamps with automatic levelling. Convenience and comfort features include a rear-view camera, park distance control, glass sunroof, multi-function steering wheel with remote controls for the audio system and cruise control.
There are also heated seats for driver and front passenger, Bluetooth with hands-free voice-control, as well as an easy-to-read central information system with multiple read-outs, including a compass, altimeter and barometer.
Mitsubishi Pajero SWB price in South Africa
Mitsubishi is offering 30 limited edition Pajero SWB Legend models, which include an extensive range of added value items to further enhance the rough off-road driving experience.
The Pajero SWB Legend costs R30 000 more than the standard model, but includes off-road tyres, tyre-monitoring system, air compressor built into the engine compartment, nudge bar, 6-inch LED spotlights, under-body protection plates, heavy-duty seat covers, dual battery system, rock sliders, and roof rack.
Mitsubishi Pajero SWB – R549 000
Mitsubishi Pajero SWB Legend – R579 000
Included are a 3 Year/100 000km Manufacturers Warranty, 5 Year/100 000km Maintenance Plan, and Service intervals every 10000km.
Mitsubishi Pajero SWB gallery
BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe Officially Unveiled
The BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe has finally been officially revealed after numerous leaks hit the web last week.
Design features
The 4 Series Gran Coupe shares the same dimensions as the two-door 4-Series Coupe however the roof is 12 mm higher and 112mm longer, which offers more headroom in the interior as well as more boot space.
The stretched roofline, four frameless doors and a wide, electrically operated tailgate provide the functionality of a sedan within the silhouette of a coupe. The cargo compartment can hold 480 litres, making it 35 litres more spacious than what its two-door sibling has to offer. The back of the rear seat can be folded down in a 40:20:40 configuration to increase the load capacity to 1300 litres.
Engine line-up
In addition to the minor exterior changes, the 4-Series Gran Coupe borrows the engine line-up from the 3-Series Sedan and recently launched 4-Series Coupe.
The 428i is powered by a 4-cylinder, 2.0-litre engine with 179 kW and 345 Nm which enables the car to sprint from 0-96 km/h in 5.7 seconds. The 435i is fitted with a six-cylinder 3.0-litre engine with 224 kW and 406 Nm and can reach 96 km/h in 4.9 seconds.
There will also be a 420i model which will be fitted with a 2.0-litre turbo with 135 kW of power, as well as a 418d and 420d using a four-cylinder turbocharged 2.0-litre motor outputting 105 kW and 135 kW respectively.
Transmission choices include six-speed manual, eight speed Steptronic and eight speed sport Steptronic.
Sporty interior
The mid-sized performance luxury model has a stylish and functional interior which is highlighted by prominent round instruments with a black panel look and the free- standing flat-screen iDrive monitor.
The cockpit and rear passenger compartment are visually joined by trim strips originating in the instrument panel and extending along the upper sections of the door panels into the rear, and embellished by dual-colour window sills.
BMW also revealed that the M Sport package will be available at model launch with special body elements, exterior colours, light-alloy wheels and interior elements.
The BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe will make its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2014 and makes its US debut at the New York International Auto Show in April 2014.
The model is due to arrive in South Africa in July 2014.
BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe gallery
All New Kia Cerato Koup Launched In SA
The third and final member of the completely redesigned Cerato range, the all new Kia Cerato Koup has been launched in SA following the launch of the Cerato Sedan and five-door hatchback models.
Engine and transmissions
The all-new two-door Cerato Koup boasts European-inspired design with matching performance delivered by the 1.6-litre direct-injected (GDI) turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 152 kW of power at 6000 rpm and 264 Nm of torque between 1750 and 4500 rpm.
Acceleration time from 0 to 100 km/h varies from 7.4 seconds to 7.7 seconds between transmissions, while top speed is up to 222 km/h.
Power is transferred to the front wheels via a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox.
To help further improve performance, the Cerato Koup features a sport-tuned suspension with a McPherson strut setup in front and a torsion beam rear design, ensuring an enhanced and exhilarating driving experience.
Styling and design
The Koup features an aggressive front fascia with swept headlights that stretch deep into the front fenders, a swooping roofline, large wheel arches and a large bumper with black gloss grille inserts.
The models profile is further enhanced by the adoption of frameless doors, flush side glazing, black-gloss door mirrors, door handles (with chrome inserts), added body-coloured side-sill mouldings, LED taillights and sporty 18-inch alloy wheels.
Optional goodies include navigation system with HD radio, HID headlights, heated steering wheel, sunroof, heated front seats, push-start button, dual-zone automatic climate control, electric chromatic rear-view mirror and leather seating surfaces.
Interior features
The interior of the Cerato Koup is equipped with premium materials and soft touch points.
Inside the driver-focused cabin you will find large white-on-black gauges cushioned deeply into the instrument cluster, a leather wrapped steering wheel, chrome accents around the HVAC controls along with carbon fibre-like textures on the dash and seats.
The front seats continue to offer excellent comfort, space in the rear of the cabin is improved, with increased headroom (up 28 mm), legroom (up 51 mm) and shoulder room (up 15 mm).
Theres also a Supervision TFT colour LCD cluster with a built-in 4.2-inch centre screen resulting in an improved and ergonomically designed GUI (graphics user interface).
Safety features
Active safety technologies standard on the new Koup include active headrests, Isofix child seat anchors, ESC (Electronic Stability Control), HAC (Hill-start Assist Control), VSM (Vehicle Stability Management), front and rear parking sensors, HID (High Intensity Discharge) Xenon headlamps with built-in LED daytime running lights and front LED bordered fog lamps.
All New Kia Cerato Koup price in South Africa
Kia Cerato Koup 1.6 GD1 – R334 995
Kia Cerato Koup 1.6 GDi automatic – R346 995
Included are a five-year or 150 000km warranty, a five-year or 90 000km service plan and three-years roadside assistance.
