2014 Volkswagen Polo Updated With New Engines

A mid-cycle facelift for the 2014 Volkswagen Polo has just been revealed by the German automaker and is scheduled to make its public debut in March at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show.

New lighter engines

Volkswagen has set up a new range of efficient petrol and diesel engines which promise fuel efficiency increases of up to 21% over the other models. The power levels at market launch are: 44 kW indirect injection /MPI, 55 kW MPI, 66 kW direct injection/TSI and 81 kW TSI.

Fuel consumption and emissions of the entry-level engine with 44 kW ? in the version with a stop-start system and regenerative braking ? were reduced from 5.5 l/100 km and 128 g/km CO2 to 4.6 l/100 km and 106 g/km CO2.

Making its debut during the second half of the year, will be the new 66 kW engine for the new Polo 1.0 TSI BlueMotion – the first one-litre three-cylinder turbocharged direct injection engine in this model series. It consumes just 4.1 l/100 km and emits 94 g/km CO2. The previous model with an identical power output of 66 kW consumed 4.9 l/100 km (equating to CO2 emissions of 113 g/km.

Of the latest petrol versions, the BlueGT with cylinder deactivation (ACT – active cylinder management outputs 110 kW instead of the previous 103 kW. New diesel engines which include three direct injection three-cylinder turbo diesels (TDI) that all generate their power from 1.4 litres displacement (previously 1.2 and 1.6 litres).

The power range is identical to the previous model: 55 kW, 66 kW and 77 kW. The versions with 55 kW and 66 kW will be offered at market launch, while the 77 kW version will follow with a schedule offset.

Depending on the engine choice, the 2014 Volkswagen Polo can be configured with five- and six-speed manual gearboxes as well as a dual-clutch seven-speed automatic transmission.

Exterior and interior enhancements

Not much has changed on the exterior, apart from the slightly reworked front bumper and an updated grille with horizontal lines. The headlights are also the same except the upper-spec models now come with LED technology for the main beam function.

Designers further developed the front and rear styling to be more distinctive. In the rear bumper area, there is a revised bumper featuring a cleaner horizontal layout and a wider cut-out for the licence plate.

The trapezoidal outer contour of this area extends into the rear wheels, which creates a more dynamic tension of surfaces.

Inside, many new ergonomic and visual improvements have been made. There’s a new three-spoke steering wheel, modified instrument cluster with its 3D tube look, along with an updated centre console packing new controls for the AC system. 5- and 6.5-inch touchscreen displays are also available and so is a rear view camera system.

Three equipment levels offered

As in the previous model, Volkswagen is once again offering three equipment levels in the 2014 model year Polo: “Trendline”, “Comfortline” and “Highline” (other versions will follow such as the BlueGT, GTI, BlueMotion and Cross).

Extended standard features of the Polo Trendline now include 15-inch instead of 14-inch wheels, a split rear bench including dual cargo floor, new electromechanical steering, remote control for central locking, multifunction display and tyre pressure monitoring system.

The Polo Comfortline features 15-inch alloy wheels (previously 15-inch steel wheels), ParkPilot in front, the “Composition Touch” radio system and the multifunction display Plus. While the Polo Highline is now equipped with 16-inch alloy wheels (previously 15-inch) and the new driver alert system as standard. Safety features include a post collision braking system, city emergency braking function and adaptive cruise control.

The 2014 Volkswagen Polo facelift will go on sale shortly after its Geneva debut in March. At this stage, we haven’t heard anything with regards to this new Polo being sold in South Africa. Given the fact that many Polos are manufactured at Volkswagen’s factory in the Eastern Cape, it’d be silly to suggest it won’t be sold here.

2014 Volkswagen Polo photo gallery

Opel Astra Sedan Automatic Review

While the Opel Astra hatchback has been a permanent feature of the South African motoring landscape since before I was born, the sedan version has dipped in and out of the market with varying levels of success. However now the German arm of General Motors has taken its latest, most refined Astra ever, and added a boot.

In hatchback form, the Astra’s rivals in most aspects are the likely suspects: Ford Focus, VW Golf, Toyota Auris, Mazda3, to some extent the Audi A3, BMW 1 Series and now Mercedes A-Class, amongst others. However by adding a boot, I feel it opens itself up to a host of new competitors, particularly from a segment ‘below’. I use inverted commas because the segment below, with cars like the upcoming Toyota Corolla and Hyundai Elantra, don’t feel very lowly at all anymore.

So let’s call this a newcomer to the segment then. And what a handsome addition it is. With clean, strong lines, the Astra is striking, and I did field a few enquiries from the public. If I did have a crystal ball, and I were to gaze at it now, I would predict this model becoming a bit of a modern classic, and I would imagine we’ll see loads of them on the roads in years to come. Probably with aftermarket kits fitted and neon lights underneath, but that’s beside the point.

Astra sedan range and engines

Three spec levels are available, however only two engines are currently on offer. I tested the 1.4 turbo Essentia Auto, which provides just about the perfect amount of oomph. The other powerplant is the 1.6 litre turbo, which offers a healthy extra dose of 30 kW and 30 Nm over the 1.4.

With 103 kW and 200 Nm running through a 6 speed auto box, the Astra never felt underpowered and even provides enough confidence for some enthusiastic driving. However, at higher revs, the engine does feel like it’s straining, although the noise is never intrusive. I have a feeling though that instead of being a well-tuned engine, the Astra rather features a well-insulated engine bay.

Power delivery is smooth and the Astra excels as an urban run-around. The autobox is a peach, it seems to always be in the right gear and kick down is quick and effective. It does have a sport mode, but for some reason Sport mode is just a shambles. While the box will hold the gear for longer, it doesn’t seem to want to kick down, at all. Baffling.

There is a 5 speed manual on offer and paired with the 1.6 turbo, I imagine it would make the Opel Astra sedan quite good fun to drive. But with the refined, comfortable ride, I would save the R20 000 difference and stick with the 1.4 auto. Opt for the manual and you’ll save another R10 000.

Interior space and features

In an age of touchscreen interfaces, the Astra’s dash does unfortunately look a little dated. A wide but narrow monochrome red screen displays all infotainment, while a smaller, similar panel sits between the speedo and tachometer, featuring consumption and trip information. Aircon and electric mirrors are standard, however only the front windows are electric. Yes, there’s good ol’ window winders in the rear, which I must admit I haven’t seen in a long while.

I found the steering-wheel buttons well thought out and useful, and the infotainment system is comprehensive, with Bluetooth connectivity, USB MP3 playback and a very decent sound system, but the old-school, four-lines-of-text display makes navigating through menu items a bit frustrating. I particularly didn’t like the gearknob either. It feels plasticky but is designed to look like the handle of your granddad’s walking stick. It looks very out of place.

Besides the dash (and gearknob), the rest of the interior is spot on for this segment. Comfortable, supportive seating for five and very generous bootspace make this a car you could easily live with on the daily school run. The Astra is a big car for this segment, and I would argue that the interior space on offer here is best in class. It feels very roomy indeed.

Astra sedan safety features

There’s a decent alphabet soup fitted as standard here. ABS with EBD, Brake Assist, traction control and ability control all step in when you run out of talent or really need to stop in a hurry. It’s another excellent feature of the car, the brake feel. Very confident and firm but not snatchy at all.

The Opel Astra sedan is fitted with six airbags and has achieved the highest award available from EURO Ncap, with 5 stars.

The Opel Astra Sedan – should you or shouldn’t you?

At R265 500, this is a lot of car for your money. And it is a solid car. Not a rattle or squeak was to be heard, and the drivetrain and chassis feel very solid indeed. It feels like beneath the skin, there is some solid German engineering. But all of that is let down by a dated and bland infotainment system and dashboard – the bits of the car you notice, your friend’s notice, and more importantly, the bit of the car you use all day, every day.

While the Opel Astra sedan is more interesting and keenly priced against rivals like the Honda Civic (a similarly powered and specced Civic 1.8 is priced at R263 900, I have a feeling the biggest headaches for the German car brand are still to come, most notably in the form of the Toyota Corolla, launching in SA in February 2014.

Opel Astra Sedan 1.4T Essentia Auto Specifications

Engine 1.4-litre turbocharged inline-4 petrol
Power 103 kW @ 4 900 – 6 000 rpm
Torque 200 Nm @ 1 850 – 4 900 rpm
Transmission 6-speed automatic
Wheels 17-inch
0-100km/h (Claimed) 10.3 seconds (claimed)
Fuel economy 6.6l/100km (claimed on the combined cycle)

We like:
– Solid feel, refined ride
– Efficient yet powerful little motor
– Interior space

We dislike:
– Dated infotainment interface
– Sports mode isn’t sporty – at all
– No diesel variant

Opel Astra Sedan – Also consider
Honda Civic
VW Jetta
Mazda3 with a boot
Toyota Corolla

Opel Astra Sedan Photo Gallery

First 2015 Ford Mustang Sold At Auction

The first 2015 Ford Mustang sold for a whopping $300 000 at the Barrett-Jackson collector auction in Scottsdale.

The person who bought the Mustang, Sam Pack is apparently a serious car collector with about 250 vehicles to his name. The Mustang will be placed at his museum, and according to Ford, he will be able to choose a fastback with manual or automatic transmission, any interior and exterior and stripe colour combination offered by Ford on the all-new Mustang. Proceeds from the sale will benefit JDRF – a Ford charity and leading diabetes research organisation.

Ford Mustang coming to South Africa

The first production 2015 Mustang off the line is a GT model with a 5.0-litre V8 producing around 312 kW of power and 528 Nm of torque. The 2015 incarnation of the Ford Mustang forms part of the brand’s global strategy which is exciting news for us.

This strategy means South Africa will be receiving Ford Mustangs to purchase in 2015. As this stage pricing for South Africa is yet to be confirmed.

Ford Mustangs are iconic cars. How much would you consider paying to become the first Mustang owner in South Africa?

Audi RS Models Now Available In South Africa

Audi has introduced both the RS 7 Sportback and RS Q3 models locally – extending the sporty RS range to six models.

The Audi RS 7 Sportback

The first model to make its local debut is the powerful five-door Audi RS 7 Sportback. The coupe styled model features both powerful and elegant designs, with RS specific styling emphasising the sleek lines and unique design.

Pricing starts at R 1 450 500 and includes all taxes and the standard five-year/100 000km Audi Freeway Plan. The model will also be available with the following standard equipment:

  • High-gloss black radiator grille with honeycomb structure and one-piece trim frame in matt aluminium look with “quattro” logo
  • Exterior mirror housings, trim strips and front spoiler blade in matt aluminium look
  • Front and rear RS bumpers
  • Diffuser insert painted in high-gloss black
  • 21-inch forged aluminium wheels in 5-spoke blade titanium look design, machine-polished
  • 19-inch RS brake system
  • Dual-branch RS exhaust system
  • LED headlights and tail lights
  • RS sport exhaust system with black tailpipe trims

For more details on the RS 7 Sportback, click here.

The first RS model in the Q series line-up

The Audi RS Q3 is the first high performance model in Audi’s SUV segment and comes equipped with the turbocharged five-cylinder that has been awarded ‘International Engine of The Year’ in its category for four years. We first saw this engine in the Audi TT-RS and the RS3 hatchback.

The RS Q3 is priced at R 696 500 including all taxes and the standard five-year/100 000km Audi Freeway Plan. It will be offered with the following standard equipment:

  • 18-inch cast aluminium wheels in 5-arm structured design
  • RS sport suspension
  • Xenon plus including headlight cleaning system and LED rear lights
  • Door sill trims with aluminium insert and RS Q3 logo
  • Aluminium styling package with “quattro” logo
  • RS-specific wave disc brake design
  • Exterior mirror housings in matt aluminium
  • Loading sill protector in stainless steel
  • RS exhaust system.
  • Reversible load liner

For more details on Audi RS Q3 click here.

Audi RS models gallery

Infiniti M30d Sedan Review

If you’re a fan of the Formula 1, you’ll know this brand is splashed all over the side of that Energy Drink team that wins a lot. Yes, the cars that have made Sebastian Vettel a triple World Champion now look they’re powered by a luxury Japanese car brand, even though the engine is from Renault and the car is from Woking – in the middle of Britain.

While the brand is new to South African shores, motorists in the United States have been able make TO THE INFINITI, AND BEYOND jokes for nearly two decades now. The G37 Coupe, now known as the Q60, is a bit of an icon over there. However South Africa is a unique market with its own challenges, and the young company – in our collective consciousness – certainly has its work cut out for them.

Infiniti is to Nissan as Lexus is to Toyota, an in-house luxury brand benefiting from shared production costs, enabling the brand to tackle new segments. However, each Infiniti is built from the ground up as a unique car, with some obvious component sharing from the parent company in the form of the Nissan-Renault alliance.

Infiniti range name change

The range has just undergone a complete nomenclature change, and all cars will now have Q in the title, with engine displacement noted separately.

The first saloon available is the Infiniti M30d, which will eventually change to the Q70 as more stock arrives. Cars of its kind include the Mercedes E-Class, BMW 5-Series, Jaguar XF, Audi A6 and Lexus GS. That is some hefty competition, and Infiniti knows it.

The interior kit

And so Infiniti quite literally has thrown in the technological equivalent of the kitchen sink, resulting in a curvy, wood-lined dashboard crammed with, and yes, I counted them, 70 buttons and six knobs. That is a monumental amount of buttons and knobs.

The screen is also touch sensitive, but as it’s a large car, it is quite a stretch. Many of the functions are controllable from the steering wheel, or via a bank of switches below the screen itself. Overkill maybe, but after a bit of trial and error, the rather comprehensive infotainment system makes an excellent on-road companion.

A soft closing boot lid, a key that automatically adjusts the seat and steering wheel to your set preference, Bluetooth, heated and ventilated front seats – the list is too long to feature here. It feels like no expense has been spared in the interior. Surfaces and textures are plush, the leather is soft and the wood luxurious. It’s a little too “Gentleman’s cigar lounge in the 50s” for my taste, but the target market would appreciate it.

Special mention needs to be made of the sound system in the Infiniti M30d. A 13 speaker Bose custom job creates an epic theatre of noise, crystal clear and full of hearty bass. I’ve never seen speakers mounted in the headrests before – and they certainly do the trick of immersing you in the music. If you are slightly deaf, it will help you hear again, and if you aren’t slightly deaf, be warned, you might be soon.

The outside stuff

The best thing about being inside the car is that you don’t have to look at the exterior. My car design skills peaked in Grade 3 and I have a feeling I might be able to make something a little more interesting to look at. In fact, if I baked, I would imagine a lot of my creations would look like the Infiniti M30d. Saggy.

While it succeeds in having a deal of presence, especially on larger rims and in the bold shade of silver of my test unit, it isn’t particularly handsome. It tends to glide unnoticed through most city scenes, but I know many people who would think of that as an advantage. It’s a bit of a Q-car, so perhaps the name change is more fitting than they’ve realised.

The drive

Back inside and that sense of calming Japanese luxury returns. There’s a powerful, smooth diesel burner hiding under the failed meringue cake up front. It’s a very polite engine, I don’t remember hearing it on a single occasion. Talk about refinement!

The car is sprung in a way I have to describe as pleasant. The layout is rear-wheel drive, and if pushed while in Sport mode, it would happily hustle along with the likes of the Lexus GS, but it doesn’t seem very enthusiastic about that sort of thing. The M30d excels as comfortable, well-appointed cruiser, and if you are specifically looking for a very sporty sedan, you would be better served by the BMW 530d.

However, the enormous lump of torque, all 550 Nm of it, can be summoned from as low down as 1 750 rpm. Stabbing the throttle results in an almost cartoonish whooshing movement as the car lunges forward. I found that to be particularly good fun. 0 – 100km/h is a claimed 6.9 seconds, which is just 0.4 seconds shy of VW’s latest Golf GTi. For a 5 metre long car weighing 1.9 tonnes, that’s not shabby.

Four driving modes tell the big diesel and suspension how to behave, and those modes actually make a real difference. By default, it’s always very comfortable though. Fuel consumption is claimed at 7.5litres/100km average, and my test unit saw just over 11 litres/100km, but very much as a result of urban driving. And stabbing the throttle.

Infiniti M30d / Q70 Conclusion

Sometimes, German cars can be a bit too serious. While the engineering is generally cutting edge, they can make you feel like you’re almost lucky to be driving them around. These big Japanese cars however are entirely different. They feel like they’re trying desperately to impress you; it’s quite refreshing actually.

Infiniti is a brand eager to secure a beachhead in the market and I would imagine that if you’re looking for something a bit different, you should be able to secure a very favourable deal indeed.

The diesel powerplant here is comparable to similar cars from the rivals, perhaps down on power but easily as smooth and unobtrusive. While there is 3.7 litre petrol available, the fuel savings available here make the M30d the pick of the two.

Infiniti M30d Price in South Africa

At R672 000, it might not represent a saving over the rivals, but if you are interested in a high spec level, it would cost a small fortune to spec a similar car with this level of kit.

Specifications

Engine 3.0 litre turbocharged V6
Power 175 kW @ 3 750 rpm
Torque 550 Nm @ 1 750 rpm
Transmission 7-speed sequential automatic
Wheels 18-inch
0-100km/h (Claimed) 6.9 seconds (claimed)
Fuel economy 7.5l/100km (claimed on the combined cycle)

We like:
– Extensive standard features
– Luxurious interior
– punchy, quiet diesel powerplant

We dislike:
– Price, perhaps Infiniti should take a bit of a hit on this one to boost sales
– Exterior design – not particular striking, or sporty
– Initially confusing dashboard – it could be simplified

Also consider
Mercedes Benz E-class
Lexus GS
Audi A6
Jaguar XF
BMW 5-Series

Infiniti M30d photo gallery

All-New Peugeot Concept Car Teased

Peugeot has announced plans to introduce an all-new concept car that will publicly debut at this year’s Beijing Motor Show.

Peugeot did not provide many details about the car but said that it will be 4.73 metres long and 1.31 metres tall and will offer enough room to host four people.

The all-new concept car is also said to come from the same mould as the Onyx supercar concept that was showcased two years ago at the Paris Motor Show. The teaser image shows the concept as having large alloy wheels, a distinctive side profile, and horizontal headlights and taillights.

According to the firm, the all-new Peugeot concept car will serve as a preview for its upcoming design language and will be exhibited between April 20 and 29 in China’s capital Beijing.

Toyota Retains Crown As Worlds Largest Automaker In 2013

In 2013 Toyota managed to sell more vehicles than any automaker in the world – maintaining its title as the worlds largest automaker title after sales of about 9.98 million cars.

The Japanese automaker reclaimed it the title from General Motors back in 2012 with sales of 9.75 million, beating GM’s global sales by 451 000 units. While in 2013 it was able to increase the sales figure by two percent to 9.98 million units, which include sales of Lexus and Scion models, as well as Daihatsu and Hino trucks.

GM’s sales rose by four percent as it delivered 9.71 million cars, and were followed by Volkswagen which sold 9.7 million units and won’t provide detailed results until March 13.

Toyota originally estimated it would sell more than 10 million cars in 2013, but now the brand predicts 2014 will be the year that will breach the 10-million milestone, making them the first automaker to ever accomplish this.

Setting records in South Africa

Toyota also ended 2013 as South Africa’s best-selling brand, selling a total of 9881 vehicles in December and delivering 126 749 Toyota, Lexus and Hino vehicles to customers throughout the year, representing a total of 19.5% of the overall market.

According to Calvyn Hamman, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Toyota South Africa Motors, the industry expected a more significant increase in sales, based on the low interest rate environment, the delayed replacement cycle of vehicles after sales peaked in 2006, extremely high levels of new vehicle introductions and retail marketing.

He went on to say that the increase in living costs, spearheaded by the increasing fuel prices and Gauteng toll roads, had a greater influence on the type of vehicle sold, than the overall sales figures.

Of the models that performed well in December was the Hilux, the best-selling vehicle in South Africa at 2659 sales, the Quantum and Ses’fikile taxi at 1041 units and the Fortuner with 849 units sold.

In the entry level segment, the Etios did relatively well and recorded sales of over 1865 units, while the current Corolla retailed over 1077 units in the same month.

“It is the first time in 7 years that we have broken through the 30 000 mark in the medium, heavy and extra heavy commercial vehicle market,” says Hamman.

“We will keep an eye on commercial vehicle sales in the first quarter of 2014 to better understand if the market will stabilise at these numbers, as some analysts believe, or if the market will grow at the same tempo as the country’s gross domestic product growth, as others predict.”

“On the positive side we expect a strong performance from the new Corolla, South Africa’s favourite sedan, and by a number of new vehicle introductions.”

 

Judging The 2014 Car Of The Year

Veteran motoring journalist Stuart Johnston is a jury member on the Car of The Year panel, and shares his thoughts on the 2014 competition.

Having been involved in the judging of this South African Guild of Motoring Journalists initiative since its inception in 1985, in previous Car Of The Year test days there have  often been  one or two cars that fell off the bus, so to speak, quite early in the two-day test procedure.

Not in 2014. I think the biggest factor in raising standards of excellence across the industry has been the intensity of computer-aided design programmes in producing super-solid chassis platforms to create basic structures that have had most possible flaws identified and eradicated even before the first prototypes are built.

Apart from producing a creak-free “living environment”, a solid chassis structure means that suspension settings can be more compliant to provide that holy grail that chassis engineers seek: a perfect compromise between road grip and comfort.

That for me is the first point of departure in choosing a good car today, mainly because the deteriorating quality of our roads demands both good grip and even better ride compliance. The rest of the car’s attributes can be assessed according to their desired target market, and this enables a juror to justifiably score, say, a Renault Clio ahead of a Jaguar F-Type.

Which car does its intended job best, for its intended market category?

The Car of the Year competition involves all SAGMJ members in the initial judging phase and for the actual finalist selection and testing, this is the job of 30 appointed jurors. And because they are all opinionated professionals, they will have their particular criteria for judging that may well be completely different to mine.

Each jury member has an allocation of 50 points to award, and he or she has to score at least seven of the nine cars, over two days of back-to-back testing on open roads and at the Gerotek testing facility, near Pretoria. The car garnering the most points from all 30 jurors is thus the winner.

My picks for Car of The Year 2014

For the record, this is my take on who should walk off with the award at the traditional  gala function, hosted as usual by Wesbank on February 19.

1.Volkswagen Golf 7 1,4 TSi DSG R293 500.
The most complete car here, it simply oozes confidence in every allotted task. Superb mix of ride and grip unequalled by almost all its competitors. Even on the high speed track at Gerotek, it felt poised and unruffled at 200 km/h.
Volkswagen Golf

2. Audi A3 Sportback 1,4 T FSi Manual R 299 000.
This car nearly took it for me, as essentially it’s a Golf but with different styling. In fact it has an even better ride than the Golf, but I prefer the Golf’s cleaner approach, particularly in the dashboard area, where I found the Audi’s Bauhaus visual minimalism layout fussier to operate. It was close between these two.
Audi A3

3. Renault Clio IV 0,9 Turbo five-door R189 900.
This was the dark-horse in the competition for me. It is extremely well-packaged for a car in this price range with superlative interior style and appointment. The only down-side was just a slight breathlessness in certain cut-and-thrust traffic manoeuvres; otherwise the super-eco small three-cylinder engine is well up to the task.
Renault Clio4

4. Porsche Cayman S Coupe PDK R838 000.
Like its Boxter sibling that won the 2013 title, the Porsche Cayman S is excellence personified. In all sports car-orientated allotted tasks it is the best in its league. So why isn’t it my choice for 2014 COTY? Like last year when I chose the BMW 3 Series ahead of the Boxter, I simply feel it is more demanding of a manufacturer to build an excellent car for the masses. And thus the Golf (and the Audi) achievement is the greater.
Porsche Cayman

5. Jaguar F-Type 3,0 S R999 900.
This was the most exciting car in the competition in terms of its engine note, and its feeling of outright thrust. It’s a barrel of fun, and a very competent car too. But the high-speed course showed up a slight vagueness in steering accuracy  and a reluctance to react to directional changes on the tight handling track. Nevertheless, a towering achievement from Jaguar, in putting the sport back into its sports cars.
Jaguar F-Type

6. Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG R603 667.
I can just hear the groans of the Merc fans. The A45 AMG only sixth? You’ve gotta be kidding! Well, I have criticised the Merc’s lack of suspension compliance since my first launch drive, and over the Gerotek Belgian paving rough road section it was astoundingly poor. On the handling track it was very good, despite its tendency to understeer. Its seven-speed autobox, though, battled to find the right ratios despite urging from the paddle shift. And it has a boring engine note, loud though it is. Other than that, a superb, solid, stylish car, and very, very  fast.
Mercedes-Benz A145

7. Peugeot 208 GTi R263 350.
This car has great, refined performance, and amazing handling prowess for a car in its class. Unfortunately it is too stiff in terms of bump absorption and in build quality terms it is not rigid enough. Also, I battled to get comfortable behind the wheel.
Peugeot 208 GTI

8. Lexus IS 350 F-Sport R571 500.
This car has great exterior styling, so different and bold, and yet such a disappointing interior finish, saddling the owner with plastic qualities on the console that you would expect to find in an old Venture MPV!
Superb handling, great engine note. A worthy finalist, but not a winner. Lexus IS350

9. Volvo D3 2,0 Excel R346 800.
I find  placing the Volvo V40 in last spot a pity, as this is a rock-solid car, the one I would most like to be in an accident with –it was awarded the highest NCAP safety test scoring in history at the time of its launch. But alas, the diesel model was selected for this competition,  whereas the petrol variants are far more exciting. Suspension compliance was disappointing.
Volvo V40

BMW Z4 2.0i SDrive M-Sport Review

The latest BMW Z4 is not entirely new, but like many people who purchase them, it has undergone some cosmetic surgery to look fresher, younger and in this case, prettier actually. I have always had a soft spot for the Z4. It just feels right that BMW should have a car like this in the line-up.

I like that it’s sort of a scaled down supercar. It certainly gets attention, but I feel like it mostly gets attention from people who are very interested in their own biceps. Or handbags. Which is a pity, because the Z4 offers a pure driving experience that, if you’re interested in driving as something other than a way to get around, ticks all the boxes.

Rear-wheel drive, manual gearbox (optional), strictly two seats, a low slung stance and an impossibly long bonnet, housing a peach of an engine in the 2.0 four-banger turbo tested here, or the rather fiery 3.0 straight-six turbo nicked from the 335i. What, fellow enthusiasts, is not to like?

Interior features and specs

My driving position resembles how most people recline in a bath, so the seating design of the Z4 suits me rather well. Again, this offers that supercar feel. The dash presents you with a chunky leather lined steering wheel, which might actually be too thick. But it feels good; challenging. Hitting the start button, a widescreen which was hiding in the dash flips out neatly and becomes the centre point of a curvy, sculpted dash.

Simple dials and switchgear are the order of the day here; there’s much less fuss than in other BMWs. The Z4 really benefits from the latest form of iDrive, with a large jog wheel surrounded by “hot-buttons” for functions you might use most often: Nav and Radio for instance. Visibility out of the cabin is limited, and that bonnet seems never ending. The haunches over the front wheel arches rise just into your vision; every road looks just a bit better through this view.

It does however make the Z4 difficult to park, but BMW’s park assist with what I call the Reggae Radar graphic (green = safe, yellow = you’re getting close, red = stop immediately) does help a lot. It also looks like a Rastafarian’s beanie, which I always find amusing. The roof opens and closes at the touch of a button, and is quite a marvel to behold. When reclining, it looks like a transformer lying down for a nap. When the roof is closed, you might as well be in a fixed-head coupe. The folding hard top has come a long way indeed.

Engine and gearbox

The screen gymnastics mentioned above are accompanied by a lovely burble on start up. You’d be forgiven for thinking there was a much more menacing engine at play here. Those force-fed four cylinders in the BMW Z4 2.oi have been tuned to produce 135 kW and 270 Nm. Not stellar numbers, but crucially peak torque is available from 1 250rpm, up to 4 500rpm, which ensures that you hardly ever feel like there’s not enough oomph available.

0 – 100km/h is a respectable 7.2 seconds (claimed), enough to keep you nipping at the heels of all the hot hatches out there. BMW’s clever 8-speed gearbox does a sterling job of selecting the best ratio for the conditions, and in Sport mode, it will hold quite a high gear to ensure there is max torque and power available to push the car out of a corner when you get back on the throttle.

Drive and handling

The lighter engine up front also has the advantage of reducing the tendency to understeer, or wash wide during cornering, meaning a lighter, nimbler drive, again adding to that feeling of purity of experience. However, I do feel that as the Z4 has grown up and evolved, the driving experience, at least in this model, has increasingly become detached.

BMW knows its market, and most buyers of this model aren’t looking for a white-knuckle driving experience, but rather a refined, sporty car that will enhance what people think of their faces. That said, the ride remains firm and the rear-end occasionally flirts with oversteer more than your average sporty sedan. The layout of the car takes some getting used to, sitting this far back is certainly different. It can be a little intimidating at first, but after a few twisty roads in the BMW Z4 2.0i, you might begin to wonder why all cars aren’t like this.

BMW Z4 2.0i – Facelift changes and upgrades

The latest Z4 benefits from BMW’s Efficient Dynamics program, allowing you to select between various modes which automatically set up the car to make the best of the available power, or the available fuel. EcoPro mode reigns in the car so much, it’s a bit like driving through custard.

The throttle goes numb under your foot and the dials upfront display graphics to help you drive more efficiently. There’s also a reward system at play here, as the system ashows you how many kilometres you’ve added to your range by driving like an octogenarian. Excellent, given the current fuel price. The most noticeable change to the exterior is the Corona Ring headlights, which look fantastic. Clear glass wraps around four stark, bright rings which themselves surround the lamps; these run during the day. It has revitalised the look of the car significantly.

Fitted with the M-Sport package of my particular test unit, the BMW Z4 2.0i drew admiring glances wherever I travelled. It is a striking car, slightly odd looking perhaps, but in a good way. My test unit was in Melbourne Red, which I’d recommend with a black roof. (Incidentally, Melbourne Red was not inspired by sunburnt Australians).

BMW Z4 Conclusion

The smaller engine in the line-up might not look the most attractive to fanboys or enthusiasts, but in the real world it has more than enough power to keep most drivers interested, while returning decent fuel consumption. The exterior and interior mods from the mid-life cycle refresh have brought the interior bang-up to date, and the exterior now looks fresher, and even more sporty.

At nearly R600 000, it is not a cheap exercise though, but is in line with its rivals. It will be interesting to see how this market is impacted by the potential arrival of a Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ convertible. That will be a 2.0, rear-wheel drive with properly good looks.

BMW Z4 SDrive20i price in South Africa

R593 501 – with the base model manual coming in at R540 000.

2014 BMW Z4 SDrive20i Specifications

Engine 2.0 litre turbocharged inline-four petrol
Power 135 kW @ 5 000 rpm
Torque 270 Nm @ 4 500 rpm
Transmission 8-speed automatic
Wheels 18-inch
0-100km/h (Claimed) 7.2 seconds (claimed)
Fuel economy 6.8l/100km (claimed on the combined cycle)

We like:
. Low slung looks, driving position
. New Corona Ring headlights
. updated interior
. impressive small-ish displacement engine

We dislike:
. Price, perhaps BMW could look at a stripped down, more focused version?
. fairly harsh ride over bumpy roads, most likely the run-flats though
. the people who buy them

Also consider:
Mercedes Benz SLK200 AMG Sports Auto
Audi TT 2.0T auto quattro

BMW Z4 SDrive20i M Sport Auto photo gallery

Volkswagen Golf R Evo Concept Planned

A report has suggested that a Volkswagen Golf R Evo concept is in the works and is planned to officially debut at the 2014 Beijing Motor Show.

New driveline and lightweight construction

The report goes on to say that the Volkswagen Evo concept will be “showcasing new driveline and lightweight construction technology that is being considered for inclusion on limited production road cars in the foreseeable future.”

Apparently the Golf R Evo concept will use a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine that has been equipped with new cylinder heads, an improved induction system and various other tweaks. These changes will reportedly enable the engine to produce approximately 276 kW and 449 Nm of torque – an increase of 55 kW and 70 Nm.

As with the standard Golf R (due to land on our shores in February), the concept is said to use a six-speed dual clutch gearbox and electro-mechanical Haldex multi-plate clutch four-wheel drive system.

Besides having extra dynamism, the concept is expected to have a stripped out interior and carbon fibre body panels. As a result, the car could even tip the scales at less than 1 400 kg.

Rumours further suggest that a production variant of the concept is a possibility. More details are expected to emerge as we get closer to the debut of the concept at the Beijing Motor Show.

*Note: Pictured is the VW Golf Design Vision GTI concept