The sleek and super-expensive Hennessey Venom GT has just set a new speed record of 436 km/h at the Kennedy Space Centre.
The road car world speed record was previously held by the unrestricted Bugatti Veyron, which set its top speed of 435 km/h back in July 2010 at Volkswagen Groups Ehra-Lessien track near Wolfsburg, Germany.
However, because the Venom GT uses a modified chassis and other components from the Lotus Exige and it didnt do two runs, one in either direction, and also because only 11 have been produced so far the Guinness Book of Records has not recognised the Venom as ‘the fastest production car.’
An official Guinness record is established by doing an average of the top speeds achieved in those two runs. So since the Venom GT did only one run, the Veyron SS still holds the official top speed record for a production car.
The Hennessey Venom GT attained a maximum speed of 435 km/h as measured by our VBOX 3i GPS system, said Racelogic engineer Joe Lachovsky.
The VBOX GPS data showed that the Venom GT was still accelerating at an average rate of 1 km/h per second as it took just 10.1 seconds to go from 418 to 435 km/h. The record run was made over a distance of 3.8 km, which allowed the Venom just eight-tenths of a mile to stop. Thankfully, its Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes were able to haul the car down from 435 km/h well before the end of the runways 304.8m threshold.
Watch the world’s fastest car hit 435 km/h
Hennessey Venom GT gallery
Suzuki Swift Dzire Launched In SA
The Suzuki Swift Dzire has touched down in South Africa. The Dzire is essentially the sedan version of the Swift and looks to be a budget-friendly offering from the Japanese manufacturer.
The Suzuki Swift Dzire makes an interesting case for itself. I was on a trip to India not so long ago (check out the Suzukis from the Delhi Auto show here) and Suzuki as a brand is massive. When I say massive, I mean massive. How does 23 ooo units a month for the Suzuki Alto sound? Out of the top ten vehicles sold in India, six are Suzuki including the top four. Clearly, Suzuki South Africa wants to replicate that sort of success and is embarking on a massive product offensive in 2014.
I attended the launch of the Suzuki Swift Dzire in Cape Town. The launch also gave me a chance to drive the Suzuki Swift 1.2 – an affordable addition to the Suzuki Swift range. You can read my impressions of the Suzuki Swift 1.2 here.
The Swift Dzire is a booted version of the Swift and the boot offers a credible 300 litres of carrying capacity. Visually, I think the Swift Dzire looks quite cute and my launch unit was in the same colour you see here. Unlike most little sedans which are quite bland, I think the little Dzire is bit more pleasant.
Like the new Suzuki Swift 1.2, there are two specification levels with the choice of an automatic gearbox.
Suzuki Swift Dzire engine
The engine is the same as the new Swift, with a 1.2-litre four-pot motor doing duty. With 63 kW and 113 Nm, the Suzuki Swift Dzire has just enough power to be acceptable. However, with a 17% power loss at Jhb altitude and passengers, I’m not sure a fully-laden Swift Dzire would have enough to power to climb hills.
At sea level, the 1.2 motor has enough poke and overtaking trucks on the open road to Malmesbury only required a downshift from fifth to fourth gear. Fuel economy is pretty good, with Suzuki claiming a commendable 5.7l/100km.
The best thing about the Dzire is that it has a higher than normal ground clearance as well as high profile tyres. This means its capable of handling poor road conditions and potholes are dealt with easily. Now that’s forward thinking.
Practicality
When I wasn’t driving, I chose to spend my time in the back of the Suzuki Swift Dzire sedan. I’m a tall person and I found the rear legroom adequate, with the headroom being decent. Suzuki is to be commended for thinking like this and I can think of many sedans which are a little cramped in the back. The boot looks decently sized enough to hold two seats of golf clubs.
Summary
The Suzuki Swift Dzire is a worthy addition to the Suzuki Swift range. The Swift has always been criticised for having an impractical boot and now the critics have one less thing to moan about. The engine has more than enough poke to get around at sea level and the car still retains that fun-to-drive attitude which Suzuki is known for.
Suzuki Swift Dzire price in South Africa
Model
Price
Suzuki Swift Dzire 1.2
R128 900
Suzuki Swift Dzire 1.2 GL
R138 900
Suzuki Swift Dzire 1.2 GL Auto
R153 900
* A two-year/30 000 km service plan and a three-year/100 000 km warranty is included. There’s also a three-year/unlimited distance roadside assistance package thrown in.
Suzuki Swift Dzire Gallery
Suzuki Swift 1.2 Launched Locally
Japanese car maker Suzuki has launched the Swift 1.2 at a launch in the Western Cape this week.
The Suzuki Swift 1.2 comes in under the popular 1.4 model and is meant to be a cheaper, more affordable offering. Sadly as good as the Swift is, market forces have pushed the price beyond the reach of the lower income earners. This new 1.2 model is the answer and despite being marketed as a cheaper model, still retains the great characteristics of its 1.4 brother.
Two spec levels available
There are two specification levels on offer, as well as the option of a four-speed automatic gearbox. Powering the new Swift 1.2 is a 1.2-litre engine. This little 16V four cylinder motor still feels like a Suzuki and while its tuned for efficiency, still feels more than adequate. Power is rated at 63 kW, while torque comes in at 113 Nm. The fuel consumption figure is claimed to be 5.7l/100km for the manual, with the automatic being a little thirstier at 6.3l/100km.
Despite being marketed as a budget model, the Suzuki Swift 1.2 has a lot of kit as standard. The base GA trim offers manual air-conditioning with pollen filter, front head restraints, a remote tailgate release, sun visors with a vanity mirror for the front passenger occupants, a parcel shelf behind the rear bench seat, and four loudspeakers. You best be heading to HiFi Corporation for an aftermarket radio as the four speakers aren’t connected to anything. It may seem sparse, but you’re saving quite a lot of money.
Swift 1.2 GL – the one to have
My advice is to go for the 1.2 GL manual, which is the one to have in this range. It’s mechanically the same, but adds in some nice-to-haves like colour-coded mirrors and door handles, as well as front fog lights. The seats are nicer, and there’s a rev counter. There’s a CD player with USB/aux inputs and there are radio satellite controls on the steering wheel. All round electric windows, remote centrol locking, keyless entry, and decent safety features (front airbags, ABS) round off a surprisingly well-specced entry level offering.
Our launch route took us from CT airport to Malmesbury, then we dashed through the Cape Winelands. After a lunch stop at one of the wine farms, we headed to Stellenbosch and onto Somerset West. A quick driver change later and we powered through to Gordon’s Bay and onto the breathtaking R44 coastal road. It’s easily a personal favourite driving road and combined amazing views as well as a terrific stretch of tarmac where you can have great fun, regardless of engine size. We also drove the new Suzuki Swift Dzire sedan as part of the launch.
I’m happy to say the Suzuki Swift performed admirably in the high-performance stretch, with the engine providing more than enough power. Torque may be a little lacking, but to overtake simply change down a gear or two. With a five-speed gearbox that sweet, you’ll relish the experience.
The Suzuki Swift 1.2 is an impressive offering. So impressive that Cars.co.za writer Gero Lilleike purchased one for himself!
Suzuki Swift 1.2 Price in South Africa
Model
Price
Suzuki Swift 1.2 GA
R126 900
Suzuki Swift 1.2 GL
R136 900
Suzuki Swift 1.2 GL Auto
R151 900
* A two-year/30 000 km service plan and a three-year/100 000 km warranty is included. There’s also a three-year/unlimited distance roadside assistance package thrown in.
Suzuki Swift 1.2 Photo gallery
Aston Martin Rapide S Video Review
I’ve been working with this car and this film for over three weeks now and I’ve just realised the word 'Aston' fits rather well into the word 'astonishing'. I cannot think of a more perfect word to describe the Aston Martin Rapide S. When the UK-based company first announced it was going to make a four-door version of the beautiful DB9 coupe, I think all of us car nerds had a good laugh. How on earth were Aston's engineers going to squeeze four doors and four seats into a low-slung, wide-bodied supercar? Well, they have. Thankfully it hasn’t dramatically affected the look of the car, in fact, I think the Rapide has more presence. It is remarkable because it is so absurd. I caught the reaction of a seven-year-old kid as I burbled down a busy street and I think I might have made his whole year, just by driving past. Arriving at an event in this car is not advisable. This car is the event. The reality is retaining that sultry form does not make for a roomy rear, and as you’ll see in our video’s very scientific test of the rear seating, it’s certainly not for everyone. However, if you’re a dad trying to convince mom that you can own a practical super car, the good news is that as long as your offspring are under 6 foot, they’ll be mostly comfortable in the back. And there really is a decent boot. But with a price tag of well over R3-million, this is closer to a very nice family home, rather than an affordable family car. And there are other four-door supercars which will cost you a lot less. The Maserati Quattroporte for instance, is a stunner, the outgoing model had a Ferrari engine which sounded like angels gargling honey and a new one will only set you back around R1.6-million. You can buy a Porsche Panamera for less than that. The Panamera is interesting. It will likely run rings around the Aston, offer more rear space and probably cost less to maintain. You can even have a diesel and a hybrid. So why not save a fortune and opt for that? Well, until the next Panamera arrives in 2015, that car remains proactively ugly. And I imagine it’s made by German robots, whereas with the Rapide S, you have the satisfaction of knowing that men called Barry, Harold and George shaped and stitched your car by hand. In fact, if you’d like, you can go and meet them when you order your car. I have a feeling that this particular model might go down as a classic. As Aston Martin has signed an engine deal with Mercedes AMG, the next Rapide will feature a powerplant from Stuttgart, which I feel may change its character quite significantly. Not necessarily for the worst, however. Pagani is proof the Germans can still make an outrageous V12 for the right clientele. While the current 410 kW, 6.0 litre V12 featured here is a sonorous, exquisite lump of petrol-burning nirvana, it is horrendously thirsty, falls foul of future emission regulations and every now and then might just give up on life, as hand built V12 motors are prone to do. I must stress that absolutely none of this matters. What we have here is the very best of machines. A collection of parts so complex, detailed and beautiful that it creates real emotions in human beings. Every single person who I showed this car to had the same reaction: silent awe. Every person I took for a drive made really odd noises and then climbed out of the car with perplexed faces. The sort of expression that occurs when your mind has been slightly altered by what’s just happened. The Aston Martin Rapide S is not the fastest supercar, or the cheapest or the most practical or reliable or economical. But it is extraordinary. It affords you the opportunity to share the emotions of a supercar experience with twice the number of people. That makes it very special. Very special indeed.
Mazda Hazumi Teased Ahead Of Geneva Debut
Mazda has announced plans to introduce in Geneva the Mazda Hazumi a next-generation subcompact concept which previews the next Mazda2.
Futuristic subcompact concept
“Hazumi” meaning “spring up” or “bound” in Japanese conveys the image of the concept as a car which is bursting with energy.
In addition to adopting Mazdas Kodo design language, the Hazumi is expected to offer roomier interiors. Reports also suggest that Mazda Hazumi will be equipped with a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder Skyactiv diesel engine mated to a six-speed manual continuously variable transmission (CVT).
According to Mazda, Hazumi will become the fourth model under the SkyActiv philosophy. The SkyActiv is a series of technology developed by Mazda which increases the cars fuel efficiency and engine output. Mazda CX5, Mazda3 and Mazda6 are the cars that are built-up on this technology.
As far as the production version, the car is expected to be released towards the end of this year and will ride on a shortened variant of the CX-5’s platform, however it might grow in size compared to the outgoing model.
Hyundai Intrado Concept Unveiled
The covers have been lifted off the Hyundai Intrado Concept which has just been revealed ahead of its official public debut in Geneva next week.
Advanced lightweight structure
According to Hyundai, the Intrado concept demonstrates that advanced technologies and intelligent design can combine to engage more effectively with driver and passengers.
The exterior styling of the vehicle is a representation of an evolution of Hyundais fluidic sculpture form language with a focus on aerodynamic efficiency and minimal detailing. Lightweight technology is also explored on the concept, which uses a carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) superstructure.
The frame is made up of CFRP hoops, each of which is reinforced with woven carbon fibre that runs in its longitudinal cavities. The hoops are then bonded together to make up the structure of the crossover.
Interior details
The interior draws attention to advanced materials and radical construction to offer functionality. Notable highlights include see-through air vents and exposed frame onto which the seats clip directly. The use of bright Beaufort Orange contrasts with the exposed carbon fibre, reflecting the cars active brief and mirroring its restrained exterior detailing.
Intrado is powered by a next-generation hydrogen fuel-cell powertrain that utilises a Li-ion 36 kWh battery. Refuelling takes only a few minutes and at full capacity the Intrado can cover a distance of up to 600 km.
The global debut for the next-generation fuel cell powertrain Hyundai Intrado Concept will happen next week at the Geneva Motor Show.
Hyundai Intrado Concept
Maserati Levante SUV Wont Be Based On Jeep
Previous reports have indicated that the Maserati Levante SUV was to be based on the Jeep Grand Cherokee, and now the Italian automaker has squashed those reports saying that it wont be.
Given the big deal between parent company Fiat and Chrysler, you can be forgiven for making the assumption. That’s all out the window though as Maserati is keeping mum about the car’s finer details.
The Italian automaker is yet to confirm another speculation that the luxury crossover SUV Levante which features styling cues from the Kubang concept vehicle (pictured above) that debuted in the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show will now be based on the same platform as the recent Quattroporte and Ghibli models including the Q4s modified Skyhook suspension.
Its also likely that engine options will include a 3.0-litre V6 with about 306 kW and a 3.8-litre V8 with 390 kW. This V8 is likely to be sourced from Ferrari, which bodes well for dynamic driving and aural satisfaction. It may also be offered in rear-wheel-drive as well as four-wheel-drive, with a nine-speed manual transmission or the 8-speed ZF automatic transmission form the sixth generation Maserati Quattroporte.
The Levante was first introduced in 2012 at the Paris Motor Show and is expected to take on the likes of the Porsche Cayenne, Range Rover Sport, and BMW X5 when its launched possibly later this year or next year.
2015 Ford Focus Facelift Revealed Ahead Of Geneva Debut
The worlds best-selling nameplate will be showcasing a bold new looking 2015 Ford Focus at the Geneva Motor Show equipped with the award winning 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine and more advanced technologies that improve driver comfort and safety.
Improved styling
The new 2015 Ford Focus features a restyled hood and grille, signature lighting for the headlamps and taillamps, new rear lamp clusters and a restyled trunk lid. Inside, the car adopts a modern look with new colours and materials including satin chrome detailing, new seat trims and a heated steering wheel.
Standard on the Focus for the first time is a rear view camera which will appear on either a 4.2-inch screen or the 8-inch screen that comes with MyFord Touch-equipped cars. Other new technologies in the 2015 Focus include Blind Sport Information System (BLIS) and lane-keeping system.
New powertrain line-up
The new Focus will be the first vehicle in South Africa to offer the new fuel efficient 1.5-litre EcoBoost petrol engine which delivers between 110 kW and 132 kW of power.
The new Focus will also be fitted with the efficient award-winning 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine with a six-speed transmission which according to the manufacturer surpasses the fuel efficiency of the previous model.
EcoBoost technology combines smaller-displacement engines with turbocharging, direct injection, variable valve timing and clever software to punch above their weight in terms of output and economy. The EcoBoost engines are also said to deliver significantly better fuel economy than larger-displacement petrol engines.
New functions
In addition to the many advancements in exterior styling, interior design, powertrain and technology, the new Focus will also benefit from suspension and chassis upgrades.
These include a new shock absorber valve design providing improved interior quietness, a new electronic stability program system with less intrusion and improved comfort, and a change to the rear suspension to give drivers a more connected feel to the road.
We hope to see the 2015 Ford Focus arrive in South Africa before the end of 2014.
2015 Ford Focus gallery
Weekly News Wrap 21/02/2014
If you’ve missed any of the motoring news and reviews for this week, here’s a wrap up for you.
Ciro de Siena drove the startling red Mercedes-Benz SLK 250 AMG and thinks convertibles are at their very best on a warm evening with clear skies on not during the day, especially in South Africa where you will be required to bath in suncream (SPF50, preferably) before you even pop out for some milk. Read more of his review here.
British sports car maker Aston Martin will unveil two new special edition models of its V8 Vantage and DB9 sports cars at next months Geneva Motor Show. Both models come with mechanical and cosmetic changes which set them apart from the standard models.
Ciro de Siena has been driving around in Chrysler 300C, which he says made him feel like James Gandolfini. And according to him, if the Sopranos was still around, one of the characters would definitely drive one of these.
Volkswagen has revealed a plug-in hybrid version of its more performance-oriented Golf called GTE and is set to slot in beside the GTI and GTD models.
Cars.co.za Teases Next Video Review
Cars.co.za has a little surprise in store for the petrolhead fans.
We’ve completed two serious consumer video reviews so far. The Range Rover Autobiography and the 2014 Toyota Corolla were our first two video reviews. Now it’s time to let our hair down and showcase a stylish, expensive and desirable performance car.
Now you have something to look forward to on Monday…
