Mercedes-Benz CLS500 Shooting Brake review

Cars are expensive. They’re expensive to buy, to run, to fix when they inevitably break. Your mind constantly does mathematical backflips, trying to work out if what you have parked outside is actually worth all your hard earned Rands.

But there are some cars on the market that feel like they might be worth twice or three times what the sticker price says. The Mercedes-Benz CLS500 Shooting Brake is one of those cars.

Mercedes-Benz CLS500 Shooting Brake reviewed by Ciro De Siena

Elegant Exterior

First of all, there are the looks. I am an unashamed fan of station wagons, unlike most of my fellow countrymen. I can’t understand why South Africans just don’t like wagons – I think they’re fantastic. And this particular car is one of the very best in a long while. That swooping roofline, combined with just the right amount of muscle gives it a graceful yet powerful stance. It has bucketloads of presence, this thing.

The schoolrun

The week I had the Mercedes-Benz CLS500 Shooting Brake on test, I was looking after my uncle’s home and running his kids to and from school. His children are teenagers. Teenagers are not impressed by anything. These teenagers absolutely fell in love with this car.

Luckily they are the sort of characters who realise that in a country where many children walk to school, it was a real privilege to glide to school in a million Rand Mercedes. We all enjoyed every minute of it – it’s that sort of car. Every drive is an occasion.

The power, the engine

Helping make every drive an event is a stonking V8 with 300kW and 600Nm of torque. This is a lot, and the CLS500 absolutely leaps when you put your foot down. 0 – 100km/h comes up in a claimed 5.2 seconds, which would worry many sports cars. It gives you that “punch in the gut” feeling, in the most pleasant way possible, obviously.

The 8 speed ‘box however does an excellent job of making the car cruise – if you’re in a lazy mood, the big Merc will make you feel like you’re being massaged while on holiday. With so much torque available so low down (from 1600rpm) and spread nicely across the rev range, the car is capable of wafting with very little effort from your right foot. It is very, very comfortable, and very, very smooth.

With a 4.7 litre turbocharged V8, Mercedes has downscaled the displacement from previous generations, but the transition has meant more power and less fuel consumption. The claimed figures are 9.0 litres/100km. My test unit was returning figures around the 13 mark, but that was with some spirited driving. If you’re not in a hurry, I would say you could get close to that official figure, which is remarkable for a car of this size, with this much power.

The interior

Modern Merc’s feature all the modernity you would expect, however it is all neatly ensconced in a beautiful wooden finish, if you so choose. I think I would so choose. It gives the whole cabin a classic feel. The way the cockpit is laid out, the wood, the instruments – it makes you feel like you’re in charge of a luxury yacht.

Interacting with the infotainment system quickly becomes intuitive and you soon realise that this might be one of the loudest sound systems ever fitted to a car. The clarity and bass are extraordinary.

The seats are a particular highlight. The test unit featured massage functionality, heating and cooling, and dynamic side bolsters, which tighten to hold you in place during cornering. All of this adds up to what can only be described as a wonderfully luxurious experience. I’m certain you could drive to Durbs in this thing without realising you had left the Western Cape.

The Mercedes-Benz CLS500 Shooting Brake model has an optional automatic tail gate, which I would recommend. It’s obviously not very difficult to open and close yourself, but it’s just that much cooler when the car does it for you. Your boot area can be lined in a beautiful teak wood finish, which makes it feel even more like a yacht in there.

The ride and handling

On one particular evening, I had to dash to town to fetch one of my cousins. This meant I could test the car along one of my Top Secret New Car Handling Test Facilities, which is the M6 (otherwise known as Victoria Road) between Hout Bay and Bakoven.

Employing some spirited driving, I flicked the big lass into Sport mode and promptly scared myself half to death. The car wallowed and rolled like a long-retired rugby player, trying to get up to his old tricks. I concluded that this car had too much power for its own good, and that I was indeed the captain of a boat, and not a car.

On further investigation I realised the active suspension system was separate from the Sport mode. Flicking this on, the whole car changed character. Suddenly it was sharper, body roll was significantly reduced and the car felt confident and sure-footed. The difference was remarkable, which is why I’m remarking on it now.

Summary – Mercedes Benz CLS500 Shooting Brake

This car is a future classic. There’s just nothing quite like it out there – an intoxicating mix of classic and modern. Elements of vehicles from a time forgotten, which make many of us hanker after vintage cars, are brought in here and mashed up seamlessly with all the new tech and features that make modern cars so great.

There is a CLS250 CDi in the range on sale for almost R300 000 cheaper than the CLS500, and that might be all the car you ever need. You get to park a Shooting Brake in your driveway, save a whackload of cash and probably save a great deal of fuel too. It’s a very attractive option.

But if you can afford the V8, you will be rewarded with one of the most complete cars I’ve ever driven. A million Rand is a tonne of money for a car, but this is worth it.

View the new Mercedes-Benz CLS500 Shooting Break

Mercedes-Benz CLS500 Shooting Brake Price

Mercedes-Benz CLS500 Shooting Brake – R1,045,642

Engine 4.7 litre V8 turbocharged petrol
Power 300kW peaks between 5000 and 5750rpm
Torque 600Nm between 1600 and 4750rpm
Acceleration 0 – 100km/h in 5.2 seconds
Top Speed 250km/h (limited)
Fuel Consumption 9.0 litres/100km (average, claimed)
CO2 emissions 209g/km
Fuel tank capacity 80 litres (incl reserve)

Rivals – Mercedes Benz CLS500 Shooting Brake

Truthfully, there aren’t any strict rivals, but it’s worth looking at the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe and the Audi A7, neither of which are available in wagon form, but are close enough on most other specs. The CLS500 sits between the two in terms of pricing and performance.

BMW 650 Gran Coupe From: R1,233,605

Audi A7 3.0T Quattro R774,500

Opel performance app is a petrolheads dream

In a first for SA, Opel has launched a free app for the iOS platform that works in tandem with a wifi adapter fitted to your car. The Opel performance app is limited to the Astra OPC for now, streaming up to 60 channels of data to a customisable interface on your Apple device.

Opel performance app adds real world value for drivers

Without having played with the device, I would imagine the Opel performance app has the possibility of starting a new trend in car-to-device communication. It’s the sort of information that every performance-orientated car owner and driver would be interested in, and the touch screen interface of a smart device is the perfect place to display and interact with that information.

The Astra OPC is a cracking performance car, read our Opel Astra OCP review. Named the OPC POWER App, the app focuses on real time telemetry and driver performance indicators. The only downside is the extra cost. While the Opel performance app is free, the wifi ECU adapter is a R6,052,00 (incl VAT) piece of equipment.

The adapter creates a wifi hotspot, to which the driver then connects their device. The app then graphically illustrates a wide range of vehicle telemetry, as well as G-forces, boost pressure from the turbo, vehicle speed, engine revs and electrical system statuses.

The Opel performance app is compatible with all Apple iPhones from iPhone 3 forwards as well as iPad 2 forwards and iPod Touch.

Honda Hands Advert Shown

Soichiro Honda is one of my all time heroes. The man who founded Honda is a legendary innovator, a dreamer and slightly mad. He was a bit obsessed with jetpacks, for instance.

Honda – The Jack of all Trades

But as visionaries often prove, obsession is not a bad thing. The company has built on that obsession, and now develops and manufactures an incredibly wide range of modern products. Honda is responsible for cars, racing cars, leaf blowers, running robots, robotic lawnmowers, racing boats, jets, hydrogen powered vehicles and the world’s best-selling two-wheeled vehicle ever, the Honda Cub.

Quite a portfolio. And to show it off in such style might only have been achieved by an agency like Wieden and Kennedy, the company responsible for the incredible Nike advertising during the 2010 Soccer World Cup, and the hilarious Old Spice adverts that defined the word “viral”.

I hope you enjoy this ad as much as I did. I must have watched it 6 or 7 times already. We’re not sure if it will ever air on SA television, so this might be the only place you can watch it.

New Audi A3 Sportback 1.4 TFSI Review

Cars are similar to smartphones in the way they keep on evolving. Much like the latest telephone which offers a bigger screen and more memory, the new Audi A3 Sportback comes with more space; added practicality yet weighs less than the previous model.

New Audi A3 Sportback review by David Taylor

In a world where I believe cars are representative of personality, I struggled to understand why people would buy an A3. Yes, I was judging it purely on looks and it was one car which had eluded me on the test vehicle circuit. Finally, my chance with one came and I spent a few days with a black Audi A3 Sportback 1.4 TFSI.

Premium and mature looks

Let’s be honest, this Audi isn’t the most head-turning of vehicles on the road today. In my opinion the A3 is far too understated in the looks department but after giving it some thought, I realised your average Audi owner doesn’t want to show off. He or she is quite happy for the four silver rings on the front and back of the car to do the talking. Basically, Audis have enough prestige associated with them and are above being judged in the visual stakes. That said, the new Audi A3 Sportback is a very smart package. The front is dominated with the sexiest daytime running lights, while the rear still retains some elements from the predecessor.

Top class Audi interior

It’s a similar story once you climb in. The cabin feels sparse in comparison to the button fest of, say a Mercedes-Benz A-class, but here it’s all about the details. Where the Audi scores top marks is the build quality and the maturity of the entire package. This is an extremely well put together vehicle and everything has a distinct luxury feel to it. Even something as miniscule such as the ventilation fan dial feels like it has been forged out of solid metal. I can’t fault the ergonomics either, and everything is right where it should be. While the German manufacturers have achieved notoriety for selling bare cars and then charging the earth for extras, I was quite pleasantly surprised to see that the new Audi A3 Sportback comes standard with a smart, high-quality LCD screen which neatly tucks itself into the dashboard when the vehicle is off.

Best infotainment system ever tested

This particular A3 did have a few options bolted on, such as satellite navigation. It may have a price tag of R22 200, but it’s quite easily one of the finest in-car entertainment and navigation systems I’ve ever used. Audi competitors should pay attention to the ease of use, as well as the interface. The coolest thing about it has to be the touchpad which allows you to type letters and numbers using your finger. I was blown away. There are steering wheel controls for audio, trip computer as well as voice command. There’s also a stalk for cruise control located neatly behind the wheel.

Engine and gearbox is an unbeatable combination

I was driving the 1.4 TFSI version and this engine is flawless. Coupled with the dual-clutch S-tronic gearbox, the Audi A3 is able to tick both the economical and pace boxes. It has 90kW and 200Nm which gives the A3 enough grunt to hit 100km/h in just under ten seconds, while fuel economy is rated at 5.0 litres/100km. During my time with the car, the trip computer hovered around the 5.8L mark – impressive considering Johannesburg’s gridlocked roads. The car came with Start/Stop, which further keeps the fuel bills down. What’s even more impressive is the S-tronic gearbox. Gear changes appear to blur into one another and all you need to do is steer and accelerate. I was disappointed by the lack of steering-wheel mounted paddles throughout the range. A gearbox this responsive encourages driver involvement and personally I love being able to change gears without taking my hands off the wheel.

Audi A3 Sportback 1.4 TFSI – Conclusion

This is a superb package which boasts great levels of refinement. You can’t help but feel like your hard-earned money has gone into something luxurious. Even on optional 17-inch alloy wheels the ride is exemplary and it’s one of the most comfortable premium hatches on the market. Audi has thrown together a decent pricing strategy along with a strong five-year Freeway plan as well as giving you a generous helping of gadgets, meaning you’re actually getting a premium German car without having to fork out unnecessarily for what you’d assume would be standard features.

New Audi A3 Sportback 1.4 TFSI – Price

Audi A3 Sportback 1.4 TFSI – R307 500

  • Why you should: Premium product, supreme refinement, great engine and gearbox combination, best infotainment system hands down.
  • Why you shouldn’t: I’d be nit-picking. If you want one, get one. It’s THAT good.
  • It would be better if: a USB port at no cost was fitted. R2 540 for a USB and Apple cable is absurd.
  • View the vehicle: New Audi A3 / Used Audi A3
  • Competitors worth checking out: Golf 7, Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Peugeot RCZ Coupe gets updated

The head-turning Peugeot  RCZ coupe has received a facelift, an equipment upgrade and an extended range of colours and material combinations that allows for extensive customisation.

The two-door coupe will also be offered with a choice of two versions of the 1.6-litre turbocharged engine along with two transmissions choices: a six speed auto and manual.

Peugeot RCZ Coupe – Specifications and Features

Engine range and specs

Mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, the 1.6 delivers 147kW between 5500 and 6800 rpm and is accompanied by 275Nm of torque between 1700 and 4500 rpm. In this spec, the coupe reaches 0-100 km/h in 7.5 seconds and a top speed of 240km/h. Fuel consumption is rated at 6.7-litres/100 km.

In six-speed automatic guise, the engine produces 115kW of power and 240Nm of torque, which enables the model to sprint from 0-100 km/h in 8.4 seconds, reaching a top speed of 213km/h. As far as economy is concerned, the automatic coupe has a combined-cycle fuel consumption rating of 7.3-litres/100 km. CO2 emissions come to 168 g/km.

Exterior styling features

Changes to the styling are focussed on the front end of the coupe, which include the grille, headlights, bonnet and bumper, bringing the Peugeot RCZ Coupe in line with the rest of the modern Peugeot family.

The new hexagonal grille is augmented by twin, satin-chrome horizontal bars, while directly below, a curved lower air intake adds a new, bolder expression with the light signature of LED daytime running lights, set in a gloss black surround, and xenon lights which have a smoother fluid shape, but retain their clear lenses.

The roof slopes back to the rear almost from the time it leaves the top of the windscreen giving it a unique coupe shape. The rear view remains dominated by the distinctive Zagato-inspired double bubble that runs from the back of roof into the twin rounded contours of the rear screen.

Interior styling features

The interior cabin of the Peugeot RCZ Coupe gains a gloss black finish on the gear lever and leather trim on the door panels, and aluminium accents. It is further equipped with a standard kit that includes dual-zone climate control, automatic headlight and windscreen wiper activation, electrically operated and folding exterior mirrors, front and rear parking sensors, leather upholstery, electrically operated windows, and satellite controls for the audio and cruise control systems.

As expected from sporting coupes, there isn’t much headroom, but there is a back seat that can be used occasionally by children or very tolerant adults for short distances. The extra width of the Peugeot RCZ Coupe has 321 litres of boot space which can be expanded to 760 litres with the rear seats folded flat.

The automaker’s RT6 infotainment system is a new feature for the coupe and uses a colour-screen display for drivers to view satellite-navigation and multi-source audio (with Bluetooth connectivity), as well as access to mobile phone paring and BT audio streaming. The navigation now offers a perspective view, and incorporates speed restriction indicators for main routes, while the single-disc CD player is MP3-compatible.

Active and passive safety features

The new Peugeot RCZ Coupe retains its extensive list of active and passive safety features which include the intelligent dynamic control system encompassed under the Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) moniker, and is made up of several separate but integrated systems such as anti-skid regulation (ASR) and Intelligent Traction Control.

Further boosting high-speed stability is a retractable rear wing, which is neatly integrated into the tailgate, and is automatically raised at speeds above 120 km/h, or by the push of a button at lower speeds.

Peugeot RCZ Coupe – Price

View the new Peugeot RCZ

RCZ 1.6 THP Automatic R423 500
RCZ 1.6 THP Manual R434 900

The pricing includes a three-year/100 000 km warranty, as well a Peugeot’s Premium Plan, a full maintenance plan valid for five years/100 000 km. Services are at 20 000 km intervals.

The new BMW i3 launched: BMW’s first completely electric car

BMW has just unveiled a production version of the company’s first completely electric car, the BMW i3. It’s the first from its sub-brand, called BMW i, and will go on sale in the UK in November, likely reaching South Africa in the first quarter of 2014. It is brand new in every sense of the word – here’s everything you need to know.

Beemer purists will likely be shaking their heads right now, but let’s face it, the oil is going to run out and before it does, it’s going to get horrendously expensive. I’m quite happy to run around in a car that has zero petrol costs, and perhaps have something more exciting for the weekend. The i3 could be that run around.

BMW i3 – Completely electric from the outset

Following in the footsteps of the Nissan Leaf, but undoubtedly with a more premium feel in keeping with the brand’s ethos, the BMW i3 has been designed from the ground up as a completely electric car. However, BMW have developed a range-extender version, which has a small petrol motor, which cranks a generator which charges the batteries.

Starting with the full electric i3, the car has 250kg of lithium-ion batteries wedged into the floor of the car. This has the effect of keeping weight low, and improving the car’s agility. The charge is sent to a 125kW, 250Nm electric motor, which only sends power to the rear wheels. Again, this is in line with current and past BMW’s, and means the front wheels are unencumbered by drive shafts, giving the car a better turning circle.

Electric motors deliver all their torque instantly, and power is delivered to the rear via a single speed transmission. Acceleration is therefore actually quite impressive in the BMW i3, with a 0 – 100km/h sprint time of 7.2 seconds.

The key is reducing weight

But the key to the success of the concept is its light weight. Batteries are a significant issue when developing electric cars; they’re heavy and cumbersome but with too few the car’s range becomes too limited to make it a viable proposition. So a fair whack of battery capacity is needed, but that in turn makes the car too heavy, which negatively affects performance and range as well. It seems a conundrum, but the solution is to make the rest of the car much lighter. This can easily be done with carbon fibre, but that material is expensive and difficult to mass produce.

BMW tackled this by creating a new generation of carbon-reinforced plastics. The body of the i3 is extremely light, made from this material, aluminium and even wood. The whole car weighs in at 1195kg. The suspension is aluminium, the wheels are 36 percent lighter than their equivalent steel rims, the drive shafts are hollow and so are the screws throughout the car. It’s a massive effort in weight saving, but it seems to have paid off.

BMW i3 Charging time and range

Electric cars do take a long while to charge. The BMW i3 will recharge fully from a standard wall socket in between 8 and 10 hours, or the car can be 80% charged in three hours using a special fast-charging unit called the BMW i Wallbox. BMW claims a max range of up to 200km in the most efficient driving mode, or between 130 and 160 in “Comfort” mode. That should be more than enough for the average daily commute.

BMW i3 Price in South Africa

Prices for the BMW i3 in the UK start at over GBP25,000, but that’s with a government grant of GBP5000 per vehicle. It’s not worth speculating on the South African price just yet, but as with any new technology, it’s not going to be a cheap exercise compared to the technology it’s trying to replace.

The i3 is an important car. Big car companies are well placed to find solutions to the world’s changing transport needs – an expensive endeavour. And with a little luck, we’ll be able to retain that joy of driving through the transition.

New Porsche Panamera arrives in South Africa

Eight derivatives of the new Porsche Panamera sporting mild updates are now locally available for the South African market, including the second-generation S model which features a new and upgraded engine.

The Panamera S E-Hybrid, which will join the new model line-up later this year, marks a new technological benchmark as the world’s first plug-in hybrid in the luxury class.

New Porsche Panamera offers powerful range

The manufacturer claims that the new Porsche Panamera models will benefit from increased fuel efficiency, by means of new technology, including a redeveloped PDK system that aims to reduce fuel consumption by up to 56%, with the exception of the diesel model. The standard Panamera reaches 259 km/h with 231kW of power and a fuel consumption of 8.4-litres/100km.

The range also comes with a change in the engine line-up, with a new V6 3-litre biturbo engine replacing the previous 4.8-litre V8 engine in the Panamera S and Panamera 4S. The new engine gives the Panamera S and Panamera 4S 15kW more power and 20Nm more torque. The Panamera GTS will retain its V8 engine.

The new Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid which will make its way to South Africa later this year will make use of a 3.0-litre V6 engine, a lithium-ion battery pack and an electric motor, which combined will produce 306kW of power and sprint from 0-100km/h in 5.5 seconds reaching a top speed of 270 km/h and an electric driving top speed of 135 km/h. The S E-Hybrid returns a fuel consumption figure (claimed) of up to 3.1-litre/100 km, which equates to 71g/km of CO2 emissions.

The new Porsche Panamera is further enhanced with lighter 18-inch wheels and a specifically tuned Porsche Stability Management (PSM) to add to the car’s sportiness and comfort. The model also makes use of tighter lines and contours to enhance the Panamera’s Gran Turismo character, and a widened rear windscreen and spoiler, and optional LED lights that give it a prominent stance.

The newPorsche Panamera is available at Porsche Centre Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Umhlanga.

New Porsche Panamera – Price

Porsche Panamera R958 000
Porsche Panamera Diesel R950 000
Porsche Panamera 4 R1 004 000
Porsche Panamera S R1 224 000
Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid R1 279 000
Porsche Panamera 4S R1 271 000
Porsche Panamera GTS R1 419 000
Porsche Panamera Turbo R1 996 000

Subaru WRX concept will make European debut

It has been revealed that the Subaru WRX Concept will make its debut at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show in September. The ‘all-new performance concept car’ which was unveiled in prototype form at the New York Auto Show earlier this year, serves as a preview for the next-generation WRX. It will be joined on the Subaru stand by the VIZIV Concept, the company’s “future design direction and vision for technological innovation”.

Flashy design for new Subaru WRX Concept

While Subaru’s have always been quite a unique and special drive, the looks have been a bit too “unique” for some. However, if the production version looks half as good as the Subaru WRX concept, we expect the legion of fans of the brand to grow quite substantially.

Looking radically different from previous models, the Subaru WRX concept has a prominent front grille, a more lightweight carbon fibre roof, a broad rear bumper, hawk-eye headlights while at the same time being wider, sleeker and lower than the current sedan.

No other details have been revealed about the Subaru WRX Concept. However, Subaru maintains the vehicle features “trademark design cues including a pronounced bulge on the bonnet, accompanied by the classic WRX bonnet scoop which provides clearance for a turbocharged engine and intercooler, while also aiding engine cooling.”

Well it will certainly be a boxer, perhaps a 2.0litre turbocharged in keeping with the current line-up. The most modern engine from the brand currently runs in the BRZ/Toyota GT86, so that would be a good candidate for some forced induction. But perhaps Subaru have something else up the sleeves of those white coats?

Opel Astra OPC Review in South Africa

I do feel at the moment that all I write about is hot hatches. I started thinking this could be my fault, but it isn’t. I’ve just done a count, and depending on your criteria, there are nine of these creatures in the C segment alone. It’s symptomatic of an industry that needs halo cars in its most important segments. And as emission laws intensify, fuel prices increase and customer’s demand better, smaller cars, the humble hatchback is an incredibly important segment. And even if you aren’t in the market for one of these, everyone likes to know about the hero cars, and the Opel Astra OPC is one of these cars.

Opel Astra OPC review by Ciro De Siena

So I’ve organised to test the latest Volkswagen GTI against the recently-ousted segment leader – at least in terms of power – the Opel Astra OPC. You can read my driving impression of the Golf GTI here. I took the two cars to one of Cape Town’s swoopiest and most scenic roads, Chapman’s Peak Drive. Not that scenery helps me test cars, obviously, but it certainly makes for a nice day out.

Exterior Styling – New Opel Astra OPC

The Opel Astra OPC by anyone’s definition is a sensational looking car. There is no pretence of trying to hide its ability – this is a powerful car and Opel wants everyone to know about it. Fantastic in pictures, it’s even more striking in the metal. While the Golf looks great regardless, parked next to the OPC, the VW looks a bit boxy; plain even. The test car lurking outside my window is a colour I can only describe as “phonebook yellow”. It looks wicked, but I think you’d tire of it. In the same way that it might be fun to have a bright purple cocktail every now and then – you know, live La Vida Loca – it wouldn’t be your every day drink. The Opel Astra OPC comes with a fantastic aero pack that really helps it look the part. And running on those massive, exclusive 20 inch alloys, this is certainly in the running for the hottest-looking hot hatch.

Performance – The heart of the OPC

Sitting snugly under the bonnet of the Opel Astra OPC is a 2.0 litre, inline 4 cylinder turbocharged petrol motor that has been tuned to produce more power than British Touring car specifications. 206kW and 400Nm in a hatchback is no laughing matter. Compared to the Golf’s 162kW and 350Nm, on paper at least, the OPC looks like it will make a mockery of the Golf. Up until recently, this was the segment leader, but Merc’s new A45 AMG has just gone full mental, and raised the bar even higher. Details under “Rivals” below. However, weight is a key influencer of ultimate performance, and the Opel Astra OPC is a bit of a big bully. Weighing in at 1550kg, the Astra is a good 170kg’s heavier than the GTI, and you can feel it. Where the Golf feels like it can skip through corners, the Astra feels like it will just flatten them. Both are satisfying, but for the daily drive, the Golf is easier to manage. Acceleration times are close, with the OPC reaching the standard 100km/h from standstill in 6.2 seconds, and the GTI in 6.5 seconds.

Handling and ride

The Opel Astra OPC is quite a Jekyll and Hyde machine. Extracting all that power from 2.0 litres of engine has required a fairly hefty turbocharger, which takes a while spool up. There is noticeable turbolag below 3000rpm. This has a few affects. Firstly, it makes crossing that rev point very exciting. It’s like hitting warp drive. All of a sudden, the wheel tugs at your hands, the scenery starts moving very quickly and the car makes the most astonishing growling/whooshing noise. It’s quite unlike anything I’ve ever heard. It sounds like a massive transformer (the Hollywood kind) breathing loudly through a steel pipe. And it seems to come from inside your own head. It’s German voodoo I’m sure. Once you become aware of warp drive, you can actually get the Opel Astra OPC to plod along in quite a civilised manner, by gearing up early. Unless it’s raining – then you have to be very careful indeed. The front tyres just can’t cope with all that twisting force when the tarmac is wet. You have to be very restrained, otherwise you will wake up the traction control every time you flex your right foot. But today it’s not raining, and the road surface is perfect. And the Astra feels fantastic. It has loads of grip, but for some reason it doesn’t inspire the same confidence as the GTI. I’m just more tentative to get on the power coming out of the corner, in case of a whack of twist makes the nose drift wide. Given more time with the Opel Astra OPC, I might enjoy it more, but this thing just makes me nervous. It feels like the Astra has been set up more for track driving. And I’m sure on a track it would be quite a bit quicker than the GTI. Those big takkies, the Brembo brakes, the firm suspension set up, it all makes for a potentially great track day car.

Interior

The interior is a mix of awesome and frustration for me. In an age of touch screens, the Opel Astra OPC feels dated – buttons everywhere. All the kit is there though, heated seats, automatic climate control, electric hip and torso bolsters to hug you tight in corners. The bucket seats are radical – they look like they’ve been nicked from a race car and covered in leather. But for such a big car, I don’t know where all the space has gone. It’s quite cramped in there. And then there is the centre bin. It’s got a cushioned lid which is perfectly placed for your elbow to crash into every time you change into 2nd or 4th – I had to drive with it open.

Summary – Opel Astra OPC

If the most exciting part of your life is your drive to work, then I would heartily recommend the Opel Astra OPC. It’s a brawler; it’s always up for a fight and makes a tremendous noise. You will love the turbocharged whooshiness that the engine provides and your friends will be jealous of how damn sensational it looks. But if you aren’t interested in raising your heart rate to clinically worrying levels every time you need to pick up some milk, there are more sane options out there, like the GTI. It is an exercise in excess, the Opel Astra OPC, not least in price. R435 000 compared to R368 500 for the GTI. Race cars are expensive pieces of kit, and I imagine a lot of the cost has gone into ensuring the OPC goes and feels like one. But if you need a practical, fast hatchback, you might feel a little short-changed.

Quick specs – 2013 Opel Astra OPC

View the vehicle: New Opel Astra / Used Opel Astra OPC

Price R435,000
Fuel consumption 8.1 litres/100km (average, claimed)
CO2 emissions 189 g/km
Power 206kW at 5500rpm
Torque 400Nm at 2500 – 4500rpm
Acceleration 0 – 100km/h in 6.2 seconds
Top Speed 250 km/h

Rivals

Mercedes Benz A45 AMG If it’s power you’re after, Mercedes will sell you the world’s most powerful production 2.0litre engine. The A45 AMG packs 265kW and 450Nm – quite mad really. But it will set you back R555,000. That’s a lot of money for a hatchback. Volkswagen Golf 7 GTI What it lacks in power it makes up for in planted dynamics and lighter weight. Interior is bang up to date with a standard touch screen that works like a touch screen. 5 doors makes it more convenient if you have offspring/friends. R368,500

Aston Martin may partner with AMG

Aston Martin and AMG – the wholly owned performance arm of Mercedes Benz, have announced an intent to partner on future sports car development. While definitive agreements will only be signed later this year, all we know for now is that the next generation of Aston Martins will be AMG-powered.

Aston Martin weighs up the benefits

Engine development is an expensive business, especially for small-scale manufacturers like Aston Martin. The cost of developing and building engines that will meet emission standards, fuel consumption and levels of refinement to satisfy future regulation and demand will have made partnership with an established player an attractive option.

And to be fair, AMG is not exactly a shoddy partner. The company’s one man, one engine philosophy is responsible for some fantastic, powerful engines, which certainly won’t be out of place in a supercar. Even Pagani think so – AMG V12’s have powered every Zonda since inception, and now every Huayra as well.

Mercedes Benz Cars is also part of the deal; they’ll be supplying e/e (electronic/electric) components to the iconic British Brand, now owned by a Kuwaiti consortium. As part of the deal, Daimler AG, the German brand’s parent company, will receive up to 5% equity in Aston Martin, with no cash changing hands.

We would speculate that Mercedes new generation of twin-turbo V8s will find their way into the next range of Aston Martins, possibly with a naturally aspirated V12 being reserved for the range topping future DBS or Vanquish.

Ola Källenius, Head of Mercedes-AMG GmbH: “We are proud to work with Aston Martin and provide them with powertrain and e/e components for their forthcoming sports cars. This is proof of AMG’s technological and performance expertise and a real win-win situation for both sides.”

Aston Martin Product Development Director Ian Minards said: “We have selected AMG specifically as the basis for this powertrain development process. Aston Martin sources cutting edge technology from key suppliers around the globe and the opportunity to include content from Mercedes-AMG GmbH in our next generation sports cars is, clearly, good news.” For competitive reasons, no other details have been made public.