Renault Captur makes Geneva debut

The production version of the Renault Captur is currently on display at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. The Captur is a urban crossover that combines the styling and driving position of an SUV with the cabin space of an MPV while driving like a sedan.

Renault Captur captures the driving essence

The Renault Captur comes with an original exterior two-tone colour which adds contrast between the roof and pillars from the rest of the body and features design themes inspired by the concept version, like the front fascia and forward position of the steeply raked windscreen. Other exterior features include a raised ground clearance, large wheels and sill guards.

The new Renault Captur crossover measures 4.12 metres in length offering ample storage and boot space. The exclusive and colourful compartment enforces a warm and relaxing atmosphere while the selection of interior customisation solutions comes with a choice of colours and motifs for the different trim features.

Additionally, the Renault Captur boasts comfort and refinements normally found on an MPV, such as a high-up driving position, large boot, and modular interior and innovative stowage solutions.

Standard equipment specifications include hands free entry, Hill Start Assist and rear parking sensors. Entertainment comes in the form of an in-dash Renault R-Link touch-screen multimedia tablet and a sound system that includes six loudspeakers, Bluetooth connectivity, audio-streaming and Arkamys hi-fi sound.

The Renault Captur will be manufactured at Renault’s Valladolid plant in Spain.

Honda Civic Tourer Concept hints at its future

The Honda Civic Tourer Concept is being showcased at the Geneva Motor Show. The concept hints at the design direction for the Honda Civic Tourer production model which will make its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2013.

Honda Civic Tourer Concept – Design Features

The Honda Civic Tourer Concept shares many styling features with the ninth-generation Honda Civic hatchback which was launched in 2011. The Honda Civic Tourer Concept has a low and wide stance for a sporty appearance and is complemented with a sleek cabin, much like the Civic hatchback.

The concept follows the same design direction as previous Honda Tourer derivatives such as the Accord Tourer and the Civic Aero deck which offer a smooth design combined with class-leading cargo space.

Honda has also confirmed that the production version of the concept will be available early in 2014 and that track testing of the new Civic Type R will start at the Nurburgring in 2013.

Range Rover Evoque Dynamic Black Design Pack launched

Land Rover has used the Geneva Motor show to launch a new Black Design Pack for the popular Range Rover Evoque ‘Dynamic’ derivative.

Range Rover Evoque Dynamic Black Design Pack – Features

The Black Design Pack enhances the exterior styling of the Range Rover Evoque Dynamic with the addition of 20-inch, 9-spoke forged wheels painted in gloss black while all the exterior bright finishes have been removed to create the desired effect. The dark exhaust finishers are painted in Santorini Black and complemented with a gloss black rear bumper and an inner and outer sump guard which is carried through on the front.

The front headlights and fog lights have been darkened while the rear lights have been modified to give a clear effect so that they don’t appear permanently red. ‘Range Rover’ lettering in Santorini Black can be found across the bonnet, tailgate and rear sport spoiler.

“With over 100,000 vehicles sold in its first full year of sales – more than any other previous Land Rover model, and 124 global awards, the Range Rover Evoque has proved itself as our most desirable product and continues to show rapid growth worldwide,” said John Edwards, Land Rover Global Brand Director.

“Offering our customers even greater choice with the option of the striking Black Design Pack can only make the Evoque appeal to an even bigger audience. With its dynamic and sporty handling, formidable all-terrain performance, choice of premium luxury interiors and colour and feature combinations, customers truly can personalise their Evoque to suit their personality,” added John Edwards.

Opel ADAM Rocks concept in Geneva

Opel has revealed the three-door, urban mini-crossover study called the Opel ADAM Rocks concept at the Geneva Motor Show. The Opel ADAM Rocks concept explores new ways of enhancing the individualisation potential of the funky urban runabout.

Opel ADAM Rocks concept – Design Features

The Opel ADAM Rocks concept features a higher and wider stance as well as a powerful, compact appearance that is enhanced with a prominent grille structure, LED headlamps, boomerang-shaped turn indicators and 18-inch wheels with specially designed clips.

Additionally, the three-door mini crossover boasts a fabric roof that offers a feeling of personal freedom with a clear view of the sky. The fabric also extends across the entire width of the roof right back to the C-pillars.

The roof is linked to a special weather app that is displayed on the colour touch screen of the IntelliLink driver information centre and determines when a weather front is imminent and consequently iniates the closing of the roof.

There are no plans to bring the Opel ADAM to South Africa.

New SsangYong Rodius Turismo launched in Geneva

The SsangYong Rodius Turismo is currently on show at the Geneva Motor Show. According to SsangYong, the new Rodius has been designed with the aim “to combine multi-role flexibility and driving comfort and appointments of a luxury saloon within an all-new shape.”

New SsangYong Rodius – Specifications and Features

Engine Capability

The new SsangYong Rodius Turismo is fitted with a 2.0-litre e-XDi200 turbo diesel engine that produces 114kW at 4 000rpm with a torque figure of 360Nm at 2800rpm. The engine can be mated to a six-speed manual gearbox or a T-Tronic five-speed Mercedes Benz automatic transmission.

Exterior Styling Features

SsangYong designers created a distinctive and innovative look to the Rodius Turismo, incorporating a sporting feel but at the same time blending the car’s numerous roles with a luxurious and dignified tone.

By further combining the strength and fluidity of the car, the front has a robust stance due to a hexagonal shaped radiator grille and trapezoidal bumper. The new SsangYong Rodius also utilises a double wishbone front suspension and rear independent multi-link suspension for executive saloon-style ride quality.

Interior Styling Features

The interior is fitted with seven seats in a three-in-a-row seating arrangement. The second row can be folded individually and used as tables while the third row can be removed completely. The 300mm wheelbase provides large internal space that can fit seven passengers together with their luggage, and without having to compromise on passenger capacity and comfortable travelling.

Other interior features include leather upholstery, a heated windscreen, air conditioning, air quality system, eco cruise control, electrically-adjustable and heated front seats, USB / AUX / Bluetooth support and a MP3 CD & RDS radio.

Safety Features

The new SsangYong Rodius is fitted with a comprehensive package of active safety features such as Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Active Roll Over Protection (ARP) and Brake Assist System (BAS), along with dual front and side airbags. The ISOFIX and tether anchorage points for child seats are fitted on the second row.

New Citroen C3 shows off in Geneva

The new Citroen C3 has made its global debut at the Geneva Show. The C3 features a range of exterior and interior styling updates as well as new PureTech petrol engines which offer a power increase of up to 15% while reducing fuel consumption by as much as 25%.

New Citroen C3 offers more power but consumes less fuel

Engine Capability

The new Citroen C3 can be powered with new generation PureTech 3-cylinder petrol engines with capacities of 1.0-litre and 1.2-litres. These engines produce CO2 emissions between 99 and 104g/km and offer 15% more power than the outgoing 4-cylinder engines they replace. The 1.0-litre unit produces 51kW with a fuel consumption figure of 4.5-litres/100km. The 1.2-litre unit offers 61kW with a fuel consumption figure of 4.3-litres/100km. A 90kW, 1.6-litre, 4-cylinder engine is also on offer with either a manual or automatic transmission.

Exterior and Interior Styling Features

The front-end has been updated with chevrons and bumper-mounted LED daytime running lights. The tail light styling has been revised and includes new reflectors underneath the rear bumper. Nine exterior colours are available including the new ‘Ink Blue’.

The interior makes use of quality materials which includes chrome detailing and a thermo-coated soft-touch dashboard. Dashboard strips in either matt black, warm brown or Moondust grey cordinate with the new upholstery. The instrument cluster is backlit in white for a contemporary look. The new Citroen C3 offers 300-litres of boot space along with other storage compartments including a glove box, centre console and central armrest.

The large Zenith windscreen offers best-in-segment visibility and increases the field of vision to 80 degrees. The new Citroen C3 will also be available with a reversing camera, parking sensors, RD4 MP3 audio system, Connecting box, eMyway navigation and a powerful HiFi System.

Volkswagen Golf 7 GTD shown in Geneva

The Volkswagen Golf  7 GTD has been unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show and combines ‘sports car performance with supermini consumption’. The new Volkswagen Golf 7 GTD has become the most powerful production diesel Golf of all time.

Volkswagen Golf 7 GTD oozes diesel power

The new Volkswagen Golf 7 GTD is fitted with the familiar 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine that’s been tweeked to produce 135kW and 350Nm of torque, which is 10kW and 30Nm more than the standard output. This unit is mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox and coupled to a Start-Stop system which maximises efficiency. A 6-speed dual-clutch gearbox (DSG) is optionally available. The new Golf 7 GTD consumes fuel at a rate of 4.2-litres/100km with a CO2 emissions figure of 109g/km with the standard 6-speed manual transmission. With the DSG transmission, fuel consumption increases marginally to 4.5-litres/100km as does the CO2 emissions of 119g/km.

The new Golf GTD will sprint to 100km/h in 7.5 seconds and will reach a top-speed 230km/h.

New Suzuki SX4 makes Geneva debut

The new Suzuki SX4 Crossover has made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show and is based on the S-Cross which was showcased at the 2012 Paris Motor Show. The new Suzuki SX4 is now larger than the outgoing model and combines distinct crossover styling with enhanced performance and fuel economy.

New Suzuki SX4 – Features

Engine Options

The new Suzuki SX4 will be offered with a choice of either a 1.6-litre petrol engine or a 1.6-litre diesel engine. The 1.6-litre petrol engine is based on the current M16A and exhibits lower friction and weight which improves fuel efficiency without compromising on power or torque delivery. The 1.6-litre diesel engine has the same efficient qualities as the petrol engine but comes with a variable geometry turbocharger and a sound-insulating engine cover to suppress the noise and vibration of the diesel engine.

The 1.6-litre petrol version comes with a 5-speed manual transmission while the diesel variant gets a 6-speed manual transmission. A Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) is also available.

Exterior and Interior Styling Features

The design of the new Suzuki SX4, according to Suzuki, is based on emotion, quality and aerodynamics. The SX4 features a bold and distinct crossover shape with dynamic body lines. The sharp body line, wheel arch mouldings, skid plates and integrated roof rails emphasise its crossover styling. The rounded bonnet is complemented with chrome trimming and LED daytime running lights are seen in the headlights.

The interior is predominantly black with silver trim that offers a sporty contrast. The instrument panel is designed to give a sense of width and dynamism while the stitching in the seats convey a sense of sophistication. The interior is spacious and offers 430-litres of luggage space. The rear seat and luggage board can be repositioned to accommodate different kinds of luggage. The new Suzuki SX4 also features a large panoramic sunroof with double sliding glass panels.

Porsche Boxster is 2013 South African Car of the Year

The Porsche Boxster has been crowned the 2013 South African Car of the Year in the prestigious Wesbank / SAGMJ Car of the Year competition. The Porsche Boxster is the first Porsche in the history of the competition to make it as a finalist and to win the competition. The announcement came after a gala dinner hosted by Wesbank, the headline sponsor, and the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists (SAGMJ) at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.

Porsche Boxster impressed the jury

The winning vehicle is required to score highly in its own class and not against the other finalists, across a range of categories including value for money, safety, dynamics, technology and aesthetics to name a few. The Porsche Boxster was highly revered and has redefined its market segment and excels in terms of performance, dynamics, quality, value and desirability, which is enough to beat the other 11 finalists for top honours.

The Competition

The Wesbank / SAGMJ Car of the Year competition is based on the European Car of the Year points-based system but is unique in the world as all the finalists are also put through a stringent testing procedure by the COTY jury at the world-renowned Gerotek Vehicle Testing Facility outside Pretoria before any votes are cast.

This year, the jury consisted of 30 SAGMJ members who each were allowed to allocate 50 votes to all 12 finalists, but to no less than seven and with no more than 10 points allocated to any one vehicle. The Jury members are also required to motivate their votes, with the points allocated and motivation thereof open to scrutiny once the winner has been announced.

The Jury was also forced to apply an equaliser after several manufacturers failed to adhere to the COTY rule of supplying vehicles in standard specification for evaluation purposes. Some of the vehicles featured unreasonable levels of optional equipment that in some cases enhanced the vehicle’s ride and handling. As such, the jury voted for the vehicles as delivered but applied a mathematical equation to the final votes to compensate for any advantage these excessively specified vehicles may have gained.

The SA Car of the Year competition has run since 1986, with Wesbank being the headline sponsor since inception. In 2012, Hyundai became the first Korean car brand to win the title with its Elantra 1.8 GLS and in 2011, both the BMW 530d and the VW Polo 1.6 TDI shared the crown.

Final results for the 2013 Wesbank/SAGMJ Car of the Year competition

  1. Porsche Boxster – 221 votes
  2. Range Rover Evoque Si4 Dynamic 5-door – 181 votes
  3. Toyota 86 High Spec 6MT – 177 votes
  4. Kia Rio 1.4 TEC Hatch Manual – 144 votes
  5. Lexus GS 350 EX – 143 votes
  6. Hyundai i30 1.8 Executive – 106 votes
  7. BMW 320i Automatic – 104 votes
  8. Nissan Juke 1.6 DIG-T Tekna – 79 votes
  9. Opel Meriva 1.4T Cosmo – 67 Votes
  10. Ford Ranger 3.2 XLT 4X4 Double-cab A/T – 56 votes
  11. Toyota Yaris 1.5 HSD Xs – 47 votes
  12. Mercedes-Benz B180 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY – 35 votes

Audi RS6 Avant brings power to Geneva

The powerful Audi RS6 Avant is being showcased at the Geneva Motor Show and serves as an example of the brands downsizing strategy in the high performance category.

2014 Audi RS6 Avant takes power to new level

Engine Capability

The powerful Audi RS6 Avant is fitted with a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 engine that develops 412kW with a maximum torque figure of 700Nm. The unit is mated to an 8-speed tiptronic gearbox and proprietary Quattro AWD system with a torque vectoring differential.

This powerful sports wagon accelerates from zero to 100km/h in 3.9 seconds and reaches an impressive top speed of 305km/h with the Dynamic Plus package. In standard guise, the top speed is limited to 250km/h. Fuel consumption is rated at 9.8-litres/100km.

Exterior Styling Features

The new Audi RS6 Avant weighs less than its predecessor and comes with body accents in matt aluminium or carbon appearance packages. The packages include the high gloss black protective grille at the front of the car, the bumpers, the fender, sill flares and the large roof spoiler.

TheAudi RS6 Avant rides on 20-inch alloy wheels in a seven-spoke design and is the first model from Audi to come standard with a specifically tuned air suspension. Completing the look of the sporty yet elegant car is the diffuser, two large elliptical exhaust tailpipes and Quattro badges on the central front air inlet.

The new Audi RS6 Avant is available in nine exterior colours, including the exclusive shade ‘Daytona Gray matte’.

Interior Styling Features

Inside, the Audi RS6 Avant features a flat-bottom three-spoke multi-function steering wheel and black-faced instrument dials with white dials and red needles. The tachometer, MMI displays and the Driver Information System feature the RS logo, while the black Alcantara leather sport seats feature side bolsters, integrated head restraints and a diamond quilting feature in the centre of the seats.

Additional features include cruise control, three-zone automatic air conditioning, MMI navigation plus with MMI touch and a 10-speaker Audi sound system.

The retractable monitor sports a piano finish while the interior door openers feature a delicate double-bar design.

Standard and Optional Features

Standard features include two sportily moulded rear seats, xenon plus headlights, LED rear lights, a tyre pressure control system and standard carbon inlays with six additional materials available as options.

Optional features comprise of LED headlights in a unique design, ceramic brake discs with anthracite grey painted callipers, a three person bench seat and power-adjustable deluxe seats with memory function.

Also available as an option are 21-inch cast wheels in either high gloss silver, polished black or titanium look.