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

BMW has just unveiled a production version of the companys first completely electric car, the BMW i3. Its 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 heres everything you need to know.

Beemer purists will likely be shaking their heads right now, but lets face it, the oil is going to run out and before it does, its going to get horrendously expensive. Im 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 brands 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 cars 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 BMWs, 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; theyre heavy and cumbersome but with too few the cars 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. Its 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 thats with a government grant of GBP5000 per vehicle. Its not worth speculating on the South African price just yet, but as with any new technology, its not going to be a cheap exercise compared to the technology its trying to replace.

The i3 is an important car. Big car companies are well placed to find solutions to the worlds changing transport needs an expensive endeavour. And with a little luck, well 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 worlds 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 cars sportiness and comfort. The model also makes use of tighter lines and contours to enhance the Panameras 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 companys future design direction and vision for technological innovation.

Flashy design for new Subaru WRX Concept

While Subarus 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 companys one man, one engine philosophy is responsible for some fantastic, powerful engines, which certainly wont be out of place in a supercar. Even Pagani think so AMG V12s have powered every Zonda since inception, and now every Huayra as well.

Mercedes Benz Cars is also part of the deal; theyll 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 brands 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 AMGs 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.

Toyota Hilux Dakar Edition released

With chart topping sales month after month, its easy to argue that the Toyota Hilux is one of South Africas most loved bakkies. Over 860 000 Hilux vehicles have been sold locally since its introduction in 1969, and now the Toyota Hilux Dakar Edition has been released to celebrate the stellar performance of the Hilux in the 2013 Dakar Rally.

Exterior improvements for the Toyota Hilux Dakar Edition include stainless-steel nudge bar, rear styling and door steps with a Dakar logo, and also a step bumper with towbar, a black load-bay cover and Smokey grey alloy rims. The model also benefits from body coloured mirrors and door handles as well as Dakar badging.

The interior is enhanced with black leather seats and door inserts with red stitching, black carpets with red Dakar embroidery, and a reversing camera (Xtra Cab and Double Cab).

The Dakar package is available for a limited period only (July to September) on Raider grade models across all three body types: Single, Xtra and Double Cab

Toyota Hilux Dakar Edition Price

View the New Toyota Hilux Dakar Edition

Toyota Hilux Single Cab 2.7 VVTi Raised Body Dakar	R292 200
Toyota Hilux SC 3.0 D-4D RB Dakar	R333 800
Toyota Hilux SC 3.0 D-4D 4X4 Dakar	R385 600
Toyota Hilux Xtra Cab 3.0 D-4D RB Dakar	R364 500
Toyota Hilux XC 3.0 D-4D 4X4 Dakar	R416 500
Toyota Hilux Double Cab 2.7 VVTi RB Dakar	R365 800
Toyota Hilux DC 2.5 D-4D RB Dakar	R397 100
Toyota Hilux DC 3.0 D-4D RB Dakar	R420 900
Toyota Hilux DC 3.0 D-4D RB AT Dakar	R433 700
Toyota Hilux DC 3.0 D-4D 4X4 Dakar	R473 700
Toyota Hilux DC 3.0 D-4D 4X4 AT Dakar	R486 400
Toyota Hilux DC 4.0 V6 RB AT Dakar	R433 000
Toyota Hilux DC 4.0 V6 4X4 AT Dakar	R509 100

MINI Vision concept revealed

MINI has shown off a design concept called the MINI Vision a teaser of what the next generation of the popular premium compact car could look like.

MINI Vision is perfect balance between old and new

Unveiled at MINIs design studios in Munich, the MINI Vision concept still follows closely in line with MINIs current styling. The concept does however feature future-focused aesthetic and technical innovations such as an aerodynamic bumper and a slightly new take on the classic hexagonal grille that features integrated fog lights.

The MINI Vision is also equipped with full-LED headlights, air intakes and outlets around the front wheel arches, some new chrome accents, the distinctive side indicator element and the black band framing the lower edge of the car.

One standout feature is the clear separation of the roof, glasshouse and body. Further back, there’s organo metal accents, a tailgate-mounted spoiler and a centre-mounted dual exhaust system.

MINI Vision – Interior

The interior has a symmetrical design, and is covered with a variety of colours and textures. Some highlights include a floating centre console, lounge seats, and a large screen mounted in the centre of the dash.

Some new additions include Union Jack inspired flexible retaining devices designed to hold a magazine, mobile phone or drinks bottle, a MINI click system and a Driving Experience Control System which allows adjusting of the lighting scheme.

There is also a ‘Mini Disco’ floor that illuminates the footwells, and customisable digital instruments. Perhaps therell be Swinging 60s mode.

The brand believes this design vision demonstrates that they will continue to use intelligent variability, imagination-capturing technology and a compact sporting presence to deliver unrivalled driving fun over the years to come.

Alfa Romeo goes rear wheel drive

Alfa Romeo is reportedly returning to its sportier roots by ditching its front and all-wheel drive platforms in favour of a rear-wheel drive range of future vehicles. The Alfisti (you know a group of fans is enthusiastic when they have their own name) are going to be very pleased about this.

Exciting future for Alfa Romeo

CAR UK magazine has published a report citing inside information from Alfa Romeo that the brand will be aligning itself more with the Maserati brand – possibly sharing components and engines, in a bid to distance itself from the mass market offerings from sibling brand Fiat. While rear wheel drive does appeal to enthusiasts, the reality is that front wheel drive layouts are cheaper to manufacture and provide more interior space particularly in smaller cars. But Fiat-Chrysler boss Sergio Marchionne wants to take on the premium car market, and reportedly he thinks the only way to do this is with a RWD product line. This means we will most likely say goodbye to cars like the Alfa Romeo Mito and Guilietta. Technology such as the eight-speed ZF gearbox, V6 Maserati engines and hybrid drivetrains will be accessible to the Alfa team. It’s a strategy that will see their future products competing against well established rivals from BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Lexus and Jaguar.

New Alfa Romeo models to compete with top brands

Future models will include a 3-series/C-Class competitor named the Guilia, a 5 series competitor possibly named the Alfetta, and a duo of SUV’s up against the likes of the BMW X1/Audi Q3, and BMW X3/Audi Q5. The CAR report says the first model line, the Guilia, will arrive in 2015. The Alfetta will arrive thereafter and may include a sportwagon version, something we haven’t seen since the Alfa 156, something of which this particular petrolhead was a big fan. The six model Alfa Romeo range will be rounded off by the upcoming and spectacular-looking 4C, and an as yet unnamed Roadster based on the Mazda Mx-5 platform. The Alfa Romeo 4C will arrive in South Africa late this year and prices have been quoted at R799 000, making it an interesting rival to cars like the Porsche Boxster.

Volvo safety features mean lower insurance premiums

Insurance is a significant and necessary cost to consider when buying a car. There are various ways to bring your premiums down, for instance, ensuring the car is in a garage at night. However, for perhaps the first time, the safety features of your next car could affect your monthly premiums.

Volvo safety features benefit motorists

UK motorists seem to be the first to feel this affect. Following extensive testing by Thatchams Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre, commissioned by the Association of British Insurers to research all Autonomous Emergency Braking systems (AEB) to validate the effectiveness of such systems, the insurers have decided to include these safety features as a factor in insurance ratings.

The inclusion has happened very soon after a technology’s emergence on the market; testament to the industry’s confidence in these system’s potential to significantly reduce accident damage and personal injury.

The Swedish car maker Volvo has now announced that new Volvo owners could see their annual insurance premiums fall by as much as £160 (about R2395.34) as its City Safety AEB is now fitted as standard across the whole range (apart from the XC90).

We have contacted the South African Insurance Association to find out if local insurance companies are investigating this development for introduction to the local market. We await their response and will follow up as soon as we have more information.

Volvo safety features include Volvo’s City Safety low-speed collision avoidance system operates at speeds up to 50 km/h on the V40 (currently 30 km/h on other Volvo models), keeps an eye on traffic in front and automatically brakes if the driver fails to react in time when the vehicle in front slows down or stops – or if the car is approaching a stationary vehicle too fast.

Following its success in reducing accidents and injury, Volvo took the decision to fit its award winning City Safety technology as standard to all subsequent new models reflecting the brand’s commitment to developing the safest vehicles across its range.

“With City Safety AEB now fitted as standard across all new production Volvos except the XC90, it’s fantastic to see the technology recognised by Thatcham, ultimately allowing Volvo drivers to enjoy big cost savings on their insurance. The continued introduction of all these lifesaving technologies links back to our Vision 2020 long term objective that by 2020 no one should be killed or injured in a new Volvo,” said Volvo Car UK managing director Nick Connor.

The European Commission has suggested widespread adoption of AEB could reduce accidents by up to 27 per cent, potentially saving 8,000 lives a year and reducing insurance claims by up to £6.3 billion. In the future it could also be practically impossible for car models to obtain an NCAP five-star rating without this technology fitted.

Renault-Nissan alliance sell 100 000th electric car

Renault–Nissan reached a major milestone earlier this month by selling its 100,000th electric vehicle. The two companies announced that they have sold more zero-emissions cars than all other automakers combined, with sales led by the LEAF.

Renault-Nissan lead the way to a greener future

“The age of the mainstream zero-emission vehicle is here,” said Renault-Nissan Alliance Chairman and CEO Carlos Ghosn. “We expect demand to keep growing as the charging infrastructure develops – and we remain 100% committed to zero-emission technology for the long term.” Electric cars from Renault and Nissan have driven approximately 841 million zero-emission kilometres, enough to circle the earth more than 20 000 times. Together, they represent 53 million litres of oil saved and 124 million kg of CO2 that have not been emitted. Worldwide, more than 71,000 Nissan LEAFs have been sold since the car was first released in December 2010 and, according to Nissan, the all-electric car makes up more than half of all global sales of pure electric cars. The U.S. leads the market with about 30 000 LEAFs sold, with the car in the top 10 vehicles sold in San Francisco, Seattle and Honolulu. Japan scooped up 28 000 sales, while in Europe, 12 000 have been sold. The LEAF also has made great strides in Norway where 4600 have been sold, making it Nissan's top-selling vehicle in the country. Meanwhile, Renault has sold 30 000 electric vehicles since it launched its first model the Kangoo Van Z.E, and leads the electric vehicle market in Europe with a 61 percent market share. The two-seater Twizy is its best-selling model, with 11 000 units sold since it went on sale in early 2012. In order to accelerate the uptake of electric vehicles around the world, the Renault-Nissan Alliance is working with government authorities, utility companies and others to rollout a network of charging stations that allow drivers to recharge their cars from zero to 80% capacity in less than 30 minutes. Rival automakers are expected to launch competing electric models over the coming year, including BMW's i3, set to hit show rooms in November.