Subaru BRZ Revealed in Tokyo

The Tokyo Motor Show comes with yet another reveal, this time the SubaruBRZ. The BRZ is rear-wheel drive and features a horizontally-opposed Boxer engine. If the Subaru BRZ looks similar to the Toyota 86 thats no coincidence, as both vehicles were developed as a joint venture by the two companies.

Subaru BRZ – Features

The engine in the Subaru BRZ was positioned lower than previous Subaru models, which gives the car a very low centre of gravity. So low in fact, that it has one of the lowest centres of gravity in the market today, which has led to impressive handling and a great driving experience.

The low centre of gravity of the vehicle was achieved by creating an engine that was more compact, by adopting a shorter intake manifold and shallower oil pan. The transmission is a 6-speed manual or automatic, with the manual incorporating a short stroke shift lever. The lever has been optimized in its rigidity, shift quality and weight application. The automatic transmission has an S mode which enables better shift responses and an M mode for optional shifting.

Look for more information on the Subaru BRZ as it becomes available.

New Toyota 86 sports car coming to South Africa

In Japan they are calling it the Hachi Roku but here in South Africa it will be known as the Toyota 86 sports car. Toyota designed the 86 with the driver in mind, to create a ride that has precise and instant throttle response, steering input and powerful performance. The new Toyota 86 is set to impress.

New Toyota 86 is fun and thrilling to drive

The engine in the 86 is a compact, front-mounted, free-revving petrol engine that drives the rear wheels. It is a 4-cylilnder boxer engine that produces 147 kW at 7000rpm and a max torque of 205 Nm at 6600rpm. The new Toyota 86 has maintained a light weight and low centre of gravity to achieve the best possible power to weight ratio, thus further enhancing the pleasure of the ride.

The engine was developed by Toyota and Subaru and is the first of its kind to be horizontally-opposed with a D-4S. The system features twin injectors for both direct and port injection and a high compression ratio. This increases the power and torque across a wide range of engine speeds. The car is available with either a 6-speed manual or automatic, with the automatic coming in the option of paddle-shifts.

Look for the new Toyota 86 in South Africa in the second half of 2012.

Toyota Prius C revealed in Tokyo

The Tokyo Motor Show comes with yet another reveal, this time with the environmentally conscious Toyota Prius C. The Prius C is a compact-class hybrid vehicle that is looking to combine the sustainability aspects of a hybrid car along with a fun drive and an affordable price tag.

Green motoring for Toyota Prius C Hybrid

The Toyota Prius C comes with 5 seats and is 3 995mm long. With its low height and styling, the car has remained aerodynamic and yet still with enough interior space to be comfortable. Powering the car is a 1.5 litre engine and a high-output motor, which Toyota note should be one of the most efficient hybrid powertrains ever made. The fuel economy of the car clocks in around 3 litres per 100km. The Prius C has a particularly low centre of gravity, giving it impressive handling and maneuverability.

The Toyota Prius C is set to launch in Japan this December and while Toyota South Africa are investigating the possibility of the car reaching our shores, they do mention it wont happen any time too soon.

New Porsche 911 Cabriolet set for launch

The new Porsche 911 Cabriolet will launch overseas in 2012 for the 7th generation Porsche 911 Carrera. The new Porsche 911 cabriolet comes with an innovative roof design as well as a number of other improvements.

New Porsche 911 Cabriolet – Features

The new Porsche 911 Cabriolet was built with a lightweight design, with extensive use of aluminium and magnesium. This has resulted in a lower vehicle mass, which in turn has helped to improve the fuel economy of the car as well as the driving dynamics and ride comfort. Ultimately the Cabriolet variant will come with sportier driving characteristics, improved precision and agility, as well as an improvement to efficiency.

Powering the Carrera Cabriolet will be the same engine used in the coupe equivalents. The standard 911 Carrera houses a 3.4 litre boxer 6-cylinder engine with direct fuel injection. The engine produces 350 hp and comes with a 7-speed manual transmission. The open-top Carrera S comes with a 3.8 litre boxer 6-cylinder engine that produces 400 hp. The standard cabriolet is able to complete 0-100km/h in just 4.4 seconds with the Carrera S cabriolet able to do the same in just 4.1 seconds.

The two new Porsche 911 Cabriolet fuel efficiency clocks in under the 10 litres/100km mark.

Lexus IS 350 in South Africa

Lexus South Africa introduce the sporty IS 350 to build on their already impressive performance range which includes the IS-F and LFA. The Lexus IS 350 will be available in two model grades, the EX grade which includes 17 inch alloy wheels, HID headlamps, daytime running lights and more. The ES model comes with 18 inch alloy wheels, moonroof, seat memory, seat heaters and coolers, rain-sensing wipers and a host of other features.

Lexus IS 350 features impressive performance

Performance in the Lexus IS 350 is rather impressive. The petrol engine is a 3.5 litre V6 and produces 233 kW of power, which makes it the class leader, as well as pushing out 378 Nm of torque. This enables it to complete 0-100km/h in just 5.6 seconds. The Lexus IS 350 features dynamic front and rear suspension as well as advanced steering componentry and high-performance monotube dampers. The monotube dampers optimize body control, road tracking capability and ride comfort.

Design

The design of the Lexus IS 350 was taken from Lexus L-finesse philosophy, which incorporates a body that is muscular yet graceful. The stance of the car is low and wide, with arrowhead style LED daytime running lights surrounded by HID headlights. The rear of the Lexus IS 350 comes with dual exhausts pipes, as well as bold, chrome extensions to further emphasize the sporty look.

New Ford Kuga available in South Africa

The new Ford Kuga is available in South Africa and expands the company’s already impressive portfolio. The new Ford Kuga is aimed at providing an impressive and dynamic drive on the road, as well as off-road capabilities.

New Ford Kuga packed with Tech

The intelligent AWD system is a major feature in the Kuga, it works by transmitting as much torque to the rear wheels as is required to maintain as much traction as possible. This also helps with cornering and accelerating, while being careful not to have a negative impact on fuel economy.

Under the hood the Ford Kuga comes with a 2.5 litre Duratec Turbo petrol engine, as well as a Durashift 5-tronic automatic transmission. This engine produces up to 147 kW at 6000rpm and has a max torque of 320 Nm. Fuel economy figures clock in at 10.3 litres/100km and the top speed is 202km/h.

The Kuga also comes with a number of innovative standard features, including: Rain sensitive wipers, auto dimming rear view mirror, Dual Electronic Automatic Temperature Control air conditioning and more. The car will also come with a comprehensive 4 year / 120 000km warranty and 4 year / 80 000km service plan. As well as a 3 year roadside assistance plan.

New Ford Kuga – Price

Ford Kuga 2.5 Turbo Trend AWD Auto R375 000
Ford Kuga 2.5 Tubro Titanium AWD Auto R395 000

Volkswagen eT concept van makes perfect delivery

The engineering minds at VW teamed up with the University of art at Braunschweig as well as the German Post Office to come up with a commercial vehicle that could represent the future of delivery and logistics. The vehicle they ultimately came up with was the Volkswagen eT Concept Van.

Volkswagen eT Concept Van is fully electric

The vehicle has been specifically designed around the customer feedback that VW group research received, with the main outcome being a desire for zero emissions. To that end the Volkswagen eT concept van is fully electric, as well as being semi-automatic and integrated with a number of new communication technologies. VW do note however, that the eT concept van is not a vehicle that we would be seeing any time soon but that the vehicle is a blueprint on how possible future vehicles could be made.

There are a number of driverless technologies that the vehicle is looking to incorporate that would be quite revolutionary. There will be an option for the vehicle to Follow me which will set the vehicle to automatically follow the delivery person, as well as having the option to Come to me, which will automatically drive the vehicle back to the delivery. Another impressive feature is the option for the driver to control the vehicle via a drive stick from the passenger seat.

While the Volkswagen eT Concept van has been designed around the task of mail delivery, it certainly holds some exciting prospects of what will be possible for future commercial vehicles.

Volvo C70 Inscription Convertible Revealed

The Volvo C70 Inscription blends distinctive exterior details such as the painted grille and black 18-inch wheels with exclusive interior features, including Sovereign Hide upholstery and a leather-covered dashboard.

Volvo C70 Inscription is Unique

The Volvo C70 Inscription can be combined with all the engine options available for the Volvo C70: the turbocharged five-cylinder petrol-powered T5 (230 hp/320 Nm) and the two five-cylinder turbodiesels – the D4 (177 hp/400 Nm) and D3 (150 hp/350 Nm).

The Volvo C70 Inscription comes in three colours: Black Stone (Solid), Black Sapphire (Metallic) and Ice White (Solid).

The stunning 18-inch wheels enhance the exclusive look of the sleek convertible. This expressive version of the “Midir” rim comes in black with polished spokes and outer perimeter.

Up front, the high-gloss paint on the grille and the LED Daytime Running Lights, both surrounded by contrasting chrome, give the C70 Inscription a distinctive “face”.

Interior Styling

The interior also features a distinctive new look that echoes the unique exterior, including:
– An exclusive leather-covered dashboard with contrasting stitching
– Sovereign Hide upholstery in Off Black or Calcite with the same contrasting stitching as on dashboard, handbrake lever and carpets
– “Inscription” embroidered on the front headrests
– Special Inscription carpets and handbrake lever
– Steering wheel and gear shift knob with aluminium inlays
– Sports pedals with aluminium inlay
– Aluminium inlay in the iconic ultra-slim centre stack is standard, Black or Nordic Light Oak as an option

The Volvo C70 Inscription will be shown for the first time at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show that will start November 16th.

The Volvo C70 Inscription is available worldwide with local adaptations. Production volume is limited to 2,000 units a year.

Jaguar XKR-S Convertible to debut at LA Auto Show

Jaguar bring us the new convertible version of the ultra sporty XKR-S, which will make its debut at the LA Motor Show. The Jaguar XKR-S Convertible comes with the same explosive performance, comfort, handling and luxury that you have come to expect from Jaguar. Not surprisingly, it is the fastest open-top Jaguar have ever made.

Jaguar XKR-S provides thrilling open-top experience

Propelling the fastest open-top Jag have ever made is an updated version of their 5 litre supercharged AJ-V8 engine. It produces 405 kW and 680 Nm of torque, which is more than 8% improvement over the XKR. The gearbox is a 6-speed automatic with Active Differential. The Jaguar XKR-S Convertible completes 0-100km/h in just 4.2 seconds before topping off at 300km/h (electronically limited).

The suspension has been upgraded, and the rigidity of the structure improved. The vehicle has impressive handling thanks to a redesigned aluminum front steering knuckle, revised rear geometry and stiffer springs and dampers. The exterior design of the vehicle has been calibrated to ensure ideal aerodynamic properties, allowing the vehicle to perform perfectly, even at high speeds.

Look for more information on the Jaguar XKR-S convertible when it becomes available.

Land Rover DC100 Concept Revealed

The Land Rover DC100 and DC100 sport concepts are laying the foundation for the potential replacement to their ever-popular Defender. These two concept vehicles will arrive at the Los Angeles Auto Show, with the intention of gauging the North American response to the vehicles, and ultimately whether or not the Defender will be returning to the States.

Land Rover DC100 points to the future

The Land Rover DC100 concept comes with all the rugged and adventurous spirit of the Defender, along with a glimpse into how the vehicle will evolve for the future. The concepts come with 20-inch alloy wheels, Cooper all-terrain tyres, raised air-intake snorkel and roof rack. There are also; short overhangs, an upright windscreen, strong shoulder line and round headlamps with prominent grill, stock features of the Defender.

More interestingly though, the Land Rover DC100 concept comes with a Terrain Response system, which will automatically optimize the vehicle for the conditions it is being driven on, without the need for driver pre-selection. There is also a Terrain-i system which creates an intelligent map of the topography in front of the vehicle, which is then displayed as a 3D representation. This technology will automatically identify potential hazards and suggest routes. Rather cleverly, the same system can be used in urban environments to identify pedestrians and other hazards.

Another hint at the future of the brand comes with the Wade Aid system. This system uses sensors mounted in the bumpers and wing mirrors to measure water depth and can automatically raise the ride height, select a lower gear and advise on the safest speed to ensure the vehicle makes it through the water.

Look for more information on the Land Rover DC100 and DC100 Sport concepts as it becomes available.