Nissan EXTREM Concept at Sao Paulo Motor Show

The Nissan EXTREM concept will make its world debut at the 2012 São Paulo Motor Show in Brazil this week. The EXTREM concept was designed by Nissan Design America (NDA) in collaboration with Brazilian designers and was produced in Brazil. The Nissan EXTREM concept represents Nissan’s commitment to Brazil along with a new manufacturing facility in the state of Rio de Janeiro that will start production in 2014 and produce 200 000 units annually.

Nissan EXTREM Concept is big on design

The Nissan EXTREM Concept is aimed at young car enthusiasts who are keen to make a bold statement on the road. The EXTREM concept features a raised body with dynamic contour lines defining its muscular presence while a sloping roof line gives it a sporty look. The combination of wrap-around glass, ‘floating’ roof rails and detached C-pillars give the Nissan EXTREM concept a sense of roominess while the unique see-through A-pillar structure enhances outward visibility.

The headlamps and tail lamps feature Nissan’s signature graphics with LED technology and an embossed aluminium skid plate houses the centrally mounted exhaust. The compact 2+2 EXTREM concept also features a two-tier storage system with a removable cargo bin for everyday items. ??The Nissan EXTREM concept is finished in a deep metallic orange colour called ‘Solar Cortex’ representing Brazilian nature and the concept rides on six-spoke 19-inch alloy wheels.

The EXTREM concept, according to Nissan, would be powered by turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engine, sharing its technology concept with the Nissan Deltawing Le Mans race car.

The Nissan EXTREM is strictly a concept car and there are no plans for production. Nissan has however said that ‘elements of EXTREM’s styling offer a glimpse into future Nissan products, for Brazil, and beyond’.

2013 Dakar Rally Toyota Hilux revealed

Toyota South Africa has unveiled the striking 2013 Toyota Hilux that will compete in the 2013 Dakar Rally in South America come January. The new Toyota Hilux is considered to be the best racing Hilux ever built.

Big hopes for Toyota Hilux in 2013 Dakar Rally

Driver Giniel de Villiers and navigator Dirk von Zitzewitz will crew the Hilux in search for another victory after winning the 2009 Dakar Rally. Duncan Vos and Rob Howie, who are currently leading the South African Off Road Championship for production vehicles will also be competing in the 2013 Dakar Rally alongside their teammates.

Since Toyota announced that Toyota Motorsport and its partners would be competing in the 2013, 2014 and 2015 editions of the race, the Toyota Imperial South Africa Team’s workshop has been under growing pressure. Team Principal, Glyn Hall had the following to say, “It’s been a very busy period for the lads. With new Dakar rules for 2013 and the ongoing need to develop and improve our racing vehicles, we’ve had to come up with a better Dakar contender while at the same time continuing with our national championship off road and rally campaigns”.

Ford Fiesta Magnet Limited Edition in South Africa

The Ford Fiesta Magnet Limited Edition will be introduced in South Africa in November 2012. Only 75 models of the Limited Edition Fiesta Magnet will be available and Ford dealers are now taking orders for the special model.

Ford Fiesta Magnet Limited Edition is a special ride

Engine Capability

The Ford Fiesta Magnet Limited Edition is powered by a 1.6-litre Duratec engine with Twin Independent Variable Cam Timing (Ti-VCT) that produces 99kW and 160Nm of torque. The racy Ford Fiesta Magnet Limited Edition also features a specially designed sports suspension. ??Exterior Styling??Unique features include the grille surround, painted fog lamp rings, halogen projector headlamps with black bezel and privacy glass for the rear windows and tailgate glass. The Fiesta Magnet Limited Edition features body-colour front and rear bumpers, side skirts, aerofoil, rocker panel mouldings, rear spoiler in black and 17-inch alloy wheels.

Interior Styling

The interior features black leather sports seats with silver stitching and front seat heaters. The steering wheel features gloss black spoke shells and is finished in leather with silver stitching. Additional interior styling features include alloy pedal capping, front and rear Magnet door mats and a heated windshield.

The Ford Fiesta Magnet Limited Edition features an In Car Entertainment (ICE) system with Bluetooth and voice control. Other features include heated power mirrors with integrated indicators, remote central locking, power windows, cruise control and Electronic Air Temperature Control (EATC).

??Safety Features

The Ford Fiesta Magnet Limited Edition is equipped with Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with Traction Control, seven airbags, driver and passenger belt minders and seatbelt pre-tensioners. Rain-sensing wipers, automatic dimming rear-view mirror and automatic headlamps are also included.

Ford Fiesta Magnet Limited Edition – Price

Ford Fiesta Magnet Limited Edition – R229 000

The price includes a 4-year/120 000km warranty and a 4-year/60 000km service plan. Service intervals are at 20 000km and customers will also benefit from 3-year Roadside Assistance and a 5-year corrosion warranty.

Volvo Car 2 Car Communication to improve safety

Volvo Car Corporation recently joined the CAR 2 CAR Communication Consortium and signed a memorandum of understanding regarding the implementation of standardised technology for communication between cars from 2016.

“In the future we will have advanced exchange of vital information between vehicles such as their position, speed and direction,” says Erik Israelsson, Project Leader Cooperative ITS (Intelligent Transport Systems) at Volvo Car Corporation.

Smart technology for Car 2 Car Communication

Car 2 Car Communication between cars will take place using a wireless network and utilises existing systems such as GPS navigation systems and road infrastructure such as traffic lights and road signs.

CAR 2 CAR Communication has been granted a separate frequency allowing cars within a certain radius to automatically link to each other and share information.

“There is considerable potential in this area as well as opportunities for many benefits in many spheres over and above road safety, such as a more uniform flow of traffic and additional comfort for road users,” says Erik Israelsson.

CAR 2 CAR Communication can be applied in the following areas:

    • Green Light Optimum Speed Advisory – Provides optimum speed information to the driver to make the next green robot as well as the time it will take for the robot to change.
    • Emergency Vehicle Warning – Alerts the driver of the presence of emergency vehicles in the area.
    • Road Works Warning – Warns the driver of road works in the area, including speed reduction and distance information.
    • Slow Vehicle Warning – Warns drivers of slow moving or broken down vehicles.
    • Traffic Jam Ahead Warning – Warns drivers of upcoming traffic jams.
    • Weather Information – Warns drivers of bad weather conditions.
    • In-Vehicle Signage – Provides information regarding regular or temporary speed limits on a given route.
    • Emergency Electronic Brake Light – Warns drivers if a vehicle suddenly slows down.
    • Motorcycle Approaching Indication – Warns drivers of any motorcycles in the immediate area.
  • Red Light Violation Warning – Warns drivers of an approaching red light.

“When the system is fitted into future cars it will be of considerable benefit to drivers and next-generation infrastructure, and will help improve traffic safety,” says Erik Israelsson.

New Chevrolet Trailblazer in South Africa

Chevrolet is expanding its SUV offering in South Africa with the introduction of the new Trailblazer which now stands alongside the Captiva in this highly competitive segment. The new Chevrolet Trailblazer is available in five models offered with the choice of two trim levels namely LT and LTZ as well as diesel and petrol engines. Customers may also choose between two-wheel drive (2WD) and four-wheel drive (4WD).

Bright future for new Chevrolet Trailblazer

Engine Capability

The new Chevrolet Trailblazer is offered with a choice of two diesel engines and one petrol engine. The 2.5-litre Duramax diesel engine produces 110kW with a maximum torque figure of 350Nm. This engine is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission and is only available in two-wheel drive (2WD) format with LT trim. This engine returns a combined fuel consumption figure of 8.2-litres/100km.

The 2.8-litre Duramax diesel engine delivers 132kW with a maximum torque figure of 470Nm when mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission and 440Nm when mated to the manual 5-speed transmission. In manual guise this engine consumes 8.8-litres/100km while the automatic version consumes 9.8-litres/100km. This variant is available as either a two-wheel drive (2WD) or four-wheel drive (4WD). The 6-speed automatic transmission comes with Driver Shift Control (DSC).

The petrol variant is powered by a 3.6-litre V6 engine that produces 176kW with a maximum torque figure of 329Nm. Combined fuel consumption is rated at 11.9-litres/100km. This engine is mated to an electronically controlled 6-speed automatic transmission with Driver Shift Control (DSC) and is available only in four-wheel drive (4WD) format.

Exterior Styling

Built on a Body-On-Frame (BOF) architecture, the new Chevrolet Trailblazer is both ‘rugged’ and ‘sophisticated’ with an agile and athletic exterior appearance. The front-end of the Trailblazer features a ‘dual-port’ grille with three-dimensional honeycomb mesh backing. The grille is complemented with a power-dome bonnet and high-mounted headlight clusters. Chrome detailing on the grille surrounds, door handles, mirror covers and lamp clusters offer a feel of sophistication. A spear-like, embossed styling line runs the length of the Trailblazer while wrap-around glass treatment complements the squared-off rear end. The Trailblazer also features a notable class-leading towing capacity of up to 2 950kg.

Interior Styling

The Trailblazer’s interior is spacious and offers flexible seating for seven passengers and load requirements can easily be altered as required. Load space ranges from 205-litres with all the seats in the upright position to 1 830-litres with the seats folded down. The two rear seat rows feature raised seat heights that offer rear passengers ‘theatre-style’ seating.

The cockpit design with its flowing instrument panel creates a ‘floating wing’ effect that serves as a comfortable driving environment for the driver. The steering wheel features various mounted controls for added convenience for the driver. The new Chevrolet Trailblazer features contrasting trim with leather covering for premium models while high quality cloth is used for lower specification levels. The interior features Chevrolet’s signature ‘ice blue’ LED backlight illumination which provides high definition for the displays, controls and instrument cluster.

New Chevrolet Trailblazer – Price

Chevrolet Trailblazer 2.5 LT 4×2 R364 000
Chevrolet Trailblazer 2.8 LTZ 4×2 AT R423 500
Chevrolet Trailblazer 2.8 LTZ 4×4 MT R454 500
Chevrolet Trailblazer 2.8 LTZ 4×4 AT R469 900
Chevrolet Trailblazer 3.6 LTZ 4×4 AT R479 500

All prices include VAT and CO2 Tax. The new Chevrolet Trailblazer is covered by a 5-year/90 000 Service Plan and a 5-year/120 000km warranty.

Toyota 86 named Best Coupe for 2012

Toyota’s rear-wheel drive 86, known as the GT86 in Europe, has been named as the best coupe in the 2012 Scottish Car of the Year Awards. The Toyota 86 was voted for by members of Asscociation of Scottish Motoring Writers and experienced debut success at the recent Britcar 24 Hours race.

John Murdoch, association president, said: “The new coupe category produced some cracking contenders and, for most of the year, it looked as though the voting would go one way. Then Toyota returned to the segment with a vengeance and amazed everyone. Not only is the GT86 incredible to drive, but for a sporting coupe it’s surprisingly frugal on fuel.

”??The Toyota 86 is inspired by the 2000GT and the AE86 and is powered by a free-revving 2.0-litre ‘boxer’ that powers the rear wheels and produces 147kW and 205Nm of torque. The 2+2 coupe 86 is available with a manual or automatic transmission and has a fuel consumption figure of 7.8-litres/100km for the manual and 7.1-litres/100km for the automatic. Since its arrival in South Africa, the Toyota 86 has received much attention from the media and public alike and is a well-priced option for sport car enthusiasts.

??Toyota 86 – Price

Toyota 86 Standard 6-speed Manual R298 500
Toyota 86 High 6-speed Manual R329 400
Toyota 86 High 6-speed Automatic R346 500

Porsche Panamera Platinum Edition Revealed

Porsche has announced that it will introduce an ‘exclusive and elegant’ version of the Panamera starting in Europe at the end of November 2012. The Porsche Panamera Platinum Edition  will be available as the Panamera 4 and Panamera Diesel and features a platinum silver metallic exterior combined with additional standard features and exclusive details.

Porsche Panamera Platinum Edition – Special Features

??Exterior Styling??

The lower half of the side mirrors, air inlet lamellas, air vent grille, boot lid trim and rear diffuser are all finished in platinum metallic. Five colours are available for the Porsche Panamera Platinum Edition and these include solid black and white as well as metallic basalt black, metallic carbon grey and mahogany lacquer. Bi-Xenon headlights and front parking assist are standard features. The Porsche Panamera Platinum Edition is also fitted with automatically dimming interior and exterior mirrors as well as 19-inch Panamera Turbo alloy wheels.

?Interior Styling

The interior exhibits a new black and luxor beige bi-colour combination. A part-leather interior is standard while a full leather package is available as an option. The new bi-colour combination has been revised with new patterns and the upper dashboard trim, footwell, back of the front seats and load cover are in black while the rest of the interior is finished in luxor beige. A sport design steering wheel, Power Steering Plus and front seat heating is also included.

The standard Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system with navigation, features a high resolution 7-inch TFT touchscreen and eleven speakers which offers dynamic route guidance and enhanced audio quality.

The Porsche Panamera Platinum Edition will be released in South Africa in 2013.

Lexus LF-LC Blue Concept Revealed

The striking Lexus LF-LC Blue Concept has been revealed at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney. The Lexus LF-LC Blue Concept features a unique Opal Blue exterior and is the second version of the LF-LC to be shown since it made its debut at the Detroit Auto Show earlier in the year.

Lexus LF-LC Blue Concept – Design Features

Exterior Styling

The Opal Blue exterior used for the Lexus LF-LC Blue Concept is inspired by the base colour of the naturally occurring semi-precious opal stone found in outback Australia.

The Lexus LF-LC uses advanced materials for its body design including lightweight carbon fibre and aluminium alloy to achieve a light body mass. The LF-LC features sculpted L-shaped Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) and vertical fog lamps with a fading dot matrix pattern which intends to convey a sense of movement.

Sculpted air intakes are seen behind the doors and a wrap-around glass roof offers panoramic views for the driver and passengers. The glass roof features a lightweight, cantilevered pillar with a glass-to-glass junction inspired by modern architecture. The tail lights are inspired by a jet aeroplane afterburner and make use of inner lighting for added effect. The rear-end also features fog lights with a dot matrix pattern, integrated L-shaped tail lights and a bold quad exhaust.

??Interior Styling

The interior incorporates both brown and white colour and features a driver focused cockpit with deeply scooped side panels and a high, curved console. The Lexus LC-LC Blue Concept incorporates a remote touchscreen device that allows the driver to operate controls comfortably. Twin 12.3-inch LCD screens provide vehicle and navigation information. A touchscreen control board, with a pop-up touchscreen keyboard, is used for inputs and controls the audio system, climate controls and navigation.

The Lexus LF-LC Blue Concept features a combination of leather and suede with brushed metal trim and wood accents, lightweight race inspired front seats and a ‘racing-style’ steering wheel in carbon fibre with integrated controls and start button.

Powertrain

The Lexus LF-LC Blue Concept features an Advanced Lexus Hybrid Drive system that combines a powerful and efficient Atkinson cycle combustion engine that’s mated to a high-power battery pack. Compared to batteries used in current Lexus hybrid vehicles, the high-power battery pack delivers greater power from a smaller battery. The Advanced Hybrid Drive system generates a total power output of 372kW, the most of any Lexus hybrid.

Tony Cramb from Lexus Australia said, “For decades, Lexus has been synonymous with hybrid drivetrains, superior build quality, comfort and reliability. With the LF-LC we now reinforce our design and technology credentials. The LF-LC is absolutely stunning. Its good looks mask some very exciting design and engineering innovations that will influence Lexus vehicles in the future. The Lexus LF-LC is part concept, part reality: the concept hints at what’s to come from Lexus, while the reality has us actively studying how we can engineer and build a vehicle like this in the future.”

New BMW X1 in South Africa

The new BMW X1 has been launched in South Africa and comes with revised interior and exterior styling as well a revised engine portfolio and a new range of BMW Lines and equipment features. Engine options include three petrol and two diesel engines available locally in seven variants namely the sDrive18i, sDrive20i, xDrive20i, sDrive20d, xDrive20d, xDrive28i and the xDrive25d.

New BMW X1 offers wide range of engine options

The entry-level sDrive18i is powered by a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine that delivers 110kW and 200Nm of torque. Average fuel consumption is rated at 7.7-litres/100km with a CO2 emissions figure of 180g/km.

Both the sDrive20i and the xDrive20i are powered by a 2.0-litre, four cylinder petrol engine with TwinPower Turbo Technology. Power for both variants are rated at 135kW with a maximum torque figure of 270Nm. Average fuel consumption for the sDrive20i is between 6.9 and 7.1-litres/100km (CO2:162-165g/km) and between 7.5 and 7.7-litres/100km (CO2:176-179g/km) for the xDrive20i.

All engines are mated to a six-speed manual transmission as standard. As an alternative, with the exception of the sDrive18i, all engines can be ordered with an 8-speed automatic transmission. The sDrive18i model can be equipped with a 6-speed automatic transmission. ECO PRO mode and Brake Energy Regeneration are standard while an Auto Start-Stop function features on models with manual or 8-speed automatic transmissions.

New BMW X1 styling improved for better look and increased comfort

Exterior styling upgrades come in the form of a revised front apron with extended painted surfaces as well as a new headlight design with LED accent lights and LED light rings for the LED Daytime Running Lights (DRLs). Xenon headlights are available as an option. The new BMW X1 also features exterior mirrors with integrated indicators. The rear-end features re-positioned reflectors surrounded by surfaces in body colour while the taillights with LEDs flow into the line of the tailgate handle.

The driver’s cockpit of the new X1 is more centred towards the driver with a newly designed centre console. The panels for the sound and climate system are finished in high-gloss black, matching the air vent surround. A storage compartment in the centre of the instrument panel comes standard. Three seats in the rear offer dynamic storage options when folded down. The 40:20:40 split rear seats can be folded individually depending on the storage requirement and storage space ranges from 420-litres to 1 350-litres.

Standard and Optional Features for new BMW X1

Standard equipment for the new X1 includes climate control, electrically adjustable heated exterior mirrors, fog lamps, LED taillights, chrome tailpipe finishers, elasticated straps for the front door pockets, a leather-lined steering wheel, an onboard computer, a sound system with CD player, AUX-IN connection, five loudspeakers and two-line display showing computer data, telephone numbers and music track titles.

Optional equipment includes the navigation system Professional with a hard disk and a Harman Kardon Surround Sound System, as well as the options of Comfort Access, Automatic Climate Control, panorama glass roof, automatically dimming exterior and rear-view mirrors, electrically operated seat adjustment, a rain sensor and steering wheel heating.

BMW X1 Price

BMW X1 sDrive18i R342 400
BMW X1 sDrive20i R365 700
BMW X1 xDrive20i R411 600
BMW X1 sDrive20d R381 300
BMW X1 xDrive28i R458 600
BMW X1 xDrive20d R427 200
BMW X1 xDrive25d R468 600

Land Rover Discovery 4 gets Upgrades for 2013

The Land Rover Discovery 4 will benefit from a wide range of updates in 2013 including an Extended Leather Pack inspired by the HSE Luxury Limited Edition, a choice of new interior and exterior colours, an upgraded infotainment system, as well as an upgraded engine offering.

Land Rover Discovery 4 – Specifications and Features

Engine Capability

The engine used in the Land Rover Discovery 4, a 180kW, 3.0-litre LR-SDV6 has been upgraded to produce 183kW and is now mated to a ZF 8HP70 8-speed automatic transmission. A maximum torque figure of 600Nm is available from 2 000rpm. The new 8-speed transmission contributes to a lower CO2 emissions figure of 230g/km and fuel consumption figure of 8.8-litres/100km.

The 5.0-litre LR-V8 engine produces 276kW with a maximum torque figure of 510Nm. Combined fuel consumption for this engine is rated at 14.1-litres/100km with an CO2 emissions figure of 328g/km. This engine is mated to a ZF 6HP28 6-speed automatic transmission.

New Upgrades

The new optional Extended Leather Pack is being introduced as an interior option for HSE derivatives in the 2013 model year when Windsor leather seats are fitted. The Extended Leather pack includes premium soft Windsor leather with twin stitch detailing to the top of the fascia and doors as well as on the instrument binnacle.

In addition, five new body colours will be available for the Land Rover Discovery 4 including Havana, Barolo Black, Barossa, Mariana Black and Causeway Grey. The HSE derivative is also available with 19-inch, 7-spoke alloy wheels finished in Bright Silver. For the interior, customers will have the choice of two new interior colours and two new trim finishes. Arabica seats with Nutmeg stitching and Ivory seats with Ivory stitching are available in Windsor premium leather. The new Grand Ivory Lacquer veneer contrasts with the Ebony fascia and door casings. Gloss Black switch finishers on the steering wheel are added to the Grand Black Lacquer veneer while Cosmic Grey interior finishes are also available as an option.

From 2013, only the Premium Navigation will be available and offers features such as 4x4i, Voice and Off-Road guidance and Points Of Interest (POI). The audio system has been upgraded to the latest MOST Gen 2.1. The standard audio system is an 8-speaker system with colour display, Bluetooth and USB/iPod connectivity for the S derivative. The High-line Harmon Kardon System with 11-speakers is standard on the SE derivatives. The Premium Harmon Kardon LOGIC 7 system with 17-speakers and an output of 825kW is standard on the HSE derivatives. An additional touch screen is also available for the navigation system.