New Ford Focus available in South Africa

Following on from the success of the current Ford Focus, the updated model looks to maintain a winning formula by improving on fuel economy, styling and driving quality. The current Focus was extremely well received world-wide, so the new Ford Focus model has something to live up to.

New Ford Focus gets fresh looks

Among the list of changes to the new Ford Focus is an improved streamlined shape and steeply raked windscreen. This has reduced drag and optimized the aerodynamics of the car as well as reduced wind noise and improved fuel efficiency. The stiffness of the body structure has also been improved which has lead to less noise and vibration when driving at high speeds as well as increased the body rigidity by 30%.

Inside the new Ford Focus, the driver is greeted by a cockpit style interior, with centre console allowing easy access to the cars major controls. There is a big emphasis on safety inside the new Focus, with airbags available for the driver and front passenger as well as side front airbags and side curtain airbags (only available in the Trend and Sport models) for the front and rear seat passengers.

The overall driving experience has also been improved through a number of advancements. The Focus cornering stability has been improved through the Torque Vectoring Control system, which constantly balances the torque distribution between the front wheels to reduce understeer. The suspension has been retuned and improved, with new designs being implemented for the Control Blade Independent rear suspension. Lastly there is a new Electric Power Assisted Steering system which has also been improved to increase steering response and precision at high speeds.

Improved performance

The fuel economy has also been improved along with an improvement in performance for the engine options available. There is a new 2.0 litre GDi (Gasoline Direct injection) petrol engine as well as a 2.0 litre Duratorq TDCi common rail turbo diesel engine, both engines are mated to the latest 6-speed PowerShift automated transmission. However the most impressive engine choice available with regards to fuel economy will be the 1.6 litre Duratec Ti-VCT engine, which has seen an impressive fuel reduction compared to the outgoing Focus 1.8 litre engine.

There will be 8 different models to choose from at launch, with 4 hatches and 4 sedans. Look for the new Ford Focus in dealerships soon.

BMW Art Car collection now available online

Over the last 40 years famous artists have been given the task of designing their own BMW car and each time a BMW art car was created. A total of 17 of these art cars have been created over the years and for the first time they are available to view online with imagery and video footage of each of the cars. Also included are statements from the artists that designed the cars, regarding their particular take on the design. These fascinating cars can be viewed via a virtual tour at www.bmw-artcartour.com

BMW Art Car Collection part of history

The website pays homage to the collection of BMW Art Cars that are usually only available to view at the BMW museum in Munich Germany. In 2010 BMW celebrated the 35th anniversary of their Art Car series where the 17th Art Car was created by acclaimed artist Jeff Koons. The original idea behind bringing together the worlds of art and motor racing was from Herve Poulain, a French auctioneer and racing car driver. He commissioned American artist Alexander Calder to design his BMW 3.0 CSL in the 1970s which took part in the 24-hour Le Mans. The car received a great reception and was what brought on the idea to create the BMW Art Car Collection. The artists that have been commissioned to work on BMW Art Cars hail from all of the 5 continents and include: Alexander Calder, Frank Stella, Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, A.R. Penck, David Hockney, Jenny Holzer and Olafur Eliasson.

New Land Rover Discovery 4 Revealed

The updated Land Rover Discovery 4 comes with a number of improvements over the current model, from the CO2 emissions to an increase in power. The Land Rover Discovery 4 has won 36 awards since its launch in 2009 and this latest model will no doubt continue this tradition.

Improved engine performance for new Land Rover Discovery 4

The entry level engine option for the new Land Rover Discovery 4 is a 211PS 3.0 litre LR-TDV6 diesel which has been improved to further reduce its CO2 emissions from 244g/km to 224g/km. This is due to a low-fuel injection system and a new 8-speed automatic transmission. The new Discovery 4 also comes equipped with a rotary gear shift selector and EU5 models come with a diesel particulate filter (DPF), making them some of the cleanest diesel engines available.

All of the 3.0 litre diesel engine options come with the same parallel sequential turbo-charging system, with maximum torque available from only 2 000rpm. Interestingly, when the parallel sequential turbo-charging system was introduced in 2010, it was the first of its kind to be fitted to a V-engine. Another impressive stat is that the 3.0 litre diesel can deliver 500Nm in only 500 milliseconds from idle.

Improved Handling

The suspension system of the new Land Rover Discovery 4 has also been substantially revised, with changes to the roll centres, anti roll bars, suspension knuckles, damper brushes and the addition of a variable ratio steering rack, which improves stability at high speeds as well as improves sensitivity at acute steering angles. The brakes have also been improved and comprise of twin-piston sliding calipers with 360mm ventilated discs at the front and a single piston with 350mm ventilated discs at the rear. Lastly the understeer control system has also been revised.

The new Land Rover Discovery 4 comes with a host of other minor changes and improvements which make for a particularly impressive vehicle. Look for the new Land Rover Discovery 4 piloted by a 4×4 enthusiast near you soon!

Ford Fiesta Sport Special Edition unleashed

Chalk another one up for the list of special editions released recently, this time the Ford Fiesta Sport Special Edition takes the cake. The standard Fiesta has seen a massive amount of success in South Africa and Europe, so the sport special edition should fit in perfectly.

Whats special about the Ford Fiesta Sport Special Edition?

First up, it comes with a number of 1.6 litre engine options, including a Duratec Ti-VCT petrol engine, with an output of 134PS at 6 700rpm and 160Nm of torque at 4 250rpm. This engine along with close-ratio gearing and a re-developed exhaust system allow the car to complete 0-100km/h in just 8.7 seconds and top off at 195km/h.

Style-wise, the Ford Fiesta Sport Special Edition comes with a full styling kit. The side skirts have been lowered, the front bumper and rear hatch now come with distinctive spoilers topped off by a silver-coloured front grille surround. There is also aerofoil, fog lamp bezels and twin exhausts. The alloy wheels are Panther Black and are 17 inch on the petrol version and 16 inch on the TDCi versions. Inside there are Ebony Black heated leather sports seats and a leather steering wheel with glossy black spokes as well as a number of other features.

The Ford Fiesta Sport Special Edition is currently available in Europe; we can only hope it will make it to South Africa at some point.

Opel Corsa LPG Ecoflex goes the extra mile

Opel are making a strong push at making their cars as economical as possible, targeting buyers who are more cost-conscious and environmentally aware. To do this Opel have started an LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) initiative and will be incorporating it initially with the Opel Corsa LPG EcoFlex. In the future the Meriva, Astra, Zafira Tourer and Insignia models will all receive LPG variants as well.

Improved fuel consumption for Opel Corsa LPG EcoFlex

The LPG initiative looks to reduce the Opel Corsa LPG EcoFlex’s fuel costs by around 40% as well as reducing the CO2 emissions by around 15% compared to similar gasoline models. The first model to be fitted with LPG, the Corsa ecoFlex comes with a 1.2 litre engine that produces 61kW (83 hp) in LPG mode and 63kW (85 hp) in gasoline mode. The 3-door version produces only 110g/km of CO2 with the 5-door version producing 115g/km. There will also be another 4 models available which will be based on the 1.4 litre turbo gasoline engine.

The Opel Corsa LPG EcoFlex is said to have a range of between 1 100km and 1500km with a full gasoline and LPG tank. The driver has the option to manually switch between the gasoline mode and the LPG mode or simply let the system make the switch automatically. The Opel LPG range has had to have their intakes, exhaust valves and their engines valve-seat inserts specially hardened in order to maximize the resulting performance potential. This means that there is no need for extra additives to compensate for the lower lubricity of the alternate fuel. There is also no need for special services intervals for the Opel Corsa LPG EcoFlex.

Look for more information on a local release should it become available.

New Fiat Punto 1.4 Essence offers value for money

Fiat are making a strong push at the compact hatch market with the introduction of the new Fiat Punto 1.4 Essence. The new Fiat Punto 1.4 Essence has a huge emphasis on value for money, coming in with a number of standard features and a particularly low price tag.

New Fiat Punto 1.4 Essence looks rock hatchback market

The managing director of the Fiat Group Automobiles in South Africa notes how they are looking to establish a bigger presence in the passenger car market and intend to do so by providing cars that exceed customer expectation without compromising on safety. Time will tell if the new Fiat Punto 1.4 Essence can live up to Fiats own expectations and just how big the response will be for the car from the South African car buying public.

Engine Performance

The new Fiat Punto 1.4 Essence comes with a 1.4 litre DOHC 16V Fire petrol engine which produces 66kW at 6000 rpm and 115Nm of torque at 4500 rpm. These figures result in a top speed of 165km/h and the Punto completes 0-100km/h in 15 seconds. More importantly though, the fuel economy clocks in at a combined cycle of 7.3 litres/100km which is quite decent.

The new Fiat Punto 1.4 Essence comes with the following features as standard:

Front fog lights
14 Alloy wheels
Body-coloured door handles
Power steering with adjustable steering wheel and remote audio/Blue&Me controls
Blue&Me Telecommunication system allows full Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity and allows SMS messages to be read out via voice command
Microsoft USB port
CD/MP3 with 6 speakers
Remote central locking
Front & rear power windows
Electric mirrors
Automatic climate control
On-board computer including outside temperature display
Dual-tone dashboard
Leather steering wheel & gear lever knob
Boot light
Height-adjustable drivers seat
60:40 split rear seats

New Fiat Punto 1.4 Essence – Price

Fiat Punto 1.4 Essence – R139 900 including VAT and emissions tax.

BMW 3-Series Special Edition to rock your world

It seems to be the season of limited and special editions and BMW are the next big brand to come to the party, with their 3-Series Special Edition. The BMW 3-Series is a massively popular car in South Africa and there is no doubt that a special edition will please many BMW enthusiasts.

BMW 3-Series Special Edition features exclusive styling

The BMW 3-Series Special Edition will be available as a Coupe or a Convertible, with a number of exclusive trims. Included in the package are 18-inch V-spoke light-alloy wheels that are painted in Space Grey, with the option of an exclusive exterior paint shade called Mineral Grey. The exterior mirror caps complete the theme, decked out in Oxide Silver.

On the inside, the upholstery is Dakota leather and can be ordered in Pearl Grey along with grey contrast stitching. In a less than surprising move, the interior trim strips are decked in Bamboo Grain Anthracite, giving the car an extremely chromed-out style.

The BMW 3-Series Special Edition reveal also came with the news of the new M Sport Edition. The M Sport Edition adds even more performance and comes with its own set of special trims. The exterior is coated in Silverstone paint, while the wheels are 18-inch double-spoke Ferric Grey light-alloys. The interior comes with M detailing on the sports seats, as well as an M Sport steering wheel. The pedals, as you would expect, are stainless steel and like the Special Edition, the seats are finished in Dakota leather.

Look out for more information on a local release as the information becomes available.

New VW Amarok single-cab in South Africa

The new VW Amarok single-cab is a follow up from the Amarok double-cab which was launched in September last year. VW are hoping to build on the huge success of the double-cab Amarok which was a finalist for the South African Car of the Year award. It will be interesting to see how the public take to the new single-cab offering, with it competing against the ever popular Chevrolet Corsa Utility.

New VW Amarok single-cab offers lots of choice

Initially 6 diesel engine options will be available to Amarok single-cab buyers, with an additional 2 petrol engines being added in the later stages of 2011. All options of the single-cab Amarok will be available with a manual 6-speed transmission, as well as an upshift-downshift indicator to alert the driver of optimal gear shifting. The first new engine option for the Amarok is the 2.0TSI petrol engine, which has a maximum power of 118 kW and a peak torque of 300Nm and a fairly decent fuel economy of 9.5 litres/100km.

One area where the new VW Amarok single-cab shines is its carrying capacity. The width of the load box is 1 620mm, which makes it the biggest in its class. To further build on its class-leading specifications, the single-cab Amaroks towing capacity is also the best in class. Its towing capacity has a gross combination mass of 5 500kg, which is almost 30% more than the closet rival.

There is no doubt that the new VW Amarok single-cab will do very well in South Africa, people love the brand and South Africans love bakkies, so it almost cannot fail. Still, it will be interesting to see just how strong the reaction is to this vehicle.

New VW Amarok single-cab – Price

Basic
Volkswagen Amarok Single Cab 2.0 TDI 90kW 4×2 – R205 500
Volkswagen Amarok Single Cab 2.0 TDI 90kW 4Motion – R257 400

Trendline
Volkswagen Amarok Single Cab 2.0 TDI 90kW 4×2 – R265 800
Volkswagen Amarok Single Cab 2.0 BiTDI 120kW 4×2 – R287 100
Volkswagen Amarok Single Cab 2.0 TDI 90kW 4Motion – R313 700
Volkswagen Amarok Single Cab 2.0 BiTDI 120kW 4Motion – R335 000

Land Rover Defender Limited Edition in South Africa

June seems to be the month of special editions, with Fiat and Citroen already releasing limited editions of the 500 and DS3 respectively. It makes sense then that it’s the turn of the 4×4 powerhouse to bring us the Land Rover Defender Limited Edition. South African drivers love off-road and 4×4 vehicles, so the Limited Edition Defender should be an easy sale.

Land Rover Defender Limited Edition – Special Features

The 2011 Land Rover Defender Limited Edition is available in either Zermatt Silver or Nara bronze with Santorini black finish on the roof and wheel arches. For the first time the Defender will be available in 16 inch Saw Tooth alloy wheels, which will create a sense of raw utilitarianism, according to Land Rover, which has to rank as one of the most creative descriptions of a vehicles wheels that there has ever been.

Inside you have the colour options of either Ebony, to compliment the Zermatt Silver exterior, or a two-tone Ebony and Almond option, to compliment the Nara Bronze exterior. The leather side-bolstered seats are added to once again increase the overall styling of the vehicle.

The engine in the Land Rover Defender Limited Edition is a 2.4 common-rail diesel which produces 360Nm of torque. The Defender has been engineered focusing specifically on performance, fuel efficiency and reducing the exhaust emissions, emphasizing Land Rovers commitment to sustainability.

Land Rover Defender Limited Edition – Price

Land Rover Defender Limited Edition – R439 995

New Renault Koleos details released

The new Renault Koleos comes with a few minor changes and tweaks here and there but is otherwise very similar to the model it is based on. The biggest change comes with a focus on reducing CO2 emission in the vehicle and there has been a big improvement compared to the current model.

Fresh styling features for new Renault Koleos

The exterior of the new Renault Koleos has seen its front end re-styled; the air-intakes on the current model have been replaced by an elegant chrome grille and a set of new slimmer headlights add to the styling. Rounding off the list of exterior changes sees the door mirrors now equipped with LED indicators.

Inside the cabin there is a selection of new upholsteries and trims available, to add some extra elegance and personalization. There has been some refinement to the dashboard of the car, as well as the instrument lighting to be more modern. Other than that though, there isnt much that has changed.

More efficient engines

As mentioned, the biggest change comes in the CO2 reduction of the new Koleos. The Koleos will be available in a 150hp and 175hp diesel model, as well as a 170hp petrol version, with all 3 have impressive CO2 reductions. Renault put in a lot of work on the engine and gearbox of the new Koleos to achieve the CO2 reduction and the work seems to have paid off as the emissions from the 4×2 dCi 150 engine clock in at just 148g/km. The bigger dCi 175 clocks in at 166g/km for its emission rating.

The new Renault Koleos will be available later this year in Europe, look for more information on a local release as it becomes available.