New Ferrari FF revealed

Ferrari strive for innovation in every car they produce and their latest offering is unlike anything they have shown us before. The new Ferrari FF debuted on the official Ferrari website, along with some pretty pictures of a car that Ferrari claim is their most powerful and versatile 4-seater, ever. It also happens to be their first 4-wheel drive car and will officially debut at the Geneva Motor Show which goes down later this year.

New Ferrari FF gets 4-wheel power

The new Ferrari FF, which stands for Ferrari Four, uses continuous and intelligent predictive torque distribution to all 4 wheels, which allows it to produce impressive performance on a number of different terrains. The V12 6,262 cc direct injection engine in combination with a transaxle dual-clutch F1 gearbox mean that the FF is capable of 0-100km/h in just 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 335km/h.

In terms of handling, the new Ferrari FF is equally impressive, largely thanks to its ideal weight distribution, which means the FF is equally equipped to handle city driving, low-grip surfaces or the track.. Once again hinting at the FFs versatility, the cabin space and boot capacity clock in at 450 litres, extendable to 800 litres, which is impressive for its category. The versatility of the new Ferrari FF is something to take note of, considering that it can comfortably seat 4 people and their luggage, although that remains to be seen.

Thirsty at the pumps

Ferrari doesn’t often take versatility, cabin space and comfort into consideration when developing their vehicles and it is a pleasant change. The fuel consumption clocks in at 15.4 litres / 100km with a CO2 emissions rating of 360 g/km which is in the range of most Ferraris and more than likely not a factor to anyone looking to buy a Ferrari. That said though it is exciting to see Ferrari broadening the range of vehicle categories that are catering for and it can only be a good thing for the motor industry.

New 2012 Hyundai Accent revealed

The new 2012 Hyundai Accent has been shown at the Montreal International Auto Show. Available in both 4-door and 5-door, Hyundai are hoping to dominate the subcompact class with the 2012 Accent. They hope to achieve this by offering the 2012 Accent with a number of safety features as standard, best in-class fuel economy and attractive “Fluidic Sculpture” design. Or you could just take John Krafcik’s word for it that: “the new Accent will kick the Fiestas butt!” He is the current US Hyundai CEO, so his opinion will be slightly biased.

Excellent fuel consumption for new 2012 Hyundai Accent

The new 2012 Hyundai Accent runs on a 1.6L 4-cylinder engine that produces 138hp and 123 lb-ft of torque, which results in an estimated best-in-class 4.7 litres per 100km highway fuel economy. The engine uses Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI), a first for the subcompact category, which controls the injection of fuel and results in improved fuel economy, increased power and a reduction in carbon emissions.

As far as the previously mentioned safety features, the new Accent comes with a whole bunch. The Accent is the only car in its segment to offer 4-wheel disc brakes as standard, as well as an Anti-lock Breaking System (ABS), Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA). It is also possible that the new Accent comes with the most acronyms in its segment but that is not a well documented statistic, so we can’t be sure.

Hopefully Hyundai South Africa will release details on a local release in the near future, along with pricing.

SARTRE Project uses Volvo Cars for platooning tests

The SARTRE project stands for “Safe Road Trains for the Environment” and involves a new technology which is called “platooning”. Volvo notes that “platooning” may become a standard way of traveling long distances in as little as 10 years. But what does it all mean, what is “platooning” and what exactly is a “road train”

SARTRE Project may solve traffic problems

While the SARTRE project is still in its very early stages, the technology hopes to create a different way for a number of people to travel long distances in something of a convoy, without the need to “drive” their cars. It works by having the lead car, or truck, driven by a professional driver which controls the entire platoon. Behind this lead vehicle is a lineup of other cars which drive themselves in accordance with the lead vehicle. The cars in the lineup automatically measure the distance, speed and direction and automatically adjust themselves accordingly.

What is the point of it all though? There are a number of advantages to the SARTRE project and ideally it hopes to achieve:

• Improved road safety
• Better road space utilization
• Improved fuel economy
• Reduced fuel consumption
• Improved driver comfort

From the first tests that were carried out, you can see that the travel speed is particularly slow but Volvo intend to increase the speed as the SARTRE project advances. There will naturally be a number of issues with technology like this and there is a debate as to whether the amount of time, money and effort they are putting into this is even worth it. Especially when the biggest gain is simply that you can do other things while your car drives itself. If you suffer from motion sickness like me, and you can’t read in the car without getting nauseous, what exactly can you do? The other point is that doing the driving on these long trips is often more entertaining than being a passenger and just sitting back in your seat. And with the SARTRE project, everyone will be a passenger.

I don’t really see the point of the SARTRE project but it is still in the very early stages so I’ll wait and see how it turns out.

Audi A6 wins best production vehicle design award


The Audi A6 was presented with the prestigious EyesOne design award. The award was handed out at the Detroit Motor Show and recognizes the best of automotive design. Not surprisingly, this is the 4th time that Audi has been presented with this award, with previous winners including: The New A8, the R8 V10 and the Audi Sportback Concept.

Top design for Audi A6

The head of exterior design at Audi; Achim Badstuebner was humble in accepting the award and mentioned: “This is strong feedback that we have done our homework”. Audi note that much of the body of the Audi A6 is made from aluminum and high-tech steels which results in a very light vehicle that is also very safe. They continue to mention how this design also helps to maintain very low interior noise levels.

Other finalists for the 2011 EyesOn production car design award include: The Bentley Continental GT, the BMW 6-Series Convertible and the Hyundai Veloster. The new Audi A6 goes on sale in the States later this year, with a local release date, hopefully, not too long after.

Most popular car brand in South Africa goes to Volkswagen


Volkswagen closed off 2010 in impressive fashion, once again selling the most new passenger cars to become the most popular car brand in South Africa for December. This is not the first time VW have been the most successful auto manufacturer with regard to new passenger cars, month to month they consistently dominate the passenger car market. In December a total of 26 615 new vehicles were sold in South Africa, an increase of almost 40% when compared to December 2009. This is an impressive stat, however, 2009 was plagued by the recession and sales were down on all fronts.

Volkswagen most popular car brand with strong sales

Most notable for VW in 2010 were the sales of their Polo Vivo, which totaled in at 23 297 units. Added to this were sales of the VW Amarok double cab, which came in at 814 units since its release in November.

New car sales were on the up for many manufactures in South Africa during 2010 and VW note a number of reasons for this, including increased disposable income, declining levels of inflation, the strength of the rand and a number of other factors.

More interesting though is Volkswagen’s dominant role in the passenger car market which they have held for a very long time. The sale of new VW cars and re-sale of used VW cars is and seemingly will always be huge. The South African car buying public love Volkswagen cars and while there is a lot more competition in the passenger car market these days, most notably from Hyundai, VW never seem to lose their grip. For now though, Volkswagen can revel in the glory of being the most popular car brand in South Africa.

2012 Toyota Prius V revealed


Aimed at young, active families, the 2012 Toyota Prius V comes as a welcome improvement to the current Prius. While it will use the current Prius platform, the V “Versatility”, will improve on a number of important aspects, most of all interior cargo space, which is improved by 50% compared to the current Prius.

Stylish and practical design for 2012 Toyota Prius V

The styling of the Prius V is obviously still very similar to the current Prius, albeit with some subtle tweaks. The Prius V has sleeker styling with an extended roofline which gives the vehicle its triangular silhouette and trapezoidal-shaped front. The styling is not particularly attractive but the Prius is always going to favour function over style.

Talking about function, the Prius V is designed to comfortably seat 5 passengers and includes sliding second row seats and rear storage flexibility. Adding even more to the storage, the fold-flat front passenger seats allow the vehicle to carry even extremely long cargo. Along with the great storage comes some impressive safety features, in the form of 7 airbags, a high strength cabin, energy-absorbing body structure and leg absorption pads.

Regarding the fuel economy, the 2012 Toyota Prius V will deliver an estimated EPA fuel economy rating of 17.8 km per litre city driving and 16.1 km per litre highway driving, which gives it the best fuel economy ratings of any SUV, crossover or wagon currently available.

The 2012 Toyota Prius V will go on sale in the United States in their summer of 2011 and we await further details on a local release date.

VW Touareg 3,0 V6 TDI BlueMotion (2010) Driving Impression


Volkswagen’s venture into the large SUV segment with the first-generation Touareg was driven not merely by potential profit margins in the burgeoning luxury class, but also to cast a glow of desirability over the entire Volkswagen line-up. The German marque’s ambitions to move upmarket have been well publicised, and the VW Touareg was essentially the star attraction. That is why the company threw so much technology at the first-generation product, including a headline-grabbing V10 turbodiesel. Now, the new VW Touareg has arrived to do battle once more in a fiercely competitive market crowded with established premium badges. Has VW done enough to up the big Volksie’s status?

Less bloated looks for VW Touareg

The previous VW Touareg was an imposing vehicle with lots of presence. At the time, VW’s design language emphasised the use of big chromed grilles and rounded panels. Lately, however, the focus has shifted to offering a more elegant, crisper, unfussy look across all models. So, while the new model is instantly recognisable as a Touareg, the detailing is significantly different. The headlights are slim and frame a narrow grille, while at the rear there are sharper edges to the tail lamps. In the metal, the crisper styling actually makes the new model appear smaller than its predecessor, but that is certainly not the case against the tape measure. The new VW Touareg is 41 mm longer and 12 mm wider than before, and the wheelbase is a very lengthy 2 893 mm. This is a big vehicle…

With dimensions such as those, the cabin is obviously not cramped. There is very generous rear legroom and the boot measures a sizeable 580 L. You can also fold the seats down to turn the VW into a furniture removal van if you’d like… With their own ventilation outlets and comfy seats, the rear passengers are unlikely to complain, but the best seats are certainly those in front. Upholstered in fine leather and even boasting heating, the front seats proved excellent on longer trips, offering great under-thigh support.

Compared with the previous-generation model, the facia on the new VW Touareg has been slightly simplified. With lots of shiny wood all round (even the rear doors), the ambiance is still suitably upmarket, and the build quality is excellent. At first glance the dominance of the wood panelling makes the facia appear slightly old-fashioned, but in reality it’s jam-packed with high-tech features. A large digital display is positioned between the two analogue dials, and there’s another (touch-screen) item on the centre panel (navigation is optional, though).

The standard specification of this VW Touareg model will please most customers and includes; dual-zone climate control, auto wipers, radio/CD shuttle, multi-function steering wheel and cruise control. The safety package includes six airbags and an ESP (electronic stability control) system, but there’s a whole raft of driver-assistance systems included, too, such hill-start assist, hill-descent control and the ABS features a special off-road setting. Volkswagen also offers a long list of options, including an electric tailgate, surround-view cameras and a special 4XMotion off-road package that adds low range, centre and rear diff-locks and a few other gimmicks to up the off-road capability significantly.

Lighter, more efficient

A big emphasis with the new vehicle was to improve efficiencies in all areas, as the presence of the Bluemotion moniker demands. Compared with its predecessor, the new VW Touareg is up to 200 kg lighter than before, yet, at 2 174 kg, it is still a heavyweight. To assist with the efficiency targets, the engine boasts auto start/stop (which can be deactivated) and even a kinetic energy recovery system. The result? A fuel consumption figure of 7,4 L/100 km is excellent, undoubtedly, but needs to be put into context to be properly appreciated. In this case context is provided by the potential performance of the engine. With 176 kW and 550 Nm of torque at its disposal, this VW Touareg can sprint to 100 km/h in less than eight seconds! Truly startling…

The engine is mated with an eight-speed automatic transmission, which itself is there primarily to save fuel – the two top ratios are economical cruising gears. You may think that the number of gears and efficiency targets would see the VW Touareg respond clumsily to driver inputs, but this is not the case. Even without delving into the Sport and Manual modes the gearbox generally quickly finds the most suitable gear, and responsiveness is excellent… as is refinement. This is a superbly quiet, sophisticated cruiser.

Also contributing to the first-class cruising effort is the suspension set-up. An adjustable suspension set-up is available as an option, but the basic set-up is already excellent. The ride firm at low speed, but never jarring, and absorbs especially big bumps very well. In the corners it displays very admirable grip and stability, with little of the wallow that affects so many big SUVs.

And off-road? Well, the standard package doesn’t include low-range, but there’s still a limited-slip differential and an off-road control system that fine-tunes the various electronic systems to their optimum levels for the selected off-road conditions. With 220 mm of ground clearance, the VW Touareg is a capable SUV that can certainly take you further than others of its ilk. But if you’re the overlander type, then remember to tick the 4Xmotion box.

VW Touareg – Verdict

The new VW Touareg is an exceptionally difficult vehicle to fault. It is not only more refined than before, but also significantly more efficient, and the performance is very impressive. Of course, it doesn’t come cheap, and the price puts it near some very desirable products (see below), but those who do not fall victim to badge snobbery may very well find that it offers an unbeatable package.

We like:

  • Refined, powerful engine
  • Luxurious, comfortable cabin
  • Ride/handling balance
  • Economy
  • Value


We don’t like:

  • Not much!


Fast Facts

Engine: 3,0-litre, V6, turbodiesel

Power: 176 kW @ 4 000 rpm

Torque: 550 Nm @ 2 000 rpm

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

Wheels: 17-inch alloy

Top speed: 218 km/h

0-100 km/h: 7,8 seconds

Fuel economy:  7,4 litres/100 km

Source: www.um.co.za


Also consider:

  • BMW X5 xDrive30d Steptronic: BMW’s new X5 is a superb machine all-round with exceptionally polished on-road dynamics and a very well-made cabin. It’s not a serious off-roader, but for most potential buyers that’s not a concern. Great engine, too.
  • Mercedes-Benz ML350 CDI 7G-tronic: The latest M-Class is a vastly more refined and sophisticated machine than its predecessor. In ML350CDI guise it is also exceptionally nice to drive, with a good balance of power and economy, as well as ride and handling. Should offer superior resale value.
  • Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 3,0dt TX Auto: An imposing vehicle that offers superb off-road ability, a very spacious seven-seat cabin and a bullet-proof reputation. But the interior ergonomics are a mess and it’s not as refined on-road as most of its rivals.

 

Drive safe this holiday season


It’s the holiday season; time for parties, relaxing on the beach and kicking back anyway you know how. Unfortunately though, the holiday season tends to come with an increase in road accidents. Please join us in keeping our roads safe this holiday season.

Tips:

  • Pull into a petrol station before you leave and have the attendant check your oil, water and tyre pressure
  • Use a hands-free kit to make and receive cell phone calls while driving.
  • Take frequent breaks!
  • Buckle up, that includes the kids in the back seats.
  • This one should be a no-brainer but it still happens, please don’t drink and drive.
  • Keep to the speed limit, especially on Van Reenens pass.
  • Be patient if there are road works on the highways, we know how irritating they can be.
  • Take a little longer to get there safe (deep breath)
  • Share the driving on very long trips
  • If you are driving alone, play some upbeat music to keep you wide awake

‘Like’ this article and support safe driving this holiday season

TopGear chooses their Car of the Year


The clowns over at TopGear have released their 2010 list of car awards in a number of interesting categories. The popular BBC car show has a massive following and many of their car reviews and opinions are taken as law, thus making this list even more important. However, many of their favourite vehicles are just a little out of the average person’s budget, which does lessen the practicality of the list, they did however choose a non-supercar for their Car of the Year, which is good.

TopGear Favorite Cars List


Car of the Year and Small Car of the Year: Citroen DS3

“Most cars feel like they’ve been edited down from something else. The DS3 does not. It is, for its completeness and rounded set of abilities, a bloody triumph…”

Hypercar of the Year: Koenigsegg Agera

“One of the most devastating road cars ever built. It detonates like a 3,000lb bomb, but the Agera is much more sophisticated than its fission-spec powertrain suggests.”

Cabrio of the Year: Maserati GranCabrio

“Refined grand tourer this may be, but the GranCabrio is still a Maserati: uniquely Italian, seductive and familiar.”

Grand Tourer of the Year: Bentley Continental GT

“A bruising GT with the pace of a sports car and the luxury and civility of a limousine.”

Hot Hatch of the Year: Volkswagen Golf R

“It’s difficult to know where to start in praising this car, because it’s extraordinarily good at so many things…”

Family Car of the Year: BMW 320d Touring

“If the 520d Touring were to put an advert on a dating website, potential prospects would think it a liar. It offers such a comprehensive set of interlocking genius that it sounds too good to be true…”

Engine of the Year: Fiat TwinAir

“A little bundle of energy, charm and downright saintliness to prove our good old friend the gasoline engine is still alive and very much kicking…”

Coupe of the Year: Peugeot RCZ

“A beautifully balanced car, easy to drive quickly. The RCZ devours roads with a fluency and ease that most small hot cars simply can’t manage.”

Luxury Car of the Year: Jaguar XJ

“Rarely has a new car slackened so many jaws. A genuine ambitious Jaguar, a blast from the future rather than the past. It handles like the future, too.”

Jeremy Clarkson’s Car of the Year: Pagani Zonda R

“When your head is pinned into the headrest and your ears are bleeding and you’re frightened by the speed and the savagery and the thrill of it all… who cares if you can’t take it shopping in the drizzle?”

James May’s Car of the Year: Bugatti Veyron Supersport

“If you can drive, you can drive the Bugatti. It appears to be a glorious irrelevance, but in fact it couldn’t be more pertinent.”

Richard Hammond’s Car of the Year: Porsche 911 GT2 RS

“Insane, blindingly fast, flamboyant and it goes against everything I’ve ever said about the 911. Which makes me look like a bit of a monkey.”

2012 Nissan GT-R completes 0-100kph in 3 seconds


Nissan’s GT-R has always been an incredible machine, often making more expensive super cars look silly in a drag race with it’s incredible acceleration. The new 2012 Nissan GT-R has improved on the previous version and Nissan has once again created the ‘supercar killer’.

2012 Nissan GT-R gets more power

The 2012 Nissan GT-R made its North American debut at the LA Auto Show and will be available early in 2011. It comes with an advanced 3.8 litre twin turbo V6 which produces 530 hp compared to the previous version which produced 485 hp.

Nissan then went ahead and provided this image as a digital readout displaying the exact acceleration figures, just to make sure there was no doubt.

Nissan GT-R Acceleration
This obviously translates into some serious acceleration and to prove just what the vehicle is capable of, Nissan held a media event with the GT-R’s acceleration on display. The vehicle used was a 11MY Nissan GT-R Pure edition, with completely standard specifications (including tires and wheels) and no optional parts. The car tested over 2 days and on both days the GT-R completed 0-100km/h in just 3 seconds.