New Porsche 911 Carrera 4 to debut at Paris Motor Show

Porsche has revealed details of the new Porsche 911 Carrera 4 which will make its debut at the Paris Motor Show on 27 September 2012. The new all-wheel drive Porsche 911 Carrera 4 will be launched on the market in four versions, as the 911 Carrera 4 and the 911 Carrera 4S, each as a Coupé and Cabriolet.

Porsche 911 Carrera 4 – Specifications and Features

Engine Capability

The new Porsche 911 Carrera 4 benefits from an active all-wheel drive system known as Porsche Traction Management (PTM) and exhibits the same traits as the rear-wheel drive versions with lightweight body design, suspension, engines and gearboxes being identical. The new models also consume up to 16% less fuel.

The new Porsche 911 Carrera 4S is fitted with a 3.8-litre rear-mounted boxer engine that develops 294kW and 0-100km/h is achieved in 4.1 seconds for the coupé and 4.3 seconds for the cabriolet. The top speed for the coupé is 299km/h while the cabriolet tops out at 296km/h. Fuel consumption is rated at 9.1-litres/100km for the coupé and 9.2-litres/100km for the cabriolet.

The 911 Carrrera 4 Coupé produces 257kW and will sprint to 100km/h in 4.5 seconds while the cabriolet version will take 4.7 seconds. The top speed for the coupé is 285km/h while the cabriolet will reach 282km/h. Fuel consumption is rated at 8.6-litres/100km for the coupé and 8.7-litres/100km for the cabriolet. All models are fitted with a 7-speed manual gearbox as standard while the Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) gearbox is available as an option.

Styling Features

The new Porsche 911 Carrera 4 weighs up 64kg less than its rear-wheel drive counterparts and features a wider rear section. The rear wheel housings have been extended outwards by 22mm and the tyres are 10mm wider. The traditional red light band that connects the two taillights has also taken on a new form.

The new Porsche 911 Carrera 4 features a new menu in the instrument cluster which informs the driver how the Porsche Traction Management (PTM) all-wheel drive is distributing engine power. All models will benefit from optional Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC). Porsche also offers a new sliding glass sunroof as an optional feature for the 911 Carrera Coupé.

The new Porsche 911 Carrera 4 will go on sale in Europe at the end of the year. There is no indication if or when the new Porsche 911 Carrera 4 will be available in South Africa.

2013 Land Rover Freelander Revised

The 2013 Land Rover Freelander has received a complete makeover which includes new colours, revised exterior design features, upgraded interior equipment levels and a new, more powerful and efficient engine.

2013 Land Rover Freelander – Features

Engine Capability

Like the Evoque, the 2013 Land Rover Freelander is now powered by a lightweight 2.0-litre, direct-injected, four cylinder engine that produces 177kW at 5 500rpm and 340Nm of toque at 3 200rpm. This engine replaces the previous 3.2-litre six cylinder engine. Transmission comes in the form of a six-speed Aisin automatic transmission and is coupled to a full-time four-wheel drive system which features a Haldex rear axle differential.

The 2013 Land Rover Freelander is equipped with Land Rover’s Intelligent Power System Management (IPSM) which features Smart Regenerative Charging. This feature ensures that where possible, the alternator only charges the battery when the vehicle is decelerating, recovering kinetic energy from deceleration, rather than consuming energy during engine operation.

Interior Features

The Freelander features grained leather covered electric seats and dual sun roofs as standard. A new centre console with a 7-inch colour touch screen allows the driver to control the Meridian surround sound system as well as the optional satellite navigation system.

A new instrument cluster with a 5-inch screen displaying vehicle information is positioned between the dials across the Freelander range and is complemented with steering wheel toggle switches to operate the menus.

Other new features include an intelligent electric parking brake which adjusts brake force according to the slope the vehicle is parked on and Passive Start replaces the key docking system where now the key only needs to be present in the car and can be started at the touch of a button. A new ‘Say What You See’ voice activation system will prompt the driver visually with specific commands to be spoken to control audio, navigation and phone systems.

Exterior Features

The changes to the exterior are mainly cosmetic and three new colours are available namely Aintree Green, Havana and Mauritius Blue. Xenon and LED technology is incorporated into the re-styled headlights and tail lights giving the Freelander a new look. The grille and fog lamp bezels now have a bright finish and paint detailing changes to the front grille surround, insert bars and fender vent harmonize the different elements. The 2013 Freelander rides on 18-inch, 10-spoke alloy wheels as standard with two additional 19-inch wheel options.

The newly revised Land Rover Freelander will make its debut at the Paris Motor Show on the 27 September 2012 and can be expected in South Africa in the first quarter of 2013.

New Nissan Navara Titanium in South Africa

Nissan has revealed that it will produce a limited 200 units of the new Nissan Navara Titanium and will go on sale in September 2012. Customers can expect a host of styling and other upgrades for the new Navara Titanium that sets it apart from the current SE model.

New Nissan Navara Titanium packed with features

Engine Capability

The Nissan Navara Titanium will be available as either a 4×4 or 4×2 and will be fitted with a 2.5-litre common-rail turbo diesel engine that produces 128kW and 403Nm of torque in the 4×4 derivative. The 4×4 version exhibits a fuel consumption figure of 9.0-litres/100km with a 3 000kg towing capacity with a braked trailer. The new Nissan Navara Titanium has a ground clearance of 233mm, an approach angle of 29 degrees and an impressive departure angle of 22 degrees. The Navara Titanium is fitted with a 6-speed manual gearbox.

Styling Features

Special styling features include titanium-coloured wheels and satin-smoked-finish front grille, rear step, bumper, side mirror covers and door handles, all complementing the titanium metallic theme. The new Nissan Navara Titanium also benefits from all-terrain tyres, a tow bar, front bull bar, tonneau cover, embossed carpets and a special Titanium branded key ring. Three colours are available for the Navara Titanium including white, black and silver.

New Nissan Navara Titanium – Price

Nissan Navara Titanium 4×4 R415 000
Nissan Navara Titanium 4×2 R374 000

2013 Toyota Auris to debut at Paris Motor Show

The new 2013 Toyota Auris will make its debut at the Paris Motor Show at the end of September 2012 with petrol, diesel and hybrid derivatives to be displayed. The new Auris offers improved driving dynamics, more distinctive styling and higher equipment levels than the current model.

2013 Toyota Auris wears new face

Exterior Styling

The 2013 Toyota Auris sits 55mm lower than the current model while a low front-end helps deliver improved aerodynamic performance which supports better handling and lower fuel consumption. The grille design represents the new ‘face’ of Toyota and is complemented with sharp-edged headlights and LED Daytime Running Lights which give the Auris a more powerful road presence. The side profile features an extension of the side glazing into three panels while the rear-end exhibits a wider opening tailgate, wrap-around tail lights and a new bumper profile.

Interior Styling

The interior has been completely revised to offer more space and comfort and Toyota has paid particular attention to the sensory quality of the cabin while achieving a greater sense of visual unity through consistency of lighting, colours, finishes and even the font used for graphics. The 2013 Toyota Auris also introduces Skyview, one of the largest panoramic roofs in its segment.

The air vent, meter surrounds, centre console and transmission tunnel share a high quality satin silver finish, while a leather trim dashboard is offered on higher grade models. Interior quality has been improved with a baseball-stitched Nappa leather trimmed steering wheel, soft-touch materials on the instrument panel , assist grips and door handles, as well as padded armrests and fabric trimmed pillars.

The interior offers increased space for the driver with an additional 20mm of rear seat knee room and 360 litres of boot space.

Driving Capability

The 2013 Toyota Auris benefits from a lower ride height, driving position and centre of gravity for enhanced driving dynamics. The steering and suspension has been revised contributing to a more comfortable, responsive and enjoyable drive.

Further improvements include greater use of high tensile steel, particularly in the upper part of the body structure, which has increased body stiffness by 10% and resulted in a weight saving of 40kg while also lowering the Auris’ centre of gravity.

In terms of engines, visitors to the Paris Motor Show will see 1.3 and 1.6 litre petrol variants, a 1.4 diesel and the Auris Hybrid. The 2013 Toyota Auris is destined for South Africa in the first quarter of 2013, however, further details regarding the model line-up for South Africa will be made available closer to launch.

2013 Ford Shelby GT500 Cobra pays tribute

This one-of-a-kind 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 Cobra was built as a tribute to celebrate and commemorate the late Carroll Shelby who spent the most part of 60 years working on Ford performance cars including Cobra’s, the GT40 and Mustangs since the mid 1960’s.

Big Power for 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 Cobra

Marking the 50th anniversary of the Shelby Cobra, the new GT500 produces 850 horsepower from its Ford Racing supercharged V8 and was unveiled at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion recently. Jim Farley, Ford’s group vice president for sales and marketing said “Even at 89 years of age, Carroll was an inspiration to us all. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the original Shelby Cobra. The one-off car we have created represents the very idea he had about making the 2013 Shelby GT500 into a true Cobra.”

Ford Motor Company teamed up with Shelby American who provided key components for the 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 Cobra such as the specially designed bonnet, new rear wide-body kit, Shelby Wilwood brakes and new 20 x 13-inch rear and 20 x10-inch front wheels. The Carroll Shelby tribute car is finished in Cobra historical Gaurdsman Blue with Wimbledon White stripes that graced many Cobra roadsters in the 1960’s.

As part of the commemoration, The 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 Cobra will go on tour around the USA and will be on display this weekend at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion this weekend.

BMW Zagato Roadster comes to life

The collaboration between BMW and Zagato has produced impressive results as seen in the BMW Zagato Coupé which was on show earlier in the year at the Concorso d’Eleganza show in Italy. The latest creation to come from this relationship is the BMW Zagato Roadster which was on display at the 2012 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California over the weekend.

BMW Zagato Roadster is a mix of sporty flair and elegance

The BMW Zagato Roadster was built over a period of six weeks and represents an elegant, sporty and masculine perspective of its coupé sibling. “This car is not designed only as an elegant convertible, but also as a masculine and extremely dynamic sports car which evokes a powerful driving experience” says Zagato chief designer Norihiko Harada, describing the design philosophy behind the BMW Zagato Roadster.

Design highlights include a low-set kidney grille with z-design grating coupled with twin circular headlights and a three-dimensional front apron which defines the front-end of the BMW Zagato Roadster. The headlights also feature ‘razorlight’ LED headlight strips which add a touch of class. The long, sweeping hood is complemented with air outlets on the flanks of the roadster which share the same form. The double-bubble soft-top roof cover helps extend the lines of the hood towards the rear where emphasis is placed on the rear-wheel power of the BMW Zagato Roadster. The BMW Zegato Roadster features 19-inch light alloy wheels in a sporty five-spoke design.

The driver sits low and close to the real wheels for an enhanced, sporty driving experience. The interior is predominantly black with brown leather accents offering an exclusive feel. The brown leather is used to visually differentiate the interior from the exterior while still working in harmony to exude an overall elegant and sporty image. No information regarding the powertrain has been made available.

The Unique McLaren X-1

The McLaren X-1 supercar, built by McLaren Special Operations (MSO), was on show at The Quail on 17 August 2012 at the Pebble Beach weekend in Monterey USA. The X-1 is a one-off supercar built especially for an anonymous client who wanted a car that was timeless with classical elegance.

The entire project lasted for about three years and inspiration was drawn from cars such as the 1961 Facel Vega, 1953 Chrysler D’Elegance Ghia, 1959 Buick Electra, 1939 Mercedes-Benz 540K and a 1971 Citroën SM. The client requested a design competition be held with external designers and McLaren designers to determine the most appropriate design. A Korean-born McLaren RCA graduate named Hong Yeo was chosen to fulfil the task. The only styling feature prescribed by the client was metal brightwork rails running from the nose to the rear of the car. The design took 18 months to sign off.

The X-1 features McLarens groundbreaking Carbon MonoCell, the same technology used for the McLaren MP4-12C and all the parts on the X-1 were made specifically for the car, including the lights and wheels. All the body panels are made from carbon and finished in rich piano black. The brightwork was machined from solid aluminium and finished in nickel, along with the McLaren logo and the McLaren Airbrake rear wing.

The interior is adorned in Harissa Red McLaren Nappa Leather for the seats, doors, roof trim and switchgear with machined nickel-coated, aluminium bezels. The carbon interior trim has titanium weave with a 3-D effect and special Andesite tufted carpets line the floor.

The X-1 shares the same major mechanical components as the McLaren MP4-12C, including the twin-turbo 3.8-litre V8 engine that produces 441kW and 600Nm of torque. The X-1 is fully usable and road legal.

Moto Guzzi Returns to South Africa

The iconic Italian motorcycle brand, Moto Guzzi, is making a come back in South Africa after an absence of over five years. The two new models to arrive in South Africa will be on display at the AMiD Motorcycle Lifestyle Show at the Johannesburg Expo Centre from 24 August to 26 August 2012.

Moto Guzzi makes a come back

With a focus on road and adventure machines, Moto Guzzi will be showcasing the 750cc V7 Café Racer and the 1 200cc V-Twin Stelvio NTX Adventure bike at the show.

Moto Guzzi was established in 1921 and is now one of seven brands in the Piaggio stable. In its history, Moto Guzzi was the first motorcycle manufacturer to use a wind tunnel in its research and development and was the inventor of the convenient motorcycle centre-stand.

Moto Guzzi also has its roots in racing and has claimed six world titles and won more than 3 000 official races. One of Moto Guzzi’s major achievements was the development of the 500cc V8 racing engine in 1955.

2014 Range Rover coming to South Africa

The all-new, fourth generation, 2014 Range Rover will go sale in South Africa from January 2013. The new luxury SUV Range Rover features a wide range of improvements over previous models and captures the innovative spirit and iconic design of the original model which was launched more than 40 years ago.

New 2014 Range Rover is lighter with improved performance

The new 2014 Range Rover is the world’s first SUV to feature a lightweight all-aluminium monocoque body structure that makes it 39% lighter than previous models with a weight saving of up to 420kg which contributes to improved fuel efficiency, CO2 emissions and overall driving and handling performance.

John Edwards, Land Rover Global Brand Director, said: “The new Range Rover preserves the essential, unique character of the vehicle – that special blend of luxury, performance and unmatched all-terrain capability. However, its clean sheet design and revolutionary lightweight construction have enabled us to transform the experience for luxury vehicle customers, with a step change in comfort, refinement and handling.”

The 2014 Range Rover also features industry leading innovations such as the Land Rover’s Terrain Response system which analyses current driving conditions and automatically selects the most suitable settings for the terrain.

Interior Features

The 2014 Range Rover is considered the ultimate in luxury and offers spacious interior exhibiting clean, elegant surfaces using the finest leather and veneers. The new two-seat optional Executive Seating package offers extended rear seat luxury. Engineered with the latest developments in vehicle technology, the new Range Rover will include features such as the exclusive Meridian surround sound music system, power upper and lower tailgates, advanced chassis and driver assistance systems.

The 2014 Range Rover will be offered with the choice of refined V8 petrol engines and TDV6 and TDV8 diesel engines. The new Range Rover will be produced in a new state-of-the art manufacturing facility at Solihull in the UK.

More details will be released closer to its South African launch.

2012 Lexus LX 570 in South Africa

The 2012 Lexus LX 570 SUV has been updated and now features both cosmetic and technical improvements that give it a distinct look along with added luxury features.

2012 Lexus LX 570 with added luxury

Engine Capability

The 2012 Lexus LX 570 is fitted with a powerful 32-valve, 5.7-litre V8 petrol engine with Variable Valve Timing – intelligent (VVT-i) and Double OverHead Camshafts (DOHC) that produces 270kW and 530Nm of torque. Power is transferred to all four wheels via a 6-speed sequential-shift, electronically-controlled automatic gearbox (ECT) with paddle shift. The top speed for the LX 570 is electronically limited to 210km/h with an urban fuel consumption figure of 14.8-litres/100km. CO2 emissions are rated at 350g/km.

The full-time four wheel drive (4WD) system incorporates a Torsen limited slip centre differential and power transfer between high and low range is achieved by pushing a button on the centre console. The 2012 Lexus LX 570 also features a Multi-Terrain Select (MTS) system that provides flexibility in different driving conditions and the driver can choose between five road conditions including rock, rock and dirt, mogul, loose rock and mud and sand.

Exterior Styling

Lexus’ Spindle Grille design is a defining feature of the 2012 Lexus LX 570, as it is on the CT, GS and RX models. The large Spindle Grille is complemented with two square bi-xenon headlights with Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) and a new bumper design. The headlight, with auto function, and the rear LED tail lights have been re-designed.

The luggage bay, which can accommodate 1276-litres, features an electric liftgate with a built-in reverse camera. Pre-wiring for a towbar and trailer has been installed in the rear bumper and the LX 570 has a braked towing capacity of 3 225kg. The LX 570 also features a new split 5-twin spoke 20-inch alloy wheel design with a liquid graphite finish. The outside mirrors fold electronically and feature reverse auto-tilt with integrated puddle lights to welcome the driver when the key is detected. An electric tilt/slide moonroof lets more light into the cabin.

Interior Styling

The 2012 Lexus LX 570 features keyless entry and the cabin is spacious and luxurious with three rows of seats with a capacity for eight passengers. The front seats are electronically adjustable with a built-in heating function. The second row of seats feature reclining functionality with power slide.

The centre console features a full-colour, multi-information touch sensitive TFT display screen which provides access to navigation, Multi-Terrain Select, ventilation system and the 19-speaker, 450W, Mark Levinson sound system. The rear entertainment system features a DVD player with dual 7-inch LCD screens mounted behind the front headrests.

Safety Features

The 2012 Lexus LX 570 is equipped with 10 airbags as standard which include driver and front passenger knee airbags, front and second-row seat mounted airbags and side curtain airbags. All eight seating positions feature three-point seat belts. Active safety features include a Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Brake Assist (BA), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), off road ready active Traction Control (A-TRAC), Hill-Start Assist (HAC) and Crawl Control.

2012 Lexus LX 570 – Price

Lexus LX 570 (2012) 5.7 V8 – R1 178 600