Audi TT RS Special Edition Celebrates 40 Years Of Quattro

Audi has revealed a limited-edition TT RS to celebrate 40 years of quattro – Audi's all-wheel-drive technology. Take a look!

When it was revealed 40 years ago, no-one could have predicted what an iconic piece of motoring heritage the Audi Quattro was going to become. It utterly dominated the rally scene and to celebrate 40 years of the quattro, the German carmaker has revealed a special edition Audi TT RS.

It's called the Audi TT RS 40 Years of Quattro and there will be just 40 units for sale, one for each year since the Audi Quattro's launch. As you can see from the pictures, Audi has gone all out with this limited-edition TT RS. It features Alpine white paint as well as special decals which are similar to those used by the original Audi Sport quattro S1. There are also glossy black accents throughout as well as a bonnet scoop.

The white 20-inch alloy wheels with red brake callipers look menacing, while there's additional aerodynamic kit in the form of winglets on the front and a DTM-style spoiler on the rear. Inside, there's a monster carbon fibre strut cross-brace which replaces the rear seats. These seats weren't of much use anyway with minuscule legroom, this carbon fibre strut brace looks way cooler! Audi claims it improves torsional rigidity as well as reduces weight by 16 kg. Every Audi TT RS 40 Years of Quattro features an individual number on the gear lever.

Speaking of gears, the Audi TT RS 40 Years of Quattro features the same 2.5-litre turbocharged 5-cylinder motor producing 294 kW and 480 Nm, and Audi claims a 0-100 kph in just 3.7 seconds. This is the same engine as the one found in the RS3 and the RS Q3. It's unlikely to come to South Africa, but the real stinger is the price. For €114 040, it's almost double the price of a base-level TT. We're pretty sure you could get a demo Audi R8 for that price too!

W580 is VW’s Special Edition Amarok

Think of it as a Ford Ranger Raptor, for the road…

Volkswagen’s Amarok V6 double-cab has a terrifically loyal following.

As the only V6 turbodiesel double-cab bakkie you can buy, it offers an unrivalled blend of comfort, utility and performance. It's no surprise that most of VW’s Amarok bakkie sales, are delivered to customers with the 3.0-litre V6 engine option and it has scooped the Leisure Double-Cab category title of the #CarsAwards powered by WesBank on numerous occasions.

Unfortunately, the Amarok V6 is being retired in the not too distant future, scheduled for replacement by a new joint-venture Ford/VW bakkie platform in 2022. But that doesn’t mean Volkswagen is ignoring the time-honoured tradition of producing some limited-edition variants, as production starts to taper.

The latest example of this, is the Amarok W580. It's a project initiated by VW Australia to build the best road-going Amarok possible.

Imagining the Amarok as a high-performance tarmac bakkie might sound odd, but that was the brief by product planners to engineers and technicians at Walkinshaw racing.

The result is a bakkie that looks a lot more purposeful and promises to reward with superior on-road driving dynamics. Most noticeable is the unique grille treatment and Black exterior styling details. This W580 Amarok has black bodywork decals and fender extensions, whilst those 20-inch five-spoke alloy wheels, are black too.

Around the rear section of this high-performance Amarok you’ll find an aerodynamic sports bar behind the car, which has no structural rollover protection properties or fastening points. The W580 also features a dual-tip exhaust system.

For those dedicated followers of all things Amarok, the stance of the W580 double-cab will be noticeable. And that is because front-end ride height has increased by 40mm, achieved courtesy of a mild lift kit and 275/50 Pirelli Scorpion tyres. The suspension configuration has also been adapted, ostensibly improving steering feel.

The W580’s powertrain remains untouched, which means 200kW and 580Nm is on tap, driving via ZF’s eight-speed automatic transmission.

Tell us what you think of this W580 Amarok, do you like it?

Buy a Volkswagen Amarok on Cars.co.za

Nissan Qashqai Midnight Edition (2020) Specs and Price

Nissan South Africa has announced a special-edition Qashqai. See what's new plus how much it costs.

The Nissan Qashqai is a popular compact SUV that has been sold in tremendous numbers globally since its launch back in 2006. Now in 2020, there's a special model. It's called the Nissan Qashqai Midnight Edition.

The Nissan Qashqai Midnight Edition features a black roofline, darkened front bumper insert, 19-inch alloy wheels, gloss black mirror caps on the exterior, while the cabin gets the same black treatment to the black air vents and gear knob. There are also Alcantara seats and foor mats with red “Qashqai” stitching. The technology enhancements include Android Auto/Apple CarPlay and infotainment with onboard navigation

The Nissan Qashqai features the latest in Nissan Intelligent Mobility such as Around View Monitor with Moving Object Detection and Forward Collision Warning. In terms of safety, the vehicle comes with Forward Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Warning and Cross Traffic Alert. In terms of engines, the Nissan Qashqai is offered with a 1.2-litre turbo with 85 kW and 165 Nm, as well as a 1.5-litre turbodiesel offering 81 kW and 260 Nm.

“At Nissan, we want to bring customers products that are innovative, beautiful, by bringing ingenuity into the areas of vehicle engineering, development and production. Through this latest special version, we introduce to our customers a very modern and stylish personality to own the road in confidence – that is what the Qashqai Midnight Edition is to its drivers and passengers who’ll appreciate a lavish drive in the city behind the wheel,” said Kabelo Rabotho, Marketing Director, Nissan Group of Africa.

As far as rivals go, the Nissan Qashqai faces off to the Suzuki Vitara, Opel Crossland, Ford Ecosport, Renault Duster and Volkswagen T-Cross

Nissan Qashqai Midnight Edition Price in South Africa (October 2020)

Qashqai Midnight Edition R480 800

Jaguar Tweaks XE for 2021

Jaguar has tweaked its XE sedan for 2021 and the good news is that the baby cat is confirmed for South African market introduction. See what the updates entail.

The Jaguar XE is the British alternative to the German trio of the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. For the 2021 model year, the Jaguar XE has been given some updates, both inside and out. This update comes after the recent changes to the bigger Jaguar XF.

Visually, it won't be easy to spot the newcomer as it retains the same exterior as the current-shape model. Inside, there's a new split-rim steering wheel design as well as a new quilt design is available for the seating. There's Enhanced Cabin Air Ionisation which is said to improve interior air quality.

The real changes are in the infotainment and connectivity departments as the updated XE gains the new Pivi Pro infotainment system. There's a 10-inch central touchscreen with a 5.5-inch touchscreen below it. Interestingly, this infotainment system has its own power source, which Jaguar claims helps the system start instantaneously. The driver benefits from a 12.3-inch HD interactive display that features enhanced graphics and a customisable layout. The best part is undoubtedly the over-the-air updates meaning customers will not have to visit dealerships to get the latest software. Pivi Pro is fitted as standard to the SE and HSE models, and also incorporates Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.

In terms of engines, the updated Jaguar XE is powered by the Ingenium 2.0-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine paired with Jaguar’s eight-speed automatic transmission. In terms of outputs, you're looking at 184 kW and 365 Nm, and Jaguar says its good for a 6.7 second sprint to 100 kph. When it comes to economy and efficiency, 7.9 L/100 km is the claim.

The updated Jaguar XE will be available in South Africa in the first half of 2021 with pricing to be announced closer to the launch. South African customers can choose from S, R-DYNAMIC SE and R-DYNAMIC HSE specification packs.

Rolls-Royce Cullinan Goes Offroad

If you ever wanted to see a Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV let loose in the desert then your time has come! Watch the video below…

Like oil and water, Rolls-Royce and offroading just don’t mix, or do they? Unless you are super-rich, most people can only dream of owning a Rolls-Royce, nevermind taking it for a run offroad.

There are, however, people out there who are willing and able to indulge in such acts and the video below is a fine example of just how much fun you can have in a Rolls-Royce, even if it looks or feels wrong.

Come to think of it, our very own Ciro De Siena has also done some silly things in Rolls-Royces…

However, the video below features a black Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV going for a spirited drive in the desert on the outskirts of Dubai. Our guess is that this might be a normal activity in Dubai considering the sheer amount of high-end machinery on the streets.

Nonetheless, watching the Cullinan putting its 420 kW/850 Nm 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 engine to good use is both beautiful and cringe-worthy. If you have ever driven on desert sand, you will know that sand gets into every nook and cranny and it’s near-impossible to have the all the sand removed afterwards.

Anyway, enough moaning from me, enjoy the video below.

Volkswagen Taos Revealed, Not for SA

As if there weren’t enough SUVs in the world, Volkswagen has revealed a new SUV for the US market and it’s called the Taos.

Bigger than a T-Cross, smaller than a Tiguan, this is the new Taos compact SUV that’s now been revealed and destined to reach the North American market next year. In fact, it's also slightly bigger than the soon-to-be-launched T-Roc SUV.

Built on Volkswagen MQB platform, the Taos features typical VW SUV design cues with a sculpted bonnet, striking LED lighting signature with adaptive LED headlights and an illuminated line stretching outwards from the prominent VW logo, much like we have already seen on the recently-revealed ID.4 electric SUV. The Taos will ride on 17-inch alloy wheels as standard and will be offered with a total of 8 exterior colours.

Moving inside, the Taos features a smart cabin design familiar from the T-Cross, incorporating a digital cockpit instrument cluster and Volkswagens MIB3 infotainment system with wireless charging and wireless app connect as well as in-car WiFi. Two-tone upholstery is also offered in either cloth or leather. Some key standard features include dual-zone climate control air conditioning, 8-way electric driver’s seat, heated steering wheel and ventilated seats.

The Taos is powered by a turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine with 118 kW and 250 Nm of torque and will be offered with an 8-speed automatic transmission for front-wheel-drive derivatives while all-wheel-drive Taos gains a 7-speed DSG dual-clutch transmission.

A host of driver assistance features are also offered on the Taos including Forward Collision Warning with Autonomous Braking (Front Assist), Active Blind Spot Monitor, Lane Keeping System (Lane Assist), Adaptive Cruise Control with a Stop and Go feature, Travel Assist and Emergency Assist.

The Taos will be produced at Volkswagen’s Puebla production facility in Mexico and will not be offered in South Africa.

Buy a Volkswagen SUV on Cars.co.za

Spy Shots: 2021 Toyota GR MN Yaris

Toyota's crazy Gazoo Racing is at it again. While the Yaris GR has not yet reached showrooms, a hardcore GRMN version has been spotted testing on the Nurburgring.

Picture credit: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien. We have paid for these photos and at the photographer's request, have watermarked them.?

When the Toyota Yaris GR was revealed earlier in 2020, petrolheads were blown away. Here was a performance hatchback that had been developed from the ground up. Featuring all-wheel drive, trick suspension and a manual gearbox mated to all-new 1.6-litre 3-cylinder motor, the Yaris GR appears determined to brush aside the competition.

The specs are impressive. Available in two states of tune: 192 kW and 360 Nm, or 200 kW and 370 Nm, the GR Yaris is said to hit 100 kph in just 5.5 seconds. The secret here is its relatively low kerb weight of just 1 280 kg. What's even crazier is the power can be dialled between axles, so with up to 70% going to the rear, some wild rally-style drifts could be possible. Very few vehicles can come close to this level of track-focused performance, but we're sure the Renault Megane RS300 Trophy and Honda Civic Type R will be keen to chase.

Is it possible for the Yaris GR to get even more wild? Well, if these spy photographs are anything to go by, it looks like Toyota's Gazoo Racing division is preparing its GRMN derivative, complete with wild aerodynamic aids such as the massive wing on the rear. We suspect this Yaris prototype is sitting a little lower to the ground, which indicates some form of suspension improvement. The roof is black and potentially could be carbon fibre, meaning a few kilograms could be shaved. The 1.6-litre 3-cylinder motor probably can't give much more power than its already producing, so Toyota is likely focusing on the handling elements.

The good news? Toyota South Africa is still insisting its new hot hatch is on the cards for our market, subject to the exchange rate.

JCW GP sets new price ceiling for a local Mini

All the power – and front-wheel drive.

Those hot hatch enthusiasts in the market for something very exclusive will be heartened by news of Mini’s latest JCW GP now being available in South Africa.

Although Mini is viewed as a fashion vehicle brand by many, the agile nature and dedicated engineering applied to these compact hatchbacks, make them an excellent choice for the keen driver.

The JCW Minis have done much to establish a reputation for the brand in South Africa. Back in 2006, the first John Cooper Works GP kit was seen on a local Cooper S. This was followed in 2013 by another generation of JCW GP. On both occasions, only 30 of each were imported and distributed to the South African market, guaranteeing exclusivity for their owners.

Mini has continued to follow this marketing strategy with the latest JCW GP and will only sell 38 of these dramatic hot hatches in the local market. Sadly, they're all gone, with the press release from Mini South Africa stating, "Only customers who had registered their interest via MINI South Africa’s channels were eligible to purchase one of the 38 units, in the process dashing the hopes of hundreds of local racing enthusiasts who had also been eager to get their hands on one."

Dedicated driving machine

Remaining true to its JCW GP heritage, this latest version has all the dramatic styling upgrades you can imagine. There are flared wheel arches and a huge fixed rear roof spoiler, with double contour edges.

Inside there the Mini JCW GP is strictly a two-seater, with a bright red strut beam replacing its rear seats. This is inarguably a Mini for the driving enthusiasts, not someone who needs anything approaching a useable hatchback family car.

Styling and design elements aside, the JCW GP is a dedicated performance vehicle. Mini’s engineers have optimised the platform for overall rigidity, to deliver agile and directs responses to all driver inputs. It rides 10mm lower than a conventional JCW and features a specific damper tune and steering geometry.

Powering the JCW GP is BMW’s 2-litre TwinPower four-cylinder engine, boosting 225 kW and 450 Nm. In context, that is a gain of 55 kW over a standard Mini JCW, which already ranks as a very credible hot hatchback.

Although the only transmission option is an eight-speed automatic, Mini’s engineers have equipped the JCW GP with a mechanically locking active differential up front. Unlike rival hot hatches with similar power and torque outputs, the JCW GP is not all-wheel drive and this shows in its 0-100kph sprint time of 5.5 seconds.

Top speed is unrestricted at 265 kph and with 90 mm exhaust tubing, it makes a very distinctive noise.

Pricing

The new JCW GP becomes Mini’s most expensive product yet, in the local market, priced at R809 488.

Spy Shots: 2022 BMW X8

BMW's plans for a range-topping flagship SUV are well and truly in motion as the first X8 prototypes have been spotted.

Picture credit: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien. We have paid for these photos and at the photographer's request, have watermarked them.?

It would be fair to assume that brands have enough SUVs in their portfolios to satisfy everyone's needs. Take BMW, with its massive SUV portfolio. From smallest to largest; X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, X6, X7 and in development is the X8.

As far as timing goes, you can bet the all-new BMW X8 revealed towards the end of 2021 and sold as a 2022 model year vehicle. So, what can we expect? If you look closely, there's a Hybrid Test Vehicle sticker on the door, an indication the model you see here is offering a turbocharged petrol engine mated to an electrical assist. There'll probably be an eventual M version too, based on patents that have been registered.

There's also talk of the 745e's engine making its way into the X8. This engine is a turbocharged 3.0-litre 6-cylinder with electric motors and it produces a credible 293 kW and 600 Nm – good figures for a big flagship SUV.

Visually, the camouflage here has done a great job of hiding the BMW X8's shape. This is not going to be a plusher and bigger X7, but some have suggested it'll have a lower roofline. There's probably going to be a bold and in-your-face grille. Inside, expect the highest levels of luxury, tech and comfort.

Honda redlines its Civic Type-R

Like red? You'll love this.

The Honda Civic Type R is not subtle. Or slow.

For those who doubt the ability of Honda to remain true to its performance car roots, the Civic Type R has always been a beacon of hope.

The Japanese company has now revealed some new upgrades for the 2021 model year Civic Type R, delivered by its Honda Access sub-brand, which is something of the new Mugen.

Most of the new bits available for Honda’s Civic Type R are carbon-fibre in nature, as one would expect. Buyers can opt for a bonnet scoop and rear wing, crafted from carbon-fibre. But it isn’t just any carbon-fire.

Honda has sourced a red-weave composite for its bonnet scoop and wing upgrades, which delivers a scarlet shimmer in direct sunlight. This is made possible by the presence of red polyester threaded into the composite’s top layer.

Red is very much the styling theme upgrade with these Honda Access parts. The colour has always been synonymous with Honda’s Type R vehicles and owners of the latest generation can now add red garnish to the front grille and top half of their vehicle’s wing mirrors.

Inside the red theme continues with Honda Access applying the colour as inserts to the steering wheel. The six-speed manual shifter is also topped-off with red.

Technically the most notable update is one that concerns convenience, instead of performance, with the Civic Type R now finally gaining a front camera and rear parking sensors.

Astute followers of all things Type R will notice the Honda Access 10-spoke wheel option. These white wheels not only look great, but they are lighter than the standard Type R alloys too.

Honda sourced the new white wheels from a supplier that forged them from aviation-grade aluminium. Using advanced construction techniques have made these wheels strong enough to deliver all the cornering thrills one would wish for in a Type R, but also reduce their weight.

With the new wheels, Honda has managed to reduce unsprung weight by 2.1kg per wheel corner, marginally improving the car’s agility.

Audi TT RS Special Edition Celebrates 40 Years Of Quattro

Audi has revealed a limited-edition TT RS to celebrate 40 years of quattro – Audi's all-wheel-drive technology. Take a look!

Further Reading

W580 is VW’s Special Edition Amarok

Think of it as a Ford Ranger Raptor, for the road…

Related Content

Nissan Qashqai Midnight Edition (2020) Specs and Price

Nissan South Africa has announced a special-edition Qashqai. See what's new plus how much it costs.

Nissan Qashqai Midnight Edition Price in South Africa (October 2020)

Further Reading

Jaguar Tweaks XE for 2021

Jaguar has tweaked its XE sedan for 2021 and the good news is that the baby cat is confirmed for South African market introduction. See what the updates entail.

Further Reading

Rolls-Royce Cullinan Goes Offroad

If you ever wanted to see a Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV let loose in the desert then your time has come! Watch the video below…

Related Content

Volkswagen Taos Revealed, Not for SA

As if there weren’t enough SUVs in the world, Volkswagen has revealed a new SUV for the US market and it’s called the Taos.

Related Content

Spy Shots: 2021 Toyota GR MN Yaris

Toyota's crazy Gazoo Racing is at it again. While the Yaris GR has not yet reached showrooms, a hardcore GRMN version has been spotted testing on the Nurburgring.

Further Reading

JCW GP sets new price ceiling for a local Mini

All the power – and front-wheel drive.

Dedicated driving machine

Pricing

Related content

Spy Shots: 2022 BMW X8

BMW's plans for a range-topping flagship SUV are well and truly in motion as the first X8 prototypes have been spotted.

Further Reading

Honda redlines its Civic Type-R

Like red? You'll love this.

Related content