Lexus has taken the covers off of its flagship luxury sedan. Here's all you need to know about the updated Lexus LS.
The updated Lexus LS will be hitting Japanese showrooms late in 2020 and we expect the new model to make landfall in SA in 2021. The LS has quite a track record, selling over 870 000 units in more than 90 countries. It's a rival to the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 7-Series. So what's new?
Visually, not much, but we can spot a slightly altered front bumper, new headlights and taillights. Lexus says there are some new wheel designs too. The Japanese brand claims its engineers have focused on the comfort levels and refinement, as well as some dynamic improvements. There's also a new adaptive variable suspension tweak that Lexus claims will improve ride quality even further. Lexus has also introduced something called Teammate which offers the latest in driving assist tech. On the exterior, Lexus has thrown in a new colour called Gin-ei Luster.
The cabin gains a new 12-inch touchscreen infotainment system and it features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. There's also a new digital rearview mirror and some trim adjustments to the seats.
In terms of powertrain, there's a hybrid version and a biturbo 3.5-litre V6 which are carried over, but Lexus says the motor now has improved initial engine torque and greater acceleration response, while the 10-speed auto gearbox now features improved shift timing and a wider acceleration range for each gear. For the record, this motor produces 310 kW and 600 Nm.
If the standard Honda Civic Type R is not quite hardcore enough for you then perhaps you should consider this bonkers upgrade from Japanese tuner, Mugen.
In standard guise, the Honda Civic Type R’s styling is far from subtle and the chaps at Japanese tuning firm, Mugen, have gone to work to create a radical upgrade for the Civic Type R.
First shown in 2019 as the RC20GT concept at the Tokyo Auto Salon, Mugen has revealed the production version of its upgrade for the Honda Civic Type R.
The styling modifications are extensive and include a new front splitter, reworked air intakes and notably a carbon fibre bonnet with vents and uniquely-styled side mirrors. The Mugen Civic Type R rides on specially-developed 20-inch black and silver wheels and the look of the car is enhanced with extended side skirts which add visual width.
The taillights feature a unique light graphic and the Mugen has opted for a dual tailpipe setup (as opposed to the 3 tailpipes seen on a standard Civic Type R) set in a new rear diffuser. A custom rear wing is also fitted, adding to the excessively aggressive styling of this modified Civic Type R.
The interior gains a striped Recaro bucket seats with an Alcantara finish as well as a leather and carbon fibre combination steering wheel and an aluminium gear shift lever.
The engine has remained unchanged with the 2.0-litre turbopetrol engine churning out 228 kW and 400 Nm of torque. A 6-speed manual transmission directs power to the front wheels.
Do you like the look of the Mugen Civic Type R or do you think it’s way over the top?
Aston Martin DB5 Goldfinger Continuation [w/video]
The Aston Martin DB5 from Goldfinger has come back to life, with gadgets and all…
James Bond fans eat your heart out, Aston Martin has brought the DB5 back to life! The DB5 featured in the 1964 film, Goldfinger, with James Bond played by none other than Sean Connery.
This is the first DB5 Goldfinger Continuation car, the first car to roll off the assembly line, some 55 years since production ended in 1965. Only 25 will be built in association with EON Productions (makers of the James Bond films) and they will be equipped with gadgets that feature in Goldfinger.
Creating the same vehicle that features in the movie is no easy feat and it takes approximately 4 500 hours to produce just one example.
A true James Bond car has all the gadgets…
The DB5 is finished in Birch Silver and as a tribute to the car that featured in Goldfinger, comes fitted with nifty features such as 2 faux machine guns, a smokescreen, a revolving license plate and battering rams, just in case…There's even a faux tyre slasher, oil spilling device and a bullet shield to protect you from gunfire. This DB5 is the real deal… A removable roof panel for the passenger seat is optional.
The trickery doesn’t end there though. The interior has also been overhauled to reflect the show car and as such, it comes fitted with a remote control panel for all the gadgets as well as an actuator button on the gear lever and additional switchgear inside the central armrest. Fans will also love the faux radar screen tracker map and there’s even a telephone mounted in the door. Need to store your weapons out of sight? There are under-seat storage trays for that purpose.
As for engine performance, the DB5 is fitted with a 216 kW, naturally-aspirated 4.0-litre, six-cylinder engine that’s mated with a 5-speed ZF manual transmission and a limited-slip differential
Paul Spires, President of Aston Martin Works said: “To see the first customer car finished and realise that this is the first new DB5 we have built in more than half a century, really is quite a moment. “It is a rare and genuine privilege to be involved in this latest Aston Martin continuation project, and to be helping to support the creation of new versions of what is perhaps the world’s most famous motor car. I’m absolutely certain that the 25 lucky owners who will take delivery of these cars will be thrilled with them.”
You might be wondering what the Aston Martin DB5 Goldfinger Continuation costs? Well, if you are one of the 25 buyers of this car, you will have to part with approximately R60-million to acquire ultimate bragging rights. Best you visit your bank manager for a chat…
The world’s biggest bakkie company is going all-in with its Raptor.
Ford is keen to keep reaping the potential profits of a global bakkie market which shows no signs of ebbing, and that is good news for South African fans of the brand.
It has already been confirmed that South Africa will remain a crucial production hub for the next-generation Ford Ranger – and now there is some greater clarity on potential powerplants.
As demand for Ranger increases in America, the bakkie has been allocated greater technology and engineering resources in terms of specification. The result is that Ford will be investing handsomely to ensure a global Raptor is part of the derivative mix, for next-generation Ranger.
Perhaps the only point of criticism with the current Ranger Raptor is its lack of overtaking performance. The 157 kW turbodiesel engine struggles to move all the heavy-duty Raptor hardware with aplomb and American bakkie customers will demand greater performance.
Ford will use its sophisticated 2.7-litre V6 turbopetrol engine for the North American market Ranger Raptors. Whether that engine will be applicable for the South African market, is debatable, as local bakkie drivers have an aversion to large-capacity petrol powerplants.
Whereas the current T6 Ranger Raptor is only available with the single 2-litre bi-turbodiesel engine, the 2022 model year version is expected to also have a 3-litre version. This will be a repurposed F-150 turbodiesel, producing 186 kW and 600 Nm from its V6 configuration. The 2-litre will also continue to be offered for the Raptor in the next generation. There is no indication yet if the V6 turbodiesel will be made available to SA-built Raptors but with the 2022 Amarok set to be built by Ford South Africa as well, it could make a case for it in terms of scale.
Ford is cleverly leveraging its various engine resources across all bakkie platforms and Ranger owners will benefit most, as larger F-150 engines find their way into the ‘smaller’ double-cab bakkies.
The 3-litre V6 engine is adequately powerful to not require any modification for its Ranger Raptor application. It will also offer drivers an 18% increase in power over the 2-litre bi-turbodiesel, which should solve the throttle response issues suffered by current owners, due to the less than ideal power-to-weight ratio of their Raptors.
There's an all-new Hyundai Tucson in the works and recent renders suggest the Korean brand has no intention of watering down its new-found Sensuous Sportiness design language for the upcoming family car. What's more, a new report suggests the range's line-up will be headed by a 2.5-litre turbopetrol N model, which will reportedly produce a VW Tiguan R-trouncing peak power output "of at least 254 kW".
Hyundai’s has rolled out a slew of new products in 2020 so far… Apart from the new Sonata business class sedan and Elantra compact sedan, both of which aren’t destined for South Africa, the Korean firm has most recently shown its new Santa Fe executive SUV and the i20 compact hatchback, which could arrive in South Africa before the end of 2020, as well as the all-new Creta, which has already made its debut in its home market (India) and should arrive in Mzansi by the end of the 3rd quarter, which is soon!
The Vision T Concept featured a sculpted grille, arching bonnet line and bold swage lines, but it's more than just a fanciful design study.
And what do those new models (even the humble Creta) have in common? They all incorporate the company’s new Sensuous Sportiness design language, which is characterised by “parametric dynamics”, such as swage lines that run at different angles but “meet at one point”. The models also sport expansive, cascading grilles with a distinctive pattern, with narrow headlamp clusters/indicator elements that merge into a single design element (especially apparent in the new Elantra).
Atchacars anticipates that, like the new Elantra, the upcoming Tucson will sport a supersized-grille-and-slim-headlights combo.
A couple of months ago, Korean Car Blog published a production timetable for Hyundai’s Ulsan factory, which indicates that the next-generation Tucson will enter production at some point in the 3rd quarter (although it’s not destined for the South African market in 2020, perhaps only early in the following year), so we should see the final version soon.
What will it look like, though? Although the first generation Tucson marked the arrival of the Korean brand’s family car range in South Africa, its 2nd-generation model (dubbed the ix35 in our market) was quite revolutionary because it showcased the “Fluidic Sculpture” design language, which dominated the exterior designs of Hyundai models at the time. When the ix35's successor arrived locally in 2016 – the current Tucson – it was a handsome design, but comparatively safe and inoffensive by comparison…
The next Tucson is likely to have stylised wheel-arch trims and dramatic side sheet metal detailing. Picture credit: Atchacars
If the pattern of safe- followed by daring designs is set to continue with each passing iteration of the Tucson, it certainly bodes well for a bold upcoming family car from the Seoul-based firm. But just how… challenging will its styling be? Well, the Vision T concept that was shown at the Los Angeles Show late last year seemed a very "out there" or “pie-in-the-sky” design at the time. However, now that we’ve seen the new Elantra, we know the expansive cascading grille and those “parametric dynamics” in the side sheet metal aren’t just for show.
About a year ago, Sangyup Lee, the vice president of styling at the Hyundai Design Centre, was quoted as saying the appearance of the (production-ready) 4th-gen Tucson would make people “freak out.” And then, late last year, Andrew Tuatahi, Hyundai’s product planning manager, referred to the 2021 Tucson as being “very interesting visually.”
Note the pinched rear-end design, replete with a tail-lamp-bridging LED emergency stop lamp. Picture credit: Atchacars
Just how “interesting” (to quote Tuatahi) will the next Tucson look, then? Well, if the family car goes into production as planned, we should know in a handful of months’ time. To whet our appetites, YouTube channel AtchaCars has uploaded a new video with its take on the styling direction of the upcoming model. The renders are based not only on previously published spy shots of camouflaged prototypes, but also effectively “standardise” the stylised contours and design elements of the aforementioned Vision T concept.
We know that the next generation range is likely to be more of a crossover than a compact SUV (it will favour front-wheel-drive configuration, especially in our market). It will feature 4-cylinder turbopetrol engines (perhaps the 2.0-litre non-turbo engine and its torque converter auto box might be retained) and the line-up will feature hybrid and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variants too. What’s most intriguing is that Hyundai is likely to push out the performance envelope further than the current N-Line versions overseas (and the locally-developed Tucson Elite Sport in South Africa)…
Now that we've seen the Vision T concept and the latest renderings, this spy shot does show elements of Sensuous Sportiness…
‘250 kW-plus’ Tucson N
According to a new Korean Car Blog report, Hyundai’s N Division hopes to introduce an N model based on the next generation Tucson in about 2 years' time. Last year, Albert Biermann – Hyundai's head of Research and Development said: “The substance of (the Tucson) is so strong technically speaking, to make a Tucson N… I would love to do it.”
We've already seen spy shots of beefed-up next-gen Tucson "Sports" undergoing testing and few would be surprised if Hyundai decided to transplant the i30 N's 202 kW/353 Nm 2.0-litre turbopetrol (mated with an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission, as in the facelifted version of the hot hatch) in the next generation Tucson. But, no, not necessarily…
It stands to reason that "Sensuous Sportiness" would be best embodied by an upcoming Tucson N derivative…
The new report suggests the Tucson N will be powered by a 2.5-litre turbopetrol unit that produces "at least 340 bhp (254 kW)", in combination with an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic 'box and an all-wheel-drive setup. The powerplant will ostensibly be a beefed-up version of the 213 kW/422 Nm motor that debuted in the recent Kia Optima GT.
Korean Car Blog anticipates the upcoming Tucson N will have a 0-100 kph time of "under 6 seconds". Its expected peak power output compares favourably with that of the recently-unveiled, Mzansi-bound 235 kW Volkswagen Tiguan R, although the Wolfsburg-based brand has not released claimed performance figures for its newcomer.
Hyundai is reportedly keen to bring such a halo derivative to fruition to change the market’s perception of the (until now) safe and predictable Tucson nameplate. Unnamed "Hyundai insiders" told the Korean site the firm was “not interested in making also-ran cars with N badges on them in whatever class they compete”. Let the battle begin!
You knew it was coming! The next-gen BMW M4 will have the GRILLE as these latest spy shots show. Also, who knew BMW M had a sense of humour?
Picture credit: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien. We have paid for these photos and at the photographer's request, have watermarked them.
This is the first time we're seeing the next-gen BMW M4 with the controversial grille. Previous spy photos have all featured prototypes with heavy camouflage on the front end, but these latest images show the dominant kidney grille as well as more streamlined vents and ducts.
The rear gains a more prominent rear bumper, quad exhausts and versions of the lights we've seen on the BMW 4-Series.
As for power. we know the base spec BMW M4 will have the S58 engine (from the X3M/X4M) and it will send around 353 kW and 600 to the rear wheels through a 6-speed manual gearbox. A Competition model is on the cards, but with 375 kW, M xDrive and an 8-speed automatic transmission.
We won't have to wait long as BMW has already teased its new M3 and M4 with the below image, with an official reveal in September 2020. However, as pointed out by Motor1, if you zoomed in and played around the lighting, the messages Nice Try and Nope came up.
The Audi Q8 range has been expanded through the introduction of a turbodiesel-powered offering. While we were quite enamoured with the V6 turbopetrol derivative, a diesel version may be a smarter proposition. We spent a few days getting to know the Audi Q8 45 TDI better…
We like: Potent engine, fuel consumption, fit and finish, futuristic cabin, refinement galore.
We don’t like: Expensive, no 7-seat option.
Fast Facts:
Price: R1 573 500 before options (July 2020)
Engine: 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel
Power/Torque: 183 kW/600 Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic
Fuel consumption: 7.8 L/100 km (claimed)
Boot capacity: 605-1 755 litres
Performance: 0-100 kph in 7 sec.
What is it?
We first sampled the Audi Q8 in the middle of June 2019 and a year later, we're behind the wheel of the 45 TDI.
When the Audi Q8 first burst onto the scene, it wowed us with its jaw-dropping, coupe-inspired styling, exceptional finishes and tech-laden interior. The sharply-styled Premium SUV Coupe was an emphatic statement by Audi that it refused to be overshadowed by its fellow German brands BMW and Mercedes-Benz's X6 and GLE Coupe models.
But the luxury off-roader market is a cutthroat segment, to say the least. During the past 18 months, we've seen all-new versions of the BMW X5 and X6, Mercedes-Benz GLE and GLE Coupe, as well as the Porsche Cayenne and Cayenne Coupe. Truth be told, Audi hampered the Q8's prospects by offering just one powertrain when it launched the model in South Africa. However, a turbodiesel-powered Q8 derivative is now available locally (and, for those craving V8-powered Audi SUVs, well, they're on their way).
A glance at the sales figures highlights just how popular turbodiesel derivatives are in this segment. It's easy to see why: as a general rule, larger-capacity turbodiesel SUVs offer a more relaxed driving experience; their lofty torque outputs make them useful for towing caravans/horseboxes and, let's not forget the fuel-consumption benefit: diesel-powered SUVs tend to be thriftier than their petrol-powered counterparts. Mind you, in this segment, if you can afford to buy the beast, you should be able to afford to feed it.
This review focuses purely on the 45 TDI quattro's new turbodiesel powertrain, as we've had considerable experience with the Audi Q8 already, albeit powered by a 3.0-litre turbopetrol engine. How does this new turbodiesel-powered derivative fare – is it markedly better than its unleaded-consuming sibling?
How it performs in terms of…
Performance, fuel economy and handling
Despite being shod with massive 22-inch alloy wheels, the Audi Q8 offered a smooth and supple ride.
A 3.0-litre turbodiesel V6 lurks under the 45 TDI quattro's bonnet. It's not our first experience of this motor: we've previously evaluated it in the Volkswagen Touareg, but, as a matter of interest, the latter delivers a touch more power at 190 kW (as opposed to this Audi's 183 kW), but we doubt you'd be able to feel the difference. The 8-speed automatic transmission offers supremely smooth 'shifts, but isn't the most responsive 'box to change up/down when you're pressing on in the default modes. If you take command by using the steering-wheel paddles and switch to Dynamic mode, the Q8 becomes far more engaging to drive, but, it's still essentially a large luxury SUV, so don't expect fireworks.
For a vehicle with such large dimensions and bulky proportions, nimble handling is not a priority, but the all-wheel-drive Q8 – shod with its optional 22-inch rubber – proved reassuring to pilot around some twisty bits of tarmac. It's not an interactive driving experience, nor did we expected it to be, but the Audi managed to make us believe we're behind the 'wheel of a smaller vehicle. The steering is good too, with reassuring solidity and directness. We were ever-aware of the Q8's width, however – it's not a narrow vehicle, so parallel parking required some forethought. Thankfully, the parking cameras are excellent and we were able to slot into normal-sized bays without much effort.
The various modes of the Audi Q8. It's interesting to see how the air suspension raises and lowers depending on the mode.
The 45 TDI quattro's real strength is its open-road prowess and, despite riding on large wheels, the Audi offers an impressive level of refinement and comfort, plus road-noise- and diesel-clatter suppression. With our shoot location entered into Google Maps (conveniently available via the Q8's touchscreen's Android Auto interface), we headed north along the West Coast. Mindful of the area's average-speed cameras, we engaged cruise control and were impressed by how crushingly competent the diesel-powered Q8 was.
With 600 Nm of torque on tap, overtaking manoeuvres were effortless; the Q8 will readily cover large swathes of tarmac with ease. It is immensely satisfying to lean on the accelerator pedal and feel the diesel motor stir. Don't be too heavy-footed – it will cause the transmission to hesitate before changing down gears, but still, the feeling of all 600 Newtons calmly hitting the tarmac is worth savouring. Audi has even managed to give its V6 TDI a bit of a sporty note – gone are the days of motors with harsh diesel clatter.
The Q8 has an 85-litre fuel tank and it's expected range from a to-the-brim fill-up is 962 km. During the 45 TDI quattro's tenure in our test fleet, we saw an indicated average fuel consumption figure of around the 8 L/100 km mark. If you use Eco mode, we're confident the figure could dip into the 7s. Our vehicle featured air suspension, which we noticed would raise and lower the vehicle automatically depending on mode. If you engage Allroad mode, the Q8 rises up majestically to offer enough clearance to clear most obstacles.
Could the 45 TDI quattro venture offroad with confidence, though? With Audi's integral all-wheel-drive system (with self-locking centre diff), which apportions torque between the axles, we'd say yes, it could easily tackle some gravel and muddy roads. Whether owners would be brave enough to risk scraping those gorgeous 22-inch alloys is a moot point.
Exterior styling
The rear lights of the Audi Q8 put on a show at night when you unlock the car and will wow onlookers
Make no mistake, this is easily one of the most visually-striking vehicles on the road. The Audi Q8 is classed as a coupe-SUV or Premium SUV Coupe (in #CarsAwards – powered by WesBank parlance). Whichever way a vehicle such as this ends up being described is a mish-mash because it's essentially a luxury, road-biased passenger car (as opposed to an off-roader) and it has 4 doors (2 more than it needs to be considered a coupe). Here's the kicker: no-one actually cares if the Q8 represents a contradiction in genres; vehicles such as the BMW X6, Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe, Range Rover Sport and, recently, Porsche Cayenne Coupe, have achieved considerable sales success.
Granted, our silver test unit isn't as striking as the Dragon Orange-finished one featured in nearly all the launch material, but with its distinctive lines and 22-inch alloy wheels, it drew its fair share of admiring glances. Our test unit also came with the optional S-Line Platinum Package, which adds the aforementioned alloy wheels, red brake callipers and other addenda. The Q8 is chapter 1 of Audi's new design language and we're going to see many products with similar design cues.
Interior execution and features
A technological masterpiece. Not only does the cabin exude quality and style, but it also incorporates impressive technology.
If the Q8's exterior styling piques your interest, the cabin will positively enchant you. The fascia is slick, minimalist, advanced… and unmistakably Audi at its most forward-thinking. Initially, you may find the fascia layout a trifle daunting and the interface of the touchscreen panels tricky to figure out, but after a few minutes, you're likely to get the hang of it all. Audi's digital dashboard (aka Virtual Cockpit) is on duty, but what's really interesting is the central setup, which comprises 2 screens. They're touchscreen units, but Audi has endowed them with haptic feedback, so when you select an option, there's a "click sensation" to make it feel like you've pressed a "button". The graphics and interface are sensational; they'd look more appropriate in a sci-fi movie than a 2020 SUV. Our only gripe? Keep a cloth handy – the screens are easily marked by fingerprints.
The first screen incorporates most of the functions, apart from climate control and ventilation, which is controlled by the second screen (below it). It looks quite advanced, but we discovered some neat tricks like swiping up and down on the temperature scale to make quick adjustments… No more manual adjustments of increments in half degrees! In terms of connectivity, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are supported, which allows you to mirror your smartphone's screen on the main screen. Google Maps look great!
In terms of practicality, while the Q8 is appreciably large and spacious, it does lose out in favour of its Q7 sibling. Subjectively, there's a touch more room for rear passengers' legs, as well as fractionally more aft headroom, in the Q7. We could live with those compromises, but whereas the Q7 can be specced to offer seating for 7; the Q8 can't. It's not like the drawback is exclusive to the Audi: the X6 and GLE coupe suffer a similar issue in relation to their X5 and GLE siblings. If you absolutely need 7 seats, look elsewhere.
Standard features are comprehensive, which is what you expect at this price point. Audi's Matrix LED headlights are potent and the way they avoid dazzling other road users is remarkable. Heated seats, lighting themes, a Bang & Olufsen sound system with 3D sound, and a steering wheel festooned with myriad controls are just some of the highlights.
The second screen focuses on climate and ventilation control. Those heated seats were a lovely way to stave off winter.
Pricing and warranty
Our test unit came with numerous extras, adding R153 570 to the value of the vehicle. Headlining the options list was the S line Platinum Package (R80 840), which included things like adaptive air suspension, S line exterior package, 22-inch wheels and red brake callipers. A trailer hitch (R17 070) was fitted, as were power-latching doors (R10 020), the latter function closes the doors softly if you didn't push them hard enough. Our Audi Q8 also came with the phone box, which includes wireless charging for mobile devices.
The Audi Q8 45TDI quattro's base price is R1 573 500?, which includes a 5-year/100 000 km maintenance plan.Lane departure warning (R5 380), lane change assist (R9 210) and advanced tyre pressure monitoring system (R4 690) were 3 noteworthy additions to the safety package, which we'd also recommend for your consideration.
Does the addition of a turbodiesel powertrain broaden the appeal of the Audi Q8 and, importantly, can the oil-burning 45 TDI quattro outshine its petrol-powered 55 TFSI quattro sibling? We can confidently answer: "Yes, on both counts." Granted, there's something magical about a lusty petrol V6 that likes to clear its throat, but logically, the turbodiesel motor offers significantly more talents. The benefits are numerous – the Q8 45TDI is a more refined open-road cruiser, the engine doesn't need to be worked hard to produce the eye-widening acceleration and, best of all, if you drive with a measured driving style, you'll be rewarded with impressive economy. It's just a more accomplished offering.
Drawbacks? Well, there aren't many, but some are worth mentioning. We're puzzled by 45 TDI quattro's price premium over its similarly-engined Q7 sibling. Granted, the Q7 is due for a facelift before the end of 2020 (which will no doubt result in a price increase), but it's hard to justify the R400 000 difference between the derivatives. That being said, when you compare the 2 vehicles, the Q8 offers way more kerb- and road presence; many wouldn't look twice at the Q7, but the Q8 is a limelight-stealer of note.
And, if you demand more performance from the Q8 package, Audi South Africa has confirmed it will be introducing the potent SQ8 and RS Q8 before the end of 2020…
The X-Class never quite hit the mark but Carlex Design has breathed some life into the failed double-cab bakkie from Stuttgart and it looks quite convincing, don’t you think?
Nonetheless, these developments haven’t stopped tuning specialist, Carlex Design, from getting to work on the X-Class to create a beefed-up bakkie that might get a few enthusiasts riled up.
The upgrade is called the Exy Extreme+ and as for the styling upgrades, the X-Class wears a striking body kit that incorporates a new bumper, grille design, headlights design, bonnet lip, unique taillight frame design, wheel arch extensions, a rear spoiler as well as a redesigned rear bumper. This X-Class rides on 18-inch alloy wheels and is also equipped with a front skid plate, custom side steps, sports bar and an LED light bar which completes the look.
The interior comes with black leather and Alcantara trimmings for the seats, dashboard and doors panels while yellow accents add a splash of colour to the interior. A custom steering wheel is also fitted which adds a sportier touch. This X-Class by Carlex Design also boasts a 100 mm suspension lift as well as a new exhaust system.
Tell us what you think of this upgrade for the X-Class!
If you own a Hyundai i30 N and find yourself desiring even better cornering poise, some clever German engineers have a solution.
H&R is an engineering specialist based in Lennestadt, and their product development resources apply to coilover upgrade kits for performance vehicles. In short: better springs to prevent body roll.
With Hyundai finally having entered the performance motoring realm, with its i30 N, H&R technical staff analysed where the impressive Korean hot hatch could possibly gain some additional dynamic driving polish.
The result is a coilover and stabilizer kit, specifically engineered for Hyundai’s potent i30 N. Best of all, these mechanical suspension upgrades don’t interfere with the i30 N’s stability electronics, preventing an annoying slew of error messages once installed.
H&R’s two-way adjustable stabilizers are supported by more compression resistant springs and lower the i30 by between 20-40 mm, depending on owner preference. Reducing the i30 N’s ride height should ensure even better agility and high-speed tracking stability.
Aside from the stability benefits of this H&R lowering kit, the company is also offering its own wheel spacers, machined from high tensile aluminium, to prevent corrosion.
The H&R i30 N wheel spacers add 30 mm of track width to each axle, which should further sharpen cornering turn-in behaviour for the Korean hot hatch.
We know Ford is on the cusp of launching the all-new Bronco SUV, but now it appears that its not just a single model, but rather an entire range. Here's what we know
The return of the Ford Bronco has not been a well-kept secret and the new model is due for a reveal in the middle of July 2020. Or should we rather say 'models' ? That's right, the Ford Bronco won't just be the one model as Ford confirmed Bronco is now a brand and a family.
“Bronco gave rise to the fun and versatile off-road SUV in 1966, becoming the first enjoyable sport utility vehicle for those who wanted to live, work and play outdoors,” said Jim Farley, Ford chief operating officer. “Like the original, the all-new Bronco family is engineered to take you to epic places, with capability to deliver confidence on any type of terrain.”
The teaser image you see here showcases 3 Bronco models. There's going to be a 2-door, 4-door and a Sport model which Ford claims will deliver on the brand's Built Wild principles of Extreme Durability Testing, Capability and Innovative Design. There's a huge focus on outdoor lifestyle and offroad ability. “Rugged vehicles are in our heritage and we see strong growth opportunities with this ever-more popular segment,” said Kumar Galhotra, Ford president, Americas and International Markets Group. “The Bronco brand meets that need by creating a family of truly capable off-roaders to take our customers further into the wild. We’ve leveraged extensive off-road experience from vehicles like our F-150 Raptor to ensure that every Bronco delivers the ‘Built Wild’ toughness and durability our customers expect.”
Ford will also be building offroad schools and Bronco communities to connect like-minded enthusiasts.
At this stage, the Ford Bronco is unlikely to come to South Africa. Stay tuned for more Ford Bronco news.
