Can you really tune an electric car and make it faster? RevoZport believes you can and has revealed a crazy aerodynamic package for the Tesla Model 3.
It can't be easy to be a tuner with electric cars coming to market. You can't tweak the electric engine much, although tuners are trying to sharpen power delivery and increase battery capacity for extra performance. So attention is being turned to aerodynamics and suspension to improve performance. RevoZport's electric arm R-ZENTRIC has released a special aero package for the Tesla Model 3 and we think it looks incredible.
The goal was to make the Tesla Model 3 a high-performance track attack racer without impacting on the car's range. Cleverly the focus was on aerodynamics and drag reduction. By fitting active aerodynamics, the car will adapt to the driver's demands. Put your foot down and all the spoilers and wings retract to reduce drag and increase the range. The kit comprises an active front spitter that extends or retracts depending on whether you require downforce. There's also a huge carbon-fibre diffuser underneath the car with an active panel at the rear. When the panel is deployed, there's downforce which works in tandem with the front splitter to keep the car hunkered down. These 2 elements are controlled by a G-force sensor.
There's plenty of carbon fibre thrown in too, with a ducktail boot spoiler as well as a lightweight bonnet. Rounding off the package are lightweight forged 21-inch wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Super Sports sticky rubber. To help it corner more effectively, the tyres at the rear are wider than those at the front.
While many petrolheads lament the dawn of the electric era as the beginning of the end of the fun times, it's good to see that tuners are already getting their hands on electric cars and making them more engaging to drive. We may lose the sound and feel of an internal combustion engine, but the feel of going fast around a twisty corner should never be lost. If the acceleration feeling of an electric car puts a smile on our faces, we're looking forward to seeing what comes next.
The lightweight alloy wheels wrapped in high-performance track rubber, as well as the active aero, mean this Tesla Model 3 will be super quick around a circuit.
Mercedes-AMG is ready its next iteration of the E63 S super sedan and our spy photographers have spotted a less disguised prototype leaving the Nurburgring.
Picture credit: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien. We have paid for these photos and at the photographer's request, have watermarked them.
The Mercedes-AMG E63 S is slowly losing its camouflage, meaning we're expecting a reveal pretty soon. That being said, we were hoping to get a reveal earlier this year at the 2020 Geneva Motor Show, but with these latest images its clear AMG is not finished with the car yet. As far as powertrains go, we're thinking the 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbo unit will be carried over as before, but how much power will it make is the real question.
The current Mercedes-AMG E63 S delivers a thumping 450 kW and 850 Nm making it good for 3.4 seconds to 100 kph. Interestingly, we do know this powertrain is capable of 470 kW and 900 Nm, evidenced by the mighty Mercedes-AMG GT63 S 4-door. Power will go to all 4 wheels via a 9-speed gearbox and like before, it will offer front axle decoupling resulting in monstrous smokey drifts as the rear wheels are overwhelmed by that V8.
We already have some idea of what the next-generation Mercedes-AMG E63 looks like thanks to this leak.
The Chinese market gets some interesting models from Volkswagen and yet another has been revealed. Meet the Volkswagen Viloran business minivan.
The Volkswagen Viloran is built on the MQB platform by SAIC Volkswagen joint venture and is the biggest product to use this architecture. It's over 5 metres, 2 metres wide and has a wheelbase of 3.1 metres giving it a strong focus on passenger space.
It's claimed to seat 7, but we're particularly interested in the 2nd-row captain chairs which look extremely comfortable. The cabin has been given a serious luxury look with plenty of leather and massage seats. There's also virtual cockpit and a panoramic roof. It's said to be safe too, with an adaptive cruise control system, traffic jam assistant, auto park, lane-keeping assist and auto brake.
In terms of engines, the Volkswagen Viloran has the option of a 2.0-litre turbocharged motor with around 160 kW and 350 Nm, as well as a 136 kW / 320 Nm variant. Power goes to the front wheels via a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.
It's destined for China-only, but if you want the next best thing, then look towards a Volkswagen Kombi/Caravelle.
Calvin Fisher has scoured all the available streaming services available in South Africa to list the best car flicks to make your lockdown fly by.
I know. You're bored. I am too, but relief is in sight. I've spent the last few days combing DSTV Now, Amazon Prime and Netflix to bring you this list of awesome movies and documentaries that you can watch RIGHT now! What qualifies a "car movie"? Well, I've kept it simple so whether the car is the star of the show or simply features prominently, I reckon it's in here. So, no movies with just one cool car chase – sorry Jason Bourne. And while John Wick and his wicked Mustang would totally qualify, it sadly doesn’t exist on the aforementioned streaming services. So, with the stage set, action!
1. Grand Tour (on Amazon Prime)
Modern Top Gear was born from the loins of this crusty old trio: Messrs Clarkson, Hammond and May. Naturally, their Amazon series, the Grand Tour, is a master class in motor-vehicular mayhem. Even if the modern version often takes the jokes too far, the cinematography is outstanding to watch. Binge all 3 seasons. Immediately.
2. Days of Thunder (on DStv Now)
You can thank Multichoice's pop-up Tom Cruise channel for this one. This is clearly the inspiration for Will Ferrell's Talladega Nights, which sadly can't be found on the aforementioned services. And that's okay because Days of Thunder is an absolute classic. Think Top Gun with cars. In fact, just think Cars – minus Owen Wilson's Lightning McQueen.
3. Wheelman (on Netflix)
This one’s a hidden Netflix gem that deserves to be watched. It stars getaway driver Frank Grillo at the helm of a four-door E46 BMW – notice I didn’t say M3. Pundits reckon it's a naturally aspirated 3.0-litre straight-6 similar to an SA-built 330i of that era, but that is beside the point. Frank manages to make the compact Bavarian saloon look as cool as any muscle car.
4. Fast and Furious: Hobbes and Shaw (on DSTV Now)
I get it… you’ve got Fast and Furious fatigue, we all do. This spin-off featuring The Rock, Idris Elba and Jason Statham, however, doesn’t even try to take itself seriously and comes choc-full of the hottest metal you can imagine. Brainless. Stimulation. Guaranteed.
5. Formula One: Drive to Survive (on Netflix)
If you are limited to watching just one F1-themed docu-series then this has to be it. It comes with a compelling storyline and an excellent presentation likely to enthral aficionados and newcomers. This is top-shelf content, folks. Boredom be gone. In fact, I'd say you'll enjoy this more than your average 2020 F1 race. Especially now that the season in on pause.
6. Joy Ride (on Amazon Prime)
This one stars the late Paul Walker, but is not a Fast and Furious movie. Rather, he partners up with the zany Steve Zahn as brothers on a rollercoaster of a thriller written by JJ Abrahams. They’re on a cross-country road trip in a 1971 Chrysler Newport (not your typical muscle car). The film is made in the spirit of 70s thriller, The Duel – so it involves a killer in hot murderous pursuit.
7. Senna (on Netflix)
This is the ultimate tale of 3-time world F1 drivers' champion Ayrton Senna, one of the greatest and arguably, most iconic F1 racing drivers of all time. It follows his illustrious career right up until the moment he died at Imola in 1994. It's been brilliantly cobbled together from interviews, old footage and unaired content, into the most riveting and emotional narrative you could hope for.
8. Baby Driver (on Netflix)
This is an Edgar Wright flick, director of the Simon Pegg trilogy of Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and The World's End. He also did Scott Pilgrim and has mastered the cinematic jump-cut sequence, making his approach to a classic heist movie (and its talented getaway driver) that much more exciting. They make a red Subaru WRX sedan do very interesting things to the beat of the soundtrack, which is worth the price of admission alone.
9. Hot Fuzz (on Amazon Prime)
Look, we have to talk about this. Edgar Wright again, with the Simon Pegg-Nick Frost dream team in a British crime comedy. It makes it into my list for the way they turned boring Vauxhall Astra police cars into action superstars. Handbrake turns. J-Turns. It’s all here. Like a classic Top Gear skit turned Hollywood blockbuster.
10. Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee (on Netflix)
I love cars obviously, but I also love coffee and come on, who doesn’t like to laugh? This Jerry Seinfeld creation, born on YouTube and now lovingly produced for Netflix, has the lot. There are 3 seasons to enjoy with exotic metal and a hilarious list of Hollywood’s funniest to keep you coming back.
11. 6 Underground (on Netflix)
This Ryan Reynolds’ vehicle is the closest you’ll come to Ronin – an explosive Michael Bay heist film with double-crosses, carnage and a plethora of wicked metal including, but not limited to, the Ferrari 488 and a particularly drifty green Alfa Giulia Quadrifoglio. The latter enjoys an extended car chase scene so gratuitous it reminds me why the man’s films are referred to as Bayhem. Thankfully more in the vein of Bad Boys than those ridiculous Transformers movies.
12. The Italian Job (on Netflix)
Mark Wahlberg, Jason Statham and Charlize Theron star in this old-school heist film and must club together to take the fight to Edward Norton after a wicked betrayal in the opening act. Luckily they have a trio of heavily-modified Mini Coopers with which to wreak havoc. If you've ever enjoyed a gymkhana, this movie has all the handbrake turn, parking lot tomfoolery you could hope for.
13. Smokey and the Bandit (on Netflix)
Can you name a more iconic duo than Burt Reynolds and his black Pontiac Firebird Transam? Smokey and the Bandit lives in that rarified air between Cannonball Run and The Dukes of Hazzard. This is still great entertainment despite being over 4 decades old. And if you don’t know who Burt Reynolds is, please hand in your petrolhead licence at once
14. Initial D (on Netflix)
It’s the legendary tale of Takumi Fujiwara and his Hachi Roku – the infamous 4AGE powered rear-wheel-drive Trueno hatchback. This car alone has one of the largest followings ever and is responsible for a significant part of drift culture. Needless to say, I am a massive massive fan of the Initial D anime series and this live-action version, while just average, stars your favourite JDM icons, including R32 Skyline GTRs, Mazda RX-7s and Civic Type Rs.
15. Wired Cars (on Amazon Prime)
There’s no denying that technology is becoming increasingly relevant in motoring, so when a technology magazine like Wired decides to do a series on the motorcar, you can count on a fresh perspective. They don't disappoint with these snappy videos, including a look at the cars from movies like the Fast and Furious franchise, investigate weird driving laws, tackle texting and driving and imagining a future with driverless cars.
The Dreamer – A Fashion Film in Partnership with Mercedes-Benz and Klipa Denim
Cars.co.za teams up with Mercedes-Benz and Klipa Denim to produce a branded fashion film that exudes African-Haute-Couture-cum-James-Bond in the Maluti Mountains
Local film director Robert dos Santos has unveiled his latest fashion film – an African inspired cinematic Western that moves boundlessly through the vast mountains of Lesotho.
Explaining his vision behind the film, Dos Santos notes "Lesotho is an unknown gem within the Southern African region. The moment you cross the border you are thrown into an incredible and beautiful landscape filled with the most remarkably beautiful people."
The colour and fashion pieces used in the film were inspired by the design of the Mercedes-AMG GT.
Shooting the film was a journey in itself with a flight to Lesotho having to be abandoned and turned around 10 minutes after take off from Lanseria due to poor weather, moving heavy and expensive film gear 2500m up a mountain, and shooting alongside a shear cliff face.
Dos Santos continues, "The idea to create a fashion film in Lesotho was inspired by a conversation and a trip I experienced with my friend and colleague Jono Kyriakou. I approached Cars.co.za, known for making beautiful car and travel films, with the idea and happily the brand didn’t hesitate to partner with us on the project."
He adds, "With Cars.co.za's help we reached out to Mercedes-Benz, a staple in the fashion industry, who came on board with their incredible GT sports car to help us to realise our vision."
Lehlohonolo Kwape wears a one-of-a-kind outfit that was created by Klipa Denim specially for use in this film.
Inspired by the bright yellow AMG as seen in the film, a one of a kind outfit was created by local fashion house Klipa Denim. The colour and pattern of the fashion pieces were inspired by the car, itself. The leather trimmings were inspired by the saddle and reins of the horse, while the overall design was inspired by the African landscape.
Speaking of his rationale behind the fashion films he creates, dos Santos concludes, "For me fashion films should be likened to runway fashion, it has nothing to do with practicality but everything to do with feeling. Our film tries to balance and encapsulate these emotions in a mixture of subtle power and windswept elegance."
About
Robert dos Santos has produced and directed local and internationally nominated fashion films and commercials, with his most recent fashion film 'Light' having played in festivals in the UK and USA.
Lockdown Basement Review – New Honda BR-V 7-seater
How do you review a car when you can't drive it anywhere other than to the local shops? And without a film crew? This seemed like a chance for Ciro De Siena to do his job.
With South Africa under national lockdown to help fight COVID-19, we had to find a way to still review cars. Luckily Ciro De Siena has a 4-story basement in his building and enough camera equipment to film on his own. With the Cars.co.za crew staying safely at home, Ciro asks you, our lovely audience, to bear with him as he attempts to do his job on his own, in a basement.
In this video, we'll take a detailed look at the segment the Honda BR-V competes in, notably against the new Suzuki Ertiga and Toyota Avanza. Ciro also takes the BR-V for a spin around the basement to get to grips with the fire-spitting engine. All to answer the question, is this the best 7-seater family car you can buy right now?
With the gradual uptick in automatic gearbox choices among customers, Ford is offering an entry-level self-shifting option in its Compact Family SUV. It has also taken the opportunity to add a few more features to the rest of the Ecosport lineup.
The current Ecosport compact SUV was introduced locally in 2013 with a model rejuvenation in 2018. The Ecosport has remained a top-seller in the segment since its introduction thanks to its generous specification and keen price point. With sales in SUVs heavily in favour of automatic gearboxes, Ford has added the option of a 6-speed auto to its entry-level Ambiente model. The 1.5 petrol Ambiente (91 kW and 151 Nm) model is the only naturally-aspirated Ecosport in the lineup, and alongside the diesel Ambiente, is sourced from India (the rest come from the Romanian plant).
In addition to the auto, the Trend and Titanium models have benefitted from further safety and technical updates. It has added Ford’s Collision Mitigation System – a pre-collision assist feature that alerts the driver of a potential collision with the vehicle ahead, pre-charges the brakes and, if necessary, applies maximum braking pressure once the driver presses the brake pedal.
Cruise control with a speed limiter function has now been added to the Trend models, while the Titanium gains front parking sensors to accompany the rear sensors that are standard across the range. An underbody protection shield added on Trend and Titanium models reduces the threat of potential underbody damage.
Audi has revealed the sedan version of its all-new A3. Check it out.
The compact 4-door Audi A3 sedan was received when it was first launched and now there's a new model. It's 4cm longer, 2cm wider and 1cm taller, giving it a bit more space in the cabin, while boot space is identical to that of the outgoing model at 425 litres. The new Audi A3 sedan is 15 cm longer than the 5-door Sportback model. The 3-door Sportback model has been canned.
The design is sleek, with Audi claiming its aerodynamically efficient more than ever. Inside, the cabin is near-identical to that of the A3 Sportback. It adopts the new-look MMI Touchscreen and a fully digital cockpit display. Standard connectivity services such as online traffic information and the news are available as well as giving passengers Wi-Fi connectivity, but final SA-specs are still to be confirmed. Audi is also offering Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, as well as Amazon Alexa in the car.
In terms of engines, there are 3 available. There is a 1.5-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder motor, plus a 2.0-litre turbodiesel. In A3 35 TFSI spec, the 1.5-litre delivers 110 kW and can be mated to either a 6-speed manual gearbox or a 7-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission. If you opt for the latter, the vehicle boasts a 48 V mild-hybrid setup that improves efficiency. The diesel 35 TDI model has 110 kW and is fitted with a 7-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission. Audi says there will be a lower-spec diesel model, badged as a 30 TDI.
For the performance fans, there will be the S3 sedan and RS3 sedan, the latter of which we've seen undergoing testing in disguise.
Audi South Africa confirmed the A3 Sedan will be coming to SA with an expected arrival time around the second quarter of 2021.
There are many things you can’t do during this national lockdown period, but you can still buy a car, for the most part.
If you’re still in the market for a car or come across something that catches your eye in the online classifieds during the lockdown, the dealers are still open for business, albeit behind closed doors, of course. Most dealers have set up contingency plans like working from home or redirecting calls of enquiry to their mobile phones. Dealership sales staff members are still responding to the queries and requests you put though. We spoke to Meyer Benjamin, MD of the IPOP group that houses brands like Suzuki, Haval, Mazda and GWM, as well as Willie Du Plessis of Bidvest McCarthy Toyota Table View to get an idea of what’s still happening on the dealership front.
Q:How far down the vehicle-purchasing road can a buyer currently go under lockdown?
Meyer Benjamin (MB): Pretty far, actually. In terms of percentage, 85% of the way… to put a figure on it.
Willie Du Plessis (WDP): We can do everything up to the point of delivery, the car will be set aside in the dealership, ready for the day that the business reopens its doors.
Q: The cars in the dealership can’t be test-driven, obviously. What options does a buyer have in terms of viewing the vehicle?
MB: There is a lot we can do with modern technology. Voice calls are the easiest, but we can field questions on WhatsApp too. We have a lot of images that we can share of the vehicles, as well as stock videos we may have and are available to answer any questions. We have also been posting on social media in order to help inform buyers of deals and vehicle features.
WDP: We are continuing to service customers over the phones and via WhatsApp. What's more, we continue to advertise stock on various platforms so buyers understand we are still available if they want to enquire.
Q: Is finance still available?
MB: Yes finance is still available, right the way from application to funding from the finance houses.
Q:When would a buyer get their car if they were to buy it now?
MB: That’s more up to (President) Cyril (Ramaphosa) and the length of the lockdown, but we are in a position to resume deliveries the moment the lockdown ends.
WDP: As soon as the lockdown ends.
Q:What about vehicle inspections and quality checks?
MB: All vehicles go through a roadworthy inspection when they come to us, you can rest assured that before they go on sale they would have undergone the necessary checks.
WDP: We do all our inspections in-house through our workshop, all vehicles are inspected when they come into the dealership.
Q:Are vehicles at your premises safe and kept out of harm’s way?
MB: The vehicles that fit within the showroom floor have been locked inside. Others have been moved to a secure off-site location.
WDP: The vehicles remain at our premises under lock and key; security is still on-site – they are considered an essential service.
What about trading in?
When it comes to trade-ins, the dealer can make you an offer based on your vehicle's mileage and model year. Some dealers will accept images you have of the vehicle and make you an offer based on what they see. Finance can then be applied for, but the offer will be subject to inspection after the lockdown has ended. If anything is discovered that would affect the value of the trade-in, the finance application will have to start all over again.
And new cars?
We asked Charmagne Mavudzi, head of marketing and communications at Volvo Car South Africa similar questions to see if you still have access to new cars.
Q:How far down the vehicle purchasing road can a buyer currently go under lockdown?
CM: Our retailers are available to assist you from their homes to yours. In the comfort of your home, you can reserve the vehicle of choice, discuss pricing and have any questions you may have answered. All vehicle sales enquiries can be sent to [email protected]
Q:The cars can’t be test-driven, obviously. What options does a buyer have in terms of viewing the vehicle?
CM: A fully interactive website, which details all makes and models available for purchase at our dealerships can be found here: https://www.volvocars.com/za In addition, the latest news, reviews, and Volvo car content can be found socially via Instagram, Facebook and Twitter
Q: Is it possible to get a purchased vehicle delivered during the lockdown or how soon thereafter would it be delivered to a buyer?
CM: Personal safety is at the heart of Volvo’s purpose – providing freedom to move in a personal, sustainable and safe way. In line with the national lockdown, Volvo Car South Africa and our dealer network will be closed during this time as we fully support the efforts to flatten the curve and slow the spread of the pandemic. Our services will return to normal following the end of the national lockdown.
Q: What security measures are being taken to make sure a purchased car remains safe/clean at this time?
CM: Our Customer Care and Support teams continue to function normally. We have strong plans in place and robust technology that allow us to run our operations remotely. All new vehicles purchased will remain securely stored at Volvo facilities until such time as they can be delivered following the end of the national lockdown.
After posting massive losses in Q1, Ford has confirmed more bad news to British industry insiders Autocar: there will be no evolution of its celebrated RS-badge.
For decades Ford’s European designers and engineers have built RS-badged passenger cars, at times to fulfil homologation requirements, but also to ensure that enthusiast followers of the blue oval badge had something to aspire too.
That Ford RS heritage is now scheduled to become a fact of history, without any future plans.
Although South African Ford fans have been prepared for such disappointment, due to the latest-generation ST vehicles not being marketed here, it will still come as a shock to committed followers of the RS sub-brand.
Rumours have been milling in Europe, since the start of this year, that Ford’s RS strategy would be suspended. Initially, it was assumed that hybridization would ensure a next-generation Focus RS, but the development cost of adding an electric drive to the platform's rear axle proved too expensive.
Passengers cars have certainly taken a back seat in Ford's vehicle strategy, with the brand overcommitting to its profitable bakkies and larger SUVs in recent years. This has been seen in SA where the once, thousand plus a month Fiesta has seen its numbers drop to around 15% of that. Models like the Ecosport, Ranger and Everest have pushed Ford's numbers of late.
Without a viable passenger car market in North America, the Focus RS had effectively become a European model, creating issues. As surging emissions regulation and penalties wait to be deployed in the European car market, Ford decided to call it quits rather than seek a costly solution.
The absence of a fourth-generation Focus RS will deliver Ford hot hatch fans into a future dominated by German or even Korean alternatives.
With Ford focussing on the American market and a global portfolio of bakkies to drive its return to profitability, niche products such as Focus RS, have become completely irrelevant.
