Land Rover has revealed a new 3-cylinder plug-in hybrid system that will be offered on the popular Range Rover Evoque and Land Rover Discovery Sport SUVs.
In an effort to bring Land Rover one step closer to its Destination Zero mission, which strives for zero emissions, zero accidents and zero congestion, the Coventry-based firm is introducing a new plug-in hybrid system that will be offered in the Range Rover Evoque and the Land Rover Discovery.
The new plug-in hybrid system was designed and built in-house using the brand’s scaleable Ingenium engine architecture. The system combines a 147 kW 3-cylinder 1.5-litre petrol engine and an 80 kW electric motor to deliver an all-electric range of up to 66 km for the Evoque and 62 km for the Discovery Sport. Claimed fuel consumption is roughly 1.4 L/100km and CO2 emissions are as low as 32g/km depending on the model.
As for charging, the system can be charged by harvesting energy generated through acceleration and braking in electric or hybrid mode which recharges the battery. The 15 kWh battery can also be charged by plugging into a public rapid charger that will charge up to 80% of capacity in 30 minutes. A dedicated wall box at your home will take 1 hour 24 minutes while a domestic wall socket will take 6 hours and 42 minutes to charge up.
30 minutes is all you need to get up to 80% charge at a public fast charger.
Both the Evoque and Discovery Sport are built on Land Rover’s Premium Transverse Architecture and the hybrid hardware is neatly packed in the cabin floor without impinging on cabin space, luggage space or all-terrain ability.
The introduction of this technology marks the second phase of electrification at Land Rover’s Halewood plant where more than 1 500 employees are producing these new plug-in derivatives.
In addition to these new derivatives, Jaguar Land Rover is expanding on its electrified portfolio which embraces fully electric, plug-in hybrid and mild-hybrid vehicles seen in current products such as the flagship Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, the new Defender and the all-electric Jaguar I-Pace.
The company will also transform its facility at Castle Bromwich where a range of new electric vehicles will be built, including the new Jaguar XJ. It was also announced last year that Jaguar Land Rover would build its electric drive units at its Wolverhampton Engine Manufacturing Centre in the UK which is complemented with investment into the UK’s most technically-advanced battery assembly centre at Hams Hall, all of which will contribute to the company’s next generation of vehicles.
The Range Rover Evoque PHEV and Land Rover Discovery PHEV have not been confirmed for introduction in South Africa.
This is as much performance as you're likely to get in the current 1 Series. How does the 135i live up to its heritage now that it has changed the very thing that made it unique? Ciro De Siena made this video to explain it.
Every now and then, a test car arrives at the office and divides opinion among the Cars.co.za journalists. This is not one of those times.
With the new BMW M135i, BMW has removed all the character traits that made the M140i so special. Six-cylinder engine? Cheers. Rear-wheel-drive? Also gone. So this is now an all-wheel-drive, 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder hatchback. So, it's basically a Golf R?
In this video, Ciro De Siena finds out if there's any BMW-ness left in the flagship 1 Series.
Possible hybrid-bakkie in the making from American electric vehicle maker?
American vehicle brand, Karma (previously Fisker Automotive), teased a double-cab bakkie rendering earlier this year. With many broken promises over the years, Karma’s product deadlines are often met with disappointment, but the future of its bakkie project has just become a bit more real.
The company has now shown a working example of its new plug-in hybrid vehicle platform. Called the E-Flex, it is claimed to be one of the most sophisticated and adaptable hybrid vehicle platforms in existence.
For Karma’s own use the new E-Flex platform will support five different products, which could possibly include a production version of its new double-cab bakkie.
The E-Flex platform differs from the skateboard-type design, which has become the industry standard for electric vehicles of late. Where the clever engineering happens, is in how adjustable it is – being able to change wheelbase and ride height configurations, for different plug-in hybrid applications.
Whilst the industry is rushing to produce pure electric vehicle platforms, the reality is that most customers are more comfortable with hybrids. In the global bakkie market, hybrids are still a complete rarity and with the E-Flex platform, Karma could have an important design advantage to leverage.
Karma claims that 22 vehicle configurations are possible on its E-Flex platform, so it is quite safe to assume a bakkie is one of them. Our indication of the E-Flex’s powertrain output is by scrutinizing the speciation of Karma’s 2020 model year Revero GT sportscar – which is the only production vehicle currently using it.
The hybrids system powering Karma’s Revero uses a relatively modest 28 kWh battery pack, in combination with a BMW sourced 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine. With the benefit of turbocharging, the total peak system output is 400 kW and 746 Nm.
Those numbers would be more than potent enough for any future double-cab bakkie project from Karma. And truth be told, the market might be more receptive to a hybrid bakkie transition, for now, than an expensive pure battery-driven double-cab.
Volkswagen Readies Tiguan + Arteon Plug In Hybrids
Volkswagen has announced plug-in hybrid versions of its Tiguan and Arteon to be released in 2020.
Volkswagen is making good on its electric mobility plans and while the all-electric ID.3 has been delayed, the brand is expanding its portfolio with an array of plug-in hybrids. Volkswagen claims the demand for some form of electrification has increased considerably in its domestic market of Germany with 1 in 2 Volkswagen Up! units is for the electric model, while 1 in 7 Passats sold is the plug-in hybrid.
The new plug-in engines look exciting on paper. The Volkswagen Passat GTE features a 1.4 TSI motor developing 115 kW as well as an electric motor with 85 kW. Combined, there's 160 kW and 400 Nm, and 3 driving modes. Impressively, it is claimed to cover up to 56 km on pure electric alone, which Volkswagen says beats the 42 km daily range by an average customer. It's this engine which we believe will be going into the Arteon and Tiguan plug-in hybrid models. There's also a Tiguan facelift due in 2020 to look forward too.
Volkswagen has already confirmed a GTE version of the new Golf 8, packing 180 kW as well as a Touareg R with its 340 kW hybrid V6. As for the South African market, Volkswagen SA has confirmed its undergoing trials with the ID.3 and e-Golf, before launching its electric cars to our market in 2022.
It appears the new Nissan X-Trail has been revealed thanks to a patent filing in South America.
In a Brazilian patent filing, Nissan has submitted the designs you see here. From what we can see, the new Nissan SUV has a face and design elements not too dissimilar to that of the all-new Juke. The outgoing Nissan X-Trail wasn't unattractive, but the design seems to have matured nicely.
The cabin is expected to showcase the majority of changes as there'll be an upgraded interior with nicer materials and more modern tech thrown in. Expect a digital dashboard, more connectivity and so on. The Nissan X-Trail is available in 5-seater and 7-seater configuration, and depending on the model, quite handy when it comes to the offroad stuff.
In terms of engines, we expect naturally-aspirated petrol, turbocharged petrol and turbodiesel motors in the lineup. The last taste of X-Trail we had was the 2.5-litre petrol with 126 kW and 233 Nm mated to a CVT. Expect the new Nissan X-Trail (badged as Rogue in some markets) to be revealed before the end of 2020.
Toyota Financial Services has announced relief plans for customers who have been financially impacted by COVID-19.
Toyota Financial Services provides a wide range of financial services products to the Retail and Corporate market in South Africa including Vehicle and Asset Finance, Full Maintenance Leasing and Vehicle Stock Funding.
Due to the current pandemic crisis which has impacted everyone, Toyota Financial Services has announced relief plans for customers. In a statement, Toyota Financial Services said, "in response to the effective actions put into place by our National Government, we have implemented what we believe, are appropriate and ethical plans to responsibly navigate around the current situation and ensure service continuity for all our customers. We applaud the Government for taking decisive action early on and charting the course."
What does this entail? From 1st April until the 30th June 2020, Toyota Financial Services will implement measures to provide relief to individual and business customers. Toyota Financial Services makes it clear that the relief and support will depend on the type of product and prior banking behaviour. Standard interest and fees will continue to accumulate, but no fees will be charged for any relief granted. Customers are advised to get in touch to make the necessary arrangements. "Our aim is to ensure that customers across all our product segments can continue keeping their financial affairs in order through this difficult time. We encourage all customers who can honour their financial obligations to continue servicing their repayments to maintain a positive credit record," said the statement.
British tuner, mountune52, has done some impressive upgrades on the current Volkswagen Golf GTI.
The Golf GTI has been a smash hit for Volkswagen and while its due to be replaced with an all-new GTI very soon, tuners such as mountune52 (The Volkswagen division of Mountune) are making the most of what the 7th generation Golf GTI has to offer.
While the current Golf GTI offers 169 kW and 350 Nm from its 2.0-litre turbopetrol engine, this fine Golf GTI specimen by mountune52 benefits from a Stage 2+ upgrade calibration which has boosted power to a cracking 287 kW while torque has been boosted to 510 Nm. Zero to 100 kph now takes just 5.2 seconds (standard GTI does 6.4 seconds)! It’s worth noting that the Golf GTI Clubsport S offers 228 kW and 380 Nm.
“This latest upgrade for the Golf GTI, showcases not only our performance expertise but also the continued broadening of the mountune52 product catalogue” explains Alec Pell-Johnson, Director of Mountune and mountune52. “The Golf GTI is an incredibly popular car with a huge community of enthusiasts always striving to take the performance of the car to the next level and we believe that the STAGE 2+ power upgrade does just that.”
The significant power gains are made possible with an IS38 turbocharger fitted from the Golf R as well as bespoke calibration to maximise performance. Using a mTune handset, users are able to decide when they access the additional performance. The DSG transmission can also be upgraded to a TCU DSG (a clutch upgrade is also available).
Do you like what mountune52 has done with the Volkswagen Golf GTI?
Sadly, due to COVID-19, we're not allowed to drive unless it's absolutely necessary and our vehicles are parked. Here are some tips to look after them.
We're a few days into the 21-day lockdown and the AA of SA has shared some tips on how best to look after your car and motorbikes. “Any vehicle that is left unused for a period of time may develop issues that require intervention to get running normally again. But the hassle of wanting to start a vehicle when the battery is drained, or driving on uneven wheels, may be alleviated with some proper home care for the next couple of weeks,” says the AA.
Vehicle Lockdown Tips
If you can, park the vehicle indoors, under a roof, or use a car cover so it stays cleaner for longer.
Some may have suggested removing the battery, but disconnecting the negative terminal will also be fine. Remember to never touch the terminals together and use vaseline on the terminals to prevent rust.
Long-term dirt can cause paintwork damage so now is a good time to give it a good hand wash.
If you can, block the air intakes and exhaust with some rags, which the AA says will stop rats and bugs from getting in. Remember to remove these before you start the vehicle, so leave a note on the steering wheel to remind you.
Prevent your wipers from sticking to the windshield by putting some plastic wrap under the blades first.
While we may not be driving, it's tempting to cancel your insurance policies for the period of the lockdown. The AA notes, "you may be flouting the terms of your lease or purchase agreements if you cancel"
If the lockdown is extended, the AA says it's worth filling up with petrol as a full tank will prevent rust from forming on the inside. At least the petrol price is coming down significantly.
If the lockdown is extended, flat spots may occur on the wheels and to prevent this, try jack all the tyres off the ground.
“Having a reliable vehicle is essential and should not be taken for granted. If you are leaving your vehicle unused for a long period, it will still require some maintenance. Do not assume that an unused vehicle is going to start first time weeks after it was last used if it is not properly cared for during the lockdown,” concludes the AA.
Former VW and BMW designer follows the current trend and heads East.
Kia has appointed a new vice president of interior design. Belgian, Jochen Paesen will be yet another European influence at the Korean car company, which has not been shy to buy-in the best available talent when required.
Paesen studied at the University of Coventry, completing a design degree, before attending the Royal College of Art. His portfolio is very strong, having served as an interior designer at both VW and of late, BMW.
If you are a Kia brand fan, Paesen’s appointment should be met with overwhelming approval and excitement. His responsibilities at BMW included interior design project leader for both the G11/12 7-Series (2015 – present) and the highly desirable M4 GTS. Paesen also contributed to the F12/13 6-Series (2011 – 2018) and oversaw the i8’s cabin.
What might excite South African Kia followers most, is what Paesen did at VW before his career transferred to BMW. From its launch back in 2010, the VW Amarok’s interior has remained unrivalled – and it was all the work of Jochen Paesen.
His class-leading experience with a bakkie cabin architecture might be one of the reasons that Kia hired Paesen. It could possibly give us a further indication that the Korean company is planning its own double-cab bakkie, to launch with Hyundai’s Santa Cruz.
Paesen is a dedicated car fanatic, regularly attending historic races and events, where he immerses himself in photography. He also produces sketches and artworks of classic racing and road cars, showing his immense appreciation for the legacy of legendary brand names and models in the automotive realm.
Open to multicultural design influences, Paesen spent his youth in Belgium, South Africa, France, England and the Netherlands.
Here are 10 cars to look forward to when the current 21-day lockdown comes to an end. What car are you burning to drive?
With South Africa in lockdown, petrolheads around the country are confined to their homes and those long, spirited Sunday drives are now but a dream. Despite the current situation, we are looking forward to life after lockdown and there are some exciting cars due to arrive on local soil.
In no particular order, here are 10 cars to look forward to after lockdown.
Volkswagen Golf 8 GTI – Due Q4 2020
The new Volkswagen Golf 8 is due in South Africa in Q4 of 2020 with the Golf GTI expected to be introduced first. The Golf 8 GTI is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine offering 180 kW and 370 Nm and equipped with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. For those of you who can't wait that long, Volkswagen will be launching the swansong Golf GTI TCR around the middle of the year and it will offer 213 kW and 380 Nm from its 2.0-litre turbopetrol engine.
There is something so appealing about combining the practicality of a station wagon and the performance of a supercar into one package. The new Audi RS6 Avant is a fine example of this and it’s high on our driving wishlist for the year.
Powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged petrol V8 with 441 kW and 800 Nm, it'll be capable of some serious performance. Audi's RS division claims its new performance wagon will do 0-100 kph in a claimed 3.6 seconds and will run to a limited top speed of 250 kph.
Billed as perhaps the most important vehicle in Porsche’s esteemed history, the Taycan will be available in 2 derivatives: Turbo and Turbo S, both of which make use of a dual-electric motor drivetrain and a 93.4 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. Its outputs are impressive.
Although both the Turbo and Turbo S run in a default 460 kW mode, additional power is available on-demand and the Taycan Turbo can deliver up to 500 kW when its launch mode function is enabled, while the Turbo S amplifies that to 560 kW. Porsche is claiming 0-100kph in 2.8 seconds for the Turbo S and top speed is limited to 260kph.
We can’t wait to get dirty with the new Land Rover Defender in South African mud! It will initially be offered in long-wheelbase 110 guise with the short-wheelbase 90 version expected later.
Kicking off the range will be the D240, with its 2.0-litre 4-cylinder twin-turbocharged diesel motor. It produces 177 kW and 430 Nm, and is capable of a 0-100 kph sprint in 9 seconds. Next up is the P300 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol motor with 221 kW and 400 Nm. It's a touch brisker, with an 8 second claimed sprint time to 100 kph. Finally, the P400 is a 3.0-litre 6-cylinder turbocharged petrol packing 294 kW and 523 Nm, and it will be the quickest Defender with a 6-second sprint to 100 kph. All vehicles feature all-wheel drive and all have automatic gearboxes.
Fans of the Mini brand will be salivating for the arrival of the Mini Cooper JCW GP later this year. It will arrive with aggressive styling and a potent engine to match. This is Mini’s fastest and most powerful car ever and it thumps out 225 kW and 450 Nm of torque from its twin-turbocharged 2.0-litre engine. An 8-speed Steptronic transmission with an integrated differential lock ensures brisk acceleration with Mini claiming a zero to 100 kph sprint time of 5.2 seconds with a top speed of 265 kph.
Another hot-hatch to look forward to is Renault’s track-focused Megane Trophy which will take to SA streets later this year and is set to make a compelling case for itself with its 223 kW and 420 Nm with an EDC dual-clutch transmission (6-speed manual has 400 Nm) developed by its turbocharged 1.8-litre engine.
For those itching for a fast and luxuriously equipped SUV then the new Audi SQ8 is worth waiting for as it will bring massive firepower to the road. A 441 kW/800 Nm 4.0-litre bi-turbocharged engine will ensure a zero to 100 kph sprint time of 3.8 seconds before smashing a top speed of 305 kph.
Another day, another SUV. The handsome T-Roc from Volkswagen is set to be a popular choice for SUV buyers and it will make use of a range of petrol engines including 1.0-, 1.5- and 2.0-litre options while the diesel range will offer either 1.6- or 2.0-litre turbodiesel options. However, engine choices for South Africa have yet to be confirmed. A T-Roc R derivative is also a possibility later on…
Chinese bakkie giant, GWM, has ambitious plans for its forthcoming P Series double cab bakkie which is set to rival and rattle the likes of the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger.
Mechanically, the P Series is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine which drives all four wheels via an 8-speed ZF automatic transmission. The 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine boasts 140 kW and 360 Nm. GWM has also equipped the P Series with 3 differential locks, which should theoretically give it unrivalled off-road ability. Its interior cabin architecture is also hugely impressive. Watch this space!
With 310 kW and 500 Nm developed by the most powerful production 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine in the world, the Mercedes-AMG A45 S is one of the most highly-anticipated arrivals for 2020. With power directed to all 4 wheels using a dual-clutch transmission, a zero to 100 kph sprint time of 3.9 seconds will blow your socks off. We can’t wait to drive it!
