Mercedes-AMG has announced a limited-edition C63 S Coupe. Meet the Mercedes-AMG C63 S Aero Edition 63.
There'll be just 63 of these vehicles built and the options look great. The Mercedes-AMG C63 S Coupe Aero Edition 63 features an AMG Performance rear spoiler, lip on the front, an aerodynamic rear diffuser, air vents in the rear apron, side sill inserts as well as exterior mirror housings. All these parts are made from carbon fibre, which not only looks great, but also doesn't weigh much.
The engine is the same as the standard car, which for the record is the 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 which produces 375 kW and 700 Nm. Power goes to the rear wheels via a 9-speed transmission. The brakes have been painted gold and there's AMG Carbon Ceramic written and rounding off the package are the lightweight matte-black AMG forged alloy wheels.
The cabin of the Mercedes-AMG C63 S Coupe Aero Edition 63 features carbon fibre in the central console as well as AMG-branded steering wheel. The vehicle also comes standard with AMG Performance seats. While the vehicle is not earmarked for SA introduction, C63 customers can replicate this model buy ticking select options on the configurator.
Times are tough, the economy is struggling and every penny you earn needs to be accounted for. Buying and owning a car isn't cheap and as a car owner, there is much you can do to reduce the costs of motoring which will ultimately put money back into your pocket. Here are 4 ways to cut your motoring costs today!
1. Be a better driver
Your driving habits have a direct impact on your vehicle's fuel economy.
The manner in which you drive your car on a daily basis will have a direct impact on how much fuel your vehicle burns on the daily commute. Driving like a bat out of hell will achieve only 2 things – speeding tickets and higher fuel bills. If you drive considerately you can save hundreds of Rands every month just by easing up on the accelerator. By driving more sedately and making smoother gear changes you will save money and contribute to better road safety.
2. Maintain your car
A well-maintained car will save you money over time.
Car maintenance is a costly affair, but if you want to maximise the life and performance of your car, it’s money well spent. Looking after your car has many benefits. Not only will it perform more efficiently over time, but good maintenance will ensure that you get a good price for your car when you decide to sell your car in the used car market. Poor car maintenance will lead to a higher overall cost of ownership and a poorly maintained car will command a lower price when you decide to sell it. By neglecting your vehicle, you actively devalue your asset.
3. Look after your rubber
Correctly inflated tyres will improve fuel consumption.
Tyres are costly to replace, even on the most affordable cars, but there are ways to prolong the life of your vehicle's rubber. Filling your tyres with nitrogen as opposed to normal compressed air (which consists of 70% nitrogen and 30% oxygen) has several benefits. Nitrogen helps maintain consistent tyre pressure, which will prolong the life of your tyre by up to 20%. Correctly inflated tyres reduce rolling resistance while driving, which will improve fuel consumption too. It’s also advisable to rotate your tyres every 10 000 km to ensure even tyre wear. While you're at it, have your tyres balanced and your wheels aligned at the same time. This will ensure the longevity of your tyres and save you money in the long run.
4. Buy a fuel-efficient car
A newer, more fuel efficient car will save you money over time.
Modern cars are far more fuel-efficient thanks to improved engine technology and aerodynamics. If you are driving a car that's more than 10 years old, it may be a good time to replace your vehicle. If you are looking to replace your skedonk with a newer model, Cars.co.za is the best place to find your new ride, whether it be a new car or a used car. If you are unsure about what car to buy then engage with us on Facebook and Twitter and we will be more than happy to give you all the advice you need to make the best buying decision.
Top 3 World Car Awards Finalists Announced [w/video]
The 2020 World Car Awards is inching closer to completion as the Top 3 finalists across 5 categories were announced. See what cars are in the running below…
The winners of the 2020 World Car Awards will be announced at the upcoming New York International Auto Show on 8 April 2020. The finalists were selected via a secret ballot by a jury of 86 international motoring journalists based on their evaluations on each of the eligible vehicles.
Drag Race: BMW X4 M Competition vs Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio
If anyone proposed the idea of drag racing SUVs 20 years ago, you might have suggested they slow down on the hallucinogenics.
Now we live in a world where SUVs share engines, chassis and gearboxes with their performance sedan siblings, making them ever-so-slightly slower, and with a worse centre of gravity, but nonetheless incredibly impressive to drive, and of course, packing all the perceived elevated status of owning an SUV.
In this quarter-mile drag race, we pit the brand new BMW X4 M Competition up against the beautiful Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio.
Car tuner Mansory has become famous for its exotic creations and for the 2020 Geneva Motor Show, it produced some extreme versions of the Lamborghini Urus, Rolls-Royce Cullinan and Bentley Continental GT V8 convertible.
Motor shows are filled with the latest and greatest product from the manufacturers and despite the Geneva Motor Show being canceled due to the COVID19 virus, that didn't stop the car companies from staging online reveals. One aspect of motor shows is the aftermarket and customisation section and one brand stands out for making some weird and wonderful creations. Mansory is a German-based tuning house and for the 2020 Geneva Motor Show, it worked on the Lamborghini Urus, Rolls-Royce Cullinan and Bentley Continental GT Convertible.
Mansory Coastline
This is Mansory's take on the Rolls-Royce Cullinan. It features a sportier bodykit with plenty of carbon fibre, 24-inch alloy wheels and a power upgrade. Mansory has reflashed the ECU and fitted a sports silencer, giving it a total output of 454 kW and 950 Nm (the standard model produces 420 kW and 850 Nm). It'll sprint to 100 kph in a claimed 5 seconds and Mansory has moved the limiter to 280 kph. Inside, everything is painted in turqoise and there's extensive use of quilted leather on the seats. Mansory has made just 8 examples.
Mansory Venatus
Mansory has given the Lamborghini Urus a full makeover and it looks mental. FInished in matte blue with green accents, topped with a widebody kit, there's nothing quite like it. There's even a spoiler on the rear, finished in carbon fibre, obviously. There are the obligatory big rims, but the real changes can be found under the bonnet. Mansory has given the Urus a big power boost. In standard form, it produces 478 kW and 850 Nm from its 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8. This version thumps out 596 kW and 1000 Nm, giving it a claimed sprint time of 3.3 seconds to 100 kph.
Mansory Bentley Continental GT Convertible
Mansory has given the luxurious Bentley Continental GT Convertible a makeover. With a monster grille, bodykit, carbon fibre splitter, rear diffuser and wing, this Bentley looks outrageous. Most of these components are finished in carbon fibre and there's the obligatory rear wing too. Mansory has also fitted new-look LED daytime running lights as well as 22-inch alloy wheels. For extra effect, there's green detailing in the brakes and accent lines. The green continues inside, with seats, door panels and steering wheel. The engine has been given a mild workover, with a new exhaust and remapped ECU. In standard form it produces 404 kW from its 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, but that's been increased to 477 kW and it's claimed to hit 100 kph in under 4 seconds.
Hot Pininfarina Battista Anniversario Revealed [w/video]
Just over a year ago, Pininfarina unleashed its Battista electric GT supercar. Now a special Battista Anniversario edition has been revealed wearing a new rear wing and lighter alloy wheels.
We love the look of the Battista and the Italian design firm has refined the limited-run model with some aerodynamic enhancements and lighter 21-inch, centre-locking alloy wheels which shed 10 kg in weight.
The Battista Anniversario combines 3 exterior colours including Bianco Sestriere white, Grigio Antonelliano gray and Iconica Blu which forms part of the optional Furiosa package which also includes a front carbon fibre splitter, side blades and a rear diffuser. The large rear wing increases downforce at speed to improve stability.
The interior is finished in black leather and Alcantara with blue contrast stitching and a blue 12 o’clock mark seen on the steering wheel.
The Battista Anniversario adopts the same electric powertrain which comprises 4 electric motors (1 at each wheel) with a total system output of 1 397 kW and 2 300 Nm of torque. The sprint from zero to 100 kph is claimed at under 2 seconds, while zero to 300 kph takes less than 12 seconds with a top speed of 350 kph. A 120 kWh battery pack allows for an electric range of over 500 km.
Only 150 Pininfarina Battistas will be built but only 5 examples of the Battista Anniversario will see the light of day as part of the same production run. The Battista will be built in Cambiano, Turin, Italy.
Pricing for the Battista Anniversario is pegged at $2.87-million or over R44-million at current exchange rates.
Aston Martin has showcased its new V12 Speedster. Here's what you need to know about this extreme limited-edition performance model.
Aston Martin will be making just 88 examples of the new V12 Speedster. The British carmaker has pulled off an incredible feat, going from idea to production model in just over a year. It's a striking design and it looks like a proper racecar, with splashings of carbon fibre everywhere.
Aston Martin Lagonda President and Group CEO, Dr Andy Palmer said: “It makes me enormously proud to reveal Aston Martin’s latest, most exciting special model today. The V12 Speedster is an incredible demonstration of the breadth of capability and determination from the ‘Q by Aston Martin’ team, who have worked tirelessly to create this stunning, two-seat sports car aimed at our most demanding and enthusiastic customers.”
Built on a unique bonded aluminium architecture with shared elements from the Vantage and DBS Superleggera, the V12 Speedster is a fascinating take on open-top performance. It features an independent double wishbone front, and multi-link rear suspension with coil springs and adaptive damping offering Sport, Sport+ and Track modes. There are 21-inch forged alloy wheels and carbon ceramic brakes.
The power comes from a 5.2-litre twin-turbocharged V12 motor mated to a ZF 8-speed automatic transmission. There's also a limited slip differential. It develops around 515 kW and 753 Nm, and it's capable of a claimed sprint time of 3.5 seconds to 100 kph and it'll run to a limited top speed of 300 kph.
Aston Martin says the order books are now open for its new V12 Speedster, with a price tag of £765,000 (R15 million). The first customers will be getting their cars in early 2021.
Hispano Suiza has revealed an even more exclusive version of its Carmen. The Spanish brand is channelling its 1930s design legacy with the Carmen range, which is being positioned as a contemporary supercar with outrageous styling, clever materials and battery power.
With its new Boulogne variant, Hispano Suiza has taken the Carmen platform and made it even lighter, whilst adding power.
The car’s styling is theatrical, featuring unpainted carbon-fibre bodywork, shaped with dramatic pinch-points over the wheel arches. CNC machined copper components abound, both inside and out, giving the Boulogne a wonder contrasting texture and colour theme, in relation to its carbon-fibre weave exterior surfacing.
Low mass and enormous power combine to give this Spanish supercar tremendous performance. The Carmen Boulogne’s platform is a monocoque carbon structure too and weighs only 195 kg.
Although the 80 kWh lithium-ion battery pack isn’t the largest power source available, Hispano Suiza claims it can spin the Carmen Boulogne’s electric motor to a peak power output of 820 kW.
With 70 kW more than the standard carbon and 60 kg less weight, the Boulogne version is said to be capable of 0-100 kph in 2.6 seconds and a top speed of 290 kph.
Range and recharging numbers are impressive too. Hispano Suiza says that a Carmen Boulogne should run 400 km on a single charge, although that implies that it is not being driven at its performance potential.
Hispano Suiza’s Carmen is a low-volume project, feature an enormous amount of handmade componentry. As such, it certainly is not a cheap investment for any enthusiast. The company will only build five of these Boulogne versions, priced at R28m a piece. Customers are expected to receive their cars by 2022.
Grand tourers and super saloons seem so passé now that the new Koenigsegg Gemera offers seating for 4 adults, plus their luggage, and has a peak combined power output rated in Megawatt – not Kilowatt. Top speed? Limited to 400 kph. Zero-to-100 kph time? Oh, just 1.9 seconds…
The (frankly, bonkers) Swedish supercar manufacturer describes its newcomer as a Mega GT. It’s powered by an in-house developed plug-in hybrid electric powertrain with combined outputs of 1 270 kW (yes, that’s 1.27 MW) and 3 500 Nm of torque. The power unit comprises a mid-mounted twin-turbocharged 2.0-litre 3-cylinder petrol engine (which produces 450 kW and 600Nm), a 16.6-kWh battery pack and a trio of electric motors – 1 for each rear wheel, 1 for the front axle.
The Gemera's ?wraparound windscreen, short overhangs and gaping side intakes leave no doubt to the hypercar's potential.
In keeping with Koenigsegg’s wackiness, the 3-pot petrol motor is named the Tiny Friendly Giant (TFG). It’s a Freevalve engine: the intake and exhaust valves are controlled by hydraulic actuators and the system can independently open and close the valves depending on driving conditions, in combinations that either maximise performance – or minimise fuel consumption.
The company says the TFG (a reference to the late British novelist Roald Dahl's children's book: The Big Friendly Giant – BFG, for short) has an estimated fuel consumption of 15- to 20% less than a conventional 2.0-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine with direct injection and variable valve timing. Cold-start emissions are also said to be 60% improved over a conventional engine.
The Gemera utilises a host of technologies, including all-wheel torque vectoring and rear-wheel steering to sharpen its handling.
A direct-drive single-speed transmission – mated to the engine via a locking hydraulic coupling, which has a clutch-slip mechanism that allows the engine to gain revs, sends power to the Gemera's front wheels via a torque tube. The electric motors, meanwhile have a simultaneous combined output of 800 kW and remember, there's one for each of the rear wheels.
The newcomer has an optimal electric-only range of 50 km, but can travel up to an incredible speed of 300 kph in that mode… Equipped with a 75-litre fuel tank, the Koenigsegg has a maximum claimed range of 1000 km between fuel stops or recharging.
Not only is the Gemera capable of a (limited) top speed of 400 kph it can travel at 300 kph on electric power alone…
While its front and rear subframes are made from aluminium, and the Gemera’s monocoque is constructed entirely from carbon fibre, as are many of its panels. As such, the newcomer has a kerb weight of just 1 850 kg, and therefore a power-to-weight ratio of around 686 kW per tonne. All the while, the Swedish company says that the Gemera is “at least as CO2-neutral as a pure electric car” when its ICE engine runs on ethanol or CO2-neutral methanol, instead of conventional fuel-pump petrol.
The Gemera’s 3 000-mm wheelbase allows for a high degree of rolling refinement at high speeds, Koenigsegg says, but of course, the car has also been designed to offer rewarding driving dynamics. To that end, it comes equipped with all-wheel torque vectoring, rear-wheel steering, an electronically-adjustable ride height and -dampers, plus beefed-up ventilated ceramic disc brakes.
By virtue of being unencumbered by B-pillars, the Gemera's scissor doors make ingress and egress to the cabin a cinch.
The cabin is elemental in its layout, but nonetheless luxurious. Creature comforts include, inter alia, memory foam sports (bucket) seats for the 4 occupants, 3-zone climate control, an 11-speaker audio system, a pair of monitors for the side cameras, front and rear infotainment screens, fore and aft wireless smartphone chargers, on-board wifi, oh, and a quartet of heated and cooled cup holders…
Koenigsegg will limit the production run of the Gemera to only 300 units and although official pricing is yet to be confirmed, the asking price is expected to be around R20 million.
Toyota's new compact SUV was meant to be revealed at the Geneva Motor Show, but the cancellation of the event has resulted in the postponement of the reveal. According to reports, it's unclear when the new compact SUV will be revealed but it could 'weeks or months'. Here's what we know so far.
Japanese carmaker Toyota is working on an all-new compact SUV based on its GA-B platform. Toyota says it will feature the latest hybrid engine tech as well as an intelligent all-wheel-drive system. For those who aren't product code-savvy, this is essentially the recently-revealed Toyota Yaris platform. This platform is incredibly versatile and forms part of Toyota's New Global Architecture, so it underpins everything from this yet-to-be-released SUV to the RAV4, CH-R and Corolla Hatch.
“This model will add to the success of Yaris in Europe and together, we expect these vehicles will account for around 30% of the Toyota sales volume in Europe by 2025,” said Matt Harrison, Executive Vice President of Toyota Motors Europe. “You won’t have to wait too long to see the final design, and you will see that this is not just a Yaris with body cladding and raised suspension, but an entirely new and distinctive B-SUV model with a compact, dynamic design and personality of its own.”
The new Toyota compact SUV will be built at Toyota Motor Manufacturing France (TMMF) in Onnaing, near Valenciennes, France, alongside the Yaris. It's assumed this new compact SUV will be sharing the same powertrains as the Yaris meaning it could have a 1.0-litre petrol or a 1.5-litre petrol as well as a hybrid derivative.
