If you desire a German premium badge, seven-seats, strong performance and some all-terrain ability, Mercedes-Benz’s latest offering should appeal.
The company’s latest reveal, in anticipation of its pubic debut at the Frankfurt auto show, is the GLB 35. If you are a keen follower of all things AMG, you’ll know that the brand has diversified its business into a new line of entry-level 35-series compact performance car models throughout 2019.
Like its other 35-series sibling, the GLB 35 is powered by AMG’s milder 2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, boosting 225 kW and 400 Nm. Those numbers are distributed to all four wheels, courtesy of an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission and to ensure that the GLB 35 isn’t overly understeer prone, up to 50% of its deliverable torque can be motioned to the rear wheels.
The GLB’s overall design is slightly enhanced with some AMG-specific styling components, such as a Panamericana grille, remoulded rear bumper and aft spoiler. This new compact performance crossover SUV will also roll a set of 19-inch alloy wheels as standard, with customer able to upgrade to 21-inch hoops if they wish.
A 7-seater with 225 kW and 400 Nm? If you can think it, Merc will make it.
Adding some AMG intensity to the GLB 35’S cabin architecture are AMG sport seats, a flat-bottom steering wheel and lots of chrome, black and red trim detailing. Mercedes-Benz’s dual-widescreen MBUX infotainment system and digital assistance are present too.
What sets the GLB35 apart from its rivals, is the presence of a third row of seats, enabling AMG to offer a compact SUV with very rapid performance (0-100 kph in 5.2 seconds) and the ability to seat seven occupants.
Mercedes-Benz is confident that even fully laden, this GLB 35 will remain a confident and capable vehicle at speed, rounding corners. Engineers have upgraded the suspension subframes, added new steering knuckles up front and thicker transverse control arms, to ensure precision handling dynamics.
Those customers who wish to further enhance the dynamic driving experience can option electronically adjustable dampers, which act individually at all four-wheel corners.
The GLB 35 is expected to arrive in South Africa during 2020.
Hyundai Tucson 1.6T Elite Sport (2019) Review
With a bold, look-at-me styling kit and beefed-up performance, Hyundai’s latest iteration of the Tucson Sport (now available in both turbopetrol and -diesel flavours) is generating significant interest after the success of the first (pre-facelift) Tucson Sport back in 2017. How good is the latest Tucson Sport? Let’s take it for a spin…
We Like: Bold and sporty styling, standard features, practical interior
We Don’t Like: Overly-sensitive throttle, the interior lacks special character, thirsty, pricey
Fast facts
Price: R654 900 (August 2019)
Engine: 1.6-litre turbopetrol
Power/Torque: 150 kW / 300 Nm
Transmission: 7 speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel economy: 8.5 L/100km (claimed)
Load capacity: 488 to 1 478 litres
What is it?
The Tucson Sport’s body kit endows it some added kerb appeal and those quad tailpipes hint at its intentions.
The Tucson Sport is the hottest version of the Korean firm’s popular family car and the fact that Hyundai South Africa chose to launch the Tucson Sport at a race track sent a clear message that this purposefully styled Hyundai intends it to be more than just a generously equipped family-mover.
The newcomer’s eye-catching body kit comprises a front splitter, flared side skirts and a rear diffuser, the latter of which houses sporty-looking quad exhaust tips. The attention-grabbing exterior execution is polished off (literally and figuratively) by snazzy black 19-inch alloy wheels.
Hyundai previously offered the Tucson Sport in turbopetrol guise only, but buyers can now also opt for a 2.0-litre turbodiesel version. This review focuses on the turbopetrol version; while we appreciate its bold styling, we were keen to find out what the Sport was like to live with every day.
For an SUV with a performance bent, Hyundai could have done better with the throttle mapping. It’s just too sensitive…
In an effort to provide more “go to match the show”, Hyundai has increased outputs of the Tucson Sport’s 1.6-litre turbopetrol engine to 150 kW and 300 Nm of torque. It’s worth noting that the previous Tucson Sport produced 150 kW and 295 Nm… That version was mated with either a 6-speed manual transmission or 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, the latter in conjunction with all-wheel drive (AWD). The new Tucson Sport is no longer offered in manual (or AWD) and features a pedal booster, which has significantly sharpened the throttle response, but sadly to the car’s detriment.
While many might appreciate the increase in outputs, the front-wheel-drive Tucson Sport is frustrating to drive as its accelerator pedal is just too sensitive. As a result, the front wheels are prone to spinning briefly nearly every time you pull away from a standstill or accelerate hard from crawling speeds. Great care needs to be taken to avoid this annoying trait and it happens in both Normal and Sport modes. The novelty wears off quickly…
Meanwhile, the Tucson Sport accelerates eagerly – arguably excessively so, because torque steer makes its presence felt if you apply your right foot too liberally. It feels relatively quick off-the-line, reaches the national speed limit with little effort and has more than enough grunt to execute overtaking manoeuvres quickly and effectively. We preferred driving the Hyundai on the highway because it felt more settled than at lower speeds.
Under hard acceleration, the ‘box shifts somewhat jerkily and while manually-actuated gear changes can be actuated by tipping the transmission lever fore and aft (when in manual mode), steering-mounted shift paddles would have added a lot in the way of driver engagement.
Meanwhile, whereas the previous Tucson Sport’s exhaust ends emitted a mildly annoying drone at cruising speeds, which could become tiresome on longer (supposedly relaxed) journeys, the quad-tipped system now emits a low and hearty thrum, which is far more pleasing… and less intrusive.
The performance-bent of the Tucson Sport doesn’t bode well for fuel consumption either – while Hyundai claims 8.5 L/100 km, we never saw the indicated consumption drop below 11 L/100 km, which is, yes, a factor of the road-test regimen, but still on the high side.
Outright grunt and responsiveness are important, but we feel Hyundai could have paid more attention to refining the Tucson Sport’s performance.
Ride and Handling
The Tucson Sport’s ride is firm yet comfortable enough to live with every day.
Apart from the occasional wrestling match with the steering wheel to temper torque steer, the Tucson Sport’s steering response is average, if a trifle vague in feel, but, as before, the Korean family car feels planted when cornering briskly. Considering that there are no upgrades to the suspension and brakes in conjunction with the performance boost, the Tucson Sport actually handles quite well when you drive it enthusiastically.
What’s more, the Tucson Sport’s ride quality is one of its best qualities. Despite riding on large (19-inch) alloy rims shod with low profile tyres, the test unit did a good job of ironing out road imperfections, while offering just enough firmness to complement its sporty pretensions.
Interior execution and features
The interior is familiar and perceived build quality is good. However, there’s no real sense of occasion when you step inside.
The Tucson Sport’s kerb appeal is undeniable: it looks the business. Unfortunately, its interior execution does not match its racy exterior at all. There is simply nothing particularly special about the inside: no contrast stitching, no special badging, it’s just a standard high-spec Tucson. But for its lack of bespoke accoutrements, the Korean car’s cabin is very well-equipped. The specification is drawn from the range-topping Tucson Elite, which offers nice-to-haves such as a panoramic sunroof, electric seat adjustments for the driver and passenger, push-button-start and keyless entry.
A 7-inch infotainment system is fitted and we found it to be easy-to-use with a menu layout that’s easy to read and navigate. The system is equipped with Bluetooth, built-in navigation, as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. A single USB slot and auxiliary port are also standard.
Other notable standard features include climate control, electric windows and side mirrors, cruise control, rear PDC and a reverse-view camera. Lastly, it must be said that the Hyundai’s cabin does have a solid feel to it and general perceived build quality is good.
Practicality
The cabin is spacious and practical. The rear seats recline too which is a bonus on longer trips.
As a practical family car, Tucson makes a lot of sense. The seats are quite comfortable and sufficiently supportive, plus there’s enough leg-, head- and shoulder room in the back for a pair of average-sized adults. What’s more, the cabin offers sufficient storage spaces for bottles, cups and odds and ends, while the rear seats can recline, which is great for when your passengers (especially the little ones) need to snooze on longer journeys.
The load bay is sizable at 488 litres, which can expand to a capacious 1 478 litres when you fold the aft seatback forward in a 60:40 configuration.
Pricing and warranty
The Tucson 1.6T Elite Sport retails for R654 900 and comes with a 5-year/150 000 vehicle warranty, 7-year/200 000 km drivetrain warranty and a 5-year/90 000 km service plan. If you would prefer the turbodiesel-powered Tucson Sport, then you can expect to pay R664 900 (August 2019).
As far as sporty family SUVs go, the Tucson Sport falls short in the performance stakes. It has lots of grunt, but too little refinement.
We didn’t enjoy driving the Tucson Sport as much as we hoped we would. Its hypersensitive throttle mapping and resultant tyre-spinning antics were an indulgence and entertaining to begin with, but ultimately reduced the pleasure of the driving experience. The Hyundai’s no slouch, that’s for certain (even though no claimed performance figures are available), but the car’s performance feels forced and unfortunately, not very refined.
Having said that, the Tucson Sport has a lot going for it in the looks department… If you want your family car to turn a few heads, it will do just that! The Tucson remains a practical choice in this segment – its spacious and flexible cabin should suit most “familial transportation needs” to a tee. Standard spec is good too. With that said, if you care less about outright performance, perhaps the standard Tucson 1.6T Elite is a better bet.
If you are not convinced by the Tucson Sport then you may want to consider the Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0 TSI 4Motion Highline R-Line. It too boasts attractive styling (although it doesn’t quite look as lean and mean as the Hyundai) and its 2.0-litre turbopetrol engine (162 kW and 350 Nm of torque) is also mated with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. Not only is it cheaper than the Tucson Sport (at R612 750), but its performance is much more refined. The Ford Kuga 2.0T AWD ST Line, with 177 kW and 340 Nm of torque, is also worth a look and it’s nicely priced at R552 400.
Haval H2 facelift (2020) Specs
Haval South Africa will introduce a facelifted version of its H2 compact family car at the end of the 1st quarter of 2020. Apart from aesthetic updates, the 4-derivative range will see the introduction of more features and will be offered in a choice of 6 colours and 2 dual-tone exterior finishes.
In a popular segment of the new vehicle market, which features models such as the Ford Ecosport, Hyundai Creta, Nissan Qashqai, Renault Duster and Captur, Suzuki Vitara and Toyota CH-R, Chinese SUV-brand Haval’s H2 has steadily grown in popularity since its local introduction in 2017.
Given that competition in the compact family car segment will soon heat up further with the arrival of the Volkswagen T-Cross and (a while later) Kia Seltos, an imminent facelift to the generously-specced H2 range should ramp up renewed interest in the 2017/18 #CarsAwards semi-finalist.
Recently shown at the Wesbank Festival of Motoring in Gauteng, the revised H2 features the same platform, suspension, powertrains and safety features as its predecessor, but it looks markedly different by virtue of a revised front grille, bonnet and fenders, restyled headlights and bumpers. Eighteen-inch alloys are still standard, but they feature a new 5-spoke “throwing star” design.
New bonnet, front grille and headlight treatment denote the facelift H2.
The facelifted range will comprise the 1.5T City and 1.5T Luxury, both of which are available with either a 6-speed manual ‘box or 6-speed automatic transmission. The H2’s 1.5-litre 4-cylinder turbopetrol produces peak outputs of 105 kW and 202 N.m of torque and is said to consume an average of 8.2 L/100 km in the case of the manual and 9.0 L/100 km for the automatic.
Compared with current versions of the H2, facelifted derivatives will all feature Apple CarPlay-, USB- and Bluetooth-enabled infotainment systems and sunroofs (panoramic on 1.5T Luxury). Apart from minor updates to the cabin’s upholstery and trims, a revised transmission lever has been introduced on automatic versions. Upon closer inspection of Haval’s brochure for the updated range, a reverse-view camera with guiding lines will be standard across the range, although dual-zone auto aircon will be reduced to single-zone climate control on top-spec derivatives.
Generous standard spec
Apart from the features already mentioned, the 1.5T City comes equipped with: fog lamps and DRLs, keyless entry and start/stop button, a multifunction steering wheel with remote audio and cruise control buttons, 6-way adjustable driver’s seat (manual), adjustable centre armrest, power windows all round (one-touch up/down and anti-pinch on driver’s door), split-folding rear seatback with 3 headrests and a pair of cupholders integrated in the fold-out armrest, plus rear PDC (in combination with the reverse-view camera).
Haval's infotainment screen now has Apple Carplay as well.
The 1.5T Luxury, on the other hand, additionally features leather-trimmed seats (6-way electrically adjustable for the driver) and steering wheel, automatically activated (LED) headlamps and wipers, climate control and electrically adjustable and folding side mirrors with integrated turn signals.
6 airbags on Luxury derivatives
Safety-wise, H2s are fitted with dual front airbags (plus side- and curtain ‘bags on 1.5T Luxury), disc brakes all round (ventilated at the front), ABS with EBD and brake assist, electronic parking brake, electronic stability control, tyre pressure monitor, as well as ISOfix child-seat anchor points.
Upon its release, the newcomer will be available in Classical Black, Hamilton White, Pittsburgh Silver, Datura Red, Atlantis Blue, Brown, plus red-with-black roof and brown-with-white roof combinations. The current range comes with a 5-year/100 000 km warranty, including unlimited km roadside assistance for its duration. The kilometre limit of the 5-year service plan is 60 000 km.
The Volkswagen Golf 8 enters the final phase of testing before its big reveal before the end of 2019.
Volkswagen has produced a spy image of its own for a change as it released this single image of the upcoming Golf 8. Keen to show off the artistry of its vehicle camouflage department, VW has etched the word Golf into the doors of the test mule. As if it wasn't obvious enough already.
Klaus Bischoff, head of Volkswagen Design has assured the world that the next Golf will be an absolute stunner with elegant proportions. VW has also hinted at a connected interior with online capabilities and that there are plans to launch an electrified version. It has already announced that there will be a mild hybrid version that makes use of a 48v electrical system.
Mercedes-Benz has done the inevitable and revealed a sloping roofline version of its GLE SUV.
The new GLE coupe features Mercedes-Benz’s bold SUV design language, with the only real difference between this coupe version and a normal GLE, being its rear third.
That sloping roofline joins a reshaped tailgate stamping, with an integrated spoiler, and GLE coupe gets its own signature taillights. – which look very similar to that of the CLA.
If you like the AMG way of styling automobiles, GLE Coupe will be available with a Panamericana grille and dynamic alloy wheel designs up to 22-inches in diameter.
Inside, the cabin architecture features Mercedes-Benz’s latest design, with full MBUX digital assistance and two huge screens angled towards the driver.
Compared to the regular GLE SUV, this coupe is 25 mm longer but features a 60 mm shorter wheelbase – which means greater handling agility, but some sacrifices to luggage capacity.
You’ll be able to get 655-litres of luggage in the back of this new sloping roofline GLE coupe, which is more than its rivals from BMW (X6) or Audi (Q8), but less than a conventional GLE, which can load up to 825-litres of luggage.
Technical highlights? Ride quality enhancing air-suspension is an option, and to mitigate against body roll, Mercedes-Benz will offer a new technology called ‘e-active body control’. This enables the GLE coupe’s spring and dampers rates to be individually adjusted at each wheel corner, dramatically reducing body roll during high-speed cornering, and resisting dive when peak deceleration is enacted.
Engines for the GLE coupe are a selection of six-cylinders. The GLE350d is powered by a 3-litre turbodiesel good for 200 kW and 600 Nm, with the GLE400d featuring a more potent version of the same engine architecture, boosting 234 kW and 700 Nm.
If you’d like an authentic AMG version of the GLE coupe, there is a 53-series variant. It uses the mild-hybrid version of AMG’s 3-litre in-line six-cylinder engine, boosting 320 kW and 520 Nm. For brief moments of peak acceleration, the hybrid system adds another 16 kW and 520 Nm to this powertrain. Performance is keen, with the GLE 53 AMG coupe running 0-100 kph in 5.3 seconds.
All GLE coupes are all-wheel drive and use Mercedes-Benz’s latest nine-speed automatic transmission. South African customers deliveries are expected to commence in the second half of next year.
Vantablack is the world's blackest paint. It's so black that light is sucked into the paint and the result is a finish that is mind-blowingly weird.
The BMW X6 with a Vantablack finish is set to be revealed at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show. If you're not aware, Vantablack is a unique paint that can absorb 99% of light and remove all reflections. It tricks the brain into thinking its staring into a void. It also has the abilities to hide shape and definition.
The BMW X6 Vantablack show car is the result of a collaboration between BMW, Surrey Nano Systems and Levitation 29. Ben Jensen, Vantablack inventor and founder of Surrey Nano Systems, said “VBx2 with its one-per-cent reflectance provides just enough of a hint of shape”. The spectacular one-off vehicle highlights the expressive and precise design language and confident, dominant and muscular appearance of the new BMW X6 to perfection. Asked whether he was pleased with the final car, Ben Jensen commented; “I think it went beyond all our expectations because of the size of the car, its distinctive shape and how imposing it is”.
We've seen some incredible paint finishes and wraps over the years, but this is on another level. It's hurting our brains just looking at it.
Compared with its predecessor, Mercedes-Benz's GLE boasts more space, better refinement, a multitude of tech improvements, as well as a revised engine range. We drove the 'E-Class of SUVs' at its media launch in Gauteng to see how it stacks up against a slew of rivals in the Premium SUV segment…
What is it?
Not a place 99% of owners will take their GLEs, but Benz's newcomer is a capable off-roader.
The GLE was formerly known as the ML, but now that most of us are familiar with Mercedes-Benz’s new naming convention for its SUV ranges, it’s easy to figure out where the GLE sits in the lineup. It fits in the gap between the GLC and GLS and can be ordered either as a 5- or 7-seater.
Compared with the previous GLE, this new model is 231 mm wider, 24 mm lower and has an 80-mm longer wheelbase. While the GLE is likely to find primary use as a luxury family vehicle, it is fitted with a full assortment of off-road equipment including an optional low-range transfer case.
The GLE launch lineup comprises 1 turbopetrol and 2 turbodiesel derivatives. In 2020, Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 and 63 S versions will join the range.
Are the engines good?
All engines in the initial GLE range were showcased at the media launch, but, among them, the powerplant in the GLE 400d definitely stood out the most. We recently experienced this engine in the CLS 400d and it seems to hit virtually every mark that a premium manufacturer such as Mercedes-Benz could set. It’s an in-line 6-cylinder turbodiesel with 243 kW and 700 Nm of torque on tap from 1 200 rpm. It can certainly get a move on and doesn’t suffer from noticeable turbo lag, plus it pulls smoothly through the entire rev range and remains hushed – even at idle. The claimed fuel consumption is 7.5 L/100 km, but real-world figures suggest it will settle in the 8s per 100 km – which is still excellent for a large, premium SUV.
Looks are a bit understated but the engines under the bonnet are excellent.
The 300d unit uses a 4-cylinder turbodiesel engine with outputs of 180 kW and 500 Nm. Those are some impressive figures for a 4-cylinder, but it does seem to labour more than its 400d sibling, with more noticeable surges when it enters peak torque. It still pulls the GLE along easily and doesn’t struggle when loaded with passengers. With a claimed fuel economy of 6.4 L/100 km, it could certainly go long distances without fill-ups.
The turbopetrol derivative is badged GLE 450 and it makes use of an in-line turbocharged 6-cylinder with peak outputs of 270 kW and 500 Nm of torque. I think you would "have to have" a petrol engine badly to choose this derivative over the other 2. It’s only a touch cheaper than the 400d and a smidgen faster by comparison (5.7 vs 5.8 seconds from 0 to 100 kph), but it has to work harder – and, therefore, consume more fuel – to get the same job done. If you really want a petrol-engined GLE, it’s probably worth waiting for the Mercedes-AMG 53 or even 63 S to make their arrival.
As for the transmission, there is only a 9-speed automatic. Having said that, it does the job perfectly, so much so that it was hard to tell whether the GLE "had a gearbox at all" and, as far as compliments go, that’s about as big as they get for slushboxes.
Is it comfortable inside?
Rear passengers are afforded 69 mm more legroom.
Mercedes-Benz’s current interiors are beautifully designed and laden with modern tech. In terms of passenger comfort, the rear passengers are afforded more space with 69 mm more legroom and 35 mm more headroom. The rear seats also recline and slide forwards and backwards by 100 mm. There is also the option of adding a 3rd row of seats, which can all be adjusted (and folded electrically) via buttons in the load bay.
A full-width infotainment screen is fitted with the latest MBUX software (you can talk to it and issue it commands by saying “Hey Mercedes”), plus there’s an optional wireless charging bay underneath the central air vents and at least 2 USB ports up front to connect to the infotainment system.
Comfort-wise, the front half of the GLE's cabin is ergonomically sound, replete with easy-to-access controls and a central touchpad. One uses the latter much like a computer mouse to toggle the infotainment system's settings – and options can be accessed impressively quickly. The central grab handles would come in handy if you intend on going properly off-road (as we did) and the seats are sumptuously comfortable over long distances.
The centre screen (which combines the instrument cluster and infotainment display) dominates the GLE's fascia.
Unfortunately, iffy finishes, which have let Benz down in its most recent models, have crept into the GLE too. It has a great-looking interior, but when you look at it closely and start wiggling and prodding bits, some of the material choices, as well as the overall build quality, could be better.
Those who want generous luggage space will be pleased by the 825-litre load bay (5-seater), which expands to a whopping 2 055 litres with all the rear seats folded down. Benz has also increased its premium SUV's load-bay width by 72 mm so that wider items can be loaded with relative ease.
What's it like to drive?
There is a fair number of suspension options to choose from in the GLE range… The cars we drove off-road were equipped with Airmatic adaptive damping (R29 000) – it’s an air suspension system that adjusts dynamically and seemed to cope well with the 4×4 track we traversed. It damped the major bumps and thuds well and, combined with the off-road package (R32 300), made mincemeat of a reasonably tricky course. These 2 systems really make off-roading easy and no longer something reserved for trained drivers and their lift-kit vehicles with shovels strapped to their roofs.
There are several suspension choices on the options list; this kind of off-roading requires a special off-road pack.
The cars I drove on-road were standard (with steel springs). They rode well, suppressed road noise and remained comfortable over mixed tarmac surfacing. The competitors we have tested in this segment (Discovery, X5 and XC90) were equipped with air suspensions, so we’ll reserve ultimate ride-comfort judgement until we’ve road-tested a similarly-specced GLE. You can optionally fit the E-Active Body Control system (R110 600), which uses cameras to set up the suspension for the road ahead and actively adjusts the vehicle’s body to remain as level as possible over all surfaces.
Which extra-cool features are available?
Rear seats recline and slide forward electrically via switches in the boot.
As is the way with premium vehicles, the really interesting kit is banished to the options list. If you can afford to splurge, consider speccing adaptive cruise control with route assist. This notes congestion on your route and automatically reduces the GLE's speed before you arrive at a traffic jam and need to slam on the brakes. Semi-autonomous driving functions are also available, they take care of steering for short periods of time. The GLE can also assist you when reversing your trailer (it utilises cameras and steering prompts), which takes most of the stress out of those manoeuvres.
If big wheels are what you’re after, you can spec between 18- and 22-inch wheels on a GLE (with or without run-flat tyres).
Summary
The GLE is capable in so many ways, but does it stand out enough?
Mercedes-Benz's new GLE joins the fray at a time when most of its competitors have new products on the market. The BMW’s X5 is less than a year old, the Land Rover Discovery is only in its second year and Volvo’s XC90 has just been facelifted. Audi will also be launching an updated Q7 soon. And that’s before I even mention other competitors from Jaguar, Jeep, Porsche and Volkswagen… It’s a crowded market, to say the least, and it’s not certain that the GLE really sets the standard in the Premium SUV segment in any particular facet of its overall package. It’s a good all-round luxury offering endowed with lots of great tech, good off-road credentials and more than enough load space to pack things for the family holiday. But, its competitors do much the same and I’m not sure the Benz does enough visually to lure buyers – well, at least until the AMG versions arrive.
2019 Mercedes-Benz GLE Price in South Africa (August 2019)
New Toyota Supra vs BMW M2 Competition – Hot Lap Shootout
The new Toyota Supra meets the BMW M2 Competition on a fresh winter's morning in Cape Town, South Africa. Which one is fastest around a circuit? Watch the video.
It is very tempting to make BMW vs BMW jokes here but we're going to behave ourselves because the reality is that this is an epic match-up. Both of these cars cost roughly a million Rand and of course, both are powered by turbocharged BMW straight-6 engines – not the same engines, however.
But that's about where the similarities end. While the Supra is outgunned here in terms of sheer power, offering 50kW and 50Nm less power and torque, it is lighter and lower-slung than the BMW. And according to our in-house race-ace Ashley, the addition of the outgoing M3 motor has made the M2 Competition pretty damn wild.
So, how will these cars fair on the Killarney Racetrack in Cape Town in a one-lap hot lap shootout? Well, you've come this far, probably time to watch the video now.
Pricing for the all-new Audi Q3 has been loaded into the Audi South Africa website. Here's how much the new SUV costs.
The all-new Audi Q3 will be launched to the South African market in August 2019 and we can confirm the engine lineup and some trim details. From what we can see, there'll be just 1 petrol engine on offer, with 3 levels of trim (Q3, advanced, S Line.) The 2nd-generation Audi Q3 has grown up considerably. It's longer, wider and boasts a longer wheelbase than the outgoing model, which means that it's more spacious overall. It is built on the VW Group's MQB platform, which is renowned for its ride quality and space utilisation.
The petrol engine offered is badged 35, which means it's a 1.4-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. It offers up 110 kW and 250 Nm. Power goes to the front wheels via an S Tronic dual-clutch gearbox. With a claimed 0-100 kph time of 8.9 seconds and a top speed of 204 kph, performance should be adequate. It should be fairly frugal too, with claimed returns of 5.9 L/100 km. The fuel tank has a capacity of 60 litres.
Naturally, there are more than a few options available. Customers have a variety of paints to choose from, bigger alloy wheels, Matrix LED headlights, uprated audio system, some safety cameras as well as the acclaimed Audi Virtual Cockpit. Granted some of the features loaded into Audi SA's configurator were incomplete, so we'll have to update this piece closer to the official launch, which we're told is in the last week of August.
No, BMW has not chosen to revive a legendary VW narrow-angle V6 engine.
Important people with enemies who like driving BMW SUVs will be heartened that the latest armoured X5 has been revealed.
There is absolutely no ambiguity from BMW about this X5’s customer profile with the company stating that it "offers private individuals and persons at risk customised protection against violent attacks, kidnapping or organised crime. This is often a decisive criterion, especially in regions like South America, Africa or Russia.” Indeed.
So what differentiates this X5 VR6 from other large BMW five-door SUVs? Well, it has 33mm thick safety glass and an armoured passenger compartment which BMW claims will keep occupants unharmed in the event of an AK-47 or hand grenade attack.
The luggage compartment is sealed and there is an additional aluminium underbody shield (in case somebody rolls a grenade underneath).
Improvised explosive devices have become a tactic of vehicle ambushes and to this end, BMW says that its X5 VR6 can resist a 15kg TNT blast from a distance of 4 meters. An optional armoured roof can also be fitted to resist attacks from above (such as drones).
BMW’s engineers have also ensured that there is sufficient composite armour overlap in all this X5’s panels and joints, to eliminate any vulnerable areas.
Despite its VR6 naming convention, this armoured X5 is powered by BMW’s 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine, boosting 390kW and 750Nm. Although kerb weight remains classified, the use of composite anti-ballistic panelling must make this X5 VR6 a lot lighter than previous armoured vehicles of its size, as the 0-100kph time of 5.9 seconds does not indicate a huge increase in mass.
BMW offers an extensive list of additional options for its X5 VR6 customers, including a comprehensive blue-light kit – which will be very popular with you know who…
