Mercedes-Benz has shown the electric EQV concept at the Geneva Motor Show. Details below…
This is the all-electric Mercedes-Benz EQV Concept and it offers full electric mobility for up to 8 passengers. The production version is expected to be revealed later this year at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
With rapid charging, the EQV can charge a range of 100 km in just 15 minutes and features a compact electric drivetrain over the front axle that produces 150 kW. A 100kWh lithium-ion battery is fitted, enabling a range of up to 400 km. Charging is achieved using a Mercedes-Benz wallbox or a regular household plug socket.
In terms of practicality, the EQV can accommodate 6, 7 or 8 passengers with varying seating configurations including individual seats or seat benches. The interior also benefits from the latest MBUX infotainment system which combines with a plush Nappa leather-adorned interior to provide both luxury and comfort for the driver and passengers.
The new Renault Clio has been revealed at the Geneva Motor Show. Take a look at what the newcomer will offer!
Running on the new CMF-B platform alongside the new Captur and some Nissan products, the all-new fifth generation Clio has been shown 2019 Geneva Motor Show.
The Clio is one of those vehicles which sells in tremendous numbers, especially in continental Europe. It has found favour in South Africa too and many have found homes here too. Since its official launch in 1990, over 15 million units have been sold and it has become Renault's best-selling vehicle globally. Clio 4 was especially well received. Design has always played in a key role in Clio's success and senior vice president of corporate design Laurens van den Acker is hopeful that Clio 5 will replicate the same sales success.
“The fifth generation Clio is very important for us as it is the best-seller in its segment and the second best-selling car in Europe, all categories combined. The Clio is an icon, and the latest features the very best of the previous generations. The exterior design of Clio IV won over our customers and continues to do so today, so we chose to keep that DNA while bringing modernity and elegance to the new model. The interior has undergone a true revolution, with a considerable improvement in perceived quality, greater sophistication and technology. It is the best Clio yet.”
Engine outputs
A new hybrid Clio will join the range and buyers will have the choice of both petrol and diesel engines.
The all-new Clio forms a massive part of Renault's electrification strategy. By 2022 Renault will offer 12 electrified vehicles in its portfolio. The all-new Clio 5 will be first with its E-Tech hybrid engine. Also in 2022, Renault is aiming to have its entire portfolio 100% connected in key markets. There's also a massive focus on autonomous driving tech and Renault hopes to have 15 cars equipped.
Nonetheless, the new Renault Clio E-Tech hybrid makes use of a 1.6-litre petrol engine combined with 2 electric motors and a 1.2 kWh battery and is expected to join the range in 2020. The Clio E-Tech hybrid is said to offer up to 40% better fuel efficiency than its engined siblings and can drive at up to 80% of the time in pure electric mode.
A naturally-aspirated 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder petrol engine with either 48 kW or 56 kW will be offered with a 5-speed manual transmission. There will also be a new turbocharged 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder engine in the mix with 73 kW and 160 Nm of torque and will be offered with either a 5-speed manual or a CVT. A range-topping 1.3-litre turbopetrol engine with 95 kW and 240 Nm will also be offered with a 7-speed dual-clutch EDC transmission.
On the diesel front, a 1.5-litre turbodiesel engine with either 63 kW and 220 Nm or a more powerful 84 kW version with 260 Nm will be offered.
Interior details
The Clio 5 represents a big leap forward in terms of perceived quality and ergonomics. Given how much the segment has moved in this regard (think Polo and Fiesta) it's critical that Renault keeps pace. Dominating the Clio 5 dashboard is a Tesla-style vertical-orientated display. It contains multimedia and the car will also feature GPS navigation and a wireless charging pad. From the photos, we can see there will be 2 USB ports too. We can also see an option for both a manual gearbox as well as a version of Renault's Electronic Dual Clutch transmission. Renault is doing away with the GT-Line badging and replacing it with RS-Line. RS-Line cars have sportier cabin trim, bigger alloy wheels and sporty body kits.
Renault is claiming that its new Clio 5 boats the biggest boot in the segment at 391 litres, which is 26 litres more than the Clio 4. Renault South Africa says they're looking at bringing the new Clio 5 in either late this year or early 2020.
The model you see here is the Renault RS-Line. Note the manual gearbox, sporty trim, metal pedals and RS logo at the base of the steering wheel.
Aston Martin Lagonda has shown a new Lagonda All-Terrain Concept at the Geneva Motor Show. Details below…
Following on from the Lagonda Vision Concept shown in 2018, Aston Martin Lagonda, which aims to be the world's first zero emission luxury brand, has now shown the All-Terrain Concept at the Geneva Motor Show. This concept is said to preview an all-electric production crossover which expected to come to market in 2022 and will be built in a new facility in St Athan, Wales.
'The Lagonda All-Terrain Concept adds a hugely exciting sense of adventure to the unique brand of luxury, emission-free vehicles that Lagonda is planning to produce. This is a car that would be at home whisking someone straight from a glamorous red carpet event to a remote scientific research lab. It shows the bold possibilities for Lagonda and demonstrates how the company will push to expand horizons in every area, whether it be technology, design or scope of travel,' says Aston Martin Lagonda President and Group CEO, Andy Palmer.
The Lagonda All-Terrain Concept is decisively futuristic. Note the floating key…
Apart from its swept exterior design, perhaps the most beguiling feature of this All-Terrain Concept is the key for the vehicle which appears to float between the front seats thanks to electromagnets. The cabin design is lavishly futuristic with an integrated instrument cluster in the steering wheel and when full autonomous mode is activated, the front seats can swivel around to face rear passengers.
BMW recently launched its fourth-generation X5 in South Africa, a car that originally created a segment and which has sold in vast numbers ever since.
The third generation X5 saw the introduction of a special, high-performance diesel model known as the M50d.
Back in 2014 we actually drag raced it against the supercharged V8 Range Rover Sport and the result was…surprising. You can watch that video here!
And now there's a brand new M50d, and for some reason BMW decided to fit another turbo charger, making this a rare quad-turbo beast.
In this video, we get stuck in and take a detailed look at the new X5. Our video guy, Ciro De Siena, will take you through all the tech and specs you might care for and he even offers an opinion or two about its performance, acceleration and handling.
And lastly we try and answer the question, is the X5 M50d enough of a performance SUV for your money, or should you wait for the upcoming X5 M?
The BMW X5 M50d is priced from priced from R1 502 582.
Mazda has a revealed a new compact crossover/SUV that slots in between the smaller CX-3 and larger CX-5 in its lineup.
Imbued with Mazda’s stylish Kodo design ethos, the new Mazda CX-30 incorporates a coupe-like styling with the practicality of an SUV.
The CX-30 stands 4 395 mm long, 1 795 mm wide and 1 540 mm high with a wheelbase measuring 2 655 mm. It’s built on Mazda’s new-generation Skyactiv-Vehicle Architecture and combines an all-wheel drive system with G-Vectoring Control to enhance the driving experience.
A range of petrol and diesel Skyactiv engines with Mazda’s new M-Hybrid system (mild hybrid) will be offered. This system will assist the engine with a 24V 600kJ lithium-ion battery mounted between the wheels. The mild hybrid system improves fuel economy as well as driveability.
The CX-30 features a spacious cabin with a minimalist design approach. The luggage bay is sizable at 430 litres and an electric-operated tailgate will be optionally available. Notable features include an 8.8-inch infotainment display which is controlled using the command control and compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. A Mazda 8-speaker sound system or a 12-speaker Bose sound system is also offered.
The arrival of the new CX-30 in South Africa has been confirmed for Q1 in 2020.
Italian hypercar merchants Lamborghini have taken the top off of the Aventador SVJ and created a Roadster variant. First unveiled at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, the Lamborghini Aventador SVJ Roadster will be limited to just 800 units. Check it out!
"The Aventador SVJ Roadster inherits all the power, performance and groundbreaking aerodynamic technologies of the coupé, but with its own iconic presence and prowess," says Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Automobili Lamborghini, Stefano Domenicali. "It is as fundamentally exciting to drive as the Aventador SVJ but with an added exclusivity: the option of the open air. With the same extraordinary performance roof on or off, the Aventador SVJ Roadster incorporates the dynamism of the coupé with the unique spirit of a Lamborghini roadster."
That pretty much sums up what this insane Lamborghini Roadster is all about. SVJ stands for Super Veloce Jota, which in Lambo language denotes extreme performance as well as track prowess. Lamborghini took the Nurburgring production car lap record time and it wouldn't surprise us if the Roadster did a similar feat as a convertible. The numbers are terrifying. 556 kW and 720 Nm from a screaming V12 engine are enough to get this Lamborghini Aventador SVJ Roadster to 100 kph in 2.9 seconds and it'll do 0-200 kph in 8.8 seconds. Lamborghini claims a top speed over more than 350 kph.
Now for the Roadster part. The roof has been assembled from high-pressure RTM carbon fibre and is removable via a quick release lever in the cabin. It can be stored securely under the front hood and it only adds 50 kg in comparison to the SVJ coupe's weight of 1 525 kg. As we said earlier, there'll be just 800 units made and Lamborghini has a suggested retail price of EUR 387 007 (suggested retail price taxes excluded)
The 556 kW / 720 Nm Lamborghini Aventador SVJ Roadster
The iconic Volkswagen Beach Buggy is back! This time, however, it's electric-powered. Meet the Volkswagen ID Buggy concept which was revealed at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show.
Heritage is one of those traits which Volkswagen understands well. Look at the VW Kombi and while the latest version is a far cry from the original hippy wagon, we love them both dearly. Remember the Volkswagen Beetle-based beach buggies? Light, fun to drive and effortlessly simple, they represented endless summers and good times.
Now, for the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, Volkswagen has revived the Beach Buggy with the new all-electric ID Buggy Concept. Like the forthcoming ID electric range, the ID Buggy also rides on Volkswagen's all-new modular electric car platform called MEB. The Volkswagen Group is banking on the new MEB platform being the key to cost-effective and affordable electric cars. Should these be a success, then low-volume specialised products like the ID Buggy could become a reality.
The Volkswagen ID Buggy Concept features a 62 kWh battery located in the middle of the car, mounted low for a low centre of gravity, which, in turn, improves handling. Volkswagen claims the battery compound forms part of the structure and therefore adds rigidity. Keeping with the tradition of the Beach Buggies of yesteryear, the Volkswagen ID Buggy features its motor in the rear and is connected to a single-speed gearbox. Volkswagen has said there is provision for a second motor operating the front axle, which would give the ID Buggy Concept 4×4 capability.
With a claimed range of around 250 km and a claimed 0-100 kph time of 7.2 seconds, the Volkswagen ID Buggy Concept sounds like a fantastic and fun way to cruise around. While it remains a concept, for now, we'd love to see it come to life!
The Volkswagen ID Buggy Concept showing off its low-mounted battery which should result in a fun drive
Aston Martin has finally confirmed outputs for its F1-inspired road car and it's mega!
In a market with no shortage of current or pending hypercars, the Aston Martin Valkyrie is notable for its purity of execution.
Whereas rival hypercars feature forced-induction and hybridization, Aston Martin’s engineers have forsaken the allure of boost – and kept it all atmospheric. The 6.5-litre V12 engine powering Valkyrie is remarkable not only for its enormous size, but also the absence of turbocharging.
Without boost or any back-pressure issues to manage, Aston Martin has been claiming some amazing engine-speed parameters for the Valkyrie’s V12, such as an 11 100 rpm crank speed ceiling – unrivalled by any other production car. But how much power does it produce?
With Cosworth being responsible for the Valkyrie’s internal-combustion V12, Aston has had to wait for official confirmation of power figures. Why? Because the Valkyrie adds an energy harvesting KERS-type system and onboard battery pack to boost power beyond what the V12 engine could achieve in isolation.
The numbers which Aston have confirmed are deeply impressive, with the Valkyrie’s combustion powertrain element delivering 746 kW and 740 Nm of torque. Aston has also noted that 119 kW and 280 Nm of additional battery generated power and torque will augment the V12’s numbers at peak throttle loads.
That battery-pack is not Aston’s own work but has rather been outsourced to Croatian electric vehicle specialist, Rimac. The entire powertrain, in fact, is outsourced – with Aston being responsible for harmonising all the bits into a final hypercar application.
Total system output for the Valkyrie is rounded-off to 865kW, which should make it incomprehensibly quick. What could enable a rather unique driving experience with Valkyrie, as opposed to many other hybridized hypercars, is the appeal of a traditional large-capacity V12 engine, blended with batteries. Very impressive indeed…
February 2019 was yet another disappointing month for new car sales in South Africa according to the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA). See sales summary below…
The downward new car sales trend continued during the month of February 2019 but was somewhat buoyed by strong sales performance in the commercial vehicle sector while exports registered substantial gains.
Ghana Msibi, WesBank Executive Head of Motor commented, “While we expect first-half sales to be slow, the market was no doubt rattled by the week-long impact of load-shedding at the beginning of the month, which impacted consumer and business confidence. Reassuringly, however, February sales were up on January despite fewer selling days.”
New Car Sales Summary: February 2019
Aggregate new car sales of 43 251 units down by 6.5% (-3 016 units) compared with February 2018.
New passenger car sales of 27 000 units down by 13.3% (-4 139 units) compared with February 2018.
Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) sales of 14 123 units up by 7.1% (+932 units) compared with February 2018.
Export sales of 27 529 units up by 22.5% (+6 202 units) compared with February 2018.
New car sales in South Africa are expected to remain under considerable pressure as the market continues to be affected by a subdued macro-economic environment and increasing pressure on household disposable income. Improvements in economic growth after the general elections are expected to be realised and domestic sales should see an uptick in the second half of 2019. Solid growth in exports is expected to continue during 2019.
Nonetheless, Ghana Msibi says that affordability and increased pressure on disposable income will continue to impact on new car purchasing decisions, “Extended contract periods, increasing numbers of balloon payment options within finance contracts, and a continued shift from new to used all indicate the overall picture of household budgets under pressure. When consumers hold on to their cars for longer, there are fewer and fewer late model, low mileage used cars in the market. This will naturally force customers back into new vehicles over time, which is positive news for dealers and new vehicle sales.”
Extreme Limited Edition Mercedes-AMG S65 Final Edition Revealed
Mercedes-AMG has revealed the S65 Final Edition which will comprise just 130 vehicles. Check it out.
This exclusive limited-edition model from Mercedes-AMG is aimed at collectors and will comprise just 130 units. Featuring some standout visual features and comprehensive levels of spec, the S65 Final Edition looks magnificent.
The 6.0 V12 biturbo engine from AMG is a masterpiece. Assembled by hand in Affalterbach, the S65's engine produces 463 kW and 1000 Nm. Not only is it smooth, but it's also mind-bendingly fast. The AMG Driver's package is fitted as standard and this means a top speed of 300 kph is possible.
The vehicle is available in one colour only: high-gloss obsidian black paint and rides on upmarket 20-inch multi-spoke wheels. There are classy matte bronze touches across the bodywork and an AMG emblem located on the C-pillar. The exhaust tips have been coated in high-gloss black paint too. Inside, the cabin is covered in Exclusive black Nappa leather with the same bronze colour stitching. There's extensive use of carbon fibre too.
