ID Crozz II Concept expands Volkswagen’s electric plans
Volkswagen has unveiled the 2nd version of its zero emission SUV, called the I.D. Crozz II. It's another step in the electrification journey for Volkswagen as the brand aims to offer both electric vehicles and SUVs. It's set to go into production in 2020.
The first version of I.D. Crozz was first seen earlier this year in Shanghai. Now it has been further refined and with a new lick of paint and a tweaked interior, we get to see I.D. Crozz II. In terms of design, we're looking at an SUV combining with a 4-door coupe. Under the sheet metal it features numerous innovative technologies such as interactive voice control to open the doors and to activate the autonomous I.D. Pilot mode.
Volkswagen claims that I.D. Crozz II is a sporty zero-emission vehicle and it features an electric 4Motion all-wheel drive setup. Power is claimed to sit at 225 kW and it has a top speed of 180 kph.
On a single charge, it has a range of up to 500 km and the lithium ion battery has an energy capacity of 83 kWh. The battery is cleverly placed under the vehicle floor, which creates cabin space and lowers the centre of gravity, which in turn improves the handling. With a planned production version launch target of 2020, I.D. Crozz II forms an important part of both Volkswagen's electric strategy and its SUV campaign.
General Tire rolls out rugged new rubber [with Video]
We took 2 new adventure-seeking tyres from General Tire – the all-terrain Grabber AT3 and the extreme-terrain Grabber X3 – through their paces at Klipbokkop Mountain Reserve to see if anything could stop them.
By Michael Salzwedel
Conversations about cars are funny things. Typically, you’re going to hear about how and why car x is better than car y, and this will almost always involve how much grunt they have and how quickly they can move. Then, of course, there’ll be the design debates, the technology talk and the monetary musings.
All of which is well and good, of course, but in every car, there’s just one thing (well, usually four) that collectively connects everything about that car to the surface it happens to be riding on. Yep, good ol’ tyres. Let’s talk about them.
At any given time, your tyres are the only physical points of contact between your car and the road (if not, you better hope help is at hand!). If they’re not right for the job, or not doing their job properly, your whole driving experience is compromised. You might have a gem of an engine, the fanciest tech and more driving skill than Ken Block, but if your tyres are lacking, it won’t count for much. Tyres are the primary enablers of any motoring experience or adventure, so it’s critical that they’re well chosen.
Enter the Grabber AT3 and X3
With this in mind, we headed out for an adventure to the superbly positioned Klipbokkop Mountain Reserve (home of the General Tire Adventure Academy, which was launched earlier this year) at the Brandvlei Dam just south of Worcester in the Western Cape. Our mission: to test the capabilities of General Tire’s two new off-road tyres: the all-terrain Grabber AT3 (fitted to the new Fiat Fullback 2.4 Di-D 4×4) and the Grabber X3 extreme-terrain (fitted to current-gen Jeep Wrangler Sahara Unlimiteds).
The "3" in each name refers to different things: in the case of the AT3 it refers to this being the third generation of all-terrain tyre from General Tire, while in the X3 (successor to the Grabber MT), it refers to the three types of terrain this tyre loves to tackle: mud, dirt and rock.
The newcomers sit alongside General Tire’s other existing offerings including the Grabber TR gravel gobblers, Grabber GT high-performance SUV tyres, and Altimax Comfort and Sport passenger tyres.
The new AT3 and X3s are only up for grabs on the replacement market and are not being supplied as OEM-spec on new vehicles.
Designed for 50% on-road and 50% off-road use, the main perks of the AT3s over the version they replace is that they are quieter, tougher and more durable. They’re available in 13 sizes spanning rim widths of 15 to 20 inches. These are aimed at SUV, bakkie or more serious off-road vehicle owners who are looking for a competent all-in-one offering that demonstrates healthy off-road ability when required but also boasts ample suitability for on-road use.
The chunkier X3s, on the other hand, beg to be given a proper off-road beating and are intended for 20% on- and 80% off-road use. They’re only available in five sizes for now, for 15-17 inch rims.
New tech
General Tire has introduced three new performance-enhancing technologies with these tyres:
TRACGEN: traction ribs and multi-angled sipes (small incisions in the rubber) in the tread help to improve loose surface traction through gripping edges that interlock with the off-road surface;
DURAGEN: a robust rubber compound that offers better cut and chip resistance, and reinforced tread blocks that reduce deformation, improve tread life in rugged terrain and maximise stability under load;
COMFORT BALANCE: this refers to enhanced geometry, material distribution and tread block orientation, allowing for better surface interaction.
Time to get dirty
There are plenty of variables that contribute to a vehicle’s off-road ability in any given situation. The characteristics of the terrain itself present a vast range of driving challenges, and then there are vehicle considerations including ride height, clearance angles and the type and design of key innards like the gearbox and the four-wheel-drive system. Often the most important variable of all is what tyres you’re riding on and how much air they’ve got in them. Dropping your tyre pressure in sand, for example, can be the difference between getting stuck and powering through.
The fun-loving Wranglers, donning the X3s, made short work of everything thrown at them, including a serious mud bath, mangled rut-strewn stretches, a rock garden, some seriously steep and uneven ascents and descents, and plenty of deep sand.
In the pleasingly capable and comfortable Fullbacks we snaked through an undulating series of twisty sand sections in low-range, never getting stuck and never requiring much more than half-throttle to roar our way through the trickier bits.
The AT3s and X3s – aptly paired with the Fullbacks and Jeeps respectively – proved to be up to the task of every challenge laid before them, living up to their “anywhere is possible” tagline. Much to General Tire’s relief, and in true testament to the hardiness of the tyres, there were no punctures (or rim pop-offs) suffered on any of the 10 vehicles throughout the day, even after more than a few moments of, shall we say, particularly enthusiastic testing of their capabilities (because motoring journalists will be motoring journalists).
Mercedes-AMG Project One Teased for Frankfurt [Video]
It's likely to be the fastest and most powerful vehicle displayed at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show. Ahead of its debut this week, Mercedes-AMG has revealed the rear-end of Project One and it looks menacing…
It's called the Mercedes-AMG Project One and it's essentially a "Formula One road car". It'll feature a hybrid powertrain comprising an F1-derived, turbocharged 1.6-litre V6 engine from the championship-winning WO7 Hybrid, coupled with a “purely electric and wheel-selective front axle drive concept”. The engine will idle at 4 000 rpm and will redline at an eye-watering 13 500 rpm. According to reports, the engine will be good for at least 50 000 km before needing a rebuild, which is probably alright, seeing as most hypercars do so little mileage.
The engine will work in conjunction with 2 electric motors. The first 80 kW electric motor is tasked with keeping the turbocharger on the boil at all times while the second 120 kW motor is linked directly to the crankshaft. An additional 2 electric motors at the front axle will allow for pure electric driving with a range up to 24 km on electric power alone. The Project One hypercar will develop more than 746 kW and will make use of a single clutch 8-speed transmission to lay power to the road. Top speed is estimated at 350 kph.
Only 275 units will be built and all of them have been spoken for. We will be attending the Frankfurt Motor Show this week so look for information as the show unfolds.
The new, second-generation Nissan Leaf Electric Vehicle (EV) has been introduced in Japan and will be sold in over 60 markets worldwide, including South Africa. We attended its global reveal in Tokyo, Japan and got to meet Leaf 2.0.
The zero-emission Nissan Leaf has been introduced in Japan and although the first-generation Leaf didn’t sell particularly well in South Africa, this new model appears to have raised the bar of what of what an electric car can offer.
According to Nissan, the Leaf has been reinvented to offer a new design, improved range and advanced technology.
“The new Nissan Leaf drives Nissan Intelligent Mobility, which is the core brand strategy for Nissan’s future. The new Nissan Leaf, with its improved range, combined with the evolution of autonomous drive technology such as ProPILOT Park, and the simple operation of the e-Pedal, strengthens Nissan’s EV leadership as well as the expansion of EVs globally. It also has core strengths that will be embodied by future Nissan models” said Hiroto Saikawa, president and chief executive officer of Nissan.
Electric power
The new zero emission Leaf now has a range of 400 km and offers 110 kW and 320 Nm.
The new Leaf is powered by an electric motor developing 110 kW and 320 Nm of torque in conjunction with a 40 kWh Lithium-ion battery. Nissan says that the new Leaf offers improved acceleration and higher levels of driving enjoyment.
The Leaf now has a range 400 km and can be charged in 8 hours using a 6 kW outlet or alternatively, 16 hours using a 3 kW outlet. Fast charging will rapidly decrease charging times and 80% charge can be achieved in about 40 minutes.
The new Leaf is equipped with ProPILOT autonomous drive technology used for single-lane highway driving as well as ProPILOT Park. When activated, ProPILOT Park will control steering, acceleration, braking, shift changes and apply the parking brake to guide the vehicle safely into its parking. The Leaf can also parallel park using this system.
Another cool feature on the new Leaf is what Nissan calls the e-Pedal which is said to transform the way people drive. The e-Pedal allows the driver to start, accelerate, decelerate and stop by either increasing or decreasing the pressure applied to the pedal. So, when no pressure is applied to the pedal, the regenerative and friction brakes kick in automatically to bring the Leaf to a stop. The Leaf can also hold its position on steep inclines until the driver applies pressure to the pedal.
Design details
The LEAF has been imbued with a sleeker, more dynamic appearance that will hopefully encourage people to consider it.
The new Leaf has s a sleeker profile with a sharp look with the intention of evoking “the exhilaration of driving an EV”, according to Nissan. The Leaf is equipped with boomerang-shaped headlights and a flash-surface grille in clear blue. The bumpers mouldings are in blue too, hinting at the Leaf’s electric nature.
On the inside, the Leaf’s cabin has been redesigned with a focus on the driver and features a front panel that Nissan calls a “gliding wing”. The interior features blue stitching on the seats, dashboard and steering wheel to add vibrance to the cabin. The Leaf is equipped with a 7-inch colour TFT display which highlights features such as audio, navigation, and Safety Shield technology power guage. Apple CarPlay is now offered on the Leaf too.
The new Leaf?'s interior has been completely redesigned to offer increased comfort and aesthetic appeal.
A more powerful version of the Leaf will also be offered, albeit more expensive, in 2018 and is said to offer more excitement and performance over the standard version.
The Nissan Leaf is expected to arrive in South Africa later in 2018. We will keep you updated as soon as local specification and pricing details are revealed.
You'd think the Mercedes-AMG GT sportscar range was complete, but it appears that a hardcore Black Series is on its way.
The video below shows what appears to be a normal Mercedes-AMG GT R belting along the Nurburgring, but on closer inspection, this vehicle does not have the usual exhaust, some camouflage and is covered in testing equipment. Rumours are rife that the ultimate AMG badge will be making a comeback. Many are suggesting that this is actually a Mercedes-AMG GT R Black Series, undergoing testing.
Given how potent the AMG GT R is, we're wondering how much faster the Black Series will be. The 4.0-litre turbocharged V8 is already pushing 430 kW and 700 Nm, so we can't see much more power extracted. We suspect that there'll be some clever aerodynamics thrown into the mix, bigger brakes and the car will potentially go on diet and shed some weight.
Nissan Navara vs Ford Ranger (2017) Comparative Review Video Part 2
We put the new Nissan Navara to the test against the new Ford Ranger Fx4! Watch the video to see how these double-cab bakkies fare in Part 2 of our test.
The bakkie market is truly thriving in South Africa and motorists have never had so much choice. The Ranger Fx4 is a new edition to the leisure bakkie market and South Africans had to wait a good while for the new Nissan Navara to arrive in local showrooms, but it is finally here and Nissan is confident that this is the bakkie to set new standards in the segment.
In Part 1 of this head-to-head test, we reviewed the on-road comfort of the Navara and Ranger Fx4 and took a detailed look at the interiors. In Part 2, and with both bakkies loaded with half a ton of water, we set off into the hills of Backsberg Estate to test their 4×4 capability. Watch the video to find out which one of these bakkies performed better in this comparative test.
We couldn't have made this video without the generous help of the people at the beautiful Backsberg Estate. With a top-notch restaurant, wine tasting and cellar store on the property, the winery is leading the way in terms of modern farming practices – it was the first carbon neutral wine farm in South Africa. Visit them at www.backsberg.co.za
BMW will be showcasing its new luxury X7 iPerformance plug-in hybrid concept at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show.
The X7 iPerformance concept previews the production model which is expected to make its debut in 2018. Featuring bold exterior styling, the 7-seater X7 iPerformance concept is equipped with high-quality finishes and the latest infotainment technology from BMW. The concept makes use of BMW’s eDrive technology coupled with a twin turbo petrol engine.
The new X7 forms part of BMW’s NUMBER ONE > NEXT strategy that aims to increase its sales and revenue in the luxury SUV segment, or Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV), as BMW likes to call it.
The forthcoming X7 will form part of BMW's luxury vehicle offensive and is due to be revealed in 2018.
"Since BMW founded the Sports Activity Vehicle segment with the first X5 back in 1999, every subsequent X vehicle has broken new ground. The BMW X7 continues this tradition: the X family's new top model extends BMW's offering in the luxury class and redefines the concept of luxury for the BMW brand and beyond. It also embodies one of the most important elements of our corporate strategy NUMBER ONE > NEXT, to grow our presence in the luxury class. Furthermore, the BMW Concept X7 demonstrates it's perfectly possible to combine a large sports activity vehicle with an electrified drivetrain" says Ian Robertson, Member of the BMW AG Management Board.
Key features
The interior design of the X7 concept gives us a glimpse of what the production model might look like and it looks impressive.
The concept features BMW’s latest design language that culminates in a vehicle that has significant presence, both in terms of size and execution. Classic BMW elements have been reinterpreted for this X7 concept and the most striking element is the large, vertical kidney grille with a solid, single-piece frame and bars. The grille is complemented with slim, elongated laser light headlights with a blue X lighting signature. A prominent bar stretches across the lower front apron and rises vertically to frame the air intakes.
For the first time on an X vehicle, the wheel arches are circular cut, giving the X7 concept a striking look when viewed from the side. The rear taillights are connected with a chrome bar and feature a 3-dimensional L-shaped motif.
As for interior, BMW says its very spacious with 3 rows of seats with 4 individual design seats. As you would expect, the X7 concept’s interior is both luxurious and sophisticated. A large panoramic roof creates a spacious, airy feel and leather abounds in the X7 Concept.
Rest assured, rear passengers will be well catered for in the new X7 thanks to a spacious and technologically equipped cabin.
The cockpit is focussed around the driver with a wrap-around effect. A 12.3 inch screen makes up the instrument cluster while a central touchscreen infotainment display combines to from what appears to be a continuous display. Rear-seat touchscreen entertainment is also offered for second-row passengers, who can engage with their personal digital life, including work or play via BMW Connect.
We will keep you informed as more details regarding the new BMW X7 are released.
Ford has shown off an ST-Line Ecosport, which will make its public debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show next week
This new Ford EcoSport ST-Line features a sportier trim, the latest connectivity as well as an all-new diesel engine. Interestingly, all-wheel drive makes its debut too. The new engine in question is a 1.5-litre EcoBlue diesel engine, with 92 kW and 300 Nm. Power goes to all four wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox. It's marketed as a cleaner engine, with a claim of 4.5 L/100 km and emissions of just 119 g/km. The Intelligent All Wheel Drive is able to adjust torque delivery up to 50/50 in as little as 20 milliseconds, which will aid grip in slippery conditions.
The new Ford EcoSport line-up will for the first time include the sporty new EcoSport ST-Line variant. It features unique Ford Performance-inspired bumpers and side skirts, black-finish roof rails and headlight bezels, 17-inch Dark Tarnish alloy wheels, ST-Line badging and extended painted roof and door mirrors as standard. The interior has a unique ST-Line leather-trimmed flat-bottomed steering wheel; unique partial leather seats with red stitching; leather handbrake lever and gear knob; ST-Line branded scuff plates; and stainless steel sports pedals.
As the new EcoSport is aimed at young buyers, the newcomer will be jammed with connectivity options. A brace of fast-charging USB ports up front, 12V power outlets front and rear, and even a 110V power outlet (for the rear passengers) will be available as an option. Ford's SYNC3 infotainment/connectivity system has been made fitted and there's a smart-looking 8-inch touchscreen. Ford is also boasting Android Auto and Apple CarPlay in its new EcoSport.
"Ford has sold 150,000 EcoSport compact SUVs in Europe since we first introduced the model to the region in 2014, and last year sales grew 40 per cent," said Steven Armstrong, group vice president and president, Europe Middle East and Africa, Ford Motor Company. "The new Ford EcoSport offers customers even more style, comfort, capability and choice – blending rugged SUV functionality with city car practicality." The new Ford EcoSport for Europe will be built at Ford's manufacturing facility in Craiova, Romania, while the rest of the world's production comes from India.
Range Rover Velar (2017) Launch Review [with Video]
Regular Cars.co.za contributor, Calvin Fisher, recently found himself lapping Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit at the helm of the newest, sleekest Range Rover of them all – the Velar. Revel in his experience below…
Remember when your flavours of Range Rover extended to just two, ye olde original and then the footballer de rigueur, the Sport? Since then, Land Rover have seen fit to install a stylish junior into the fray with the (footballers wives' de rigueur) Evoque, as well as giving its larger siblings a successor each. But if your Evoque is too compact, the full-fat Range Rover too utilitarian and the Sport too… sportsy, then perhaps you're in need of something a bit more luxurious. Because apparently that's been lacking across the Range Rover catalogue?
Enter the Velar
Luxurious and capable, the Range Rover Velar is a stylish SUV that will be available in SA late in 2017.
This is it, achingly posh and slipperier than you'd have thought possible in an SUV, an embodiment of Range Rover's next generation of technology and indeed aesthetic. It is, in a word, elegant. Big. But elegant. And with great lashings of road presence too – a mish-mash of modernism and minimalism, a polished gem with an all-terrain stance. The Velar has been designed on a blank canvas, and by blank canvas I mean lightweight aluminium used almost exclusively to keep the kerb weight down. That makes for a more efficient SUV with car-like dynamics. And that’s good because I’m at South Africa’s premier racing circuit, Kyalami.
In a fashion similar to the rest of the range, you can get your new Range Rover Velar in S, SR and HSE and for as cheaply as sub-million with the base car's R947 700 sticker price. The one we were sat in hovered around R1.4 million, an HSE unit that came standard with four-corner air suspension. It also came blessed with a Meridian Surround Sound entertainment system, adaptive cruise control and queue assist, Navigation Pro and a raft of other features and systems. Yet despite the barrage of technology on board, what was shocking to note was the Velar's defiance of them all to deliver the cleanest, most devoid of buttonry and switchgear cabin we've seen in years.
The Velar's interior is modern and mostly devoid of buttons and switches and a Touch Pro Duo infotainment system controls most functions.
Forget rocker dials, knobs, rollers and switches – you'll barely use a thumb in the Velar. Instead, the bulk of the controls have been relegated to a digital plane (Touch Pro Duo infotainment system) across two 10-inch high-definition screens, and the only remaining analogue-alike experience is the HVAC controls, a futuristic ring that seems to hover over the glass beneath it, on which the temperatures are displayed. Cabin materials include suede cloth, and in Dapple Grey, it's a premium alternative to leather. I have no idea what that means if I’m honest but it sure resembled cow hide, so job well done! Every surface in the Velar is a tactile pleasure. It is pure artistry. As is what lies under that clamshell bonnet.
Having a go in it
This Velar 3.0 V6 HSE offers up 280 kW and 450 Nm of torque, enough to sprint to 100 kph in 5.7 seconds.
I pointed the red hood down the pit straight, my aspirations aimed at several laps of Kyalami’s pristine asphalt powered by the R-Dynamic Velar HSE’s supercharged 3.0-litre V6 and its full reserves of 280kW and 450Nm at the disposal of my right foot. I bury it into the footwell which promises a zero to 100 kph sprint in a sprightly 5.7 seconds and should I keep my foot there, the brochure says I’ll eventually run out of puff at around 257kph. Not bad for a heavy SUV, albeit the sleekest one I can remember ever seeing.
You know that old saying, a big car that shrinks around you and feels small? That doesn’t happen here, the Velar feels burly, substantial and meaty, so naturally, it gets a soundtrack to match – rorty and booming, a noise developed alongside the sister marque’s Jaguar F-Types I’m sure. In fact, much of its DNA is shared with the larger F-Pace but don’t get stuck on that detail, they’re very different machines inside and out. Remember, Donald Trump shares DNA with his daughter Ivanka, and they’re not too similar either, are they?
The Velar tamed Kyalami with confidence and poise.
I blasted my way onto the main straight, straddled the centre line of the circuit and spied turn one. There’s quite a bit of elevation here as I make my way to the right of the track to line myself up for the left-hander, scrub off some speed with the pedal on the left, roll on half an armful of steering then climb back on the throttle. It’s a fairly stiff chassis with double wishbones up front and a multi-link at the rear, you feel the weight shift but far less than you’d expect from a Rangie. Progress is linear, both laterally and of course in a straight line, as I flatten the throttle and begin the next climb, followed by a left, right, left. Kyalami is a demanding circuit and the Velar is making a doddle of it.
It’s no race car and has no pretence of the sort, so I enjoy the rest of my lap time, well aware that this is just an example of what it’s capable of on an ideal stretch of tarmac. With a cool-down lap completed, I park it in the garages and afford myself a moment to reflect on the Velar. I can’t help but be reminded of the genesis of the Evoque all over again, but minus all the drama. When that car was birthed, it was immediately praised for its style but spurned by 4×4 purists for being little more than a fashion accessory, despite its gravelly capabilities. This is different – no less a stylistic high-water mark but also quietly confident in its pedigree as a Range Rover. A real Range Rover. Not a junior. This feels unanimous. The Velar is nothing less than the Range Rover brand refined to a resplendent glow. And nothing more than a potential future icon.
Watch the Velar tackle Kyalami in the video below!
Ford South Africa has done it! Confirmation of a high-performance Raptor Ranger bakkie landed this morning and there's a teaser video
The announcement came from Ford South Africa's social media channels and other than this video, we don't have much to go on. We can speculate, of course, and given how hard the test mule is being pushed in the video, we predict that it'll have beefier suspension and be just as capable in an off-road environment. There's no word on the powerplant, but if we go by the audio in this video, we suspect a V6 is under the bonnet. Sadly it's not the V8 we were all secretly praying for, but let's wait for the official details. Officially it has been confirmed for SA.
Officially, Ford SA had this to say: "Building on the success of the class-leading Ford Ranger, one of the best-selling bakkies in a number of markets, Ranger Raptor brings the thrilling off-road performance capabilities of the ‘Raptor’ to the Ranger for the first time ever. With its bold appearance and extreme, off-road performance features, Ranger Raptor represents a new and distinctive breed of bakkie."
