The highly-anticipated Mercedes-Benz X-Class Concept bakkie has been revealed to the world and, as expected, the luxury double-cab has polarised opinions. Here’s a closer look at what some of our users have to say about the new X-Class.
Mercedes-Benz, a brand synonymous with luxury, style, elegance and performance will be entering the hotly-contested bakkie market in South Africa with its new X-Class, which is expected to arrive in early 2018. Granted, the production version is yet to be revealed, but the X-Class Concept has sparked interesting public debate and in a thriving bakkie market such as South Africa, the opinions regarding the X-Class are widespread.
The local market is currently dominated by the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger, two vehicles that have exceptionally loyal support as well as a long history on local soil. Mercedes-Benz’s partnership with the Renault-Nissan Alliance has made the X-Class more cost-effective from a production point of view and will enable the Stuttgart-based brand to effectively "storm" the bakkie market with a new product. Irrespective of what your opinion is regarding the design of the X-Class, Benz has brand snobbery on its side and many buyers will be attracted to, and willing to pay for, the large pointed star on the nose of their X-Class bakkie.
Will the Mercedes-Benz X-Class dominate the South African bakkie market in coming years? That’s up for debate, but one thing is certain, the X-Class will most definitely shake-up the local bakkie segment when it finally arrives in Mzansi. Take a look at some of our user opinions on Twitter and Facebook and be sure to share your opinion on the X-Class with us by following us on Twitter and Facebooknow.
Nissan South Africa has introduced the limited edition NP200 ICE half-tonne bakkie in South Africa. Here is what the NP200 ICE has to offer…
The Nissan NP200 ICE limited edition bakkie is now available in South Africa. The NP200 ICE is produced at Nissan’s Rosslyn plant near Pretoria, Gauteng and is available in limited numbers from Nissan dealerships across South Africa.
Design details
The NP200 ICE is offered in two metallic colours, Starling Blue and Bright Silver and comes fitted with unique aluminium features. These include an aluminium nudge bar with a brushed finish and a brushed aluminium sports bar. The NP200 ICE rides on custom-designed 15-inch alloy wheels and features ICE decals over the rear wheel arches and tailgate.
The Nissan NP200 ICE offers unique styling details and attractive pricing.
The luggage bay is rubberised and comes equipped with 16 anchor points to secure whatever you might be transporting. The NP200 ICE has a payload of 800 kg and the load bay has a length of 1.8 metres and a depth of 0.5 metres. A motorcross or mountain bike stand is available as an option. A tonneau cover is fitted as standard as well as rear step plates. The windows also feature dark tinted safety film, offering protection from potential smash-and-grab situations. Daytime running lights are also fitted as standard.
On the inside, the NP200 ICE features eco combination leather upholstery and rubber carpets. An entertainment system offers Bluetooth functionality and a USB port for charging and connecting your devices.
In terms of safety, 2 airbags and ABS are included as standard.
Engine power
Petrol and diesel engines are available to buyers. The 1.6-litre petrol derivative develops 64 kW and 128 Nm of torque with a claimed fuel consumption figure of 8.1 L/100 km.
The diesel-powered NP200 ICE makes use of a 1.5-litre turbodiesel engine with 63 kW and 200 Nm of torque and is more fuel efficient with a claimed fuel consumption figure of 5.3 L/100 km. A 5-speed manual transmission is standard for both derivatives.
Nissan NP200 ICE – Price in South Africa (February 2017)
The E63 and E63 S will be officially launched in November 2016 in Portugal, but Mercedes-AMG has taken the opportunity to reveal a few of the juicy details about its ballistic premium sedan flagship.
The Mercedes-AMG E63 sits at the pinnacle of luxury performance in a production-series sedan. It’s built to deliver mind-blowing performance with top level comfort and prestige. Benz has made some changes with this all-new E63, however: like the fact it’s only available in 4Matic all-wheel-drive guise.
New engine
Out with the old 5.5-litre twin-turbo V8 and in with the new 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbo. Despite the reduction in capacity, power is up as the standard E63 heaves out 420 kW and 750 Nm of torque. If you want more power, then the E63 S is available with 450 kW and 850 Nm. In standard form, the E63 will hit 100 kph from standstill in a (claimed) 3.5 seconds with the E63 S managing the sprint in 3.4 seconds. Both cars are governed to 250 kph but with the AMG driver’s package added it will top out at 300 kph. If you’re just pottering around town, Eco mode allows for cylinder deactivation where one bank of the V8 is shut down in order to save a bit of fuel.
Drift mode
Drift Mode has been added to the numerous modes and is standard in the E63 S model. It allows for specific torque distribution to the rear wheels that will allow a driver to slide the sedan around like a hoon when road conditions permit. It also turns the E63 into a purely rear-wheel-drive car. Shifting is done by a software updated AMG 9-speed dual-clutch gearbox that’s able to double-clutch and perform multiple fast downshifts.
Suspension upgrades
Understandably for an AMG model, the E63 has undergone some chassis tweaks in order to make it a proper performance car. The air suspension has been specially tuned with newly designed parts added. The E63 has a mechanical limited-slip differential at the back, whereas the E63 S gets an electronically-controlled rear diff.
Track Pace App
The AMG Track Pace App has been added to the Comand system and allows customers can use it to analyse and improve their track driving style and to share this with other AMG drivers via Facebook, Vimeo, YouTube or the AMG Private Lounge. This app for Apple iPhones is connected to the onboard race app in the head unit via wifi or Bluetooth.
Cars.co.za will be attending the launch of the Mercedes-AMG E63 at the end of November. Keep a look out for a first drive soon after.
Update: Facelifted Volkswagen Golf May Offer Fewer Derivatives
The facelifted Volkswagen Golf will be revealed in November with a host of improvements to keep the model ahead of the game.
Volkswagen’s iconic Golf, now in its seventh generation, is going under the knife and the facelifted model will undergo several changes to ensure its ongoing relevance and popularity. The hotly contested C-segment hatchback market has seen several high-profile introduction in recent years, in the shape of the Peugeot 308, Opel Astra and new Renault Megane.
Although exact details are yet to be revealed, reports suggest that the Golf will gain minor exterior changes in the form of revised bumpers, headlights and taillights and a possible tweak to the grille.
Inside, interior materials are likely to be revised and it has reportedly been confirmed that the Golf will gain a larger, first-in-class, 9.5-inch infotainment display that will feature gesture control. You can also expect a largely “buttonless” cabin and the instrument cluster will likely be replaced with a smaller 8-inch screen.
New hybrid derivative, uprated powerplants
In terms of powertrains, reports are also suggesting that the Golf will offer a 48V mild-hybrid system that will include a 1.0-litre turbo and supercharged 3.0-cylinder petrol engine along with a starter motor/generator and energy recovery system. Existing engine options will in all likelihood be revised to offer more power and improved fuel economy.
Reports are also filtering in that Volkswagen will be reducing the number of Golf derivatives on offer in an effort to cut costs and the Golf cabriolet may be relegated from the range, but this is yet to be confirmed. Volkswagen may even decide to reduce the number of powertrain options to place more emphasis on its hybrid offering. Reports suggest that we may see two new 1.5-litre 4-cylinder engines, as well as a smaller 1.0-litre 3-cylinder engine join the range, but that is just speculation for now.
As for definitive details on the facelifted Volkswagen Golf, you will have to wait until November for the official reveal. A local VWSA spokesperson has confirmed that the Volkswagen Golf will be launched in South Africa in the second quarter of 2017.
Mini has revealed its redesigned Countryman and it will be shown at the upcoming Los Angeles Motor Show in November 2016. Take a look at the details…
The Mini Countryman has been in need of a refresh for some time now and Mini has now revealed details of the new Countryman ahead of its reveal at the Los Angeles Motor Show in November. The new Countryman range will comprise of two new petrol turbo variants, as well as a plug-in hybrid version. The new Countryman will also offer all-wheel drive, should you so desire.
“The new Mini Countryman is not only the largest Mini we’ve ever built, but it’s also the most technologically advanced and most versatile MINI of our product line up. The addition of the plug-in hybrid option is a major milestone for the brand and we look forward to bringing this exciting new vehicle into one of the top performing market segments,” said Thomas Felbermair, Vice President Mini of the Americas.
Engine line-up
The Countryman is now powered by more powerful and efficient petrol engines with the option of a plug-in hybrid.
Two new turbopetrol engines will power the new Countryman. A 1.5-litre 3-cylinder turbo engine produces 99 kW and 219 Nm of torque, which represents a 42% increase in torque compared with its predecessor. A 6-speed manual transmission is standard (6-speed automatic optional) and, as was previously the case, the new Countryman can also be had in all-wheel drive configuration, in which case 8-speed automatic transmission will be offered.
The second petrol option is the more powerful 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbopetrol engine with 140 kW and 280 Nm of torque, while the all-wheel drive plug-in hybrid version will be powered by the same 99 kW/219 Nm three-cylinder 1.5-litre turbopetrol engine, coupled with a 65 kW/165 Nm synchronous hybrid electric motor and a 6-speed automatic transmission.
Total output for the plug-in hybrid is 165 kW and 385 Nm of torque and will have an electric range of 39 km. The engine will power the front wheels while the electric motor will power the rear wheels. Charging the battery will take 3 hours and 15 minutes using a 240V outlet. This derivative will be the first hybrid model in the Mini stable and it will be called the Cooper S E Countryman.
Interior features
The larger dimensions of the Countryman has resulted in an increase in space for passengers and luggage. Mini says the boot has grown by 30% compared with the outgoing model and comes with an adjustable boot floor. The sliding rear seats are split in a 40:20:40 configuration and the Oxford-based manufacturer claims there is now more front and rear legroom and headroom as well as increased shoulder room.
The new Countryman's interior now offers more space and as always, can be customised to your taste.
Some of the standard features on the new Countryman include: a panoramic sunroof, leather upholstery, 6.5-inch infotainment display, Bluetooth capability, rear-view camera, rear park distance control, automatic LED headlights, rain-sensing windscreen wipers and 17-inch alloy wheels. Heated seats will be offered as standard on all-wheel drive models.
Buyers can also customise their Countryman with a range of options such the Technology Package that offers an 8.8-inch touchscreen navigation system, wireless charging and the innovative Mini Find Mate function.
Find Mate consists of two tags with a Bluetooth wireless tracking function that can be attached to frequently used objects and travel items such as bags, cases, key rings and rucksacks. It can detect the presence or absence of any such objects connected to the system and tracking is done not only on the Mini's interface, but also on a smartphone. Providing there is a Bluetooth connection with the tag, an acoustic signal can be activated in the car or on the smartphone to help locate the object. If the tag is outside the Bluetooth range, the driver can be guided to the place at which a connection was last detected.
The new Mini Countryman is expected to arrive in South Africa later in 2017. We will keep you updated as more details regarding local specification and pricing becomes available.
We get behind the 'wheel of the best-selling bakkie in the United States, the Ford F-150. While it's unlikely to reach South Africa due to left-hand-drive-only production, it still represents the world's pinnacle pick-up.
Our recent trip to the United States focused mostly on the scope and scale of Ford's autonomous technology, but a visit to Ford’s Dearborn Development Centre allowed us to experience some of its other products, including the F-150 bakkie. We also had a go in the sportiest Ford Fusion V6 and a left-hand drive Ford Focus RS, but, of those products, the F-150 bakkie holds the most interest for our bakkie-mad market.
The Ford F-150 range is satisfyingly diverse and the vehicle is available in an assortment of styles and trims. The Blue Oval offers the F150 with 3 types of cab (regular single, super cab and SuperCrew double cab), which can be combined with 3 loadbox configurations – 5.5 foot, 6.5 foot and 8 foot (that's 1.7 metres, 2.0 metres and 2.4 metres). Then there are 5 engines to choose from with a choice of either 4×2 or 4×4 drivetrains and 6- or 10-speed automatic transmissions.
No, the variations don’t stop there. Then you reach the trim levels. XL, XLT and the exotically named Lariat, Raptor, King Ranch, Platinum and Limited are your choices. For the record, the vehicle we drove was the Lariat. It sits in the middle of the range and featured some excellent comfort features such as heated and ventilated leather seats, blind-spot monitoring, satnav, and a 110V air-conditioning outlet. Nods to utility include spotlights built into the side mirrors and Ford’s Pro Trailer Backup Assist, which makes reversing with a trailer as easy as turning a tiny knob on the dashboard.
Purposefully squared-off design
Can you get more American than a big pickup truck? Even though the F150 is the smallest bakkie in its commercial lineup, seeing one in the metal is likely to make you do a double-take. It’s massive: according to Ford's specifications, up to 5.8 metres long and at least 2,5 metres wide (with standard mirrors). In other words, it makes a Ranger look like a Ford Bantam by comparison. That front grille is splashed with chrome and from a head-on point of view, it’s bold and intimidating. As it should be.
You want the…. V6!
You’d expect a big and powerful V8 petrol engine under the hood of the Ford F-150, but we’re in 2016 and the culture of downsizing has spread across the Atlantic and infected the big truck market. You can purchase a 5.0-litre V8 for your F-150, but that motor is antiquated in comparison to the engine you really want. For this generation of Ford F-150, there’s a 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbocharged petrol motor which trounces its V8 counterpart both in terms of power and torque. 279 kW and 637 Nm sounds more like the outputs from a high-performance Mustang, but this is a double-cab bakkie.
The vehicle we drove came with the new 10-speed automatic transmission. As a publication which has tested several vehicles over the years, we were initially sceptical about the number of ratios. Some vehicles feature 8-speed gearboxes and there are now 9-speed transmissions too. These vehicles with their excessive number of ratios have proven acceptable, but surely 10 is too many? Ten gears may sound ridiculous, but somehow it works. The reason behind this number is simple: fuel efficiency. An interesting note is that this 10-speed unit will find its way into the next-generation Ford Mustang.
Driving the F-150
We were restricted to a few laps around the Dearborn Development Centre in Michigan, but the experience was enough to give us a fair indication of how the F-150 is like to drive. The first section of the route was through a tight and testing little gymkhana course to demonstrate handling in a confined route and it was here where the sheer size of the F-150 became blatantly apparent.
Once we'd finished the handling course, it was time to hit the high-speed oval and the Ecoboost engine was called into action to deliver all it could muster. There’s no lack of shove and the quick-shifting 10-speed transmission changes gears smoothly with a meaty soundtrack accompanying it. It’s no dual-clutch unit, but the shifts are seamless. The downside of this transmission is that if you need to do an emergency overtake, the gearbox will have to change down a few gears to put the engine in the sweet spot. It’s not that big an issue and the motor has plenty of outright grunt to move it along.
What really impressed us how well the F-150 rides. It really soaks up the bumps and unlike many of the bakkies on the local market, which have leaf-sprung rear suspensions, the Ford doesn’t bounce around when unladen. That big and solid-looking body effortlessly translates into a big and solid ride. It’s sizeable and capable, and certainly a desirable product that ticks both boxes of lifestyle and workhorse with ease.
Ford F-150 in South Africa: Yes/No/Maybe?
The F150 product manager from Ford USA gave us a firm "No", when asked about production for right-hand drive markets. If circumstances were to change, maybe there’d be a case for it as (almost 10-year-old) F250s still demand near R300 000 prices. However, just converting the dollar price of the Ford F-150 double-cab Lariot is R550 000 and we would estimate the starting price for the vehicle (including duties and taxes) would be near R800 000. Wow.
What if the Ranger Wildtrack isn’t enough to satisfy our desire for big American trucks? Even with the striking Raptor kit on a Wildtrak, it’s no F-150. So essentially, there’s nothing we can do to get the Ford F150 in South Africa… or is there?
There are many companies in South Africa which claim to be able to import a Ford F-150 (and other American products) and convert them to right-hand drive. The dream of owning a big American Ford truck in South Africa can come true, but be warned, it’s not going to be a cheap exercise.
Update: Tesla to Prove Autonomous Tech with Long Distance Journey (Video)
Last week, Tesla announced that all the cars it produces, including the upcoming Model 3, will feature full self-driving hardware. Tesla also released a video that demonstrates the capability of the system and Tesla is now planning a long distance trip across the US that will put it's technology to the ultimate test.
Tesla CEO,Elon Musk, has reportedly announced that an all-electric autonomous Tesla vehicle will embark on a long distance journey from Los Angelas to New York in full autonomous mode before the end of 2017. The vehicle will cover almost 4 500 km through 11 states, without any input from a driver. More so, Musk is confident that the vehicle will also be able to find its owner, even if the owner is on the other side of the country. This feature is made possible by using a 'summon mode' on your smartphone and the car will drive itself to come find you. It's certainly groundbreaking technology, but the proof is in the pudding and we will have to wait and see how Tesla's ambitions play out in the real world.
Tesla has recently made headlines for all the right, and wrong reasons, but the major announcement to come from the Palo Alto-based electric car manufacturer is that all the vehicles it produces from now on, will feature full self-driving hardware that, in the words of Tesla, will offer a “safety level substantially greater than that of a human driver”.
Smart Hardware Updates
The hardware required to make the magic happen includes 8 surround cameras that provide a 360 degree view around the car with a range of up to 250 metres. In addition, 12 updated ultrasonic sensors help detect objects at almost twice the distance compared to the previous system. Each Tesla vehicle will also be fitted with a forward-facing radar with enhanced processing capability that’s able to see through heavy rain, fog, dust and the car in front of you.
A new onboard computer with 40 times higher computing power is at the core of Tesla’s newly developed neural net for vision, sonar and radar processing software. According to Tesla, “the system provides a view of the world that a driver alone cannot access, seeing in every direction simultaneously and on wavelengths that go far beyond the human senses.”
With all its onboard cameras and sensors, the new Tesla hardware "provides a view of the world the driver alone cannot access".
Before these features can be enabled, Tesla will calibrate the system using millions of kilometres of real-world driving to ensure safety and convenience. Initially, vehicles fitted with the hardware will lack some features (emergency braking, collision warning, lane keep assist and active cruise control) fitted as standard on previous Tesla cars with first-generation Autopilot hardware. As the features become validated, they will be activated over the air. New features will also be introduced as the validation process progresses.
The Tesla Model S and Model X are already being produced with this technology and are being sold on global markets. Tesla vehicles are not yet available in our market but Tesla announced earlier this year that South Africa would be added to the order book for the Model 3, which will likely become a reality in 2018.
The new Peugeot 3008 was revealed earlier this week and apart from offering good looks and fresh technology, it will also offer a unique mobility solution for city dwellers on the move with the option of an e-Bike and e-Kick scooter…
Several automotive manufacturers dabble in the production of a variety of consumer items other than cars, but those products are largely marketing tools to generate brand awareness. Peugeot, however, has essentially branched out on its core business by teaming up with Micro Mobility. The firm will offer an electrically assisted e-Bike and e-Kick scooter as options for the new Peugeot 3008 crossover SUV that will arrive in South Africa in the first quarter of 2017.
The idea is that you drive your new 3008 into the city, park somewhere, and for the last part of your journey, whether it is going to work or to your favourite coffee shop, you hop onto your e-Bike or e-Kick scooter and complete your journey. It’s fun, clever and useful…
The Peugeot e-Kick scooter weighs only 8.5 kg and is designed to fit into a "docking station" in the boot of the new Peugeot 3008 where it can be stored and charged while the car is running. Being electrically-assisted, the e-Kick features a thin lithium-ion battery pack and an electric motor integrated into the rear wheel.
The level of electric assistance is determined by the rider’s movements and the e-Kick has a range of up to 12 km and can reach a top speed of 25 kph. A foot-brake is included to bring the e-Kick to a stop and it even features a regenerative engine braking system that charges the battery pack when the brakes are applied. The e-Kick folds up easily too, making it easy to wheel around wherever you go.
“The e-Kick is a truly multi-modal designed not just to be a mobility solution in itself but also to link all the other solutions together. The two handles used in driving mode fold up into a single handle that allows the scooter to roll from on one wheel, making it effortless to hop from your home to your car to a train to your work”, says Cathal Loughnane, Peugeot Design Lab Manager.
We have yet to try the e-Bike, but it will likely follow similar design and function to that of the e-Kick scooter. Although the e-Kick and e-Bike are brilliant additions to the new Peugeot 3008, it remains to be seen whether the idea will result in more sales when the new 3008 arrives next year. Either way, hats off to Peugeot for making the effort…
Porsche has introduced the 718 Cayman and Boxster in South Africa. The switch to a turbocharged, 4-cylinder engine marks a seismic shift for the Cayman and it's still brilliant, but… there's a but, reports our UK-based correspondent Kyle Fortune.
Porsche 718 Boxter and Cayman range prices in South Africa
The prices as quoted here include a 5-year maintenance plan. Three-year maintenance plans are also available at lower cost and you can configure cars to exact specification and price estimates on Porsche South Africa's website.
Do you want to know what the Cayman S is like to drive? If so, read on:
By Kyle Fortune
The 718 marks the biggest shift in the Cayman paradigm since Porsche introduced its mid-engined 911 understudy and blew away all comers in the small sportscar marketplace. Yes, it might live in the shadow of its rear-engined relation, as some traditionalists argue, but the Cayman's arguably a more complete sportscar than the iconic 911. Porsche has had to evolve its littlest coupe in the face of emissions legislation, however. The Cayman gains the "718" moniker in a bid to link the newcomer to a past that only the most ardent Porsche fans will understand, 2 cylinders have been lopped off the flat 6 motor and a turbocharger added to compensate. That's as seismic a shift as when the 911 went from air- to water cooling. Arguably greater, even.
We'll get to the engine in a moment, as the updates don't only centre on the powerplant. There's revised styling too; the Cayman was always a good-looking sportscar and the 718's changes do little to alter that: it's a head turner. There are revisions to the chassis too, the 718 adopting some bits from the Cayman GT4, and the quicker steering rack of the 911 Turbo, so the already accomplished handling of the old car should be improved further. The interior gets all the new touchscreen interactivity that the newest Carreras get, though, as ever, there's a fair bit of options box ticking to build your perfect Cayman S.
The rear 3-quarter aspect of the 718 Cayman is still one of the most evocative views in the sportscar world.
How does it drive?
The essentials remain the same. The Cayman, which we tested in manual S guise, remains a beautifully balanced sports car. The chassis is sublime, the steering quick and accurate, its weighting near perfect, the ride quality remarkable given it's riding on 20-inch alloy wheels (19-inch wheels are standard). Specified with PASM (Porsche Active Suspension Management) there's the choice of standard or sports settings for the damping, though the latter only adds unwanted frequency and intrusion on the road. It, like a sharper throttle map and louder exhaust in Sports and Sports+ modes, is accessed either via the normal button between the seats, or the configurable "mode switch" that arrives on the steering wheel with the addition of the Sport Chrono Package.
There was never anything wrong with the Cayman's dynamics, and Porsche's revisions with the change to 718 Cayman only enhance them further. There's no finer balanced sports car out there, certainly not at the price point the Cayman is at. There's a but, though, and it concerns the new engine.
The 718 Cayman features the first 4-cylinder turbocharged motor since the 968 model in the mid Nineties.
Porsche's hand was forced by legislation, as sports cars aren't immune to the creep of environmental regulations, which means downsizing. So the naturally-aspirated, high-revving flat-six of the pre-718 Cayman (and Boxster) have been replaced by a turbocharged four-cylinder. In the Cayman S it's 2.5 litres in capacity (2.0-litre in the Cayman), and in the S at least, like the 911 Turbo, it's a variable vane turbo, helping reduce lag.
No amount of turbine trickery can conceal the fundamental change the moment you turn the ignition key. Where the old car's 6-cylinder unit sounded exotic, the 4-cylinder's off-beat, Subaru-like rumble doesn't. There was an optional sports exhaust fitted to our test unit, which does little to add anything rousing to the mix: the previous Cayman created a soundtrack that you wanted to hear; in contrast, the 718 just generates mechanical noise.
By adopting parts from the GT4 and the 911 Turbo's steering rack, the 718 Cayman is nimbler than ever.
Sounds uninspiring, but it's faster in every way
The compensation for the lack of aural appeal is an engine that's appreciably quicker, at any point in its rev range. The 4-cylinder's low-rev urgency is transformational, meaning you don't need to be wringing it out nor changing down the beautiful shifting 6-speed manual gearbox for pace, thanks to its peak torque (420 Nm) arriving at just 1 900 rpm. Maximum power (257 kW) arrives at a respectably high 6 500 rpm, but there's little incentive to really have the Cayman S's rev counter needle up there, as its delivery is strongest in the mid-range rather than the upper portion that previously defined it.
Naturally, this makes for a car that's faster more of the time (Porsche claims a 0-100 kph sprint time of 4,6 seconds for the manual S derivative), the added low-rev urgency arguably allowing you to enjoy its chassis more readily, and the Cayman S is indecently rapid and hugely responsive. It's particularly so in Sport and Sport+ modes – though why Porsche insists on forcing rev-matching blips for downshifts (that require PSM stability management completely off to disengage) in these modes remains a mystery. An easy life isn't necessarily something you want when you're in an engaging sports car. The pace might be greater in the 718, but the rewards simply aren't as hedonistic, as now the tuneless engine's strength is its performance, as opposed to its character.
The 718 Cayman (shown here in PDK guise) has an intimate interior replete with a touchscreen infotainment system.
In isolation, and if you had never experienced the naturally aspirated 6-cylinder engine in the pre-718 Cayman S, you might be wondering what we're complaining about. The Cayman S is all the sportscar you could want: it's hugely capable, enjoyable, and still in a different league to its rivals on a purely objective and rational sense. What it has lost are those incalculable intangibles that made the previous 6-cylinder Cayman S a car that you'd look for any reason to drive, and that made time behind its wheel an occasion. You'll enjoy and even admire the 718 Cayman S, but it's simply not as captivating, largely because its earworm's all wrong and it's that little bit less engaging and demanding thanks to its greater torque and lesser appetite for revs.
The automatically deploying rear spoiler does not fit as flush with the rear bumper as before (it rests atop a black Porsche sill).
Verdict
Porsche's changes to create the 718 Cayman S are understandably transformational. It's a different car as a result of its new powerplant, and it's not all good news. It's a more complete, rounded proposition as a result, but the engine's lack of charisma denies the 718 Cayman S an element of its makeup that was arguably its signature, that being the flat-6, naturally aspirated engine. Blame economy requirements and emissions, though driven as it should be the new engine consumed (an indicated) 10.36 L/100 km over a 480 km 7-hour return journey we did in it. Coincidentally, we completed the same round trip last year in a Cayman GTS. But whereas the memory of the GTS remains tattooed on our memory; that of the 718 is already fading…
Our German spy photographers have spotted Hyundai’s wide-body Veloster prototype, also known as the RM16 N, undergoing testing at the Nürburgring. Check out the details below…
Picture credit: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien
The RM16 N concept was first shown earlier this year at the Busan Motor Show and a prototype has now taken to the tar at the Nürburgring in Germany for testing. The big news for Hyundai’s potential N-powered hot-hatch is that it’s based on the Veloster but it will feature a mid-mounted, rear-wheel drive layout, as opposed to a front-engine, front-wheel drive layout seen in the current Veloster.
Power in the RM16 N concept comes courtesy of a turbocharged 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engine coupled with an electrically-aided turbocharger producing at least 220 kW and 383 Nm of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels using a 6-speed manual transmission.
The Hyundai RM16 N prototype showcases progressive styling with a mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout.
In terms of styling, the RM16 N is vastly different to the current Veloster and it gains wider fenders, new headlights and larger air intakes both at the front of the vehicle and behind the doors. The spy shots also reveal Brembo brakes and large rear spoiler.
Reports suggest that if the car goes into production, it will feature carbon-fibre body panels for less weight and improved weight distribution, an adjustable rear-wing spoiler, an adjustable exhaust valve and a dynamic driver's seat that can automatically increase the level of bolstering when cornering hard.
Although Hyundai is keeping its cards close to its chest regarding the release of a production version of the RM16 N, the fact that a near-production ready prototype has been spotted on the Nürburgring is enough reason to believe that Hyundai might be considering it. Based on the above images, let’s hope they do…
