Aston Martin Lagonda Taraf Headed To SA

Aston Martin has announced the new Lagonda Taraf will be made available to more customers around the world, including the South African market.

Aston Martin Lagonda Taraf will be available in South Africa

Drawing inspiration from the “highly sought-after William Towns-designed Lagonda of 1976, the car was hand-built at Aston Martin’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Gaydon, Warwickshire and is based on the brand’s VH architecture.

Dubbed as “the finest of the fast cars”, the Taraf is fitted with a 6.0-litre V12 engine delivering 410 kW sent to the rear wheels through an 8-speed automatic gearbox. This power allows the Lagonda Taraf to reach a top speed of 281 kph.

“As a result of today’s announcement we anticipate very quick expressions of interest from customers around the world, many of whom will want to add Lagonda to their luxury and sports car collections,” said CEO, Dr Andy Palmer.

“Aside from its confident style, many buyers will also recognise this Lagonda Taraf as a piece of automotive history, following in the tracks of its distinguished predecessor the William Towns Lagonda.”

Mazda2 (2015) First Drive

The ‘re-launch’ of Mazda into South Africa has come just at the right time for the brand. Since it decided to go it alone, new product has arrived thick and fast from Japan. Mazda3, Mazda5 and CX-3 were immediately available to help with the re-introduction and now, just a few months after those, we have the all-new Mazda2 on our doorstep. We were at the launch in Knysna to see how Japan’s current Car of the Year looks, feels and drives.

Two Engine Lineup

Petrol and diesel are available from launch, with the diesel being the top-spec model that gets kitted with all the stuff they can cram into a Mazda2. The petrol is a naturally aspirated 1.5-Litre four-cylinder unit featuring the now familiar SKYACTIV technology that in its most simple terms means it has quite a high compression ratio – 12:1. This is said to improve power delivery, torque and fuel efficiency. It’s rated at 82 kW and 145 Nm of torque and claims to consume 5.5L/100km in manual and 5.7L/100km in auto guise. There’s a choice of a six-speed auto or manual but unless you sit in a lot of traffic or really hate changing gears I would recommend the slick-shifting manual. The auto is capable, but just seems to diminish the power delivery slightly.

The diesel motor is a 1.5-Litre turbodiesel and turns out 77 kW and 250 Nm of torque. I drove it with the auto gearbox and felt it was better suited to the auto than the petrol is. Torque delivery is quite linear for a small diesel and it’s especially quiet at idle. From our story on petrol vs diesel however, we know that it will be cheaper to run the petrol over the long term than the diesel. Fuel economy for the diesel sits at 4.4L/100km.

Clean and Smooth Interior

The Mazda2 has an impressive interior. It looks like it has been designed to feel spacious and stylish. Even with the cloth seats in the lower spec models it still feels like a high quality product. The plastics feel quite soft and the look of the buttons and dials are all very modern. There’s a centre-dash mounted screen that works in similar fashion to Audi and BMW’s multimedia systems – with a rotary dial behind the gear lever. It can also be controlled by touching the screen and is an intuitive system that responds quickly.

Decent Spec

In a like-for-like comparison, the Mazda2 fairs up quite well against the competition, especially the VW Polo and the Ford Fiesta. Standard across the range is ABS, EBD with EBA, Air Conditioning, power windows, USB and an AUX port. The spec gets continuously better through the range and the top spec diesel comes with Sat Nav and half leather trim that actually looks and feels plush. For a full spec list check out our specs and pricing story.

Ride and Drive

After a short blast through the forest roads around Geroge and Knysna, the Mazda2 proved very capable for a small hatchback. The roads were wet and slimy but the Mazda2 showed good grip and stands upright well in the corners. The steering is initially a little light but once you dial in a bit more, it weights up nicely and provides good confidence for you to push on. Both engines perform well and the petrol engine seems quite happy to rev and gets a good move on when doing so. The diesel is a nice cruising engine that develops plenty of torque low down and never feels stressed.

Mazda2 Price in South Africa

The Mazda2 pricing starts from R188 000 and tops out at R259 900. The Renault Clio still seems to offer more spec for your buck but with Mazda’s new offering they could certainly mix it with the bunch of B-segment hatches and rake in some sales. It’s a good looking car with an extremely well turned out interior and two good engines, we wait anxiously for the first sales report at the end of March 2015.

Mercedes-Benz AMG GT3 Revealed

The Mercedes-Benz AMG GT3 has been officially revealed, designed as a high-performance race car to meet FIA GT3 specifications.

The new Mercedes-Benz AMG GT3 detailed

Based on the Mercedes-AMG GT, the GT3 features an updated version of the same naturally aspirated 6.3-litre V8 engine that powered the previous SLS GT3. The unit is mated to a six-speed sequential transmission which is mounted in a transaxle configuration to optimise weight balance for improved performance.

The aggressive changes to the body are said to help improve output and offer aerodynamic performance. In order to reduce the vehicle weight further, the engine cover, doors, front wing, front and rear aprons, sidewalls, side skirts, diffuser, boot lid and rear aerofoil are all made from particularly lightweight yet high-strength carbon-fibre. The car also has a ventilated hood, carbon fiber flics, a rear diffuser and a prominent rear wing.

Inside, the car boasts a steel roll cage, digital racing dash, a Formula One inspired steering wheel and new carbon fibre racing seats

The Mercedes-AMG GT3 will make its debut next week at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show before going on sale at the end of the year. We don’t often feature race cars, but when we do, they look hardcore!

Pricing Update: Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Revealed (video)

The most highly anticipated AMG model of the year has finally been revealed to us. The AMG GT has been solely designed and built by the AMG and the team there have labelled it as an everyday sportscar.

AMG GT Details

The AMG GT design has been a key talking point over the months of spy pics and shadowy, partial reveals. The front end in particular with its inward and downward pointing headlamps will be a bone of contention for some but it certainly stands out.

The AMG GT was revealed with two models, a standard GT and a GT S for the go even faster crowd. The AMG GT rides on 19-inch wheels with the GT S having the option of 20s. The roofline slopes down to the rear sweetly and personally I can see quite a bit of Jaguar E-and F-Type installed there. It’s not a negative though as the rear end looks majestic and quite like its big brother the SLS AMG.

The power unit is all new and AMG have developed a four-litre, twin-turbo V8 for specific use in the AMG GT. The power unit has two different power outputs, the first for the standard AMG GT churns out 339kW and 600Nm. The more powerful version for the GT S pumps the power up to 375kW and 650Nm. The extra power means that the GT S is two-tenths faster in the sprint to 100kph, managing it in just 3.8 seconds. Top speeds are electronically limited, but are allowed to run as fast as 304kph and 310kph respectively.

Weight was a major factor when building the AMG GT as the engineers wanted to keep the weight low down in the car and as light as possible. Extensive use of aluminium, steel and magnesium means the AMG GT weighs in at just 1 540 kg.

The major difference between the two models is in the suspension and differential department. Standard GT is equipped with a mechanical locking differential whilst the GT S gets the full electronic differential, AMG say it responds faster than the mechanical one. The GT S also gets ride control, allowing three-stage damper settings to adapt the ride from comfort to sport and sport plus.

The interior features high quality materials such as nappa leather, carbon and aluminium. An 8.4-inch central screen sits above the four air vents and is equipped with Mercedes-Benz’s COMAND system. One of the many buttons inside the cabin controls the exhaust valves opening up the full roar of the V8.

Take a gander at the video below to see the car in action in Spain and on a racetrack where the V8 is at full song.

Mercedes-Benz AMG GT price in South Africa

Mercedes-Benz has released pricing details for the AMG GT which is set to launch locally during the second quarter of the year.

The standard GT is said to be priced from R1 642 000, while the GT S will start at R1 999 000. Pricing excludes CO2 and the Edition 1 package retails for an extra R211 000 on top of the GT S price tag.

Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Video

All-New Audi R8 Fully Revealed

Audi has finally lifted the covers off the second-generation R8 supercar scheduled to publicly premiere next week at the Geneva Motor Show.

Engine specifications

The new Audi R8 comes complete with an updated 5.2-litre FSI V10 engine with two output options. The base model delivers 397 kW and 540 Nm, while the V10 Plus model produces 449 kW and 560 Nm.

Audi says the R8 will need just 3.5 seconds to complete the 0-100 kph sprint before topping a speed of 320 kph, while the V10 Plus model will only need 3.2 seconds to reach a top speed of 330 kph.

Both variants are connected to a seven-speed S-Tronic transmission which is combined with a newly developed Quattro system. The system can distribute the torque according to the respective driving conditions, sending up to 100% of the torque to the front wheels, while the rear end hosts a mechanical differential lock which provides optimal traction on any road conditions.

There’s also an Audi e-tron R8 coming. With two electric motors, power is rated at 340 kW and 920Nm, and performance is expected to be quite fast considering its an all-electric supercar. How does a 0-100kph time of 3.9 seconds grab you? Top speed is an electronically-limited 250 kph.

All-new Audi R8 Styling

The high-performance Audi R8 sports car has been enhanced with a singleframe radiator grille with a honeycomb design flanked by standard flat LED headlights or optional laser lighting clusters which double the range of the high beam to 600 meters.

At the rear, the sports car features a flat configuration with a curvy, prominent shoulder line and a retractable spoiler, as well as standard dynamic turn signals.

The base model is fitted with rides on 19-inch wheels with 245/35 front & 295/35 rear tyres while 20-inch alloys with 245/30 & 305/30 tyres are available as an option. The car also comes standard with steel brake discs on and carbon fibre ceramic discs on the R8 V10 Plus.

Inside, the supercar borrows the new Virtual Cockpit which was first seen on the new TT last year. It features driver oriented functions which allow for easy operation, newly developed R8 bucket seats, and a range of Nappa leather upholsteries and carbon fibre inserts. At an extra cost customers can get a 500-watt Bang & Olufsen sound system which can be added along with an Audi phone box.

The all-new Audi R8 will make its official debut in a few of days, during the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, and Audi South Africa confirmed it will make landfall in SA in 2016.

Mitsubishi Pajero LWB: All You Need to Know (Video)


In this video we’ll save you the hassle of driving to an Mitsubishi dealership with a detailed look inside, outside and under the bonnet of the new Mitsubishi Pajero.

If you are a fan of hurrying around, the Mitsubishi Pajero is not the car for you. In a world where modern 4x4s seem to be engineered to keep up with hot hatches, the Pajero might seem like an anachronism. But in most ways, it is a very welcome blast from a more adventurous past.

For a start the tyres are old school, tall sidewall monsters which are not only very comfortable, but are better able to cope with offroad conditions. And while you can’t charge into corners, the wafty-feeling ensures that you just don’t want to.

The engines haven’t changed, the short wheelbase and the LWB will both run the 3.2 litre DI-D turbo diesel, which I’m convinced is made of granite. It’s not very frugal, Mitsubishi claim 9.2 litres/100km while I achieved around 12l/100km. But the engine will run on 500ppm diesel, ensuring that in remote areas, refuelling won’t be an issue.

The interior has seen minor upgrades but the highlight is the new touchscreen infotainment system which admittedly is very far behind German offerings in look and feel but still provides everything you may need to connect to your smart devices. The screen also displays the reverse camera which helps enormously when trying to park what is a very large car.

Rear load space is obviously generous and with all the seats folded, its about the size of a good garden shed. A small third bench folds like origami out of the floor should you need to transport a couple of extra passengers, turning the car into a 7-seater.

Pajero Rivals

But where the Pajero really wins is on price. It compares favourably to its two key rivals, the Land Rover Discovery and the now discontinued Toyota Prado. While there is a Discovery available without the clever air suspension, the XS model, it suffers from very low ride height, so we’ve compared it to the base model diesel, the SDV6 S.

For our full written review on the Mitsubishi Pajero, click here. 

Spec Sheet: Mitsubishi Pajero vs Land Rover Discovery vs Toyota Prado

Pajero LWB Exceed Discovery SDV6 S Prado 3.0 DT VX
Price R659 900 R842 986 R732 400
Engine 3.2l DI-D turbodiesel 3.0l V6 turbodiesel 3.0l i-4 turbodiesel
Power 140kW 183kW 120kW
Torque 441Nm 600Nm 400Nm
Fuel consumption 9.2l/100km 8.8l/100km 8.5l/100km
Gearshift 5-spd auto 8-spd auto 5-spd auto
Towing capacity 750kg (unbraked) 750kg (unbraked) 750kg (unbraked)

Nissan Qashqai Range Expanded With New Turbo and Xtronic Models


Nissan has expanded the local Qashqai range to seven derivatives, which now includes a new CVT-equipped 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol model and a new range-topping 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol variant.

New turbo and Xtronic models

The range-topping Nissan Qashqai 1.6T Acenta model features a 120kW/240Nm turbocharged petrol engine connected to a six-speed manual gearbox and comes with a stop/start function as standard.

The 1.2T Acenta Xtronic variant features the same 85kW/165Nm turbocharged 1.2-litre petrol engine found in other models which now offers a luxurious drive thanks to the Xtronic transmission.

At Acenta trim level, both of these derivatives boast a raft of standard equipment, including alloy wheels (17-inch on the 1.2T and 19-inch on the 1.6T), LED daytime running lights, privacy glass, automatic wipers and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror. The 1.6T Acenta also benefits from LED headlights with auto levelling, silver roof-rails, chrome-accented front fog-lights and an intelligent key with keyless entry and push-button start.

Available as an option on both derivatives is the TECHNO PACK which comprises of Nissan’s Around View Monitor, heated door mirrors, NissanConnect for smartphone integration and Nissan’s navigation system with a 7-inch touch screen display. Heated leather seats are also available as an option on the 1.6T.

Nissan Qashqai price in South Africa

Nissan Qashqai 1.2T Acenta Xtronic – R327 700

Nissan Qashqai 1.6T Acenta 6MT – R357 700

Nissan Qashqai 1.2T Acenta Xtronic with Techno Pack – R344 500

Nissan Qashqai 1.6T Acenta 6MT with Techno Pack and leather – R374 500

Nissan Qashqai 1.6T Acenta 6MT with Techno Pack and leather – R385 500

Prices include a six-year or 150 000km warranty and five-year or 90 000km service plan.

Lamborghini Aventador SV Teaser Video


*pictured is the last Lamborghini SV model – the Murcielago*

Lamborghini has shown off a little teaser video ahead of its Geneva Motor Show press conference next week. Rumours are very strong that the new model will be the Lamborghini Aventador SV – the most hardcore of Aventador models. As if the Aventador needed a hardcore version, it’s already regarded as a lunatic!

Lamborghini is calling it the most reactive car to ever come out of the factory at Sant’Agata, Italy. Details are scarce at the moment, but from the video you can see trademark ‘S’ from SV and the interior of an Aventador. Being an SV model, the new Lamborghini Aventador SV will gain a large rear wing, shed some extra weight and a power increase from its monster 6.5-litre V12. Power is expected to be around the 514kW mark…

Lamborghini Aventador SV Teaser

McLaren 675LT Revealed Ahead of Geneva Debut



There’s another variation of the McLaren 650S / McLaren MP4-12C out. This is the McLaren 675LT and is regarded as the most track-focused model in the range. Set to be debuted at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, this performer offers brutal performance and ultimate levels of driver engagement.

McLaren 675LT Details

The 0-100kph time has been cut to 2.9 seconds, but I find the 0-200kph time of 7.9 seconds far more impressive. Top speed is rated at 330kph. The 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged motor has received a few tweaks and McLaren claims that 50% of parts in the motor have been changed. These upgrades include new, more efficient turbos, changes to the cylinder heads and exhaust manifolds, new camshaft and lightweight connecting rods, and a faster-flowing fuel pump and delivery system. These changes are so extreme the engine receives a new engine code, which is M838TL.

Other changes included a more aggressive front, bigger titanium exhaust popues as well as additional cooling vents. Most obvious is the active Longtail airbrake, which is 50% bigger, yet lighter than the 650S unit. Overall, weight of the McLaren 675LT has been reduced to 1 230kg.

So with a bit more power, less weight and even smarter aerodynamics, the McLaren 675LT looks like it can offer brutal performance. The car is offered in five specifications which include four new colours: Silica White, Delta Red, Napier Green and Chicane Grey.

Aston Martin Vulcan – The British Supercar Bombshell



British luxury car manufacturer, Aston Martin, has spilled some beans on its latest creation, the Vulcan supercar. After teasing us with vague images and cheeky videos, we knew the Vulcan was something special, and judging by these images, it really is. Aston Martin describes the Vulcan as its “most intense and exhilarating creation to date.”

Track-Only Vulcan Goes Extreme

Apart from its intriguing styling, the Aston Martin Vulcan promises extreme performance. An all-carbon-fibre monocoque and body, coupled with the brute force of its 7.0-litre V12 petrol engine, will offer more than 596 kW of power for its driver to enjoy on the track.

Andy Palmer, Aston Martin CEO said, “Aston Martin Vulcan is, by its very nature, a rare and thrilling supercar. Designed and engineered to deliver a genuinely bespoke driving experience that draws on our rich heritage, this car tailors its power and handling to both the capabilities of the driver and the characteristics of the track.”

The front mid-engined, rear-wheel drive Vulcan makes use of a Xtrac six-speed sequential shift gearbox to put all that power onto the tarmac. The track focused pushrod suspension features anti-dive geometry and is complemented by Multimatic’s Dynamic Suspension Spool Valve (DSSV) adjustable dampers.

Unique Track Experience for Vulcan Owners

Only 24 examples of the Aston Martin Vulcan will be available worldwide and will offer owners a unique track experience. Before taking ownership of their Vulcan, owners will take part in extensive track driver training. Owners will by guided through their learning experience alongside Darren Turner (Aston Martin Racing Le Mans winner) and will have the chance to hone their track driving skills in the V12 Vantage S, One-77 and the GT4 race car before applying their driving skills in their Vulcan. Owners can also spend time in Darren Turner’s Base Performance Simulators to further improve their skills.

Additional details will be revealed when the Aston Martin Vulcan is officially shown at the Geneva Motor Show from 3 March 2015.