The facelifted Honda CR-V is set to debut later this year. We know some of the basic details from the official reveal back in 2014 but Honda is now giving us a few more in-depth features it will feature.
Honda Cruise Control Predicts Cutting-In
The latest trick up its sleeve is the Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control system that does more than just keep distance and speed with vehicles in front of you. The cruise control system uses radar as well as cameras to sense what cars around you plan to do. It is able to predict the likelihood of a car alongside cutting-in and react quickly, safely and comfortably.
The new system is able to compute the likelihood of a cut-in up to five seconds before it occurs, and is therefore designed to react very smoothly so as not to startle the driver, who might not yet be aware of the imminent cut-in. In this case the system applies just a mild brake initially, with an icon appearing on the driver display, informing the driver why a slow-down occurs. It then proceeds to apply a stronger brake to adapt the velocity to keep a safe distance.
The i-AAC system as it is officially named will be available on the executive spec model only, we still wait to see what model offerings we will get here in South Africa.
Volvo S60 Cross Country Revealed Ahead Of Detroit Debut
The Volvo S60 Cross Country has been revealed as the first sedan to have a go-anywhere attitude, incorporating sedan features with rugged styling cues and a higher stance.
We want to further explore the market with our Cross Country brand. We did this back in 1997 with the V70 Cross Country and it led to the birth of a whole new segment. We have included all the capability-driven benefits of the Cross Country brand in this new model, while offering a completely unique expression of adventure and all-road readiness in a distinctly sporty and stylish package, said Lex Kerssemakers, Senior Vice President Product Strategy and Vehicle Line Management at Volvo Cars.
The go-anywhere Volvo S60 Cross Country
The S60 Cross Country shares an increased ride height of 65mm with its recently introduced V60 Cross Country sibling, as well as the same all-wheel drive system, and front-wheel drive – available in Europe and selected markets.
Along with its raised suspension, the model rides on 18- or 19-inch alloy wheels with high-profile tyres, which the company says, not only improve comfort, but also reduce noise and boost wheel protection in both on- and off-road circumstances.
Powertrain options include a powerful T5 All-Wheel Drive specification delivering up to 186 kW available in the US (189 kW in Europe and 186 kW in Russia).
The Volvo S60 Cross Country will make its official debut next week at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show.
Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Teased (Video)
The Aston Martin Vantage GT3 has been teased in a short video ahead of its official debut scheduled to happen at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show.
The video shows the Aston Martin Vantage GT3 in full force at the Nurburgring track and ends with a design sketch that leaves room for speculation on what the model will look like.
Details are still very scarce at the moment, however its reported that the V12 Vantage GT3 racer will be the companys most extreme road car ever made, with a power output of around 447 kW, which is about 26 kW more than the V12 Vantage S. The GT3 moniker is normally reserved for race models, however this may be such a hardcore road version that the GT3 name is befitting. The sports vehicle is also rumoured to feature a more aggressive front end with a redesigned bumper and engine cover.
The sports vehicle will make its world premiere during the Geneva Motor Show in March this year.
Aston Martin Vantage GT3 coming soon
New Vehicle Sales in South Africa for December 2014
2014 ended on a high in terms of vehicle sales according to the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA) with an improvement of 10.7% compared to the same period in 2013. Here is a new vehicle sales summary for December 2014 as well as a look into what to expect in 2015.
New Vehicle Sales Summary – December 2014
51 461 aggregate new vehicle sales up by 10.7% (4 979 units) compared to December 2013
21 833 export sales down by 1.6% (357 units) compared to December 2013
35 924 passenger car sales up by 9.3% (3 071 units) compared to December 2013
12 965 light commercial vehicle sales up by 14.7% (1 664 units) compared to December 2014
Top Selling Car Brands in South Africa December 2014
Brand
Total Sales
Market Penetration %
1. Toyota
10 372
20.2 %
2. Volkswagen
9 179
17.8 %
3. Ford Motor Company
6 654
12.9 %
4. GMSA
4 412
8.6 %
5. Nissan
2 811
5.5 %
Top Selling New Cars in South Africa December 2014
Total new vehicle sales in South Africa in 2014 showed a marginal year-on-year decline of 0.7% overall due to a slowing economy, interest rate increases and new vehicle price inflation. A total of 644 523 vehicles were sold in South Africa in 2014. A total of 439 179 passenger cars were sold in 2014 which reflects a decline of 2.5 % compared to 2013. A total of 173 790 Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) sales were recorded, representing an improvement of 3.4 % compared to 2013.
Exports were negatively affected by strike action in 2014 which resulted in a loss of 16 000 vehicles. Total aggregate exports amounted to 276 874 units which reflected a slight improvement of 0.2 % compared to 2014. Despite this, 2014 vehicle exports was still the third highest figure on record and an increase of 50 000 vehicles or about 17 % increase is expected in 2015.
New Vehicle Sales Outlook for 2015
For 2015, NAAMSA projects modest domestic sales volume growth with a projected total of 666 500 vehicles. Domestic production of vehicles is set to increase by about 10.7% to approximately 600 000 vehicles in 2015. NAAMSA states that 2015 is likely to represent another challenging year for the SA automotive industry.
2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek Special Edition Unveiled
The 2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek Special Edition has been unveiled, with production set to be limited to 1000 units.
Versatile 2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek Special Edition announced
The model is based on the XV Crosstrek 2.0i Premium trim level, and features a bold five-door design, an exclusive Sunrise Yellow exterior with black fender and rocker trim, as well as 17-inch black alloy wheels. The Special Edition is additionally equipped with a moonroof, body colour mirrors with integrated turn signals and blackened headlight bezels.
Theres also a leather-wrapped shift lever handle and steering wheel, Keyless Access and a STARLINK infotainment system with a 7-inch touchscreen display with satellite radio and dual USB ports. The all-weather package adds heated seats and mirrors and a windshield wiper de-icer.
The 2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek Special Edition doesnt include any power upgrades, but comes with mechanical features identical to those of the non-hybrid 2015 XV Crosstreks equipped with the continuously variable transmission, which has been reprogrammed to provide stepped shifting during forceful acceleration, plus a CVT version of second-gear starts for slippery conditions.
It has the same 2.0-litre Boxer engine that develops 110 kW and 196 Nm of torque as the rest of the line-up which includes the 2.0i base trim, 2.0i Premium, 2.0i Limited and the XV Crosstrek Hybrid.
South African availability and launch dates are yet to be revealed.
Three Final Land Rover Defender Special Editions Introduced
Land Rover has revealed its plans to end production of the iconic Defender, with the last example scheduled to roll off the assembly line at Land Rovers Solihull plant in the UK in December. However, an all-new family of Defender models is said to debut in 2016.
Heritage, Adventure and Autobiography Defender special editions announced
To mark the final year of the long-serving model, three unique Defender special editions have been introduced, to celebrate a different element of the vehicles versatile character.
The first being the exclusive Defender Autobiography Edition, which the company says promises more performance, luxury and comfort than ever before. Its comprehensive equipment list includes unique duo-tone paintwork, full Windsor leather upholstery and a power upgrade from 90 kW and 360 Nm to 110 kW and 400 Nm. Production for this special edition model will be limited to 80 units, and will be produced exclusively as a 90 Station Wagon version.
The Heritage Edition is said to be inspired by early Land Rover models and mixes nostalgic design cues with modern elements such as the distinctive Grasmere Green paintjob contrasted by a white roof. The model, which will be limited to 400 units, can additionally be distinguished by a heritage grille and HUE 166 graphics, recalling the registration plate of the first pre-production Land Rover known as “Huey”.
Lastly, the Defender Adventure Edition is dubbed as a model for those who who relish the great outdoors and embrace the Defenders go anywhere, do anything attitude. It comes fully equipped with extra underbody protection and rides on Goodyear MT/R tyres. It also features unique decals and a leather trimmed cabin. Production will be limited to 600 units.
Largest sand drawing ever
We wanted to mark the end of Defender production at Solihull with a special edition but coming up with a single identity was impossible, so we developed three very different interpretations of the Defender to reflect its strength and breadth of character, Land Rover vehicle line director Nick Rogers said in a statement. Whether our customers want to celebrate Land Rovers unrivalled off-road heritage, demand the ultimate in terms of design and performance or have a genuine thirst for adventure, there will be a limited edition Defender that will be fit for purpose.
To mark the launch of the three Defender special editions and the start of the current Defenders final year in production, Land Rover created the largest (one-kilometre) sand drawing of the vehicle at Red Wharf Bay in Anglesey, U.K. The unique image is a tribute to the moment in 1947 when the engineering director of Rover at the time, Maurice Wilks, first sketched the shape for the original Land Rover in the sand of Red Wharf Bay and proposed the idea to his brother Spencer, Rovers managing director.
Audi Self-Parking via Your Smartwatch (Video)
Audi is also at the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show at Las Vegas. The first technology its exhibiting is a self-parking system controlled via a Smartwatch. The watch also displays useful info about the car’s battery status.
The video Audi has released to showcase the self-parking system is quite entertaining as it features a pair of dogs being taught tricks. It’s nice to see the rather cool-looking Audi A3 e-tron, a car which we’d like to see in South Africa.
Also interesting is the wireless charging system thats now available. You simply drive over the charging mat, hit the charge button on your smartwatch and the Audi E-tron starts charging. It then notifies you as to the charge level via the watch.
Audi Self-Parking and Wireless Charging Video
Lexus GS F Joins High-Performance F line
The Lexus GS F has officially been unveiled ahead of its 2015 Detroit Auto Show debut.
Much-anticipated Lexus GS F performance sedan revealed
The BMW M5 rival is the latest vehicle to join Lexus high-performance F line that already includes the RC F coupe. Teased late last year, the model showed off an aggressive front fascia with a mesh spindle grille that is flanked by large air intakes and LED headlights.
Official details now mention that the car will additionally feature structural reinforcements and suspension exclusively designed to optimise this super sedans handling envelope without detracting from its ride quality.
We can also see a boot-mounted spoiler, tinted taillights and a four-tailpipe exhaust system. The car also rides on 19-inch alloy wheels.
The cabin follows through with the sporty theme with two-tone sport seats and carbon fiber trim, as well as contrast stitching and metallic accents.
Power comes from the automaker’s 5.0-litre naturally aspirated V8 engine which develops 348 kW of power and 527 Nm of torque. All this power is sent to the rear wheels through Lexus eight-speed automatic transmission with manualshifting capabilities.
Additional details are yet to be revealed, however the company did mention that one of the highlights of the GS F will be the innovative Torque Vectoring Differential (TVD), also found in the RC F. The TVD will features three operating modes: Standard (default) provides a balance of agility and firmness; Slalom emphasises nimble steering response and agility; while Track emphasises control during high-speed circuit driving.
BMW iDrive System The Next Evolution
BMWs iDrive system has come a long way since its clunky inception in 2001 on the 7-Series. The infotainment system has gone through several updates and is now one of the most user friendly systems around. The fact that weve spent over a decade learning it has probably also helped us get to grips with it. So whats the next step for BMWs iDrive? BMW used the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas to debut some of the new features.
iDrive Touchscreen
The iDrive system will be controllable via a touchscreen system. The standard rotary knob will still be fitted however so theres the option to touch the screen or use the tried and trusted knob. This will make inputting destinations in the Navigation systems a bajillion times easier then rotating the dial to each individual letter like before. Whilst this may not be ground-breaking stuff BMW says it will be adding in gesture control. The driver or front passenger simply performs a directed gesture in the area between the gear lever, steering wheel and display.
A 3D sensor in the roof detects whether one or two fingers are being pointed, or whether the thumb and index finger are being moved towards each other. The system decodes different movements such as tapping, finger rotations or a swiping movement to the right and performs the desired input. A rotating movement can be used, say, to alter the volume of the radio, a finger raised to accept a phone call or a swiping movement to decline a call.
BMW likes to introduce these high-tech systems into its top end models so we would expect the touchscreen system to be available in 2016s 7-Series. Gesture control is still very much in development so its introduction date is still quite far down the line.
Mercedes-Benz F 015 Autonomous Car (Video)
Following the release of a teaser image of their new autonomous driving concept, Mercedes-Benz has revealed the F 015 Luxury in Motion concept at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
World debut of Mercedes-Benz F 015 Luxury in Motion
Its said that by 2030, the number of mega-cities with more than 10 million inhabitants will increase from about 30 to over 40. So according to Mercedes-Benz, their answer to this rapidly changing world is the visionary F 015 Luxury in Motion which is apparently designed to show how autonomous vehicles could be designed.
“The single most important luxury good of the 21st century are private space and time,” says Dr Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars. “Autonomous driving cars by Mercedes-Benz shall offer exactly that. With the F 015 Luxury in Motion, this revolutionary concept of mobility becomes tangible for the first time.”
The capsule looking concept features an aerodynamic exterior with an illuminated grille and a prominent star emblem. Its said to measure 5220mm in length, 2018mm in width, and stands only 1524mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3610mm. The model additionally features suicide doors that open at a 90-degree angle, and a long windshield that adapts into a sunroof as the single pane of glass swoops over the vehicle’s roof.
Innovative interior concept
The cabin is stylishly equipped with four rotating lounge chairs that allow a face-to-face seat configuration, a central table and a huge dashboard with a full-length infotainment / instrument cluster for both the driver and front passenger.
The electrically powered seats also swing outwards by 30 degrees as soon as the doors are opened, while six high-resolution touch-screen display panels on the doors allow passengers to use touch, gestures, or eye movements to navigate, browse, or see outside the car.
“Already two years ago, with the S 500 INTELLIGENT DRIVE we showed on the historical route Bertha-Benz took in 1888 that we have the technology which makes autonomous driving reality in everyday traffic, said Zetsche.
We have a master plan in place to take the big leap required getting from technically feasible to commercially viable. The F 015 Luxury in Motion demonstrates where this may take us.
Mercedes-Benz F 015 Luxury in Motion research vehicle Video
