*Pictured is the standard Renault Sandero, but we’ve given it a RenaultSport paintjob*
Renault has released a teaser video of its forthcoming Sandero RS which has been developed by RenaultSport. Details remain scarce at this point, but the teaser video does show LED daytime running lights and a revised bumper.
Renault Sandero RS Details
The Renault Sandero RS will take on a more sporty look with aggressive bumpers, larger brakes, dual exhausts, large alloy wheels and revised suspension to live up to its RS name. Other exterior details may include glossy mirror caps and blackened front and rear light clusters.
Engine choice for the Sandero RS is still a mystery at this point, but reports are pointing to the use of a naturally aspirated four-cylinder 2.0-litre engine derived from the Brazilian-spec Duster, which will offer 107 kW.
Unfortunately the Renault Sandero RS will only be produced specifically for markets in Latin America, but you never know. South Africa has proven a good market for the Sandero, Stepway and Duster vehicles and we could receive this performance model.
Here is the teaser video and below that is a glimpse of the Renault Sandero RS on track.
Mercedes-Benz C200 Estate (2015) Review
The Mercedes-Benz C-Class is a great performer as its classy in an aspirational manner, but not snobbish. Its got plenty of excellent tech and the latest range of Mercs engines. Now Mercedes-Benz has added the Estate version to the range and in many ways its even better than the sedan. We got to grips with C200 Estate for a weeks test drive.
Space Upgrades
As youd expect the C-Class Estate has more room in the back thanks to the hatch at the rear and lengthened body (its 16mm longer than the sedan). That doesnt sound like much, but when compared to the previous generation C-Class Estate its 96mm longer and 40mm wider. The bulk of the gains have been sent to the rear passengers who enjoy 45mm more legroom. Its definitely spacious in the back and if youre going to load large items into the rear, the seats now offer three-way split functionality of 40:20:40. Boot space comes in at 490-Litres and once the seats are folded down flat, it opens up 1510-Litres. Its a long loading space, but it tapers in around the wheel arches which makes it a bit skinny as you push your cargo further into the boot. Our unit also had the optional electric tailgate, which is a good buy, but other markets get this feature as standard.
Durability
The C-Class Estate has the same cabin as the sedan so theres plenty of nice bits to touch and look at. Its classy and upmarket with leather, brushed aluminium and lush carpeting. The rear loadbay is carpeted all-round so you might want to invest in some rubber mats if you have a dog that likes getting muddy or partake in outdoor leisure activities.
Engine
We tested the higher powered 2-litre turbo sedan last year (2014) and were suitably impressed. The C200 we have here is a slightly detuned version of that engine which now offers 135 kW and 300 Nm of torque. The power unit is creamy smooth through the rev range and the seven-speed auto is well suited to the turbo engine. Pickup from a standstill is quick and not jerky as we have found in some other Mercedes models, including the B-Class.
This engine/gearbox combination really shines out on the freeway when you can let the C-Class Estate cruise at 120kph at 2000rpm and take care of business. If you fit the C-Class Estate with Distronic Plus and steering assist you barely have to drive at all. It’s simply a case of setting the cruise speed, keeping your hands on the wheel and it will maintain speed, and turn bends for you as well.
Ride and Drive
Much like the C-Class, the Estate rides beautifully on tarmac. Theres a choice of air suspension or standard steel suspension, but both ride very comfortably. The air suspension setup does have a self-levelling system that makes it a touch better at comfort and handling, especially when loaded. The C-Class Estate cushions potholes and ridges with just about zero feedback to the cabin.
Steering is light around the centre position and weights up differently depending on the speed, but it does a respectable job of making you feel comfortable in the cars abilities. Its a pleasure to drive in everyday circumstances and long journeys, but if anything it doesnt quite have enough excitement built in to make you want to unleash it over a mountain pass or string of bends. Most C-Class Estate owners arent looking for those kind of kicks though so in its natural habitat its just about perfect.
Verdict
While South Africans tends to go the SUV route rather than Estates, the C-Class Estate may just be the best C-Class. Theres added practicality and space thanks to a big loading area and I think the rear end of the Estate looks better than the sedan. The rest of the Estate is as per the C-Class so if you feel the styling and space enhancements add up to the R35 000 premium the Estate garners over the sedan, then its a great buy. On that note, Mercedes dealers have been known to bargain a bit on their prices so you might not even have to pay all that much extra.
Second Opinion
I immediately fell in love with the C-Class Estate the moment I sat behind the wheel. The interior quality is just superb and the detailing is top-notch. The seats support you well and the interior gadgetry is both intuitive and impressive. Out on the road, the C200 Estate glides along in effortless silence and responds with fervor when it’s required. The C200 Estate is a truly wonderful car to drive. Then there’s all that space, which makes the C200 Estate that much more versatile. If you have a family and enjoy travelling in the lap of luxury, then the C-Class Estate is well worth consideration. – Gero Lilleike
Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate Price in South Africa
There are three derivatives of the C-Class Estate available starting with the C180 at R471 231. Our C200 Estate Auto starts at R512 352 before options. The top model is the C250 BlueTec diesel that begins at R586 400.
We Like: Looks, comfortable drive, practicality, and superb tech
Drag Race: VW Golf R vs Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG (Video)
There have always been a few hot hatches to choose from if youre the sort of person who enjoys torque steer, hatchbacks and small, turbocharged engines. The Opel Astra OPC, the VW Golf GTi, and more recently cars like the Audi S3 and BMW M135iare just a few of the choices you have.
But at some point the game changed. Manufacturers worked out how to extract extraordinary levels of power from these small engines (without them exploding) and the result of this was that front-wheel drive couldn’t cope with all the added power.
And so the hot-hatch-smiths took to all-wheel drive and now we have a whole new generation of small, fast, relatively affordable sports cars, offering 200 kW+. And the unlikely king of all of them is a Mercedes-Benz.
Yes, for its first ever hot hatch, Mercedes-Benz told its AMG engineers to conceptualise the car whilst under the influence. Well, that must be the only way to explain an engine that produces 265 kW from just 2.0 litres of displacement.
But they were very sober when they designed the epic interior, and the computer system which launches the A 45 AMG 4Matic off the line, named Race Start. It is the absolute nemesis of traffic light racers around the world.
However, the Mercedes comes in at an eye-watering R659 717, compared to the Golf 7Rs price tag of R525 900.
The Golf R doesnt have quite as sophisticated a launch control as the Mercedes Benz, and so would immediately be at a disadvantage notwithstanding the 59kW power difference. But it is lighter and is known as a bit of giant slayer, as earlier in the day we had seen it destroy the Subaru WRX STI.
And so we lined up these two hot hatch warriors on the start line of a standard quarter-mile drag strip and dropped the flag. Can the Mercedes justify that massive price tag? Or will the Golf 7 R embarrass its German counterpart?
Toyota Fortuner Buying Guide: New & Used, Pricing & Rivals
The Toyota Fortuner has been an enormously popular vehicle for some time now in South Africa, comfortably dominating the bakkie-based SUV market. Based on the formidable Toyota Hilux, and sharing those engines, the Fortuner is the go-to choice for those looking for a large SUV on a budget.
But, are there better options out there?
We squeezed the latest Fortuner into our studio to take a good look at the current offering, much of which hasnt changed since 2011. So, if youre looking at a second hand Fortuner on our site right now, the car in this video is essentially what youll be buying.
We cover the interior features, the weird third row of seats, the diesel engine options and then of course, the pricing.
In the video youll find pricing for the Fortuner and its rivals, both new and used, based on real cars available for sale on our site.
Let us know in the comments below if you have had any ownership experience of any of these vehicles, or if youre currently looking at buying one, new or used.
Toyota Fortuner D-4D 4×4 Auto
Chev Trailblazer 2.8D 4×4 LTZ Auto
Price
R537 500
R569 800
Engine
3.0l 4-cyl turbo diesel
2.8l 4-cyl turbo diesel
Power
120kW
144kW
Torque
343Nm
500Nm
Fuel economy
9.8l/100km (claimed)
9.5l/100km
0 100km/h
12.3 seconds
10.6 seconds
Top speed
170km/h
180km/h
Toyota Fortuner D-4D 4×4 Auto
Mitsubishi Pajero Sport 2.5 DI-D 4×4 Auto
Price
R537 500
R499 900
Engine
3.0l 4-cyl turbo diesel
2.5l 4-cyl turbo diesel
Power
120kW
131kW
Torque
343Nm
350Nm
Fuel economy
9.8l/100km (claimed)
8.5l/100km
0 100km/h
12.3 seconds
12.0 seconds
Top speed
170km/h
176km/h
Toyota Fortuner D-4D 4×4 Auto
Nissan Pathfinder 2.5dCi LE
Price
R537 500
R666 300
Engine
3.0l 4-cyl turbo diesel
2.5l 4-cyl turbo diesel
Power
120kW
140kW
Torque
343Nm
450Nm
Fuel economy
9.8l/100km (claimed)
9.0l/100km
0 100km/h
12.3 seconds
10.7 seconds
Top speed
170km/h
186km/h
Toyota Fortuner Buying Guide Video
Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe Price in South Africa
The Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe was revealed late last year and is set to take the fight to the BMW X6. The GLE Coupe can be expected in South Africa soon as local pricing has now become available.
The Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe will be available with three variants including the entry-level GLE 350 d that will offer 190 kW and 620 Nm, the GLE 450 AMG with 270 kW and 520 Nm of torque and the Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S with 430 kw and 900 Nm of torque.
You can get more details on the Mercedes-Benz GLE hereand we will provide further details as and when more information regarding the local lineup becomes available.
When it comes to building people movers, Mercedes-Benz is right up there with the best of them. You will be familiar with the Viano which is now known as the V-Class and Mercedes-Benz has released local pricing for the vehicle. Combining luxury with versatility and flexibility, the V-Class range is powered by a 2.1-litre turbodiesel engine in varying states of tune with choices of different trim levels and manual and automatic transmissions.
The entry level V200d offers 100 kW and 330 Nm of torque while the 220d offers 120 kW and 380 Nm. The top-of-the-range V250d offers up 140 kW and 440 Nm of torque and is only offered with an automatic transmission.
Mercedes-Benz V-Class Price in South Africa
Mercedes-Benz V200d – R695 981
Mercedes-Benz V200d AT – R719 981
Mercedes-Benz V220d – R726 875
Mercedes-Benz V220d AT – R750 875
Mercedes-Benz V220d Avantgarde AT – R949 175
Mercedes-Benz V250d AT – R782 416
Mercedes-Benz V250d Avantgarde AT – R982 196
Leaked Toyota Hilux Engines Details
Reports coming from Thailand and Australia have revealed that the next generation Toyota Hilux, slated for 2016 will have an all-new engine lineup. Images have also surfaced showing design details of the 2016 Toyota Hilux and its interior. The front end features a new chrome grille extending into the headlight clusters which feature Daytime Running Lights. There are also more prominent fenders as well as new alloy wheels, chrome door handles and mirror caps, as well as larger rear doors. On the inside, there seems to be a tablet-like touchscreen which will take of infotainment. With all the recent spy shots, it seems likely that the 2016 Toyota Hilux will be fully revealed soon.
New Hilux Engine Range
If the rumours are to be believed the most powerful engine in the new Hilux will be a 2.8-Litre turbodiesel engine. Its claimed outputs are 132 kW and 450 Nm of torque which compares well with the current 3.0-Litre turbodiesels 120 kW and 343 Nm. This diesel motor can be mated to both a six-speed manual and automatic transmission. Strangely the torque figure drops to 420 Nm on the manual derivative.
The new entry spec turbodiesel model is a 2.4-Litre with 125 kW and 400 Nm of torque. As far as the diesel motors go, the engine range looks good, power and torque figures are a reasonable step forward and the general movement towards downsizing has been implemented. Theres the option of six-speed auto or a five-speed manual but the manual again goes along with a drop in torque to 343 Nm.
The petrol engine is the 2.7-Litre four-cylinder naturally aspirated unit with 116 kW and 240 Nm. This engine appears to be the same as the outgoing unit and therefore is likely to use the current four-speed auto or five-speed manual gearbox.
Interestingly from the spy shots the new Hilux looks to have a multi-link rear suspension as opposed to the leaf springs most bakkies employ. This setup is probably going to be reserved for the higher end leisure bakkies, while the single-cab workhorses will probably still be leaf sprung.
The final intriguing update that we can garner from some of the spy shots doing the round is an autonomous braking system that intervenes when an accident is imminent. The system will be a first for Toyota commercial vehicles. The system will also improve the Hiluxs Euro NCAP score.
Citroen C4 Cactus (2015) First Drive
Citroen is on the comeback trail, much like its sister brand Peugeot. It has a new CEO at the helm and a clear idea of where it wants to place its brands and models. Weve already seen a vastly improved offering in the form of Peugeots 308 and this new C4 Cactus seems to be following suit, having already won numerous awards overseas. We were at the local launch in Johannesburg to give it a quick whirl.
New Thinking
Citroen is renowned for doing things a little differently and the C4 Cactus proves to be another car that looks assertive and adds its own style and uniqueness to the compact crossover segment. Starting with the rather obvious exterior cladding, called Air Bumps, which eliminate those small scratches caused by everyday accidents like shopping trolley collisions, car door bashes and the odd stone chip.
They also combine well with the unique exterior body of the Cactus that pulls off the rugged and boutique look impressively well. A whole C4 Cactus weighs less than 1 000kg thanks to a new super light but stronger chassis and Citroen has done other interesting things like mount the passenger airbag in the roof to make more space for things and people inside.
Inside
The interior doesnt match the exterior for style and funkiness, but there are still some nice touches. The glovebox looks more like an expensive suitcase and opens with a briefcase-like latch. Inside the C4 Cactus theres a mix-match of materials, some good, some not so. The good bits are the dashboard and infotainment system that is pulled from the new Peugeot 308.
The not so good are things that are clad in hard, but durable black plastic, such as the door surrounds, gear and handbrake levers. It is well specced though and standard fare across the range includes LED daytime running lights, cruise control, 7-inch touchscreen multimedia system and a full size spare wheel.
Engines
Two engines will be available from launch and both are 1.2-Litre three-cylinder units. The entry spec engine is naturally aspirated and claims 60 kW and 118 Nm of torque, but wasnt available to drive at the launch. We were able to give the turbocharged 81 kW, 205 Nm unit a fair drive at Joburg altitude.
Thanks to the C4 Cactus light weight, the 1.2 is a good fit and it feels quick and strong enough to cope with a pretty big car. Torque is sufficient to overtake well and to cruise around in 5th gear. I cant tell you if it needs a 6th gear though as theres no rev-counter in the Cactus. It didnt sound stressed though and fuel economy is claimed at an impressive 4.7L/100km.
The Drive
The C4 Cactus is enjoyable to drive as the chassis feels tight and responsive, and the steering has decent weight to it. The suspension is compliant and it rides bumps quite nicely. The tyres may have been a little over-inflated though as our quick dirt road adventure seemed harsh and bumpy.
Citroen hasnt skimped on safety and the C4 Cactus is impressively equipped at its price point. Standard across the range are ABS with brake assist, stability control and airbags for the driver and passenger as well as front lateral and curtain airbags. The top spec model also gets hill assist for pulling off on inclines.
Citroen C4 Cactus Price in South Africa
The C4 Cactus comes in at a very impressive price and will compete with the likes of the Nissan Juke, Ford Ecosport, Kia Soul and the upcoming Renault Captur. The pricing includes a three-year/100 000 km warranty, a five-year/100 000 km service plan, as well as roadside assistance. There is an option to upgrade to the FreeDrive or five-year/100 000 km warranty extension. Services are at 15 000 km intervals.
Audi is lighting the way forward with announcement of the development of new Matrix Laser headlights as part of a sponsored project called intelligent laser light for compact and high-resolution adaptive headlights (iLaS). Audi will collaborate with specialist partners like Bosch, Osram and the Lighting Technology Institute (LTI) for a period of three years.
Audi Matrix Laser Technology
High-resolution Matrix Laser technology will improve illumination on the road while offering higher levels of flexibility and versatility. The system is based on LaserSpot for high beam lamps, which was first introduced in the Audi R8 LMX and lasers now allow for the integration of projector technology to make a compact, powerful headlight.
Matrix Laser technology uses a fast moving micro-mirror which re-directs the laser beam. When travelling slowly, the light is distributed over a larger, wider area, while at higher speeds, the aperture angle is reduced and the intensity and range of the light is increased significantly.
The system works using a blue laser diodes which radiate light onto a fast-moving mirror three millimeters in size. The mirror redirects the blue laser light to a converter which converts the light into white light which is then projected on the road. If all goes well, we should see this technology introduced within the next five years.
We already know what Audi is capable of with its headlights as its cars have demonstrated over the years:
2004: Audi A8 W12 with LED daytime running lights 2008: Audi R8 with all?LED headlights 2010: Audi A8 in which the headlights are networked with the navigation data 2012: Audi R8 with dynamic turn signal lights (these turn signal lights now feature in the 2015 Audi TT) 2013: Audi A8 with Matrix LED headlights 2014: Audi R8 LMX with LaserSpot for the high beam lamps
Audi Matrix Headlights in Action Video
Five Fastest Accelerating Cars under R200k in SA
Every petrolhead wants a car that can smash lap records and rocket from light to light, but unfortunately most of us cant afford these sorts of thrills on our budget. If your budget for a new car is in the R200k region then theres no reason you shouldnt be able to zip around town and get a few kicks from acceleration G-forces. If you’re not a petrolhead then take this advice as vehicles which have excellent acceleration and overtaking ability.
Weve compiled a list thats a bit more price relevant than our fastest accelerating cars under R550k and sorted them by 0-100kph times. The list favours manufacturers that offer bigger capacity engines at a more reasonable price and in particular smaller, lighter cars.
The Mazda2 with its 1.5-Litre engine is not the most powerful car (82 kW) on this list, but makes use of natural aspiration and high revs to get to 100kph in just 8.7 seconds. It thumps everything else on this list by quite a margin and shows that Mazda certainly places high value on sporty behaviour from its pocket rocket.
The new Opel Corsa uses a high-tech three-cylinder one-litre turbo to pump out 85 kW and that gets it to 100kph in 10.3 seconds from a standstill. The turbo isnt as quick as the Mazdas natural aspiration in flat-foot acceleration, but in gear acceleration is likely to be better thanks to the increased torque.
The Malaysian Proton Satria Neo has been around a long time and its 1.6-Litre engine develops 96 kW. This pushes it to 100kph in 10.5 seconds. Proton also did this CPS version that made it look like a rally car.
The Corolla Quest is essentially a previous generation Corolla that Toyota sells as a new car. You do get a naturally aspirated 1.6-Litre motor with 90 kW and thatll get the sedan to 100kph in 10.5 seconds. Thats pretty decent for family sedan under R200k.
The VW Polo Vivo is the best-selling passenger car in South Africa and when powered by the 1.6-Litre petrol engine is reasonably quick. Despite having just 77 kW the least here it still gets to 100kph in 10.6 seconds.
