This concept comes from the pen of Samir Sadikhov, the same man who gave us the Lamborghini Urus SUV concept a while back. This time he’s opted for something stylish, timeless and classic. And we thank you sir.

This DBC concept is supposed to be a mid-engine RWD layout and does away with the long hood of traditional Astons.

Off you go ladies and gents. Perve.

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The 7th version of this iconic car boasts a 2-litre turbocharged direct injection engine that puts out 162kw, exactly 100% more than the first generation GTI. The engine has a completely newly developed cylinder head and a water-cooled exhaust gas circulation loop to the turbocharger that is fully integrated in the cylinder head. This type of exhaust gas cooling makes a crucial contribution towards improving fuel consumption at full load.

Fuel consumption has been a massive concern in developing the new GTI and both the manual and DSG models boast an auto stop/start feature and 6 gears as standard. The BlueMotion benefits mean a combined consumption of 6L/100km compared to the 7.3 litres the previous generation gave you. They’ve also managed to shed 42 kgs off the body.

The new GTI is available immediately in Red, Black and White and come standard with newly designed 18-inch “Austin” alloy wheels.

Prices (VAT and emissions tax included)
2.0 TSI 162kW Manual R368 300
2.0 TSI 162kW DSG R382 800
The new Golf GTI comes standard with a 5 year/90 000km Service Plan, 3 year/120 000km warranty and a 12 year anti-corrosion warranty. Service Interval is 15 000km.

Now…just enjoy!

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They’ll be in SA in limited numbers so don’t get too excited to ever see one, but if you can’t live without the feeling of knowing you’ve been near one, spend some time in the East of Jozi, you’re bound to come right.

Visual changes include the addition of a front lip spoiler, a new rear roof-mounted spoiler, dual exhaust pipes and dark-painted 18-inch alloy wheels.

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Styling has changed in the new E-Class mainly as a result of the redesigned front end with new headlamps comprising all functional elements behind a single headlamp lens. The headlamps are fitted with LED low beam and LED daytime running lamps as standard, while all-LED technology is available for the first time in this class as an option.

Three petrol engines are available in the range, offering output from 155 kW to 300 kW and there is the new BlueDIRECT four-cylinder petrol engine with spray-guided direct injection, based on similar tech as used in current V6 and V8 engines. These strapped to the bodies of the E500, E400 and E250 with consumption figures of 8.9L/100km and performance boasting 0-100 in 4.8 seconds and a top speed of 250km/h.

Mercedes also continues to bang home their Intelligent Drive features and in the new E-Class Coupé and Cabriolets these include, systems which are able to prevent collisions with crossing vehicles or with pedestrians, a proximity control system that helps to steer too, and dazzle-free continuous high beam.

Model Coupé Cabriolet

E 250 R582 554 R657 211
E 400 R774 632 R858 032
E 500 R938 465 R999 445

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French architect Jean-Marie Massaud and Toyota are proud to present the ME.WE electric car and as has come to be expected, it’s all about the human, the environment and the good.

It’s made out of a tubular aluminium structure and has interchangeable expanded polypropylene body panels. That’s doors, wings and bumpers that come off and can be put back on. Imagine the number of colour combinations they’ll offer.

Each wheel has its own dedicated electric motor meaning it’s technically 4WD but can be operated in 2WD.

The floor and the roof are made from bamboo, and the occupants take precedence with any luggage carried on the bamboo roof covered by a neoprene housing. The back bench can also be removed in the case of a seat being needed while at the beach.

jean-marie massaud: ME.WE electric car concept for toyota from designboom on Vimeo.

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All the Mini’s in the current range are exciting vehicles to drive. Sure the entry level Mini One at 72kw isn’t the quickest car in the world, but even driving that, you’re reminded of why Mini is where it is today thanks to those years of putting the American muscle cars in their place on the touring car circuit. Slower than a V8 on the straights, but capable of embarrassing those bulky Yanks in the corners.

And now, they’ve sharpened the tip of their spear in the form of the Mini JCW GP. This is the world’s best hatch on a track.

The love has all gone in to Mini’s not-so-Mini Countryman, a car that suffered at the hands of haters when it was launched but has since proven its worth by winning the 2012 Dakar rally in the hands of Stefan Peterhansel.

The 1.6-litre turbocharged engine has been fiddled with to produce a mesmerising 221kw. But power is nothing without control. It’s in the setup and the chassis where the beauty lies. A peek into the back seat and you won’t find any functional seats, but rather a bit of reinforcement in the way of a roll-bar for stability in the corners. Couple that to the fact that once again you’re sitting impossibly close to the front tyres, and you actually become the corner you’re drifting around. And I do mean drifting, such is the confidence the brakes and the steering give you.

When comparing hot-hatches, you have to look at the top of the pile, and at the moment it’s still the likes of the Renault Megane RS which used to hold the record for hatches around the Nurburgring. That was until the Mini JCW GP came along with its rack-oriented suspension, high-performance brakes and Michelin racing slicks to ram the French upstart back into its box. The Mini JCW GP does a time of 8:23 and the list of cars this is quicker than is astonishing. The Merc SL55 AMG, Nissan 350Z and the Subaru WRX Sti. All toast.

The Megane RS might be much more practical, have the Renault racing pedigree and have functional rear seats, but the Mini JCW GP trumps it by 26kw and beats it to 100 by just under 2 seconds. In the petrolhead dictionary, that makes the Mini much, much better.

And now for the bad news. You can’t have one, even if you really, really want one. There have only been 2000 Mini JCW GP’s released onto the planets roads, and South Africa only got 30 of them…all already sold. In fact, with numbers like that, you may never even get to see one. But if you do, I pray you: walk up to the person driving it, give them your credit card and your second kidney and take it out for a spin.

Engine: 1.6-litre Turbodiesel
Output: 221kW
0-100km/h: 4,7 seconds
Top speed: 258km/h
Price as tested: R403,000

Now for some fun:

Stefan Peterhansel with his own Countryman on the Gerotek skidpan

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Some quick facts to drop your jaw:
It’s the fastest road car Ferrari has ever made
950 BHP (705kw) take it from 0 to a top speed of 350km/h
It’s a hybrid, Ferrari’s first

But don’t let the “hybrid” disappoint you. Ferrari are still mental motor-heads at heart. They insist that the 120kw, 60kg battery pack is there purely to increase the speed and acceleration, it has nothing to do with emissions. The fact that it will probably decrease the carbon tax on the 499 LaFerrari’s that will be built is just gravy.

The majority of the grunt comes from the 6.3-litre V12 found in the Ferrari F12 and the LaFerrari makes use of technology similar to F1’s KERS system which charges the battery under braking and cornering.

Main competitor, the recently announce hybrid from McLaren, the P1. Still nothing in the styling department compared to the astonishing Lamborghini Veveno though.

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Aside from creating the car in a celebration of all things Italian (only 3 will be made, Red, White and Green) it’s also an opportunity for Lamborghini to piss off their country-men Ferrari who are announcing the long-awaited successor to the Enzo sometime today.

The Veneno (Spanish for Venom) is, as is customary, based on a Spanish fighting bull, and it will shuttle from 0-100 in 2.8 secs thanks to it’s 552kW V12 engine.

Oh, and the price, 4.5 million dollars.

Now let’s enjoy the show:

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Evonik Industries have created a lightweight, electric vehicle that runs on lithium-ion batteries and has recently crossed the 5000km continent, using only 15 dollars’ worth of electricity.

The lithium-ion batteries on-board are recharged —whenever the wind conditions allow it—by a mobile wind turbine. The result? An open top convertible rip-off of a 1920’s racer that weighs only 200kgs and uses less electricity than Eskom making an effort.

The batteries produce enough energy to travel 280-360 kilometres a day, and can even travel by kite alone. Granted there is much to be said about the inconvenience of having to strap yourself to a kite for 4 hours at a time, but that’s green road-tripping for you. Also, bring a few extra friends along if you ever try this, you will definitely lose some friends to passing trucks and wayward telephone lines.

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