Browsing Tag
motoring
Geely LCX FULL REVIEW
The golden number in the car industry in South Africa these days is R100 000. Everybody seems to market or try to market a car that costs that or just less. Few cars makers can afford that though, but Geely is one that can.
Their LCX base model at least can, coming in at just R94 000. But what do you get for your money, and is it any good?
In short, yes and no.
I drove this car recently, and immediately liked the attitude of its look. Roof rails running on the top and awesome placement of the spare tire on the back with “Bring it on” stamped in manly urban font. This car will turn your head for a look at least once.
There’s space enough in the car for driver and some friends and their luggage in the back.
The 1.3-litre engine though only produces 63kw, and that’s not very much. It’s certainly not enough to get you into any speedy situations with the Metro cops, so there’s an upside. But it’s also just sluggish and boring.
This then is the perfect car for home-to-work traffic runs. In fact, I would hazard to bet that no one, in the history of the existence of this car would ever be caught in a rear-ending thanks to the power in this car. If anything, you have to really mash your foot down just to keep up with the car in front of you, let alone slam into the back of them hard enough to cause damage.
So it’s up to the insides to impress. And they do, depending on your income level and your age.
An 18-year-old who has just passed their licence and is looking for a car to run them to and from Uni next year is going to be happy with what this car offers. There’s a stereo, there’s air conditioning and there’s electric windows. Doesn’t seem like much, but take a minute and think back to your first car. Did it have any of those? And how much did that cost?
All the basic security issues are covered too: airbags, power steering and a collapsible steering column.
Final verdict?
Great if you’re worried about your 16 year old stealing the car and joyriding with it one night.
Not really an option for anyone else.
Get it: R94 000 – R109 000
From: www.geelysa.co.za
Toyota’s intelligent car can read your mind and learn your tricks NEW CAR
People want small town cars that don’t poop out any Co2, Toyota has the answer. The INSECT (an acronym for “information network social electric city transporter”), uses Toyota’s cloud services and some pretty smart behavior detection technology to learn your most common destinations, your taste in music and what sort of food you like to eat. It then makes suggestions for you as you drive along.
The INSECT also incorporates Microsoft’s awesome Kinect technology to learn what your face looks like and recognize your body movements.
The INSECT is all electric and only seats one person. Concept only in Japan for the moment.
The Quadski: A Jetski mated with a Quadbike. Next level wet! NEW CAR
Few gadgets are so awesome that even the most masterful words can do them justice, but this is one of them. So I’ll let it talk for itself. The Quadski is what the creators Gibbs are calling an Amphibiquad. Even that’s awesome.
You’ve just watched a video in which a Quadbike turns instantly in to a Jetski and sets off in the water…without sinking.
The Quadski uses patented High Speed Amphibian (HSA) Technology that lets it’s reach speeds of 70 km/h on water and land. That’s considerably faster than any other toy of it’s kind has ever managed.
It uses a 1.3-litre petrol engine to drive on land and a marine engine in the water. It only takes on person and interestingly uses a rear-wheel-drive layout on land.
If the video’s anything to go by, jumps aren’t a good idea on this thing, but a small price to pay for effortless lake crossings.
The new Maserati Grancabrio MC
Adopting the 4.7-litre V8 engine of its predecessor, this 341kw behemoth hits a top speed of 289 km/h with acceleration of 0 to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds.
There’s also a newly redesigned front end and bumper which promises to optimize aerodynamic flow and lift, which provides up to a 25 percent increase in down force at high speeds.
That interior is vast, and looks very cozy. It’s got a carbon fiber frame and new seats that offer 20mm more leg room.
An enhanced sound experience is promised too thanks to a partnership with Bowers and Wilkins.
The new VW Beetle arrives in SA
Whatever your feelings on the VW Beetle, there is one fact that is not worth debating: this is an iconic car. Sell 21.5 million units of anything in less than 100 years, and you’ll be an icon too. And now the new generation has landed in South Africa.
While the “New Beetle” released in the late 90’s managed to sell a million units worldwide, it also managed to generate a ton load of criticism and ridicule from critics. The question is “what will the new gen do”.
The first issue to address was redesigning an icon, not an easy task. But Porsche manage to do annually…sort of. The “New Beetle” from the 90’s took a lot of flak because it looked like what most considered to be a gay or girls car. In the new gen, they’ve gone for a more masculine look.
It has not only a lower profile; it is also substantially wider, the front bonnet is longer, the front windscreen is shifted further back and has a much steeper incline. They claim it resembles the awesome Ragster concept shown off in Frankfurt in 2005.
Buyers have a choice of two turbo-charged petrol engines, a 1.2-litre TSI 77kW and a 1.4-litre TSI 118kW, both in two equipment specs.
The 1.2-litre engine promises 5,9-litres/100km, the most efficient Beetle ever and can hit 100km/h in 10.9 seconds.
The 1,4-litre version boasts a decent sized 118kw getting it to 100km/h in 8.3 seconds and reaching a top speed of 207km/h.
The original Beetle was also criticized for having an innate inability to go long distances. Seriously, ask a mate who owned one and they’ll tell you the trip to varsity every morning alone was sometimes too much for the ol’ soul.
VW have addressed this too by including a rear boot (where the original had its engine) with 905 liters of space. Granted this isn’t a tremendous amount, but it’s decent for a hatch car.
Wait to hear about sales. Here’s hoping they bite.
PRICES:
1.2 TSI 77kW Design Manual R235 400
1.4 TSI 118kW Sport Manual R296 600
1.4 TSI 118kW Sport DSG R311 100
Remember the Marauder? Meet its offspring: The Marauder Patrol
You met the Marauder when Richard Hammond braved the dangerous streets of SA to come and test drive it in JHB. Great PR for Mzansi BTW.
Now the Marauder’s parents, the Paramount Group, have given birth to the next child in the family: the Marauder Patrol. And here it is.
Sick, isn’t it?
The Patrol is made by Africa’s largest privately held defense and aerospace company, and is essentially a Toyota Land Cruiser underneath. It becomes a whole new beast once they strap on one of their ballistic protection spec settings, in all, reaching a weight of nearly 3 tons.
The Marauder is an amazing machine, but it’s far, far from practical in day-to-day situations. That’s where the Patrol comes in. Based on COTS (commercial off the shelf) driveline components, the Patrol is aimed at military, police and special forces that require an agile and quick response vehicle for use in tough environments. Like for example if the South African mine workers decided they wanted more money.
They claim it has a deliberately non-aggressive appearance – making it perfect for police, peacekeepers or Special Forces operating in sensitive environments. I say they got Stevie Wonder to design the non-aggresve styling parts.
The Patrol has got the STANAG Level 1 ballistic protection, meaning it can stop shell fragments as well as 7.62mm and 5.56mm bullets. For those wanting extra protection, there is the choice to increase ballistic to STANAG Level 2, without impacting the performance of the vehicle.
The vehicle comes in either a five-door ‘SUV’ version which can carry nine people or a four-door ‘double cab pick-up’ model which can carry a maximum of five people.
In both cases, the vehicle is available with optional extras of run-flat tire inserts, communications systems, add-on armor, various weapons stations and automatic transmission.
Crew comfort and ergonomics were key design elements and the vehicle is fully air-conditioned with plenty of space for tools, medical supplies and communications equipment.
Here are the specs:
Weight – 2,950kgs
Top speed – 120km/h
Turning circle – 15m
Range – 500 or 800km
Engine – 128kw Turbo Diesel
Blast protection – Hand grenade
Ford Focus ST FIRST DRIVE
Flip! Did I enjoy driving this car!
But it’s much more than just a great, reliable drive and wishlist item for Boksburg Boy Racers. It’s a huge statement from the Ford team that they can and will offer South African drivers a well stacked, quick and good looking car for a really reasonable price.
The Ford Focus ST 2013 starts at a bargain low R309 000. Its biggest competitor is the GTi which starts at R353 710.
Granted the new GTi has been announced and will arrive in South Africa next year, so the ST’s reign may be short lived, but that means the GTi is going to have to come in at an incredibly low price. Time will tell.
In the meantime, if you’re looking for a new car, answer the same question you would if you are looking for a new smartphone: do I wait for the iPhone 5, or just get the Galaxy III? Do I wait for the GTi or just get the ST?
As with the smartphone world, my advice would be that you can’t really go wrong. But if you’re a GTi fan, then waiting won’t be a problem.
The new ST is an amazingly smooth drive. The 2-litre turbocharged Eco-Boost engine is down a couple of cylinders, but you wouldn’t be able to tell. Pull off in any gear is effortless, although you will know when you hit 160km/h because the wind roar from outside is considerable.
Not considerable enough though to drown out the teenage lion roar of the engine which is coming to you courtesy of Ford’s specially developed sound symposer which points to the walls of the engine bay and filters the induction noise out to you in the cabin. Get used to it. The days of a V8 engine are in the past. Make your peace that car manufacturers now have to “simulate” noises to get the same effect. That’s life.
The new ST comes in two derivatives, the ST1 and the ST3. Minor differences between the two. Both though have the quite brilliant Microsoft and Ford SYNC system which works through the Sony entertainment system.
At its release a couple of years back, SYNC was the first of its kind, now many cars have similar functionality like voice command recognition, Bluetooth streaming audio and message computer read-back. But few work as well as SYNC.
The pairing of a phone is really easy, download your contacts to the car, and you’re away. Just push the voice button on your steering wheel, and start speaking. Good news is this system will recognize your voice more accurately than most I’ve tried. Even the iPhone messes up more often. You might even find yourself using it, texting less while you drive and as a result having less accidents.
Some other features to sing about:
Recaro seats
Dynamic and outlandish interior styling (it’s nice but some will complain)
Tire deflation detection system
Rain sensing wipers
Figure 8 unique center exhaust
Enough room in the back for 2 big mates, 3 small ones
4 year 90 000km warranty
18” alloys inspired by the previous generation
Torque Steer compensation to make you feel like you’re really in control
Sports suspension and specially tuned dampers along with a lowered ride height of 10mm
10% increase in power from previous gen, 20% decrease in CO2 and emissions
One warning, watch out for the grabby brakes. You will slam your girlfriends head in to the dashboard on your first journey, but you acclimatize in no time.
SPECS:
Engine: 2-litre Turbocharged EcoBoost
Output – 184kw and 360Nm
0-100 – 6.5 seconds
Top speed – 248km/h
Economy – 7.2L per 100 (good luck on that)
CO2 – 169g
Price:
ST1 – R309 530
ST3 – R353 700
Audi Crosslane Coupe Concept
The most confused concept of the entire Paris Motor Show has been unveiled, and the name says it all. It’s a blend between the styling of a couple, convertible and crossover vehicle. But if concepts have taught us anything, it’s to take them seriously.
The Crosslane Coupe has a 1.5-litre, 133kw TFSI engine that is both petrol and electric, making this concept a plug-in hybrid.
The 17.4 KWH lithium-ion battery allows traveling of 85km on pure electric when cruising at an average of 130km/h.
Tope speed is181km/h and 0-100 is done in 8.6 seconds.
The future? Comment below.
Mercedes Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive…more like OMG!
Sorry. That wasn’t very punny.
The Paris Motor Show has produced undoubtedly one of its most interesting announcements, the new Merc AMG electric car.
Four synchronized motors work together to produce a whopping 552kw and a torque of 1000Nm. The high voltage batteries are a result of a collab between the AMG folk and some intelligent Formula 1 engineers. The resulting vibration-free electric motors produce all of their torque immediately and weigh only 45 kgs each. They all also drive each wheel individually, so power is distributed where it is needed.
This is now the quickest production electric vehicle available, and the recharge time has been cut down dramatically to get you running quicker than before.
Acceleration, 0-100 in 3.9 seconds, and top speed of 250km/h.
Oh, and it’s wearing a Silver Surfer suit.
More: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_SLS_AMG#SLS_AMG_Electric_Drive
