Sommaire pour June 2023 de CAR

The BMW XM was already the quickest SUV from the Bavarian marque, but a new version will take up the mantle of über-SUV in BMW’s line-up. It’s called the Label Red and will be limited to 500 versions worldwide. The XM LR’s heart is still the company’s 4,4-litre twin-turbocharged V8, now producing 430 kW at 5 600 r/min and 750 N.m of torque from 1 800 to 5 400 r/min. Those equate to increases of 70 kW and 200 Nm thanks to some engineering wizardry with the exhaust, crankshaft, and in the turbocharger plumbing. And then there’s the assistance provided by the electric motor that produces 144 kW and 279 N.m. The electric motor is powered by a 19,2 kWh battery integrated in the XM’s floor. BMW says the XM…

TOYOTA FORTUNER 2.8 GD-6 4X4 VX ETA: NOW Since launching in 2006, the Toyota Fortuner has become a household name – and more. A staple of the South African suburban upper-middle-class existence, it has become every bit the metropolitan must-have, much as the latest iPhone or Eskom-busting battery backup has. A number of successive facelifts extended the Fortuner’s tenure till an all-new second-generation model followed in 2016, itself earning a noteworthy upgrade in 2020, when the flagship 2,8-litre GD-6 engine was boosted by a welcome 20 kW/50 N.m. In reaching another milestone in its ten-year life cycle, in 2023, the Fortuner has been treated to another – albeit relatively minor – reimagining. Pricing starts at R635 500 for the entry-level 2,4 GD-6 RB manual (the sole three-pedal derivative on offer), extending…

Price: R569 900 0–100 km/h: 12,34 seconds Top speed: N/A Power: 89 kW Torque: 145 N.m CAR fuel index 7,2 L/100 km Likeably different, if challenged by a low cents-to-sense ratio in an overly cost-conscious segmentBraam Peens Attractively styled, rear a bit generic and seats not as good as in older Hondas such as the Accord, FR-V or CR-VPeter Palm Does the world genuinely need another compact crossover? Probably not. The three-box sedan is dead, and the few hatches not yet treading in Timberlands aren’t far behind. Whether or not all motorists are equally enthusiastic over this evolutionary shift remains open for debate. Not debatable is that, owing to their canonised design direction and proliferation of standardised infotainment systems, amid an ocean of selfsame silhouettes, it is becoming harder for…

The computing power required to design and develop a modern-day Formula One car operates at NASA-level intelligence and demands nuclear-grade power. In an ever-competitive category where tenths of a second are measured in millions of dollars spent, CFD – Computational Fluid Dynamics – have come to save precious wind-tunnel time, itself annually limited by the FIA in the interest of cost-saving to 30 teraflops of double-precision (64-bit) computing for simulation purposes, and only permissibly executed via CPU, and not GPUs. Following February’s F1 pre-season test, however, not a single supercomputer down the pit lane could have predicted that the Aston Martin team would have rocketed over the season shutdown from a lowly seventh in the 2022 constructor’s championship to sporting the second-fastest car of 2023. The new signee for 2023,…

After a handful of photographs of the next-generation Mini in heavy camouflage were snapped in China, the British brand has now released images of the new electric Cooper, but has remained rather tight-lipped about the rest, leaving room for some speculation. The model pictured here is the electric Cooper, which apparently has been developed in collaboration with China’s Great Wall Motors, and on this unit, the new design language is more pronounced, with sleeker lines, a flush profile, and smoothened noise. The massive and smooth octagonal grille with body-coloured crossbar is outlined by what looks to be a light ring that matches those around the larger round headlamps. The side mirror caps and roof in a contrasting colour are typical of the brand, but the triangular tail lights are a…

HYUNDAI PALISADE R2.2 ELITE 8AT4 7-SEATER ETA: NOW In parenting terms, because I can is the ultimate argument-ending put-down against headstrong offspring. That said, such obstinacy is seldom a satisfying conclusion to any family fight, and after all, an arm around the shoulder generally achieves more than a threat of violence. There’s also a second, less frequently considered option: pampering your brood in the new Hyundai Palisade. Freshly updated for 2023 after first landing on local soil in 2021, the most expensive and lavishly equipped Hyundai will now be available either as an eight-seater or a seven-seater, the latter option configured with a pair of captain’s chairs accommodating the middle-row passengers amid acres of leg-stretching space. Both versions are priced at R1 099 900. And pampered all shall be. The driver…

The elegant S-Class still commands the respect of the segmentDamian Adams You can’t take your eyes off the 7 Series, but it doesn’t appeal to everyoneKyle Kock When the S500 was tested for the May issue last year, the CAR team felt that the decision to once again hand the segment crown back to Stuttgart’s range-topping sedan was more than justified, given how much Mercedes-Benz had improved on what we deem to be critical areas of evaluation, such as refinement, ride comfort and technology. It just so happened that the S-Class had long been the title holder in that division before the previous-generation (G11) BMW 7 Series made a strong argument for itself and snatched bragging rights. The victory would be short-lived however, when the current S-Class (W223) would give…

In a road show requiring a bit of logistical tap-dancing, Ford South Africa took several drivers on a trip from Gauteng to Gqeberha. Fifteen different Single- and Super Cab models trekked roughly 1 500 km, testing the cars on not only highways, but some very gnarly byways, too. To my great delight, we spent a lot of time nosing over rocks, tight-roping through narrow passes and sloshing through mud and water. An added novelty of this press tour was that some of the bakkies were loaded: Ford bought several JoJo water tanks to be transported to communities in the drought-plagued Eastern Cape. My first impression as we headed out in our Single Cab 4×4 – with a JoJo tank strapped tightly to the load bed – through Joburg’s early-morning traffic…

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KyleSpliceZA SPACE-AGE MATERIALS KEEP ITS WEIGHT DOWN The Revuelto’s new aeronautics-inspired “monofuselage” chassis incorporates a carbon-fibre monocoque with a front structure made of forged composites (a blend of carbon fibres and resin) that allows it to be 10% lighter than the same unit used on the Aventador. Not only is there an increase in torsional rigidity, but there’s also an increased level of energy absorption in the event of a collision; Lamborghini claims it’s double that of the Aventador’s aluminium front frame. At the rear, the chassis is made of high-strength aluminium alloys, with hollow castings in the rear dome area that integrate the rear suspension’s shock towers and powertrain suspension into a single component. This allows for a significant reduction in weight and also for optimal weight distribution (44%…

The T.33 Spider is powered by the same 4,0-litre Cosworth V12 that does service in the T.33 coupé. It produces 453 kW at 10 250 r/min and 451 N.m of torque at 6 750 r/min. It also revs to a mind-blowing 11 100 r/min. Those revs are sent to the rear wheels via a manual six-speed gearbox and limited-slip differential. The T.33 Spider separates itself from the regular T.33 by way of two removable carbon-composite roof panels that can be stowed in the 115-litre front boot and rear glass that opens or closes at the touch of a button (whether the panels are on or off). Thanks to the use of lightweight materials, the T.33 Spider is only 18 kg heavier than the regular model. “From the very beginning I…

BMW Baby Racer • ±R2 750 The last iteration of the Baby Racer was sold in 2012 and inherited design cues from the firm’s legendary E46 M3. The Baby Racer of yore allowed the firm’s youngest enthusiasts to experience the power of M, and that feeling now exists in the fourth generation of the Baby Racer nameplate. Similarly to its predecessor, the Baby Racer unveiled this year borrows many styling characteristics from its larger road-going M-badged siblings. Like BMW’s range-defining M products, this miniature four-wheeler blends a myriad of the brand’s modern product proportions and styling. The face of this four-wheeled baby M features the controversial kidney grille found on the G80 M3 and G82 M4. Adding to the little racing machines' sporty design are the multi-spoke wheels which are…

RENAULT CAPTUR 1,3 TURBO EDC ETA: NOW After initially launching the Captur locally in 2015, Renault South Africa quickly brought the updated version out in 2017. Although the second generation has been available abroad since 2019, it’s only just arrived in South Africa this year. The Mzansi arm of La Regie has kept the range short and sweet with just two models: an entry-level Zen, and range-topping Intens. With the assembled models at launch all in the range-topping Intens specification, I could not help but voice a little displeasure. I’m of the opinion that in order to get a more realistic idea of the Captur’s true prowess in this hotly contested segment, a better sample would have been the more affordable Zen model, which is R50 000 cheaper. That’s nothing to…

Price: R1 646 200 0–100 km/h: 4,11 seconds Top speed: 225 km/h Power: 400 kW Torque: 750 N.m Energy consumption: 18,1 kWh/100km Range WLTP: 446 km Worry-free electric motoring isn’t quite here, but it is getting closer with the likes of this i4 Peter Palm Unassuming, yet undeniably potent. The i4 M50 is one of the most exciting electricRyan de Villiers While we all wait patiently for the flood of reasonably priced, compact EVs to finally make their appearance at charging stations near us, we continue to review the high-priced models with much more power than anyone needs and at prices mostly well above the million-rand range. The present exercise is the brands showing off, and they have every right so to do. Perhaps when the runabouts arrive everyone will…

With the Chrysler Valiant riding wave crests on the sales chart since the mid-1960s, the size and styling changes were enough to confuse even the most ardent petrolheads. Our bevy of tested models kicks off in 1969 and culminates in 1974. PACKAGING Our 1969 test featured the VIP. This was a larger car than the Rebel/Regal models by a full seven inches (178 mm). The actual body shell was borrowed from the Dodge Dart. Also tested in 1969 was the Rebel. In 1970, we tested the same model, but with the uprated engine that produced an extra 15 kW, taking the power up to 142 kW. In 1972 the Valiant VH was introduced with yet another new body that reduced glass area and was wider, but slightly shorter. The spare…