Indice dei contenuti per May 2023 in CAR

Not all cars make you smile. Some make your heart beat faster, requiring heightened levels of focus and concentration to pilot. Some induce unashamed admiration for their advancement of automotive technology, and some require you to doff your cap at fit-for-purpose pragmatic design. One car, however, most certainly made me smile this month… By rights, it shouldn’t even exist. The design came from a billionaire’s napkin in a pub and at a glance looks like an unaltered copy of a classic icon, the Land Rover Defender. It has the underpinnings of a tractor, solid axles and a ladder-frame chassis. It should steer vaguely like a container ship, has the aerodynamic properties of a bus and it is heavy even by modern standards. Yes, it has one of those new fancy…

Nobody will argue against the lasting impact the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team has made in the modern era of F1 racing. To mark the end of the 2022 season, when the team finished third in the constructor’s championship, Mercedes-AMG has announced an exclusive special run of the SL63 4Matic roadster. The limited-edition model is finished in model-specific two-tone paint (high-tech silver and obsidian black) with a star pattern and contrasting trim in Petronas colours; overall, it’s made to mimic last year’s W13 E Performance F1 car. Other cues from motor sport’s top tier are included in the AMG aerodynamics package, which adds larger elements in the front bumper, a larger rear diffuser and an optimised underbody to maximise downforce and minimise drag. Along the SL63 Motorsport Collector’s Edition’s profile are…

Bugatti Chiron Sapphire Crystal timepiece R24 014 445 The Bugatti Chiron is one of the most prestigious hypercars in the world, known for its sleek design, eye-watering speed and exquisite engineering. The Bugatti Chiron Sapphire Crystal watch is a timepiece that perfectly complements and encapsulates the opulent nature of the car. Created by Jacob Arabo, founder and CEO of Jacob & Co., the Bugatti Chiron Sapphire Crystal watch claims to be a masterpiece of precision engineering and horological craftsmanship. It incorporates the same sapphire crystal used in the Bugatti Chiron instrument panel. This material is recognised for its exceptional durability and scratch resistance. The Bugatti timepiece features a complex movement with a tourbillon, which improves the accuracy of the watch by compensating for the effects of gravity. The movement is…

Price: R1 094 900 Engine: front-mounted, twin-turbocharged, 3,0-litre, V6 petrol Transmission: 10-speed automatic Power: 292 kW @5 650 r/min Torque: 583 N.m @3 500 r/min 0–100 km/h: N/A Top speed: 187 km/h Fuel consumption: 11,50 L/100 km CO2 emissions: 262 g/km Rivals: Jeep Gladiator, Toyota Hilux GR-S + performance to match throaty V6 soundtrack - limited towing capacity and thirsty *Claimed figures Rudely awoken by a roaring Raptor with its brute V6 tune in Baja mode, the third and final morning in the Namib desert was harsh and cold, a brutal reminder of how unforgiving the barren terrain is. A carpet of morning haze shielded the harsh African sun blooming over the dune horizon and it was time to pack up and make our way from the desert playground to electricity…

PeterPalm12 Visit Car Magazine at carmag.co.za/cars-for-sale To find the latest New & used cars for sale CASE STUDY: MOTORCYCLE BRANDS MAKING CARS AS WELL While motorcycles and cars make logical companions, some brands started with something completely different space safety & aids cost of 4 tyres road test long-term test Honda FR-V 6 seats, 336/1 350 litres 6 airbags, ABS, EBD, stability control R6 270 July 2007 0–100 km/h: 11,18 seconds Top speed: 190 km/h Power: 103 kW Torque: 173 N.m Fuel consumption: 9,96 L/100 km Soichiro Honda’s love of engineering was cultivated by helping his father to repair bicycles, and then cars. He moved on to manufacturing piston rings and then leapt into motorcycles and cars. Similar to the Fiat Multipla, the FR-V has an unusual layout of two rows of…

BraamPeens1 Firsts seldom come in fours. However, as an embodiment of the representative quantum leap taken over its competitors of the era, at the 1965 Indy 500, the Lotus 38 heralded just that. The Colin Chapman/Len Terry-designed 38 was the first rear-engined and non-American-built car to win the event, and in the hands of Jim Clark, the first non-American driver to conquer the event since 1916. Piling further plumes of Scottish sea salt on to the hot-dog-loving Americans’ parade, the 38 set the then-fastest-ever average race speed, exceeding 150 miles per hour, in addition to leading 190 of 200 laps. That said, the latter does fall short of Billy Arnold’s 1930 record of 198 laps led. Similar to its 29 and 34 predecessors, which also ran at Indy, and favouring…

KyleSpliceZA STYLING EVOLUTION, NOT REVOLUTION The exterior design features minimal design tweaks. Notably, up front, the black plastic panel at the base of the windshield has been removed, which created the illusion of a longer bonnet even though the ID.3’s dimensions have not changed. The lower section of the front bumper features a new cooling opening, and recesses in the outer extremities affect how air flows around the front wheels and effectively improve aerodynamics. At the rear, the taillamp extensions continue into the tailgate and are now functional. ECO-FRIENDLY INNARDS The updated ID.3’s cabin uses more sustainable materials. Volkswagen has opted to use the microfibre material called ArtVelours Eco on the door trim and seat upholstery, which contains up to 71% recycled plastic. Volkswagen designers took note of feedback from…

IMMINENT BAIC BJ80 Honda Civic Type R Lotus Emira Maserati Grecale McLaren Artura Mitsubishi Outlander Nissan Qashqai e-Power Suzuki Grand Vitara Toyota Crown Toyota Supra manual Q2 Chery Omoda 5 BMW Z4 BMW XM Fiat Doblo Jaguar i-Pace Kia Seltos Lexus RX Porsche 911 Dakar Q3 Aston Martin DBS 770 Ultimate BMW M3 CS Hyundai Grand i10 Renault Arkana Subaru Crosstrek Subaru Outback XT Volvo C40 Recharge Q4 Audi Q8 e-tron BMW M2 BMW 7 Series Mazda BT-50 Mercedes-AMG C 63 E performance Rolls-Royce Spectre TBC Aston Martin Valhalla Ferrari Purosangue Jaguar F-Type 75 Lamborghini Urus Performante Land Rover Defender 75 Mazda CX-60 Mitsubishi ASX Toyota GR Corolla *Please note this list is in no way exhaustive and dates may be affected by production- and delivery delays.…

RyanOConnorZA If you are a loyal reader of CAR Magazine – and I hope you are – you would have read my initial thoughts on the beautiful new off-roading beast that has finally made its way to market… the Ineos Grenadier. And if you are an avid follower of CAR Magazine’s website – let’s hope so – you would also have seen me bouncing around in the cabin of this impressive vehicle as we filmed our test drive from Inverness to Loch Long in Scotland. Or rather, ‘The heart of the heartlands’ – by Ineos’ own description. Nevertheless, whether you’ve been following closely or this is your first insight into our take on the Grenadier, here lies my most comprehensive review yet, where I’ll be breaking down the look, feel…

RyanOConnorZA Award-winning radio and TV presenter Ryan O’Connor – or ROC, as he is affectionately known – has dominated the airwaves for 21 years on some of the Mother City’s best-loved stations. Catch him on the HEART FM Drive, weekdays, 3 to 6 pm. The market is changing, and though the sports-car purists may not like it much, there’s a ton of people worldwide with the money for a sports car, but the desire to own an exotic SUV. In 2002, Porsche launched the first ever Cayenne. More than 20 years ago now, it was a controversial move for the Stuttgart-based manufacturer, but it was a decision that is now largely credited with saving the company from financial issues that had come about in the late 1990s. In 2018, Lamborghini…

BraamPeens1 “Time”, claimed David Bowie, “[is] one of the most complex expressions. Memory made manifest. It’s something that straddles past and future without ever quite being present, or rather, it at first seems indifferent to the present … You’re aware of a deeper existence, maybe a temporary reassurance that indeed there is no beginning and no end.” On 28 May 1983, Stefan Bellof made time stand still. Just 827 days later, his debt with the devil fell due. The greatest tragedy surrounding Bellof is perhaps not the Faustian nature of his relationship with fate that personified his Icarus-like character. In hindsight, it is that proper guidance from his peers could have saved him from his daring self when indicators of his impending demise were flashing with deafening urgency. Glory, though,…

PeterPalm12 Model: 505 STI 0–100 km/h: 15,2 seconds Top speed: 163 km/h Fuel index: 8,83 L/100 km (at 100 km/h) Price: R15 700 CAR test: May 1983 (three others from 1981–1984) As happened with several Peugeots, the style house of Pininfarina designed the 505. First came the SR and the STI. In 1983, the STI was upgraded to include central locking, electric windows all round, and a new console. As is so often the case, the two-door coupé was by far the most attractive version, but this one was not officially imported to South Africa. PACKAGING Deep-pile cloth seat upholstery and well-padded cushions just added to the 505’s luxury feel. The spare wheel is carried in a cradle under the car, leading to a spacious boot with 430 litres of…

CHERY MUM ON TIGGO 9 What looks like production-ready computer renderings of a new Chery SUV have been leaked in China. Although the manufacturer remains tight-lipped, rumour has it this is the most luxurious model from Chery. If the details on its dimensions are to be believed, it will be 4,8 m long with a 2,7 m wheelbase. Torque is sent to all four wheels via a 200 kW turbopetrol engine. BUELLER 250 CALIFORNIA LOOKALIKE SELLS FOR R5.8 MILLION The cult film Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is most famous for the teenager who took his dad’s 1961 Ferrari California on a joyride while playing truant. Paramount Pictures did not use a real Prancing Horse for the film and commissioned Modena Design & Development to build four replicas. This one, which…

Price: R998 388 0–100 km/h: 8,17 seconds Top speed: 217 km/h Power: 140 kW Torque: 400 N.m CAR fuel index: 6,6 L/100 km CO2 : 144 g/km All-wheel drive is an unnecessary indulgence, better spent on missing luxuries. Kudos if you’ve ever spotted one in trafficBraam Peens Very spacious for passengers, but rather pricey for the spec levelPeter Palm If one were to hazard a visit to less official so-called author-edited dictionaries, the general consensus seems to be anything pertaining to an in-betweener is terminally uncool. In the murky realm of keyboard-cowboy cancel culture, particular disdain is reserved for individuals, occupations or organisations characterised by inferior standing that seem to simply exist to fulfil no particular purpose, or merely make up the numbers. So it must have seemed for the product…

IamDamianAdams 8 985 km 8,33 L/100 km + Stylish design, quiet and high-tech interior - Ride is on the firmer side During the brief time I have experienced our long-termer, the Sportage went from being one of my favourite family SUVs to arguably the champion of the class. It’s for good reason, then, that it’s been named as a finalist in the 2023 South African Car of the Year competition. It boasts an impressive breadth of ability and an exceptionally long list of standard features for the money. Sure, R749 900 is an eye-widening amount of money for a vehicle in this segment; however, this places it squarely in the realm of the popular Volkswagen Tiguan. The flagship Kia slots in between the R-line badged 110 kW (R722 300) and…