Indholdsfortegnelse for June 2021 i CAR

“With its sporty looks, best-in-class driving dynamics and zero local emissions, the BMW i4 is a true BMW. It makes the heart of the BMW brand now beat fully electric.”– Pieter Nota, member of the board of management of BMW AG responsible for customer, brands and sales Set to enter the global market in 2021, BMW’s fully electric four door, the i4 Gran Coupé – says the Bavarian manufacturer – “is an amalgamation of the sportiness we’ve come to know of BMW products: comfort and sustainable performance in a form that strikes a refined balance between all three characteristics.” The i4 will be available in different versions, with each variant capable of travelling an estimated 590 km on a single charge with power outputs of up to 390 kW. Equipped…

Price: R644 900 Engine: 1,6-litre, 4-cylinder, turbopetrol Transmission: 6-speed automatic Power: 121 kW @ 6 000 r/min Torque: 240 N.m @ 1 400 r/min 0-100 km/h: 8,9 seconds* Top speed: 201 km/h* Fuel consumption: 7,00 L/100 km* CO2 : 156 g/km Rivals: Citroën C5 Aircross, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage + striking design; plush interior; renewed brand identity - drivetrain unchanged; no hybrid Roughly 18 months since Peugeot Citroën South Africa (PCSA) returned to being a wholly-owned subsidiary of the PSA Group – which itself has merged with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) to form Stellantis – and the French brand is riding the wave of positive change. With a new corporate identity, a contemporary new logo and renewed financial support from Paris, Leslie Ramsoomar, MD of PCSA, says the return under the…

Beauty may well be in the eye of the beholder but to me, some pre-war cars ooze an inordinate amount of beauty and elegance from their designs … Whether American or European, the style and exuberance these cars must have offered at the time are unquestionable. Of course, run-of-the-mill cars were doing the rounds, too, but your top-of-range models and cars from aspirational brands encapsulate the opulence of the era. The Auburn Boattail Speedster is right up there with the best. I first saw this car during a visit to the collector, unaware she had this beautiful one-of-a-kind car in her garage. I’ve never seen one up close, so couldn’t help myself and stepped closer. Her husband passed away several years ago and although she has always been actively involved…

2 118 km 6,50 L/100 km + level of specification - slight increase in fuel consumption What a fun few weeks it has been with the little Kia. Including running my weekly errands, which encompasses a single return trip to Cape Town of roughly 70 km (it used to be my daily commute), the Kia has done a sterling job in all scenarios. The fuel consumption has not dropped as much as I would have hoped though. The best single tank has been 6,12 L/100 km and the worst 6,95 L/100 km. These are still impressive figures and I do try to drive as frugally as possible. Although, sometimes I do get the urge to drive a bit faster and take a few corners with enthusiasm. It’s easy in the…

No one has won more consecutive races than Ascari or Sebastian Vettel (nine each). Vettel won three world titles before the age of 26; the next youngest is Hamilton, aged 30. So it goes with statistics … and we haven’t even mentioned the late Ayrton Senna, a three-time world champion who died at age 34 but whom many regard as the greatest racing driver to have ever graced an F1 cockpit. Hamilton was just nine when Senna was killed in 1994 at Imola, but he has never hidden his feelings and respect for the Brazilian, who has been an inspiration to him. In many ways, the British driver is cut from the same cloth as Senna: a natural racer, as opposed to a more thinking driver like “the professor” Alain…

Notes • The PRICES shown are the latest available at the time of going to press. Our deadline occurred on 22 April 2021. Readers should check with a dealer before making a decision. • The HP payment calculations are based on a 10% deposit, current prime interest rate and a 60-month repayment period with no residual at the end. • Under ENGINE we list the number of cylinders and the cubic capacity in cm3 . Here, V = V-shaped engine layout; H = horizontally-opposed engine layout; The absence of an initial symbol implies an in-line engine layout. • FUEL SUPPLY abbreviations are P = petrol-engined; D = diesel-engined; T = turbocharged, a compressor driven by exhaust gases; S = supercharged, a compressor driven by the engine; P/H = petrol-hybrid and…

Audi Centre Fourways was strategically moved to their new premises in the heart of Bryanston’s shopping suburbia in July 2019. Now branded as Audi Centre Bryanston, they are the Audi dealer for the renowned Lindsay Saker Group in the area. This prime location offers easy access off the N1 highway via the William Nicol off ramp and is perfectly situated to offer you all their premium Audi products and services at one convenient location. Having built an exceptional reputation through their uncompromising approach to complete customer satisfaction and service, Audi Centre Bryanston is the embodiment of their continued commitment to the Brand and their customers. Audi Centre Bryanston gives you the opportunity to experience all your driving ambitions with the extensive selection of new, demo model and quality pre-owned Audis…

Oppo Find X2 Pro Automobili Lamborghini Edition-TU $2 131 (± R31 475)* The Oppo Find X2 Pro smartphone by Lamborghini possesses a lot of supercar traits in terms of design and performance. For starters, the shell is a design-forward glass composition that boasts the same streamlined silhouette of a supercar with its dynamic look and feel. Flip the phone over and the three-dimensional effect adds instant panache; the back panel with its signature Lamborghini hexagonal pattern and matte bronze hue like that of the Aventador SVJ Roadster. • CPU speed up to 2,84 GHz • 4 260 mAh battery capacity • 48 MP ultra-wide-angle camera with a Sony IMX689 sensor • Weighs roughly 199 g • Microfibre leather case included *Excludes shipping and duties NikeshKooverjee…

Price: R3 109 000 Engine: 4,0-litre, 6-cylinder, petrol Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch Power: 375 kW @ 8 400 r/min Torque: 470 N.m @ 6 100 r/min 0-100 km/h: 3,40 seconds* Top speed: 318 km/h* Fuel consumption: 12,40 L/100 km* CO2 : 283 g/km Rivals: Aston Martin Vantage V8 Coupé, Audi R8 V10 Performance quattro, Ferrari Roma, Lamborghini Huracán Evo Coupé, Mercedes-AMG GT R + superb front end; one of the all-time great engines; surprisingly composed on road - bigger; a touch heavier (yes, we’re nitpicking) We’ve come to expect that a new 911 GT3 will be quicker than its predecessor around the Nürburgring Nordschleife … it would be worrying if it wasn’t. The 992-generation GT3 isn’t just faster than the 991.2. The magic number it achieved around the Green Hell was under…

Model: Maserati Ghibli Hybrid Price: R1 642 200 Engine: 2,0-litre, 4-cyl, turbopetrol Transmission: 8-speed automatic Power: 243 kW @ 5 750 r/min Torque: 450 N.m @ 4 000 r/min 0-100 km/h: 5,70 seconds* Top speed: 255 km/h* Fuel consumption: 7,50 L/100 km* CO2 : 172 g/km + decent performance for a four-cylinder - pricey versus its rivals It is not often we get behind the wheel of a brand-new Maserati, but this “entry-level” model to the Ghibli range is an important car. It’s the first hybrid model adorned with the famous Trident badge Nearly all manufacturers go through it; they have no choice but to develop and market cars they wouldn’t ordinarily release … think Porsche Cayenne, Lamborghini Urus and even Ferrari’s upcoming Purosangue SUV. Despite reluctance on the part of…

Two austere German hatchbacks drive onto the same stretch of damp asphalt … That sounds like the start of a bad dad joke, doesn’t it? Although, in this instance, we’re being deadly serious because although they possess different drivetrains, they are remarkably similar. Each exists a notch below their out-and-out performance brethren – the Mercedes-AMG A45 and BMW M135i xDrive – each has a four-cylinder turbopetrol, each has a two-pedal transmission and appeals to the performance-minded motorist at its specific price point. To decide which, if any, is worth your hard-earned Rands, we took them to one of the Western Cape’s most scenic, driving roads. FOUR TO THE FLOOR To many, Steenbras Mountain Road is little more than a quick and stupendously pretty detour along Clarence Drive (R44) that connects…

CARMAG SIBLINGS Thank you for compiling CAR each month – it has been an absolute game-changer for me and my boys – they can’t get enough of it! Liam (nine) and Oliver (six) are both car-crazy; from an early age, they’ve both been “over the top” when it comes to cars. We started buying your magazine this February when I needed to find gifts to fill a gift parcel and, honestly, we’ve never looked back. They have devoured three issues so far and they can’t wait for the next month’s magazine. Everywhere we go, there’s running commentary from the back seat (CAR issue in hand) by Liam (and Oliver if he gets a chance, or vice versa). “That’s the new ...; it costs ...; oh, and this is how many…

Price: R687 900 0-100 km/h: 11,47 secs Top speed: 177 km/h Power: 132 kW Torque: 420 N.m CAR fuel index: 9,00 L/100 km CO2 : 199 g/km Less spec than the Thunder but more affordableWilhelm Lutjeharms Drivetrain and connectivity features give it plenty to shout aboutRay Leathern FX4’s poor braking the only black mark against an otherwise excellent bakkieMarius Boonzaier There’s a new Ford Ranger on the way next year (sharing its platform with the next Volkswagen Amarok, of course) and we know that as models run to the end of their production life, often some of the best variants become available. In this case, the Ranger FX4 is an example of the good stuff that surfaces at the end of a run. Not only is the Ford Ranger a favourite…

527 km 6,12 L/100 km + sharp looks; light on its feet - perceived quality has taken a dip I’ll be the first to admit that when the keys to the new Opel Corsa clattered across my desk, I had some misgivings. As a regular recipient of some of the fleet’s less, shall I say, conventional wares (the likes of Toyota Avanza, Prius and Opel Combo panel van count among these), I was relieved my latest set of wheels did not pass for public transport, look like a deep-sea creature or lacked a rear window. I was also somewhat concerned about the strong French DNA coursing through its fuel lines. Now, I’m not knocking French cars – I’ve driven and enjoyed a few in my time – but when the…

15 724 km 8,14 L/100 km + only one “are-you-my-Uber?” moment - electrical gremlins R98 500 … that’s a big chunk of change. Now that I’ve swapped seats and well and truly ensconced myself into the Quest, every time I find myself missing a comfort or convenience item I had become accustomed to in the Hatch, I simply remind myself of that price difference: R98 500! The Quest Exclusive in my care retails for R343 900 and with the range starting from as little as R278 400 with the newly added six-speed manual Quest Plus, there is even better value to be had if you buy further down the pecking order. Adaptive cruise control that paces the vehicle to the car in front? Nope, the Quest doesn’t have that. You…

GMC recently lifted the lid off its long-awaited Hummer EV SUV which – like its truck-bodied stablemate – features a 619 kW/15 600 N.m tri-motor electric powertrain as part of a formidable off-road package. Besides the more practical body shell, the latest addition to the Hummer range has introduced what GMC has labelled a “Power Station” generator. Technically, the 6,0 kW unit isn’t a generator in the traditional sense but rather a type of inverter that, in a reversal of the standard EV charging process, draws DC energy from the vehicle’s battery, converts it into an AC and channels it through a charging port. A similar 3,6 kW/Level 1 (120-volt) system was showcased in Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 EV, where it can be used to power camping equipment, tools and electric…

TORQUE CONVERTER In a vehicle fitted with an automatic transmission, the torque converter (TC) performs a similar function to the clutch in a manual-transmission vehicle, without any input from the driver. The TC is a fluid coupling, adapted and refined for this application, and consists of four main parts: the housing, the impeller, the turbine and the stator. The impeller is a set of radial vanes attached to the inside of the housing, which is fixed to the engine flywheel, both rotating at engine speed. Also made up of a set of radial vanes, the turbine is positioned opposite the impeller and is attached to an output shaft connected to the transmission. Rotation of the impeller creates a flow of the fluid within the housing which, in turn, causes the…

Model: Renault 10 1300 Super 0 to 100 km/h: 21,5 seconds Top speed: 134 km/h Fuel index: 11,80 L/100 km Price: R1 875 CAR test: August 1970 (plus three others) Most things change gradually with time and cars are no exception. The popular Renault 8 was stretched by 215 mm to become the 10. With similar styling and the same wheelbase, this longer look was not embraced by all. PACKAGING As was the trend, the Renault 10 first sported round headlamps in 1966 but this was swapped to rectangular items in 1968. This trend was repeated in many marques but largely resulted in a less attractive appearance and many went back to simpler round lighting over time, often morphing the stretched lights into twin circular units. Another change was the…

The first car to be underpinned by Kia’s new dedicated BEV platform – Electric-global Modular Platform (E-GMP) – the Korean carmaker maintains the EV6 is the embodiment of the new Kia. “It is born to inspire every journey, through bold design, progressive engineering, innovative technologies and exciting electric performance,” said Ho Sung Song, president and CEO. The EV6 also introduces Kia’s latest design philosophy: Opposites United, a new design language that takes inspiration from the contrasts found in nature and humanity, and displays a future-oriented EV design characterised by high-tech details. At the front, the familiar “tiger nose grille” has been reinterpreted for the digital era. The “digital tiger face”, as Kia calls it, signifies the firm’s shifting focus towards electrification and will inform the design of all future Kias.…

Based on the French carmaker’s EMP2 platform, the striking bodywork of the third-generation 308 is 11 mm longer and 20 mm lower than its forebear. Peugeot says the new 308’s dimensions lend it a sleeker silhouette and more powerful stance. Thanks to the increase in wheelbase length (up by 55 mm), the 308 now offers more room for rear passengers. The new 308 has a luggage capacity of 412 litres with an additional 28 litres of stowage space in the hidden floor compartment. Utility space is rated at 1 323 litres. The flagship variant is equipped with Matrix LED headlamps, replete with vertically arranged LED daytime-running lights. The LED taillamp clusters, meanwhile, feature Peugeot’s signature claw-effect motif. Sited behind the carmaker’s new logo on the front grille are radars for…

Conversations about modern automotive powertrain technologies frequently lean towards the latest developments in electric motors; a hybrid system or hydrogen fuel cells may get a mention. General consensus is that the future of motoring no longer lies with the internal combustion engine (ICE). Despite such innovations as forced induction, fuel injection and improvements in the fields of thermal efficiency, the ICE has essentially remained a metal box of explosive cylinders and dancing pistons since the late-1800s. Many manufacturers may perceive the petrol engine as a developmental dead-end but that’s not to say the latest innovations are consigned to the mists of time. The most recent gasoline engine “first” can be traced to Mazda’s remarkable SkyActiv-X unit, which made its production debut on the current Mazda3 as recently as 2019. This…

Price: ± R45 million Engine: 6,5-litre, V12, petrol + electric motor Transmission: 7-speed automatic Power: 578 kW at 8 500 r/min (engine), 25 kW (electric motor) Torque: 720 N.m at 6 750 r/min (engine), 36 N.m (electric motor) 0-100 km/h: 2,8 seconds* Top speed: 350 km/h* Fuel consumption: 16,20 L/100 km* CO2 : n/a Rivals: Ferrari SF90 Stradale, McLaren Speedtail + looks outrageous; sounds amazing; goes like the clappers - you can’t have one; not the most dynamic supercar The Aventador SVJ was hardly a car for shrinking violets, and therefore the perfect donor when Lamborghini tore up its rulebook and plumped for the first-ever hybrid raging bull. The Sián FKP 37 sits on the identical floorplan and is powered by the same glorious naturally aspirated V12 engine, but it gets…

Price: R916 900 Engine: 2,5-litre, 4-cylinder, petrol + electric motor Transmission: CVT Power: 164 kW Torque: 221 N.m 0-100 km/h: 8,7 seconds* Top speed: 200 km/h* Fuel consumption: 5,20 L/100 km* CO2 : 122 g/km Rivals: Alfa Romeo Giulia, BMW 3 Series, Jaguar XE, Mercedes-Benz C-Class + avant-garde design; unimpeachable reliability - CVT drone; weight; ambitious claimed fuel economy At first acquaintance, the 2021 Lexus IS sedan is one beautifully realised piece of personalised mobility. It has a body shell so solid it could well have been hewn from Belfast granite. It offers great communication through the steering wheel in an unflustered, mature fashion, and the cabin is finished in top-notch materials, with no visible shortcuts in terms of panel fit or the fabrics used to lend it a super-premium appeal.…

After a dozen or so spirited runs up Steenbras Mountain Road, our two hot hatches finally ticked themselves cool at the lookout point over a foggy False Bay and we were able to draw a couple of conclusions for you on these second-division hot hatches from Germany. As far as their engine notes are concerned, neither are Juilliard Music School graduates, that’s for sure, but of the two it’s the four-pot in the Mercedes-AMG that sings the sweeter tune and is a bit more percussive on the overrun and upshift. The 128ti takes a more muted approach to its work, which is a surprise considering the same basic four-pot in a Mini John Cooper Works Hatch can be seriously loquacious with plenty of snuffle and boom when provoked. That being…

321 km 7,10 L/100 km + spacious; comfortable - engine noise above 3 000 r/min; no volume knob Having just stepped out of the R2,5-million Merc-AMG E63 S, quite literally, and somewhat let down by the last Honda I drove, I had my doubts about CAR’s newest long-termer. But I quickly set my preconceptions aside and am delighted to report the new Ballade in top RS spec has the potential to be a very pleasant car. First and foremost, that RS badge must be addressed; this is no Type R. It uses the same 1,5-litre atmospheric engine and CVT transmission as many other Honda models. Instead, RS in this instance simply means all the bells and whistles, with model-specific bumpers, alloy wheels, headlamps, that sort of stuff. Ours arrived finished…

After years of producing high-performance V8 engines – some normally aspirated and some turbocharged but all admired for their rumbling exhaust notes – the announcement in 2020 by then AMG boss Tobias Moers that the forthcoming Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series would feature a flat-plane crankshaft created quite a stir.This was a first for AMG and the reaction was not dissimilar to that of a few years earlier when Ford launched the Mustang Shelby GT 350 featuring a 5,2-litre engine with a flat-plane crankshaft as the performance flagship model in the range. Brochures and marketing material at the time made references to Ferraris and racing engines, while a redline of 8 250 r/min clearly differentiated it from other established American performance machinery. History shows that all early V8s featured flat-plane crankshafts,…

There are many parallels between the automotive and motorcycle manufacturing worlds. Yet, several experiences are unique to motorcycles. When it comes to BMW M cars, many of us might have an engine in mind (maybe an in-line six-cylinder), but when we consider BMW Motorrad’s motorcycles, this is not quite the case. Yes, a large-capacity BMW GS motorcycle has always been equipped with a boxer engine but move to the smaller capacity GS motorcycles and it’s a different story. It’s the same with BMW’s road bikes. The F 900 R and F 900 XR are mechanically nearly identical but fitted with an in-line two-cylinder engine. The cylinders sit upright and develop 77 kW at 8 500 r/min and 92 N.m at 6 500 r/min. We spent time with both and yes,…

Nissan Tiida 0-100 km/h: 10,60 seconds Top speed: 188 km/h Power: 80 kW Torque: 153 N.m CO2 : 174 g/km Fuel consumption: 8,68 L/100 km (fuel index) The Tiida uses an extended platform shared by the Nissan Micra and Renault Modus. Being taller than most sedans and hatches of the time, it almost fits into a crossover genre. It may not sport the best Italian styling or come in a range of pretty colours but don’t write it off just yet. The sedan’s boot lid, for example, could have been styled by a certain controversial Mr. Bangle but it hides lots of luggage space. Tiida – second i and all – means “sun” in the Okinawan language, so it fits right into the Nissan Sunny theme, a vehicle it effectively replaced.…