Innehållsförteckning för January 2020 från CAR

Despite months of meticulous planning, the occasional bout of begging for access to a rare performance car and many hours of lost sleep, the real work kicks off only when the wheels start turning on the morning of Shootout’s first day. Photographers Peet and Andreas snap thousands of images while hanging precariously from the cavity of a support van, and videographers Imaad,Saint and Naseer match that with hundreds of hours of footage. All the while, art director Chris guides and goads to ensure he gets what he wants. Behind the scenes, each CAR team mate tweets, Facebooks and Instagrams; Wilhelm leads the convoy along a precisely plotted 1 047 km route; and I cross my fingers every car (and human) will be intact when we return 12 splendid performance cars…

ETA: TBC In 2018, Audi decided to break from the R8’s all-wheel-drive tradition by whipping out the Quattro system to produce a limited run of 999 RWS (Rear-Wheel Series) examples. Demand for the Quattro-less R8 must have been immense as the Ingolstadt firm has now given its rear-wheel-driven R8 mass-production status, in both Coupé and Spyder formats. Both RWD models feature the AWD Spyder’s mildly detuned 5,2-litre V10 engine (397 kW as opposed to 449 kW in the Plus variants). That still means a 0-100 km/h time of 3,7 seconds and 320 km/h top whack for the hardtop and 3,8 seconds and 318 km/h for the Spyder.…

Tuesday, 5 November 476 km / Oudtshoorn to Port Elizabeth A05h00 start is seldom cause for anything besides a bleary-eyed yearning to retreat under the sheets but, when your day is set to take place in one of the Cape’s most awe-inspiring settings, batting away the cobwebs of sleep isn’t such a chore. If you’ve not yet had the opportunity to visit Meiringspoort, pencil in a day or two away from the office and make your way to this slice of paradise nestled just half an hour outside Oudtshoorn. Sunrise is quickly leaching the soft greys and oranges from the morning’s palette, making way for a crystal-clear, hot Karoo day, so our convoy quietly creeps out of the suburbs and on the road towards Meiringspoort. The floor of this gorge,…

Price: R5 695 000 Engine: 5,2-litre, V10, petrol Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch Power: 470 kW @ 8 000 r/min Torque: 600 N.m @ 6 500 r/min 0-100 km/h: 2,9 seconds* Top speed: >325 km/h* Fuel consumption: 13,7 L/100 km* CO2 : 332 g/km Rivals: Ferrari F8 Tributo; McLaren 720S + the supercar segment’s most appealing engine; looks - uncomfortable seats; tight packaging I had first and last driven a Lamborghini Huracán for the January 2015 issue as the CAR crew wound its way from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth for our annual Performance Shootout road trip. Somewhat fortuitously, as we polished our plans for this year’s event along a similar cross-country route, my inbox pinged with an invitation from Lamborghini to sample the latest iteration of the Huracán in the United Arab…

It’s a bit of a neglected market niche, the one for small hot hatches. Ford has chosen not to import the Fiesta ST; the Renault Clio RS is on its way out with no replacement announced; and both Opel and Peugeot are notable for the local absence of OPC and GTi badges. Yet, there are green shoots, too: the Volkswagen Polo GTI has gained a strong following and both Audi and Mini offer upmarket alternatives to those buyers who want their small hot hatch imbued with premium appeal (or who are looking to buy down from their speedy A3s, Golfs and so on). Here we pit the brand-new A1 40 TFSI against the recently refreshed Cooper S 5-door to find out which vehicle strikes the best balance between driving thrills…

Price: R1 724 350 0-100 km/h: 4,63 seconds Power: 405 kW Torque: 680 N.m Top speed: 274 km/h CAR fuel index: 14,16 L/100 km CO2 : 274 g/km Armed with impressive global sales figures of more than 60 000 units for the first 12 months of Velar production, together with broadly positive feedback on its brutish Jaguar F-Pace SVR, the marketing meeting at Jaguar Land Rover’s Coventry head office to discuss whether to combine these two platform-sharing projects into a new flagship product would likely have been a short one. In JLR parlance, the SVR (Special Vehicle Racing) badge is reserved for vehicles upgraded with outright performance and track focus in mind. Distorted somewhat within the F-Pace’s two-tonne, raised-ride-height frame, the objective with the fastest Velar to date was rather an…

6 months 8 473 km 8,51 L/100 km + comfortable ride; standard features; stylish - thirstier than anticipated Nicol Louw: Scaling down from my previous Sorento long-termer to the Sportage, it was easy to anticipate potential concessions: the loss of a third row of seats, all-wheel drive and increased storage space. What was not as evident before my three-month stint was the gains associated with piloting the smaller, more athletic sibling and this led to quite a few surprises along the way. Firstly, the stylish appearance in facelifted EX Plus specification lifted the kerb appeal towards the premium segment. Take, for example, those lovely 19-inch wheels and panoramic sunroof. Inside, there are plenty of toys such as an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system with sat-nav, USB port for passengers as well…

Model: BMW M3 0 to 100 km/h: 6,34 sec Top speed: 253 km/h Fuel index: 11,0 L/100 km (est) Price: R209 998 CAR test: February 1994 Other road tests: July 1997 (M3 4-door sedan) PACKAGING South Africa did not receive the first (E30) M3 because of its left-hand-drive-only configuration. This subsequent E36 M3 model was thus the first official model available here. One of the benefits of this sought-after M3 is its level of understatement: no flashy bling, wings or skirts. What’s important is all under the paintwork. Strong suspension (firm but not harsh), ventilated disc brakes that are up to the task (we measured a best emergency stop from 100 km/h of 2,7 seconds and a 2,9-second average) and classy but functional controls. CAR’s overseas correspondent first drove the…

CS pushes the power output of the 3,0-litre up to 331 kW (an increase of 29 kW) CS IS MORE The CS moniker has traditionally represented a sporty stop-gap between standard M cars and the hardcore CSL models, which dispense with weighty extras such as sound-deadening materials and air-conditioning while substituting a significant portion of the car’s construction withr carbon-fibre-reinforced-plastic (CFRP) components. The M2 CS continues in this vein with this lightweight material utilised for the front valance, bonnet, rear diffuser, roof and even the dashboard (a 2,7 kg weight saving in itself). BMW has been coy regarding the exact amount of fat trimmed off the M2 but, with historical weight savings in excess of 100 kg in previous CS models such as the E46 M3, and considering the M2…

Ferrari F2002 original engine Price: US$90 000 (±R1 330 000) Worried that your house guests aren’t aware of your love for the Scuderia? Well, with the actual heart of the Ferrari F2002-GA F1 car displayed in your home, no one will question where your loyalties lie. Powering one of the most successful F1 cars of all time, the 614 kW 3,0-litre V10 propelled Michael Schumacher and Ferrari to the drivers’ and constructors’ championships.…

Like the rise of the machines, SUVs are taking over. Sales of SUVs have been increasing for the past seven years and they had a 36,4% market share globally in 2018. It’s not even something originally pushed by the car companies but rather by consumer demand. It’s reached a point where automakers are even dropping traditional sedans. Just look at Alfa Romeo which plans a largely SUV lineup in the future. As yet, there’s no official word on plans for it but company CEO, Andy Palmer, has already said Aston will electrify its entire range by around 2025 Is it any wonder, then, that we are seeing the same response at the upper end of the market? Range Rover once had it all to itself. Then Porsche launched the Cayenne,…

lick has quietly set the cat among the pigeons in our BMW line-up. As a curtain-raiser to what we can expect from the powerplant earmarked for the next M3, the turbocharged 3,0-litre is a remarkable performer. Its 375 kW and stump-pulling 600 N.m of torque are delivered in a linear, relentless manner, accompanied by a deeply satisfying soundtrack that layers straight-six snarl and induction flutter under hard acceleration. On to the second BMW in the line-up. The decision to dispense with a characterful six-cylinder and rear-wheel drive in BMW’s halo hatchback has been a point of consternation. It signals a sad departure of a uniquely old-school approach to hot hatch motoring. As per the increasingly irrelevant nature of model nomenclatures, the new M135i sports a 2,0-litre four-cylinder unit feeding all…

Price: n/a Engine: 5,2-litre, V8, supercharged petrol Transmission: 7-speed dual clutch Power: 567 kW @ 7 300 r/min Torque: 847 N.m @ 5 000 r/min 0-96 km/h: 3,3 seconds* Fuel consumption: 16,8 L/100 km* Top speed: 290 km/h* CO2 : 390 g/km Rivals: Chevrolet Camaro ZL1; Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye + raw, unfiltered and fast - not available locally I’ve never seen a bunch of journalists act more like excited schoolkids than in the underground garage where the Shelby Mustangs were handed over. The visual onslaught of wings, carbon, power bulges and fluorescent colours were enough to set the heart racing. Nervous laughter was cut short by another 5,2-litre supercharged mill erupting like a volcano. Is it a prerequisite to rev a Mustang after start? You bet! It’s my turn.…

492 km 6,41 L/100 km + overall comfort; ride quality - conservative image It’s always pleasant ascending a hierarchy of long-termers from the same carmaker. Although my previous Honda, a BR-V, had an abundance of space, my first few days with the Civic were a welcome step up in terms of luxury and comfort. The sedan also, obviously, handles much better than the seven-seater family wagon. There are four models in the local Civic range and our test unit is the 1,5T Sport CVT. This means it is equipped with the flagship 1,5-litre turbopetrol developing 127 kW and 220 N.m instead of the 1,8-litre naturally aspirated unit. We’ve said it before, but after years of offering only naturally aspirated engines, this turbopetrol is like a breath of fresh air in…

I’m penning this update after having sampled the new Citroën C3 Aircross – look out for a full test next month – and it had me thinking about the state of the small crossover, and where Renault’s ruggedly styled Duster fits in. The Renault isn’t as refined as the C3, nor the new VW T-Cross, and its cabin quality is a step below their more polished fixtures and fittings. But does that matter? We all know cars are often bought because of the badge on their nose or their styling. And the Duster looks the business, all bulgey and bash-platey and proper SUV-aping. It’s unlike any other small crossover.…

Why do power and torque figures make all the headlines while braking performance is often ignored? To test which vehicles in Performance Shootout 2020 have the best brakes, we decided to put those ventilated discs and multi-piston callipers in the spotlight by conducting 160-0 km/h braking tests at maximum deceleration. This is 60 km/h faster than the speed used as a starting point during CAR’s standard emergency-braking tests but these are sportscars after all. By using basic energy calculations, interesting results are unearthed. But first, a lesson Compared with drum brakes, disc brakes (patented in 1902 by Frederick William Lanchester in Birmingham) are the superior technology when it comes to slowing a vehicle. Discs offer better cooling than drums, resulting in less fade and increased stopping power. When the driver…

AUTOMATIC CONFUSION Having read the article Automatic problematic in your August 2019 issue, why were certain auto ‘boxes omitted? It did not cover DSG, nor Tiptronic boxes, to mention just two. Another concern is if you are going to buy a new automatic car and you ask the salesperson to inform you of the type of auto ‘box in the car, I doubt you will get an answer, never mind the correct answer. How about a different auto code for the different transmissions in your price section of CAR Guide other than just differentiating between automatic and CVT? JOHAN TERBLANCHE Franschhoek I'd suggest reading the article Which ‘box is best? from April 2018 explaining the different options. You're correct; there are many terms used to describe the same type of…

A race comprising only electric vehicles hosted in a country known as the largest petroleum exporter in the world; the irony doesn’t go amiss. The decision to present the opening race of the sixth season of the ABB FIA Formula E championship here was, however, not likely made as an environmental statement. Yet, on the outskirts of Riyadh, a statement was made nonetheless by the tight-knit TAG-Heuer Porsche Formula E team. Arriving at the Ad Diriyah E-Prix, the scene would not have appeared out of place in a science-fiction film. The all-electric racecars with covered front wheels and sharp design looked and sounded like spacecraft hovering over the dusty street circuit. There were two red, white and black-hued Porsche 99X Electrics and, at 15h03, André Lotterer and Neel Jani set…

GODDESS WORSHIP I read with great interest your piece on the Citroën ID/DS in Starter classic and am really happy you decided to make it a two-part article. I have been fascinated with these cars since I first saw my uncle’s model in 1964, when I was four years old. I never found a good excuse to buy one but, when my son turned 18 seven years ago, that’s what he got as his first ride. Since then, we have been conducting a rolling restoration and I can comfortably say it is probably the best collectable classic there is, with a particularly active owners’ club in South Africa and spares freely available worldwide. Every part is still being manufactured or re-manufactured somewhere in the world, while the crucial component of…

The latest addition to McLaren’s hardcore Ultimate Series range, the radical-looking Elva, has been billed as the firm’s first open-cockpit car and, much like stablemates such as the Senna, will be limited to just 399 units weighing in at the equivalent of R30 million apiece. What does that sort of money get you? Well, its “extreme” two-seater proviso means it won’t score you a roof and windscreen, nor side windows, although a fixed-windscreen version will be offered. Instead, some aerodynamic trickery in the shape of channels in the Elva’s nose which divert oncoming air over the occupants’ heads will create what McLaren refers to as a “relative bubble of calm”. The extensive use of carbon-fibre and other lightweight compounds makes the Elva one of McLaren’s lightest offerings and, powered as…

First production vehicle with a carbon-fibre monocoque chassis Bugatti EB110 1991 IT was the 1980s; a decade of excess, with definitive moments in world history, such as the fall of the Berlin Wall, notable contributions to pop culture and some of the most iconic cars to ever leave the factories of Stuttgart and Maranello. However, none of these vehicles met Romano Artioli’s expectations of the “ultimate” sportscar. To achieve his dream, the Italian entrepreneur resurrected the Bugatti brand in 1987, 31 years after it ceased to exist, and, in 1990, set up shop in Campogalliano, Modena. What followed was the first new Bugatti since 1956. The EB110 made its debut in France on 15 September 1991 to commemorate founder Ettore Bugatti’s 110th birthday and is the only Bugatti not built…

Monday, 4 November 571 km / Cape Town to Oudtshoorn We here at CAR like to consider ourselves a grown-up and conservative bunch, ready to pore over technical specifications and quietly discuss the virtues of the many cars we scrutinise daily. Yet, there’s something about our annual Performance Shootout that manages to bring out the big kid in all of us. Walking down the row of sports-cars quietly lined up opposite Huguenot Monument at the foot of Franschhoek Pass, even the most jaded motoring journalist would concede to a tingling “nightbefore-Christmas” sensation coursing through their veins at the prospect of what lay ahead. Some 1 000 km of motorways, mountain passes and arrow-straight back-roads stretch between our starting point in Cape Town and our destination, Port Elizabeth. Such exuberance needs…

Wednesday, 6 November Aldo Scribante Race Circuit With the forecast for much-needed rain over the Port Elizabeth area pushed out until the evening of day three, bright sunlight reflecting off the plucky Suzuki’s Champion Yellow paintwork as it flashes past the pits area signals the beginning of one of the most important days on any Shootout calendar: data day. Resurfaced in 2018, the goal for the third day of Shootout 2020 at Aldo Scribante racetrack is to record all the performance-related figures you’ll find collated on pages 58 and 59. With straight-line acceleration and braking times captured first thing in the morning, it is over to our resident racing ace, Deon Joubert, to coax the fastest respective lap times out of the cars except the 911 (once again, Porsche’s insurance…

TO many, the 993 is the epitome of Po r s ch e ’s 911 portfolio: air-cooled, compact and light, with a beautiful, fluid design. The range offered a plethora of high-performance models: Turbo, Turbo S and GT2 (in Street, Clubsport and Evo versions), while the naturally aspirated versions were celebrated with the Carrera RS. Track and race models included the 993 Cup, but much rarer was the 993 RSR: just 45 were made (some sources suggest 30). On first appearance, the RSR looks pure 993 GT2. Those riveted wheelarch extensions, subtle front spoiler and large rear wing are not unlike the hyper 911’s. However, parked next to each other, they are far from identical. The RSR’s racecar foundation is evident up close with split-rim alloys placed snug within the…

Prompted via an onscreen message, I successfully updated the software on my Ranger’s Sync3 infotainment system via my home Wi-Fi network. This latest update adds functionality in the form of access to new apps and up-to-date navigation maps, while further improving the overall workings of this touchscreen-based technology. Interestingly, Ford has just announced its Sync4 system that’s set to introduce cloud-based connectivity, wireless smartphone pairing and machine-learning capability. Screen sizes are said to range between a 12-inch display and 15,5-inch vertical unit.…

+ immense speed and sound - relative price; fuel consumption Kawasaki is known for creating seriously fast bikes. The legendary ZZR1100 started the top-speed war among Japanese manufacturers in the 1990s, with Honda countering with its CBR1000XX Blackbird and Suzuki the GSX1300R Hayabusa. More recently, Kenan Sofuoglu aboard a Kawasaki Ninja H2R superbike hit 400 km/h on Osman Gazi Bridge in Turkey (watch the YouTube video; it’s fantastic). I was understandably nervous when picking up the touring version of that bike from Mike Hopkins Motorcycles in Bellville, as it features the same supercharged 998 cm3 mill. When I asked the salesman how much the SX was detuned, he answered: “Not much.” Supercharging a hyper motorcycle engine makes a lot more sense than turbocharging. As a supercharger is mechanically linked to…

Wrapped in Weissach’s traditional motorsport colours, the 99X Electric is Porsche’s first all-electric racecar. Signifying the importance of Formula E for the firm, the highest number, nine, is used twice in its three-digit denomination, while the X represents its forward-thinking approach. The 99X Electric serves as a platform for the development of future production electric Porsches. CHASSIS Dubbed SRT05e, Spark Racing Technologies and Dallara’s second-generation carbon-fibre and aluminium monocoque was introduced in season five and underpins all Formula E cars. POWER AND PERFORMANCE During the qualifying stages, a maximum output of 250 kW is on offer. However, during the race, only 200 kW is available. The latter can be increased by 35 kW when engaging Attack-Mode, or 50 kW when initiating FanBoost. Top speed: 280 km/h 0-100 km/h: 2,8 seconds…

Mercedes-AMG A45 4Matic 7G-DCT 0-100 km/h: 4,35 seconds Top speed: 250 km/h Power: 280 kW Torque: 475 N.m CO2 : 171 g/km Fuel consumption: 8,28 L/100 km It really is a tug-of-war out there. This smallest AMG was desperate to be the power king and, when we tested the upgraded model in May 2016, it was … for a while (Audi then stole its crown). To achieve that status, AMG increased power from 265 to 280 kW and tightened up the gearbox ratios for improved acceleration. More of a hooligan than the RS3, the A45 achieved a 0-100 km/h time of 4,35 seconds. The 280 kW comes from a mere 2,0 litres, naturally with turbo-charging; all 1,8 bar of pressure. That is an astonishing 140 kW/L. Only a few years ago,…