Startech has issued this challenge to the official SRT team at Jeep. This Grand Cherokee by the German tuner should give SRT a run for their money as far as looks are concerned. Several things have been done to achieve this and include the fitment of LED daytime running lights running on the front bumper, a lower suspension system and 22-inch wheels. Tyres are 265/35 R 22 up front and 295/30 R 22 at the rear. A stainless steel sport exhaust system features oval chrome-plated tailpipes that apparently make a sweet sound. I wonder if it’s as sweet as the 6.1-litre SRT though.
That’s because power is provide by the 3.0-litre CRD motor making 193kW and peak torque of 580Nm between 1600rpm and 2800rpm.
The interior is peppered with Alcantara and leather pieces that are said to make life inside quite comfy. Other materials used include aluminium for the pedals and door-lock pins as well as polished stainless steel scuff plates.
MERCEDES-BENZ SAYS: The effective control and management of a transport company’s fleet is vital to its short and long term profitability.
Equally important is the choice of vehicles that make up the fleet. This is even more so in the case of Midbank/Thembalethu who operates more than 150 vehicles from three depots in three different provinces.
With rising fuel, vehicle and maintenance cost, increased time pressures, and competition (particularly from less-established commercial vehicle brands) the safety, quality and reliability of a company’s vehicles can mean the difference between prosperity and insolvency.
These are the factors that Johann Bonthuys and Louis Molapo of Midbank/Thembalethu took into consideration when they decided to add twelve new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter buses to their existing fleet.
Bonthuys says that the high standard of the new vehicles as well the fact that they will be driven by the best trained drivers in the industry also played a part in their purchase decision. (Midbank/Thembalethu have won the Mpumalanga Bus Driver of the Year competition numerous times and one of their drivers won the trophy as the overall winner in all of the categories in 2009).
“Once the question of what to buy was decided, the next was from whom to buy,” says company owner Bonthuys. “As they say in the industry, the sale is the wedding but the after sales service is the marriage – and as we all know, the hard work only starts once the honeymoon is over!”
This is where McCarthy Kunene came into the picture. “We started our negotiations with Johann, Louis and the team some time ago,” says McCarthy Kunene Managing Director Gert Prinsloo. “After many meetings we managed to structure a deal to the satisfaction of both parties.”
Business is about relationships and the McCarthy team has worked hard to earn the trust of this reputable company, according to Prinsloo. Midbank Thembalethu marketing manager Louise Swanepoel attests to this. “McCarthy sales executives almost became part of the family and we appreciated that they showed a genuine interest in our business.”
Most rewarding, though, was when Midbank/Thembalethu presented the newly-painted buses to their customer. “They were absolutely delighted, and that again confirmed that we had made the right decision to go with Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicles and McCarthy Kunene.”
As the phrase goes; “the battle lines have been drawn”. BMW South Africa has introduced the BMW Performance Power Kit for both the 335i and 135i ranges. The engines have been reworked to make more power and torque. All models feature the multi-award-winning 3.0-litre straight six twin turbo petrol which normally pushes out 225kW and 400Nm of torque.
The increases are quite significant, going up to 240kW for maximum power. Torque goes up to 430Nm for the 6-speed manual and a whopping 450Nm for cars with the Steptronic gearbox. Official performance figures were not quoted but I venture to say 0 – 100km/h times should go below 5.5 seconds to make them serious M3 challengers at Gauteng altitudes.
Body kit bits include a front apron with integrated kidney grille surround, a carbon fibre rear spoiler, a rear diffuser and chrome-plated dual tailpipes. Light alloy wheels provide added visual appeal.
Interior is characterised by sports seats, LED displays, a multi-function steering wheel, a sporty gear lever, aluminium pedals and foot rests among others.
Any BMW dealership will be able to fit the fully-accredited factory kit at a price of R24 265 excluding labour costs.
Cars in Action, one of Mzansi’s most prominent motoring magazines, has begun doing performance testing both at Gauteng altitudes and at the coast. CIA as it’s affectionately known, was for a long time the only magazine to do tests here at 1600m above sea level. Of course there are newspaper supplements that do this such as Citizen Motoring and Star Motoring. IN4RIDE is the country’s only independent motoring website that does performance testing and since we are Jozi-based our figures will be different from coastal ones.
"Our dual testing programe has been in the pipeline for a while and took quite some planning," Cars in Action publisher Michele Lupini pointed out. "It's something we have long dreamed of doing and is now a reality - the data we have so far is quickly proving most interesting and we're looking forward to growing to understand the real differences between all cars' costal and high altitude performance differences."
Why is all this important? Well cars generally lose a good deal of their power when they come to Gauteng or when they are in other high altitude areas around the country. That means the 0 – 100km/h times you see in some magazines like CAR and TopCar (both of which are based on the coast and test only there) cannot be replicated in Gauteng or Polokwane or Free State for example. This partly explains why some people complain about their cars’ lack of performance compared to manufacturer’s claimed times.
CIA says its new October 2009 issue will be indicative of this new dual testing system.
It’s been 5 years since Mahindra came into the Mzansi market. During all that time several products were launched, products like the Scorpio SUV and pickup range. Today the company announced new refreshed lines for both ranges. The biggest news though is the availability of a new 6-speed automatic gearbox for the range-topping Scorpio SUV.
Customers and potential customers were apparently also wondering about the safety prospects of their vehicles. Mahindra has responded by installing standard airbags and ABS across the range (except for the bakkie).
Two turbo diesel engines power the range. The first is a new-generation 4-cylinder 2.2-litre mHawk CRDe common rail that puts out 87kW at 4000rpm and peak torque of 270Nm between 1600rpm and 2800rpm. The other is an old trusted 2.5-litre mill with 74kW at 3800rpm and 258Nm at 1800rpm. Mahindra has tested these vehicles at Gerotek (north of Pretoria) and assures that it they perform to expected standards. Performance is said to be 0 – 60km/h in 5.7 seconds which probably means something well over 10 seconds for the regular 0 – 100km/h sprint.
Interior features include a multi-reader sound system that plays back from CDs, USB memory sticks and SD cards.
Good news for big families is that the Scorpio SUV can swallow up to 8 passengers in 3 rows of seats.
Pretoria, 28th September 2009 – Team Ford Racing shone at this weekend’s penultimate Bridgestone Production Car Championship event, moving one step closer to the title honours. Gary Formato and Shaun Duminy ended the day with a one-two finish elevating Formato to the top of the championship log.
“This was an extremely important weekend for us,” explained Formato. “Heading to Cape Town I was one point adrift of championship leader Graeme Nathan, we are now leaving Killarney one point in the lead with only one round remaining. There’s nothing in it at the moment, which means there’s absolutely no room for error.”
Formato and Duminy put in a fighting performance, in the Nando’s sponsored Ford Focus STs, from the middle of the pack. Formato put in a determined show in the first heat to take the final podium slot while Duminy followed in hot pursuit crossing the line in fourth place. Formato made his intentions clear setting the fastest lap of the race.
With the championship as close as ever the Ford crew were more determined than ever to take maximum points. Formato did just that, taking the second heat victory ahead of teammate Duminy – a dream result for the team.
“We showed steady progress throughout the weekend, the whole team has put in a lot of hard work throughout the season and this was just the result we needed,” added Formato.
Duminy was also rewarded for his efforts by being named the Rooky of the Day. “All in all it was a great weekend for the whole team. Both cars were quick and competitive in both the day’s heats and we now leave Cape Town with the upper hand,” said Duminy.
The final round of the 2009 championship takes place at the Kyalami Grand Prix circuit in Midrand on 17 October. With only one point separating Class T championship protagonists Formato and Nathan there are sure to be fireworks.
“There’s no room for complacency now. We have a lot of work to do ahead of the final event. It’s a home race for us and the perfect conclusion to what has been a nail biting battle throughout the season,” concludes Formato.
One of Renault’s most important models is now available for sale in the South African market. The Renault Mégane hatch was launched on a rainy Gauteng weekday and rain in African culture is good luck. Renault will be counting on that as it takes the next stab at the mid-hatch segment currently dominated by Volkswagen, Mazda and Toyota.
Mégane III ditches the kinky drop-chop rear end which I really liked in favour of a more conventional rounded behind. I suppose since we are in Africa that is also acceptable. It’s sensual and stylish, easily the sexiest car in its segment.
"The debut of New Mégane represents a bold and important step-change in Renault South Africa's new model renaissance on the local market," explains Renault South Africa Managing Director, Xavier Gobille. "It establishes new benchmarks across all spheres, encompassing eye-catching styling matched to leading-edge ergonomics, technology, performance and handling, as well as active and passive safety and environmental efficiency. All of these elements make it the most convincing Renault model yet to take on the crucial C-segment in SA.”
Improvements over the outgoing car include an upgraded chassis and new more direct steering action which I experienced during a run that lasted about 100km. Comfortable and sporty the Mégane III has grown up sowewhat. So grown up that it even let go of the aero-inspired handbrake which I really adored. A sad shame. Nothing wrong with the new one though, conventional and it works just as well.
Packed with the latest and greatest interior features like Bluetooth connectivity, the Carminat TomTom navigation system and the optional custom 3D Sound by Arkamys audio system, the Mégane is a place to enjoy your driving as well as to entertain yourself at the same time. Others on the menu include automatic dual-zone climate control, an MP3-compatible sound system, cruise control, and rain and light sensors.
The range will consist of four engine choices. At launch only two are available, which are the 1.9 dCi turbo diesel and the 1.6-litre naturally aspirated petrol. Starting with the petrol we see that it produces 83kW of power at a high 6000rpm and its maximum torque of 151Nm comes in at 4250rpm. Like the rest of the range it’s mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox to help it achieve claimed fuel consumption of 6.9 litres per 100km and C02 emissions of 163g/km.
While it’s disappointing that Renault has not moved up to 2.0-litres on the diesel side (to match rivals) the mill does make good power and torque. It has 96kW developed at 3750rpm and 300Nm of torque from 1750rpm. Smooth it is but performance-competitive it’s probably not. Average fuel consumption is an exceptional 5.1 litres per 100km while C02 emissions average 134g/km.
Come January 2009 and we’ll have the new 1.4 TCe in the line-up as well. Power for that is 96kW and torque is 190Nm; 2.0-litre performance from a 1.4 engine. I hope South Africans wake up to the downsizing of engines (but without the expected loss of power) and realise that this is the future.
Having said four engines and only mentioning three, you’re probably wondering which the fourth one is. Renault fans will immediately know about the RenaultSport range which is topped by the RenaultSport Mégane and powered by a GTI-whipping 184kW 2.0-litre engine. Mzansi will also get this car in 2010.
Safety is taken care of by things like the six airbags and side impact sensors. By the way, the car has been awarded 37 out of a possible 37 points during the EuroNCAP safety tests. That means it got 100% score which is a testament to its safety credentials.
Renault South Africa will sell the new Mégane with a 3-year/100 000km warranty and a 5-year/100 000km service plan.
Renault South Africa is keeping its word by launching the new Mégane Coupé in the country. The car is based on the new Mégane and was derived from the Mégane Coupé Concept unveiled at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show.
"New Mégane Coupé represents the state of the art, from the use of cutting edge all-digital technology as part of its design and development process, through to the sporting pedigree of its styling and driving characteristics," explains Renault SA Managing Director, Xavier Gobille. "It serves as an important image builder for Renault in South Africa, and will undoubtedly appeal to discerning motorists who demand uncompromising quality, contemporary style and a focus on pure driving enjoyment."
I was quite taken by the car’s looks; the sleek front grille, coupe silhouette, smooth lines and those Alfa-esque rear lights point to something that means business. Unfortunately the naturally aspirated 1.6-litre was not inspired during our drive. Sure it makes 83kW at 6000rpm and its 151Nm of torque peaks at 4250rpm but in Gauteng altitude reality bites. Its 6-speed manual gearbox is quite notchy at first but gets more accommodating with repeated use. Renault claims an average fuel consumption of 6.9 litres per 100km on the Euro cycle and a C02 emissions figure of 163g/km.
Renault’s new 1.4 TCe petrol with 96kW and 190Nm will join the range early next year (but our sources say it will be in the country as early as November this year). I’ll say I’m quite glad about that; Renault has been lacking a mass-appeal turbo there at the lower end of the market.
Handling is solid and sporting which makes up for the lack of ooze. The chassis is stiff enough thanks to stiffer springs and dampers, a 30mm lower front roll centre height and a 12mm lower centre of gravity.
The features list is also quite long and includes the integrated Carminat TomTom navigation system. Another excellent piece of kit is the 3D Sound by Arkamys which has remapped the car’s sound system for the better. Usable ports include the USB hole for inserting music.
Sex appeal doesn’t mean unsafe though. The Coupé comes standard with 6 airbags, a Pelvis Restraint Cushion (PRC) anti-submarining airbag on both front seats, twin side-impact sensors, dual seatbelt pre-tensioners with load limiters and new-generation head restraints. Of course ABS and Emergency Brake Assist are standard, while Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with understeer control is available as an option. All this and more give the Mégane Coupé a 5-star EuroNCAP safety rating, same as all other current Renaults.
SUZUKI SAYS: The Suzuki Grand Vitara sports utility vehicle (SUV) has received high praise from two authoritative motoring magazines in Australia.
Considered the toughest 4x4 vehicle judges Down Under, the 4x4 experts from 4x4 Australia and Overlander 4WD magazines both recently honoured the Grand Vitara by naming it Australia’s best compact SUV – for the second year running.
The Grand Vitara took the best compact SUV honours despite a highly competitive field of contenders, including the VW Tiguan, Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Tucson, Nissan X-Trail, Jeep Wrangler, Subaru Forester, and Honda CR-V.
Key attributes of the Grand Vitara singled out by the judges included the low-range transfer case, rugged ladder-frame chassis and all-independent suspension, which allowed the Suzuki to traverse a 4x4 test route few other compact SUVs were able to complete.
The evaluation teams also praised the Grand Vitara for its comfortable seating, precise steering and value-added pricing.
While the award went to the diesel-powered Grand Vitara DDiS – a derivative not offered in South Africa –Overland 4WD magazine team also acknowledged the excellence of the petrol models, identifying both the 2.4 four-cylinder and the 3.2-litre V6 as the diesel’s closest rivals.
The Australian success of the Grand Vitara is mirrored by the local reaction to Suzuki’s compact SUV. The vehicle has received high praise since being launched in SA in September last year, and demand remains strong, despite the economic downturn.
The locally available Grand Vitara range is offered with a choice of two petrol engines: a 2.4-litre four-cylinder, and the flagship 3.2-litre V6. The 2.4 model can be ordered with a five-speed manual or a five-speed automatic gearbox, while the V6 range-topper is only offered with an auto transmission.
High specification levels, comprehensive safety features and class-leading all-terrain capability are further hallmarks of the Grand Vitara line-up.
The Grand Vitara range is offered with a comprehensive warranty and service plan, and is available through Suzuki’s growing national dealer network, which currently consists of 23 outlets.
While the name Figo sounds like a football star, Ford is not playing around when it comes to the future of its small-car segment. The company flew CEO Alan Mulally to India where he announced that the Ford Figo would be built in Chennai, India to compete with other small cars. The plant would also export the Figo to other regions, possibly including South Africa.
"Our exciting new Ford Figo shows how serious we are about India," Mulally said in a statement. "It reflects our commitment to compete with great products in all segments of this car market. We are confident the Ford Figo will be a product that Indian consumers really want and value."
The car, based on the old Fiesta, would fall below the current Fiesta and represent value for customers. Its segment includes the Renault Sandero and the Tata Indica.
Ford of North America has announced the planned introduction of an EcoBoost engine for its F150 trucks. EcoBoost is the new turbo technology employed by Ford for a range of its upper-class models and will soon be experienced in smaller cars as well.
No details were given but the EcoBoost most likely to make the F150 cut is the 3.5-litre V6 which should offer more low-down torque for the purposes of trucks applications. Under normal circumstances the V6 does 261kW (355hp) and 475Nm between 1500rpm and 5250rpm which is quite ideal for a pickup truck. The power will probably have to be detuned though.
Land Rover will debut a vehicle based on the LRX Concept car some time in 2010 and begin selling it in 2011. That’s the official word from Gaydon, Warwickshire.
“The production of a small Range Rover model is excellent news for our employees, dealers and customers,” Phil Popham, managing director of Land Rover said. “It is a demonstration of our commitment to investing for the future, to continue to deliver relevant vehicles for our customers, with the outstanding breadth of capability for which we are world-renowned.”
The LRX is expected to join the Range Rover range which currently includes the Range Rover and the Range Rover Sport models. Judging from the fact that it will be available in over 100 countries globally, this is not a niche product at all.
Engines were not officially announced but I reckon one or two from sister Jaguar will make their way in, including the 5.0-litre V8 and the 3.0-litre twin turbo diesel.
CarAndDriver reports that the Aston Martin V12 Vantage will be sold in the US in a limited edition of 1000 units over its one-year lifespan. Moreover the 4-door Rapidemay also be headed for North America. Its biggest competitor is the Porsche Panamera and that is certainly going Stateside.
The V12 Vantage is powered by a 6.0-litre V12 engine worth 380kW (517hp) and 570Nm of torque. Its makers say it will run from 0 – 100km/h (0 – 62mph) in just 4.2 seconds and top off at 305km/h (190mph). Very quick indeed.
More news from Aston Martin is that the small Toyota IQ-based Cygnet will be launched in the first quarter of 2010. The small Cygnet (smaller even than a Mazda2 or a Toyota Yaris) is set to an interesting addition to the AM family since the brand has never been in that segment of the market before. Realistically speaking it won’t cost anything near its perceived rivals either.
Then the One-77, AM’s most exclusive car ever, has apparently already sold 50 units of its planned 77. Even before its launch.
I don’t know which of these Aston Martin cars is coming to Mzansi; I suspect the Cygnet more than the One-77.
An animated retelling of Charles Dickens classic novel about a Victorian-era miser (Jim Carrey) taken on a journey of self-redemption, courtesy of several mysterious Christmas apparitions. Directed by: Robert Zemeckis Starring: Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Bob Hoskins, Robin Wright Penn, Cary Elwes
The pretty player has a 2.8-inch OLED screen (240x400), FM radio, TV-out, noise canceling, and is beautifully thin at 7.2mm. Oh, and it only weighs 2.2 ounces. But unlike the failed X-Series, the A has no touch screen or Wi-Fi.
Along with standard codec support, there's also new drag and drop feature that auto-transcodes video from your computer. And in Japan at least, the player comes with premium MDR-EX300SL earphones. Battery life is listed as 29 hours for music, and 9 hours for video.
I love this video arranged and with original music by Joan Jiménez showing images from last summer in Tokyo.
Reality is the contrast between what we have inside and what exists outside. I invite you to a shared trip to Tokyo where I put eyes and music and you all put the sensations…
Earlier this summer, there was one anime movie that was released we highly recommend to all otaku. Musashi: The Dream of the Last Samurai (宮本武蔵-双剣に馳せる夢-) was released 13th May 2009. Scripted by Mamoru Oshii the man who made anime like Ghost in the Shell, Patlabor and Sky Crawlers, it gained much attention in both Japan and also overseas and the anime was shown at the Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival in Korea and the Locarno International Film Festival in Switzerland.
The film was directed by Mizuho Nishkubo and the excellent animation was produced by Production I.G. which also did many anime films like Ghost in the Shell movies, the Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex TV series, and Blood+.
The electric motorbike prototype in the video is able to reach 150 km/h, while the battery charging time is only 6 hours and has autonomy of 200 km. It will cost around 3.000 euros and will be released to the Japanese market next year.
The motorbike design reminds me of the motorbikes in the movie Akira.
