Melyssa Grace, Female Drift Racer

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Seeing that we on the topic of women and cars, check out this video of glamour model Melyssa Grace showing the boys how its done.

Range Rover Evoque, Women’s World Car of the Year

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Although the motor industry may be dominated by big hairy and often greasy male petrol heads, women still play an integral role in the car buying market. The 2012 Women’s World Car of the Year Award saw female journalists from 12 countries coming together vote for a car that speaks to the fairer sex.

Votes were grouped into four categories namely family car, luxury car, sports car and economy car. The car that accumulated the most votes won the coveted title of Women’s World Car of the Year. This year, the RangeRover Evoque came out shining once again and was voted as the Women’s World Car of the Year. Are you surprised? The styling of the Evoque is something to take note of and it’s no surprise that women around the world appreciate the Evoque’s sexy curves.

Here are the results by category:

 Best family car:

1 - BMW 3-series

2 - Audi Q3

3 - Ford Focus

Best luxury car:

1 - Range Rover Evoque

2 - Jaguar XJ

3 - Audi A6

Best sports car:

1 - Porsche 911

2 - Jaguar XKR

3 - Mercedes Benz SLK

Best economy car:

1 - Honda Civic

2 - VW Up!

3 - Ford Fiesta

Gauteng E-tolls postponed for one month

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Gauteng motorists can breathe a breath of fresh air, but only for one month, as the implementation of the E-tolls in Gauteng have been postponed for one month by the Transport Department and the SA National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) on Thursday.

Director General, George Mahlalela made the announcement hours after the ANC and Cosatu indicated that they would ask for a month-long delay. The Gauteng E-tolls were originally planned to be implemented by 30 April 2012 but will now become reality on 30 May 2012.

The extra time is required to finalise regulations following regulatory and administrative issues brought forward by the public and interested stakeholders. This will also give the Transport Department and Sanral more time to explore alternative funding mechanisms. 

SsangYong bolsters Korando range

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SsangYong has added four new models to its Korando SUV range with some notable changes made by the Mahindra owned automaker.

SsangYong has made some subtle changes to the grille as well as improving the instrument clusters in the cabin. Other added extras include Bluetooth connectivity, automatic windscreen wipers and headlights. Pockets on seatbacks and hooks in the cabin allow for hanging and storing.

Engine offerings include two 110kW petrol engines and three 129kW turbo diesel engines. The top of the range features six-speed automatic transmission with part-time all wheel drive while the other models feature a two-wheel drive, six-speed manual setup.   

Visit www.ssangyong.co.za for more information. 

 

Video: Kia Rio Sedan Launch South Africa

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Join Les Stephenson as he takes you on a tour of the new Kia Rio Sedan that was launched this week in Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South Africa. The Kia Rio sedan offers excellent value for money and is set to dominate the South African passenger car market. Check out the video and decide for yourself.

Kia Rio looks to dominate in South Africa

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Korean automakers Kia and Hyundai have enjoyed remarkable success in South Africa and seem to be growing in strength with every passing day. Earlier this year, the Hyundai Elantra 1.8 GLS took the throne as South Africa’s Car of the Year. In November 2011, Kia unleashed its Rio hatch which went on to become both a global and local top seller. This week Kia launched its Rio sedan which is set to dominate, and rightfully so.  

As it stands, VW Polo Vivo is South Africa’s top selling passenger car, but with the new Kia Rio sedan in the ring, anything can happen. The new Kia Rio sedan expresses the look of a coupe with its elegant styling and is longer, wider and lower than its outgoing model, a sight to behold. Engine offerings include a 1.2 litre, 65kW petrol engine that’s hooked up to a five-speed manual transmission gearbox. The 1.4 litre, 79kW petrol engine comes with a choice of a six-speed manual transmission or four-speed automatics.

Consumers will be happy to hear that the Kia Rio sedan offers terrific value for money, particularly in terms of included features. The 1.2 model comes with Bluetooth and iPod connectivity, electric windows, central locking, two airbags, controls on the steering wheel and air conditioning. The 1.4 adds to the features list with automatic folding mirrors, fog lights, leather steering wheel and a more appealing instrument cluster.

The 1.4 TEC model includes leather seats, 17” alloys, a cooled glove box, LED headlight trims, rain-sensing windscreen wipers, four extra airbags, rear park assist and a UV protection windscreen. If there’s one thing Kia has done right, it’s the marriage between value for money and luxury offerings, all culminating into a pretty fine package that’s impossible to ignore. To top it off, Kia is offering a five-year 100 000km warranty. Now for the best part, check out these fantastic prices for the new Kia Rio Sedan.

Rio Sedan 1.2 - R142 000

Rio Sedan 1.4 - R160 000

Rio Sedan 1.4 A/T - R170 000

Rio Sedan 1.4 TEC - R174 000

Rio Sedan 1.4 A/T TEC - R184 000

 

Now that's value for money!!!

Video: Peugeot Urban Crossover Concept

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Check out this video of the Peugeot Urban Crossover Concept revealed at the Beijing Motor Show this week.

Peugeot’s Urban Crossover Concept

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Peugeot’s Urban Crossover Concept made its debut at the Beijing Motor Show and is certainly something to be excited about. Peugeot describes this work of art as “modern, relaxed, dynamic and seductive’.

Its sleek contours are impressive to say the least and although no specifications have been made available, Peugeot fans can rest assured that the Urban Crossover Concept is in good hands. The Urban Crossover concept combines distinct SUV elements such as a raised body and larger tyres with the flaring, classy elegance of Peugeot’s sedan range.

The Peugeot Urban Crossover will also make an appearance at the Paris Motor Show in October this year and let’s hope that this baby grows from concept to reality sooner rather than later. 

Mercedes Viano impresses at Beijing Motor Show

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Mercedes has shed some new light on how to transport passengers in ultimate style, made easy in the Mercedes Viano Vision Diamond currently on show at the Beijing Motor Show in China.

From the outside, the Viano Vision Diamond could pass as a modern version of the A-Team van and BA Baracus would surely love to drive around in this piece of work. The two-tone mix of black and white bodes well for the Viano Vision Diamond and is carried through onto the rims, a classy look indeed. It’s the interior that is most impressive and looks more like a mobile boardroom than a passenger van and will undoubtedly put any limousine to shame. The chauffeur compartment is entirely trimmed in fine black Nappa leather while the passenger compartment is white, embodying the two-tone colors on the exterior.

All the windows in the passenger compartment feature a Magic Sky System with liquid in the glass that reacts to electric current, allowing passengers to change the tint of the windows with a simple touch of a button. Eight diamonds, the Chinese lucky number, adorn the interior trim. 

Two reclining armchairs in the passenger cabin feature heating, cooling and massage features along with calf benches and footrests. For special occasions, chilled champagne holders appear with the push of a button and can store up to five bottles of your favorite bubbly. A massive 102 cm screen hooked up to a wireless LAN system allows passengers to watch TV, search the Internet or do video conferencing in ultimate style.

Maybe the South African Government should look into the Mercedes Viano Vision Diamond as an alternative to South Africa’s current taxi system? What do you think?

Fuel Price Hike next Wednesday

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South Africans will be disappointed to know that the petrol price will be going up yet again next week Wednesday, 2 May 2012. The increase will mark another double digit rise of about 21c taking the petrol price well beyond the record R11 per litre mark.

The unusually high price of Brent Crude Oil over March and April has played a significant role in rising petrol prices this year. This can largely be attributed to market reaction towards political unrest in major oil producing countries such as Libya, Syria and the Middle East. 

Video: Taxi Road Rage South Africa

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Check out this Taxi road rage video captured on CCTV camera's in Bloemfontein, South Africa. The video went viral on social networks such as Facebook and Twitter. The taxi driver appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court but charges were withdrawn against him due to lack of evidence.

Honda unveils Concept C and Concept S in Beijing

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Honda have unveiled two new concepts at the Beijing Motor Show, namely the Concept C and Concept S.

The Concept C is a mid size sedan previewing a model that is currently in development for the Chinese car market. The ‘C’ supposedly stands for ‘Cool’, ‘Challenge’ and ‘China’ and the design concept is inspired by a dragon. Production of the Concept C is due to start in 2013.

                                                                           Concept C

The Concept S, with the ‘S’ standing for ‘Stylish’, ‘Smart’ and ‘Surprise’ is considered to be a MPV. The Concept S will also be produced for the Chinese market but not exclusively, and will form the basis for a global model line that could include the new Honda FR-V.

                                                                          Concept S

I still haven’t decided if I like these concepts, do you like them?

Jeep Wrangler concept releases Dragon

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Jeep has released a dragon adorned Wrangler concept at the Beijing Motor Show in honour of the Chinese year of the dragon. Aptly named ‘The Dragon Wagon’, this Jeep Wrangler features extensive black, bronze and gold dragon detailing.

The Jeep Wrangler Dragon concept is powered by a 3.6 V6 engine capable of producing 209kW with automatic transmission. Sitting on 18” five spoke matt-black alloy rims with bronze-gold highlights and 35” inch off-road tyres, ‘The Dragon Wagon’ means serious business.

Whether this Wrangler will go into production will depend purely on demand and Jeep CEO Mike Manley had the following to say “"The Jeep brand is committed to China and therefore we must design and tailor our vehicles to the specific tastes and preferences of Chinese consumers. The Wrangler Dragon design concept is the first Jeep vehicle designed specifically with Chinese elements in mind and showcases the opportunity for special editions that might be available for China in the near future."

 

New Toyota Prius in South Africa

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Environmentally friendly car buyers will be happy to hear that the third generation Toyota Prius is now available in South Africa. 

Changes to the model include a revised front bumper set-up and a lower grille. LED lights and daytime lights have been re-positioned in the bumper and the rear lights have been updated. The Prius is powered by a 1.8 VVT-i hybrid engine (100kW) with a combined fuel consumption of 3.9 litres / 100km, a good option amidst rising fuel prices.  Consumers can expect stiffer suspension and improved handling along with improved soundproofing to reduce road noise.

For those cold winter days, the Prius comes with heated seating as standard. Other features include a new touch screen system, voice recognition, head-up display, auto dimming rear view mirror and an eight speaker sound system to keep you singing on your way to work. What’s more, the new Toyota Prius also comes with a solar panel sun roof that will keep the air conditioning running while you park out in the sun, pretty nifty Toyota.

The Prius 1.8 CVT Exclusive is yours for the happy price of R370 000 and comes with a five-year or 90 000km service plan with service intervals at 15 000km. 

 

Video: Victoria Beckham Range Rover Evoque

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This is the limited edition Range Rover Evoque designed by ex-Spice Girl, Victoria Beckham. The Victoria Beckham Evoque was unveiled at the 2012 Beijing Motor Show. Do you like it?

Victoria Beckham designs Evoque?

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Now here’s something you wouldn’t expect from a glitzy Spice Girl, a limited edition Range Rover Evoque, designed by Victoria Beckham herself, but with the help of Range Rover of course.

The limited edition Evoque was unveiled ahead of the Beijing Motor Show in China and only 200 units will be made available worldwide. This ‘special’ Range Rover Evoque has come into being as a result of a collaboration between the Range Rover design team and Victoria Beckham herself.

This special edition Evoque is hand-finished in matt black with a somewhat contrasting gloss black roof, wheelarches and grille. The 20-inch wheels exude a black gloss and feature rose gold details similar to the badge and grille. The rose gold detail extends into the interior on the rotary gear selector and console switches. Each Evoque will come with a hand stitched wallet featuring Victoria’s signature. This particular Evoque will surprisingly only come with four seats, covered in tan leather with baseball stitching completing Victoria’s touch.

All 200 Victoria Beckham Evoques will be powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a six-speed automatic gearbox and will go on sale in China in October and will be launched in the UK later in the year.

Video: Lamborghini Urus revealed in Beijing

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Check out the new Lamborghini Urus concept SUV revealed at the Beijing Motor Show in China. This super sleek SUV will come with no less than 600 horsepower turning it into a SUV supercar. Do you like the new Lamborghini Urus SUV concept?

Lamborghini Urus concept SUV revealed

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Lamborghini, the name synonymous with uber supercars has revealed its latest concept, the Urus SUV concept, in conjunction with the Beijing Motor Show taking place this week.

The sharp, sleek and aggressive exterior design speaks for itself and although this is not considered to be a supercar in the true sense of the word, it certainly would break some new ground in the SUV class and is very much geared at being a SUV supercar. With an undisclosed 600 horsepower engine under the hood there’s no denying that this beast has something special to offer. Lamborghini might consider putting the Urus into production where it expects to sell approximately 3000 units across the US, Russia, Middle East, China, Germany and the UK. Putting this beast on the road would ultimately more than double Lamborghini’s current volume.

Another interesting point to note is that the Lamborghini Urus delivers the lowest CO2 emissions when compared to other models in the super SUV class such as BMW’s X5 M, X6 M, Porsche Cayenne Turbo and the RangeRover Sport Supercharged. Lightweight materials are a distinguishing feature on the Urus with Carbon fibre composite used extensively throughout the body and interior.

The Urus certainly looks like a whole lot of car, let’s hope Lamborghini puts it into production and even better, deliver some to South Africa.

2012 Bahrain F1 Grand Prix Results: Vettel Wins

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Red Bull’s F1 champ Sebastian Vettel won the Bahrain Grand Prix from pole position earlier today, claiming the standings from Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton with 53 points. Pressure came in the form of Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen who gave Vettel a hard time in the final laps of the race but had to settle for a well deserved second place ahead of teammate Romain Grosjean.

Australian Red Bull driver Mark Webber rolled over the line in fourth place for the fourth consecutive time with Nico Rosberg tailing in at fifth place with a stewards enquiry for moves made on Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso. The rest of the results are as follows,

Bahrain Grand Prix Race Results

1 Sebastian Vettel (Germany) Red Bull 1hour 35min 10.990sec

2 Kimi Raikkonen (Finlnad) Lotus +3.333sec

3 Romain Grosjean (France) Lotus +10.194sec

4 Mark Webber (Australia) Red Bull +38.788sec

5 Nico Rosberg (Germany) Mercedes +55.460sec

6 Paul di Resta (Great Britain) Force India +57.543sec

7 Fernando Alonso (Spain) Ferrari +57.803sec

8 Lewis Hamilton (Great Britain) McLaren +58.984sec

9 Felipe Massa (Brazil) Ferrari +1:04.999sec

10 Michael Schumacher (Germany) Mercedes +1:11.490sec

11 Sergio Perez (Mexico) Sauber +1:12.702sec

12 Nico Hulkenberg (Germany) Force India +1:16.539sec

13 Kamui Kobayashi (Japan) Sauber +1:30.334sec

14 Jean-Eric Vergne (France) Toro Rosso +1:33.723sec

15 Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) Toro Rosso) +1 lap

16 Vitaly Petrov (Russia) Caterham +1 lap

17 Heikki Kovalainen (Finland) Caterham +1 lap

18 Jenson Button (Great Britain) McLaren +2 laps

19 Timo Glock (Germany) Marussia +2 laps

20 Pedro de la Rosa (Spain) HRT +2 laps

21 Narain Karthikeyan (India) HRT +2 laps

22 Bruno Senna (Brazil) Williams +3 laps

F1 News: Nico Rosberg looking good in Bahrain

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Nico Rosberg of Mercedes came out on top in the second practice round at the Sakhir International Circuit in Bahrain ahead of the Bahrain GP race tomorrow. Rosberg seems to be coming back stronger than ever after winning his first Grand Prix in China last week.

In the second practice round on Saturday, Rosberg was comfortably faster ahead of Redbull drivers Mark Webber and defending champion Sebastian Vettel. Track temperatures exceeded 40 degrees Celsius, dramatically effecting tyre degradation. After the practice session Rosberg commented on the conditions saying “We are having to make changes because out there it's very unusual - conditions are very tough.”

Teammate, Michael Schumacher, who placed 5^th in the practice session, had the following to say “The tyres are a big issue because they are just going away like nothing, but it's the same problem for everybody. It will improve a bit, but let's see how many tyres we are going to need in the race.”

The Bahrain GP is set to be a tough race and literally anything can happen and it should be an exciting race to watch.

 Here are the results for the second practice session that took place today.

 Bahrain Grand Prix - Second Practice

1. Nico Rosberg (Germany) Mercedes 1:32.816

2. Mark Webber (Australia) RedBull - Renault 1:33.262

3. Sebastian Vettel (Germany) RedBull - Renault 1:33.525

4. Lewis Hamilton (Britain) McLaren 1:33.747

5. Michael Schumacher (Germany) Mercedes 1:33.862

6. Jenson Button (Britain) McLaren 1:34.246

7. Kamui Kobayashi (Japan) Sauber - Ferrari 1:34.411

8. Fernando Alonso (Spain) Ferrari 1:34.449

9. Romain Grosjean (France) Lotus - Renault 1:34.615

10. Sergio Perez (Mexico) Sauber - Ferrari 1:34.893

11. Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) Toro Rosso - Ferrari 1:34.895

12. Felipe Massa (Brazil) Ferrari 1:34.941

13. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) Lotus - Renault 1:35.183

14. Jean-Eric Vergne (France) Toro Rosso - Ferrari 1:35.229

15. Pastor Maldonado (Venezuela) Williams - Renault 1:35.459

16. Vitaly Petrov (Russia) Caterham - Renault 1:35.913

17. Heikki Kovalainen (Finland) Caterham - Renault 1:35.968

18. Bruno Senna (Brazil) Williams - Renault 1:36.169

19. Timo Glock (Germany) Marussia - Cosworth 1:36.587

20. Charles Pic (France) Marussia - Cosworth 1:37.803

21. Pedro de la Rosa (Spain) HRT - Cosworth 1:37.812

22. Narain Karthikeyan (India) HRT - Cosworth 1:39.649

Video: Toyota Etios in South Africa

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Here's what to expect from the new entry level Toyota Etios that has just landed in South Africa and will be available in May 2012. The Etios will seek to gain traction in the entry level market and rumors indicate that the Toyota Etios will sell for only R120 000. The Etios is fitted with a powerful 1.5 litre petrol engine and ABS brakes and airbags will come standard. Watch the video and decide for yourself. 

Toyota Etios arrives in SA

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Toyota’s new entry level Etios has arrived in South Africa from India and will be available in May 2012. The Toyota Etios will be sold alongside the Toyota Aygo and Toyota Yaris and will bolster Toyota’s grip in the entry level market and will go head to head with the Volkswagen Polo Vivo.

Toyota Kirloskar Motors (TKM), the Indian affiliate of the global Toyota Motor Corporation, is set to become a major exporter of Etios vehicles with export volumes expected to exceed 20 000 units per year. The Etios will be available as a hatchback or sedan and will be fitted with a powerful 1.5 litre petrol engine. The interior is surprisingly spacious and ABS Brakes and airbags will come standard with all models.

Value for money is the name of the game and the new Toyota Etios is ready to play, with rumors floating around that the Etios will go for around R120 000, what a bargain, let the games begin. 

Audi Q3 available in South Africa

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The Audi Q3 is taking the fight to the BMW X1 in the premium compact crossover segment and is now available in South Africa with five models to choose from. The Q3 is available in both petrol and diesel options.

All the models, except the base model, will feature quattro all-wheel drive. The Audi Q3 comes with a 2.0 litre turbo charged engine in both the diesel and petrol options.

The Audi Q3 won’t come cheap and the range includes the following,

• 2.0T FSI 125kW quattro - R404 500

• 2.0T FSI 125kW quattro S tronic - R421 500

• 2.0T FSI 155kW quattro S tronic - R467 000

• 2.0 TDI 103kW - R370 000

• 2.0 TDI 130kW quattro S tronic - R431 500

The 155kW 2.0 litre FSI clocks 0-100km/h in just 6.9 seconds while the 125kW 2.0 litre FSI and the 130 kW TDI will do 0-100km/h in 8.2 seconds. There is a large range of extras available with the models but they all come at a price of course.

It will be nice to see the Audi Q3 on South African roads, do you agree?

Bahrain GP in Turmoil

Tweet Anti-government protests to oust the Bahrain monarchy are reason for concern ahead of the Bahrain GP to kick off on Sunday. Two members of the Force India Team have decided to go home following a petrol bomb incident on their way back to their hotel on Wednesday evening.

More than this, protesters have threatened ‘days of rage’ to coincide with the Bahrain GP, not good news for the drivers or the sport. Germany's Nico Hulkenberg said "It is obviously not right that that sort of stuff happens, we're here to race. The F1 business is about entertainment and these sorts of things should not really be happening to us. Whether it is right or not, I don't really know. I am not a politician, I am an F1 driver.” In 2011, the Bahrain GP was cancelled due to political unrest in and around the capital, Manama.

Tough Track Conditions

Other drivers seemed calm during a media briefing held on Thursday and are looking forward to a challenging race come Sunday. The Bahrain GP is considered to be the toughest race in the F1 calendar. The Sakhir International Circuit will be the battleground for Sunday’s race, offering good grip and medium abrasion. However, the elements on this particular track are something to consider. Temperatures often exceed 35 degrees with the track temperature easily reaching 60 degrees. Drivers experience rapid dehydration, as much as 3 litres during the race’s 57 laps and tyre wear is more drastic in these harsh conditions. Desert sand sweeping across the track can cause problems in terms of grip but also may clog air intake and cooling systems on the cars.

Who Will Win?

Statistically speaking Fernando Alonso is considered the most successful driver in Bahrain with three wins out of seven races, two with Renault and one with Ferrari. Felipe Massa has recorded two wins in Bahrain with Jenson Button and Michael Schumacher with one win each. Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel has been out-qualified three times in a row by Mark Webber and will look to improve this time round in Bahrain. Kimi Räikkönen reckons Lotus will be on the podium but it’s anyone’s guess as to who will win in Bahrain.

Petrol bombs and all, the Bahrain GP is set to be a show of explosive driving, hold on to your seats…

New 2013 Mercedes Benz G63 AMG

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The new Mercedes Benz G63 AMG will make its debut at the Beijing Motor Show next week. The G63 will join the G350 in AMG’s new lineup and replaces the G55 AMG model.

The new Mercedes Benz G63 AMG is powered by a new 5.5 litre bi-turbo V8 that produces 400kW coupled with a seven-speed AMG SpeedShift automatic transmission gear setup. This particular transmission comes with three drive modes, namely Controlled Efficiency (C), Sport (S) and Manual (M). Using the Controlled Efficiency mode, fuel consumption is reduced by 13 percent on the previous model and achieves 13.8 litres / 100km.  The G63 exhibits a distinctly aggressive exterior styling with a luxurious interior equipped with a new instrument panel that offers a TFT display, central screen with command system, Satnav, internet and Bluetooth connectivity as well as voice control.

Also in the G-range and one model up from the G63 is the G65, powered by a 6.0 litre V12 engine that produces a hefty 612 horsepower. The G65 will also be making its debut at the 2012 Beijing Motor Show.

Porsche gets best Trade-in value

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When buying a new car, many people tend to forget that the value of the car will fluctuate rapidly within the first two years of ownership. This loss in value is commonly known as car depreciation and very few cars, if any at all, are immune to it.

Most of the time it’s difficult to assess exactly how much a car will depreciate because the figures are never really readily available. The TransUnion Auto Dealers’ Guide is probably the best way to assess car depreciation and is used by dealers to determine trade-in values.

IOLmotoring compiled a survey of 100 cars using the 2012 Edition of the TransUnion Auto Dealers Guide to assess car depreciation over a two year ownership period.  According to their survey, the Porsche 911 Carrera 4S PDK came out on top, retaining up to 84.19% of its value after two years. The Porsche Cayman S PDK retained 82.25% of its value while the Porsche Panamera S PDK retained 80.48% of its value over a two year period.

The worst performer was the Chevrolet Optra which retains only 60.94% of its value over two years.

For the full report click here.  

QR Lifeline Card can Save your Life

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When an emergency strikes, time is of the essence, especially when there isn’t much time and someone’s life is on the line. A South African company has developed a cellphone-scannable card that carries the emergency details of the owner that can help paramedics do their job faster in the event of a serious accident.

The card simply attaches to your car or motorcycle, or can be kept in your wallet, and when the card is scanned using a capable cellphone, your emergency details will be made available to those who need it. The QRLifeline card will be readable anywhere in the world providing that there is a cellphone signal. The card will hold names, contact phone numbers, addresses, next of kin and medical details of the card holder, all useful information at an accident scene.

Negotiations are continuing to fully adopt the system in South Africa and more than 1000 people have already signed up for the service which costs less than R1 a day and may even be free with car finance or purchase deals.

Once registered, details can be filled in at www.qrlifeline.co.za . QRLifeline will send you a subscription renewal once a year. 

Video: Audi RS Q3 Concept

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The Audi RS Q3 concept will make its debut at the Beijing Motor Show next week as Audi looks to expand its operations in the Chinese car market.  The Audi RS Q3 is equipped with a five cylinder 2.5 litre TFSI turbocharged engine that produces 360 horsepower on command taking the RS Q3 to 100km/h in just 5.2 seconds and reaching a top speed of 265 km/h. Check out the video to see who likes who.

Audi RS Q3 to debut at Beijing Motor Show

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The Beijing Motor Show kicks off next week and promises to be exciting, especially when considering that Audi will be showcasing the Audi RS Q3 concept. The sleek design seen in the Audi RS Q3 is what we’d expect from Audi, who coincidentally, is extremely popular in China.

The Audi RS Q3 is equipped with a five cylinder 2.5 litre TFSI turbocharged engine that produces 360 horsepower on command taking the RS Q3 to 100km/h in just 5.2 seconds and reaching a top speed of 265 km/h, not bad. A seven-speed S tronic dual clutch transmission transfers that power to all four wheels.

What’s possibly more impressive is the styling of the Audi RS Q3. The honeycomb grille with polished aluminium trim takes on a three dimensional look while the tinted headlights and revised bumper with graping air intakes completes its snazzy appeal. Inside the Audi RS Q3 adopts a black theme with the seats displaying dark blue Alcantara inserts surrounded by Nappa leather.

From the outside, the Audi RS Q3 looks simply phenomenal, what do you think?

Cosatu to lead massive protest against e-Tolls

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Union federation Cosatu has called on its two million members to unite and participate in a nationwide protest against the e-tolling system in Gauteng. The Gauteng e-tolls are to be implemented on April 30 2012 despite widespread public outcry against the system.

Apart from its membership, Cosatu believes many more angry motorists and residents will join the nationwide protests to take place from April 23 2012. Cosatu is planning several rallies, marches and demonstrations at the offices of SA National Roads Agency (Sanral) and transport departments around the country which could very well lead to a national stay-away or socio-economic strike on 30 April 2012.

Cosatu spokesperson Patrick Craven said that opposition to the e-tolls was “overwhelming” especially with the new punitive rates released over the last week.

Unregistered motorists will be paying R1.75 / km compared to the 30c / km paid by registered motorists. The e-toll saga continues… 

Video: Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 Smoking Hot

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Imagine arranging to test drive one of the greatest supercars ever built, like the Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 and you take it out on the highway to see what all the fuss is about and then all of a sudden BOOOM!!!!, the car is in flames on the side of the road.

This is a supercar owner’s nightmare, watching that beautiful machinery go up in smoke, leaving you crying on the side of the road. Check out this sad video of a Lamborghini Aventador going up in smoke in Southern California, ouch. 

Video: Kia Optima Video Review

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Check out this video review of the new Kia Optima now available in South Africa. The new Kia Optima is packed with features and offers luxury and comfort at an affordable price. This sport sedan is geared up to do well in the South African car market and will be turning heads all across South Africa.

Kia Optima in SA

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The new Kia Optima is packed with goodies to satisfy the needs of most drivers and has finally made its entrance into the South African market. Although more models might be on offer in the future, one model stands tall, the Optima sports sedan.

The Kia Optima will no doubt be turning heads on South African roads with its uniquely sporty cross coupe look. The Kia Optima is powered by a 2.4 litre engine producing 132kW and accelerating to 100 km/h in 9.5 seconds with a top speed of 210 km/h. Transmission comes in the form of a six-speed manual/automatic sequential gearbox.  Fuel consumption for the Kia Optima sits at 8.7 litres / 100 km with a CO2 emission of 207g / km.

The interior is superbly comfortable taking on the look and feel of a cockpit and is packed with features that are largely considered as ‘extras’ by other car manufacturers.   An eight-speaker sound system will keep you entertained while you explore the 12.5 cm color info screen in the center of the dash. Standard features include auto de-fogging, rear camera, power windows and mirrors, rear ventilation, auto cruise, stop-start button, automatic door-locking, auto headlight leveling, auto wipers, rear parking radar, anti-lock brakes, stability control, airbags, child seat anchors and the list goes on forever with the Kia Optima.

At R305 995, the Kia Optima is an excellent option considering all the included features.  The only optional extra is the panoramic glass roof which will result in a price tag of just R315 995.

The Kia Optima may just be the best valued family sedan in South Africa and it looks hot too. What do you think of the new Kia Optima? 

Maserati to build Alfa Romeo 4C

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It has been confirmed that Maserati will build the Alfa Romeo 4C with production planned for May 2013. Maserati plans to build 2500 units per year at its plant in Modena, Italy.

This super cool sports car made its debut at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show and will feature a 1.8 turbo charged engine producing 250 horsepower. The Alfa Romeo 4C only weighs in at 850 kg thanks to its lightweight carbon fibre body and will rocket to 100 km/h in under 5 seconds.

What’s next?

Buying a car you can afford

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Buying a car is by no means an easy task. It takes commitment, both personally and financially and requires patience and perseverance to find a car that suits you to the tee. Taking the time to research and read up on different cars can go a long way when trying to decide what car is right for you. Ultimately, money will play a pivotal role in your decision to buy a car and should be considered seriously before forking out thousands for your next ride.

How much should you spend on a car? The answer to this question may be different from person to person but a simple rule should apply, buy a car you can afford. Affordability is something every car buyer should consider. The decision to buy a car should, in theory, be based on your income, how much you earn and how much money you are able to spend on a monthly basis towards car payments. Your disposable income will reveal how much you are able to spend but it must be remembered that the rabbit hole goes a bit further than that.

Many people think that once they have bought a car, the buck stops there. Wrong. There is much more to consider. Buying a car is one thing, but owning a car is another. Car ownership encompasses many additional costs that need to be factored into what car you can afford. Things such as down-payment, interest rates, financing, insurance, maintenance, fuel and depreciation all add to the cost of owning a car and cant be ignored.

If you are considering buying a car, be sure to consider all the costs of owning a car before buying a car, doing this will hopefully result in buying a car that suits you perfectly without risking your financial security.