New Shelby 1000 to debut at New York Auto Show

Tweet If power is what you looking for, look no further. Based on the 2012 Ford Mustang Shelby GT 500, the new limited edition Shelby 1000 will make its debut at the New York International Auto show in April 2012.

The Shelby 1000 is a Ford Mustang GT 500 on steroids. The process began with Ford’s 5.4 litre V8 engine being stripped to the bone and with new rods, crank and pistons being added. The cooling and exhaust system was upgraded along with a larger supercharger, all contributing to the increase in power. Improvements to the chassis, suspension and breaking system have been made to deal with the increase in power.

The Shelby 1000 is expected to kick out 708 kW in its road version, while the track version will thump out 820 kW.

What do you think of the Shelby 1000?

Women crashes new Mercedes Benz in Johannesburg

Tweet Imagine the joys of walking into a Mercedes Benz dealership and buying the car of your dreams. The feeling of driving your Benz off the lot must be an exhilarating experience. At the dealership, you SMS your friends and tell them of your new buy and how happy you are to be the owner of a brand new Mercedes Benz.

You can't wait to drive the car home so that you can show your family. That’s exactly what you do. You decide to take the highway to see how your new Mercedes Benz performs on the open road. Everything is going smoothly and then all of a sudden you find yourself off the road, parking vertically on a wall.


Your heart sinks into your stomach and your joy evaporates into thin air. You cry next to the road and think to yourself how this could happen to you. The joys of driving that Mercedes Benz lasted only a few moments, but you will remember those moments for the rest of your life.

This photograph, seen on News24 today, was taken near Malibongwe Drive in Johannesburg. A women lost control of her car after visiting a Mercedes Benz dealership. Drive safely.    

Video: Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 Test Drive

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Join Steve Sutcliffe as he test drives the Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4. The Aventador's 6.5 litre V6 engine produces 700 hp and offers superb handling and braking on just about any road. Clocking 0-100 km /h in just 2.9 seconds and reaching a top speed of 350km / h, the Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 is no laughing matter. Watch the video and decide for yourself.

Do you like the Aventador LP 700-4?

Volkswagen Up! for World Car of the Year

Tweet There is something about the Volkswagen Up! that appeals to me. The fact that the Up! is small, compact and fuel efficient counts for a lot making it the perfect car for city dwellers who don’t need much from a car other than driving to work and back.

The Volkswagen Up! is a direct rival to the Fiat 500 and has set the bar high in the compact city car segment. The VW Up! is more spacious than the Fiat 500 and fits four passengers with reasonable comfort. The VW Up! comes with an all new 1.0 L three cylinder engine that will take the Up! to 100 km/h in 13.2 seconds with carbon emissions well below the 100g / km mark.

Reviews indicate that the Up! drives like a dream with light, responsive steering and good suspension making it a superb car for your everyday driving needs. Unfortunately there are no current plans to introduce the VW Up! in South Africa even though it could do very well in the South African Market.

The Volkswagen Up! has also been nominated for World Car of the Year Award to be announced on April 5 at the New York International Auto Show. Volkswagen seems to have done something right.

Do you like the Volkswagen Up!?

Fly to work with the Transition flying car

Tweet If you live in a big city, like Johannesburg, you will be familiar with traffic and all the frustrations that come with it. It’s thought that the average person in Johannesburg spends between 3 to 4 hours sitting in traffic everyday. It’s when you stuck in a traffic jam that your mind wonders off and you think to yourself, ‘I wish I could fly to work’. Who would have thought that flying cars could ever become a reality?


 

Well, that may have been unrealistic 20 years ago, but today it’s a possibility with the Transition flying car. The Transition flying car, developed by Terrafugia, which means ‘escape from land’ in Latin, will make its debut at the New York International Auto Show taking place from April 5 2012.

The 440 kg Transition transforms from a car into a small plane and back into a car again with the wings unfolding in only 30 seconds. The car is 2m high, 2.3m wide and 6m long and when the wings unfold, the width increases to 8m.

The first successful test flight took place in 2009 and the Transition cruises at a speed of 172 km/h when flying, consuming 18.9 litres / h. The Transition uses unleaded petrol rather than Aviation fuel. On the tar, the Transition clocks 105 km/h with fuel consumption at 14.9 km / litre.

What do you think of the Transition?


 

Knysna Speed Festival

Tweet If you’re a speed freak then be sure to attend the Speed Festival taking place in Knysna from 11-20 May 2012. The event will see fast cars, classic cars, go-karts, soap-box racers and 4x4 enthusiasts competing in a week long motor celebration.

The highlight of the event is the Renault Simola Hillclimb, where historic racers, exotic cars and supercars will compete to set the fastest record up the hill to Simola Golf Estate to claim the ‘King of the Hill’ title. Last year’s Hillclimb event saw Wilhelm Baard take the title with the help of his Godzilla Nissan GT-R.

The event isn’t only for petrol heads and there will be fun for the whole family. The Speed Festival kicks off with the Knysna Kart Grand Prix on May 11, taking place at Thesen Island harbour. The Knysna Motor Show will take place on 13 May.

4x4 enthusiasts have the opportunity to put their skills to the test on the first ever Knysna Elephant Trail, taking drivers through natural Knysna forest trails not normally open to the public. This event takes place on May 14-16. The Knysna Soap-Box Derby will take place on May 16-17 along with the Corporate Soap-Box Race. If you like golf, the Knysna Speed Festival Charity Golf Day takes place on the May 17 at Simola Estate.  

See you there.

New Nissan GT-R hits SA roads

Tweet While on the topic of supercars, the new Nissan GT-R has found its way to South Africa and if you lucky, you might just witness this beast eating the tar on highways around the country.

The latest GT-R has improved on previous models, particularly in terms of power output, transmission, suspension and efficiency. The beast that is the Nissan GT-R is powered by a 3.8 litre V6 twin turbo engine, gaining an extra 7 kW on the previous GT-R, to 397 kW. This improvement in power is largely attributed to intake efficiency, exhaust valve cooling and airflow resistance, which alternatively reduces the fuel efficiency from 12 litres / 100km to 11.8 litres / 100km.

Improvements made to the shift fork arm and the fixing bearing on the flywheel housing has made gear shifting a whole lot smoother and quieter compared to previous models. Reinforcement on the body work has increased hold while improving the handling of the GT-R. Asymmetrical suspension compensates for the weight of the driver and the prop shaft, improving handling when blasting through corners.

The Nissan GT-R comes in two models, Premium Edition or Black Edition. Features include a touch-screen, multi-function display, audio functions and navigation, digital gear indicator and an 11-speaker Bose audio system compatible with iPod and other media devices. A reversing camera comes standard on all models. The Black Edition model features red-trimmed, black leather Recaro sports seats and a black headlining.

Here’s something to drool over, the Nissan GT-R clocks 0-100 km/h in just 3 seconds, reaching a top speed of 315km/h, just slightly slower than the Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 which does 0-100 km/h in 2.9 seconds but creams the GT-R with a top speed of 350 km/h.

The price for the latest Nissan GT-R Premium Edition is R 1 314 000 while the Black Edition is going for R 1 364 000.

Do you like the new Nissan GT-R?

Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 for World Performance Car of the Year

Tweet With little more than a week to go before the New York International Motor Show kicks off on the 5 April, anticipation is rising as to who will drive away with the coveted World Car of the Year Award.

In the category, World Performance Car of the Year, one stone remains unturned with the Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 gearing up to battle it out against the McLaren MP4-12C and the Porsche 911. Let’s not lie to ourselves, all these cars are incredible in their own right and they are on the podium for a reason, but it’s still difficult to imagine which one of these lovely machines will steal the show.

In Lamborghini’s defence, the Aventador LP 700-4 is a phenomenal piece of machinery. Its 6.5 litre V12 engine kicks out 700 hp and flies to 100 km/h in a mere 2.9 seconds before maxing out at a whopping 350 km/h. Now this is a supercar.

Only weighing 1575 kg and measuring 4.78 meters long with a width 2.26 meters and standing 1.136 meters high, the Aventador LP700-4 borrows its super looks from modern aeronautics and some of the worlds fastest and most agile aircraft.

The Aventador LP 700-4 made its debut at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show and stock has since been sold out. With a price tag of R5.7 million the Aventador LP 700-4 doesn’t come cheap.

In my opinion, I think the Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 has got what it takes to be the World’s Performance Car of the Year. What do you think?

Are you buying a new car or a used car?

Tweet The time has come, your car is rusted and falling apart, refusing to take you any further. The time you spent together was great but it may be time to move on and start scouting for a new companion to join you on your next adventure on the road. What's the next move?

Whether you are a first time car buyer or simply looking to replace your car, at some point the question will arise, should you buy a new car or a used car? Every car buyer is faced with this decision and it's not always an easy decision to make. Some people for instance will always buy a new car and get great pleasure from driving the latest models. Driving the newest, latest model is often considered to be a status symbol, showing the world that you have money and have reached a certain level of success. Other people though might not have the finances to secure a new car and therefore dabble in the used car market. Now there’s no right and wrong, people are just different and choose to spend their money in different ways.

In my humble opinion, the single factor that most people fail to consider when buying a car is depreciation. Depreciation is by far the biggest expense a car owner will endure. Like it or not, if you buy a new car today, tomorrow you will have lost thousands of Rands due to depreciation and you will continue to lose many more over the next few years. Many people might argue then that buying a new car is a waste of money. This might be so, but a new car has its advantages such as warranties, low maintenance, latest features and so on, but does this warrant buying a new car?

It may be in your best interest to find a two-year-old used car that’s in good condition with low mileage. The advantage is that as a car gets older it depreciates slower making a good used car more worthwhile in terms of depreciation, as the previous owner would have taken the biggest knock of the depreciation. It must also be remembered that used cars are also usually cheaper than new cars and are therefore a more affordable option for many people.

Ultimately, the decision lies with you and your financial situation.

Let’s debate this. What’s the better choice, a new car or a used car?  Drop your opinion in the comment box below. 

   

The all new, classic Porsche 911

Tweet There is something about the new Porsche 911 that tickles my fancy. It must be the fact that Porsche somehow manage to embrace that old, classic look and feel in its styling, yet also manage to produce a car that is modern and classy, all wrapped into a neat little present called the Porsche 911, also known as the 991.
 

Over recent years Porsche has ventured into the seemingly unknown SUV and sedan markets with some success, but the Porsche 911 will always represent Porsche’s past and it seems the 911 will forever stand the test of time.

The new Porsche 911 comes in two models, the Carrera and Carrera S, both with an extended wheelbase, adding to road grip as the Carrera’s flat six 3.4 litre direct injected engine tears up the tar, producing a hefty 350 HP. The Carrera S comes with a 3.8 litre direct injected engine, producing an impressive 400 HP.  The aluminium steel body has resulted in a 45kg weight loss helping the 911 perform at its best, sprinting from 0-100km in 4.3 seconds and reaching a top speed of 300 km/h.

Both models come standard with the world’s first seven-speed gearbox, combining the driving comfort of a converter automatic transmission with the dynamic gearshift of a sequential racing gearbox. The interior has also been drastically refined making the Porsche 911 more luxurious and comfortable while tending to the drivers needs.

The new Porsche 911 has also been nominated for the World Car of the Year Award to be announced on 5 April 2012. Keep your eyes peeled, the Porsche 911 is lurking…

What do you think of the Porsche 911? I think it’s amazing…

      

New Opel Meriva available in South Africa

Tweet Opel fans can happily applaud the arrival of the all new Opel Meriva to South Africa. Combining elements of flexibility and practicality, the new Opel Meriva makes a bold statement in the Multi Purpose Vehicle segment, building on the success of the previous model.

Space and practicality define vehicles in this particular segment and the 5-seater Opel Meriva has hit the nail on the head. Access to the cabin is made easy with the innovative FlexDoors, a rear hinge rear door system that dramatically increases access with the doors opening to 84 degrees. The seating arrangement in the cabin can also be easily changed with the help of the Meriva’s FlexSpace technology. The Meriva also features more storage space with up to 32, easy access storage compartments. Furthermore, the interior boasts superb styling that oozes with class and elegance.

The new Opel Meriva has a 15mm longer wheelbase, 39mm wider front and 45mm wider rear tracks, all contributing to a significantly smoother ride. The engine room is powered by 1.4 litre turbo-charged petrol engine with a max power output of 103 kW coupled with a six-speed manual transmission gearbox. The Meriva sprints to 100 km/h in 10.3 seconds reaching a top speed of 197 km/h. Fuel consumption for the Meriva sits at 6.7 litres/100km.  

The Opel Meriva is available in two models, the Enjoy and the Cosmos. The big advantage of the Opel Meriva is the affordability factor with The Enjoy going for R 234 000 and the Cosmos selling at R 254 000, a nice price for a nice car.

Do you like the new Opel Meriva?
   

The Pain of Car Depreciation

Tweet At some point in most people’s lives comes a time to decide whether or not to buy a car. Buying your first car can be an exciting and rewarding experience and many people around the world derive great pleasure from buying and driving cars. For some, cars are an obsession and for others it’s simply a means of transport. Look a bit closer though, or at least from a financial perspective and the car of your dreams can quickly mutate into your worst financial nightmare.

If there's one word that makes any car buyer cringe, it’s depreciation, the devil thorn in every car buyer’s side. Now we know cars aren’t cheap to begin with, so when you fork out every last cent you have and drive your new car off the showroom floor, it’s worth a big chunk less than what you just paid for it. It’s true, depreciation can make you cry.

However, there is nothing you can do about it and your car will lose value over time, this is a fact. Cars are not an investment, they are more like parasites feeding off you as long as you choose to drive them.

The best you can do is to wipe your tears away and enjoy your car for what it's worth. It’s also a good idea to do some reading and find out more about how car depreciation affects the value of a car. The more knowledge you have the better equipped you will be when buying your next car.

Share your thoughts on car depreciation in the comment box below.

BMW 3-Series ready to rock SA

Tweet The long anticipated wait is almost over. By the end of March BMW fans will witness the all new BMW 3-Series take to the roads, a huge achievement for BMW South Africa, who look to produce more than 93 000 units at its Rosslyn manufacturing plant near Pretoria.  

Since the first generation 3-Series was launched in 1975, BMW has sold more that 12 million units worldwide and the 3-Series is considered to be the most important volume-produced model in the BMW group. The sixth generation 3-Series BMW is an exciting addition to the range and consumers can only expect the best from the new BMW 3-Series.

The new BMW 3-Series will come in the form of the 328i and 335i as well as a 320d and 320d EfficientDynamics diesel option. The 3-Series will also be available in three unique offerings namely the ‘Sport Line’, ‘Modern Line’ and ‘Luxury Line’.

The new 3-Series is 93mm larger and 40kg lighter than the previous 3-Series and boasts extra leg and headroom for passengers. Particular attention to detail has been given to the interior making it more luxurious and comfortable when compared to previous models.  Fuel efficiency has also improved dramatically and can be attributed to weight reduction and BMW’s EfficientDynamics technology.

The 320d EfficientDynamics diesel variant produces 120 kW and runs at 4.1 litres/100km with a CO2 emissions rating of 109 g/km. The 328i with its twin turbo charged engine produces 180 kW at 5000 rpm with a fuel consumption figure of 6.3 litres/100km and emissions rating of 142g/km. The 328i clocks 0-100km in just 6.3 seconds reaching a top speed of 250 km/h.

It’s not surprising then that the BMW 3-series has been nominated for the World Car of the Year Award to be announced in April 2012.

What are your thoughts of the new BMW 3-Series?  

And in this corner, the McLaren MP4-12C

Tweet Over the next few weeks, Gero Car News will shed some light on the contestants for the World Car of the Year Award and a good place to start is with the McLaren MP4-12C . It seems McLaren is bringing the fight to Ferrari and Lamborghini in the form of the McLaren MP4-12C, a supercar that has the ability to deliver some serious punch in the supercar ring. The McLaren is also in a good position to win the World Performance Car of the Year Award at the World Car of the Year Award to be announced in April 2012, coming up against the Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 and the Porsche 911.
  

Weighing in at an impressive 1300kg, the McLaren MP4-12C is a serious supercar. Powered by a potent 3.8l V8 twin turbo engine and kicking out a formidable 441 kW at 7000 rpm, there’s no denying that Porsche and Lamborghini are in for a battle. The McLaren MP4-12C is not slow either, reaching 100 km/h in just 3.3 seconds and maxing out at a top speed of 330 km/h, impressive.

Not surprisingly though, the McLaren MP4-12C, like many supercars, doesn’t do too well in terms of efficiency, guzzling 11.7l/100 km and spewing out 279g of CO2 for every km driven. Nonetheless, the McLaren MP4-12C is a nice car to look at and reviews indicate that’s it’s a great car to drive.

The MP4 has been available in South Africa for a few months now, making its first appearance at the Johannesburg International Motor Show in 2011. Most South Africans can only dream of driving the McLaren MP4-12C as only 20 are available in 2012. We can, however, drool at the price to drive this specimen, a whopping R3.3 million. That should make a big enough dent in the wallet.

Do you like the McLaren MP4-12C?

    

What type of car do you drive?

Tweet It goes without saying that people drive different cars for a million different reasons.

Observing traffic from my office window makes this statement somewhat obvious, yet I wonder what informs people to drive the cars they drive. Every single car is different from hatchbacks, sedans, coupes, station wagons, sports cars and SUV’s to 4x4’s, convertibles and minivans. Then there are car brands, more than fifty of them in South Africa. It’s no wonder buying a car can be confusing, where on earth do you start?

On second thought though, many people probably start with purpose, asking themselves ‘What type of car should I buy?’. Affordability would also be important for many people, especially in today’s economic climate. We all know cars are expensive and buying a car is only the beginning. Factors such as maintenance, car finance and car insurance play a pivotal role in what car people choose to drive.

For interest sake, I drive a Volkswagen Golf Chico 1.3 and have been for many years. Now, I know it’s by no means the prettiest or even the safest car to drive but it fulfils my needs and more importantly it’s a reasonably affordable car to maintain and insure, so that’s a big plus. On the downside, it’s an old car and it has seen better days. That means that when I want to sell it, I will probably get enough for it to buy a loaf of bread. Selling aside, my Golf Chico still serves me very well and until it decides to surrender, I will still drive it.

I’m interested to know, what type of car do you drive and why? If you have a spare moment, drop a comment in the comment box below and share your thoughts. Happy driving.

Hyundai Elantra 1.8 GLS wins SA Car of the Year Award

Tweet It’s official, the Hyundai  Elantra 1.8 GLS has trumped its competitors and won the South African Car of the Year Award announced by the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists at Gallagher Estate in Midrand, Johannesburg late last night.

It may not come as a big surprise considering that the Hyundai Elantra won the North American Car of the Year as well as the Canadian Car of the Year. It is in fact the first time that a Korean car brand has won the South African Car of the Year Award, and with the Kia Picanto in second place, the proof is in the pudding that Korean car manufacturers are enjoying success in the South African car market.

The Hyundai Elantra 1.8 GLS looks modern and stylish from the outside and is spacious and beaming with confidence on the inside. Although the engine has been downgraded from a 2.0 to a 1.8, the Elantra still performs above board with either a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox.

More than this, the Elantra 1.8 GLS is packed with luxury features making it a superb choice of vehicle in the mid-size sedan class. Luxury features include power windows, locks and mirrors, keyless entry, air conditioning, cruise control and telescopic steering. The navigation system has a large LCD touch screen and comes with voice recognition for phone, audio and destinations, including real-time traffic and weather. Bluetooth and audio streaming come standard and a rearview camera accompanies the navigation system. The Elantra 1.8 GLS also rates highly for affordability, quality, safety, performance and fuel economy.

Sounds like a winner to me. Here are the final results of the 2012 South African Car of the Year Award. 

 Final results:

1. Hyundai Elantra 1.8 GLS: 230 Points
2. Kia Picanto 1.2 Ex: 155 Points
3. Volkswagen Jetta 1.4 TSI 118kW Highline: 141 Points
4. Suzuki Kizashi 2.4i SDLX 6MT: 49 Points
5. Alfa Romeo Giulietta 1.4 125kW MultiAir Distinctive: 48 Points
6. Audi A6 3.0 TDI quattro S tronic: 30 Points
7. Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi Trend PowerShift Sedan: 27 Points
8. Citroën DS4 1.6 THP 200 Sport: 22 Points
9. Peugeot 5008 Active 2.0 HDi: 20 Points
10. Mercedes-Benz SLK 350 BlueEFFICIENCY: 3 Points

World Car Of The Year Award finalists locking horns

Tweet Winning the World Car of the Year Award is serious business for car manufacturers lucky enough to cut the grade, and this year’s award won’t be easy to clench. The top three finalists in the categories World Car of the Year, World Performance Car, World Green Car and World Car Design were announced at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. The winners across all categories will be announced at the New York International Auto Show on Thursday, April 5, 2012.

Finalists are selected and voted for by a panel of 66 influential motoring journalists from around the world. The entry list consisted of 34 new cars from around world vying for the top spot. The finalists in each category are:

World Car of the Year

BMW 3 Series

Porsche 911 (991)

Volkswagen Up!

World Performance Car of the Year

Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4

McLaren MP4-12C

Porsche 911


World Green Car of the Year

Ford Focus Electric

Mercedes-Benz 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY

Peugeot 3008 Hybrid


World Car Design of the Year

Citroën DS5

Land Rover Evoque

Volkswagen Up!

What car do you think will win the 2012 World Car of the Year Award? I put my money on the Volkswagen Up! 

Don't Drink and Drive

Tweet A night out drinking with friends is fun but good things can go bad, and they can go really bad, especially if you put a car in the mix. Drinking and driving is one of the biggest, if not the biggest threat to Road Safety in South Africa.

According to www.arrivealive.co.za , research indicates that 50% of people who die on the roads have a blood alcohol concentration above the legal limit of 0.05 gram per 100 millilitres. It’s a sad statistic but what can be done about it? Well, the short answer is not to drive if you plan on drinking. If you do drink and drive know that you are not only putting your own life at risk but are putting the lives of other people at risk too.

Many South Africans would argue that the public transport system does not offer citizens safe transport alternatives. Although this is debatable, every citizen has a choice, with many citizens choosing to drink and drive anyway. So, what are the alternatives to drinking and driving?

The obvious alternative is abstinence, don’t drink and drive, full stop. Your next alternative is arranging a lift with a friend or loved one to transport you home safely. If that fails, call a taxi to collect you. Another alternative worth considering is using one of the many designated driver services in South Africa. The cost of these services is insignificant considering that you will live another day and get home safely without putting innocent lives at risk.

You always have a choice, make the right choice, don’t drink and drive.  

The lifesaving Volvo V40

Tweet In today’s day and age, safety features on cars seem to be getting more and more advanced in the pursuit of saving lives. Swedish car maker, Volvo, is renowned for producing some of the world’s safest cars and has introduced the new Volvo V40 at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, equipped with some of the most progressive safety features in the car industry.

Volvo seems to go a long way in assisting drivers with the day-to-day challenges of driving with safety features like blind spot detection and lane assistance helping drivers make safe decisions on the road.

Quite possibly the most notable of its safety features is the pedestrian detection technology that detects pedestrians in front of the vehicle and applies automatic breaking to avoid an accident.

More than this, the Volvo V40 has taken pedestrian safety to the next level with the world’s first Pedestrian Airbag System. The Volvo V40 will detect a vehicle-to-pedestrian collision, deploying a U-shaped airbag from underneath hood near the windshield, creating a soft landing for the person unlucky enough to be hit.

The effectiveness of this technology remains to be seen with many sceptics alluding to the possibility that the airbag may cause more trouble for the driver, reducing visibility and causing an accident if deployed unnecessarily.  Nonetheless, the intention of the technology is thoughtful and considerate and will hopefully save lives in the future.

What are your thoughts on this new Pedestrian Airbag System?  

Volkswagen Polo BlueGT, the future is here

Tweet Over the last decade, car manufacturers have been wholly obsessed on developing cars with improved fuel consumption and lower CO2 emissions. A major challenge for car manufacturers has been to design a car with these benefits without compromising on factors such as power. Well, it seems VW has succeeded in combining these elements, coming in the form of the Volkswagen Polo BlueGT making its debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.

One of the major highlights of the VW Polo BlueGT is that it boasts the first ever Cylinder Deactivation System, also known as Active Cylinder Management or ACT. The Polo BlueGT comes with a 1.4 TSI turbocharged engine producing an impressive 103 kW of power for your driving pleasure.

Not only is the Polo BlueGT nifty, it’s super fuel efficient too promising fuel consumption of only 4.7 litres /100km. When considering the 7-speed gearbox this figure drops further to 4.5 litres/100km. More than this, its CO2 emission figure of 105g/km is equally impressive. The BlueGT hits a maximum speed of 210 km/h, reaching 100 km/h in just 7.9 seconds, not too shabby.

On the outside, the BlueGT looks phenomenal, borrowing some features from previous models. The rear spoiler, rear bumper with diffuser, front bumper and fog lights are borrowed from the Polo GTI and the side sills and front rain channels are inspired by BlueMotion. On the inside, the BlueGT incorporates an ACT system and tyre-pressure monitor along with a leather trimmed steering wheel. Sport seats provide comfortable seating for the ride of your life.

Overall, the VW Polo BlueGT looks like a car in its own league, especially when considering its performance figures. All we can hope for now is that Volkswagen South Africa will bring this puppy to South Africa, holding thumbs. 

What do you think of the new Volkswagen Polo BlueGT?

Driving and the importance of road safety

Tweet As South Africans, we all enjoy taking time out during the festive season to enjoy the many destinations our country has to offer and often this leads to loss of life. Every year thousands upon thousands of new cars take to South African roads and with every new car comes the added risk of an accident occurring whether it be a minor bumper bash or a serious fatal collision. Accidents occur every single day on our roads, the risk is there and it’s not going away.

The saddest part of this reality is the fact that thousands of South Africans lose their lives every year on our roads. Road Safety in South Africa has been a contentious issue for many years and South Africans are well aware of the dangers yet the situation is not improving.

Ten years ago, in 2002, the fatalities occurring during the festive season from December to January totalled 1 216. Ten years later, in 2012, 1 230 fatalities were recorded over the same period, with preliminary figures being much higher. The following are common causes of accidents:

·         Speeds too high for conditions, especially during inclement weather and at night,

·         Dangerous, reckless and/or inconsiderate driving, particularly barrier line infringements,

·         Abuse of alcohol by drivers and pedestrians,

·         Fatigue, especially amongst public passenger drivers,

·         Vehicle fitness, particularly tyre failure and defective brakes,

·         Pedestrian negligence (Jay walking, walking on freeways, not visible at night and drunk walking)

Drivers and passengers not wearing safety belts is also a major contributing factor to fatalities on our roads. It’s also interesting to note that pedestrians and public transport passengers are most vulnerable. Fatal accidents occur mostly at night between 19:00 and 23:00 with most fatal crashes occur on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Interestingly most accidents occur on either urban or peri-urban (unmarked tar) roads with the top three factors being sharp bends, poor road conditions and visibility.

Campaigns such as Arrive Alive are doing tremendous work in educating the general public on all issues regarding road safety in South Africa. Even so, it’s the responsibility of each and every South African to promote road safety wherever possible. For safety’s sake, let’s work together to make our roads safer for everyone. Drive safely and don’t drink and drive. If you need safe holiday driving tips, click here.     

Mercedes Benz SLK 350 BlueEFFICIENCY for South African Car of the Year

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It’s anyone’s guess as to what car will drive into the power seat as South Africa’s Car of the Year to be announced on 14 March 2012. It’s a tough battle, with 10 cars in the running for the coveted crown.

The competition, sponsored by Wesbank, is considered to be unique in that the winner is decided after three rounds of voting by the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists with the final round already having taken place over two days at the Gerotek test facility near Pretoria in February.

In deciding on a winner, the jury will be paying close attention to the cars’ aesthetics, build quality, and ergonomics. Other factors to be noted will be cost, safety features, spare parts prices and fuel consumption.

The 10 finalists for the South African Car of the Year Award are:

  

Alfa Romeo Giulietta 1.4 125kW MultiAir Distinctive

Audi A6 3.0 T TDI Quattro S tronic

Citroen DS4 THP 200 Sport

Ford Focus 2.0 TDCI Trend Sedan Powershift

Hyundai Elantra 1.8 GLS

Kia Picanto 1.2 EX

Mercedes Benz SLK 350 BlueEFFICIENCY

Peugeot 5008 2.0 HDi Active Man

Suzuki Kizashi 2.4 SDLX Man

VW Jetta 1.4 TSI 118kW Highline

The Mercedes Benz SLK range has always been an aesthetically pleasing car, but in terms of winning the Car of the Year award, the SLK 350 BlueEFFICIENCY might fall short in terms pricing. Nonetheless, the SLK 350 looks like a great car to drive and it may very well be a top contender for the South African Car of the Year, we just have to wait and see.

             

What car do you think will win the South African Car of the Year Award?

Lamborghini releases a beast, the Aventador J

Tweet The 2011 Geneva Motor Show saw Lamborghini releasing a super car that stunned car enthusiasts around the world, the Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 was born. The Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 is nothing short of phenomenal boasting superior performance and savagely good looks, it has well exceeded expectations in its class.

Weighing in at an impressive 1575 kg, the two-door Aventador is 4.78 meters long, 2.26 meters wide, and only 1.136 meters high and fitted with a 6.5 litre V12 engine capable of reaching 100km/h in a blistering 2.9 seconds and reaching a top speed of 350km/h.

With a price tag of R5.7 million rand, the perk of driving this car doesn’t come cheap. It’s no surprise then that Aventador left the motoring world gobsmacked, but Lamborghini has a another beast up it's sleeve, the Aventador J, a one hit wonder in its own right, released at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.

The Lamborghini Aventador J looks more like a concept car, but it's not, it's actually real. The Aventador J is based on the LP700-4 minus the roof and windshield. Also, the Aventador J is lighter than the LP700-4 considering that the air conditioning, audio and navigation equipment have been removed. The Aventador J is a 'once off' model boasting Lamborghini's advanced carbon fibre technology, never to be made again, making it a car collectors dream.

Do you like the Lamborghini Aventador J?

Volkswagen, the car in my dreams

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I'm the kind of person who takes comfort in knowing that when I put my key in the ignition, the engine starts, day after day without any hassles. I like a car that is reliable and looks after me when I'm on the road, a car that never fails me and gets me to my destination safely. Can you guess what car I drive? I even joke about the fact that my car looks like a Ferrari Berlinetta, even though a Ferrari doesn't come close.

People in the street look at my car in disbelief saying, "Wow, I want to drive a car like that". I reckon I drive one of the most popular cars on the road today, if not the most beautiful, not because the design is so stylish but rather because of what my car stands for. Attributes such as class, reliability and low maintenance are all part of the package.

I have been driving my car for close on ten years now and it has never really let me down with the exception of the odd flat tire or screeching fan belt. The odometer is close on 250 000 km, which means this car has seen a fair amount of the South African countryside and I am sure it will easily go for another 200 000 km, no problem.

When I close my eyes at night, I dream of driving a Ferrari, well not always but sometimes. When my eyes open in the morning I realise that I drive a Ferrari already, it’s just not as fast as a real Ferrari but probably more reliable. This may come as a surprise to many of you but I actually drive a Volkswagen Citi Golf Chico 1.3 . It feels good driving one of the most reliable cars in the world. You simply can't compare.