HOLEY GALLARDO! IS THAT CHRIS BROWN OR MAD MAX?

We don’t normally publish such things but today seems kind of a fun day, so we will. This is Mr Chris Brown, singer and lately actor, and the man who beat up ex-girlfriend and fellow singer Rihanna to a pulp just over a year ago. He’s just come out of a Lamborghini Gallardo and is going to his local gym.

Mind you, this is not the same Gallardo he was driving at the time of the assault. I guess he has a penchant for these exotics. Not that this is the best-looking one out there, being a Lambo and all. Just check out all the tattoos on the bodywork matching the owner’s. Or are they bullet holes? Actually, it looks like something out of a Mad Max nightmare. I wonder if he used to drive it around while he served his community service.

PICTURES COURTESY OF BAUER GRIFFIN

ANDERSON TUNES FERRARI 599 GTB FIORANO

German car tuner Anderson has done a bit of work on the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano. Not only is the car now looking much angrier than ever, but it’s got just a bit more vuma on the go. The same engine has been kept and no turbos are used for the programme.

Hamann provided the sports exhaust system which freed up an extra 22kW of power to add to the existing 462kW. So in total there’s now 484kW on tap and 608Nm of torque. Anderson claims the car will dash from 0 – 100km/h in 3.7 seconds.

As for the body kit, you can see that things are not the same anymore at all. 

CHEVROLET MI-RAY CONCEPT WOWS SEOUL

The 2011 Seoul Motor Show is now on and General Motors is out in full force to gain some public support for its future programmes. One of these could be the Chevrolet Mi-ray sports car concept with the blood of electric pulses. It was created to celebrate 100 years of Chevrolet.

Instead of being a full-on electric vehicle, the Mi-ray uses both electric power and fossil fuel to push it forward. A 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine is mounted mid-rear to improve handling and promote performance stability. At the same time two electric motors placed upfront produce 30kW in total. A double-clutch gearbox is fitted.

The interior is said to draw inspiration from the world of fighter jets, including the power start button which it located at the centre of things. Rear view mirrors have been replaced by retractable cameras which extend from the side glass. There’s also a forward-looking camera working with the sat nav system to relay information in real-time through video.

FACELIFT JAGUAR XF TO FEATURE NEW 450NM DIESEL

Jaguar is releasing a new facelift XF sedan at the 2011 New York Auto Show on the 22^nd of April. These camouflaged pictures are actually official images from Jaguar themselves, a sort of leap over the auto spy industry if you will. To come with the car is a new turbo diesel engine with severe thrust issues down under…

The engine is a 2.2-litre four-cylinder motor making 140kW of power and 450Nm of push. A new 8-speed automatic gearbox runs things, sending power to the rear wheels. Another new feature is the stop-start fuel saving system that reduces the lag time between stops and restarts.

Jaguar says the car will accelerate from 0 – 100km/h in 8.5 seconds and stop accelerating at 225km/h. Average fuel usage is said to be 5.4 litres per 100km, with C02 emissions pegged at 149 g/km.

While Jag is clearly not keen on showing us where the major changes have occurred, we expect a more XJ look for the front end with LED daytime running lights, new bumper, new headlights and a sportier front grille. The rear end should have redesigned lights and other small changes. 

CHEVROLET UPDATES LUMINA SS RANGE

General Motors South Africa (GMSA) has introduced some subtle changes to the iconic Chevrolet Lumina SS sedan and Ute for 2011. The changes include upgrades to the vehicle’s specification and changes to the exterior and interior styling of both vehicles.

The front of the Lumina features a revised bumper and air dam as well as new styling treatments for the fog lights and headlamps. A chrome strip is added to the boot lid just above the number plate on the sedan while the rear tailgate moulding on the Ute is now finished in body colour. The design of the massive 18 inch diameter alloy rims has also been refreshed. The tyre specification remains unchanged at 245/45 R18. 

A more subtle change is the addition of a V to the nomenclature changing the model designation from SS to SSV to bring the South African models in line with naming of other V series vehicles in the Lumina range.

Significant revisions have been made to the instrument cluster and the centre console of the Lumina.  The audio system has been upgraded to include a USB socket and advanced Bluetooth functionality – including mobile phone connectivity. The system features satellite controls on the steering wheel and touchscreen controls via the audio display screen.

Chevrolet have added roof airbags to the Lumina Ute which earned it a maximum five star safety rating from the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) making it the safest LCV in the country. The addition of the roof air bags to the ute brings it in line with the safety features found in the Lumina sedan with six airbags now standard on both.

The Lumina’s 6-litre V8 all aluminium engine remains unchanged with a maximum of 270kW and a massive 530Nm of torque driving the rear wheels via either a 6-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed automatic gearbox.

The Lumina SS sedan and Ute come standard with high levels of spec which includes: Leather seats; dual zone climate control air conditioning; power windows and side mirrors; sports contoured seats with 4-way electronic adjustment and lumbar adjustment for the driver’s seat; and sports alloy pedals. A driver information centre in the instrument cluster provides trip, vehicle and audio information.

Safety features include a six-airbag system, including roof airbags, on both the sedan and the Ute as well as ABS braking with Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) and Electronic Stability Programme (ESP). Traction control and cruise control are fitted across the range. Handling is enhanced by the advanced linear control suspension system.

Central locking with auto-lock is a standard feature as is an alarm immobiliser system. The alarm system includes a panic alarm.

Lumina Pricing

SS sedan manual (R444 390)

SS sedan auto (R441 930)

SS Ute manual (R413 700)

SS Ute auto (R413 700)

FIVE MILLION AUDI A4S BUILT SO FAR

Audi got into the now-famous 3-way scrap back in 1994 when it produced its first A4 sedan. Today the five-millionth A4 left Audi’s Ingolstadt factory to register a major milestone for the company. It was a red Avant 3.0-litre TDI quattro. The current A4 is the fourth-generation model (internally codenamed B8) and often outsells its major rivals in many countries around the world.

Frank Dreves, Member of the Board of Management for Production at Audi, was beside himself when he spoke of the milestone.

“This is another major milestone in Audi’s history,” he said. “All versions of the A4 are efficient, elegant and enjoy outstanding success in their class. Our highly motivated team and our effective Audi production system will keep this model on course for continued success in the future.”

A facelift model is set to go public within the next 6 months.

LAND ROVER FREELANDER 2 CELEBRATES 250 000TH MILESTONE

Land Rover employees at the Company's Halewood manufacturing plant in Merseyside in the UK, are celebrating an important milestone achievement – the production of the 250,000th Freelander 2.

Production began in 2007 and the plant's 250,000th Freelander 2 – a 2.2 litre TD4 Diesel GS in Fuji White – was driven off the line on 28th March 2011. The vehicle is destined for a customer who lives in Scotland. 

Land Rover is also celebrating a growing demand for Halewood's award winning model as retail sales for the popular model are up 22% year to date (Apr 2010 – Feb 2011) compared with the same 11 month period in 2009/2010.

Halewood Operations Director Richard Else, commented: "This milestone achievement and the increasing sales for Freelander 2 highlight just how important this vehicle is, not just to Halewood but also for the regional and UK economy – around 70% of Freelanders produced at Halewood are exported overseas. I'd like to thank our flexible and highly skilled workforce and congratulate the Halewood team on this superb achievement."

BMW SOUTH AFRICA CONFIRMS NEW 1 SERIES, HYBRID 5 AND i3 FOR LOCALS

Great news for BMW fans. The company has confirmed that a brand new shape 1 Series hatch is coming to South Africa before the year is over. Additionally a 5 Series Hybrid will make its way to the 2011 Johannesburg International Motor Show (JIMS) happening at NASREC in October. More still, the upcoming full-electric i3 is headed our way, but not before 2015.

Details regarding the 1 Series – internally codenamed F20 – are being closely guarded. However, we know one or two things. One, the range will feature an all-turbo engine lineup. We speculate that it will consist of a 1.6-litre turbo, 2.0-litre turbo and two turbo diesels, including a 2.0-litre. There should be something smaller than a 1.6 as well. The bigger 2.0-litre turbo will even make 180kW in the 128i as it does in the X1 xDrive28i.

The other thing we know is that it will eventually come in five body styles; 5-door hatch first, then 3-door, a convertible, coupe and a sedan model. In fact, the current coupe which BMW launched in Soweto, is being facelifted in 2011. The same will be done for the Convertible.

More news on the blue and white propeller is that a new 5 Series ActiveHybrid model will debut at the 2011 JIMS, probably alongside the new M5, start selling in early 2012. The hybrid (running on both electricity and petrol) is expected to use a similar setup to the 7 and X6 hybrids. It should make a total system output of between 335kW and 358kW. A second BMW hybrid, probably a 3er, will join it at a later stage.

Lastly but not least, the upcoming i3 all-electric small car is a go for Mzansi. BMW says it will be here sometime in or after 2015. The i3 is all carbon fibre in terms of body build and runs on electricity, which means it has no engine at all, but instead uses an electric motor and lithium-ion batteries for power.

AUDI TOPS ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE (4X4) SALES

Audi sold more vehicles with all-wheel-drive (AWD) than any other premium manufacturer. The brand with the four rings produced 437 792 vehicles with quattro drive last year. In the year in which Audi celebrated “30 years of quattro,” around 38% of all cars produced worldwide were equipped with the all-wheel-drive technology. With 74 262 new car registrations for all-wheel drive models, Audi also topped the competition in Germany.

The most popular Audi model with quattro drive in 2010 was the Audi Q5, 155 025 units of which were built. In the months ahead, the brand will further expand its AWD lineup in the SUV segment with the Audi Q5 hybrid quattro and the compact Q3. But it is not just SUV drivers who are turning to quattro; the all-wheel drive technology is a popular choice of Audi customers for all other model lines as well.

From the Audi A3 to the A8, nearly one quarter of the automobiles produced in 2010 had quattro on board. “quattro is one of the Audi brand’s greatest success stories, and today we are writing what may well be its most exciting chapter,” says Peter Schwarzenbauer, Member of the Board of Management for Marketing and Sales at AUDI AG. “As we move down the road toward electric mobility, we see entirely new possibilities for Quattro technology. The electric quattro of the future will be even more agile, safer and – above all – more efficient,” adds Schwarzenbauer.

Audi customers today can choose from more than 130 quattro model variants (much fewer in South Africa), taking all the different body types, engine versions and transmission options into account. Audi thus offers by far the widest range of all-wheel drive models in the premium segment.

430KW PORSCHE PANAMERA TURBO S FOR CHINA?

We knew it would eventually come but we didn’t think it would be this soon. But now a rumour says Porsche will introduce a Panamera Turbo S at the 2011 Shanghai Auto Show (Auto Shanghai) in China next month. It will feature a petrol engine with more power than any other in the lineup.

Currently the fastest, most powerful Panamera is the Turbo version which has 368kW and can run from 0 – 100km/h in an incredible 3.9 seconds. The Turbo S would use the same 4.8-litre V8 turbo engine to make about 430kW and probably be capable of going from 0 – 100km/h in 3.5 seconds! It would be the fastest accelerating car of its segment and cost just under R2 million in South Africa.

BAFANA HERO KATLEGO MPHELA CAUGHT DRUNK DRIVING

Reports by Eye Witness News (EWN) state that Mamelodi Sundowns and South African football star Katlego Mphela was nabbed for drunk driving over the weekend. Mphela, nicknamed Killer by his fans, scored the only goal during Bafana Bafana’s win over Egypt on Saturday night. Obviously he then went out to celebrate with his mates and was caught by traffic police near Sandton the following day (Monday). He was held at the police station for four hours and released on R1 000 bail.

Mphela scored the goal which kept Bafana on top of Group G for the next Africa National Cup qualifier during an intense match against the Pharahos. It was his first since being dropped by coach Pitso Mosimane two games ago for dissent against his club Sundowns. Since then he has reconciled with the Brazilians and has become one of the top goal scorers in the PSL.

PICTURE COURTESY OF SUPERSPORT

TOYOTA FT-86: NEW PICTURES EMERGE

We have some new pictures of the Toyota FT-86 Concept car that was jointly developed with Subaru. The two-door coupe will have a twin badged as a Subaru when it goes on sale this year. But of course, the two will not look the same on the outside.

These pictures were taken during an official photo shoot for promotional purposes. Unfortunately Toyota doesn’t yet trust anyone with its interior look, hence the absence of pics showing its inside. And the only things we know for sure are that it will feature a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine which might go over the 180kW mark and a 6-speed manual gearbox.

BMW, TOYOTA, CITROEN AND PEUGEOT LEAD C02 RACE

Three automakers, BMW, PSA (Citroen and Peugeot) and Toyota, are in the top three of auto companies who are closest to complying with tough upcoming legislation on exhaust pipe C02 emissions. The three are ranked by market research company JATO Dynamics as having the shortest drive towards their goals. Over the coming years motor manufacturers will be heavily penalised for not complying with this European legislation.

The continent’s law states that by 2015 all industry players in Europe should average 130 grams per kilometre, significantly lower than the 140.9 g/km reported in 2010. An even more challenging figure of 95 g/km is being legislated to come into effect in 2020. Failure to do so will result in fines being dished out to the tune of €5 per vehicle for the first g/km of CO2, €15 for the second gram, €25 for the third gram and €95 from the fourth gram on.

Last year Toyota averaged 130 g/km for new vehicles in Europe. Its 2015 target is 124.8 g/km, which means it needs to reduce gases by 4.2%. PSA must work on a 5.1% reduction, while BMW must cut its new fleet’s C02s by 7.1%.

The three lowest-ranking companies are Nissan, Mazda and Daimler respectively, meaning they will have to take some drastic steps in order to catch up to their peers. Nissan and Mazda need to reduce bad gasses by 17.6% from 2010 averages of 147.8 and 149.9 g/km respectively, while Daimler has the largest gap to cover in the form of a 19.8% reduction from its 2010 levels of 163.3 g/km.

DAIMLER TRUCKS DOMINATE WORLD STAGE

The global economy recovered in 2010, although the pace of this positive development varied greatly from region to region. The economic upturn led to a significant increase in demand for transport services, and thus for commercial vehicles. Whereas the European truck market grew moderately in 2010, the truck market in Brazil expanded by more than 50% compared to the prior year.

Demand for trucks in North America and Japan increased substantially. Daimler Trucks profited considerably from the worldwide recovery of the commercial vehicle market in 2010. Daimler Trucks sold 355 263 vehicles around the world in 2010, an increase of 37% on the prior year.

These sales generated revenues of €24.024 billion – R232 billion - (+31%) for the division, enabling it to successfully defend its position as the world’s leading manufacturer of medium-duty and heavy-duty trucks. At €1.323 billion (R12.78 billion), the division’s EBIT (including one-time charges) was positive and significantly higher than the prior year’s figure of €1.001 billion (R9.67 billion).

Andreas Renschler, the member of the Daimler AG Board of Management responsible for Daimler Trucks and Daimler Buses, reviewed business developments at Daimler Trucks today in Stuttgart, in addition to presenting the division’s strategy for the coming years: “When the economy grows, the need for transport services grows along with it. We are among the top three manufacturers in terms of market share in all of our core markets, and all of our business units have returned to profitability.”

The Global Excellence strategy enabled Daimler Trucks to prepare early on for the cyclical changes in the commercial vehicle industry and thus to conquer from the crisis in good shape.

Growth will pick up in 2011. The global truck markets are growing, and Daimler Trucks’ Global Excellence strategy has laid the foundations for the division’s growth in the years ahead.

Last year the focus remained on managing market cycles and achieving operational excellence. Efficiency gains were achieved through more rigorous cost management, implementation of numerous flexibility instruments at production locations, and extensive programs at the individual business units.

As a result, all operating units recorded increases in sales, revenues, and profitability. Daimler Trucks therefore begins the new business year in a completely new position of competitive strength.

From 2011 onward: Regional growth with a focus on emerging markets

The focus in 2011 and beyond will be on profitable growth in all of its dimensions — i.e. quantitative and qualitative, in traditional and new markets, and with new products and services.

Along with the consistent expansion of its activities in the core markets, Daimler Trucks is also making significant progress in the RIC countries and other growth markets. “Turkey is a core market for Mercedes-Benz trucks and a true tiger nation,” said Renschler. “The country has already reached 15th place in the rankings of the world’s largest economies, and for us it’s number three in terms of Mercedes-Benz truck sales.”

Brazil is the most important market for Mercedes-Benz trucks. In an effort to meet the growing demand for heavy-duty long-haul trucks in both markets, Mercedes-Benz began producing the Actros in Aksaray, Turkey, in December 2010, and will also start building the same model in Juiz de Fora, Brazil, in 2012. This expansion of the production network will increase the flexibility and competitiveness of Mercedes-Benz trucks.

Russia is the biggest growth market in Europe at the moment — and Fuso Kamaz Trucks Rus has been successfully manufacturing and marketing the Fuso Canter there since June 2010. Roughly 800 of these light trucks were sold in Russia last year. In addition, Mercedes-Benz Trucks Vostok officially opened a new plant in Chelny in mid-March 2011, and the first Mercedes-Benz Actros models are now being assembled there.

In February 2011, Daimler Trucks’ fifth brand — BharatBenz — was unveiled in India. Over the next five years Daimler Trucks will invest a total of approximately €700 million (R6.76 billion) in India, where the division will also begin manufacturing trucks of 6–49 tons GVW at the new plant in Chennai in 2012.

A major milestone was achieved in China last year, when a new joint venture agreement was signed with Foton. “We’re very confident that we will receive the business license for the joint venture in summer 2011,” said Renschler. “We’ve also got the right partner here with Foton, which is already building 100 000 trucks. A second plant is now under construction. This means that our joint venture will in the future have a total annual production capacity of 160 000 trucks.”

In addition to its operations in its traditional markets and in the RIC countries, Daimler Trucks is also focusing on the new growth markets of the future.

“We’ve identified ten Future Focus Markets for Daimler Trucks,” Renschler explained. We essentially based our selections on three criteria: overall economic outlook, local truck market volume, and initial business conditions in the respective markets.” The ten Future Focus Markets are: Algeria, Argentina, Colombia, Malaysia, South Korea, Syria, Thailand, Ukraine, Venezuela, and Vietnam.

Modular system ensures the right products for every market

Regardless of the prevailing economic situation, Daimler Trucks consistently invests in new products and research and development. In fact, the division will be renewing virtually its entire product portfolio over the next 24 months. The focus here will be on further improving fuel consumption, safety, and sustainability, as well as the expansion of aftersales operations and customer-oriented services.

Daimler Trucks’ global development network, as well as the division’s decades of experience with cross-brand projects, have led to the creation of a modular system that generates synergies while still enabling the development of products precisely tailored to specific customers and market requirements.

DTNA is presenting two new trucks this month: the Western Star 4700 and a new Freightliner truck for the vocational segment. In addition, the new Fuso Canter went on sale in the U.S. and Canada in mid-March.

Synergies are now being generated with powertrain components as well. The new generation of heavy-duty truck engines has streamlined the previous portfolio of four engine families produced at four plants down to just one family of engines manufactured at two locations. This Heavy Duty Engine Generation is now being used successfully at Fuso in Japan and at DTNA in the U.S. The European version of the Heavy Duty Engine Generation was presented yesterday at the Mercedes-Benz engine plant in Mannheim. This is the new Mercedes-Benz engine generation, which already meets the Euro 6 emission standard that is scheduled to go into effect in 2014.

Daimler Trucks has set itself the goal of achieving an 8% return on sales across the business cycle starting in 2013. Renschler explained how the division will get there: “We’ve established a clear roadmap in the form of our ‘Regional Champion Approach,’ reducing fixed costs and thus the break-even point, and substantially investing in new products and technologies.”

As part of the Regional Champion approach, all of the division’s business units plan to either defend or take over the top position in their respective markets.

In addition, systematic cost management measures, further improvements at all units, exploitation of synergy potentials, the launch of the new product generations, penetration into new growth markets, and continued success in traditional markets will all contribute to the achievement of Daimler Trucks’ goals.

“We are beginning the year 2011 from a position of strength,” said Renschler. “We expect to see significant growth in the truck market, especially for medium-duty and heavy-duty trucks. Our level of incoming contracts in Europe and North America is currently exceeding our expectations. And if this exceptionally positive trend continues, we may have to adjust our market forecast.”

Renschler added, “No other truck manufacturer today offers as broad-based a portfolio with customised products and technologies as Daimler does — and no other commercial vehicle producer has a global service network whose scope and density come close to ours. So who else but the inventor of the truck is better positioned to actively shape the future of the transport industry?”

AUDI S4 TO CHALLENGE DOMINANT BMWS

The Engen Xtreme Team, are one week closer to showing off their ‘new look’ Audi S4’s at Killarney race track on Saturday 2 April, 2011. The team will be racing the new Audi engineering for the first time in the WesBank Series and are more than confident of being on the podium come race day end.

After a challenging weekend at Kyalami last month where the team sadly had to compete in 2010 machinery, race engineers have been hard at work preparing the new specification cars for their launch challenge on Saturday.  Engen Xtreme team Manager, Michael Stephen reports that with this new package, he is confident of bridging the gap between Suburu driver, Hennie Groenewald, who has a 13 point lead on him at the moment, Stephen and teammate Tschops Sipuka walked away with an overall 6th and 7th place respectively at the 2011 season’s opener up North.

On the VW Cup front, 2010 Masters Champion and Engen Xtreme Polo driver, Miguel Pasqualli has his eye on his competitor Lee Thompson who is currently ahead on the championship ladder. Pasqualli will be putting his new look Polo to the test for the second time this season, with the hopes of bridging the 11 point gap on Thompson.  With home track advantage and a few adjustments to his car, Engen Xtreme Polo driver, Kosie Weyers is confident that Killarney will again be a happy hunting ground for championship points.

AWD MERCEDES-BENZ ZETROS 6X6 STRONG FOR MONGOLIA

The all-wheel drive Mercedes-Benz Zetros is in its element wherever all-terrain capabilities and a high payload are required. This cab-behind-engine model for difficult off-road conditions is not only suitable as a commercial vehicle, but also as a basis for recreational and expedition vehicles. This is demonstrated by two Mercedes-Benz Zetros 6x6 with special bodies and interior fittings which have recently been delivered to Ulan-Bator, the capital of Mongolia.

Mongolians love their freedom, and greatly enjoy excursions into the varied natural surroundings of their high-altitude homeland. Whereas only the horse was once a suitable means of transport for this purpose, two businessmen friends in Ulan-Bator – one of them owns a brewery where beer is brewed to a German recipe, while the other became wealthy as a shareholder in coal and copper mines – decided in favour of the Zetros as a more modern and luxurious way of negotiating the terrain. The two friends use their unique jumbo off-roaders for multi-day excursions into the Altai mountains, for example, where they hunt for wolves with an eagle.

As a three-axle truck with a permissible gross vehicle weight of 25 tonnes – up to 27 tonnes for export – the Zetros has a payload ("chassis load capacity" without body) or around 16 tonnes. The powertrain and chassis of the Zetros are based on the Actros and Axor series. It was developed at the Wörth plant, where it is also built. All variants of the Zetros are powered by the OM 926 LA 7.2-litre 6-cylinder in-line engine developing an output of 240kW and an impressive maximum torque of 1300Nm from 1200 to 1600rpm.

A choice of two transmissions is available: the standard unit is the hydraulically/pneumatically shifted G 131-9 nine-speed transmission (eight forward gears + crawler) with a direct-ratio top gear, with a six-speed Allison 3000 SP/PR fully-automatic transmission available as an option. The VG 1700 transfer case for the permanent all-wheel drive has proved its worth for decades. At 1.690 the off-road ratio is a good 20% lower than in the Actros and Axor all-wheel drive models (which have an off-road ratio of 1.403). This makes extremely slow speeds possible, an important attribute e.g. on very steep downhill stretches. Pulling power is increased by around 70% compared to the on-road gears. Torque distribution between the front and rear axle(s) is 1:3.21 in the splitter box, and 1:1 if the differential lock is engaged.

In each case the base vehicle was the Mercedes-Benz Zetros 2733 A with 6x6 drive (wheelbase 5350 mm) and the standard cab. The cab's features include a padded sleeping berth for the driver, an air conditioning system, a 24 V audio system with CD player, a CD changer, a Bluetooth hands-free system and a 7-inch touch­screen to which a reversing camera is connected. A carrier system with a load capacity of up to 100 kg is installed on the cab roof. Four auxiliary spotlights and a twin air horn are mounted on this carrier, and the radiator grille houses four flashlights in red and blue. At the rear there is a carrier for two spare wheels, with a dedicated lifting system which also enables cargo to be hoisted onto the cab roof. The reversing camera is able to activate additional spotlights at the rear for safe manoevring at night. An adequate operating range in remote areas is provided by diesel tanks holding 300 and 200 litres.

In addition to difficult road conditions, the body and interior conversion work had to take into account the very special climatic conditions in the desert, where the vehicles are to be used. Extreme temperature fluctuations require particularly good insulation, and all the interior features were planned and installed to ensure that they are able to withstand the punishing conditions of off-road operations. The furniture was specially designed for use in tropical and desert regions.

Both vehicles have substantially identical bodies, though one of the two examples also has a rear vehicle bay able to accommodate a quadbike. The living area is a fully-insulated sandwich construction with walls, roof and floor of prefabricated sandwich panels insulated with hard PU foam and bonded together. The windows of the living area are double-glazed, can all be opened and are fitted with mosquito nets and roller blinds.

The interior is clearly divided into different functional areas. The bedroom is located in the rear, and the comfortable leather seating group for four to six people is in the front. There is also a luxurious bathroom with a marble floor and underfloor heating, as well as a large galley. In addition to the bedroom in the rear there is sleeping space available in the living area itself. The table in the seating group can be electrically raised and lowered, and when lowered it creates an additional, large bed.

The galley is fully equipped with a ceramic hob, microwave with grill, refrigerator/freezer, bar and coffee machine. The sink has a hot and cold water supply, and a precisely fitted dinner set for eight people is also on board. For outdoor use the vehicles have mobile twin-burner gas cookers with two 11 kg gas bottles. The bathroom has a separate shower cubicle, a WC/bidet combination, washbasin and three-door vanity unit.

The bedroom is separated from the living area by a partition wall with integrated flatscreen TV monitors (40-inch and 46-inch, one each facing the bedroom and seating group). In line with the intended use as a hunting vehicle, a safe for valuables (400 x 400 x 300 mm) and a gunsafe for hunting rifles are permanently integrated into the interior. Neither is there any lack of entertain­ment, as the vehicles are equipped with a SAT receiver with an electrically self-aligning SAT dish, a DVD/CD player, an MP3 player, a Bose hi-fi sound system and a Mac Mini plus W-LAN router.

Separate water systems supply drinking water and water for the shower/toilet, with a total volume of around 250 litres (volume of waste water tank around 100 litres), and the drinking water passes through a water filter. A separate pump replenishes the fresh water tank from outside, while a 230 V hot water boiler holding 20 litres provides hot water for the galley and bathroom. If the weather permits, it is also possible to use the exterior shower.

Especially as a 6x6 variant with six driven wheels, the Mercedes-Benz Zetros represents an unrivalled vehicle concept providing outstanding mobility and first-class traction.

RENAULT CLIO RS GORDINI CLEARED FOR MAY DEBUT

Renault South Africa promises to introduce the new Clio RS Gordini here in May. The car joins another Gordini model, the Twingo RS Gordini, which was launched in October last year. The launch event will take place at the 2011 Knysna Hillclimb that happens between the 21^st and 22^nd May.

Clio RS Gordini keeps the same normally aspirated 2.0-litre engine with 148kW and 215Nm of torque. What makes it special are kit pieces such as the Malta Blue metallic paintwork with twin racing stripes running over the bonnet, a new front bumper with gloss black finish, white mirrors and 17-inch Gordini alloy wheels.

The interior is also peppered with Gordini stuff like a special blue gear lever, a blue steering wheels and black gloss finish for areas like the fascia inserts and air vent surrounds.

US SENATORS WARN BLACKBERRY, IPHONE MAKERS

Four United States Senators have written a letter to the big cell/ smart phone manufacturers, asking them to stop supplying an app that warns drivers of DUI (driving under the influence) checkpoints. The Apple iPhone/ iPad and Google’s Android operating system offer such software for users. The information either comes from an existing database or from other users.

The one letter sent to Apple reads in part: “With more than 10,000 Americans dying in drunk-driving crashes every year, providing access to iPhone and iPad applications that alert users to DUI checkpoints is harmful to public safety… we therefore would ask you to remove these applications from your store… giving drunk drivers a free tool to evade checkpoints, putting innocent families and children at risk, is a matter of public concern.”

It seems law enforcers across the world are not interested in such services. Remember the case of one Pigspotter whose “work” is still ongoing? Should the Senators succeed in their request, the ramifications could be widespread. Already Research in Motion (RIM), the maker of Blackberry devices, has complied with the request by pulling its concerned apps.

S-CLASS GAINS FROM NEW MERCEDES-BENZ FIREPOWER

With a great car comes great power. With great power comes great responsibility. Mercedes-Benz South Africa is now responsible for an awesome range of power, starting with the new S 500 sedan and ending with a car that can only be driven properly in the empty Karoo.

While a facelifted S-Class range appeared in August 2009, most of the engines available then were carried over. Now the entire engine list has been updated, from the S 350 up to the peerless S 65 AMG. Starting at the bottom, the S 350 BlueEFFICIENCY still carries a 3.5-litre V6 petrol with natural aspiration. Power was increased to 225kW at 6500rpm and torque is 370Nm between 3500rpm and 5250rpm. The rear axle carries all power and torque through a 7-speed automatic gearbox. Acceleration for the big guy is rated at 6.9 seconds for the 0 – 100km/h sprint while average fuel consumption is 7.7 litres per 100km.

Next up is the S 500 BlueEFFICIENCY which catches the latest 4.7-litre twin turbo engine, same one used by the new CL 500. It dispenses 320kW (up from 285kW for the old 5.5-litre V8) at 5250rpm and 700Nm of torque between 1800rpm and 3500rpm. From zero to 100km/h the S 500 is said to take just 5 seconds, topping off at 250km/h. Merc says the S 500 takes fuel at a rate of 9.5 litres per 100km.

Above the S 500 sit the two AMG models, S 63 AMG and S 65 AMG. S 63 AMG uses the new 5.5-litre biturbo V8 for its 400kW, achieved at 5500rpm. Peak torque is 800Nm between 2000rpm and 4500rpm. With the optional AMG Performance Package these will go up to 420kW and 900Nm respectively. Acceleration performance is said to be blistering, at 4.5 and 4.4 seconds each. We’d be surprised to get 4.9, given the cars’ 2.2-ton plus weight, altitude and traction challenges.

The S 65 AMG is the ultimate Mercedes-Benz, offering a plethora of luxuries, comfort items, safety and exceptional performance through its 6.0-litre V12 engine paired with two turbos. It gives out 463kW, a 13kW increase on the old model, and maximum torque of 1000Nm between 2300rpm and 4300rpm. The stupendous S 65 AMG is apparently able to reach 100km/h from standstill in only 4.4 seconds. Combined freeway and urban fuel consumption is listed at 14.3 litres per 100km.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class new engine Pricing

S 350 BlueEFFICIENCY (R1 003 480)

S 500 BlueEFFICIENCY (R1 254 900)

S 500 L BlueEFFICIENCY (R1 356 700)

S 63 AMG (R1 695 610)

S 65 AMG (R2 245 100)

(The AMG Performance Package costs an extra R64 600)

NISSAN UK INTRODUCES LEAF

UK customers are now able to order their all-electric LEAFs (can we say LEAVES?) from their closest dealerships. The reigning European Car of the Year and finalist at the World Car of the Year Awards will cost £25 990 (R292 500) – government incentives included. But alas, those who order today can only get their cars in six months’ time.

The LEAF is the world’s first mass-produced electric car. By electric car I mean it does not have a petrol or diesel engine at all; it runs purely on the same energy we use to cook, heat up our geysers and watch TV. You simply pull a cord, plug it into the car and leave it for a few hours to recharge, just like your cell phone!

Nissan says when the batteries which run the thing are full, it will drive for about 177 kilometres, depending on driving style. Clearly the LEAF is not for traveling between Jozi and Durban, much less between Cape Town and Polokwane! Imagine pulling up at the nearest fuel station and asking to use their plugs for 7 hours. How that could add serious journey time for you, as well as a hard electric bill to swallow.

TOYOTA: THREE MILLION HYBRIDS SOLD

Toyota began selling hybrid cars in August of 1997 with the Coaster Hybrid EV. In December of the same year the first-generation Prius debuted in Japan. Since then the company has sold a remarkable 3 million hybrids of different types and shapes.

Toyota South Africa only sells the Prius under its own brand, while the Lexus division has several models running hybrid systems. In total 16 different hybrids are sold in 80 countries. That includes Prius, sedans, SUVs and other shapes. The push won’t stop there as Toyota is planning on introducing 10 more hybrids by the end of 2012, six of which will be brand new cars while four will be updates of existing ones.

CITROËN LAUNCHES ALL-NEW C4 IN BUSY SEGMENT

Citroën South Africa is now selling the all-new generation C4 hatchback. It replaces the old car which was launched here back in 2005. From looking at the pictures one might not be too impressed, but if you trust what I tell you then you’ll believe me when I say it looks better in the metal. Much better in fact.

What’s always set Citroën apart from other automakers was its styling; quirky, different, original. In the recent past such standards have slipped from its grip, but we are seeing glimpses of the old philosophy creeping back in cars like the DS3. Unfortunately the new C4 is very conventional. Don’t be fooled by the Banglesque kinks on the bodywork; everyone is doing that nowadays. I supposed the brand wants to attract the average hatch buyer who doesn’t want to feel alienated by his or her choice in car.

One of the main things I noticed while sitting on the driver’s seat was how solid the C4 felt. Materials come straight off the top drawer in terms of the segment, and nothing felt like it would fall off at 120km/h. Taking into account previous-generation models, this is a major achievement. It’s also quite soft to the feel, almost feminine in fact. Citroën has always been the Mercedes-Benz of small cars as far as comfort is concerned, and this car takes it up a notch. They’ve even added a massage function for the two front seats, which is something new for this price-segment.

Only one engine is offered with the range of five models. At its weakest it makes 88kW or about 74kW at high altitude places like Johannesburg, Nelspruit and Polokwane. As a result it fails to breathe properly and loses significant breath on take-off and overtaking. Thankfully once it gets running it is quite smooth and gear changes from the 5-speed manual are natural. Yes it is on the soft-side but that’s fine for an everyday family cruiser.

A higher output version produces 110kW but only comes with an EGS6 semi-automated gearbox – it has a clutch within its bowels but no clutch pedal for your left foot. I didn’t get to pilot this particular one but from previous experience with these jerky ‘boxes, it’s probably best to stay away from it.

Nice standard touches for the interior include a really lovely-looking steering wheel (which has a swivelling mid-boss, unlike the old car), an Arkamys sound system, an onboard trip computer that helps keep tabs on fuel consumption etc, and cruise control. Higher trim models get Bluetooth, optional sat nav, climate control, rain sensor, parking sensors and blind spot warning.

Euro NCAP tests have given the C4 a five-star rating, thanks among other safety features, to standard ABS brakes with EBD, electronic stability programme (ESP), traction control and six airbags.

Citroën is entering a buzzing hive of activity in the form of Toyota’s Auris X, Mazda3, Honda Civic hatch, Ford Focus, Volkswagen Golf, Hyundai i30, Peugeot 308 and Renault Megane. And that’s not even all of them! A tough task – some say mission impossible – lies ahead, but I don’t believe it will be lost by a bad product. Marketing and after-sales service will be the key factors for a small French outfit trying to penetrate an ever-growing club of best-sellers.