McLaren 720s Spa 68 Collection

Back in 1968, Bruce McLaren won the first-ever Formula 1 victory for his team at the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps. Driving none other than a McLaren M7A racecar, gracing Papaya Orange livery. This win, the first ever for McLaren and opened up a motorsport history that many other teams would love to claim their own. interestingly, this was Bruce’s fourth Formula One victory, but his first with a vehicle of his own design and construction. This was a marked era in McLaren’s history, and what better way to pay tribute than commissioning bespoke three 720S vehicles.

Adorned in MSO Bespoke Anniversary Orange paint, similar to that of the 1968 racecar, the McLaren 720S Spa 68 Collection really is a wonder. MSO Bespoke Satin Black 5 Twin-Spoke Lightweight wheels draw more attention to the striking paintwork while the dark interior trim is contrasted by orange thread in places such as the headrests, where the 1968 Spa-Francorchamps track is outlined.

This isn’t the only place outline of the 14km track is also noted on the vehicle, as it will also be found in silver, placed just in front of the rear wheel arch. Finally, the ignition key also graces the bespoke orange color, and features the lettering “ SPA 68”.

While the McLaren 720S Spa 68 Collection may come across quite simple, I personally feel this is the beauty of the project. Being simple allows for the striking color to stand out and is a spectacle in its own right. Three have only been made, and two are already sold. Many who are lucky enough to see this on the streets probably won’t know what this vehicle resembles, but as the saying goes, if you know, you know.

Originally published at The Motorist.

McLaren 720S Spa 68 Collection was originally published in TheMotorist on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Porsche 911 992 Cabriolet

What is a superlative — well, while some kettles are better than others and all Hoover’s might be vacuum cleaners, not all vacuum cleaners are Hoovers… Rolls-Royce, for example, has become the superlative for the best of the best, peerless if you will. How often have you heard someone describe their brand new ultra-sonic vibrator 5000 toothbrush as being “The Rolls-Royce of toothbrushes” in a misguided attempt to explain just how marvelous it may be. Nobody straightens their curlies with a “Safeway” or a “Russell-Hobbs”, they use a GHD.

The simple reasoning behind this is that as time goes by and something becomes perfected, it becomes the benchmark in its segment, right from awful shoes — Crocs — to elderly walkers such as the Zimmer Frame.

New Porsche 911

It goes without saying that the Porsche 911 is the superlative sports car. It is to sports cars what the Golf GTI is to hot hatches and the Corolla to Ubers. One would hope then that the latest version of one of the world’s most beloved motoring icons is very nearly perfect, and while we haven’t laid hands on it, things are looking promising to say the least.

We’ve had a good few weeks to ogle over the evolutionary lines of the 992 Generation 911, but as a little new year’s gift to the world, Porsche have just pulled the covers off the 992 Cabriolet.

As with the new 911 Coupe, the Cabriolet features a wider stance across the range, traditionally reserved for four-wheel-drive versions only. This gives the new 911 Cabriolet a distinctive and muscular appearance that some may agree was lacking from the two-wheel-drive versions of the 991/991.2 911’s. The Cabriolet is exclusively available in Carrera S and Carrera 4S guises for the meantime.

The new Porsche 911 Cabriolet also has a new hydraulics system which is now able to retract the roof in just twelve seconds while magnesium bows within the roof prevent it from ballooning, something which occurs as a result of the low-pressure pocket which forms above the surface of the roof when moving at high speeds. An electronically extendable wind deflector also features as standard.

Engine

Power is provided by the same 2,981 cm³ turbocharged charged six-cylinder boxer engine as the Coupe with 331 kW and 530 Nm of torque from a low down 2,300 rpm. This is mated to an all-new 8-speed double clutch gearbox. This allows the iconic drop-top to hurtle itself to 100 km/h in just 3.9 seconds (3.7 seconds with optional Sport Chrono Package) for the Carrera S and 3.8 seconds (3.6 seconds with optional Sport Chrono Package), both reaching top speeds of over 300 km/h.

Other features include the PASM (Porsche Active Suspension Management) Sports suspension for the first time on a Porsche 911 Cabriolet which features more rigid front and rear anti-roll-bars, harder and shorter springs and a 10mm lower ride height. This helps to rein in the Cabriolet’s additional weight and provide a more neutral feel similar to that of the Coupe.

Adaptive cruise control and all of the new safety features found on the new 911 Coupe can be found here too. So, back to my previous point of appliances and superlatives — at what point are we going to start referring to all convertibles as 911’s?

Porsche 911 Cabriolet Pricing in South Africa

Pricing is R1 874 000 for the 911 Carrera S Cabriolet and R1 964 000 for the Carrera 4S Cabriolet.
A 3 year/100 000 km Driveplan is included in that price.

Visit Porsche South Africa for more information.

Originally published at The Motorist.

Porsche 911 992 Cabriolet was originally published in TheMotorist on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Should you buy the Mercedes-Benz X-Class V6?

A little over 6 months ago, we found ourselves in George sampling Mercedes-Benz’s first ever double cab, the then hugely anticipated X-Class. In the four-cylinder guise, it featured an engine borrowed from the Nissan Navara, one which many found to be underwhelming. Perhaps we got overly hyped? Maybe we expected too much? Whatever the reason was, our first interaction the X-Class didn’t live up to what we all expected, purely because of the badge the car wears. Mercedes, however, stated that more was to come and that time has now arrived. The recent launch of a new variant of the X-Class in South Africa has given the folks at Merc a second chance to impress us. This time, we’re dealing with a Mercedes engine, a with a 3.0 V6 to be exact, one that could be this vehicle’s saving grace. Has the X-Class finally marked the spot?

The Engine

190kW and 550Nm are very tasty numbers from the Mercedes V6, especially for a Double cab bakkie. With power figures like these, the X-Class is poised to impress much more than its 4-cylinder counterparts, which does. It’s also a thoroughbred V6, made by Mercedes-Benz themselves, unlike the 2.3-litre engine found in the lower spec variants.

Off-road

The torque produced by the V6 proved handy as we spent the morning traversing fairly serious off-road routes. Steep climbs, banks and technical sections proved too easy for the X-Class. I was slightly taken aback at how the X-Class dispatched of the challenges like it was a simple Monday morning school run. So far, so good.

Although I can’t imagine many X-Class owners attempting some of the gradients we did on their average weekend away, it’s good to know that should the occasion allow, mountains can be climbed. For me, the big test came later in the afternoon, on the open road, where the lifestyle double cab will spend many km’s tearing up the tarmac.

On The Road

It’s become somewhat of a habit of mine to always activate the sportiest mode a vehicle has to offer from the onset. This habit didn’t change with the X-Class. With Dynamic Select as standard in this model, the driver has the option of Eco, Comfort, Sport, Manual and Off-road settings to choose from.

How fast is it? Well, 7.9 seconds is the 0–100km/h time, just in case you were wondering. For a bakkie, that’s fast. So to answer the question, yes, the X-Class V6 shifts. Driver can activate Sport mode, this means the appropriate gear to “give it the beans” is always selected and throttle response seems to be a little more sensitive than usual.

When driving spiritedly, you may be a little surprised at how fast the dial on the left climbs and how the open road ahead is taken in its grasp. It’s very “unbakkie like”. What’s even more impressive is the vehicle’s stability at high speeds. Never at any stage did the X-Class make me feel unconfident, it’s really as poised as an SUV. A huge percentage of this is due to the bits you can’t see. At the rear, X-Class uses a 5-link rear suspension setup, unlike the conventional leaf spring system used on many other road-going bakkies.

The Nissan was the first bakkie we saw this system on and it proved itself then, as it did now. It’s more stable, more comfortable and is much more aligned to that of a passenger vehicle or SUV. Does it really drive like an SUV? Yes, it does. Road comfort is top notch, and with that V6 up-front, cruising and overtaking becomes as easy as an Englishman starting a bar fight.

Handling

As Franschhoek pass was approaching, Sport mode was aptly selected once again and it was time to find out if the launch would end with an upside down X-class, at the bottom of a ravine with myself inside — probably still filming. I was driving alone for this launch, which proved beneficial because it was time to put the X-Class and its 40/60 4Matic power split through its paces. An excercise not advisable when driving with squirmish passengers.

Sharp hairpins, tight bends, long sweepers and plenty of esses is what the pass gives you. In reality, Franschhoek pass is no place to “test” a double cab. However, the team at Merc instilled so much confidence into the X-Class, that a pommy just had to give it a go.

My findings? Well, the fact that you’re reading this article means it didn’t go too badly. But in all seriousness, it really impressed me. I was hard fought to try and get some body-roll out the chassis, even on the tightest bends, to the point where understeer would set-in and the front end would push. Under heavy braking, the vehicle remained stable and it was nice to see that the rear-end didn’t go “light” especially on turn in. This is a great thing as most bakkies get nervous under extreme direction changes. Instead, the Merc aced the pass. With the V6 up front, you simply accelerate out the bend and the car agrees to disappear.

Interior

As good as the X-Class is on the road, I do have gripes. I still feel the interior quality doesn’t represent a Mercedes-Benz vehicle. There’s simply too much plastic and not enough luxury. An example of this is the air vents or even the drive selector which looks like it belongs in a Mahindra. Tough? Maybe. Luxurious? Not at all. It does get better thankfully. Sitting centimetres from the gear lever is the familiar Mercedes-Benz Command controls, which operate the Command system. This is now more in line with modern Mercedes’s and it does add a little bit more of a premium feel to the cabin.

The positive side to the plain interior is that it can probably take more abuse. For instance, if you’re a rich kid who wants to go wild with daddy’s money, the interior of the X-Class will easily take some kicks and knocks, as you pile in your four best mates and go looking for trouble in “Mozam” or any other coastal destination that can be abbreviated to sound cool.

Should you buy the Mercedes-Benz X-Class V6?

Starting at R904,188 it’s certainly not a cheap double cab, especially when compared with the Amarok V6, albeit with 30Kw less power, for R810,000. From a drivability and refinement perspective, the Amarok is the closest competitor to the X-Class V6. Whilst Mercedes say the X-Class doesn’t have a competitor, I do feel the Amarok runs pretty close and next year, we may even see the 190Kw version on our shores. So there are other options to choose from.

The X-Class V6 is, without doubt, a lifestyle orientated bakkie, you ain’t gonna be throwing bricks in the back of this kind of Double cab, are you? Hence why I expected a more luxurious interior trim. It’s pricey, but it also wears the Mercedes-Benz badge which counts for something I guess and it does surprise you when it comes to road comfort and holding. It’s really good there. The reality is, however, when you’re spending this much though, you expect a certain premium feel, one which the X Class still somewhat lacks.

I feel the biggest buy-in for the X-Class will come from current Mercedes-Benz customers. Those who already own a passenger vehicle, perhaps a sedan, and would like a more lifestyle orientated product. It’s a great way to stay in the brand from that perspective.

All things considered, purely based on the engine and chassis, the X-Class V6 is one of the best double cabs you can buy. However, you will pay a Mercedes-Benz premium for it. At the end of the day, the buyer will need to weigh up to positives and the negatives and if it makes sense to them, it makes sense to them. Just don’t get mad when the Navara jokes start.

Mercedes-Benz X-Class V6 Pricing in South Africa

X-Class Progressive — R904,188

X-Class Power — R973,188

Spec your X-Class V6 here: www.x-class.co.za.

Originally published at The Motorist.

Mercedes-Benz X-Class V6 Driven Review was originally published in TheMotorist on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Meet the new Porsche 911 992

For all of us, there’s one car that we always relate to our childhood. Whether it be from an early experience or just out of raw appeal, we told ourselves as kids “ that’s what I will drive when I’m grown up.” For me, its always been the Porsche 911. I even had a pet rabbit named “ Porsche-e”.

15 years on from my childhood dreams, their appeal as the ultimate sports car hasn’t faded, I still don’t own one, and they seem to be getting better and better which each new variant. My first driving experience came from the magnificent 911 GTS. Now I look forward to getting behind the wheel of the 992.

Design

One needs to look closely to see major differences on the Porsche 911 992 from the front. Porsche’s Iconic bug eyes stare into your sole, albeit with a new LED setup. While a slight bonnet recess throws back to early 911 models. Go around with a measuring tape and you will find the 992 911 to be 45mm’s wider on the front. A full width elegant light bar is the most striking element on the rear, which has been designed to give a much bolder look and feel.

While plenty of new tech has been integrated into the interior, it’s still very much “Porsche”. A central rev counter remains whilst two digital screens either side provide the driver with relevant information. Porsche’s main interface has now been increased to 10,9 inches, and is now easier to use. A range of new services and features result in permanent connectivity with online nav and Porsche Connect Plus as standard.

Inline with technical enhancements, a range of safety elements have been provided on the new 911. This includes a world first, “wet-mode” which detects water on the road and prepares the vehicles setup to handle it, as well as warn the driver, who can then activate the safer setup with a touch of a button. Oh how many 911 drivers could have done with this in the past. Brake Assist is standard, while Night Vision, adaptive cruise control and Autonomous Emergency Assist function are available.

Carrera S and 4S. Performance.

An increase in power from the turbocharged flat-six motor results in an output of 331kW, which is an increase in 22kW. Translating this to the road means that 100km/h is completed in 3.7 seconds for the Carrera S and 3.6 seconds for the four-wheel drive Carrera 4S. That’s not all, with the addition of the Sports Chrono Package this time can be reduced by 0.2 seconds. As we know, driving a 911 isn’t really about how fast you can get to 100km/h. Improved injection processes, along with new turbo layouts improve the 911’s drive efficiency. On top of that, power delivery to the rear or all wheels depending on variant is done via a new eight-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Originally published at The Motorist.

The new Porsche 911 992 Specs and Improvements. was originally published in TheMotorist on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

4th Generation Hyundai Santa Fe

Meet the new Hyundai Santa Fe. This fourth generation model, features more tech and Hyundai’s new design language. Here’s what you need to know:

Design

We can safely say that the Koreans outdid themselves with this model. It’s not only worlds apart from the previous one, but it can also stand its ground against other premium rivals, when it comes to looks alone. Slim headlights and a large front grille emphasize its sporty nature, whilst there’s nothing to complain about at the rear either. It may look a bit “Soccer mumish” at the back, but at least it looks good.

Interior

From the images I’ve seen, interior quality looks decent. However, in the world of bigger screen sizes, I feel Hyundai could of added a few more inches to the 7-inch LCD display.

More space for rear passengers is also something to take note of, with a 38mm increase in legroom for the second row, and a 22mm increase in headroom for the third row. I look forward to a visit to my local Hyundai dealer to experience it in the flesh.

Engine and Gearbox

The Hyundai Santa Fe is powered by a 2,2-litre CRDi engine that produces 142kW and a tidy 440Nm of torque. A newly developed 8-speed auto box transfers this power to all four wheels, using technology that controls and adjusts torque distribution between front and rear wheels. In sport mode, up to 50% will be sent to the rear wheels for “ better acceleration”, with 35% in comfort mode.

Safety

I’ve been impressed which some of the safety tech on recent Hyundai vehicles including the I30 N.

Being a family car, safety is a priority for the Santa Fe. 6 air-bags are installed, along with a 15% increase in high-strength steel over any other Hyundai vehicle (57%)

Contributing to the Hyundai Santa Fe’s best-in-class safety, includes systems such as, Blind-Spot Collision Warning, Lane Keeping Assist and Rear Occupant Alert — which notifies the driver when rear passengers leave the vehicle. Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Avoidance Assist, which will monitor and also apply braking if a vehicle approaches from the rear side when reversing. Safety Exit Assist is one of the coolest features, which prevents the rear doors from being opened when a vehicle approaches from behind. Best demonstrated here:

Tech

Standard in all models is a 7-inch LCD touchscreen display which is Apple Carplay and Andriod Auto enabled. From looking at the specs of the infotainment system, it doesn’t seem as state-of-the-art as Hyundai suggests it is. It does however, seem to do everything you need and a USB port and Aux jack are included. If you opt for the Elite model, a 7-inch TFT display is also featured in the centre of the instrument cluster.

Elite models also include a panoramic sunroof, electronic rear hatch, heating and cooling front seats, keyless-start and Rear-door retractable side curtains.

Hyundai Santa Fe Pricing in South Africa

• Premium automatic — R599 900
• Executive automatic — R659 900
• Elite automatic — R749 900.

All prices include Hyundai Automotive SA’s 7-year/200 000 km manufacturer’s warranty (consisting of the standard 5-year/150 000 km warranty plus the additional 2-year/50 000 km drivetrain warranty extension).

An additional part of the package is a 5-year/90 000 km service plan, and roadside assistance for 5 years or 150 000 km.

Learn More here:

Originally published at The Motorist.

Hyundai’s latest SUV: The Hyundai Santa Fe. was originally published in TheMotorist on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

5 important changes on the new Mercedes-AMG G-Class.

The Mercedes-AMG G-Class is probably one of the most outrageous vehicles on the road. Entertained by sports stars, celebrities and the like, the “G-Wagon” is known for its attention-grabbing, rugged style. Believe it or not, if you ignore all the chrome, you’ll find out that this car can climb dunes and help you traverse war zones. Instead, however, this epic box simply burbles around the streets of Sandton, Camps Bay and “Umshlaaanga”.

Whether you’re a lover or a hater, we can all agree that the G-Class makes a statement. Nothing has changed with the latest model, and it’s still a “G” in more sense than one.

Styling

While receiving a modern facelift, the new Mercedes-AMG G-Class stays true to its roots by keeping core elements, such as the boxy square appearance, external door hinges and round headlights. Under the bold exterior, much work has been done to improve the structure. The body shell consists of various grades of steel and aluminium and Mercedes have used the latest tech to increase rigidity, reduce noise and weight, whilst still retaining the quality and strength needed for off-road antics.

Engine

Falling in line with other AMG’s across the range, a 4.0-litre V8 Biturbo engine replaces the 5.5-litre of old. The new engine produces 430kW and 850N.m, pushing the G-Class to 100km/h in just 4.5 seconds — like I said, outrageous. The driver can also enable the AMG Cylinder Management Deactivation System by driving in comfort mode. This system shuts down 4-cylinders to aid in fuel saving.

AMG 4-Matic

Will the new G-Class slide? Just maybe. The AMG 4-Matic system is no longer a 50/50 split but rather 60/40. Which means there may just be some tail-happy times in on of the boldest performance SUV’s out there. Mercedes have also improved off-road ability with a change in the reduction gear. Now working at a ratio of 2.93, compared to 2.1 on the previous model.

AMG Ride control is standard equipment and features adjustable electronically controlled damping. On-board systems adjust the suspension individually at each wheel to suit the current driving requirements. This ties in with Dynamic Select, a system allowing the driver to choose up to 8 driving modes. On-road modes include Slippery, Comfort, Sport , Sport+ and Individual. If you fancy going offroad, you have Sand, Trail and Rock modes available.

Interior and tech

It’s exciting to see that despite the new G-Class retaining its rugged appearance, modern technolgy is not left behind. The interior has undergone a wealth of change, with a total redesign bringing about a much more modern appeal. One immediately notices the fully digital 12.3 inch Widescreen Cockpit — a first for the G. Ambient lighting, Mercedes Me System, CarPlay®, Android Auto, Active Lane Keeping Assist and Road Sign Assist are amongst the tech list. Massage functioning, climate-controlled and fast seat heating with electronic lumbar support are also available with the Active Multicontour Seat package.

The interior cabin also benefits from more space, with space being increased by 101 millimetres in length, 121 millimetres in width and 40mm’s in height.

G63 Edition One

As if the G-Class isn’t special enough, you may opt for the Edition One variant. It’s available In ten colours, with four of them being a different kind of black. 22-inch Matte black alloy wheels tie in with the black features from the AMG Night package, while glimpses of red can be seen around the exterior.

This unique styling continues on in the interior, with red stitching in various places and red highlights in the carbon-fibre trim. The tastiest item is the flat bottom steering wheel in DINAMICA microfiber with red stitching.

The new Mercedes-AMG G-Class still retains the classic and rugged look we all love or hate it for, but has now evolved and included new technology in all aspects of the vehicle. If you originally were a hater of the G-Class, this new model will probably only infuriate you even more. Mercedes have done a great job of not ruining what the G-Class is all about. I was a big fan of this vehicle before, and nothing has changed.

Mercedes-AMG G63 Pricing in South Africa

G63: R2,591,000

G63 Edition one: R2,891,000

Originally published at The Motorist.

5 New Things on the Mercedes-AMG G-Class was originally published in TheMotorist on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

New Ford Fiesta Driven Review

The Ford Fiesta has been around for as long as I remember. In my college days, the “Festa” as it was known, became very popular car among new drivers, especially the “ST”. It happened to be popular among boy racers, with anything from the Mk 4 going under the knife in more ways than one. Some were tasteful, others appeared to been butchered by a yob in a hood. Many years later, It’s safe to say as I have grown up, so has the Ford Fiesta.

The new model’s heavily facelift brings a much curvier design. The Fiesta’s “all-new” attire would suggest it’s had a job promotion. It looks more professional, more sensible and more grown up. Unfortunately, it’s similar to your best friend at work making it to management. The days of paper aeroplanes and slapping backsides are over”

Ford’s 1.5-litre TDCi diesel engine added to the overall sensible experience. This is the motor to opt for if you find yourself heading to your boring job, sorry, I meant a sensible job, and find yourself on the highway pretty much every day. There’s plenty of torque for overtaking in higher gears and there’s also range for days, 700Km’s plus per tank to be exact. This is something to be desired with the current fuel prices in South Africa.

More tech, more safety and better interfaces are all good improvements over the previous generation.

So far so good right? Maybe, but I can’t stop drawing similarities to Ford’s new Fiesta and Vanilla ice-cream.

You see, If I was to ask you what your flavour of ice-cream is, I’d be surprised if you told me Vanilla. I mean, that’s a pretty boring option. In the hipster era we live in there are so many flavours to choose from. While your friends are going wild on mint chocolate chip, Oreo brownie and Crem Brûlée, you’re going to feel a truck load of fomo if you opt for plain jane vanilla- especially if you didn’t get the chocolate covered Combe.

As an ice cream, Vanilla does the job, you know what to expect. I bet you could probably get some very creamy, home-made vanilla ice cream made by someone’s nan, or from a Gourmet cow. Even so, that doesn’t make it any less plain, and who wants plain in 2018?

While the Ford Fiesta has undergone a facelift and improved tech, it still reminds me very much of Vanilla ice-cream. There are no chocolate chips, nothing that jumps out at me and says wow, that cool or exciting, it’s all rather bland.

Ford Fiesta ST

You may be thinking the ST variant of the new Ford Fiesta could be the saving grace here with its much more performance orientated dermina. It features a new turbocharged 1,5-litre three-cylinder engine with 147 kW and 290 N.m on tap. With a 0–100km time of 6.5 seconds, this would be the Fiesta to feed the desire of those wanting a little more from the Ford hatch. Due to South africa’s low fuel quality, the Fiesta ST won’t be making its way to our beautiful country. it looks so good as well!

Do all cars need to have an exciting flair?

The answer to that question is purely down to opinion. Whilst many car buyers in South Africa view the vehicle they drive as an expression of their personality, others don’t. Some motorists just want an affordable, easy and reliable way to get from A to B. The new Ford Fiesta excels in that department. Yes, there are other hatches that have more excitement about them. Thus may come in the form of looks, tech, or performance, but there is doubting Ford’s new Fiesta is very good at just being a car.

If you do purchase a Ford Fiesta, at-least order the chocolate cone and get any other colour than white.

Other Options

If you are looking for a modern hatch In this segment, you could also perhaps consider the Volkswagen Polo. Undergoing big changes in 2018, the Polo has a host of great tech available as well as a totally new design and more space. It’s also a leader in its segment which means there is always a demand and resale won’t be an issue.

A cheaper option could be the new Suzuki Swift which also arrived in South Africa in 2018. It’s light in price and on fuel, but lacks the tech featured in both the Polo and Fiesta.

New Ford Fiesta Pricing in South Africa

Fiesta 1.5 TDCi Trend 6MT R292 500

Originally published at The Motorist.

New Ford Fiesta 1.5 TDCi Trend Driven Review was originally published in TheMotorist on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

McLaren Speedtail is McLaren’s first Hyper-GT.

The hype has been building. McLaren teased us all with limited information and obscure images of the McLaren Speedtail but today, everything was dropped. Well almost everything. The McLaren Speedtail is the first Hyper-GT model by the brand. They say it is the “ ultimate McLaren road car with extreme performance”.

Just like the McLaren F1, the Speedtail features a central driving position with two seats either side. Encapsulating these seats is a teardrop styled cabin, built on a bespoke Monocage carbon fibre structure. Elegance has been created through reduction. Every body panel is carbon fibre and designed to reduce drag. It’s features like these that result in the Speedtail having the lowest drag coefficient of any road going McLaren vehicle. Interestingly, Speedtail is narrower than the P1 but over half a metre longer to more resemble the teardrop shape.

The Speedtail is beautiful in some senses and weird in others. From the front, sleek, sharp lines and narrow lights posses real beauty. The rear is also pretty astonishing, however, the side profile is quite unusual, and the wheel covers kind of throw me off. There is doubting though that this is one special vehicle.

Powertrain & Performance

The details on Speedtail’s powertrain have yet to be released. We do know that it has a dry weight of 1430kg and produces 1036bhp, that’s 772Kw. It may sound like a lot, but it’s still shy of Bugatti’s Cheron (1,479bhp) and the Koenigsegg’s Agera RS (1,341bhp).

0–300km/h time is reached in just 12.8 seconds. To put this into perspective, the McLaren p1 accomplished this feat in 16.5 seconds. There was talk that the Speedtail would reach 300mph (482 km/h). It doesn’t but still achieves a grand top speed of 250mph (403km/h). Still, this makes the Speedtail the fastest McLaren ever built, beating the Mclaren F1 by 7 mph. McLaren partnered with Pirelli to design and produce a bespoke P-ZERO tyre to make speeds like this possible.

Something that you will instantly notice is the carbon fibre front-wheel static aero covers. These are used to reduce drag and work by remaining in a fixed position as the wheels rotate. keeping the air ‘attached’ to the vehicle and allowing it to flow onwards the door blades and rear of the vehicle. McLaren explains in detail how the wheel covers work with other aerodynamic elements.

“ The static wheel covers work in conjunction with multiple ducts and air paths to reduce turbulent air within the wheelarches. As air passes out of the LTRs, for instance, it is vented into the front wheelarches. From there — together with heat energy generated by the lightweight, carbon ceramic braking system — the air is channeled through the ducts in the fixed front wheel aero cover in a consistent flow pattern. Pressure within the wheelarches is also reduced via the lower door vents, which draw the turbulent air created by the rotating front wheels out of the arches and drive it smoothly along the sides of the McLaren Speedtail “

Similar to the Audi e-tron, the Speedtail doesn’t feature any wing mirrors. Instead, two discreet high-def cameras glide out of the side doors when the ignition is activated. Why? Simple, mirrors create plenty of air turbulence that isn’t wanted when you are trying to reach 400km/h.

Central Driving Position

The driving position of the Speedtail is in the centre of the cockpit. McLaren tell us this provides a perfectly balanced view of out of the windscreen. Access to the main central seat is made easy by directional leather which makes it easy to ‘slide in’ . Once seated, a state-of-the-art control system is at the drivers disposal. High def displays and touch screens remove nearly every button found in a traditional car. Above the drivers head are panels and dials which control windows, engine start/stop, the Active Dynamics Panel and also engage Velocity mode. This cabin blows me away and looks more like something you would find in a spaceship, not a car.

Velocity Mode

Velocity mode has been specifically developed for the Speedtail. To reach 403km/h, this mode needs to be engaged. It optimises the powertrain for high-speed running, whilst also adjusting the angles of rear ailerons. Further, the Speedtail is lowered by 35mm and electronic mirrors are retracted to improve aerodynamical performance.

Pricing and customisation

Due to the fact that only 106 models will be made, McLaren has been able to push vehicle personalisation into unchartered territory. McLaren’s vision was to create the ultimate in bespoke vehicle design. From using specially selected Scandinavian hides which undergoes a five-week tanning process in vegetable oils. To customers being able to select unique stitch patterns in whichever colour they wish and bespoke decorative forms can be created within the leather through digital quilting. We don’t need to go into too much detail here, but know that every Speedtail will be unique. This is expected though, especially for a price tag of at least £1.75 million. ( R27,261,000 at the time of writing)

Originally published at The Motorist.

McLaren Speedtail: Fastest McLaren ever made. was originally published in TheMotorist on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Meet the Volkswagen T-Cross, VW’S first ever small SUV aimed at urban life and living. Based on the MQB chassis, the T-Cross is much more compact than the Tiguan. From the first images we have seen the T-Cross looks fun and funky. While I’m not a fan of the rear, it has a fairly cute overall appeal. T-Cross is shorter than the T-Roc, making it better for city living. Its 4-metre length still provides enough space for 5 people, with the rear row of seats being able to slide 14cm to provide more leg room or more luggage space.

Four engine options are available, three petrol and one diesel. The two 1.0 TSI three-cylinder petrol engines generate 70 kW and 85 kW. T The top of the range model features a 1.5 TSI four-cylinder petrol motor producing 100kW. The singular diesel offering comes in form of a 1.6 TDI four-cylinder engine producing 70 kW. While the T-Cross is a small SUV, I worry that the two 1.0 TSI engine options won’t provide enough meat and leave the T-Cross feeling a little sluggish. Time will tell in this regard.

Standard tech on the T-Cross comes in truckloads. Safety systems such as Front Assist area monitoring system with Pedestrian Monitoring, City Emergency Braking System, the lane keeping assistant Lane Assist, Hill Start Assist, the proactive occupant protection system, and the Blind Spot Detection lane change assist system with the integrated Rear Traffic Alert are all standard. The Driver Alert System, adaptive cruise control and park assist are all optional extras. VW say the T-Cross has the “ highest level of networking and connectivity with the outside world”. We don’t exactly know what that means as yet. What we do know is the T-Cross comes with 4 USB ports. You can never have enough USB ports.

Production of the T-cross will take place in Navarra at VW’s Spanish Volkswagen. BY 2019, Volkswagen is set to invest some one billion euros there to assist the strong growth in the market of compact SUVs, with a 10% increase in job creation.

Volkswagen T-Cross in South Africa

The good news is that the T-Cross will be coming to South Africa in 2019. We don’t have pricing yet but we think the T-Cross will have a great appeal if the pricing is right. T-Cross will add to VW’s ever expanding range of SUVs. Whilst it varies around the world, in South Africa we now have Tiguan, Tiguan Allspace and Touareg.

Originally published at The Motorist.

Volkswagen T-Cross: VW’s first ever small SUV. was originally published in TheMotorist on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Updated 2019 Audi R8

It’s safe to say that the Audi R8 is one of the prettiest cars on the road. It’s only ever improved as every new model and facelift has been released to the world. This stands true with the 2019 Audi R8 released just today. The updated V10 R8 is also now much closer to its motorsport siblings, the R8 LMS GT3 and R8 LMS GT4, as it shares over 50% of parts from these track-bred machines.

Design

One will instantly notice a much-improved design of the 2019 Audi R8, sharper lines and harsher edges give the updated R8 an even sportier and aggressive look. It looks nimble, fast and ruthless. In my personal opinion, it looks fantastic and is a great evolution from the previous model.

Three exterior packages are available for customers of the new R8. These engine variant dependant packages add various highlights to the splitters and diffusers. If desired, the Audi badge can be specced in gloss black. There are also new paint colours in the range, Kemora Gray and Ascari Blue. 19" wheels are standard, with ultralight 20" rims available as an option.

Engines

The 2019 Audi R8 still features the glorious 5.2-litre V10 motor, but now with more power. The standard model now produces 419kW and 550N.m, an increase of 22kW and 10Nm. The Audi R8 V10 performance model has a different tune, with 456kW and 580N.m on tap. This power increase results in a 0–100 km/h time of 3.1 seconds.

Suspension

The suspension on the 2019 R8 has also undergone updates. The electromechanical power steering and optional dynamic steering has been tuned to provide more stability and precision when cornering. Depending on engine choice, three additional drive programs have been added to the drive select system. These modes are dry, wet and snow.

2019Audi R8 Pricing and Availability in South Africa.

Overall, the 2019 R8 offers a better all-round package. It looks better and produces more power, so what’s not to love? The new models will go on sale throughout Europe in early 2019, we don’t know when they will arrive in South Africa just yet. let’s hope for later next year.

Originally published at The Motorist.

Faster, Sharper and More Performance: 2019 Audi R8 was originally published in TheMotorist on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.