Mazda has begun developing a new range of vehicles that will adopt their full range of breakthrough SKYACTIV Technologies and the new design theme; ‘KODO – Soul of Motion’. The first of these vehicles is a completely new CX-5, a compact crossover SUV with new chassis, body, engine and transmission, which will make it’s debut at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor show on the 13th of September.

Powering the CX-5, for the European market, will be a SKYACTIV-G 2.0 litre petrol engine as well as a SKYACTIVE-D 2.2 litre diesel engine, with an option of Standard power or High power. The focus for this vehicle was attaining exceptional environmental performance for a compact SUV, with the diesel option aiming at 120g/km CO2 emissions.

As mentioned before, the new Mazda CX-5 will be the first vehicle to showcase the ‘KODO – Soul of Motion’ design theme. Included in this theme is a prominent new frontal treatment and bolder Mazda family face. The styling will be more dynamic which will emphasize vitality and agility.

Joining the stand at the debut of the Mazda CX-5 in Frankfurt will be the upgraded Mazda3, which will feature reduced CO2 emissions, improved driving dynamics and an upgraded exterior and interior. Look for more information on the all-new Mazda CX-5 as it becomes available.

Source: Mazda

The MPV segment in South Africa just got a new entry with the introduction of Chevrolet’s new Orlando. Chev have designed the Orlando with a bit of a twist, aiming to be a MPV at heart but Crossover vehicle in style. With Chevrolet recently hitting a global sales record, it seems they are not slowing down at all and are looking to compete in as many vehicle classes as possible.

Styling-wise, the new Orlando keeps with the “Chev” style split radiator grille and bow-tie badge. It has a low roof-line with a crossover inspired silhouette and prominent wheel arches. Inside the Orlando lends from other Chev cars, with its dual cockpit layout being taken from the Corvette. The 3 rows of seats are ‘theatre-style’, which maximizes the interior space for up to 7 passengers and a large load carrying area. These theatre-style seats in the 2nd and 3rd rows can be raised and lowered to provide the passengers will improved views out of the vehicle.

As well as having the raising capability in the 2nd and 3rd row of seats, they can also be folded down independently to create a flat load area and further improve the load space of the vehicle. With these seats folded down the capacity of the Orlando is 1 499 litres, making it one of the best in the monocab MPV segment.

At launch the Chev Orlando comes with a 1.8 litre fuel-efficienct 16-valve petrol engine with multi-point fuel injection. The engine produces 104 kW at 6200rpm and 176 Nm of torque at 3800rpm. The transmission is a 5-speed manual and the fuel economy clocks in at 7.2 litres/100km with 171g/km of CO2 emsissions.

Pricing for the new Chevrolet Orlando in South Africa is as follows:

Orlando 1.8 LS MT R254,400
Orlando 1.8 LT MT R295,000

Source: Chevrolet

Following on from the success of the current Ford Focus, the updated model looks to maintain a winning formula by improving on fuel economy, styling and driving quality. The current Focus was extremely well received world-wide, so the new model has something to live up to.

Among the list of changes to the new model Focus is an improved streamlined shape and steeply raked windscreen. This has reduced drag and optimized the aerodynamics of the car as well as reduced wind noise and improved fuel efficiency. The stiffness of the body structure has also been improved which has lead to less noise and vibration when driving at high speeds as well as increased the body rigidity by 30%.

Inside the new Ford Focus, the driver is greeted by a cockpit style interior, with centre console allowing easy access to the cars major controls. There is a big emphasis on safety inside the new Focus, with airbags available for the driver and front passenger as well as side front airbags and side curtain airbags (only available in the Trend and Sport models) for the front and rear seat passengers.

The overall driving experience has also been improved through a number of advancements. The Focus’ cornering stability has been improved through the Torque Vectoring Control system, which constantly balances the torque distribution between the front wheels to reduce understeer. The suspension has been retuned and improved, with new designs being implemented for the Control Blade Independent rear suspension. Lastly there is a new Electric Power Assisted Steering system which has also been improved to increase steering response and precision at high speeds.

The fuel economy has also been improved along with an improvement in performance for the engine options available. There is a new 2.0 litre GDi (Gasoline Direct injection) petrol engine as well as a 2.0 litre Duratorq TDCi common rail turbo diesel engine, both engines are mated to the latest 6-speed PowerShift automated transmission. However the most impressive engine choice available with regards to fuel economy will be the 1.6 litre Duratec Ti-VCT engine, which has seen an impressive fuel reduction compared to the outgoing Focus 1.8 litre engine.

There will be 8 different models to choose from at launch, with 4 hatches and 4 sedans. Look for the new Ford Focus in South African dealerships soon.

Source: Ford

Chalk another one up for the list of special editions released recently, this time Ford bring us the Fiesta Sport Special Edition. The standard Fiesta has seen a massive amount of success in South Africa and Europe, so the sport special edition should fit in perfectly.

What’s special about the Fiesta Sport Special Edition? First up it comes with a number of 1.6 litre engine options, including a Duratec Ti-VCT petrol engine, with an output of 134PS at 6 700rpm and 160Nm of torque at 4 250rpm. This engine along with close-ratio gearing and a re-developed exhaust system allow the car to complete 0-100km/h in just 8.7 seconds and top off at 195km/h.

Style-wise, the Ford Fiesta Sport Special Edition comes with a full styling kit. The side skirts have been lowered, the front bumper and rear hatch now come with distinctive spoilers topped off by a silver-coloured front grille surround. There is also aerofoil, fog lamp bezels and twin exhausts. The alloy wheels are ‘Panther Black’ and are 17 inch on the petrol version and 16 inch on the TDCi versions. Inside there are ‘Ebony Black’ heated leather sports seats and a leather steering wheel with glossy black spokes as well as a number of other features.

The Ford Fiesta Sport Special Edition is currently available in Europe; we can only hope it will make it as a used car in South Africa at some point.

Source: Ford

June seems to be the month of special editions, with Fiat and Citroen already releasing limited editions of the 500 and DS3 respectively. It makes sense then that it is the turn of the 4×4 powerhouse Land Rover to bring us the 2011 Defender Limited Edition .South African used car buyers love off-road and 4×4 vehicles, so the Limited Edition Defender should be an easy sale.

The 2011 Land Rover Limited Edition is available in either Zermatt Silver or Nara bronze with Santorini black finish on the roof and wheel arches. For the first time the Defender will be available in 16 inch ‘Saw Tooth’ alloy wheels, which will create “a sense of raw utilitarianism”, according to Land Rover. Which has to rank as one of the most “creative” descriptions of a vehicles wheels that there has ever been.

Inside you have the colour options of either Ebony, to compliment the Zermatt Silver exterior, or a 2 tone Ebony and Almond option, to compliment the Nara Bronze exterior. The leather side-bolstered seats are added to once again increase the overall styling of the vehicle.

The engine in the Land Rover Defender Limited Edition is a 2.4 common-rail diesel which produces 360Nm of torque. The Defender has been engineered focusing specifically on performance, fuel efficiency and reducing the exhaust emissions, emphasizing Land Rover’s commitment to sustainability.

The Land Rover Defender Limited Edition is currently on sale for R439 995.

Source: Land Rover

The 5th generation BMW M5, the most successful high-performance saloon in the premium segment of the executive class has been let out of its cage. The high-performance and dynamic 4-door sports car has received a number of improvements but none as much as the improvement in fuel economy.

Under the hood the new BMW M5 comes with a newly developed high-performance 4.4 litre V8 engine with M TwinPower Turbo package. The turbo package consists of Twin Scroll Twin Turbo technology, cross-bank exhaust manifold, high precision direct injection and Valvetronic full variable valve control. All of this results in 412 kW (560 hp) output at 6 000 to 7 000 rpm and a maximum torque of 680 Newton metres from 1 500 rpm of lag-free power. Which allows the BMW M5 to complete 0-100km/h in just 4.4 seconds and 0-200km/h in 13 seconds, with a top speed of 250km/h (305 km/h with the M Drivers package).

The M5’s fuel economy has received the most love though, with the average fuel consumption clocking in at 9.9 litres / 100km, which is close to a 30% improvement over the previous model. Improvements have been made to the Efficient Dynamics technology, as well as including Auto Start-Stop function as well as Brake Energy Regeneration.

As with many of the new BMW cars, the new BMW M5 comes with a number of driver assistance systems, including: BMW ConnectedDrive, M-specific HUD (as standard), BMW Night Vision (with pedestrian recognition), Lane changing and lane departure warning system as well as internet connectivity.

Look for more information and details on a local release date as they become available.

Source: BMW

The new range of Renault Sandero’s are now available and come with a number of improvements on the previous range. As always though Renault cars South Africa focuses on affordability, value and spaciousness, with particular emphasis on spaciousness, something that is not always present in other hatchbacks in the segment. The new Sandero has the best-in-class interior accommodation and luggage space, a factor that should set it apart in its class.

The engine options available for the 2011 Sandero include:

The 1.4 Ambiance, which is the only car in its category to be fitted with ABS brakes, with electronic brake force distribution as well as driver and front passenger airbags. The 1.4 litre 4 cylinder engine produces 55kW at 5 500 r/min allowing it to complete 0-100km/h in 13 seconds and maxing out at 161km/h. The average fuel consumption comes in at 7 litres/100km and its CO2 emissions run at 164 g/km.

For some extra oomph, the 1.6 Dynamique is also available. It is the only car in its category to come with 15 inch alloy wheels as standard and has the largest dimensions in its class. It is powered by a 1 598cc 8-valve multi-point fuel injected engine that produces 64 kW at 5 500 r/min, this results in a 0-100km/h time of just 11.5 seconds and a top speed of 175km/h. The average fuel consumption is only slightly higher than the 1.4, clocking in at 7.2 litres/100km.

Topping off the range is the more stylish 1.6 Stepway. Compared to the Dynamique; the Stepway’s ride height is increased by 20mm, the wheels are 16 inch alloy, front fog lights have been included along with black/satin chrome roof bars. Additional satin chrome finishes round off the door mirrors, door handles, front and back skid plates and exhaust outlet.

These 3 models are available with the following prices

1.4 Amiance R104 900
1.6 Dynamique R124 900
1.6 Stepway R149 900

Source: Renault

The SLS AMG Roadster has been the worst kept secret for a long time now but finally Mercedes-Benz have released the full official details. As we mentioned in a previous article, the gull-wing doors have been replaced by a soft-top, the body is an aluminum space frame and the whole package looks rather impressive.

The SLS AMG Roadster is powered by a 6.3 litre naturally aspirated 8-cylinder engine which produces 563 hp and 479 pound-feet of torque. The transmission is a 7-speed dual-clutch transaxle, together with a sports suspension with aluminum double wishbones that results in some serious performance. The suspension setup can be configured by the driver using the AMG Drive Unit, the suspension options include: Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus.

The interior has been decked out to resemble the cockpit of an aircraft, the dashboard is in the shape of a wing, the air vents resemble jet engines and the E-Select lever is in the shape of an aircraft’s thrust control. The centre console displays a wealth of information to the driver, including: displaying engine oil, engine output and torque, tyre pressure, acceleration from 0-100km/h as well as perhaps most impressive, recording individual lap times.

The biggest departure from the Merc car SLS AMG is obviously the inclusion of the soft-top. The fabric soft-top can be opened and closed and only takes 11 seconds to complete and can be done on the move, at speeds of up to 31mph. The soft-top, which is available in black, red and beige, stores itself behind the seats and is folded in a Z-configuration. The top has a continuous flexible water pocket that directs rainwater to the underbody via 2 apertures on each side.

Look for more information closer to the release date.

Source: Mercedes-Benz

Having previously created tuned versions of the Ferrari 458, Porsche GT2 and Porsche Panamera, Oakley Design have now set their sights on the Lamborghini Aventador and produced something quite special. The Aventador is an extreme vehicle to start with, so Oakley settled on minor adjustments and improvements that keep with the cars original feel.

The tuned LP760-2 will unfortunately only be limited to 5 cars, with 3 of those already sold. Oakley do note that individual parts will still be made available for those looking to do their own modifying. As it always seems to be the case with these special edition cars, each will have a unique numbered plaque noting which number it is in the production.

As far as changes go on this design, the wheel width has been increased to 9.5 inch at the front and 13.0J at the rear, creating a wider footprint and increasing mechanical grip. Further changes, including the use of ultra-light forged alloy and suspension upgrade alternatives have resulted in the kerb weight been reduced by about 85kg. The 2 Plastic front and rear bumper trims, as well as the side air intakes have been extended to increase cooling.

Onto performance, it seems that Oakley were not satisfied with the Aventador’s output of 690bhp and 690Nm of torque and look to increase those figures to 760bhp and 745Nm of torque. This is achieved by an ECU remap optimizing a larger airbox, intake feed pipe diameter and a titanium exhaust, which has also reduced weight by over 30kg.

Source: Oakley Design

The new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster is only set to make it’s world premier at the Frankfurt/Main International Motor Show in September, but pictures and information of the vehicle testing have already been released.
The gull-wing doors and the fixed roof have obviously been dropped which had lead to certain challenges and increased testing for the Merc designers.

Being a soft-top one of the biggest challenges was bodyshell rigidity and the handling of the vehicle, as well as providing the same superior driving dynamics experienced in the coupe’ version. “Without bodyshell rigidity there are no handling dynamics, and neither can the close fit of the soft top be guaranteed” comments Tobias Moers, head of development.

Mercedes Cars tackled this problem with the following 2 features that would ultimately increase the rigidity of the bodyshell: Firstly the cross-member carrying the dashboard has additional supporting struts at the windscreen frame and centre tunnel. Secondly, the strut mounting stay between the soft top and the fuel tank has improved the rigidity of the rear axle. This has led to a reduction in vibration, as well as allowing the top to be safely opened and closed while driving up to 50km/h.

Look for more information on the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster closer to its official release.

Source: Mercedes-Benz