BMW 4 SERIES COUPE CONCEPT REVEALS ITSELF

The brand new BMW 3 Series Coupe is dead. Hail the new 4 Series Coupe. While the pictures you see here are purported to represent the 4 Series Coupe Concept, it’s pretty much a foregone conclusion that this is the actual car, bar one or two minor details. We aren’t sure where it will show up first but Detroit and Geneva are good bets.

This is the car upcoming which the new M4 will be based, while the M3badge will only appear on the four-doorsedan version. Just the same way that Audi differentiates its A4 and A5 models, so will the 3 Series remain a sedan, while the 4 takes on the coupe mantle. Following this logic means that instead of a 1 Series Coupe, we can expect to see a 2 Series Coupe in late 2013. By the same thought process, an M2 is also highly likely.

Getting back to the 4 Series, the engines will be similar in range to the 3 Series for the South African market. We think at some point in time there will be a 420i with 135kW, a 428i making 180kW, a 435i spitting 225kW, and a twin-turbo M4 worth over 330kW.

We really like the stitchingon this concept car, it looks very stylish, classic but modern at the same time. Very interesting. The woodensurfaces are awesome too, and so is the Alcantaraon the roof.

The BMW 4 Series will compete directly with the Audi A5 and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe when it goes on sale. A Convertible version can be expected in 2014.

TOYOTA DAKAR 2013 PREPARATIONS GOING WELL

The 34th running of the Dakar Rally in January 2013 will once again feature a number of intrepid South Africans and, notably, uniquely South African vehicles. These include two Toyota Hilux V8 double cab pickups designed and built for the Dakar by Kyalami-based Hallspeed for Toyota Motorsport and backed by Toyota, Imperial Toyota, Duxbury Netgear, SAA, Innovation Group and Toyota Financial Services.

The two Toyotas will be crewed by 2009 Dakar winners Giniel de Villiers and German co-driver Dirk von Zitzewitz and 2012 SA off road champions Duncan Vos and Rob Howie, the same team that finished a remarkable third and 10th respectively in the 2012 Dakar Rally in South America at Toyota’s first attempt at the world’s longest and toughest motor race.

The racing Hilux pickups represent the best of South African technological and engineering expertise and are the result of years of development and practical experience in the South African off road championship, considered one of the strongest national championships in the world.

They are based on the production version and utilise standard components wherever possible. Due to the nature of the Dakar and its uniquely demanding requirements they are modified to cope with the extreme conditions encountered in the 9 000 kilometre 15-day race through Peru, Argentina and Chile.  

Apart from the Group N engine, which is Toyota’s latest technology production 5,0-litre all-aluminium V8 fitted with a 36 mm air restrictor to meet Dakar regulations and a racing six-speed sequential gearbox from SADEV, built to Toyota Motorsport’s specifications, almost all the other components have been built in South Africa.

The engine is a showcase of modern technology and has a four variable cam system with the inlet cams controlled by electric motors and provides extremely accurate control over all rev ranges. Variable inlet cam length provides better and wider torque curve. The engine is fed by an electric throttle. 

The Dakar Hilux features a Land Cruiser based rear-mounted radiator. The braking system was upgraded for racing conditions by SA-based Power Brake and has 320 x 32 mm ventilated discs all round and 6-piston calipers front and rear.

The wiring harness was made race-ready by Toyota Motorsport. Because of the 170 degrees Centigrade under-bonnet temperatures, the highest spec aeronautical cable and heat shielding is used for the engine management harness.

Eight separate sub-harnesses make up the wiring system and in total there were 450 metres of wire and 37 separate electrical connectors. Each harness was designed on a computer and then made by hand. 

The safety roll cage was designed and built in-house using chrome-moly tubing. The cage is required for motor racing and not only provides safety but is also an integral part of the structure to increase torsional stiffness. The racing exhaust system, designed in-house, is handmade in the Toyota Motorsport workshop.

The vehicle is left-hand drive to conform to overseas export market requirements. Ground clearance has been raised to 300 mm and the vehicle conforms to the 1 975 kg weight class with two spare wheels fitted at the back. Special Rally Raid all-terrain competition tyres are made by Michelin.

The evolution version of the racing Hilux features a number of changes over the version that did so well in South America in January.

Team principal Glyn Hall explains: “The new Hilux is now probably 80% the same as when it finished the Dakar. “The 5-litre version of Toyota’s latest technology all-aluminium standard production V8 engine develops more torque than this year’s 4.6-litre version. This gives better performance in sand, but surprisingly makes little difference on gravel. The extra 40 kilograms puts us in a higher weight category, but doesn’t seem to hamper performance too much. 

“The rules for Dakar 2013 are more in our favour,” added Hall.  “In January this year we ran to the 2013 rules, with a standard production engine, while our main competitors didn’t, so they enjoyed a power advantage and better weight distribution. This time they will be a lot closer to us and the playing field will be more level. We get a bigger restrictor – 36 mm instead of 35 mm – which will also help us. 

“Changes we’ve made since the Dakar and tested in our national championship have made it a little easier to drive. We’ve got improved traction out of the corners, tighter turn-in and a better ride. We’re better off than we were at the end of this year’s race in terms of seconds per kilometre on gravel. 

“In the dunes, we are very happy with the elements we’ve tested. We must remember that in the gravel on the Dakar we were pretty close to the winning cars, so the dunes are still an area where we have to improve. 

“Although we’re proud of what we achieved in Dakar 2012, we’ve got to do better in 2013 and that’s a big challenge. There are a lot of good teams we have to beat and the competition is very strong. Toyota has committed to a three-year Dakar programme covering 2013 to 2015 and our aim is to win the race during this time.”

STORY BY TOYOTA

HYUNDAI INTRODUCES NEW ENTRY-LEVEL i20

One of the most popular 5-door hatchback car ranges in South Africa now offers even more for buyers in this segment of the local market thanks to the addition of a new, well equipped entry-level i20 by Hyundai Automotive South Africa.

The new Hyundai i20 1.2 Motion will extend the range to four derivatives when it takes its place next to the recently launched Hyundai i20 1.4 Fluid and the present range-topper, the i20 1.4 Glide.

Although the newcomer in the i20 range will create a new entry-level derivative in the range, this solid front wheel driven hatchback boasts a full features list, offering exceptional value for money. Apart from the smaller 4-cylinder 1.2-litre petrol engine and 5-speed manual gearbox, there is not much that sets the new i20 Motion apart from its 1.4 siblings.

Hyundai’s popular i20 supermini – intended to appeal to a new, younger group of car buyers – was launched in August with a new appearance after it was revised and refreshed both inside and out. The new i20 1.2 Motion now joins the i20 1.4 Fluid, which is available with a choice between a 6-speed manual and 4-speed automatic gearbox; and the i20 1.4 Glide with its 6-speed manual gearbox.

“After the launch of the refreshed i20 earlier in 2012, it was a logical step to see how we can expand the range and to offer an entry-level derivative with a good specification level, but at a price that would appeal to many people out there who have shown an interest in one of Hyundai’s best-sellers,” says Stanley Anderson, marketing director of Hyundai Automotive South Africa.

“The i20 is a solid, well-designed and spacious hatchback that offers good fuel economy, a class-leading warranty, roadside assistance and a service plan. If you throw in the many features of the i20 1.2 Motion, it is an option that cannot be ignored.”

Hyundai’s new i20 Motion is equipped with a 1.2-litre, 16-valve, double overhead camshaft petrol engine that delivers 64kW (similar to some competitors’ 1.4-litre engines) at 6 000rpm and a peak torque figure of 120Nm at 4 000rpm. The i20 Fluid and Glide derivatives are equipped with Hyundai’s 73kW 1.4-litre petrol engine.

Exterior changes that distinguish the Motion from its Fluid and Glide partners include black door handles and exterior rear view mirror housings, 14-inch steel rims with attractive silver wheel covers, and a side indicator light fitted to the front side panels instead of being integrated into the rear view mirror housings as with the Fluid and Glide derivatives.

STORY BY HYUNDAI

MASERATI QUATTROPORTE ENGINES REVEALED

The new Maserati Quattroporte comes to Mzansi at the beginning of 2013, featuring an evolutionary but yet new look. Quattroporte is Italian for “four doors” and the car essentially competes in the same space as the likes of Audi A8, BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

Launch vehicles will feature two engines, one based on the Pentastar V6. Pentastar remember, is Chrysler’s engine family, and since both Chrysler and Maserati are owned by Fiat, they will share some engines. So the V6 is a twin turbo type 3.0-litre making 301kW at 5500rpm and 550Nmof torque at 1750rpm. Suddenly we are talking about a 0 – 100km/h sprint time of 5.3 seconds and a top end of 285 km/h. The car has an 8-speed automatic gearbox.

Bigger brother V8 twin turbo uses a slightly bigger 3.8-litre motor for his 390kW at 6500rpm and 649Nm at 2000rpm. The V8 has an overboost action for overtaking which takes things up to 710Nm. For its troubles it will go from 0 – 100km/h in just 4.9 seconds and top off at 307km/h, thus leaving the Germans behind with their limited-to 250km/h speeds.

BEEFY 2013 AUDI RS 6 AVANT BREAKS THROUGH!

Audi has revealed the all-new RS 6 Avant! This car is Audi’s direct competitor to the BMW M5 (412kW) and Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG (386kW), both of which are considered to be awesome Q cars. The new RS 6 will be available in South Africa next year, probably before June. We have some details, including power, specs and performance.

The new RS 6 ditches its old 5.2-litre twin turbo V10for a smaller 4.0-litre twin turbo V8, the same engine found in the new S6, S7and S8, as well as the cousin Bentley GT V8. In total it delivers some 412kW of power between 5700rpm and 6700rpm, and 700Nm of peak torque between 1750rpm and 5500rpm. Drive is by quattro all-wheel-drive, assisted by an 8-speed Tiptronicgearbox, for a 0 – 100kmh sprint time of 3.9 seconds, according to Audi. Of course top speed is limited to 250km/h but you can get a something called the Dynamic package that releases you to 305km/h.

Audi claims a fuel average of 9.8 litres per 100km, which is an astonishing 40% improvement over the old V10. Some of the reasons cited for this include a weight-saving of 100kgfrom the previous car, as well as the use of cylinder deactivation technology. Only when high-performing does the full V8 compliment apply. In normal traffic only four cylinders are active, making the car kind of like an A6 2.0 TFSI. That’s not a bad thing at all by the way.

Some features included in the RS 6 Avant are aluminium interior trim with plush Alcantara sports seats, MMI info system, head-up display and a 15-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system. Outside you’ll find 20-inch alloy wheels, a honeycomb mesh front grille, brushed aluminium side mirrors and detailing, and of course those two orgasmic oval tailpipes on each side at the rear.

Audi has been known to release the Avant version of the RS 6 ahead of the sedan, so don’t stress if you don’t like wagons. In any case, South Africa is likely to only receive the sedans anyway.