Month: February 2017

New Volvo S90 saloon 2017 review

Car and Bike SA
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We put the new Volvo S90 executive saloon through its paces, but should BMW, Audi and Mercedes be worried? Volvo is right to deny SA buyers the T6, because a four-cylinder turbocharged petrol executive saloon of this size would sell in tiny numbers. However, there’s plenty of promise in the S90 package as a whole, and we’re not about to revise the view, gleaned from that winter drive a few months back, that you should give Volvo’s new flagship saloon serious consideration if you’re in the market for a 5…

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Volkswagen I.D. Buzz Concept First Look: Gratefully Undead

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Might the MEB Platform Finally Bring us a Modern Microbus? by Frank Markus Words We’ve been teased with the Microbus Concept 2001, Bulli (2011), and at last year’s CES, the BUDD-e—all were takes on Volkswagen’s iconic original air-cooled, rear-engine Type 2 bus. Each troweled on plenty of design cues to evoke the hippy original, but the first two were attempting to drape that monospace design over a conventional front-drive combustion powertrain, and even the BUDD-e, which was said to be electric, failed to eliminate the traditional hood and grille—two absolute…

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Audi Q8 Concept First Look: Getting in on the Fastback SUV Game

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Concept Closely Previews Production Model Erick Ayapana Words Audi had a lot of metal to show at the 2017 Detroit Auto Show, but the Q8 e-tron concept was the debut that stole the spotlight. The coupe-inspired crossover closely previews a production model slated to arrive sometime next year, built on the same modular platform that underpins the Audi Q7. The automaker says the Audi Q8 concept is a mix of coupe-like styling with a few elements harkening back to the vintage Ur-quattro as well. For starters, the wide C-pillar is…

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Yamaha YZF-R15 V 3.0 launch still months away

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The Indonesian arm of Yamaha recently unveiled the YZF-R15 V3.0 and that got a lot of us excited. But it looks like this motorcycle won’t be launched in South Africa immediately. Car and bike spoke with a few Yamaha SA officials at the launch of the FZ25 regarding the YZF-R15 V2.0. The officials said that they were happy with the sales performance of the YZF-R15 V2.0, especially of the YZF-R15 S version. There’s enough demand for this entry-level fully-faired motorcycle from across the country. Due to this, the company isn’t really focusing on getting the YZF-R15 V3.0…

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2017 Benelli TNT15 unveiled

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Benelli has unveiled the 2017 TNT15. Sold in Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia and Vietnam, the TNT15 has been positioned between the TNT135 mini bike and the quarter-litre streetfighter – the TNT25. The TNT 15 is built around a new trestle frame like its siblings. Benelli has penned the TNT 15’s design along the lines of its bigger streetfighter siblings. The headlamp sports a familiar design with a pilot lamp at the bottom and a small visor on top. While the old instrument cluster was similar to the one on…

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2017 Volkswagen Amarok range revealed

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German brand details facelifted four-cylinder workhorse ute line-up. by Dom Tripolone Volkswagen rolls tweaked styling and fresh tech into its Amarok range. Following on from the arrival of the new range-topping V6-powered Amarok Ultimate late last year, the German car makers has extended the styling cues and in-car features to the rest of the range. The 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel remains unchanged, with two different tunes of the four-cylinder available. The TDI400 produces 132kW of power and 400Nm of torque while the more potent TDI420 version boasts 132kW and 420Nm. The former is…

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BMW i3 vs Nissan Leaf Battle of the EV’s in SA

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Battery-powered BMW i3 goes head-to-head with the Nissan Leaf in hi-tech electric car shoot-out The buzz surrounding electric cars is increasing all the time. More new models than ever are being launched, while lots of brave buyers are taking the plunge. So it’s no surprise that BMW has jumped on the eco-friendly bandwagon with its bold i3 hatchback. We’ve already been impressed by the petrol-electric range-extending version, so expectations are high for the all-electric model. Boasting the same advanced carbon fibre-reinforced plastic structure, jaw-dropping looks and cleverly packaged interior as…

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