Author: Car and Bike SA

BMW’s new ‘Concept Link’ scooter

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Think scooter meets smartphone BMW Motorrad Concept Linkby visordown YOU’RE riding your motorcycle (or scooter) when suddenly you realise you don’t know where your next appointment is. If only your motorcycle (or scooter) knew. No, we’ve never thought this either. But BMW Motorrad has never been one to let mere demand dictate innovation and so the German firm has just unveiled this, an electric scooter concept that ‘keeps the rider connected while riding, thereby expanding his mobile world by providing him with new opportunities’. See, you want it now, don’t you? Called…

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Renault shows off new Megane RS in Monaco

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Five-door layout, auto and manual options confirmed for French GTI rival. Renault has fired its first shots in a looming hot hatch battle, presenting the new Megane RS to Formula One spectators at the Monaco Grand Prix. Nico Hulkenberg, star driver for Renault’s F1 program, punted a mildly disguised example of the upcoming model around the circuit during a celebration of the brand’s grand prix history. The 2015 Le Mans winner seemed happy with the car, telling Renault publicists he was “hooked first time out by the excellence of its…

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Inside Mercedes-AMG’s F1-powered supercar

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New machine to feature more than 736kW of hybrid power The new $3.4 million Mercedes-AMG hypercar, known under the internal working name Project One, will be powered by an advanced petrol-electric plug in hybrid drivetrain based around an Formula One derived petrol engine that operates in combination with four electric motors to deliver an overall output of over 736kW in most performance orientated driving mode, AMG boss Tobias Moers has confirmed. The hi-tech driveline, unveiled at a media event at the Nurburgring 24 Hour race in Germany, uses a heavily…

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New BMW 8-Series line-up, M8 super coupe #BMW #M8

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BMW’s M division has wasted little time in making public its plans for the new 8-Series by unleashing an early camouflaged prototype of its upcoming M8 in the support program for this year’s Nurburgring 24 hour race. The impromptu appearance of the M8 prototype at the circuit where much of the chassis development work on the new performance coupe is set to take place comes just two days after the Concept 8-Series design study was unveiled as a preview to the forthcoming 8-Series at the Concorso d’Eleganza in Como, Italy.…

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Rolls-Royce unveils world’s most expensive new car at Over R220 million

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Yacht-inspired Sweptail the ultimate in bespoke luxury. This could be the most expensive car in the world. Tipped to cost R220 Million to R260 million, the bespoke Rolls-Royce Sweptail coupe is a limited-edition one-of-one machine created to satisfy the vision of a particularly exacting customer. Making its public debut at the Concorso d’Eleganza at Villa d’Este in Lake Como, the machine features hand-crafted bodywork  inspired by racing yachts. Dramatically sculpted lines see glossy blue panels and immaculate bright work meet a full-length panoramic roof unlike any other car on sale. Rolls-Royce…

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MotoGP racer Nicky Hayden dies after being hit by car while training on bicycle

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Former MotoGP world champion Nicky Hayden died in hospital on Monday, five days after he was hit by a car while training on his bicycle. Hayden was 35. Maurizio Bufalini Hospital in Cesena, where Hayden had been since the collision last Wednesday, made the announcement. Hayden had severe cerebral damage and multiple traumatic injuries. “The medical team has verified the death of the patient Nicholas Patrick Hayden, who has been undergoing care since last Wednesday May 17 in the intensive care unit of the Bufalini Hospital in Cesena following a very serious polytrauma which occurred the same day,” the hospital…

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Honda updates CRF450R

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HONDA HAS just announced its upgraded CRF450R motocross bike, which now comes with an electric starter for the first time. The electric starter is powered by a light lithium ion battery and has benefitted from a weight saving due to the removal of the kickstart. Honda has also toyed with front a rear suspension settings, ‘for more agile handling’, it says. The changes are incremental, but build on the 2017 version of the CRF450R, which was the first significant redesign of the CRF450R for eight years thanks with new chassis…

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KTM reveals world’s first two-stroke fuel-injected enduro bikes

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TWO-strokes are dead, right? Apparently not. KTM has this morning revealed the world’s first fuel-injected two-stroke enduro bikes, the 300 EXC TPI and 250 EXC TPI. The Austrian firm says the 2018 competition machines use two injectors into cylinder ports to reduce fuel consumption, make the engine smoother and eliminate the need for pre-mix fuel or jet changes for different environments. KTM off-road marketing head Joachim Sauer said: “It is a very proud moment for us to unveil the world’s first serial electronic fuel injection two-stroke off-road competition bikes. “We at…

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KTM 125 Duke review – first thoughts

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VISORDOWN’S Simon Greenacre’s just spent a morning riding KTM’s updated 2017 125 Duke at the launch in Italy. Here are hist first thoughts: ‘This is a 125 that feels truly premium, desirable, competent and exciting. ‘It looks gorgeous, has a nice ride quality from its new WP suspension and an engine that’s sure to have any youth pretending they’re on a 1290 SDR. ‘It needs to be revved hard, and although that’s sometimes a pain, it also gives the 125 a character that draws you in. ‘The TFT colour screen is…

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New Honda CBR600RR image appears in Japan

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THERE’S nothing like a bit of wild speculation to start the week, so here’s the front cover of the latest issue of Japanese magazine Young Machine, which shows a new Honda CBR600RR. We can’t say for sure what’s going on here, but we’ll hazard a guess and say that it looks like Young Machine is claiming some inside knowledge about the future of Honda’s middleweight sports bike. It’s even created an image suggesting what the new CBR600RR might look like and as you can see, it’s heavily based on the…

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French company developing rotary-engined hybrid motorcycle

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Furion M1 will use rotary and electric power for up to 180hp FRENCH company Furion Motorcycles wants to make the bike of the future and is currently developing a hybrid motorcycle that it’s working to bring to market. Called the Furion M1, the naked machine will be powered by ‘the exotic interbreeding’ of a 654cc two-rotor rotary engine offering about 125hp and 40kw electric engine powered by lithium batteries, offering around 55hp. The M1’s two power sources are housed in a steel trellis frame. Power and consumption will depend on what mode…

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Yamaha ‘Tracer GT’ Coming to soon!

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YAMAHA has filed a trademarked application for the name ‘Tracer GT’, raising the prospect of a touring edition of the MT-10. The firm already produces the Tracer 700 and Tracer 900, touring spec versions of the MT-07 and MT-09, but has yet to give the MT-10 the same treatment. As the MT-10 uses the frame and engine from the current YZF-R1, a Tracer version would mean a tourer based on the same superbike platform. Yamaha currently offers a touring edition of the MT-10 (pictured above) using parts from the accessories range including…

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Toyota has unleashed its inner-child to create a real-life Tonka truck.

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The Japanese brand has converted one of its HiLux utes into a big, yellow, go-anywhere off-roader to celebrate the popularity of the dual-cab workhorse and celebrate Tonka’s 70th anniversary. The Tonka HiLux also serves a serious purpose, highlighting Toyota’s investment in its 150-strong product planning and development division that is still active in Australia despite the impending closure of its manufacturing facilities. Australian product design chief Nicolas Hogios was in charge of the project and explained it was about showing the brand’s fun side. “We have taken Tonka out of…

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New Hyundai baby SUV to be named Kona?

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Hyundai has revealed that its baby SUV will be named Kona. Set to arrive locally in the third quarter of 2017, the model will be based on Hyundai’s i30, which could make the car slightly larger than the Mazda2-based Mazda CX-3 that has proved popular locally. The Kona is expected to build on technology offered in the next-generation i30, offering advanced driver aids as well as a premium infotainment system. Following in the footsteps of the Tucson and Santa Fe SUVs named after geological locations, the new model takes inspiration…

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New KTM adventure bikes arriving in May

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The R versions of the 1090 and 1290 first, followed by the 1290 S KTM’s updated adventure fare will start going on sale locally in May 2017, with the 1090 R and 1290 R the first two slated to hit dealer floors, followed by the street-focussed 1290 S – in very limited numbers – a few weeks later. Prices are still to be announced, while KTM says the base model 1090 won’t be sold , nor will the 1290 Adventure T (as in touring). KTM unveiled its updated 1090 and…

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The South African Launch of the 2017 Alfa Romeo is a must-win event for the century-old Italian carmaker. So what’s it like?

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The global launch of the all new Alfa Romeo Giulia isn’t just a big deal, it’s quite possibly a make or break moment for the century-old Italian car manufacturer. None of Alfa’s top-line executives were prepared to put a precise figure on the investment in the model, suffice to say that billions have been invested in a completely new modular architecture dubbed ‘Giorgio’, which not only underpins the rear-wheel drive Giulia, but an entire Alfa Romeo family including a raft of new sedans, coupes, and SUVs that will soon follow.…

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Harley-Davidson swaps out chrome for black in 2017 Road King Special

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BOB WEBER SUPPLIED The 2017 Harley-Davidson Road King Special. Harley-Davidson has gone to black with the 2017 Road King Special. Swapping out chrome for black on its most popular model, the new Road King Special motorcycle moves Harley-Davidson’s touring line in a new styling direction, with a more contemporary look. “By exchanging chrome surfaces for black and lowering the bike’s profile, we’ve moved the traditional Road King into a new space that’s very current in the custom bagger scene,” said Brad Richards, Harley-Davidson vice president of styling and design. SUPPLIED…

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Triumph Thruxton R is a better way to race to the cafe

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TRIUMPH THRUXTON R Engine: 1200cc liquid-cooled eight-valve fuel-injected parallel twin, 72kW (96bhp) at 6750rpm and 112Nm at 4950rpm Transmission: Six-speed sequential gearbox, chain final drive. Frame: Steel-tube twin cradle frame and oval-section aluminium rear swingarm; 43mm Showa fully-adjustable BPF front forks with 120mm of travel, Twin fully-adjustable Ohlins rear shocks with 120mm of travel. Hot: The heritage-sportsbike comes of age with the Thruxton R, and never has history, performance, quality, ease-of-use, and design been so skilfully combined. Not: Pseudo-carburettors and pretend pre-unit crankcases will offend purists; brake set-up could have unleashed further stopping power; pillion accommodation optional. For most of last year,…

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Five fine lightweight motorcycle tourers you can buy in South Africa

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BY PAUL OWEN While riding the leviathan Harley-Davidson Ultra Limited the other day recently, I began to mentally compile a list of the five bikes that are today’s finest lightweight tourers. Now, the 400kg Ultra is quite possibly the greatest American touring bike ever made (review pending), but I’d find all that mass hard to live with over the long term. I prefer bikes that are easier to park up (and easier to pick up again if you have to). Getting to the digs du noir is awesome on bikes…

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2018 Jeep Compass

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Better than before, and that’s no backhanded compliment. For some, saying goodbye is easier said than done. Just ask Jeep. Despite the arrival of this all-new, second-generation 2017 Jeep Compass crossover SUV, the brand will keep selling the first-generation Compass also as a 2017 model before sending that decade-old ute to the great scrap heap in the sky. Consumers may be confused. We, however, are happy to bid adieu to the lackluster first-generation Compass, as well as its boxier twin, the Jeep Patriot. Like its predecessor and short-term stablemate, the…

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