Category: News

Meet the woman in charge of designing the Honda NSX supercar

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It’s hard to imagine any job more trustingly phallic or back-slappingly blokey than designing super cars. If you had to picture the process it would be a room full of men with beards and expensive pencils making “grrr” and “yeah” sounds in caveman voices, which is why it’s such a revelation to discover that the newest super car on the block, Honda’s reimagined NSX, was largely the work of a woman whose first design job was sketching prom dresses. Michelle Christensen the exterior design project leader for the fast and…

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2017 Volvo V90 Cross Country revealed

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Raised V90 wagon set for Australian debut in the first half of 2017. As far as crossover models go, the jumped-up wagon is as niche of a model as it is rare. Only a handful of car makers such as Subaru, Peugeot, and the Volkswagen Group produces such models that offer a particular blend of SUV-like ground clearance and capability, without the typical bulkiness and high seating position. Even so crossover wagons have become a constant fixture to Volvo’s model line-up with their ‘Cross Country’ derivatives, and their new V90…

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The 678-HP McLaren MSO HS is a 675LT on Steroids

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Only 25 MSO HS models will be built, each entirely customized to the owner’s wishes. The McLaren 675LT is an outstanding car. It impressed us on our first drive, and somehow, it’s even faster than the obscenely quick 650S. Twenty-five lucky owners, however, have been given the opportunity to purchase a car that’s even more hardcore and entirely customized—the McLaren MSO HS. McLaren Special Operations (or MSO) is where you go if you want to add a few bespoke touches to your car. But the HS goes even further, starting…

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Another Tesla Autopilot Accident Raises Serious Questions

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There was yet another Tesla Autopilot accident in Detroit, just a few days after news of the first Autopilot fatality. Involving a Tesla Model X, Albert Scaglione and his son-in-law Tim Yanke survived the crash. According to Detroit police, the Tesla Model X crashed and rolled over on the Pennsylvania Turnpike last Friday, as reported by the Detroit Free Press. With the first Tesla Autopilot accident under investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the latest accident could lead to more official action. Although the Detroit art gallery owner and his son…

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NTSB Publishes First Report on Fatal Tesla Autopilot Crash

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The preliminary report indicates Joshua Brown’s Tesla was doing 74 in a 65 zone, though speed is not indicated as a factor in the crash. The driver of a Tesla Motors Model S killed while using its semi-autonomous Autopilot feature was exceeding the speed limit at the time of the crash, according to a preliminary report issued by the National Transportation Safety Board on Tuesday. System performance data showed that Joshua Brown was traveling 74 mph along a Florida highway just prior to colliding with a tractor trailer that crossed…

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Every Angle of the Jeep Wrangler Pickup Truck

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We’ve been waiting to see this for months. The wait is over. Meet the Jeep Wrangler Pickup. Earlier this year, Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne confirmed that the Jeep Wrangler Pickup was finally happening. Now, we present you with a very early look at the Wrangler Pickup everyone’s wanted forever. This is obviously a heavily camouflaged prototype, but it’s the real deal.  Chris Doane Automotive  Jeep has been teasing enthusiasts with pickup truck concepts for over a decade now, but with the next-generation Wrangler–which is set to debut in non-pickup…

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Porsche Left a Cheeky Message On the 911 GT3 That Acura Bought to Develop the NSX

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“Good luck, Honda . . .” A note to any automakers benchmarking cars built by Porsche: They will find you, and they’ll probably leave you goofy messages hidden somewhere in the car. That’s what happened when the 911 GT3 Acura was using to help develop the NSX’s steering went back to the dealer for a recall service. As many automakers do, Acura bought its 911 GT3 anonymously, but Porsche was able to figure out who it belonged to when it looked at the car’s black-box data, according to Automotive News.…

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Ten Car Performance Fads That Need to Go Away

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Say no to phony performance badges. As long as there’s been a car culture in America, there have been trendy add-ons and gimmicky products meant to make cars look and sound racier than they really are. These are the worst of the worst. From: Popular Mechanics 1 Gauge Overload It’s smart to keep tabs on your engine. After all, the engine is the heart of the car. Honestly, though, most of the gauges needed to monitor the general workings of the car come straight from factory. If the engine has…

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VW Golf GTI Clubsport (2016) Specs and Pricing

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Local specs and official pricing for Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport The Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport was launched in South Africa on 1 July 2016 This bespoke model was created to honour the iconic Golf GTI. The GTI Clubsport is fitted with a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine that churns out 195 kW with an overboost function that pushes that output up to a heady 213 kW for short periods of time. The extra boost of power is activated by pushing the throttle right to the floor, engaging the kickdown function. Volkswagen claims…

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New Jaguar XF coming….

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OverviewTata-owned luxury automaker Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is all geared up to showcase all-new reworked Jaguar XF at the 2016 Delhi Auto Expo in February and will be launched in SA market in the early 2016.  The reworked Jaguar XF sedan will compete against the likes of Audi A6, BMW 5-Series, Volvo S90 and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Exterior and Interiors In terms of design, the new Jaguar XF will be very much similar to the outgoing model but will feature quite a few upgrades as well. The external look of Jaguar…

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BMW M2 vs Ford Focus RS vs Audi RS3

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Absolute power: In one of the most eagerly awaited performance car clashes of 2016, BMW’s M2 faces two scorching rivals from Ford and Audi If you’re after speed without breaking the bank, then 2016 has been a brilliant year so far. Ford’s Focus RS has already seen off its four-wheel-drive rivals in a showdown on Spanish roads, so it’s now the hardcore hot hatchback to beat. But there’s now a new driver-focused model prowling Britain’s B-roads. The BMW M2 has the Focus squarely in its sights, and while it doesn’t boast as tempting a price tag…

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2016 Volkswagen Tiguan – exclusive pictures, engine details and launch date

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Second-generation Volkswagen Tiguan offers more practicality and more efficient engines – The second-generation Volkswagen Tiguan will go on sale in South Africa in the 2nd quarter , and made its debut at the Frankfurt motor show in September. Our exclusive studio pictures detail the car inside and out. What is it? The Tiguan is Volkswagen’s mass-market SUV, and a rival for the likes of the Land Rover Discovery Sport. This second-generation version is longer, wider and lower than the car it replaces, and also has a longer wheelbase. Its larger dimensions mean that…

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All-new 2016 Alfa Romeo Giulia revealed – official pictures and details

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Alfa Romeo’s new family saloon has been revealed, and will go on sale in SA this September – The Alfa Romeo Giulia is the company’s long-awaited replacement for the 159 saloon and heralds the brand’s return to the family saloon segment. It will go on sale in SA this September. What is it? The Alfa Romeo Giulia is a rear-wheel drive saloon that will take on the likes of the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. It features a carbon and aluminum construction, which aims to keep weight down to improve performance…

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2017 Jeep Wrangler Spy Photos: We Get a Peek Underneath

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More of the same, and that’s good. What It Is: A current-generation, four-door Jeep Wrangler Unlimited—or at least that’s what the engineering team driving it wants you to think. Instead, this is in all likelihood an early test mule for the next-generation Wrangler, which is due out in a year or so as a 2017 model. This Wrangler’s bodywork might be unchanged from ordinary Wranglers’ duds, but it is hiding chassis, suspension, and possibly even body enhancements that will appear on the new model. Why It Matters: Few modern vehicles…

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2016 Mercedes-AMG GLE63 S Coupe – 0-100 in 3.9 second monster

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A blatant me-too that proves it’s not copycatting if you improve the breed Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but it’s also a safe money grab. If you’re a car company and one of your competitors strikes gold with a niche product, you fill that niche in your own lineup. This author recently called the Ram Rebel “a blatant me-too” on account of it basically being a Ford F-150 Raptor rip-off without the substance. You might also look at the Mercedes-Benz GLE coupe as a blatant me-too. You should.…

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Mazda’s Confusing Plan to Resurrect the Famously Dirty Rotary Engine

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The Wankel rotary engine is a wonderfully visceral thing. It clatters and sings and produces an absurd amount of power for its size. But it’s also archaic, in the way old cars often are, which makes it odd to think Mazda wants to bring it back. Rotaries are what made Mazda, in cars like the 1968 Sports Cosmo. The sleek two-seater I drove at Mazda’s top-secret Mine test track smelled of gasoline and weathered leather and wood. The houndstooth interior only added to the vintage vibe. No power steering, sticky…

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Impreza Concept Looks Great and Teases All Future Subarus, Skin to Bones

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 And it will be made in the good ole U.S.A. Subaru revealed the Impreza sedan concept at the L.A. Auto Show, and we must say, it looks pretty good! The company had already released a concept of a hatchback version at the Tokyo Auto Show, but we’re glad to see that the four-door maintains the same styling. Of course, the production version will vary from the concept (door handles are nice to have, after all) and will likely be a bit boxier (it is a Subaru), but this sleeker Scoobie is at least a good indicator of the brand’s…

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Bugatti Chiron Prototype Caught by Instagrammer on Italian Highway

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 This test mule sure looks a lot like a production-ready version of the Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo show car. When Bugatti debuted the Vision Gran Turismo concept at the Frankfurt Auto Show in September, the hypercar company hinted quite loudly that whaat we were looking at was the probably Veyron replacement. Now, Instagrammer Erico Hessel seems to have captured further proof, when he snapped this photo of an apparent Bugatti test mule on an Italian highway. Just look at the lines, and compare them to the Vision Gran Turismo show…

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Car Buying Guide: Top Best-Selling 4X4

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The world of cars is amazing. Only a true car lover can understand the depths of this world. From electric car to a hybrid, from a sedan to an SUV, there are millions of cars in the market. But, when we are talking about cars, it is obvious to know which one is the best and which one drives smoothly. Now there are many types of drive which determines the drive quality of any car. In this post, we will let you know about some of the top best-selling 4X4…

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Fiat Abarth 695 Biposto – Mad, Stupid-Mad… And Irresistible

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It is nuts in every way, the Abarth 695 BiPosto. Stupidly expensive, ridiculously small, and absolutely bonkers to drive. To drive it, you have to punch it in the mouth on every gear-change. And it responds by thumping you in the back. And if you were to buy one – but you’ll have to be quick, there are less than 20 ear-marked for Australia – your friends will wonder quietly if you are totally “out-of-your-flakey-tiny-microscopic-mind”. That’s what they’ll think. This is Abarth’s 695 BiPosto: “the world’s smallest supercar”. Engine/transmission: 1.4 litre…

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