Category: Popular Brands

Audi and Volkswagen win Gold in customer purchasing and servicing experience for passenger vehicles

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The Audi and Volkswagen brands have again taken top positions in the latest auto-motive customer care survey conducted by Ipsos in South Africa. This research, based on interviews with more than 20 000 customers in 2017, covered both the purchasing and servicing experiences. The research conducted by Ipsos is a valuable tool with which to measure customer service in the automotive market in South Africa. To support the credibility of the research, the sample of participating brands in the latest survey represented more than three out of every four new…

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The V8 power unit for the new BMW 8 Series Coupe: A masterpiece from the Munich engine plant.

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Assembly of the new eight-cylinder engine featuring BMW M Performance TwinPower Turbo technology at the long-established BMW Group headquarters excels through high-tech and precision craftsmanship Munich. The new BMW 8 Coupe is now rolling off the assembly line at the BMW Dingolfing plant, whilst the engine for the most dynamic model variant is being built at the company’s main factory in Munich. Parallel to the start of production of the luxury sports car, assembly of the first V8 engines for the BMW M850i xDrive Coupe (combined fuel consumption: 10.5 – 10.0 l/100 km; combined CO2…

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Land Rover at heart of rugby from grassroots to pinnacle of the sport

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#DrivenBeyond   Land Rover has been at the heart of Rugby for over two decades, from grassroots to the pinnacle of the sport. And in August, Land Rover South Africa will pay tribute to the Springbok team in the form of a marketing campaign #DrivenBeyond. Lisa Mallett, Marketing Director, Jaguar Land Rover South Africa and sub-Sahara Africa, said:  “Land Rover has supported global rugby on every level. Here in South Africa, we are involved with local unions, clubs and rural schools, in the form of Rugby Goes Rural, to support…

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The new BMW M2 Coupe Edition Black Shadow is Coming to SA, and Its looking hotter than ever!

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The new BMW M2 Coupe Edition Black Shadow will be available to order from April 2018 and at dealer floors from June 2018. The German car maker said there will only 20 units will be available in South Africa. With worldwide sales of more than 12,000 units, the BMW M2 was the most successful model from the BMW M in 2017. BMW said the huge popularity prompted the development of an edition model once more underscoring the compact high-performance sports car’s dynamics. Racing technology and an expressive, high performance-oriented design…

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11 Best Ways to Waste Money on an Exotic Car

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If you already own a newer exotic car, then you know that these hand built machines do not compromise on design. Whether it’s a Mclaren 720s, Mercedes AMG GT S, Ferrari 488, Porsche 911.2 GTS, Audi R8 V10 plus Coupe or Lamborghini, an exotic car is a new realm of art and luxury. These new cars offer a glimpse into the future of the exotic car industry, with fresh design elements and technology that’s making its way into mainstream dealerships. If you own an older model, and you are unhappy…

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200 unit limited run model celebrates BMW’s DTM 2016 driver’s title win

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BMW has unveield the DTM Champion Edition M4, complete with a huge rear wing, a BMW M colour sticker kit and a power boost up to 493bhp.   Effectively an M4 GTS but with a different set of decals, the DTM special uses the same water injection technology and has a 0-62mph time of 3.8 seconds. The car also comes with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres and the quite frankly ludicrous titanium exhaust system found on the GTS. The sticker and aero kit is said to mimic DTM race…

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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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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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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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New Volvo S90 saloon 2017 review

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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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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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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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Mercedes-Benz E-Class All-Terrain Review

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by Anthony ffrench-Constant Verdict Given that Mercedes’ ambition to fill every off-road niche is still a motor show reveal or two short of completion, you’d be forgiven for thinking it a mite odd that the company should suddenly peel off down the potential sales cul de sac of the off-road estate and introduce this E-Class All-Terrain. Established competition from Audi and Volvo Then again, with the E-Class already widely celebrated as a Jolly Good Thing, allied to the somewhat tardy recognition that the likes of the Audi A6 Allroad and Volvo’s V90 Cross Country have…

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Audi A1 Hatchback Review 2010 up

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 Verdict A small Audi is big news in the car world. Signalling the brand’s first ever head-to-head battle with MINI – a car made by Audi’s arch enemy, BMW – the new A1 takes a very different, grown-up approach. Instead of focusing on fun, the A1 smacks of classy sophistication. There’s the usual soft-touch materials and leather dotted around the cabin along with some excellent technology on offer too. Quite frankly, nothing in its small premium class looks and feels so expensive behind the wheel even though underneath the smart-suited A1 is…

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Fiat Chrysler Automobiles accused of emissions cheating in USA

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The Department for Transport has asked for details of an American investigation into diesel emissions software; As another car maker is investigated for possible use of an emissions cheat device, we look at the potential implications for British car owners. What is the issue? The American Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has accused Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) of not telling the authorities about diesel emission software “that could allow excess diesel emissions”, according to the Financial Times. A report by Reuters states that the EPA believes the software is similar to…

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2017 Audi Q2 Review

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There’s nothing new about pint-sized SUVs. The Nissan Juke, Renault Captur and Mini Countryman all offer cute looks, compact dimensions and a slightly raised driving position. But if you want a proper premium badge, the Audi Q2 is your smallest and cheapest option. It’s roughly the same size as a Captur, at just under 4.2 metres long, and it significantly undercuts larger premium-badged models such as the BMW X1, Mercedes GLA, and Audi’s own Q3, although for the same money you could also be looking at something much larger, like…

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Ferrari J50 might be ‘blueprint’ for brand’s future design

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Ferrari’s [NYSE:RACE] Special Projects division has built a bespoke supercar to mark the 50th anniversary of the Italian marque’s sales in Japan. You’ll recall Ferrari did something similar in 2014 to mark 60 years of sales in the United States. The Japanese special is the J50 which Ferrari has confirmed will be built in a limited run of just 10 examples. Last week the car made its debut at the Ferrari 50 Year in Japan Anniversary Finale held at Tokyo’s New National Art Museum. The J50, which is based on…

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There’s a new mystery Ferrari and it’s packing V-12 heat

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There’s a new special Ferrari that’s getting ready to set the world abuzz with high-revving fervor. This won’t be a V-8 buzz mind you, and it probably won’t be the sort of buzz that breathes through a pair of turbochargers. This is the sort of buzz that only twelve cylinders can create, especially when they’re packaged in a vehicle that looks to be about the size and shape of the Ferrari 458 or 488 GTB. According to our friends at Motor1, the mystery Ferrari popped up on the automotive radar…

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BMW M550i xDrive is the quickest 5 Series Yet!

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Launched in October 2016, the new-generation BMW 5 Series is so fresh that SA dealerships are barely getting the 530i and 540i models in the first half of 2017. Fortunately, these aren’t the only versions we’ll be able to buy in South Africa and BMW has just introduced the upcoming iterations at the 2017 Detroit Auto Show. The bad news is that the M5 isn’t here yet, but there is some good news in the 5 Series wearing the M550i xDrive badge. The second model showcased at the Cobo Center…

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Prepare Your Checkbooks If You Want To Get The Final Production Ferrari LaFerrari

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Ferrari CEO Sergio Marchionne announced last September that the Italian automaker was building a 500th example of the Ferrari LaFerrari that would eventually be auctioned off to benefit the victims of the massive earthquake that devastated Central Italy. No details were given then on the when and where of the auction, but now, the information’s out. The 500th and last production Ferrari LaFerrari will auctioned off by RM Sotheby’s on December 3 during the Ferrari Finali Mondialia event at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. The event is…

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