Technical - mechanical | Car And Bike SA

BMW iX, i4 and iX3 available in South Africa( Spec and Pricing)

July 17, 2022August 22, 2022 Ray Stewart

As more and more car manufacturers get into the electric mobility market, BMW is pushing forward in South Africa by launching the ix, i4 and iX3 all fully electric. The BMW i4 is a four door gran coupe which combines BMW’s sporting ability with practicality. The BMW i4 M50 is the performance model with one electric motor at the front axle and another at the rear to deliver system output of 400 kW and a range of 510 kms emission free driving. The i4 carries extremely slim high-voltage battery with…

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Nissan LEAF celebrates 500 000th vehicle

September 15, 2020 Car and Bike SA

One of the first motor manufactures to pioneer a mass market electric vehicle was Nissan, with the production of the LEAF more than a decade ago. The half a million LEAF models built globally coincides with World EV day on 9 th September 2020. The 500 000 100% electric cars have travelled over 14.8 billion clean-air kilometres contributing towards a more sustainable society preventing more than 2.4 billion kilograms of CO2 emissions. The Nissan LEAF has won many accolades around the globe including Car of the Year 2011 in Europe, World Car of the Year 2011…

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World-first Multi-collision Airbag System introduced

January 23, 2019 Car and Bike SA

Designed to significantly improve airbag performance in multi-collision accidents, KIA Motors Corporation – as part of the Hyundai Motor Group – today announced the development and future commercialisation of the world’s first multi-collision airbag system. Multi-collision accidents are those in which the primary impact is followed by collisions with secondary objects, such as other vehicles, trees, or electrical posts, which occur in three out of every 10 accidents. Current airbag systems do not offer secondary protection when the initial impact is insufficient to cause them to deploy. However, the multi-collision…

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

August 3, 2018August 22, 2022 Car and Bike SA

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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How to: Drive a Ford Model T

July 18, 2018 Car and Bike SA

It’s the second-most-popular car in history, but maybe the most formidable to drive. Ford’s Model T is the second-most-popular car of all time, outselling all but the Volkswagen Beetle, and more than 15 million Ts were built over its 19-year life span. But the Ford was designed before driver controls were standardized, so the odd position of the throttle, brake, and shifter make driving a Model T an archaic and dangerous experience. It’s like trying to do the Charleston while loading a musket after a big night at the speak-easy.…

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How To: Read a Tyre Sidewall

July 18, 2018 Car and Bike SA

There?s a lot more information on a tyre?s sidewall than you think, such as where the tyre was made and when, and sometimes even whether your tire complies with pass-by noise regulations in Europe. Here’s how to decode it all: 1.) “245”: The numbers preceding the slash indicate the distance, in millimeters, across the widest point of the tire—called section width (245mm, or 9.65 inches, in this case)—when mounted on a wheel of specified width. Often listed before this number are letters that loosely signify the kind of duty for…

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11 Best Ways to Waste Money on an Exotic Car

February 20, 2018 Car and Bike SA

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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Inside Mercedes-AMG’s F1-powered supercar

May 29, 2017 Car and Bike SA

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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Fiat Chrysler Automobiles accused of emissions cheating in USA

January 18, 2017 Car and Bike SA

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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Samsung’s New EV Battery Will Have A Range Of 600 Kms And Can Be Fully Charged In Just 20 Minutes

January 12, 2017 Car and Bike SA

Electric cars, we all know how we South Africans resist in buying one, because of two things – infrastructure and of course range anxiety. The race to manufacture a battery with the highest range is actually on right now but there’s another battle to be won; which one will charge up the fastest. Well, Samsung wants to alleviate all these worries with the introduction of its latest battery technology. It says by that by the end of 2020, the “next generation” of Samsung’s lithium ion battery technology will be available…

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Meet the world’s strangest Ferrari 458

September 23, 2016September 27, 2016 Car and Bike SA

This will never be a standard Ferrari 458 Italia again. The wheel arches and wings are cut, bashed and pulled to accommodate the ultra-wide 20-inch wheels. It has a (very) wide arch body kit screwed on. Yep. Screwed on. There’s an aftermarket exhaust. Essentially, it’s been modified the same way da yoof customise 80,000-mile Golfs. But it’s a Ferrari 458 Italia. An Italian thoroughbred that cost someone £178,526 (assuming they didn’t get jiggy with the options list), gets from 0-62mph in 3.4 seconds, tops out at 202mph, and has a 4.5-litre V8…

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Koenigsegg Says Its Catalytic Converter Allows For an Increase of 300 HP

August 18, 2016 Car and Bike SA

No, it doesn’t use magic. For a relatively small company, Koenigsegg employs an impressive amount of unique technology developed in-house. Its V8 engines may be based on an older Ford design, but calling them Mustang engines with turbochargers attached would be a vast understatement. Even its catalytic converters are unlike anything else used. Koenigsegg detailed its patented catalytic converter in a recent blog post about all the tech that goes into its engine for the 1160-hp Agera RS. The company claims that its catalytic converter technology allows an increase of…

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Ford Will Sell You GT350 Parts for Your Plain Mustang GT

July 28, 2016July 28, 2016 Car and Bike SA

Ford now offers a trio of performance options to upgrade your Mustang while retaining the factory warranty. Ford has announced via their Performance website today that it will be offering performance upgrade calibrations for the 2016-2017 Mustang GT. If you want more power out of your ‘Stang but want to keep the factory warranty, you’ll want to keep reading. The ‘performance packs,’ as they’re called, offer as much as 37 horsepower over stock, and come with a variety of intake-related hardware upgrades. There are three levels to choose from, ranging…

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Ten Car Performance Fads That Need to Go Away

July 27, 2016July 27, 2016 Car and Bike SA

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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BMW M2 vs Ford Focus RS vs Audi RS3

May 24, 2016August 22, 2022 Car and Bike SA

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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2017 Jeep Wrangler Spy Photos: We Get a Peek Underneath

January 8, 2016January 24, 2017 Car and Bike SA

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

December 2, 2015July 27, 2016 Car and Bike SA

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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Audi’s New R18 Race Car Revamps an Incredible Design

December 2, 2015August 22, 2022 Car and Bike SA

You don’t hear Audi talking much about diesels lately, what with the EPA accusing it (and corporate parent VW) of programming cars to cheat on emissions tests. Such tests don’t apply in auto racing though, and Audi wants everyone to know diesels still dominate when it comes to endurance contests like the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This weekend, the company showed off the R18 racer that will compete in the World Endurance Championship series that includes the grueling race at Le Mans. Endurance racing is all about covering the…

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How to warm motorcycle up in hot weather

August 18, 2015November 3, 2015 Car and Bike SA

Motorcycle start failure usually occurs in cold winter; however, this failure also occurs in the hot summer. To solve this problem, we are now doing a brief analysis on all kinds of technology of motorcycle engine warming and relevant matters. In the hot summer, the temperature is generally more than 30 . Due to the change of temperature, the heat dissipation performance of engine become worse, especially in the high-traffic areas of cities and towns, where motorcycle is often in a situation of starting and stopping. Working condition of motorcycle…

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The Pros and Cons of Hybrid Cars by Bobbie Base

October 13, 2014November 3, 2015 Car and Bike SA

Hybrid cars are considered to be the car of tomorrow. Because of the benefits it can give you, you will definitely want to get one for your own. In fact, more and more people are now considering selling their conventional car and purchasing one. So, why is it that more and more people prefer getting a hybrids instead of a conventional car even if there retail prices are far more expensive? The answer to this is that these people are thinking of the long term benefits. With a hybrids, you…

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