Toyota Landcruiser Prado new 2.8 Turbo Diesel Engine(2020)

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As customers demand a rugged luxury SUV with proven durability the Toyota fourth-generation Prado comes to mind. Launched in 2009, the Prado continues to sell strongly in global markets. More reason to introduce a significant upgrade with more power and torque as well as multimedia technologies. An additional 30 kW of power and 100 Nm of torque derived from the switch to the new generation 2.8-litre GD-6 turbo engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission (previously five-speed). Improved fuel efficiency realised through optimised pistons and piston rings, changes to the cylinder block and head. Higher fuel-injection flow…

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New Toyota Corolla(2020) and Pricing

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It is a very rare occasion to be driving in your car in almost any city in the world and not see a Toyota Corolla on the road along with you. If you happen to be in Bangkok a city in Thailand with a population of 8.3 million you would notice the majority of taxi’s are Toyota Corolla’s and many other cities have exactly the same situation. It is no surprise then to know this household name Toyota Corolla, across the world, is the globes best-selling automobile. First launched in 1966 the Corolla…

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Open-top concept suggests future direction of the Lexus LC flagship coupe

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Lexus has revealed an open-top concept version of its LC flagship, describing it as an aspirational halo vehicle for the luxury lifestyle brand’s entire vehicle line-up. The new LC Convertible Concept, which receives its world premiere at the Detroit auto show, is an artful reflection of the athletic proportions of the LC coupe. Chief designer Tadao Mori said a production version of the concept would be exhilarating in many different ways. “You would see its dynamic lines as you approach, hear its engine when you started it up and feel…

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Top-10 best-selling passenger vehicles for July 2018

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South Africa’s total new vehicle sales were up by 2.6% year-on-year in July, with 47 881 units sold versus 46 671 in the corresponding month last year. According to data released today by the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa), the passenger vehicle segment, which contributed 67% of all new vehicle sales in July, was up 4.3% year-on-year with 32 108 units sold. * Sales figures are supplied by Naamsa and exclude non-reporting manufacturers.   The dealer channel which accounted for 80% of July’s sales, is up…

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The 2019 Ford Ranger Raptor on its way to SA in 2019! How does it compare to the real thing?

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The 2019 Ford Ranger Raptor has finally been revealed in its final form, and even though we don’t have a full spec sheet yet we can compare quite a few metrics between this and its big American brother the F-150 Raptor. The U.S. market Raptor is based on the F-150, which as many of you know is a half-ton or “full-sized” pickup truck. The Ranger, or at least the new incoming one, is a “mid-sized” pickup truck. In this case, the size distinction between the two is pretty tight though.…

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Haval’s new H6 SUV will make people over look the C-word

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There’s a completely new brand of SUV called Haval coming to South Africa, which is nice. But if you buy one, be prepared to hear the C-word. A lot. Haval is Chinese, a part of the Great Wall Motors (GWM) group. While some early models were badged “Great Wall Haval”, it’s now a standalone SUV brand.  “Early” is a relative term for a company that was only founded in 1990. But the range now includes the small H2, the large H8 and the off-road-style seven-seater H9. Haval’s newest model is the mid-sized H6, which is currently…

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2017 Renault Duster Revealed

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What is it? Shockingly affordable, says Renault . How shocking? This compact crossover-style machine costs from R304 900 or R85 000 less than the price of a Nissan Qashqai 1.5cdi. The Duster is bigger inside, too and has the same 1.5-litre dCi turbodiesel engine should you so wish. That’s shocking. Indeed, it should be no surprise to find there are compromises to saving money when buying a Renault Duster. It’s just that the proven Renault bits beneath mean it shouldn’t break or fall to bits.  To buyers who want something…

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2017 Nissan Navara Suspension upgrades

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Suspension upgrades aim to right the wrongs of Nissan’s commercial ute. by David McCowen Ask Nissan’s management about the latest Navara ute and they’ll tell you its engineers did not get it wrong when designing the popular pickup’s suspension.But when Nissan asked customers, sales staff, journalists and its own engineers about the machine’s divisive rear suspension arrangement, it learned the model fell short of what some people expect from a work-ready ute. The brand took a bold step with the current-shape D23 Navara in 2015, setting aside the conventional (and ancient) leaf-sprung, live axle suspension…

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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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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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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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2018 Mercedes-AMG E63 S first drive: It’s … complicated

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Mercedes’ AMG E astounds with power, confounds with tech It’s a simple process: enabling drift mode on the 2018 Mercedes-AMG 4Matic E63 S, that is. First, you grab the chrome drive mode rocker switch and click it down into race, which quickens shifts, steering and throttle application. Then you hold the traction-control button for a few seconds to turn the system completely off. After that, you hit the M button for manual mode, grab both wheel-mounted shift paddles and pull back. The twin 12.3-inch dash/gauge cluster/infotainment screens will ask you if…

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Honda Rebel unveiled – A2 friendly bobber

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  Honda have unveiled the Rebel – a bobber aimed at younger riders with an A2-friendly 471cc parallel twin The Honda Rebel is a whole new model targeting a whole new demographic. The Rebel is aimed at riders in Generation Y – those who have grown up in the digital age and for who motorcycles are more than just transport. The Rebel concept was born in the USA, where big cruisers are popular but have not captured the imagination of younger riders. The beating heart of the Rebel is a…

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2017 Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster and GT C Roadster revealed

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The AMG GT Roadster has broken cover ahead of its Paris motor show debut, with Mercedes unveiling not one but two monstrous engine options for its twin-turbo V8-powered convertible. Mercedes will offer its brutal ragtop in two distinct trim levels: the entry-level (well, as entry level as a circa-$260k performance convertible can be) AMG GT Roadster, and the decidedly more potent GT C Roadster. Both share the same twin-turbo V8, but the latter has been fettled to produce 410kW and 680Nm – enough to send the GT C hurtling to…

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

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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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This Aston Martin DB11 Prototype Has an AMG V8 Under Its Hood

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Is this a testbed for the next V8 Vantage? Almost certainly. We’ve known for quite some time that the next-generation Aston Martin V8 Vantage would recieve its heart from the engine wizards over at Mercedes-AMG. With the V12-powered DB11 done and soon reaching customer hands, Aston has to get to work on its sports car companion. That’s why this DB11 prototype is running around the Nürburgring with what is almost assuredly an AMG V8 under the hood. Since the DB11 is probably not getting a V8 in the future, all…

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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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2016 KTM 690 Duke – FIRST RIDE REVIEW

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It’s amazing how far single-cylinder engine design has come. The introduction of the modern four-stroke motocross racer in the 1990s was the main driving force behind development, while the advent of the Moto3 class in Grand Prix roadracing in 2012 ushered in even more advancements. KTM was one of the first to take on the challenge of creating a modern four-stroke single streetbike, the Austrian dirtbike manufacturer introducing the Duke 620 way back in 1994. Twenty-two years and four different design iterations later comes the 2016 KTM 690 Duke. The…

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