BMW REFRESHES 7 SERIES, ADDS HYBRID

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The time has come for BMW South Africa to updateits 7 Series range, just to keep things fresh and interesting for those of us lucky enough to be able to afford this mega executive sedan. The current-generation 7 was launched in Mzansi in March 2009.

Where changes have been made they are subtle, probably because customers in this segment are not too crazy about sudden and/ or radical change. But there are definitely changes, and some are quite notable too.

Like the new full-LEDheadlights, the kidney grille which, instead of the previous 12 slats, now has only 9. I guess less is more on design as well as in the engine compartment. A thin chrome strip now also runs at the rear.

The facelift 7 has even shed weight, thanks to a few initiatives, such as the use of aluminiumfor the doors, which save a whole 22kg. Hey, it may not seem like a lot but when trying to extract the best performance/ lowest fuel consumption combo, every kilo counts.

So now here come the engines. In their order (cheapest to most expensive) the models are: 740i, 730d, ActiveHybrid 7, 750i, 750Li, and finally the 760Li. The 740i is moved forward by the popular 3.0-litre turbo engine doing the rounds all over the BMW stable. It’s marked by its 235kW and 450Nm, with acceleration of 5.7 seconds from 0 – 100km/h, fuel consumption of 7.9 litres per 100km and 184 g/km in C02 emissions. The only diesel in this range is the 730dwith another popular 3.0-litre motor worth 190kWand 560Nm at only 1500rpm. It’s said to return a remarkable 5.6 litresper 100km. Next is the new ActiveHybrid 7 with the same petrol 3.0-litre, surging the exact same amount of power and torque, as well as sprint time as the 740i, but with a claimed fuel figure of only 6.8 litres per 100km.

Then out come the roaring V8 750i and 750Li, powered by the same 4.4-litre twin turbo found in the raukus M5. At 330kW and 650Nm, the engine has been improved power-wise. Acceleration is quite brisk, said to take 4.8 seconds from standstill to 100km/h, while returning 8.6 litres per 100km at the pumps. The only difference between the two cars is that the Li is 14cm longer due to its catering for those who put the V in VIP.

Last on the list is the 760Li. I really like this car, but I wish it wasn’t this long. Its length negatively affects its potential as an M7. Nevertheless, the V12 engine is a powerhouse of good note. Dishing out 400kWand 750Nm between 1500rpm and 5000rpm, the 760Li uses its rear wheels for a 4.6 second 0 – 100km/h time. That’s not too bad at all, although in Gauteng you’ll get closer to the 5 second mark than 4.6. Still, hauling two tonnes of metal at that rate is mighty impressive. All the cars run on an 8-speed automatic gearbox.

BMW has inserted a new cockpit with plenty of features, such as the new control display with 3D graphics, a 26cm screen, front comfort seats, sunroof, ambient lighting, 4-zone climate control, keyless start, multifunction leather steering wheel, a rear electric blind, and a raft of safety systems that include lane keep assist.

The new facelifted7 Series is available from your nearest dealership at prices listed below.

7 SERIES PRICING

740i (R975 500)

730d (R998 000)

ActiveHybrid 7 (R1 034 500)

750i (R1 248 000)

750Li (R1 360 000)

760Li (R1 702 000)

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BALLISTIC BABY AMG BENZ SPIED (ALMOST) IN FULL KIT

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Late to the party, but nevertheless quite welcome to join in, Mercedes-Benz’s A45 AMG is likely to offer some serious playful maturity in its segment. The segment is currently only occupied by the BMW 1M Coupe and Audi’s RS 3 Sportback, although both are momentarily out of the market due to upcoming replacements.

The A45 AMG, seen in these spy pictures with barely a plastic wrap or camouflage to hide the looks, is rumoured to run a sensational 2.0-litre turbo engine with slightly more power than its German neighbours. We understand something akin to 260kW and 450Nm is very close to the actual mark, with a 7-speed automatic making things happen at the wheels.

Interestingly the other rumour is that it will feature Mercedes-Benz’s 4Matic AWD (all-wheel-drive) system, instead of rear-wheel-drive, which will put it smack bang in the same room as the RS 3. And you know what they say about two bulls in one kraal right? Let’s see which one sees red and flinches first!

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TOP 2 FINISH FOR VOLKSWAGEN AT GARDEN ROUTE RALLY

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The BP Volkswagen rally team finished their 2012 season in style, claiming the top two positions at the Garden Route Rally. Hans Weijs Jnr and Björn Degandt rallied home in first place with their teammates Enzo Kuun and Guy Hodgson hot on their heels.

“Hans and Björn did an amazing job this weekend,” says Mike Rowe, head of Volkswagen Motorsport. “The last two rallies we've finished in second place, so we've been knocking on the door of victory, this is a great finish for the team.”

Weijs and Degandt claimed three stage wins on Friday – of the five stages that took place. They then went on to win four of the six stages on Saturday as well.

“I wanted the best result I could get after the puncture on Friday,” says Weijs. “We claimed more than three minutes back, the stage times were perfect. We pushed really hard, we took it to the limit at this event.”

Weijs and Degandt have claimed two podium finishes this season, the first being the Sasol Rally and they have now rounded off their rally year in Africa with a national rally victory.

Enzo Kuun and Guy Hodgson delivered a performance for their team that was both consistent and commanding. The pair appeared to float through the stages, hardly breaking a sweat over the two days.

“It has been a difficult year for all of us,” says Kuun. “It is nice to bring this result home, the team have been putting in a lot of hard work and this shows the depth of talent and skill, that we can pull it all together.”

“This championship is tougher than it has ever been, there are a lot of international cars where previously it was just local competition. That international technology and equipment coming into the country has lifted the standard and we all needed to lift our game.”

The final event results mark not only the BP Volkswagen team's strengths in bringing the new BP Volkswagen Polo S2000 up to pace to compete successfully on the national championship level, but also holds the promise for what the coming season holds.

“From the Volkswagen Rally this year we have made steady progress,” says Rowe. “We'll be doing some positive testing in the coming months to see where we can improve even more.”

For Hergen Fekken and Pierre Arries the final rally of the season shaped up to be a good one. The pair were in the top five on four of the first six stages, but were eliminated from the event on stage seven and could not complete their rally.

The Volkswagen Polo S2000 of Japie van Niekerk and Gerhard Snyman produced a good sixth place finish at the final event, besting some tough rally conditions that saw many of the competitors fall prey to punctures and other problems. Van Niekerk and Snyman finished just ahead of the BP Volkswagen Polo Vivo S2000 of Gugu Zulu and Carl Peskin.

Zulu and Peskin had already claimed the S2000 Challenge title for 2012 at the previous rally, but this did little to change their enthusiasm for competition. The pair won the S2000 Challenge category at the final event as well – in seventh overall and more than three minutes ahead of their nearest class rivals.

In class S1600 the BP Volkswagen Polo Vivo of Megan Verlaque and Hilton Auffray were keen to finish their year in the class on a high note. After two tough days of rallying the duo brought their car home for fifth place in the class.

The 11 stage event that saw competitors finish the 2012 season in the picturesque Wilderness and Knysna area witnessed some stellar rally performances and, while drawing the curtain on the 2012 season, also hints at an exciting and demanding 2013. 

STORY BY VOLKSWAGEN

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NEW "21ST CENTURY" BEETLE LAUNCHED IN SA

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The original is back
The first generation Beetle is one of the most successful cars ever with over 21.5 million units sold since it was first introduced in 1938. The first generation Beetle was one of the first Volkswagen cars to be built at the Volkswagen manufacturing plant in 1951. The first generation Beetle was the best-selling car in South Africa for 11 years of its 28 years existence. The 21st Century Beetle is now making its way to the South African market to re-ignite the passion of the original Beetle.

Beetle shaped people’s consciousness
The Beetle has always held a special place in people’s hearts. Over the years, it has shaped people’s collective consciousness. Children painted a Beetle when they painted a car. It embodied the philosophy of “Peoples car” for its affordability and popularity in South Africa.

New Beetle produced a car cult
Then the New Beetle debuted in the late 1990s. It brought with it Beetle Mania and a new automotive exuberance. The original Beetle wrote history as the car that moved the masses; the New Beetle offered a certain lifestyle, and it sold over one million units worldwide. By the dawn of the new millennium, it had become clear: the classic car, whether a Beetle or New Beetle, and whether it was from the 1950s, 60s, 70s, 80s or 90s, had become a cult car. Furthermore, the various generations of the Beetle reflected what is certainly the most recognisable automotive design in the world, a design that continues to win over the hearts of people of all generations.

The 21st Century Beetle as the icon of a new era
Those who want to drive a car that offers dynamic performance provides lots of space and masters everyday tasks and long journeys will in the future think of the 21st Century Beetle. This should be noted straight away because dynamic performance alone no longer suffices. At 5.9 litres/100km (1.2 TSI 77kW), the new car is the most fuel-efficient Beetle ever.

Design of the original, re-interpreted
Coke bottle, iPhone, Ray Ban Aviator, Leica M9, Beetle – how do you reinvent a design that is so recognisable and independent? There is a clear answer to this: you can only do it if you understand the product and the brand. Volkswagen Design Chief Walter de Silva (Group) and Klaus Bischoff (Volkswagen Brand) “understand” both. Therefore they set this as the objective for the Beetle: “Design a new original!” And that is how the design of the 21st Century Beetle came to be in Wolfsburg – a car of today, as well as a design tribute to the automotive seed of an entire corporate group.

If one were to take the first generation Beetle and the new Beetle, place them together with a shining light over their roofs and viewing them from the side. One would notice that the lines of the rear sections are nearly identical.

Dynamics in the style of the Ragster
A comparison to the second generation Beetle shows that nothing remained as it was on the previous model. “The Beetle is now characterised by a clean, self-confident and dominant sportiness. The car not only has a lower profile; it is also substantially wider, the front bonnet is longer, the front windscreen is shifted further back and has a much steeper incline. All of this creates a new dynamism,” explains Klaus Bischoff.

The roof profile actually runs distinctly lower and can be considered a continuation of the Ragster concept car shown in Detroit in 2005 – a type of hot rod based on the New Beetle. The latest generation Beetle is bolder, more dynamic and masculine.


Entirely new proportions
The figures confirm this: the new one is 1.808 mm wide (84 mm wider vs second generation Beetle), 1.486 mm high (12 mm lower vs second generation Beetle) and 4.278 mm long (152 mm longer vs second generation Beetle). This has resulted in entirely new proportions. The gain in length means that the roof could be extended further, the front windscreen could be shifted back and the rear section could follow the contour of the original Beetle. The new focal point is the C-pillar. In parallel, the development team increased the car’s track widths (front: 1.578 mm with gain of 63 mm; rear: 1.544 mm with gain 49 mm) and wheelbase (2.537 mm with gain of 22 mm). All of this gives the Beetle a powerful appearance with muscular tension.

New equipment lines
Volkswagen South Africa launched the 21st Century Beetle in two new equipment lines, “Design” and “Sport”.

Interior shows character
This is especially noticeable on the dashboard. The shape and use of colour in the painted or carbon-look front facia panel (“dash pad”) hark back to the design of the first Beetle, yet the new car does not have a retro look. The panel in the “Design” equipment line matches the exterior body colour of the car. Customers choosing the “Sport” equipment line get a panel with carbon look, “Carbon Fibre”.

Return of the Beetle box and auxiliary instruments
Similar to the original Beetle, the new car has an extra glovebox, “Beetle box” integrated in the front facia. The lid opens upward and the standard glovebox that is integrated with it opens downward.

Another classic feature is the optional auxiliary instruments above the selected audio/navigation system. The cluster displays oil temperature, clock with chronometer function and boost pressure gauge. Also new is the steering wheel specially designed for the Beetle with painted accents in the spokes that differ depending on the equipment line.

It simply fits
A distinguishing feature of the contemporary Beetle is that its interior ergonomics and packaging are based on completely new parameters. While drivers in the air-cooled Beetle travelled in a very low-slung seat and drivers of the New Beetle could feel as if they were being chauffeured because the bonnet was so far forward. The 21st Century Beetle now offers a driving experience that is sportier. Every feature is within easy reach. In addition, Volkswagen has once again succeeded in implementing a quality of interior finish that goes beyond all class limits.

Plenty of space for four adults and luggage
The car’s styling, ergonomics and quality interact to create a new, friendly car with a highly individual nature. In addition, it offers everyday practicality. Its space offers comfort to four adults especially on long journeys. The boot can handle up to 905 litres of luggage. The optional panoramic tilt/slide sunroof allows the sun to permeate and warm the car in winter. For audiophiles, the optional Fender sound system will keep them entertained with high quality sound. The Keyless Access system is available for the first time in the Beetle. It operates without a traditional door or ignition key.

Fuel efficient and dynamic engines
The new Beetle is offered in two TSI engines, 1.2 with 77kW and 1.4 with 118kW. These fuel efficient and dynamic engines are mated to 6-speed manual transmission. The 118kW is available with an optional 7-speed DSG transmission.

Beetle Pricing

1.2 TSI (R235 400)

1.4 TSI (R296 600)

STORY BY VOLKSWAGEN

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SCINTILLATING AUDI S3 FOR MZANSI

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In two weeks’ time Audi South Africa will be launching the brand new A3 hatchback. The car obviously competes with the BMW 1 Seriesand Volvo V40, as well as the upcoming Mercedes-Benz A-Classhatch. First we’ll see the “pedestrian” models go on sale. Then the S3 will arrive.

The new S3 is now more hot and bothered than ever before. While it was disappointing to receive the cooled-down 188kW version in Mzansi, instead of the normal 195kWthat Europe boasted, it was still quite a nifty drive the now-previous S3.

Now enter the new 2013 S3, something really hot underneath the proverbial collar. Charged forward by a 2.0-litre TFSI direct injection turbo engine, the car is now good for a mouth-watering 220kW at 5500rpm, with torque switched on to 380Nm. It’s about as powerful as the 3.0 T engines that Audi uses for the likes of A4, A5 and A6, and is only 30kW short of the outgoing RS 3 Avant. They say it will skip from 0 – 100km/h in just 5.1 seconds when using the S tronic double clutch gearbox, or 5.4 seconds with the 6-speed manual. Top speed is the usual 250km/h and average fuel consumption chills nicely at 7 litres per 100km, despite this being a quattro AWD.

In essence the new S3 is a direct rival to the BMW M135i hatch and looks like it will give the little Beemer some serious competitionwhen it arrives here sometime in early 2013.

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