The Car Guide

Almost a decade after its launch, BMW’s first battery powered model will be retired after selling a quarter million i3’s to the public. Production of the quirky EV will cease during July in anticipation for the next-generation Mini Countryman but BMW i3 production ends this year. Time to say goodbye to what was BMW’s first battery-powered vehicle. It is hard to believe that the funky i3 has been on sale for almost ten years with production commencing in 2013. In that time it has mustered a reputation for an ugly , yet highly usable city slicking EV. 250 000 units after a production run as long as the i3 has enjoyed are hardly stellar but the peppy little runabout has played a large part in paving the way for the BMW i electric range.  With an increase in production during 2020 at the Leipzig assembly plant to meet growing international demand, BMW i3 production ends after final examples of the electric model will quietly drive off the assembly line in July of this year in antici

2026 seems far away right? Well that hasn’t stopped the manufacturer of fun and lightweight sports cars; Lotus from presenting the world with a teaser of their novel electric range of vehicles which is set to launch over the coming years. This includes the electric Lotus sports car ahead of its release A free handed sketch taking us into the future vision of Lotus. In a few months time, Lotus will be taking the covers off its first-ever SUV known by the “Type 132” codename. This will continue to signal the transition for the British automaker into green mobility. Thereafter a series of other models will be released until the “ Type 135 ”, poised to arrive in 2026 as an electric Lotus sports car is unveiled. Before that far away date, we can expect the “Type 133”, a four-door coupe as well as a small crossover with the codename “Type 134”. That is the topic of today’s conversation and despite it being an electric derivative of the lightweight sports car that Lotus has mastered over

A week ago, we reported that the price of fuel was about to surge past R20 a litre and so here we are, numbers in hand and safety belts fastened for a wild ride at the pumps. The price of petrol, both 93- and 95-octane, will increase by 53c a litre, with the price of diesel increasing by around 80c a litre. The price of illuminating paraffin will see a R1,01 per litre increase and the maximum retail price for LPG will be lowered by R1,24. Our fuel prices in South Africa are determined by the dollar-rand value due to the fact that we purchase oil in dollars. Stronger global demand for Brent Crude oil, as well as the travel sector seeing further growth have seen the price of oil increase – another factor to consider here. Gwede Mantashe, Minister of Mineral Resources said, “Concerns regarding the tension between Russia and Ukraine have also affected crude oil prices negatively as the area is a crucial oil and gas infrastructure hub.” It is worth noting that the strengthening of the

Get your head out of the gutter, these aren’t those kinds of dirty Ferrari Purosangue images but the soon to be SUV from the prancing horse has recently taken to off-roading in a process that is probably novel to test drivers from Maranello.  Going where no Ferrari should have ever gone before. While the thought of a Ferrari SUV (if it existed when he was alive) would have Enzo now turning in his grave, it is the sure way to boost sales of high performance brands and enable them to continue producing ludicrous sports cars that only a select few get the privilege of owning. Look at Lamborghini and its record sale of 8 405 cars throughout 2021, 60% of which is compliments of the Urus SUV.  Not too shabby for a fat Ferrari. Like it or not, the Purosangue which ironically means Pure-blood in Italian, is expected to be launched this year and a latest spy video from Varryx on YouTube has displayed a test mule in a filthy Maserati Levante skin. This probably means that Ferrari w

The 2021 edition of the storied South African race returns to our most famous circuit this weekend after previous delays related to Covid-19 had event organisers re-scheduling for the 3rd-5th of February 2022. Nevertheless, the Kyalami 9 hour is back and this is what you can expect.  The Intercontinental GT challengers of the 2019 edition of the Kyalami 9 Hour. The inaugural event hosted after the completion of the Kyalami circuit on the 4th of November 1961 was a 9 hour endurance race on a vaguely similar 4,104 km lap situated on the hills of Midrand. The endurance event is a cornerstone to the circuit and thus in 2019, its return with the Intercontinental GT Challenge was sorely welcomed after a hiatus of almost two decades.  Spectator safety? Never heard of it. The third consecutive edition of the Intercontinental GT Challenge was scheduled for the 2nd-4th of December but the highly contagious bout of Omicron resulted in the organisers postponing the event mere days before

The electric future is here and more people are adopting the ideology according to Porsche’s sales from 2021. The all electric Taycan overtook the 911 in a sales race and while it is difficult to compare two such vastly different cars it is worth noting that soul, electrified is becoming central to future success for the German brand. Soul, electrified does have a nice ring to it if it means other models in the range get to stay. First and foremost, the 911 is far from being the best selling product from Stuttgart. Don’t forget that we live in a world where obscenely expensive and powerful SUVs are the order of the day. That title is comfortably taken by the Macan; a model in their portfolio that enabled them to not only exist, but thrive today. Under the skin of the hit Taycan. Sales numbers are as follows for Porsche’s global market; the compact Macan managed an admirable 88 362, about 5 000 more than the larger Cayenne which managed 83 807. Third up is the protagonist of th

Despite what have undoubtedly been some of the most trying times for many over the past 24 months, it would seem as though the motor vehicle industry has soldiered on, despite the woes, supply-chain issues and myriad stresses presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. With Rolls-Royce having reported a record year in 2021 with a record 49% increase in sales from 2020, and Lamborghini having sold 8 405 units, a 13% growth over 2020, it would seem as though motor car manufacturers have sprung back with exceptional and in some cases record sales numbers. The latest to report remarkable sales figures is Toyota whose sales numbers grew by 10,6% in 2021, dethroning GM and their 90-year run as best-selling brand in the US, and selling a total of 9,6 million units globally in 2021. For the second year in a row, Toyota takes the title as the world’s best selling vehicle manufacturer. To put their 10,6% growth into perspective, the motor giant’s closest competitor, Volkswagen Group, sold 4,8 millio

The S63 is a natural force to be reckoned with but now owners of vehicles produced between the 2018 to 2020 model year that utilise the engine platform can upgrade their own. For $799,95, the S63 BMW engines can receive a Dinan stage 1 software upgrade.   The S63 heart; a 4.4-litre biturbo 90° V8 from Bavaria. The S63 is a BMW M derivative of the N63 motor but this time around the 4.4-litre biturbo 90° V8 ranges from 408 kW to 441 kW depending on its application while torque lies between 680 -700 N.m from factory. The Dinan upgrade can provide the motor with an additional 97 kW and 270 N.m on 93 octane fuel. The software also brings performance increases for 91, 100 and 104 octane fuel. So if you own an F90 M5 , X5 M, X6 M, or M8 including competition versions that employ the S63 BMW engines between 2018-2020, the Dinan stage 1 software upgrade could give a little bit more oomph. They are still working on performance upgrades for vehicles from the 2021 model year and beyond but h

No matter how potent a car may be, there will always be a tuning company that will tweak it to the next level. If the X5 M Competition lacks enough oomph, owners can commission German tuning company Manhart to create their own Manhart MHX5 700 which pushes figures into ludicrous territory.  Turned up to 11 with an ominous looking front end. Manhart is no stranger to pushing the envelope. The 700 in the name is a bit of a giveaway albeit a slight understatement because the 4.4-liter V8 generates 730 hp (544 kW) and 900 N.m with credit to the Manhart MHtronik auxiliary control unit or alternatively through an ECU remap. The figures are greatly increased from a stock 460 kW and 750 N.m. Upgrades also allow for a more sonorous exhaust note with a stainless steel system with valve control which is highly customisable to the needs of the commissioner. This is what the previous model sounded like .  To cope with the power increases, the Manhart MHX5 700 can optionally equip the alread

There are not many instances where a journalist has very little to say – after all, the main role of our occupation is to say things. The Gordon Murray Automotive T.33, however, renders one utterly speechless… If you like cars at all then the name Gordon Murray should do more than ring a bell. If your bell is left unrung, I’d suggest you go and do a bit of homework. One can imagine that the introduction of his T.50 hypercar left many development engineers working on radical projects feeling rather silly, with their over 1 500 kg “supercars” and overly boosted engines. As he did with the inimitable McLaren F1 in the ‘90s, he turned the world of super- and indeed hyper-cars on its head once again. And yet again, we’re on our heads with our jaws agape. This is the Gordon Murray T.33 and it sits on a completely different chassis to that of the T.50 . The focus here is on the T.33 being more of a Grand Tourer and design-wise, its what Professor Murray describes as a distillation of al

The raging bull would seem less of a terror if it did not flare its nostrils and make audible grunts in a huff of fury when challenging Matadors in the stadiums of Pamplona. Well, the same can be said about the mythical automotive brand that has the raging bull fashioned onto their logo but 2022 is to be the year of Lamborghini’s last pure gasoline powered cars.  The last pure V12 swan song from the Raging Bull found in the Aventador LP 780-4 Ultimae. 2022 will be a busy year for the Italian brand with the intended release of four new products. While this sounds like good news for fossil fuel loving enthusiasts, it is in preparation for Lamborghini’s move into hybrid and electric technology. Ending 2021 off with a personal sales record of 8 405 cars delivered in the year, Lamborghini must be doing something right after the sought after Urus SUV accounted for nearly 60% of those sales.  We can expect a mid-cycle refresh of the sales staggering Urus this year. “In 2022 we’ll be d

The W204 C 63 AMG is a special car by default with its virile and masculine growl but what makes this swooping rooftop version even more special is that it’s a wagon. However the real showstopper is that this was Michael Schumacher’s ex-C 63 company wagon and it is now up for sale! Handled by 7-time Formula 1 World Champion Michael Schumacher during his tenure with Mercedes GP Petronas F1 Team. Michael Schumacher for many will be one of the most complete Formula 1 drivers to ever have lived, lingering in discussions on who the greatest that ever competed actually was. He first retired after his successful stint at Ferrari at the end of the 2006 season but was poised to make a return to the sport in 2010 and build the Mercedes GP Petronas F1 Team to the powerhouse that eventually dominated the hybrid era. The welcoming gift to the 7-time World Champion and family man from management was this C 63 wagon.  A few things need to be done here and there to get it back to original condit

Legendary SA Cricketer Dale Steyn and Ryan O’Connor go for a drive and a chat in the Mercedes-Benz GLS580. The post Dale Steyn rolls with the R.O.C. in the Mercedes-Benz GLS580 appeared first on CAR Magazine . The Car Guide

While these shots may not ignite debate in the car world the same way the original reveal of the futuristic bakkie did, the production ready Tesla Cybertruck has kept true to its concept as new videos reveal.  Edging closer to a production reality albeit with a few more law-requiring bits and pieces like windscreen wipers and mirrors. After a two year wait, the Cybertruck is almost ready to be launched into the market. Generally speaking; after bean counters and business suits normally get together and assess the viability of a concept for production, a great deal of things can typically change. This often leaves the production version of a remarkable concept depicted as a frail skeleton of what could have been. This time around Franz von Holzhausen and Ian Kettle, head of design and lead exterior designer have still managed to see their left field vision come to life as a production ready Tesla Cybertruck has been revealed in a walkaround video . The silhouette of the futuris

Not too long ago we featured an article about a brand new Volkswagen Polo being driven through a showroom window in Durban. Well, the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has officially stated that Polo drivers rank unsafest in SA. Polos account for 16.7% of all fatal crashes in SA. A document provided by the RTMC titled South African Fatal Crashes in Context, paints a grim picture of the road safety within our country with fatal crash data as well as speed infringement data. The study which was concluded over a four year period, from October 1 2017 to June 30 2021 details that: “A total of 48 330 vehicles were involved in 37 583 fatal crashes with 45 232 deaths during the period according to data on the Road Traffic Management Corporation’s national crash data management system,”  The locally produced compact hatchback from the German manufacturer is at any given time doing more harm than good. With drivers performing backyard stunts or attempting to use their entir

Believe it or not but the BMW 8 series in current guise has been around since 2018. In those 4 years only a limited number of the flagship grand tourer have sold but as every automaker does, a mid-cycle refresh may reinvigorate sales. The facelifted BMW 8 Series coupe seeks to do just that for the Bavarian brand, although the subtle changes are almost non-existent to the untrained eye. Treatment across the range; the two-door Coupe and Convertible models as well as the four-door Gran Coupe, all receive subtle tweaks. For the reason of its underperforming sales, decision makers at the Munich HQ have kept the updates budget friendly with small touches here and there. Unfortunately this direction won’t give the facelifted BMW 8 Series range the impact it needs to really perform well in its segment and gain market share from other premium rivals but in the same breath it has fortunately been spared the nostril treatment in house designers have been crazing over. Spot the difference?

When it comes to its 5 Series business saloon, BMW’s raison d’etre has always been “the ultimate driving machine”. However, another critical phenomenon that has contributed to its continued sales success over the years has been government, embassy and diplomatic sales. Handsome new LED head- and taillamp arrangements help differentiate the LCI. Interestingly, BMW South Africa has an entire sales division dedicated to this arm that includes 39 institutions like the World Bank, United Nations and more. It is understood from our research that the company vehicle allowance for senior government officials may not exceed 70% of their salary. New directives in recent years from the South African Government, however, have been put in place to curb excessive spending on luxury cars by ministers. This has seen lavish, top-of-the-range models fall off the wish list in favour of more sensible offerings. No surprises then that the seventh-generation 5 Series – recently updated with a lifecycle