The Paris Motorshow is about to begin. That means silliness is set to ensue. But we’re kicking it off early right over here at CarShop.co.za.
Hyundai i30 Fastback N
The flagship South Korean marque has been making waving. Performance waves, with their N cars.
Here’s one now, the i30 N in fastback shape. Andreas-Christoph Hofmann, Vice President Marketing and Product at Hyundai Motor Europe describes it so;
"With the All-New i30 Fastback N, Hyundai again sets new standards in the market, enhancing the brand's appeal with highly emotional products. With the new hot coupe our customers will enjoy the same driving fun of i30N packaged in the car's beautiful GT like shape wherever they drive!"
Well, okay fine, curb your enthusiasm why don’t you Andreas. To put it simply, this is the slipperier notchback version of the hatchback that has been taking the fight to the hot hatch establishment with 202kW and 353Nm (overboost takes it to 378Nm) while sipping just 7.1l/100km, has a carbon pay-off of 163g/km and can obliterate the 100kph mark in 6.1 seconds.
It will go on to smash the horizon at a max speed of 250kph. So, potent then.
The Volvo V60 Cross Country
Now this. This, I like. Very much – see, Volvo pretty much owns the market known as the fashionable performance wagon.
Sure there have been many challengers, Audi – we see you. But Volvo brought us the 850R, stuck a stuffed dog in the back and went racing! You have our heart, Volvo! This then is to the S60 range what the V90 is to the S90. A handsome hammer that can shunt all day and with practical capaciousness too.
"The V60 Cross Country is every bit as refined as the other 60 and 90 Series cars based on our SPA platform," said Henrik Green, senior vice president of research and development at Volvo Cars. "The added versatility makes it at home in town and country, thanks to a higher seating position, increased ground clearance and dynamic all-wheel-drive capabilities."
We see it, Henrik. And we want it.
Peugeot e-Legend Concept
I haven’t even read the press release yet but have already formed a deep and powerful love for this car. Warning, we’re deep into the fantasy stuff now.
Now obviously you’ll have noticed the design leans into the ‘retro’ category, and you’re aware of the ‘e’ in its name so can deduce that it is for the most part battery-operated. But it also offers four driving modes including two autonomous modes (Soft and Sharp) and two manual (Legend and Boost) – who comes up with these names!?
It is Peugeot’s plan to, and I am quoting now, ‘Unboring the future.” Well, consider us not uncurious.
The DS-7 Crossback E-Tense 4x4
And finally, our nomination for the most interesting car we’ll probably never see in South Africa, is this – the DS-7. DS denoting two things, one that it is styled to death aka a Citroen with a funny name and secondly, because it is a Citroen, will never make it to Mzansi.
Which is sad because this one actually looks like it will materialise unlike the following sliver of not-gonna-happen.
DS X E-Tense Concept
It may have almost the same name, but really – there’s nothing much to link the two.
This looks like it didn’t make it off the cutting room floor of Blade Runner for looking ‘too futuristic’. Which is not to say it isn’t gorgeous. Sort of 22nd century cheese grater with integrated light show. The highlight? An electric motor that churns out 440kW or if you’re in a real rush, 1000kW.
Ambitious. But then again, Citroen only has it pencilled in for 2035 so you know, there’s time.
Bonus thing! Watch a 670kW Ford Mustang drift the Nordschleife
Of course it’s Vaughn Gitten Junior again, the smoke monster himself on an expert sideways lap of the Nurburgring which shouldn’t even surprise us.
Just watch the “Drift King of the Ring” right over here
