Snippets:
- Stage One of the Dakar has officially begun! Al-Attiyah leads.
- A Polo Vivo Driver maxes out on the highway at 187kph. That takes conviction. Said the judge, we assume.
- Former Nissan boss, Carlos Ghosn, appears in Japanese Court.
- Michael Schumacher, seven time F1 champ, turns 50. Tweets Scuderia Ferrari “Our champ turns 50 today. We're all with you Michael #KeepFighting"
- Dieselgate continues with 372,000 fresh German owners joining lawsuit against VW
- US car-sale trends pulls away from small cars in favour of bakkies. Maybe Ford were right to kill off Focus and Fiesta?
- Land Rover unleash a slew of New Defender ‘spy’ photos
McLaren 670LT
More longtail, more often? That seems to be the recent McLaren motto with LT (Long Tail) derivatives increasing in number across the range. Light (100kg of weight has been chucked) and powerful (442kW, 620Nm), this is the zenith of McLaren’s Sport Series, the tippy top and so comes with it mind-bending data. Such as 8.2 seconds from 0-200kph or 0-100kph in 2.9seconds.
Naturally, there’s a ton of track-inspired technology within its carbon fibre footprint to enable it to do this – something McLaren is more than qualified for.
Lamborghini Huracan Evo
The Huracan has been facelifted, here it is now wearing an Evo badge and looking just... Perfect. Full disclosure, I reside in the camp that believes that modern Audi-era Lambos look tamer than the cars that put them on the map initially.
Did I say map? I meant bedroom walls, as poster cars to inspire generations to come. Yet here I am marvelling at how this shape, initially looking quite derivative of the Gallardo it replaced, now looks futuristic again. It has the bite to match its new bark, 470kW and 600Nm – good for a 0-100kph of 2.9 seconds just like the car above (670LT). And while the McLaren is achingly brilliant, this is a Lamborghini.
VW concept looks like a Mk1 Golf tribute
It’s called the Golf Lite and if it looks anything like this Autobild render, is going to drum up all sorts of nostalgia for South African petrolheads who’ve had a love affair with the Citi Golf.
It is in essence an affordable entry level hatchling with styling steeped in retro appeal, while powerplants will be on par with what you’d come to expect from the UP range. A range that will most likely move to a more premium EV niche in its next iteration. More power to it.
Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport
Hello, gorgeous – it’s the fieriest distillation of the Cayman series. It weighs a mere 1320kg, and from its 911-alike 3.8l flat six (the rest of the 718 range must make do with flat-fours) churns 313kW and 425Nm.
That is a fair amount of grunt and shunt, sent to the rear wheels alone, by way of a six-speed PDK ‘box. Glorious. Quick. But, if you’re in need of official performance times well, there’s nothing revealed just yet, but you can bet it will properly trounce the car it replaces which used to be good for 0-100kph in 4.4 seconds. So, promising.
Seven new Opels this way come
That includes the long awaited Corsa GSI, something called the 120Y (we know it sounds like a Datsun), new Astra, Grandland X and Crossland X plus Combo and Vivaro commercial vehicles. We’re just glad to see signs of life in the now Williams Hunt owned brand.
Volvo’s Polestar offshoot unveils new EV saloon
Well if by saloon we mean fastback sedan, then yes. Naturally, it is set to rival Tesla’s offerings and this is interesting even here in South Africa where Elon Musk’s brand is believed to be going on sale, maybe.
So then, this is the Polestar 2 and where the Polestar 1 was an incredibly exclusive super hybrid coupe, this one is a full EV with four doors. There’s little more than this pic of its bum and the claims of 294kW and a range of 480km to go on for now but even so, colour us curious.
Don’t miss this feel-good car commercial
If you love cars, then you will love movie cars – and this mashup by Walmart will be the most smile-inducing thing you’ll see this week. Enjoy
