BMW has claimed six awards for five engines at this year’s “International Engine of the Year Awards”, including a successive Engine of the Year title for the 225 kW twin-turbo 3,0-litre six cylinder and “Best New Engine of the Year” for the 150 kW twin turbo four-cylinder diesel powerplants.
With the Detroit Motor Show in full swing, manufacturers are bringing out a range of future vehicles and concepts. Toyota has unveiled its latest concept vehicle, the A-BAT. It has been designed to meet the needs of those seeking fuel economy, functionality, practicality and a package suitable for an active lifestyle.
VW will introduce a pair of “environmentally friendlier” engine technologies by 2015, and suggests a Human Machine Interface will warn drivers of oncoming road hazards and spontaneously rearrange instrument panel displays.
If you’re one of those people who like the frugality of diesels, but cannot bear to move away from petrol engined motoring Mercedes-Benz may well have developed a combined technology engine that will answer your prayers.
Many rumours have been doing the rounds lately saying that Honda’s iconic CR-X will have a successor. This successor may just be one of the Honda vehicles on show at the Tokyo Motor Show later this month.
Volvo cars will continue in the quest for a greener earth, with its display of the Volvo Recharge concept car at the Tokyo Motor Show. Safety will also be in the limelight, as well as preventative safety systems such as AlcoGuard that prevents driving under the influence of alcohol.
While the rest of the world is all pondering alternative power sources for transport, Ford are setting speed records using technology that could be the answer to this dilemma.
An undeniable showstopper, the much-anticipated Audi R8 (due for release in South Africa later this year) will be offered with optional LED headlights.
Any 26-year old petrolhead would give his left nnn… nostril to work for one of the world’s most renowned automotive tuning divisions. A kingpin in BMW’s M division for the past 22 years, Michael Menn has been instrumental in the creation of the award-winning 3,2-litre straight six (S54) engine and the new M3’s 4,0-litre V8 (S65).
Volkswagen AG has developed a seven-speed direct sequential gearbox that utilises a pair of dry clutches and the latest DSG should go into production by the end of the year.
BMW has finally released details the of the new 4,0-litre V8 at the heart of the new M3. It’s light, it’s seriously revvy and packed to the gills with performance technology… just don’t ask how fast it will take the car yet.
It may occupy half a city block and mount a sizeable V8 turbodiesel engine, but new technology allows Mercedes' Vision GL420 Bluetec to emit the equivalent of butterflies and rainbows from its robust exhaust pipes.
BMW SA’s latest update to its satellite navigation system, which is said to have nearly five times the road network coverage of the current system, will be launched on December 1.
Are you paying attention? An upcoming system from Mercedes-Benz will constantly monitor the signs of driver exhaustion in an attempt to reduce the risk of fatigue-related accidents.
"More Flying Scotsman than Thrust SCC" would be the initial response to a steam car land speed record attempt, but some plucky Brits aim to dispel such attitudes here on South African soil.
By Gareth Dean
Learning to drive has often been a pantomime of mounting kerbs and fall-outs with Dad from behind the steering wheel. Now Alchemy has lifted the process of getting your license into the 21st Century with their computer-based educational tool, Learn2Drive3D.
Audi has shoehorned a diesel-powered twin-turbocharged 6,0-litre V12 powerplant – said to produce 1 000 N.m of torque between 1 750 and 3 000 r/min and reminiscent of the engine that propelled the R10 to victory at Le Mans – into the new Q7 SUV.
The cost of filling up at the fuel tanks has with the most recent fuel hikes just become a bit more painful. Recognising that the proportion of people opting for diesel powered cars has increased, Steve's Auto Clinic's range of aftermarket products has been expanded to meet these needs.
