CAR October 2021

Greetings CAR readers. There’s blood in the water. The mobility landscape is changing rapidly – a sentiment re_ ected in the weird and wonderfully diverse content this month – and opposite factions are starting to dig in. It was recently reported that French President Emmanuel Macron is resisting the European Union’s planned phasing out of ICE car sales by 2035, advocating for a more lenient deadline and emphasis on plug-in hybrid models. The European Commission unveiled plans for a reduction in emissions of 65% by 2030 with a drop to zero by 2035. President Macron, after meeting with top executives from Stellantis and Renault to discuss the transition from ICE to EV, warned against setting too strict a target for car companies. Similarly, German Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer warned the phasing out…

Marius_CARmag IN THE LAP OF THE GODS Featuring F1-inspired hallmarks, the Valhalla’s minimalist cabin places focus squarely on the driver. As the seat bases are fixed to the chassis structure, both the steering column and pedals are adjustable. Reminiscent of an F1 racecar, the footwells have been raised for a low hip-to-heel seating position. PLUGGED-IN V8 The Valhalla’s plug-in hybrid powertrain comprises a mid-mounted, flat-plane 4,0-litre twinturbopetrol V8, delivering 522 kW to the rear axle via an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. Supplementing the AMG-sourced internal combustion engine, a pair of electric motors producing 150 kW are sited on the fore and aft axles. The combined outputs are 699 kW and 1 000 N.m. Aston Martin claims a zero to 100 km/h sprint time of 2,5 seconds and a top speed of 330 km/h. SILENT SURGE Running in…

The Volkswagen Taigo, slated to arrive on the South African market in 2022, is the fifth T-badged variant in Volkswagen South Africa’s already extensive SUV/crossover line-up. Based on the Nivus – a product that has experienced great success in the South American market – the Taigo is, in essence, a coupé-styled T-Cross. Seen here in range-topping R-Line specification level, the Taigo’s front grille incorporates a pair of LED headlamps, replete with daytimerunning lights, and front bumper-integrated foglamps. At the rear, an LED lightbar spans the brakelamp arrays. Adding some sportiness to the R-Line derivative, the Taigo features chrome-finished exhaust pipe housings and a set of 18-inch alloy wheels. The Taigo R-Line’s cabin features a centrally mounted 9,2-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto screen mirroring, Bluetooth connectivity and a…

motorscribe South Africa has lost an industrialist and a visionary after the untimely passing of the chairman of Toyota SA, Dr Johan van Zyl on Friday, 30 July 2021. Just 63 years old, Van Zyl never recovered from COVID-19 complications in a Pretoria hospital. Affectionately known by many as “the Doc” thanks to his doctorate in business economics from the University of Potchefstroom, Van Zyl rose through the ranks of one of the most well-known companies in the world to become a senior managing officer and member of the board of Toyota Motor Corporation. To achieve this within the traditional environment of a Japanese company is impressive but not a surprise to those who knew him. Born in 1958 in Springs, he joined Toyota SA in 1993 as sales director, becoming president and…

The 765LT Spider is powered by McLaren’s M850T engine. The 4,0-litre twinturbopetrol V8 unit develops 563 kW and 800 N.m of torque, which is channelled to the rear axle via a dual-clutch transmission. The sevenspeed self-shifter has been developed with Formula One-grade materials, maintains McLaren. According to the Woking-based manufacturer, thanks to myriad weight-saving measures, the 765LT tips the scales at 1 388 kg, 80 kg less than the 720S Spider upon which it is based. Fabricated from a single piece of carbon fibre, the electrically operated retractable roof lowers and raises in just 11 seconds at speeds of up to 50 km/h. Like the 765LT coupé, the Spider features enhanced chassis dynamics, courtesy of LT-specific springs and dampers, a wider front track, lower ride height up front and bespoke…

The new Audi RS3 retains its forebear’s 2,5-litre five-cylinder turbopetrol engine. However, for the fourth-generation variant, the Ingolstadt-based carmaker has increased the TFSI unit’s torque output by 20 N.m to 500 N.m, available from 2 250 to 5 600 r/min in the rev range. As before, the inline-five motor produces 294 kW between 5 600 and 7 000 r/min. A seven-speed S Tronic dual-clutch transmission directs power to all four corners. Audi claims the new RS3 Sportback and Sedan will sprint to 100 km/h from standstill in 3,80 seconds before reaching a governed top speed of 250 km/h that can be increased to 280 km/h with the optional performance pack. Towards the end of July, the Sedan variant set the Nürburgring Nordschleife lap record for the compact class with a time…