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The Citizen
6 days ago
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Shock and awe: The Renault 5 Turbo 3E is on its way
Shock and awe: The Renault 5 Turbo 3E is on its way At first glance, the Renault 5 Turbo 3E could easily be mistaken for a concept car. However, this 'mini-supercar', as the French firm dubs it, has been given the green light for production. Slated for introduction in 2027, only 1 980 examples (the number of units signifying the year the original R5 Turbo was unveiled) will be made. Related: All-New Honda Amaze Lands in SA – Pricing and Spec Based on a newly developed platform, the R5 Turbo 3E features two electric motors, sited within the hubs of the 20-inch rear wheels. This setup produces a combined outputs of 400kW and a seismograph registering 4 800Nm of torque. This allows the 1 450kg, super-hatch to complete the 0-100km/h dash in under 3.5s, on the way to a 270km/h top speed. Looking for a new or used vehicle? Find it here with CARmag! The R5 Turbo 3E's 800 V electric architecture incorporates a 70kWh lithium-ion battery pack, which offers a claimed operating range of 400km on a single full charge. It is worth noting that these remarkable abovementioned figures may vary once the R5 Turbo 3E has officially completed homologation. Related: Toyota Celebrates 40 Years at Le Mans With Throwback Liveries The R5 Turbo 3E's retro-styled bodywork measures 4 080mm long, front to rear, 2 030mm wide and 1 380mm in height. The two-door's carbon-fibre shell wraps around a driver-focused interior featuring such items as 10.1- and 10.25-inch displays, Alcantara-trimmed bucket seats with six-point harnesses and a rally-style vertical handbrake. Find the full feature in the June 2025 issue of CAR Magazine. Click here and browse thousands of new and used vehicles here with CARmag! The post Shock and Awe – Renault 5 Turbo 3E appeared first on CAR Magazine.
The Citizen
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
The Brabus #5 is a wolf in crossover clothing
The Brabus #5 is a wolf in crossover clothing Meet the Brabus #5: a high-performance electric crossover that blends brutal speed, cutting-edge tech, and bold styling into Smart's most powerful model yet. The AWD performance crossover's twin electric-motor configuration produces 475 kW and 710 N.m of torque for a claimed 0-100 km/h sprint time of 3.8 seconds (when 'Launch' mode is activated) and a top speed of 210 km/ 800 V electric architecture supports DC fast charging up to 400 kW. The result is a 10 to 80% charge takes only 18 minutes. When replenished, the 100 kWh battery offers a range of up to 540 km. Related: All-New Honda Amaze Lands in SA – Pricing and Spec The tech-laden interior features a trio of digital displays, for instrumentation, infotainment and the front passenger, respectively. A 20-speaker 1 190 W Sennheiser sound system, panoramic sunroof and a 256-colour ambient lighting array are also present. Related: Toyota Celebrates 40 Years at Le Mans With Throwback Liveries Visually, Smart's pinnacle #5 is set apart from its standard stablemates via the fitment of several model-specific design elements. Among other items, the sporty exterior includes 21-inch Brabus monobloc Z alloy wheels, red accents and brake callipers, and 'Brabus' branding. Find the full feature in the June 2025 issue of CAR Magazine. Click here and browse thousands of new and used vehicles here with CARmag! The post The Brabus #5 is a Wolf in Crossover Clothing appeared first on CAR Magazine.
The Citizen
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Road test: Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI R-Line + Tiptronic
Nearly eight years have passed since we last road tested an 'entry-level' Volkswagen Golf. The 1.0TSI we tested in our July 2017 issue, not only impressed in isolation' as a four-time Top 12 Best Buys winner, the seventh generation model did so as a range. Introduced in 2012, over its eight-year lifespan the Mk.7 Golf lineup included such models as the 1.0 TSI, 1.4 TSI, 2.0 TSI, 2.0 TDI, GTD, GTI and R. However, owing to South Africa's preference towards the latter two (ours is one of the largest markets for the performance-focused variants) and increasing popularity of the Wolfsburg automaker's T range of crossover and SUVs, the standard Golf derivatives were gradually discontinued in SA. However, shortly after Volkswagen announced the 8.5 generation on the Golf's 50th anniversary in 2024, the firm's local arm confirmed that an 'entry-level' version of its best-selling midsize hatchback will finally return to South Africa in 2025. The standard Golf has always been a CAR-favourite owing to its broad breadth of talents, including practical packaging, impressive levels of perceived quality and effortless road manners. A product of evolution, rather than revolution, each generation of Golf we've tested proved a more polished package than the iteration before. So, when the 'entry-level' 8.5 generation (in range-topping, R-Line + level of specification) arrived at our offices for an SA-first road test, we were curious to see whether this has remained the case. Does the 8.5 generation not only retain, but actually elevate the 'Golf-ness' (of being an all-around sophisticated family hatch) for which its predecessors were widely lauded? Related: All of the CAR Magazine Top 12 Best Used Buys for 2025 Whereas European-market 8.5 generation models can be had with a variety of powertrains — including a 1.5-litre TSI, eTSI and eHybrid, a 2.0 TDI and uprated, 195 kW and 245 kW (for the GTI and R, respectively) EA888s — owing to our variable fuel quality, the sole model available here is exclusively powered by Volkswagen's familiar 1.4 TSI engine. The issues surrounding SA's fuel quality mean the eighth-generation GTI and R models soldier on in our market. The 1.4-litre, four-cylinder turbopetrol unit develops 110 kW and 250 N.m of torque, the full complement of which is available in a broad 1 500 to 4 000 r/min swathe of the rev band. It's worth noting that, while the new 1.4 TSI Tiguan features a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, the Golf's 1.4 TSI sends drive to the front wheels via an 8-speed torque converter. This is again an upshot of our fuel standards and applies to markets with Euro 5 emissions compliance, such as South Africa and Australia. Related: 2025 Toyota GR Yaris Pricing Unearthed The 1.4 TSI is a willing performer. On our test strip, the 1 369 kg Golf completed the 0-100 km/h dash in 8.53 seconds; just three-hundredths of a second slower than Volkswagen's claim. And thanks to its smooth-shifting Tiptronic transmission, it recorded admirable in-gear acceleration times of 2.12, 2.39 and 3.20 seconds between the 60 to 80, 80 to 100 and 100 to 120 km/h increments, respectively. As a result, overtaking on the motorway is a fuss-free affair. However, the Golf impressed most in our stringent 100-0 km/h emergency braking regimen, where it garnered an 'excellent' rating. The test car's 312 mm ventilated fore/310 mm solid aft discs brought it to a halt in a segment-best average time of 2.72 seconds over 36.5 metres. For comparison, that's an improvement of 0.18 seconds over the eighth-generation GTI, which is fitted with larger, 340 mm front discs. Equally noteworthy was the 1.4 TSI unit's fuel consumption. On our standardised fuel route, the Golf returned an average of 6.7 L/100 km; just 0.4 L/100 km more than Volkswagen's claim. In terms of driving manners, the Golf is impressively poised, and its roadholding is genuinely impressive. R-Line models are equipped with 'Progressive' steering as standard. Using a variable-ratio rack, this steering system effortlessly progresses from being finger-twirl light at urban manoeuvring speeds, before becoming weightier and pleasingly direct when pressing on. Fore and aft park distance sensors are included across the lineup, with Life + spec and up gaining a reverse-view camera. Our only gripe with the test car was its ride quality. Even in 'Comfort' driving mode ('Eco', 'Sport' and 'Individual' are also available), the R-Line +'s sportily-tuned MacPherson strut front/multilink rear suspension arrangement is a touch too firm and feels unsettled on anything other than billiard table-smooth surfaces. The standard configuration of the Life models should prove more pliant, however. Unlike several cars we've tested of late, the Golf's active driver assistance systems thankfully aren't intrusive and, save for driver drowsiness monitoring and emergency braking, remain deactivated after switching the car back on. In addition to these safety systems, the range features seven airbags and Isofix child-seat mounting points. Externally, the updates to the 8.5 are very subtle, comprising some mild tweaks to the head- and taillamps, and some new alloy wheel designs. Bar its 18-inch 'Leeds' alloys (the test car was fitted with similar-sized 'York' items), the R-Line + specification is distinguished via an illuminated front VW emblem and Matrix LED headlamps, replete with LED light strip. The update's more prominent changes have instead been applied to the cabin. In keeping with the Golf tradition of beautifully turned-out interiors, the level of perceived quality in the 8.5's cabin is impressive, with plenty of slush-moulded trim and impressive levels of road- and wind-noise suppression. The updated, 12.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system is a particular highlight, being a cinch to navigate, feature-rich and seamlessly connecting with smartphones. While VW's 10-inch Digital Cockpit instrumentation is standard across the range, R-Line + gains electric adjustment for the driver's seat, tri-zone climate control and upgraded ambient lighting. In addition to being solidly built and stylishly executed, the 8.5's interior is also sufficiently roomy for families. Fore and aft occupants are afforded 885 and 808 mm of headroom, respectively, with the latter having 662 mm of kneeroom. The boot offers 256 litres of packing space, which expands to 968 litres when folding down the 60:40-split rear seatbacks. When we first sampled the eighth-generation Golf at its international launch in Portugal for our March 2020 issue, we applauded the standard model for its all-around sophistication. Having finally evaluated an 'entry-level' version of the updated model on local shores, the sentiment remains. And the 8.5 update has only elevated the overall package. The standard Golf is as polished a family hatchback as ever, doing everything expected from it in exemplary fashion. However, though the sportier body kit is eye-catching, owing to the R-Line models' overly firm ride quality and pricing that encroaches on the Tiguan's, we'd argue the less expensive Life derivatives are where money is better spent. Find the full feature in the May 2025 issue of CAR Magazine. Browse thousands of new and used cars here with CARmag. The post Road Test: Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI R-Line + Tiptronic appeared first on CAR Magazine.
The Citizen
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Watch: Ford Ranger Raptor's demolishing dune leap in Brazil
Despite how capable and rugged the Ford Ranger Raptor is, someone has pushed the bakkie too far after getting enormous air over a dune before crashing down on the earth below! The visible result seems to be a totalled bakkie. Watch below. Looking for a new set of wheels? Find it here with CARmag. While exact details remain uncertain, a video has gone viral showing a Ford Ranger Raptor launching off a massive beach dune in Canoa Quebrada, Ceará, Brazil, before rejoining the earth beneath in spectacular fashion. Reports suggest that the driver had purchased the vehicle just a day prior to the incident, and despite the severity of the crash, the driver reportedly emerged unscathed. Gaining quite a bit of momentum online (like the bakkie did before it got that air), many have slammed the reckless stunt, which very obviously wrote off the bakkie, but could have also caused serious harm to the occupants in the car. Related: Facelifted Mitsubishi Pajero Sport Arrives in SA With Same Price From Before – Pricing and Specs As a reminder, the extensively tested Ford Ranger Raptor features a significantly upgraded suspension system designed for serious off-road performance without compromising on-road comfort either. The headline upgrade are FOX 2.5-inch Live Valve Internal Bypass shocks that adjust up to 500 times per second for real-time terrain response. The rear suspension also uses coil springs with a Watts linkage and trailing arms, replacing the standard leaf springs. On the chassis front, Ford Performance has ensured it can take a beating with reinforced components like the front frame rails and shock towers. Related: All of the CAR Magazine Top 12 Best Used Buys for 2025 All of these upgrades meant nothing with that amount of airtime and force when it rejoined the sandy earth beneath it. Some complex calculations based on very rough estimates from the video below suggest the Ford Ranger Raptor, which weighs just under 2 500kg, was airborne for about 2.5s, suggesting a drop height of roughly 7.6m and an impact speed over 12m/s. Assuming the suspension bottomed out in 0.3s, the bakkie would've hit the ground with an estimated force of over 100 000 newtons — about the weight of 10 tonnes slamming into the earth. Even for a Raptor, it's no surprise the airbags deployed, and it needed to be unceremoniously dragged off the dunes. Watch it here: Browse thousands of new and used cars here with CARmag. The post Ford Ranger Raptor Gets Very Airborne on Dunes – Crashes Hard appeared first on CAR Magazine.
The Citizen
17-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Facelifted Mitsubishi Pajero Sport arrives in SA with same price from before
Facelifted Mitsubishi Pajero Sport arrives in SA with same price from before Mitsubishi has refreshed the Pajero Sport for 2025, adding new tech and safety features to the Fortuner-rivalling SUV. All of this has been done while keeping the price unchanged. Here are all the details. Looking for a new or used Mitsubishi? Find it here with CARmag! Visually, the SUV gets a bolder look thanks to an updated Dynamic Shield grille, revised front and rear bumpers, and new 18-inch alloy wheels. Inside, the cabin sees some welcome upgrades. There's now a fully digital eight-inch driver display and a new steering wheel that is said to create a more contemporary environment. Mitsubishi has also introduced a black headliner to continue to upmarket theme. Key features like black leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, a sunroof, and an eight-inch touchscreen with smartphone connectivity remain standard. Nothing has changed under the bonnet, the reliable 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engine carries over, producing 133kW and 430Nm. It's paired with an eight-speed automatic gearbox and connects to all corners on four-wheel-drive models, which benefit from Mitsubishi's Super Select 4WD-II system, with selectable drive modes for mud, sand, gravel, and rock. It's a setup that's been tried and tested, particularly in harsh off-road conditions. Related: Review: Mitsubishi Triton 2.4DI-D DC 4×4 Xtreme Pajero Sport pricing Pajero Sport 2.4L DI-DC 8AT (2WD) – R789 990 R789 990 Pajero Sport 2.4L DI-DC 8AT (4WD) – R854 990 R854 990 Pajero Sport 2.4L DI-DC 8AT (4WD) Exceed – R904 990 On the safety front, Mitsubishi has included the Ultrasonic Mis-acceleration Mitigation System, designed to prevent low-speed collisions caused by accidental throttle inputs. A Multi-Around Monitor has also been included to help with tight parking manoeuvres. Other safety features include seven airbags, hill start assist, trailer stability control, hill descent control, and LED headlights. Active systems like traction and stability control, emergency brake assist, and ABS with electronic brake-force distribution are also standard. Click here and browse thousands of new and used vehicles here with CARmag! The post Facelifted Mitsubishi Pajero Sport Arrives in SA With Same Price From Before – Pricing and Specs appeared first on CAR Magazine.
