NEW FERRARI FOUR-SEAT, AWD FF FEATURED

Instead of going the four-door, four-seat route like its rivals, Ferrari has decided to go coupe-shooting brake from the looks of its newest concept car, the Ferrari Four or FF. Styled by lifetime Ferrari collaborator Pininfarina, FF features two doors but has seating for four people; two up front and two at the rear, unlike the Porsche Panamera and the Aston Martin Rapide which both sport four doors and the same seating configuration.

AUDI A3 COUPE/ SEDAN COMING?

Audi grew 23.4% globally in 2010 on 2009 figures. A nice rebound for the world’s third biggest premium car maker, aiming to be number one by the year 2015. Sales for last year came to 1.148 million cars. Chief rival BMW sold just over 1.2 million vehicles in the same period. Products like the new A1 (launching in Mzansi next week), upcoming Q3 (smallest SUV in the ranger, smaller than both Q7 and Q5), new A6 and a fourth body type for the A3 are expected to boost sales.

ALFA ROMEO GIULIETTA FINALLY SWAGGERS INTO SOUTH AFRICA

Admittedly I have been waiting to drive this car for months, following its world debut at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show almost a year ago. The Alfa Romeo Giulietta is one pretty dame. Id’ say Alfa still designs some of the best-looking, if not the very best-looking cars in the entire industry. And this one is no different.

GM KILLS DAEWOO BRAND IN SOUTH KOREA

In a move designed to enhance its presence in Korea and to bolster its domestic sales operations, GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co. (GM Daewoo) announced today that it is replacing the current nameplate with the world’s fastest growing automotive brand, Chevrolet. All of the company’s new product introductions and refreshments this year will be under the Chevrolet badge.

DAIHATSU TURNS ITS BACK ON EUROPE

Daihatsu is leaving Europe. For good. Or bad, apparently. The Japanese brand says it is withdrawing from the 10 European countries in which it has been trading. Stated as the reason is “the result of increasing development costs to comply with regulations in Europe, such as those related to CO2 emissions, and the appreciation of the yen against the Euro, which have had a negative impact on business results and made selling vehicles manufactured in Japan by Daihatsu no longer viable”.

NEW: BMW SHOWCASES 2.0-LITRE TURBO ENGINE

BMW has released some details about its next small petrol engine. The four-cylinder petrol unit has one turbocharger with BMW’s TwinPower Turbo technology which is claimed to offer a great balance between power and fuel consumption. Displacing 2.0-litres (1997 cc) in capacity, the engine will have its first taste of public life in the X1 xDrive28i.

TOP GEAR HEADED FOR KHAYALAMI IN MARCH

Top Gear Festival powered by BP Ultimate, is making its debut at the Khayalami Grand Prix Circuit from 17th – 20th March 2011 with an incredible line-up of cars and driving talent.  Hosted by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May, featuring the Red Bull Racing Formula 1 Team and South Africa’s very own Formula 1 Champion, Jody

NISSAN QASHQAI MORE RELIABLE THAN 3 SERIES, SLK

More reliable than a BMW, more popular than a Mercedes… the Nissan Qashqai has become one of Germany’s favourite cars.

A comprehensive study by the German Automobile Association (ADAC) has led to the Nissan Qashqai joining the Porsche 911 and the Audi A5 on the popularity podium at the same time as becoming the country’s preferred imported car.

NORWEGIAN BIATHLON STAR LINKS UP WITH BMW

The involvement of BMW in the IBU World Cup Biathlon and FIS Cross-Country World Cup will now enjoy illustrious support in the shape of Ole Einar Björndalen; the Norwegian superstar has been named as an official BMW biathlon and cross-country skiing ambassador.

2011 FIESTA RS WORLD RALLY CAR SET FOR FINNISH DEBUT

Ford's all-new Fiesta RS World Rally Car will make its debut in Finland's Arctic Lapland Rally (28 - 29 January) next week.

Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally team drivers Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen and team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila will drive a leg each in the two-day snow and ice rally based in Rovaniemi, as the final part of the squad's pre-season testing schedule.  

R363 MILLION EKURHULENI INVESTMENT FOR TOYOTA SA

Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) today (17 January 2011) announced a R363 million investment into a new Parts Distribution Warehouse in the Ekurhuleni municipality. The warehouse is being developed in two phases and will serve TSAM’s local and export markets.

ROLLS-ROYCE CELEBRATES 100 YEARS OF ECSTACY

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is celebrating the centenary of the Spirit of Ecstasy in 2011 with an exclusive Collection of bespoke Phantom models. Called the Spirit of Ecstasy Centenary Collection, one hundred cars will be delivered to customers bearing a suite of features inspired by the legendary flying lady, complemented by a range of exclusive exterior colours, wood veneers and leather options.

SUZUKI KEEPS IMPRESSIVE RESALE VALUES

Suzuki Auto South Africa’s range of passenger cars and SUVs continue to perform impressively when it comes to value retention at resale.

According to an analysis of data published in the TransUnion Auto Information Solutions’ authoritative Auto Dealers Guide, Suzuki passenger cars and SUVs achieve among the highest resale values, relative to their original retail prices, in their segments.
 

DAKAR 2011: AL ATTIYAH TAKES CROWN, DE VILLIERS SECOND

Qatar’s Nasser Al-Attiyah was declared the winner of the 2011 Dakar Rally Argentina Chile on Saturday when he crossed the finish line in Buenos Aires 49 min 41 sec ahead of Volkswagen team-mate Giniel de Villiers of South Africa and 1 hr 20 min 38 sec in front of last year’s winner Carlos Sainz of Spain in a third Volkswagen Race Touareg 3.  It was Volkswagen’s third successive Dakar victory with the diesel-engined Race Touareg and its most dominant performance yet – 12 stage wins out of 13.