MINISTER NDEBELE GOES AFTER DRUNKEN FEMALE KILLER DRIVER

In highly unusual move, the Minister of Transport Sibusiso “S’bu” Ndebele has ordered lawyers in his department to pursue a woman who was found guilty of culpable homicide but has received a suspended 5-year prison sentence. The woman called Nicolette Goss, had been drinking when she drove into a concrete block which killed 11 year-old Thabani Mngadi and injured twins Mhlengi and Phumelela Ngobese (now 15), as well as Nomnotho Kweyama (also 15 now).

POWERFUL, SMALL CLEANER DIESEL FOR RENAULT

Renault in South Africa seems to be improving all the time, thanks to its 110% commitment, part of the Confiance agreement with the public. Their market offerings are groundbreaking, and sometimes so are their engines. Take the new dCi 130 for instance, a turbo diesel with so few emissions one could run it up and down a hospital ICU ward. The company has promised to deliver this motor to Mzansi sometime next year.

VIDEO: BMW M5 BLASTS THROUGH RACE TRACK TESTS!

Inch by inch, stretch to stretch, the new BMW M5 is coming along quite nicely thank you. This latest 3-minute video clip showcases some of the car’s dynamic supremacy on a BMW test track in the south of France. Different handling courses are tackled, including a wet section where the car slides merrily to the driver’s absolute content. In the video the car exceeds 300km/h but we are pretty sure BMW will not breach the German premium trio’s unspoken agreement of a 250km/h limit.

CAMOUFLAGED 2012 FORD FOCUS ST SHAPES UP

Thanks to the good habits of BMW, other automakers are now starting to send off their own “spy” pictures of cars not yet in the market. One such is Ford with this new upcoming ST, camouflaged in the usual milk-carton cow paintwork. Unfortunately the exercise (despite the fact that they used bits of the new normal Focus and the old ST), is quite pointless since we already know what the next Focus ST looks like. Nevertheless we are happy Ford shared these pics.

PORSCHE RELEASES 911 CARRERA 4 GTS

Porsche’s ever-growing 911 lineup has just birthed yet another derivative in the form of the Carrera 4 GTS, a 4x4 coupe and Cabriolet sports car with something a little different for the customer. Under the covers is a 3.8-litre in-line 6-cylinder engine and several other distinguishing features.

GAUTENG E-TOLL SAGA CONTINUES

Following a loud outcry from media, the South African public learnt of how exactly the new flowing freeways around Gauteng were to be funded; through hard-earned motorists’ and taxi passengers’ money. E-Tolling was thrust upon us like an abandoned baby, with no return address in sight. Soon thereafter government representatives, including GP Premier Nomvula Mokonyane and Transport Minister S’bu Ndebele, met to thrash out a new way forward.

MORE EFFICIENT BLUEMOTION ENGINES FOR VW TIGUAN

BlueMotion Technology, Volkswagen’s fuel-saving systems, is now available for the Tiguan baby SUV. BlueMotion is already sold with the CC, Polo, Golf and Touareg. It includes stop/start and regenerative braking in order to help lower consumption and C02 emissions.

SPECIAL VW GOLF EDITION 35 PACKS MORE PUNCH

This year marks 35 years of the Volkswagen Golf GTI and its parent has announced this special GTI Edition 35 as part of its celebrations. The car debuts in Germany on the 1^st of June at a price of €30 425 (R293 400).

LEXUS LOSING GROUND TO BMW, MERCEDES-BENZ, VOLVO

Lexus is poised to lose its 10-year-long United States market leadership of the premium segment at the end of 2011. And it won’t be domestic classics Buick, Lincoln or Cadillac taking its place, but BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Last month alone BMW sold 71 417 cars in the US, followed within a mouse’s breath by Mercedes-Benz with 71 388 deliveries. By contrast Lexus was only able to shift 64 932 cars in the US.

1 - 2 FINISH FOR LE MANS-HUNGRY TEAM PEUGEOT

Just a few weeks ahead of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Peugeot recorded an encouraging one-two at Spa-Francorchamps, after an enthralling 6-hour race. Alexander Wurz, Anthony Davidson and Marc Gené clinched the win in the no.7 car ahead of car no.8 drivers, Franck Montagny, Stéphane Sarrazin and Nicolas Minassian, who had started back in 48th position on the grid. Team Peugeot Total thus took another giant step forward in its preparation for Le Mans.
  

SINGLE CAB VOLKSWAGEN AMAROK TO APPEAR AT NAMPO

Volkswagen is getting ready to really take the fight to Toyota now with the announcement that its Amarok single cab will be available for viewing at the 2011 NAMPO Harvest Day in Bothaville between 17 and 20 May.

GAME VIEWING GOES ELECTRIC WITH LAND ROVER

Land Rover has combined its wealth of experience in the off-road sector, its specialised skills in the production of game viewing vehicles, as well as its constant drive to reduce engine emissions to produce an all-electric concept game viewer.