BAFANA STAR, COMRADES KING, TO RACE AUDI Q7 TO CAPE TOWN

Audi South Africa and Audi Driving Experience will be partnering with Continental Tyres for the 2011 Run2Stop Challenge. The challenge pits man against machine where athletes will race against the Audi Q7 from Cape Town to Johannesburg. The race commences on the 23rd July and concludes on the 3rd August 2011.

CHEVROLET SONIC COMING TO SOUTH AFRICA (UPDATE)

The Chevrolet Sonic sub hatch is definitely headed for Mzansi this year, according to official documents received from General Motors. Sonic will sell alongside the Aveo, and will compete in features and prices with names like Mazda2, Volkswagen Polo, Renault Clio and Toyota Yaris. Sonic was first shown at the 2011 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

BMW REFRESHES 1 SERIES COUPE, UNLEASHES 1 M COUPE

A new face, interior and rear side now appears on the BMW 1 Series range, both Coupe and Convertible. This car is still the only one of its kind in a segment defined by hatchbacks and the like. At the same time BMW South Africa chose to launch the incredible 1 M Coupe, a car so different from the rest, so impressive that it may very well end up redefining what we currently know about sports cars.

NEW ENTRY-LEVEL PORSCHE TO REVIVE 550 SPYDER?

A new, modern version of the iconic Porsche 550 Spyder could be on its way into production. German newspaper Handelsblatt spoke to Porsche CEO Mattias Mueller who is quoted as saying “I can imagine that such a modern version of the famous ‘James Dean’ Porsche would be well-received by our customers”.

NEW FORD FOCUS ST TO BE 5-DOOR ONLY

Focus ST is slowly coming into focus as Ford gears up for another boxing match against Volkswagen’s GTI and Renault’s Megane RS. Its new 2.0-litre EcoBoost turbo engine is a confirmed 184kW runner that replaces the old 2.5-litre turbo. Smaller but more effective is the motto.

2012 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK 55 AMG TO SPORT NEW 5.5 V8

Mercedes-Benz has announced it will stick to natural aspiration when it unveils the all-new SLK 55 AMG at the 2011 Frankfurt International Motor Show this September. The engine is the 5.5-litre V8 but with no turbo or superchargers in sight, quite a surprise to those who expected either the new 4.7-litre twin turbo or a smaller 3.5-litre turbo to emerge.

COURT DECLARES GREG GILDENHUYS 2010 SUPERBIKE CHAMP

Greg Gildenhuys and BMW are finally able to add the 2010 South African Superbike Championship to their names following yesterday’s completion of protracted court of appeal procedures and an announcement to this effect today by Motorsport South Africa.
 

ALL-NEW 2011 KIA PICANTO LAUNCHED

Kia Motors South Africa has launched the all-new Picanto sub-compact hatch. The car comes updated with the now signature “tiger nose” front grille that was introduced by the company’s Chief of Design Mr Peter Schreyer. Coming into a segment this busy would daunt any prospective entrant, yet there’s general consensus that Kia is pretty confident its car will do well. Very well actually.

FORD PROMISES BLACK SUPPLIER SUPPORT

The Gauteng Provincial Government, together with Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA) today officially opened an incubation centre to establish and nurture black-owned component manufacturing for the South African automotive industry. 

BMW PLANS TO DESIGN...TRAINS!

DesignworksUSA, the design consultancy and subsidiary of BMW Group, announces the start of an ambitious urban transit project in collaboration with Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), the Bay Area´s regional transit provider. Together with BART, DesignworksUSA will create the “Fleet of the Future,” a new generation of train cars that will enter service by 2017 and deliver a premium ridership experience for its passengers. BART, which began picking up passengers in September 1972, presently operates the oldest fleet of train cars in the USA.