Car Review

Arrival: 2009 Audi A4 Avant 2.0T quattro

You’ve got to give it up to the Germans. No matter how out of fashion the wagon has become in this crossover-crazy land of ours, they keep bringing them over. So we figured,what the heck, instead of testing out Audi’s new A4 in sedan form, we’d add the 2009 Audi A4 Avant 2.0T quattro Tiptronic (say that five times fast) to our long-term fleet. Is it hip to be square? We’re going to find out.

Looking at the numbers, it’s a virtual dead heat at the dragstrip between the Avant and a similarly equipped 2009 A4 sedan we tested last year. Audi’s 211-horse, 2.0-liter turbo is as stout a four-banger as they come and boogies the Avant to 60 in 6.4 seconds and on to a 14.9-second quarter mile at 90.8 mph (the sedan hit 60 in 6.5 seconds and the quarter in 15 flat at 92 mph). Ah, but the wagon has way more cargo room, you say? Not exactly. The A4 sedan’s trunk holds 16.9 cubic feet, just 0.4 less than the Avant with the rear seats up. As you’d expect, the Avant wins hands down with the seats folded (50.5 versus 34.0), and of course, its hatch makes loading cargo easier.

You’ll pay more for the added room though, as the Avant’s base price is roughly four grand more than the sedan’s. Our tester, which started at $35,675, got the kitchen-sink treatment, with the $7850 Prestige package featuring an assortment of upscale touches including Bluetooth, a Bang & Olufsen sound system, power tailgate, and Xenon headlamps. For $2500 we also checked off the navigation option with backup camera that integrates with Audi’s slick Multimedia Interface system.

Bringing both bling and grip to the Avant is the S Line package, which for $2450 adds a sport tuned suspension, 19-inch rims shod with high-performance summer rubber, steering-wheel-mounted shift paddles, and several interior and exterior trim bits-including some sweet, black Alcantara-leather-swathed buckets. We also opted for the Audi Drive Select feature ($2500), which allows the driver to choose several vehicle setups from comfort to sport. The upgrades helped the Avant pull a very respectable 0.93 g on the skidpad and buzz through our figure-eight course in 26.3 seconds at 0.66 g.So the Avant can carry the mail and canyon carve all the way home-it’s a formula all those cool crossovers aspire to, but only unhip wagons can really pull off. Yep, we’re looking forward to our year of being square.

Sourced via motortrend.com

LAND ROVER FREELANDER 2 TD4 E… Stop. Start. Intelligently!

Land Rover has launched the world’s first production sports utility vehicle (SUV) with fuel-saving, emissions-lowering intelligent stop-start technology in South Africa.

The Land Rover Freelander 2 TD4_e, launched in SA this week, combines the British manufacturer’s proven 2,2-litre TD4 turbodiesel engine and slick-shifting six-speed manual gearbox with elements of the company’s aptly named e_Terrain technologies, of which an advanced stop-start system is the key component.

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NEW RENAULT MÉGANE COUPÉ

•    Dynamic styling highlights sporting heritage, elegance and exclusivity
•    Advanced design and construction for maximum robustness and quality
•    Impressive interior space with seating for three adults at the rear
•    High-tech features: Bluetooth connectivity, integrated Carminat TomTom navigation and custom-developed 3D Sound by Arkamys
•    Exemplary driving involvement from sports chassis and latest petrol engines
•    Strong safety and environmental credentials

The launch of Renault’s aspirational New Mégane Coupé embodies the dynamic verve of the Renault brand and its segment-defining New Mégane model range.

“New Mégane Coupé represents the state of the art, from the use of cutting edge all-digital technology as part of its design and development process, through to the sporting pedigree of its styling and driving characteristics,” explains Renault SA Managing Director, Xavier Gobille.

“It serves as an important image builder for Renault in South Africa, and will undoubtedly appeal to discerning motorists who demand uncompromising quality, contemporary style and a focus on pure driving enjoyment,” he says.

Sporting elegance

New Mégane Coupé focuses on providing motoring pleasure and performance, matched to exceptional looks and everyday practicality.

Derived from the Mégane Coupé Concept unveiled at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show, the sleek new two-door coupé bears all the hallmarks of a future classic. A dazzling array of powerful visual elements combine to endow the New Mégane Coupé with an air of exclusivity and sporting agility.

Most notable among these are the prominent front air scoops, the sculpted headlamps and the flowing crease lines, together with the car’s muscular haunches, smoothly raked windscreen, sloping roofline and the air diffuser incorporated in the rear bumper.

Echoing the sophisticated interior of the New Mégane Hatch, it benefits from sportier, more supportive front seats. Yet the car remains thoroughly practical as a five-seater by using the same rear seat as the mainstream five-door Mégane. It also tops its segment with an outstanding luggage capacity of 377 dm3.

Adding to the tangible sense of quality, the cabin is characterised by the use of durable soft-touch dashboard materials, as well as a selection of interior trim that enhances comfort while creating a dark ambience with a distinctly sporty feel.

High-tech highlights

In line with its exclusive status, New Mégane Coupé offers an exceptional level of standard equipment. Certainly one of its most impressive features is the advanced 3D Sound by Arkamys audio system, custom-developed for the Mégane by digital sound processing specialist Arkamys. The impressive system boasts a peak output of 140 watts, powering a total of eight loudspeakers.

Connectivity also features prominently with the inclusion of RCA and USB slots for MP3 playback, while Bluetooth integration ensures safe cellphone communication on the move. Further practical items include dual-zone automatic climate control, cruise control, as well as rain and light sensors.

The range-topping Mégane Coupé 1.4 TCe (due in January 2010) is also equipped with the integrated Carminat TomTom navigation system, linked to an ergonomically placed joystick controller.

An involving drive

Initially New Mégane Coupé is available with an updated version of the accomplished 1,6-litre 16-valve engine. The normally aspirated unit has benefit from numerous refinements, and delivers improved performance at low and high revs, along with cushioned engine acoustics.

Maximum power is rated at 83 kW at 6 000 r/min, matched to a torque peak of 151 Nm at
4 250 r/min. It achieves an average fuel consumption of 6,9 l/100 km, and a CO2 emissions figure of 163 g/km.

Joining the line-up in January 2010, the sophisticated new-generation 1,4-litre turbocharged petrol unit employs Renault’s Turbo Control efficiency (TCe) to achieve the optimal mix between performance and frugality.

The advanced powerplant is rated at respective maximum power and torque outputs of 96 kW and 190 Nm, while consuming an average of just 6,5 litres/100 km and producing 156 g of CO2/km.

Both models feature six-speed manual transmissions, but the ratios have been shortened in the Coupé 1.4 TCe, compared to the equivalent Hatch, for more spirited driving and performance.

New Mégane Coupé is equipped with a sports chassis configuration derived from the standard set-up used in the five-door hatchback. Incorporating stiffer springs and dampers, a 30 mm lower front roll centre height and a 12 mm lower centre of gravity, it conspires to deliver even greater handling poise and control.

Safety and environmental credibility

Built on the same platform as the New Mégane Hatch, the Coupé shares the class-leading safety attributes that enabled it to achieve a benchmark five-star Euro NCAP rating.

The newcomer benefits from the same complement of six airbags, but gains an additional Pelvis Restraint Cushion (PRC) anti-submarining airbag on both front seats.

This is reinforced by twin side-impact sensors, dual seatbelt pre-tensioners with load limiters and new-generation head restraints.

ABS and Emergency Brake Assist are standard, while Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with understeer control is available as an option.

Aside from the fuel low consumption and emissions, the entire New Mégane family is 95 percent end-of-life recoverable by weight, while almost 12 percent of the plastics used are sourced from recycling.

New Mégane Coupé – Pricing:

The recommended retail pricing for the New Mégane Coupé range is as follows:

1.6 16v Dynamique     – R220 000
1.4 TCe        – R245 000 (available January 2010)

The pricing includes a three-year/100 000 km warranty, and a five-year/100 000 km service plan. Service intervals are every 15 000 km.

Behind every Legend… Nissan NHPCs geared for imminent launch of GT-R

Already the first shipment of Nissan’s world-beater, the legendary GT-R, has landed in SA. Menacing, brooding, but with the reputation to back it up. Anywhere, any time, and against pretty much anything. And soon, the Nissan GT-R will be released to become one of the most indomitable performance cars on SA roads!

Laying the groundwork

First, however, Nissan SA had to establish a specialised Nissan Dealership, called a Nissan High Performance Centre (NHPC), to sell and service this extreme machine. Two were chosen and appointed, Melrose Nissan (Johannesburg) and Global GT-R (Hatfield), and trained, equipped, and 100% prepared for their new charges to arrive. These NHPCs recently opened their doors just as the vehicle itself launches in SA, and are in every way responsible for the tending of this legendary beast in our market.

“We already had a highly specialised workshop with state of the art equipment and one of the largest and well-appointed showrooms. This combination is ideally matched to a product as special as the GT-R.” comments Ryan Holmner of Melrose Nissan.

Wilhelm Baard of Global GT-R takes up the explanation; “The GT-R is a highly specialised machine and as such requires highly specialised people and equipment to sell, service and maintain. The car may have a price tag similar to high-end coupes but its performance and capabilities are on the same (and in most cases higher) level than the best super cars. Whilst it is a super car for anyone, anywhere at any time, it still requires the very best level of service and maintenance to ensure continued satisfaction and performance – this in turn will also ensure that residual values are kept at the highest level possible.”

The best made even better

Nissan requires that all staff teams working in the NHPCs go through exacting specialised training to ensure that they can handle with aplomb both the enthusiast nature of the customers and the specific technical needs of the highly advanced R35 GT-R. After all this incredible vehicle features a unique, individually-assembled engine which in turn is specifically matched to the gearbox and software controlling the seamless shifts of the exceptional dual-clutch transmission, so service representatives working on these machines in these special centres established wherever GT-R is to be sold need to be masters of their crafts. Nissan validates and then continues to audit these skills on a regular basis so customers can expect service performance as exceptional as that of the vehicle itself.

“Due to the highly technical nature of GT-R, it is essential that every person in the dedicated GT-R teams from Sales to Aftersales, is highly skilled and fully trained. Every person in the process is a specialist in their field and every person involved with GT-R has been assessed and tested by Nissan to ensure the highest levels of service throughout the experience of this Japanese super car,” adds Holmner.

Bespoke car, bespoke equipment

The GT-R is a vehicle of such detailed and high-tech engineering that the NHPCs had to invest in an entire line of R35-specific tools and diagnostic equipment, which is why only NHPCs are allowed to maintain these vehicles. The sparkling new workshops house state-of-the-art 4-wheel alignment bays for instance, custom diagnostic systems for interrogating and maintaining not only the primary ECU but the raft of other digital systems which form a part of the GT-R genetic code, a full set of specialist tools, even specifically-designed vehicle lifts!

Holmner enthuses; “Although we have got a highly specialised service centre, we had to acquire additional equipment specific to GT-R. We have a state of the art wheel alignment machine and a nitrogen tyre filler. This equipment is needed just for proper wheel care. The extreme nature of the vehicle and its tyres means that calibrations have to remain within extremely tight ranges so as to allow the driver to tap into the performance envelope knowing that the vehicle beneath them can handle the forces being uncorked.”

Realising this performance potential and maintaining these crushing capabilities while upholding the brands reputation for reliability is no mean feat. The ruthlessly focussed design, precision engineering mixed in with advanced construction concepts and a bewildering array of sheer high-tech combine to create this 21st-century yardstick of super car performance, and therefore requires precise calibration and meticulous attention to detail, approaching the engineering fetishism of motorsport operations. It therefore will be reassuring to customers, particularly when enjoying the GT-R to its full performance potential, to know that maintenance has been carried out by the best at what they do, with the bespoke equipment to match this car exclusively.

Leading-edge technology

Maintaining the potent twin-turbo V6 engine for instance requires that at each service, each bank of cylinders is individually emissions-tested and balanced to maintain optimum performance, while the highly advanced dual-clutch transmission system requires electronic optimisation to ensure that it lasts given the forces it must cope with.

In addition to being driver-adjustable electronically, the advanced suspension system is further -tweakable to suit specific customer requirements. The NHPCs can tailor the car’s wheel alignment settings to a more track-biased setting, a fast-road oriented package, or a mostly-city dynamic setting which affects every element of the cars on-road performance but requires intimate knowledge of the unique and complex components and absolute precision measurement.

Johan Kleynhans, Director of Marketing, Sales and Planning at Nissan SA, inserts; “There really is nothing like the GT-R in the world, period. It is an extraordinary machine, and we’re just thrilled to be able to proudly make the legend real for SA enthusiasts, secure in the knowledge that they are being cared for by the extraordinary teams which form the NHPCs. Without their dedication to this cause, Nissan Japan could not have in good conscience officially released the GT-R to our market, so red-blooded performance people all over the country can know that they’re out there, enrichening our motoring landscape.”

Both NHPCs have opened their doors to deliver and support this ultimate street fighter, Nissan’s R35 GT-R, now on local roads. At a capital outlay of, to quote Baard once again; “I can but I’d really rather not say. I will say it was more than merely buying new equipment and training up staff, there are also those raft of value-added extra touches that customers in this league do expect to be taken care of that had to be in place. But then that’s why, in addition to all the empirical qualities, the NHPCs also had to prove an absolute passion for this purpose-built product to make the grade!”