ridden: Aprilia Mana 850

When one glances at the 850 Mana you would be forgiven to think that this is an 850 twin, race derived Aprilia, capable of throwing you onto the tar should you make the smallest of errors, however beneath the gorgeous and somewhat intimidating design is a bike that is exceptionally easy to ride and is no more ferocious than your neighbors’ Labrador. However don’t be mistaken, this is not a fong Kong 125cc delivery scooter. In fact the 850 Mana incorporates unique engineering that enhances the riding experience.

The 850 Mana does not feature a conventional clutch, instead it features an automatic 7 speed CVT transmission with variable settings that can be adjusted on the fly. Above your right thumb is a mode button that allows you to change the gearbox settings from Rain, Touring or Sport. These different settings dramatically change the bikes personality and power delivery.

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Nissan 370Z Roadster

Overview

Sports car fans who have been waiting patiently for the new 370Z Roadster to arrive in South Africa will have to wait a little longer before they can enjoy the full wind-in-the-hair sensations… a further 20 seconds.

That’s all it takes to transform the 370Z from snug roof up two-seater to a dynamic roadster. And lowering and raising the fully automatic soft-top can be completed with one push of a button with no fiddly latches to open or close.

The new 370Z Roadster has been designed from the ground up as a convertible, promising no dynamic compromises in its on road behaviour. As a result, it offers the same dramatic performance, road holding and rear-wheel drive handling as the highly acclaimed 370Z Coupé, but with the added bonus of fresh air fun.

Like the Coupé, it is powered by the latest version of Nissan’s multi award-winning 3.7-litre V6 engine now developing 245kW. And also like the Coupé, it’s available with two transmissions: a seven-speed automatic and the six-speed manual with Synchro Rev Control the only manual transmission in the world with automatic downshift rev matching for perfect racing gear changes. Every Roadster is comprehensively equipped as standard with the sporty 19-inch alloy wheel, engine stop/start button, electrically adjustable leather seats, Bluetooth connectivity, remote phone and audio controls mounted on the steering wheel, wind deflector and Bi-xenon lights.

The 370Z Roadster also comes standard with a premium digital 6 CD/MP3 audio system, with 8 Bose speakers, 2 sub woofers and IPOD compatibility

Also now available as an option on both the Coupé and Roadster is Nissan premium infotainment and advanced 40GB Satellite Navigation system with a user friendly interface and high quality WVGA touch screen. Features include DVD playback, USB and auxiliary inputs for audio and video, 9.3GB storage for music recorded from CD and Bluetooth® audio streaming.

Nissan 370Z in detail

Design

Some convertibles look better with the roof down and some with the top in place. The new 370Z looks at its best whether the hood is up or down. By starting design of the Roadster at the same time as work began on the Coupé, Nissan designers have been able to ensure the soft-top version has a sophisticated silhouette with better, more natural, integration of the hood into the overall design.

The distinctive result echoes the ‘Z character’ with a blend of sweeping curves and aggressively short overhangs while the shape of the roof itself flows more naturally into the rear of the car when the roof is in place.

When lowered, it tucks away under a body-coloured hard tonneau cover which combines with the glass wind deflector mounted between the reinforced seat surrounds behind the occupants to reduce wind turbulence at speed, allowing occupants of the ‘double cockpit’ to enjoy fully the sounds and sensations of open air performance motoring.

Other design cues already seen on the Coupé have transferred to the Roadster. They include the distinctive boomerang LED rear and arrowhead front lights, while familiar ‘Z’ features such as the vertical door handles, twin tail pipes and ‘Z’ badges in the side repeaters are also present.

Inside, the driver-focused cabin also boasts many features now synonymous with the Z, such as an engine stop/start button, floor hinged throttle pedal, wide and soft pads mounted on the central transmission tunnel to protect occupants’ knees during enthusiastic driving, a centrally placed tachometer and three separate hooded dials – now including an oil temperature gauge – sitting centrally on the top of the dashboard and angled towards the driver.

Significant changes have been made to the design of the Roadster’s roof. It is now fully automatic and there’s no longer a need to latch it manually into place. The roof can be lowered at speeds up to 5 km/h.

Switchgear to open and close the roof has been logically placed on the centre console between switches for the heated seats, while the roof can also be lowered from outside the car by pressing and holding the door locking button for three seconds. It takes just 20 seconds for the roof to be raised and locked into place or lowered out of sight beneath its tonneau.

The fabric hood has been given a smooth inner lining partly to hide the hood frame and partly to reduce noise levels, while the system uses a new hydraulic pump that’s silent in operation in place of the electric motor used previously

“A lot of time, effort and engineering expertise were invested in the development of the new roof for the 370Z Roadster.  We wanted to make sure that the roof functioned as well as it looked.  It is now completely integrated into the design of the vehicle and operates quickly and smoothly,” said Freddie Louw, Senior Manager Product Planning at Nissan South Africa.

Chassis

Like the 370Z Coupé, the new Roadster is a more focused sports car. It sits on a wheelbase shorter by exactly 100mm (2550mm vs. 2650mm) while the front and rear track widths have been increased by 15mm and 55mm respectively. At the same time, the car’s centre of gravity has been lowered: the engine and transmission are 15mm lower than before, while the seating position has been reduced by 10mm. The result is a car that feels eager and more responsive… more ‘glued’ to the road.

Overall, the 370Z Roadster is 4250mm long, 1845 wide and 1325 high.

The suspension layout follows a tried and tested formula with double wishbones at the front and a multi-link rear end, but both have been extensively revised. They are lighter yet stronger than before but with greater lateral stiffness to minimise the effects of camber change.

Forged aluminium alloy links at the front are lighter than used previously, while the revised subframe – a high vacuum diecast alloy cradle – delivers a similar weight saving. Other changes at the front include reinforced steering arms and bigger front hub bearings while the hollow anti-roll bar is not only lighter but also significantly stiffer.
Weight savings at the rear come through lighter aluminium alloy castings, but the major changes are to the increased stiffness of links and the cradle itself. As at the front, larger hub bearings and a stiffer yet lighter anti-roll bar complete the picture. High response shock absorbers help provide a compliant ride.

Overall weight has been reduced by a substantial 62kg over the 350Z Roadster, despite the new car having greater standard equipment. The weight saving can be partly explained by the use of aluminium for the doors and bonnet, as well as the fact that the 370Z was conceived from day one to be a convertible, meaning the car’s architecture needed less reinforcement.

High levels of handling and overall refinement are among the benefits of a more rigid body structure. Torsional stiffness at the front of the Roadster has increased by 40 percent and at the rear by 45 percent. Vertical bending stiffness at the rear has been improved by a massive 60 per cent – all helping to deliver an enhanced dynamic performance.

Hydraulic speed sensitive rack and pinion steering has also been revised to provide more communicative feedback and better response around the dead ahead position. The system delivers greater agility around town and enhanced stability at motorway speeds.

Braking performance, too, has been enhanced with larger diameter ventilated discs front and rear and the adoption of a variable ratio brake pedal which provides more movement for easier control at low speeds, but a firmer pedal at higher G. The new system has greater resistance to brake fade under sustained usage while new pad material helps reduce stopping distances at the same time as lowering brake dust and reducing brake squeal. The brake pad material has been upgraded allowing for an increased lifespan while accommodating the everyday driving impact of the South African roads.
A full complement of electronic safety aids includes the latest generation ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA).

Engine and drivetrain

At the heart of the Roadster is the latest version of Nissan’s potent 3.7-litre 24 valve quad cam V6 VQ engine, with Variable Valve Event Lift (VVEL) technology.

By optimising valve timing the engine produces 245kW, an increase of five per cent, while torque rises to 363 Nm. With VVEL the engine is six per cent more fuel efficient and, by ensuring optimum air/fuel mixture at all times, it is more responsive, too.

VVEL is compact and mechanically comparative simple with just 13 moving parts, half that of some rival systems. As the valves themselves control the intake phase, response to throttle inputs is immediate. In tests, Nissan engineers have recorded response times up to 32 per cent quicker than rival variable valve systems that retain conventional valve springs.

There are two transmission options on the 370Z Roadster, a six-speed manual and a new seven-speed automatic. When equipped with a manual gearbox, the 370Z emits nine per cent less CO2 than its predecessor at 265g/km, a figure which rises to 12 per cent for the automatic at 257g/km. Fuel consumption is 11.2l/100km for the manual and 10.9l for the automatic.

Top speed for the Roadster equipped with either manual or automatic gearbox is 250km/h (governed), while acceleration to 100km/h is achieved in 5.5 seconds in the manual-equipped car and 5.8 in the automatic.

When the manual gearbox is used in S-Mode (standard on GT Pack), Nissan’s new Synchro Rev Control (SRC) technology is automatically engaged. SRC ensures that engine revs are always at the optimum level when the driver is changing gear, delivering perfect ‘heel and toe’ changes every time.

Sensors on the clutch and on the gear lever itself monitor driver actions to blip the throttle on down shifts and maintain constant engine revs when changing up. As the sensors detect clutch pedal movement, the SRC system is primed, coming into operation when the gear lever is moved. By matching this information to vehicle speed, SRC knows whether the driver is slowing for a corner or changing up through the ‘box.

For the first time in South Africa the Z Roadster is available as an automatic and Nissan has developed a sporting transmission that perfectly matches the character of the car. While it can be driven as a conventional automatic, enthusiastic owners are more likely to regard it as a clutchless manual, using either the centre shift lever or steering wheel paddles to change gear.

A high level of lock up prevents automatic up shifts in manual mode at high revs at the same time as reducing high fuel wastage caused by torque converter slip. Its settings also allow strong engine braking and instant engine response under acceleration. The more traditional D-mode is suited to more relaxed driving, around town – with obvious benefits in terms of fuel consumption.

Downshift Rev Matching (DRM) automatically blips the throttle on down shifts in manual mode to smooth gear changes still further.

Equipment

Generous standard equipment levels are a feature of the standard 370Z Roadster and also includes climate control, auto-dimming rear view mirror, automatic interior temperature control with in-cabin micro-filler, power heated leather seats with slide resistant cloth inserts, a viscous limited slip differential and an energy absorbing steering column

“The 370Z Roadster brings all the fun and exhilaration of an open top without compromising the awesome dynamic performance of the 370Z Coupé.  Offering plenty of standard features and state of the art equipment, the 370Z Roadster will be more desirable than ever,” said Johan Kleynhans, Sales, Marketing and Aftersales Director at Nissan South Africa.

Recommended retail pricing:

Model

Price

Coupe MT

*

R512,500

Coupe AT

*

R531,000

Coupe Navi MT

R534,000

Coupe Navi AT

R552,000

Roadster MT

*

R543,000

Roadster AT

*

R561,000

Roadster MT Navi

*

R564,000

Roadster AT Navi

R582,000

Prices include a 3 year/90,000km Service Plan and 3 year/100,000km Warranty.

*Special order

Ford teams up with Bismarck du Plessis

Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA) recently handed over a brand new Ford Ranger Double Cab 3.0TDCi 4×4 to rugby star Bismarck du Plessis. The sponsorship represents an expansion of Ford’s existing commitment to South African Rugby.

Ford is the proud vehicle sponsor of the South African rugby team with a longstanding association with South African rugby.

“We’re delighted to have Bismarck representing the Ford brand,” says Ben Pillay, Ford Marketing Manager. “He is an integral part of the South African Rugby team and a hero to many young South Africans.”

Ford’s Tough Truck ethos is founded on the basis of Ford’s revered Truck history. With a heritage that dates back 90 years, Ford has established itself as one of the leaders in the segment offering South African buyers a wide range of pick-ups.

Bismarck is looking forward to driving his new Ford Ranger 4×4 Double Cab in his daily travels as well as to various events during the course of the year.

“I’m looking forward to putting my new Ford Ranger through its paces. It’s an honour to have been chosen by Ford to represent their brand. The Ford Ranger is perfectly suited to my lifestyle and will be an integral part of my day to day life,” explains du Plessis.

The Ford Ranger is built locally at Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa’s Silverton plant. Powered by a 3.0-litre common rail diesel engine the Ranger produces 115kW at 3 200rpm and 380Nm at 1 800rpm resulting in rapid engine response and great fuel economy.

“We wish Bismarck many happy kilometers in his new Ford Ranger and look forward to having him on board as a Ford representative,” concludes Pillay.

Land Rover celebrates the production of the 200,000th Freelander 2

Land Rover is today celebrating another milestone achievement – the 200,000^th Freelander 2 has rolled off the line, just over three years after it was introduced in 2006.

The vehicle, a Freelander 2 TD4_e in Biscay Blue, is destined for a customer in the UK, Land Rover’s largest market.  Freelander 2 became the first SUV vehicle in the world to use intelligent Stop/Start technology in early 2009. Since then, Stop/Start has been fitted as standard to all diesel manual Freelander 2 vehicles and accounts for almost 50% of Freelander 2 sales globally.

Halewood Operations Director Michael Straughan said, “This achievement is thanks to the Halewood workforce, who have continuously driven improvements since the launch of Freelander 2 to maximise customer satisfaction”.

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Tesla Motors and Toyota Motor Corporation intend to work jointly on electric vehicle development, TMC to Invest in Tesla

Palo Alto, California — Tesla Motors Inc. and the Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) on Friday (21 May) announced that they intend to cooperate on the development of electric vehicles and parts and the underlying production system and engineering support necessary for the manufacture of electric vehicles (EV). The two companies intend to form a team of specialists to further those efforts.

TMC has further agreed to purchase $50 million of Tesla’s common stock issued in a private placement to close immediately subsequent to the closing of Tesla’s currently planned initial public offering.

“I sensed the great potential of Tesla’s technology and was impressed by its dedication to monozukuri (Toyota’s approach to manufacturing),” said TMC President Akio Toyoda.

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LEXUS and GAZOO racing compete together at NÜRBURGRING 24 hour race

Endurance race plays a key role in the final development as LFA moves to production

Playing a key role in helping to finalise the development of the LFA before it enters production in December, the gruelling Nürburgring 24 Hour race this weekend offers Lexus and Gazoo Racing two unique opportunities. Not only will the experience foster the peerless quality, durability and reliability expected of any Lexus, by pushing cutting-edge technology to the extremes of mechanical endurance, but also to hone the technical skills of the personnel involved in the development of future Lexus and Toyota production vehicles.

Furthermore, by participating in the 24 Hours Endurance Race, Lexus and Toyota aim to showcase their dedication through Gazoo Racing to produce more emotional cars and becoming more attractive and desirable to a wider range of customers.

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Description of the new BMW 5 series

The much anticipated 5 series has just been launched. Here are the specifications and a brief overview from BMW. Thank goodness it looks a lot better than the last one.

Description of new BMW 5 series

•  The new BMW 5 Series Sedan is set the conquer the market. With its dynamic qualities and tailor-made design, this new car is the epitome of the sporting but elegant, innovative and driver-oriented executive express. The sixth generation of BMW’s immensely successful four-door stands out through modern aesthetics in design, conveys all of the Sheer Driving Pleasure so typical of BMW, and offers unparalleled efficiency in the
upper midrange segment.

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Alfa Romeo chooses Uma Thurman to launch the Giulietta (Video)

Famous actress Uma Thurman and William Shakespeare’s verses – “We are such stuff as dreams are made on” – are featuring in the advertising campaign that will be revealing the multi-faceted soul of the new Alfa Romeo Giulietta ahead of the presentation to the public at Italian dealerships scheduled for 22 and 23 May.

The star of Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill, who combines an ice-cold, untainted image with aggressiveness, bravery, dynamism and beauty, epitomizes the various souls of Giulietta, a car that knows how to be agile in the toughest situations and comfortable on everyday roads. This is the merit of the new “Compact” architecture. Using sophisticated suspension technical solutions, a dual-pinion active steering, top-quality materials and state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies, the Giulietta achieves excellent levels of on-board comfort, dynamic features and safety (both active and passive).

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Driven: Citroën C3

Adjustable ride height suspension, swiveling headlights and ultra aerodynamic bodywork. These are phrases used to entice buyers of cars today in 2010. However pre 1950’s, these were features that could be found on Citroëns.

This is the originality of the brand Citroën, which was one of the earliest mass car makers outside of the U.S. Citroën have long been ahead with innovations and designs that only caught on much later. Indeed they have been ahead of their time for many years, and in 2010 with cars such as the DS3 and the C3, this originality shines through, giving a car flair and character.

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SBK Kyalami 2010

Yes it’s that time of the year again when SBK visits Kyalami! This is one of the most entertaining and adrenalin pumping motorsport event that South Africa will see this year. Some of the best riders from all around the world come to our doorstep to battle it out through the challenging Kyalami circuit.

In Friday practice, the SBK class was averaging 152km/h which is unbelievably quick around this circuit. A lap time less than 2 minutes is a very respectable time around Kyalami. The SBK riders were achieving 1min 37’seconds. This is the fastest form of racing South Africa has witnessed since SBK last year.

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World Superbikes Kyalami 2010

Renault Clio 1.6 Automatic

Press Release:

• Comprehensive standard features include integrated TomTom navigation
• Frugal 1,6-litre powerplant offers superior economy and performance
• Uncompromising Euro NCAP 5 Star safety via both active and passive systems
• Value-added pricing includes:
  • three-year/60 000 km service plan
  • five-year/150 000 km warranty

When Renault South Africa launched the latest-generation Clio compact hatchback in August last year, the company indicated that the consolidated range would be augmented by additional models in due time.

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Prado TX shares advanced SUV platform with top-of-the-range Prado VX

The new Prado TX from Toyota expands the range from just two top-of-the-range VX models to a four model range on the new Prado platform introduced in October last year.

This latest mid-sized Land Cruiser SUV platform follows the tried and tested formula of a strong, all steel body mounted on a ladder type frame for the highest level of durability in tough operating conditions.

The design brief for the new Prado TX and VX required that any increase in overall size be kept to a minimum to preserve the excellent agility and manoeuvrability of the previous model and retain its true mid-size SUV character. In keeping with this brief length increased by 45 mm and width by 10 mm for the new model. Overall vehicle height is reduced by 20 mm.

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FTV magazine motoring editorial by Crank Motoring

Recently Crank Motoring.com started writing motoring editorials for FTV magazine, Here is our Winter 2010 Eeditorial featuring the KTM RC8 and the BMW 335i. Be sure to visit your local FTV and grab a copy! Click on the images below to enlarge them:

 

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Ford Ranger Wildtrak

 

The Ranger Wildtrak brings added style and exclusivity to the already popular line-up of Ford Ranger models. The Wildtrak 3.0 TDCi Double Cab is available in both 4×2 and 4×4 guise with only 400 models being made available in the South African market.

 

“The Ranger Wildtrak offers trendy design traits and premium spec enhancements such as rear parking sensors and an Armadillo load box cover while still maintaining the existing strengths such as durability, economy, off road ability and safety that are prevalent throughout the Ford Ranger line-up,” says Ben Pillay, Ford Marketing Manager.

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