In this fourth installment of our JIMS highlights, Justin Jacobs gives his final thoughts on this year’s show.
Land Rover
If there is one Land Rover that you need to set your eyes on it has to be the new Range Rover Evoque, which goes on sale straight after the show wraps up. Unlike any previous Range Rover, the Evoque’s dynamic profile, with its dramatic rising beltline, also features a muscular shoulder running the length of the car and a distinctive taper to the floating roofline. The bold design graphic created by the exaggerated wedge of the window line is emphasised by the black pillars, while pushing the wheels out to the four corners helps give the car its purposeful stance.
The front-end design makes a powerful statement of Range Rover’s identity with the bold horizontal graphic created by the perforated two-bar grille and distinctive headlamps. The Evoque is offered in three door or five door trim. The petrol model is fitted with a 177kW 2.0-litre Si4 engine.
BMW
BMW unveiled its much anticipated new M5, a 412kW, 680Nm monster that is the most powerful M car to date. It’s fitted with a high-revving 4.4-litre V8 engine equipped with M TwinPower Turbo technology, providing constant power over a particularly broad range of engine revs, a characteristic typical of M cars. The M5 offers the same business class luxury one can find in the current 5 Series model, just with mind melting performance. BMW claims that the car, despite its extra power, is 30% more fuel efficient than its predecessor.
For the more sensible of us out there, BMW show cased their brand new 1 Series hatchback models in Sport and Urban trim. The engine line up consists of two members of the new petrol engine generation and three ultra-efficient diesel engines with a performance spectrum ranging from 100 kW to 135 kW. The new 1 Series is due for local launch early in November.
With BMW pushing for more efficient cars with their EfficientDynamics program, it was only fitting that they show South Africa their extremely fascinating i8. The i8 is part of BMW’s Active Hybrid technology and one of the first models from the company’s new electric sub-brand. Conceived as a 2-seater with plug-in full-hybrid technology, this car is able to combine the performance, fuel economy and emission levels only achieved by the latest small cars in the market. The drive units provide a top speed limited electronically of 250 km/h, with acceleration to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds. Average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle is 3.76-litres/100 kilometres, with carbon emissions pegged at 99g/km.
Mitsubishi
We have all seen it and many of us want it, it’s the Mitsubishi Evo X. Will it be coming to South Africa? Well Mitsubishi which is now being distributed by the Imperial Holdings group. We are still not 100% clear but it was rumoured that the Evo X flagship model, the FQ 400 will be coming in 2012. I guess time will tell. Also on the stand was Mitsubishis new crossover vehicle, the ASX. It features a 2.0 litre 110kW motor which produces 197Nm of torque. It is also fitted with a 6 speed CVT transmission.
Fiat
Big news from the FIAT stand was the announcement that their performance division, Abarth, will finally be introduced locally as well. Taking pride of place on FIAT’s Abarth stand, is the world’s smallest supercar, dubbed 695 Tributo Ferrari. Although it might look like a Fiat 500 with some aesthetic enhancements, this little runt has the heart of a Ferrari. The engine, for a start, is a 1.4 Turbo T-Jet 16v, tuned to develop over 132kW of punch and 230Nm. It features two Ferrari Scuderia style racing stripes, quad tail pipes and an upgraded braking system. The bad news however is that this particular model is said to be around R500 000…
Also on the stand was a standard Abarth 500 which will be under R280 000. The little race car is powered by a 1.4 16v petrol Turbo engine that delivers a maximum power of 99 kW at 5500 r/min and a maximum torque of 206 Nm at 3000 r/min. These models will be reaching our shores during the course of 2012.
MG (Morris Garages)
Yes, MG is back, but they are not quite as English as you would expect. Now owned by one of China’s biggest automobile manufacturers, the Shanghai Automobile Industry Corporation, MG is launching various models into the South African market, the flagship of these being the MG6, fitted with a 1.8T motor. With a specification including one-touch engine start, sports alloy wheels, rear aero spoiler, fog lights, LED rear lights and sat nav as standard on the SE and TSE trim levels, MG will be playing the value for money card.
- Justin Jacobs
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