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www.thevillagenews.co.za
11 November 2020
The Ferrari Roma wins 2020 Car Design Award T
he Ferrari Roma has won the Production Cars category of the prestigious Car Design Award, which ran from 1984 to 1997 before being relaunched in its current form in 2016. The remote 2020 prize-giving ceremony was held today on the Car Design Award’s YouTube channel. The plaudit is an acknowledgement of the work of the design teams responsible for the automotive sector’s finest production designs of the year. Launched in 1984 by Auto&Design magazine, the Car Design Award is aimed at projects that have contributed to the evolution of car design. This year’s winners were selected by
an expert jury of 12 journalists from the leading international car publications, including Auto&Design itself. In assigning the Production Cars to the Ferrari Roma, the jury stated that “The Ferrari design team, led by Flavio Manzoni, did an incredible job with the Roma. This car reinterprets the classical lines of a Gran Turismo car and projects them into the 21st century thanks to sensual, evocative and cutting-edge design”. The Ferrari Roma is Maranello’s new 2+ coupé, a model with sublimely refined, timeless design and all the power and agility required to guarantee a unique driving experience. Its signature Italian styling is
a contemporary reinterpretation of the carefree lifestyle of 1950s and ‘60s Rome, from which it takes its evocative name, Roma. Stylistically, the Ferrari Roma is characterised by clean, symbiotic forms. Its beautifully harmonious proportions and elegantly pure, balanced volumes are very much in line with the Ferrari mid-front-engined grand touring tradition of which the 250 GT Berlinetta lusso is the most iconic example, and from which the car takes its inspiration. It embodies an extremely modern design language, which underlines its authentic, refined styling. Equally, however, its sleek lines retain the sporty vocation shared by all Ferraris.
Lando meets Elva: McLaren’s rising star demonstrates the pure driving exhilaration offered by th e new McLaren Elva A s the new McLaren Elva reaches the final stages of its testing and development programme ahead of the first customer deliveries later this year, McLaren Racing’s rising star Lando Norris demonstrates the exhilarating experience at the wheel of this exclusive car at Silverstone, home of the British Grand Prix. The latest product in the McLaren Ultimate Series line, the Elva is designed to give the purest distillation of driving thrills. With an 815PS
twin-turbo V8 engine powering the lightest McLaren Automotive car yet, the Elva is capable of ferocious acceleration and handling that is both exploitable and accessible. Transforming the driving experience is the innovative Active Air Management System (AAMS), which provides a virtual canopy over the Elva’s seamlessly-integrated cockpit, creating a heightened sensory experience further enhanced by a stirring soundtrack from the car’s finely-tuned exhaust.
Mahindra’s #XPREZ means business M ahindra South Africa is set to change the appearance of inner-city traffic with the launch of the affordable and spacious Mahindra KUV100 NXT K2+ #XPREZ panel van, based on a Mahindra KUV100 NXT K2+, which means it shares the best-in-class low maintenance and repair costs, as validated in the annual AA Kinsey Report.
The new #XPREZ is converted at Mahindra’s Special Fitment Centre in Gauteng to panel van specifications. The conversion process includes the addition of a flat and highly durable load area in the place of a rear bench seat and two cargo nets as standard.
the load area and the two front occupants and a fire extinguisher as standard. The #XPREZ further retains the KUV100’s safety features, which include dual front airbags and ABS brakes with electronic brake-force distribution (EBD).
Mahindra also adds a safety barrier from laser-cut steel mesh between
“In recent years, we have seen a rapid growth in online retailing and general delivery services. This has only accelerated during the lockdown, as we have become more comfortable with our new online lives and the option of order- ingin,” says Rajesh Gupta,
CEO of Mahindra South Africa.
“We have also seen many people start small businesses and side-hustles to replace or supplement their pre-COVID careers, with many of these entrepreneurs looking for a reliable, affordable and spacious delivery vehicle.”
In its standard form, the #XPREZ can load 350 kg of packages, with best in class access to the cargo through the side doors and very wide rear hatch door. Indeed, the #XPREZ’s load bay can swallow 1 350 litres of cargo, making it possible to transport oddshaped objects and standard delivery boxes alike. In keeping with best practice, the side and rear windows are blocked out to discourage any prying eyes, with additional metal barriers fitted to the inside of these windows. As the #XPREZ shares the genes of the K2+, it features comfort features such as power steering and air conditioning as standard. To this, Mahindra has added a radio and central locking to the #XPREZ, creating a comfort-
able and convenient vehicle for all-day drivers. The Mahindra KUV100 NXT made headlines in 2019 and again in 2020, after it was chosen as the most affordable compact SUV to maintain and repair in South Africa.
The diesel KUV added another accolade to its mantlepiece later that year when it was proven to be the most frugal vehicle in its class in the WesBank Fuel Economy Tour. The #XPREZ is fitted with Mahindra’s popular 1.2-litre mFalcon petrol engine. The engine delivers 61 kW and 115 Nm and has a rated fuel consumption of 5.9 litres/100 km in a combined cycle. “The KUV100 NXT has proven to be the ideal vehicle for our new, locally developed #XPREZ. Its SUV design and 170 mm ground clearance mean that it can comfortably transport a large volume of packages, while not being restricted to any type of road condition,” says Rajesh. The Mahindra KUV100 NXT #XPREZ is available immediately from Mahindra dealers across Southern Africa at R174 999.
