NEWS

PERFORMANCE CAR NEWS

STORY 1: RETURN OF THE MACK BMW’s E30-generation 3-Series has become an absolute legend in spinning and drifting circles, and none are more hallowed than the 325is, which was a homegrown special launched in 1990.

Available in two versions, powered by a 2.7-litre straight six engine and offering up to 155kW (which was a great deal at that time), the 325is also carved up a rich motorsport heritage in Group N racing.

Now BMW is paying tribute to the “Gusheshe” as it has become known in modern times, with a brand new special edition based on the latest 3-Series sedan, and appropriately badged 330is Edition.

Officially launched in Mzansi this month with a price tag of R899 000, the 330is Edition is powered by the same 2-litre turbopetrol engine as the regular 330i models, with 190kW on tap, which BMW says is sufficient to get it from 0-100km/h in 5.8 seconds.

It might not have more power than the car it’s based on, but the 330is Edition does receive unique design features inside and out, as well as M Sport brakes and 10mm-lower Adaptive M suspension.

The Edition rides on 20-inch M Performance wheels and is also fitted with an M Aerodynamic kit, which includes a bespoke front splitter, side skirts, boot spoiler and exhaust.

The BMW Individual high-gloss Shadow Line package with extended features also includes a black grille and darkened headlights.

Buyers can choose from four exterior colours: Melbourne Red, Glacier Silver, Alpine White and Black Sapphire.

We’ll have ours in red, thanks.

Customers can also look forward to some unique cabin decor in the form of 330is branding on the doorsills and dashboard inlay, Vernasca Black seat upholstery, M seat belts and steering wheel, anthracite roof lining and a glass sunroof.

Standard features include a Harman Kardon Surround Sound system as well as BMW’s Live Cockpit Professional with Gesture Control and Park Assist.

If you want a future classic, this is perhaps the performance car to buy right now.

STORY 2: PDK FOR THE PURISTS WITH no turbochargers to speak of and manual gear shifting only, the 4-litre versions of Porsche’s 718 Boxster and Cayman are an absolute godsend for purists who enjoy driving the good oldfashioned way.

However, with Porsche’s PDK dual-clutch gearboxes being so good, and urban traffic congestion increasingly dampening the appeal of manual boxes, Porsche has decided to make its PDK gearbox available on the flagship 718 models.

This applies to the 718 Boxster and Cayman GTS, which are powered by a 294kW version of Porsche’s 4-litre flat-six, as well as the 718 Spyder and Cayman GT4 models, which are good for 309kW.

According to Porsche, all four auto models are half a second faster off the mark, with the GTS derivatives now taking four seconds on the dot to get from zero to 100km/h, while the slightly perkier Spyder and GT4 models now need only 3.9 seconds to do the deed.

Both are also 0.4 seconds quicker to 200km/h, for the record, taking a respective 13.7 and 13.4 seconds.

In the GTS models, the standard Sport Chrono package adapts the gear shift characteristics of the PDK according to the four different driving modes: Normal, Sport, Sport Plus and Individual.

Porsche has also improved the mechanical locking rear diff in the 718 Spyder and 718 Cayman GT4..

Furthermore, the German sports car maker has made some minor specification changes to the 718 range for 2021. For instance, Alcantara interior fabric has been replaced by Race-Tex material, a motorsport-derived fabric which Porsche says is more breathable and supportive.

Furthermore, the GT4 and Spyder models will be available in the vivid special paint finish Python Green, while the 20-inch Aurum alloy wheels that were only available on the GT4 will be offered with the Spyder too. STORY 3: DROP. DEAD. GORGEOUS FERRARI is taking a small step outside its comfort zone with the new Roma, which made its South African debut last month.

Priced at R4 972 000, the Roma is positioned above the Portofino and below the F8 Tributo. Unlike its siblings, its ambitions are more along the lines of a grand tourer than an outright supercar. Ferrari’s marketing chief Enrico Galliera said the car would appeal to those who have never driven a sports car and those who might be afraid of one, according to Autocar.

While more elegant and practical than you’d expect from the Prancing Horse, there is nothing tame about its performance credentials. The Roma is powered by a 3855cc turbocharged V8 engine that thunders out 456kW between 5 750 and 7 500rpm, and 760Nm from the 3 000 mark. That’s sufficient, says Ferrari, to get the sports car from zero to 100km/h in 3.4 seconds and to 200km/h in 9.3 seconds, while the top speed is 320km/h. Power goes to the back wheels through an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The car also has some advanced aerodynamic and chassis systems, including an active rear spoiler integrated into the rear screen, Ferrari Dynamic Enhancer, which controls yaw angle by hydraulically adjusting brake pressure at the callipers, and Side Slip Control 6.0, which is fitted to a Ferrari GT car for the first time.

The Roma’s cabin is highly digitised as well as luxurious, featuring a digital instrument cluster, a vertical central screen and a new passenger display. The new Ferrari Key with a Comfort Access function allows the driver to open the car by touching a button next to the flush handle in the door.

The car’s importer, Scuderia South Africa, is seeking to create a more digitally connected experience, as group chief operating officer Jan Ungerer says: “We have opted to revolutionise the way in which we engage with our esteemed customers and prospects by embracing the ever-evolving digital space.

“In addition, the recently launched MyFerrari App was created specifically to provide Ferrari clients with features and services that interface directly with Maranello. This will allow clients to access to the entire Ferrari Universe at their fingertips.”

STORY 4: HOT NEW HYUNDAI N IS READY JUST as Volkswagen prepares to launch its hotly anticipated eighthgeneration Golf GTI, Korea’s new-to-the-party i30 N is getting a make-over.

Following on the heels of the facelifted i30 hatchback models, the i30 N performance hatch gets a sharper face as well as a little more power and the option of a dual-clutch gearbox for the first time.

According to Hyundai, the i30N’s tweaked 2-litre turbopetrol engine pushes 206kW and 392Nm, versus the current car’s 202kW and 353Nm. The result is a 0-100km/h sprint time of 5.9 seconds – 0.2 seconds faster than before.

The upgraded engine boasts a flatter torque curve, with more twisting force available at lower rpm.

While the six-speed manual gearbox is still offered, buyers can opt for an eight-speed DCT dual-clutch automated transmission. The gearbox offers three new N performance modes, namely N Grin Shift, N Power Shift and N Track Sense Shift, and drivers can swop cogs themselves via the steering-mounted paddles.

As before, there’s a Grin Control System that allows drivers to tailor the car’s dynamic systems through five driving modes: Eco, Normal, Sport, N and N Custom.

Hyundai has upgraded the chassis too, with the electronically controlled suspension and steering systems being retuned for the facelifted model, to improve ride and handling characteristics.

On the outside, the new i30 N can be distinguished by its larger and shapelier grille, as well as sharply sculpted redesigned headlights and fresh LED taillights.

As for the cabin, the i30 N comes with the option of N Light seats, which are 2.2kg lighter than the standard seats and upholstered in a combination of leather and Alcantara. The dashboard gets subtle enhancements, such as redesigned air vents with chrome trim and a new 26cm touch screen infotainment system.

Drivers attending track days will appreciate the Performance Driving Data System that allows them to monitor their track skills. It saves and displays driving data, including information on power, torque and turbo boost. It includes a lap and acceleration timer.

At this stage it’s not known whether the upgraded i30 N will be offered in South Africa.

STORY 5: BUGATTI NO MORE? FRENCH hypercar-maker Bugatti is looking set for an electric future, following reports that Volkswagen plans to sell the brand to electric hypercar specialist Rimac.

The UK’s Car Magazine says its sources have confirmed that Volkswagen executives have approved the deal, but the supervisory board needs to sign it off.

Rimac is a Croation company that put its name on the map by creating the world’s first electric hypercar back in 2011.

The initial model, the Concept One, was more recently followed up by the even more potent C_Two.

If the deal goes ahead, it would certainly mean an all-electric future for Bugatti, but that doesn’t mean that its hypercars would lose their manic performance edge. If anything, the opposite is true. Consider that the Rimac C_Two’s four electric motors collectively produce 1 408kW and 2 300Nm, which is enough to get it from 0-96km/h in 1.85 seconds and from 0-160km/h in just 4.3s.

By comparison, Bugatti’s W16 petrol engine produces 1 103kW and 1 600Nm.

But why does VW want to sell Bugatti?

According to Car Magazine, the German auto giant no longer wants to throw money and resources at so-called

“hobby brands” that were acquired under former boss Ferdinand Piech, particularly in the wake of its massive post-Dieselgate electrification drive.

Another motivation would be to give the VW Group a bigger share in Rimac, which many have hailed as the Tesla of Europe. Porsche, which is also owned by VW, holds a 15.5% stake in Rimac, and it’s likely that Bugatti will serve as a bargaining chip to increase its share.

Nothing is official yet, but expect an announcement soon. But it also begs the question: If VW wants to off-load Bugatti, could other niche brands such as Lamborghini and Bentley also face the same fate?

STORY 6: THE Z IS BACK NISSAN is finally set to unleash a new Z car and you can expect it to look a lot like the Z Proto concept car that has been revealed in Japan.

Despite being more modern than retro, the styling of the prototype is strongly influenced by its earliest ancestor, the 240 Z of 1969, although the tail lights also pay tribute to the 300 ZX of the 1990s.

Nissan’s design chief Alfonso Albaisa explained that combining retro and futuristic design elements into a modern sports car package was a challenging task.

“Our designers made countless studies and sketches as we researched each generation and what made them a success,” Albaisa said.

“Ultimately, we decided the Z Proto should travel between the decades, including the future.”

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But what’s under that elongated car news. balance of power and agility. It is a vehicle bonnet? that creates a connection with the driver

Nissan says the prototype is powered not just on the physical level, but emotionally, by a V6 twin-turbo engine that’s paired with and responds to the driver’s impulses.” a six-speed manual gearbox. There’s no official Just like the car’s exterior, the cabin aims to word yet on how powerful it is, but it is strongly rumoured seamlessly blend modern technology with retro Z touches, that the newcomer will wear a Z400 badge, denoting 400 and the design team even went as far as seeking advice horsepower, which equates to 298kW in metric speak. from racing drivers on what constitutes an ideal sports car

Nissan is also not saying whether an auto box will be cockpit. offered, although the manual will certainly appease those While most of the information is accessed via a fans who enjoy driving their sports cars the good old- touchscreen and digital instrument cluster, the Proto still fashioned way. has three analogue gauges on the dash top to relay boost

“The Nissan Z Proto pays full respect to 50 years of and voltage information. Z heritage. At the same time, it’s a thoroughly modern That’s as much as we can tell you about the new Z for sports car,” Nissan said. now, but it surely won’t be too long before Nissan pulls the

Chief product specialist Hiroshi Tamura added: “Z is a covers off the real thing.