It’s Christmas Day and we’re in a giving, sharing, caring sort of mood. So, if you’ve rifled through all your gifts and you’re done nibbling on your mince pies, take a look at what the automotive world is gifting us in 2013.
By the end of January, 2013, you should see the first of the next-generation Range Rovers swanning around the fancier suburbs of South Africa. It’s not all flashy attitude though because Range Rovers’ lightweight, all-aluminium, monocoque body structure saves 420 kg of weight over its predecessor. This makes for improved fuel consumption, better performance and sharper handling across the range. A range which encompasses the 4.4-litre SDV8 diesel with 250 kW and 700 Nm of torque, and the 5.0-litre supercharged V8 petrol that produces 375 kW and 625 Nm of torque; both of which are paired to a new 8-speed automatic gearbox.
Let’s continue on with something sensible like the mild-mannered Golf 7. By February, 2013, you’ll start to see them in their droves, don’t you worry. The pursuit of improved power and better fuel consumption means all engines in the range will be turbocharged. A 1.2-litre turbo produces 77 kW and 175 Nm of torque, a 1.4-litre TSI petrol will be offered with 90 kW and 200 Nm of torque, or 103 kW and 250 Nm of torque, while the 2.0-litre TDI offers up 110 kW and 320 Nm of torque at the top of the range. The 2.0-litre TDI can hustle from 0 – 100 km/h in 8.6 seconds and still return 4.1 L/100 km on the combined cycle. Very impressive stuff and transmission choices include the 6-speed manual or double-clutch DSG of course.
The Opel Astra GTC launched earlier in 2012 couldn’t have been more of a let-down if it tried. General Motors and Opel clearly didn’t want to steal any limelight away from the OPC version that will be launching in February, 2013. 206 kW and a massive 400 Nm of torque are channelled through a 6-speed manual gearbox, front-wheel drive and most importantly, a proper, mechanical limited-slip differential. 0 – 100km/h in 5.9 seconds and a top speed of 250 km/h. We say, bring it on.
It’s only the third generation of the Panda in 32 years, and we’re expectantly waiting for it like it’s a thoroughbred Italian supercar. Set for launch probably before the end of March, 2013, the new Panda is all about interior versatility. It is built on the tiniest possible foot print, but with the largest interior space possible. The rear seats can fold and dip for the first time, and the front seats tilt forward to make picnic tables for those in the back. There is no confirmation yet on the 0.9-litre TwinAir normally aspirated or other turbo engines. If they don’t arrive, we’ll most likely have to make do with the same 1.2-litre, 55 kW engine as before from the Punto.
Expected to go on sale in South Africa in March, 2013, Subaru will offer the much anticipated, fourth-generation, Forester SUV with three engines and two transmission options. An entry-level, 2.0-litre petrol engine will produce 109 kW and 196 Nm of torque, and will be available with a 6-speed manual gearbox. The stalwart, 2.5-litre 4-cylinder makes 126 kW and 235 Nm of torque and will be available with a manual or a CVT gearbox. At the top of the Forester pile is a turbocharged 2.0-litre XT, making 186 kW and 350 Nm of torque.
221 kW and 380 Nm of torque from its reworked 2.0-litre TFSI engine will get the Audi S3 to 100 km/h in just 5.1 seconds if you go for the double-clutch, S-Tronic transmission. Quattro all-wheel drive ensures the handling will be all-traction all-the-time and thanks to improved efficiency, Audi say the S3 will average just 6.9 L/100 km on the combined cycle and emit just 159 g/km of CO2. Impressive stuff indeed from the Ingolstadt based manufacturer. Audi SA says the hot S3 will be available in South Africa to partner up with its androgynous A3 stable mate by April, 2013.
Everyone who’s driven it loves the new Porsche Boxster, so it goes without saying the new hard-top Cayman should be quite substantial when it arrives in May, 2013. In the standard Cayman you get a 2.7-litre flat-six engine that revs higher and produces 202 kW and 288 Nm of torque. The sportier Cayman S also gets a power boost to its 3.4-litre engine and now makes 239 kW and 370 Nm of torque. Performance wise, the Cayman in PDK form will sprint to 100 km/h in 5.6 seconds and 5.4 seconds with the Sport Chrono pack fitted. The 3.4-litre Cayman S will take 4.9 seconds and 4.7 seconds to get to 100 km/h with the PDK and Sport Chrono pack respectively.
Expected to join us by June, 2013, the most-potent Fiesta ever comes with a 1.6-litre Ecoboost engine and delivers a zesty 132 kW and 240 Nm of torque. Ford say this new turbo power will help it sprint to 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds, before it tops out at 220 km/h. Most importantly however, the ST sits 15 mm lower on its tuned chassis and it comes with Ford’s torque vectoring control system, with three electronic stability control modes. Ford says it was honed over more than 250 laps of the Nordschleife at the Nurburgring. We’re predicting some very tidy handling as a result.
Mercedes-Benz is hoping to change its brand image with the funkier, more accessible, A-Class hatchback. Arriving in a range of petrol and diesel engines, the one we’re most interested in of course will be the AMG engineered, A45 AMG with a 2.0-litre turbo that it will produce 261 kW and 450 Nm of torque. The standard Mercedes-Benz A250 will already make 155 kW, a figure not unworthy of hot hatch status in its own right, so to harness all the added brute force, the mad Mercedes gets a SpeedShift DCT 7-speed sports double-clutch gearbox and all-wheel drive to transfer power to the road.
Expected to land in South Africa by the end of July, 2013, the Jaguar F-Type takes the two-seater sportscar fight straight to the ubiquitous Porsche Boxster. The Jaguar F-Type S will have an all-new supercharged 3.0-litre V6 with 280 kW and 460 Nm of torque. The performance figures from Jaguar claim it will get to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds, before topping out at 275 km/h. There is an entry-level, detuned V6 version of the same engine as well, and at the top of the pile is a supercharged 5.0-litre F-Type V8 S with 365 kW and 625 Nm of torque. The engine from XF-R saloon is good for a 4.2 second sprint to 100 km/h and a ballistic top speed of 300 km/h. An 8-speed semi-automatic transmission is available throughout the range.
Merry Christmas and happy motoring in 2013 from everyone at the SA Car Fan.
