Cars.co.za Releases Powerful Car App for Android | Cars.co.za

Cars.co.za  has launched a Android app that helps you find new and used vehicles for sale near you. Tap into a powerful vehicle search to filter and sort your results, be updated on the latest motoring news, research car models, and compare listings.

Read more about it here Cars.co.za Releases Powerful Car App for Android | Cars.co.za

Petrol Price in South Africa

The majority of South Africans are barely managing to make ends meet, and the price of petrol keeps on increasing, pushing large numbers of new middle class consumers back into poverty. Here's an infographic compiled by cars.co.za on petrol price over the last 10 years. 

For more information click here 

Calling designers, agencies to design taxi wrap

Designers and agencies are called upon to design a taxi wrap for a fleet of Toyota Avanza metered cabs. Follow the link bellow to read the full article and enter. 

Calling designers, agencies to design taxi wrap

Cars.co.za launches exciting new App for iPhone & iPad

Following a very successful mobile launch, Cars.co.za is proud to announce the launch of a new App for iPhone and iPad designed to bring a new level of interaction straight to the pocket of local enthusiasts.

With this app you can keep up to speed with the latest motoring news and reviews, and as one of the first Apps in South Africa to support new car buying, the App will also provide you with supplementary services such as a car finance calculator, a new car research tool, insurance quote generators and a list of new car specials. 

The revamped search facility offers the following functionality:

• Simple “Quick search” facility
• Advanced search facility
• Multiple criteria support
• Comprehensive sorting options
• Favourite tagging
• Multiple images
• Tilt for full screen images 
• Simple contact form 

Available for iPhone and iPad, the App is a step up in the world of innovation and digital trends. 

Download the App here:

https://itunes.apple.com/za/app/cars.co.za/id626789511?mt=8

 

A tour of Ferrari Museum's latest display

The video contains displays of the following Ferrari models:

Ferrari 250 GTO

Ferrari 250 Le Mans

Ferrari 250 GT Drogo " Breadvan "

Ferrari 288 GTO

Ferrari 288 GTO Evoluzione

Ferrari 333 SP

Ferrari 599 GTO EVO

Ferrari F40 Competizione

Ferrari F40

Ferrari F50

Ferrari LaFerrari

Ferrari LaFerrari F150 Concept Manta

Ferrari LaFerrari F150 Concept Tensostruttura

Ferrari Enzo

Ferrari Enzo FXX Evolution

Volvo V40, safest car in the world

The Volvo V40 was named by the Euro NCAP as the safest car ever made. It is the first car to come with a pedestrian airbag as standard. 

The Volvo V40 is packed with active safety systems.

How this Pedestrian Airbag Technology works is that a large airbag is deployed in front of the windscreen, while the bonnet is raised to lessen the damage. These systems activate when sensors in the front bumper register the physical contact between the car and the pedestrian.

The Volvo V40 became Euro NCAP's all-time highest scorer overall and in its segment, the highest score given to pedestrian safety rating. It also scored 98% for adult protection, which is the best result ever recorded in the test.

The Cheapest Lamborghini You Can Buy

Who would have thought that the cheapest Lamborghini made wouldn't even have an impressive engine, speed, or four wheels. 

No you guessed wrong, with a price tag of around R300 000, the cheapest Lamborghini one could "afford" is a two wheel bicycle.  I just can't fathom the idea of someone buying or even taking this bicycle anywhere but to keep it as a souvenir of some sort.

This is not the first BMC-Lamborghini bicycle made, but the two companies say this is the most exclusive impec bicycle yet. It is made of carbon fibre just like the Aventador, with the seat and handlebars also covered in the same leather found on the Aventador, and is finished in a shade of yellow.

The BMC Lamborghini 50th Anniversary Edition Impec is the latest special edition “model” to celebrate the Italian carmaker’s 50 years in the business. Fifty bikes will be built this year, on a made-to-order basis.

My Favourites from the 2013 Geneva Motor Show

In no particular order, these are a few of my favourite cars that were shown at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show.

First up is the powerful Audi RS6 Avant

The sexy Aston Martin Rapide S

 

The electrifying high performance Mercedes-A-45-AMG

The swift New Suzuki SX4 

The emancipating and stylish Rolls-Royce Wraith

Check out the rest of the Geneva Motor Show coverage here, and pick your favourite. 

Bob Marley's Battered Land Rover Restored

The 1977 Land Rover Series III which was used to transport Marley and his band, the Wailers, to and from gigs around Jamaica is said to receive a top to bottom and inside makeover. 

The restoration will done by ATL Automotive, a Land Rover specialist in Jamaica and sister company to Sandals.  ATL wants to source a replacement engine and is looking for a suitable African-based military vehicle, since the original engine is rumored to have come from Ethiopia.

Watch the first half of project restoration here

Mercedes develops a Cigarette AMG Electric Drive boat concept

So Mercedes have gone and designed a Cigarette AMG Electric Drive boat concept which is inspired by the electric version of the SLS coupe. 

The world debut took place at the Miami International Boat Show this past weekend. I've been on a boat and I prefer one that is in a less nauseating colour, but then again that is just my view.    

The electrifying speedboat develops 1656 kW and 3,000 Nm of torque, making it the world's most powerful and fastest electrically driven motor boat. 

The boat is powered by two drive units, each featuring six independent liquid-cooled permanent-magnet synchronous motors and each unit comes with its own transmission.

Mercedes says that all this power enables the Cigarette AMG Electric Drive to hit a top speed of approximately 160 km/h. All this power and adrenalin taking place on water is very exciting. 

Source: www.zercustoms.com

Toyota GT 86 Convertible spotted in Cape Town

The Toyota GT86 was named as the best coupe in the 2012 Scottish Car of the Year Awards.

Inspired by the 2000GT and the AE86 and is powered by a free-revving 2.0-litre ‘boxer’ that powers the rear wheels and produces 147kW and 205Nm of torque. The 2+2 coupe 86 is available with a manual or automatic transmission and has a fuel consumption figure of 7.8-litres/100km for the manual and 7.1-litres/100km for the automatic. The car has since arrived in South Africa and is reasonably priced for sport car enthusiasts.

Recently, Toyota announced plans to introduce a GT 86 Convertible concept at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. That same car was spotted in South Africa, Cape Town, on Friday.  

Like the coupe, the convertible will be powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder boxer engine that develops 147 kW and 205 Nm of torque.

There's no details on when the convertible will be launched, but more details will probably be revealed at the Geneva Motor Show.

The car was spotted by South Africa's Car Magazine and they managed to snap a photo.

Lana Del Rey collaborates with the luxury car brand Jaguar

Brit and Ivor Novello award winner Lana Del Rey's video for ‘Burning Desire’features the sleek Jaguar F-TYPE.  The ‘Burning Desire’ music video was filmed on location in South East London at the infamous Rivoli Ballroom, a Grade II listed former cinema that was transformed in the 1950s and is the only remaining intact ballroom from its period in London.

Lana Del Rey’s collaboration with the luxury car brand was first announced last September, with the singer performing the song for the first and only time to an exclusive and intimate audience at Paris’s Musée Rodin at the global reveal of the F-TYPE. The F-TYPE is the first two-seater sports car from Jaguar since the iconic E-type was launched 50 years ago.

Ian Armstrong, Global Marketing Communications Director, Jaguar said: “Lana Del Rey is a world-class singer songwriter. In this video, she has used her unique ability to conjure, reflect and then reinterpret an aesthetic from a different era both for herself and for the F-TYPE.”

Follow this link to read more about the Jaguar F-TYPE, its specifications and features. 

The 2014 Corvette Stingray crash

The 6.2-litre LT1 Chevrolet Corvette C7 Stingray has crashed, less than a month since its reveal at the 2013 Detroit Motor Show. 

The Corvette Stingray hit guardrail on left and bounced back to rocks

This is apparently the first known crash of a 2014 Chevrolet Corvette C7 Stingray. It is not known who was driving the car at the time time, but speculation is that it is most likely that it was someone from a dealership or a GM driver since the car is very new and is not yet available at 'top' dealers until late summer.

Follow this link to read more about the Chevrolet Corvette C7 Stingray and its specifications and features. 

The new Golf 7 in South Africa

Volkswagen has expanded its Golf range with the sleek Golf which recently launched in South Africa.  

In this latest version of the Golf 7 Volkswagen is using a four-wheel drive system with an enhanced, fifth-generation Haldex coupling. Weighing a mere 1.4 kilograms it is less than the previous system and requires no pressure accumulator and reacts extremely quickly to every conceivable influence exerted on it. The result is greater active safety and improved handling.

To me this Golf  looks like a merger of the Polo and Jetta, but it is still a pretty impressive silhouette. The price tag could be worth it as it comes with Bluemotion Technology, tweaked and enhanced body styling that is very easy on the eye, improved interior and safety features.

To read more about the Golf 7 follow this link, The new Golf 7 in South Africa. 

 

Petrol to increase by 41cents

By Wednesday, February 6, all grades of petrol will increase by 41 cents.

In the coastal regions, motorists will have to pay R11.92 for 95 LP, while in Gauteng a litre of ULP will be R12.06 and R12.27 for LP. 

Diesel-powered vehicles will increase by 18 cents for both grades. A litre of Diesel 0.05% Sulphur and Diesel 0.005% Sulphur will both rise by 17.8 cents.

Diesel 0.05% will cost R11.29 and diesel 0.005% R11.33 a litre in Gauteng.

A Flying Car to fulfill the fantasies of sci-fi fanatics

When it comes to creativity, the Chinese and the Japanese really take the cup. They come up with most weirdest and sometimes craziest concepts that work really well in movies but not quite that well in reality. I can't fathom the thought of everyone flying around in small 'cars'.

Like this Flying Volkswagen Concept vehicle, designed by a young design student from Chengdu city, China. The car is a two seat pod shaped in a spherical form, has no wheels and floats a few inches above the ground. It utilises magnetic force to float in middle of the air and definitely fulfills the fantasies of science fiction fanatics. 

Volvo Trucks and a Ballerina Stunt

What an incredible stunt. I actually think its very freaky that the slackline gets cut when the huge Volvo trucks reach the tunnel. If she handt walked fast enough, she would have been injured by hitting the wall between the tunnels.

Exciting opportunity - 21st Century Beetle T-shirt design Contest Car Blog

Read more about it here - Car Blog

4 Year Old Kid Drifting With His Girlfriend In Mustang GT 500

Cutest coolest video. I wonder if he'll take it up professionally as he grows up. 

Getting a drivers licence might take four years in the future

To drive legally on South African roads you need a driving licence. 

Word is that, soon, to get a licence may take you four years to complete. So I better get a move on, find a good reputable driving school, start with my lessons and get that driving licence before the proposed amendments come into effect .

The new proposal states that a person can apply for a learner driver's licence from the age of 16, but will be forced to be accompanied by a fully licensed driver while driving and stick to a maximum of 80km per hour. On the roads, they will be recognised by a black 'L' sign with a yellow background on their back windscreen.

Then learners will have to log 120 hours of driving in addition to twenty hours of driving at night.

In the second year, you will have to apply for a P1 license which will allow you to drive alone, at a speed limit of 90km/hour. Exceeding the speed will incur a three month suspension of the licence and you would have to display a red 'L' with a white background.

You will then be granted a P2 licence in the third year that includes a computerised hazard perception test. You will be allowed to drive up to 100km/hour and be recognised by a green 'L' sign.

Only on the fourth year will a full licence be granted, which will also include a final computerised test.



Different licences are issued for the various categories of motor vehicles.

Code A1: This is for a motor cycle with or without a sidecar and with an engine not exceeding 125 cc. You must be at least 17 years old on the date of the test.

Code A: This is for a motor cycle with or without a sidecar and with an engine that exceeds 125 cc. You must be 18 years or older to apply.

Code B: This is for a motor vehicle, including a minibus, bus and goods vehicle, with a gross vehicle mass not exceeding 3 500kg. You must 18 years or older to apply.

Code C1: This is for a motor vehicle, a bus, minibus or goods vehicle with a gross vehicle mass between 3 500 kg and 16 000 kg. You must be 18 years or older to apply.

Code C: This is for a motor vehicle, a bus or a goods vehicle with a gross vehicle mass exceeding 16 000kg.

Code EB: This is for a light motor vehicle that is articulated (light motor vehicle drawing a trailer) with a gross combination mass not exceeding 3 500 kg. You must be 18 years or older to apply
combination of a motor vehicle with a tare not exceeding 3 500 kg and a minibus, bus or goods vehicle with a gross vehicle mass not exceeding 3 500 kg. You must be 18 years or older to apply.

Code EC1: This is for an articulated heavy motor vehicle (heavy motor vehicle drawing a trailer/trailers) with a gross combination mass between 3 500 kg and 16 000 kg. You must be 18 years or older to apply
a combination of a motor vehicle with a tare between 3 500 kg and 16 500 kg and a minibus, midibus, bus or goods vehicle with a gross vehicle mass between 3 500 kg and 16 000 kg. You must be 18 years or older to apply.

Code EC: This is for an articulated heavy motor vehicle (heavy motor vehicle drawing a trailer/trailers) with a gross combination mass exceeding 16 000 kg or a combination of a bus or goods vehicle with a gross vehicle mass exceeding 16 000 kg. You must be 18 years or older to apply. 


To book a test date you need to go to the driving licence testing centre with the following:

An identity (ID) document
Four black and white identical photographs. You must first confirm with the testing centre how many photos they require before taking photos.
A booking fee.

At the testing centre, you will complete  an application for driving licence form (DL1).

Remember to keep the receipt as proof of payment and as confirmation of the test date and time.

On the day of the test, you will be assessed by a qualified examiner.

If you pass the test, they will take your fingerprints and you will undergo an eye test. Alternatively, you may have an eye test performed at a qualified optometrist and submit the form at the testing centre, but ask if this is applicable at the testing centre which you'll be going to. 

If you pass the driving test, you need to pay an issuing fee to receive a temporary driving licence, which you will use while you wait for the ordered driving licence card. You will be notified when your driving licence card is ready for collection. You must collect your driving licence at the DLTC where you made your application.

The application doesn't take long as it is processed on the same day.


Source: www.services.gov.za

I conquered, got my learners licence today.

This morning I felt like I was back in high school. Stomach in a knot, clenching on a textbook, going through crib notes like everything was magically going to be stored in my head exactly as it was on the text book. By the time we had to be assembled in the 'classroom', my nerves had already gone up and down and done a complete 360. 

Although I was thoroughly prepared, I couldn't help but panic at the thought that my brain might deny that it ever studied the K53 manual containing road signs, vehicle controls, and road rules. 

Despite all the drama that was going on in my head, I managed to finish the test (which is an hour long) in 40 minutes. We were ushered out of the class and had to wait for the rest of the candidates to finish writing before we got our results, and it was a really long daunting wait which brought back the nerves.

Out of the 12 of us who were there, only 3 people failed, so like in school and in this case, studying does really help. 

Now that I have my learners, its on to the next step. Obtaining a drivers licence. 

DAKAR RALLY STARTS TOMORROW; THE PRESSURE IS ON

One of the  world’s most-watched sporting events, the Dakar Rally, which starts in Peru on January 5 and ends in Chile on January 20 will have South African sports fans glued to their screens as Toyota and SuperSport have once again combined to bring nightly coverage of the Dakar Rally 2013. 

A total of eight South African-built Toyota Hilux double cab pickups, developed by Toyota Motorsport and assembled at the team’s Kyalami workshops under the direction of team principal Glyn Hall, will contest the nearly 9 000-kilometre 15-day race through Peru, Argentina and Chile.

Source: http://gearheads.co.za

CAR AUCTIONING

Car auctioning is one of the many options available for one to be able to buy a car. But before you head on over to make your bid, here are a few things you need to know.

Making the decision to buy a car usually means that you are ready for the large responsibility it carries, but even more important is that you can make the right decision on where to buy your car.

Car auctions have become really popular, but that doesn't mean you have to trust what the masses out there are doing or saying. It is best that you do your own thorough homework and find out every detail involved in the process of your purchasing a car through that channel, whether it be on-line at an auction site or a public auction held in your area.

Do your research
Ask questions
Read the fine print
Set a budget
Be prepared and be sure of what you want

Follow this link to an in-depth article on what to expect at car auctions and for some more useful tips on buying a car at an auction.

A STEP INTO THE WORLD OF DRIVING; GETTING A LEARNERS LICENCE

First on my list for this year is to get a drivers licence. Getting it would mean that I will also be looking to get a car of my own. So I hereby invite you on my journey, where I will find out exactly everything that has to do with buying and owning a car. From buying a new car verses a used one, getting it on a loan or saving up and buying it cash, to knowing what the function of all car parts is and also how to maintain a car. 

But before I get ahead of myself, I first have to go through the process of obtaining the most important document before I start driving - the Learners Licence. 

How does one obtain a learners licence?

A learners licence is what allows you to drive but, only when supervised by someone who is an experienced licensed driver. It proves that you have the basic motor vehicle and road rules knowledge. To get it, you have to visit your nearest driving licensing testing centre (DLTC) to book a test date and confirm the booking. You will need to have with you, your identity (ID) document, two identical ID photographs but confirm with the licensing testing centre how many photos they require and lastly you will need a booking fee. 

On the same day that you will be booking, you will complete the application for learner’s licence form (LL1), which is available at the DLTC and if you are 65 years or older, you must also complete a Medical Certificate form (MC), which is available at the licensing testing centre. Then you will undergo an eye test at the testing centre or alternatively you may have an eye test performed at a qualified optometrist and submit the form at the testing centre but, make sure that the optometrist submission will be accepted at the testing centre where you will be writing.

Before you write the learner’s licence test, you must study road signs, motor vehicle controls and road rules to have a basic motoring knowledge. Study materials to help you prepare for the learner's licence test are available at various shops.

On the day of the test, you will need to bring with you the booking receipt and your ID. The learners licence is issued on the same day and you will be required to pay an issue fee to get it. It will be valid for 24 months, which gives you time to go on to the next step and get your drivers licence.