HEY FOOL, CHECK OUT MY M3 BAKKIE!

Had BMW not tested this M3 bakkie (pickup) at the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife earlier last month, this could have been an excellent April Fool’s joke. But they did. And spy photographers caught the car and made an internet meal of things. So the secret was out way before 1 April. Nevertheless it’s nice to see what an M3 from the Free State would look like.

Carrying the same 4.0-litre V8 engine as the Coupe, sedan and Convertible models, the M3 bakkie produces 309kW, making it the most powerful Boksburg bomber ever, and has a rear-axle load capacity of 450 kg or about 20 loaded golf bags. It’s the first BMW M3 in the 25-year-plus history of this model range to come with a trailer tow hitch!

Fortunately or unfortunately this particular car is the only one BMW has or will build. There will be no sales at all; it is being used as a workshop vehicle. I wish I had a car like that in my garage!

HONDA JAZZ UPDATED FOR 2011, HYBRID ADDED

The new range of Honda Jazz models will be released along with an innovative and exciting addition - the new Jazz Hybrid featuring Honda’s IMA technology and Eco Assist systems.
 The Jazz model range has been given some styling and detail changes to enhance its already strong credentials. Exterior styling sets the Jazz Hybrid (IMA) apart from the rest of the range. 

The focus has been on maintaining the key customer benefits of versatility, practicality and reliability, as well as enhancing fuel economy, emissions, ride comfort and style.

The petrol model range for the 2011 Jazz includes the all new manual Trend model, with pricing starting at R154 900. The range further includes a manual and CVT Comfort, manual and automatic Elegance models and the luxury manual and automatic transmission Executive models. The Executive range sports features such as a panoramic roof with electric sunshade, auto wipers with rain sensors, auto headlights and 16” wheels. Both CVT and automatic models are fitted with paddle shift behind the steering wheel in order to provide the driver with manual control if required (see transmission).

Honda has made a series of improvements to the Jazz - a South African favourite - with enhancements to ride comfort, flexibility and the much lauded re-introduction of a CVT transmission.

The suspension and steering have been refined to improve ride refinement, stability and handling.

A Hybrid variant has been added to the range, providing significant benefits in running costs, emissions and fuel economy. Versatility and functionality have, as always, been placed centre stage.

A refresh wouldn’t be complete without a new look and Honda’s designers haven’t disappointed. They have worked their magic on both the exterior and interior of the car to give it a fresh look and feel.

The popular Magic Seats have been improved even further. On petrol models, the rear seats can now recline, adding to passenger comfort. Specialised storage enhances the practicality of the car, all of this with a space saver spare wheel under the boot floor.

As always, Honda has ensured that the interior of the Jazz is not only highly practical, but also durable and comfortable. The modern and high-tech interior is constructed using high quality materials.

The most noticeable change is the adoption of a darker dashboard material in a single colour, which is combined with a new seat fabric to enhance the ambience of the cabin. The dashboard of the car is now in a darker hue, which in the Hybrid model contrasts strongly with the blue back lighting of the dials, gauges and displays. The backlighting colour is unique to the IMA powered version of the car, with the petrol versions using amber lighting, harmonised across the dashboard illumination. Chrome rings now define the air vents, instruments and climate control display (fitted to selected models).

Changes to the exterior have not been purely cosmetic. As well as giving the car a new look, the revised front and rear bumpers have also been designed to reduce drag, which in turn improves fuel economy. Design features have also been added to distinguish between the Hybrid (IMA) and petrol versions. For example the front grille, headlights and tail lamps on the Jazz Hybrid (IMA) are all finished in a chrome blue surround to differentiate it from the petrol models. The tailgate finisher on the Hybrid (IMA) also has a chrome finish.

New colours have also been introduced, with the Jazz being available in eight distinctive colours including Deep Sapphire Blue, Alabaster Silver, Crystal Black Pearl, Taffeta White, Storm Silver, Milano Red and Azure Blue. Fresh Lime Metallic is available exclusively on the Jazz Hybrid (IMA).

STORY BY HONDA

CHEVROLET MALIBU: GM'S NEW WORLD CAR?

A basic teaser photo of the all-new Chevrolet Malibu has been widely distributed by General Motors. Why you might ask? Well because the company is seriously going to push the Malibu as one of its world cars by selling it in over 100 global markets. It is being taken as seriously as the Cruze as far as that is concerned.

Of course US customers have been living with Malibu for donkeys years. Last year Americans bought over 200 000 units of the current model. The new one will feature over four different engines, probably including a diesel or two for the European/ world market.

Look forward to seeing the world debut of the new Chevrolet Malibu at the New York Auto Show on the 21^st April.

HOLEY GALLARDO! IS THAT CHRIS BROWN OR MAD MAX?

We don’t normally publish such things but today seems kind of a fun day, so we will. This is Mr Chris Brown, singer and lately actor, and the man who beat up ex-girlfriend and fellow singer Rihanna to a pulp just over a year ago. He’s just come out of a Lamborghini Gallardo and is going to his local gym.

Mind you, this is not the same Gallardo he was driving at the time of the assault. I guess he has a penchant for these exotics. Not that this is the best-looking one out there, being a Lambo and all. Just check out all the tattoos on the bodywork matching the owner’s. Or are they bullet holes? Actually, it looks like something out of a Mad Max nightmare. I wonder if he used to drive it around while he served his community service.

PICTURES COURTESY OF BAUER GRIFFIN

ANDERSON TUNES FERRARI 599 GTB FIORANO

German car tuner Anderson has done a bit of work on the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano. Not only is the car now looking much angrier than ever, but it’s got just a bit more vuma on the go. The same engine has been kept and no turbos are used for the programme.

Hamann provided the sports exhaust system which freed up an extra 22kW of power to add to the existing 462kW. So in total there’s now 484kW on tap and 608Nm of torque. Anderson claims the car will dash from 0 – 100km/h in 3.7 seconds.

As for the body kit, you can see that things are not the same anymore at all. 

CHEVROLET MI-RAY CONCEPT WOWS SEOUL

The 2011 Seoul Motor Show is now on and General Motors is out in full force to gain some public support for its future programmes. One of these could be the Chevrolet Mi-ray sports car concept with the blood of electric pulses. It was created to celebrate 100 years of Chevrolet.

Instead of being a full-on electric vehicle, the Mi-ray uses both electric power and fossil fuel to push it forward. A 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine is mounted mid-rear to improve handling and promote performance stability. At the same time two electric motors placed upfront produce 30kW in total. A double-clutch gearbox is fitted.

The interior is said to draw inspiration from the world of fighter jets, including the power start button which it located at the centre of things. Rear view mirrors have been replaced by retractable cameras which extend from the side glass. There’s also a forward-looking camera working with the sat nav system to relay information in real-time through video.

FACELIFT JAGUAR XF TO FEATURE NEW 450NM DIESEL

Jaguar is releasing a new facelift XF sedan at the 2011 New York Auto Show on the 22^nd of April. These camouflaged pictures are actually official images from Jaguar themselves, a sort of leap over the auto spy industry if you will. To come with the car is a new turbo diesel engine with severe thrust issues down under…

The engine is a 2.2-litre four-cylinder motor making 140kW of power and 450Nm of push. A new 8-speed automatic gearbox runs things, sending power to the rear wheels. Another new feature is the stop-start fuel saving system that reduces the lag time between stops and restarts.

Jaguar says the car will accelerate from 0 – 100km/h in 8.5 seconds and stop accelerating at 225km/h. Average fuel usage is said to be 5.4 litres per 100km, with C02 emissions pegged at 149 g/km.

While Jag is clearly not keen on showing us where the major changes have occurred, we expect a more XJ look for the front end with LED daytime running lights, new bumper, new headlights and a sportier front grille. The rear end should have redesigned lights and other small changes.