Just in case you haven’t noticed – the personality of the top-end sports car has changed drastically in a few short years. Size does count… and the smaller the better.
Well that’s what the manufacturers tell us as virtually every new model emerges with decreased engine size but, miraculously, better top speed, acceleration, fuel consumption and emission figures.
And the clue is in those last two words. Environmental regulations have shepherded us into a sterile new world where normal aspiration is no longer the norm and turbocharging is de rigueur.
If you are suffering from displacement envy, you could still go for a Ferrari F12 TDF 6.3-liter V12 or even a Dodge Viper 8.4-liter V10. But, I fear, they are a dying breed.
And how can you logically argue in favor of cubic centimeters when one of the fastest production cars on the planet is the Tesla Model S P100D – an all-electric family four-door sedan!
The new Porsche 718 Cayman, and it’s virtually identical topless twin, the 718 Boxter, follow the genes of the new generation and are now turbo fours rather than flat sixes and are trimmed down to a mere two liters.
In a weird way it echoes the ethos of the man who founded the company back in 1931.
“In the beginning, I looked around and could not find the car I&#8217;d been dreaming of: a small, lightweight sports car that uses energy efficiently. So I decided to build it myself,” said the late Ferdinand Porsche.
But don’t confuse economy with performance – the new 718 will whisk you to 100km/h in under five seconds and the S (with a 2.5-liter engine) shaves off another half second.
Turbo lag is fast becoming a part of ancient history and, thanks to a crafty fellow called Dynamic Boost, the new models are practically as spontaneous as their predecessors.
The Helshoogte Pass in the Western Cape linking the winelands of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek provided a fine test of the retuned chassis for dynamic cornering and the more direct steering.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-4639" src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/bodrumsurf-Shutterstock-Inc-540731077-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" />
What you may miss are the gutsy aural tones of old and the subliminal thrust of the bigger engine. But get over it; you are helping to save the planet in a vehicle that is technically superior in every way.
So now that performance across the spectrum is merging closer and you can no longer brag about your brutish motor, we can get to the real selling point – looks.
And that can be dangerous ground. How do you compare a Ferrari 488 with a Lamborghini Huracán, a McLaren 570S with a BMW i8?
The difference I see with Porsche design is that they retain a more understated, almost sculptured design throughout the range. And that includes the more “modestly” priced 718 Cayman.
Porsche assert that the 718 embodies the shapes and proportions of legendary mid-engined racing cars like the 550 Coupé , the 718 GTR Coupé and the 904 Carrera GTS, which is all rather romantic.
Yet the new Cayman certainly catches the eye with a front end that is wider and more muscular in appearance, the narrow front indicator lights winking above the enlarged air intakes, and completed by the newly designed bi-xenon headlights with integrated LED daytime running lights.
And the derrière, which really seemed to be unfinished before, gets a major makeover through an accent strip in shiny black with the Porsche badge emblazoned on it and very fancy see-through tail lights.
The interior is everything you would expect from Porsche with all the controls (apart from the hard-to-find hazard button) at your fingertips amidst a tasteful, if safe, blend of leather and metal.
Although the familiar environment has been upgraded with new elements, the instrument cluster could have been blessed with a stronger dose of new age technology. Like the Audi TTS Coupé which has emerged with what is claimed to be the technological benchmark and is certainly impressive.
The virtual instrument cluster is in the form of a high resolution LCD screen that switches between a classic view with round instruments, to a futuristic full-screen view at a touch on the multifunction steering wheel.
It seems that some marques have remained conservative when it comes to forsaking the classic dials and embracing modern virtual displays.
Hopefully Porsche will lead the way in developing the future sports car with their Strategy 2025. The aim is to blend the history and values of the brand with innovative technologies. And they state clearly that digitalization, connectivity and, of course, electromobility will play a major role.
Let’s not forget that Porsche is one of the most profitable car manufacturers per unit in the world and makes more money for Volkswagen than the VW brand itself. Although VW sell about 25 times more cars!
In 2015, Porsche deliveries were up 19% up on the previous year with revenue rising by 25% to $3.6 billion. And in a tough year for global automakers, Porsche managed to keep the Zuffenhausen flag flying high in 2016.
Driven by Ferry Porsche’s dream of the perfect sports car, the company follows a plan called the Porsche Principle – basically to get the most out of everything.
“From day one, we have strived to translate performance into speed – and success – in the most intelligent way possible. It’s no longer all about horsepower, but more ideas per horsepower. This principle originates on the racetrack and is embodied in every single one of our cars.”
So reads the website blurb. And it is the way you feel behind the wheel of every Porsche.

Defending The Cayman

The new BMW X5 M50d awaits at the carpark of Richards Bay Airport in South Africa. I am to drive it to Mozambique, and it’s an estimated three-and-half-hour’s road-trip to the nearest border. I have always flown to Mozambique. Let the fun and games of driving begin.
This beauty on wheels has a lively, modern diesel engine with road prowess. My suitcases are loaded into the spacious boot. After hours of driving, I arrive at the Kosi Bay Border post. I point north, and the vehicle is about to embark on a journey out of its norm, away from the city streets.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-6156" src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/FWA-2014-Apr-May-056-MOTORING-BMW-X5-MK-002-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" />
The off-road journey, though not on the toughest terrain, is quite sandy. The distance of 21 kilometers seems short on paper, but given the roads, it will take a while. I navigate deep into Mozambique, passing small villages along the way.
Only a few hours ago, the BMW X5 M50d had passed the test of being driven on the tar and gravel roads of northern KwaZulu-Natal with flying colors.
It had displayed magnificent road attitude and handled the open road like a big sedan. The vehicle sticks to the road like a dog to a bone.
It is a driver-oriented vehicle that instils confidence in the driver with its well-mannered suspension.
Driven by the 3.0-liter tri-turbocharged engine that pumps out 280kW of power, this X5 loves the road. Just push your foot against the the accelerator and see.
&nbsp;

Heels On  Wheels

Ever since the first steam-engine automobile (capable of carrying people) was developed in 1769, manufacturers have constantly sought to improve their vehicles; not only in terms of technology, performance and safety, but also with regards to their luxury offerings. An exemplary brand is Bugatti—founded in France in 1909 by Italian-born Ettore Bugatti. Raised in a family consisting of artists (his father Carlo was an importer of art nouveau furniture, as well as a jewelry designer); Bugatti emphasized design when he strove for success in competitive motor racing.
Ettore’s attention to detail was such that Bugatti engines were hand scraped to ensure gaskets weren’t required for sealing. Rather than bolting springs to their axles, Bugatti’s springs were passed through a perfectly measured opening, which proved a far more elegant solution. Ettore famously described Bentleys—whose name has become synonymous with luxury—as “the world’s fastest lorries”, which highlights just how prestigious he believed his rare cars to be.
Other notable brands that offered unsurpassed creature comforts (along with their extravagant price tags) were Delage, Delahaye, Rolls Royce, Jaguar, Cadillac, Lincoln, Buick, Packard, Peerless, Pierce-Arrow, Marmon, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi, along with newcomer, Lexus. In modern times, the three German marquee carmakers have dominated the luxury (or premium) market, but French and Korean companies are now challenging their global dominance.
China, South Korea’s closest car-manufacturing neighbor, has one of the largest and hungriest luxury car markets in the world; this segment grew more than 30% last year. Audi has been the dominant supplier for this insatiable demand with some 313,000 units making their way into Chinese hands last year. In 2008 and 2009 respectively, Hyundai began tapping this lucrative market with its Equus and Rohens offerings and more recently with the Genesis. Termed ‘Intelligent Luxury’, Hyundai, in taking on the Teutonic powerhouses, has delivered competitive quality, power, performance and customer service without a hefty price tag.
The global luxury segment has room for expansion, especially in China says Audi’s sales chief, Peter Schwarzenbauer.
“We expect the premium segment to grow much more strongly than the overall market. China has 304 cities with at least a billion people and, so far, we have dealers in only 187 of them. The premium market still has extremely good growth prospects. We’re scratching the surface in China,” he says. China is expected to overtake the United States as the world’s largest luxury car market by 2015.
As a sign of things to come, Hyundai’s Genesis was named ‘Near Luxury Car’ segment leader in 2010 according to Strategic Vision’s Total Quality Index (TQI) ousting rivals BMW (3-series), Mercedes-Benz (C-Class) and Audi (A4). TQI measures are taken according to the complete experience the cars have to offer, from purchasing to owning, driving and performing. The Genesis scored well thanks to its competitive price, warranty, many standard features and reliability. Hyundai also provides its Equus owners with a service called ‘Your Place, Your Time’. Owners simply schedule their service appointments on a mobile application and a customer care representative collects the car and leaves a loan vehicle (another Equus) in its place. Such endeavors have seen Hyundai rated among the Top 5 Brands, on the basis of brand value, according to a recent Consumer Perception Survey.
Sister company, Kia, is mirroring this bid to take over the premium segment. Sketches of its upcoming Cadenza–to be released in the Korean market in the first half of this year–which is code-named KH, have garnered much interest in the press. Kia will make use of Hyundai’s existing platform and thus shorten its learning curve. “Our new flagship sedan integrates all of our key capabilities such as design, performance, high-tech features and infotainment,” claims the director of overseas marketing for the group, Soon-Nam Lee. Kia and Hyundai plan to appeal to first-time luxury car buyers who can’t afford the traditional German juggernauts.
Naturally, the greatest stumbling block to dethroning the competition has been the fact that Hyundai, Kia, Citroën, Peugeot and Volkswagen’s brands were built on the concept of producing economical transport. Ominously, Nissan Motors CEO, Carlos Ghosn, believes the strategy of mass-market car companies branching out into the higher echelons could backfire.
“The definition of a luxury brand is a brand for which you’re ready to pay a higher price tag for what it represents. If you start to be a bargain, yes, you’re going to have a boost in sales in the short-term, but you’re going to lose the luxury halo after a while,” he says.
His view isn’t a commonly held one as other manufacturers feel that by providing premium products, they can compete in the same space.
“Volkswagen is positioned as ‘Das Auto’ or ‘The Car’ and we are the volume premium brand in SA. This is manifested in both the type of vehicles we produce and sell and in the quality, finish and materials found in our vehicles. In addition to this, while we are the market leader in South Africa, we offer a premium range of vehicles which includes the Passat, CC and Touareg,” says Matt Gennrich, general manager of Communications for VW South Africa. “The big three—BMW, Mercedes and Audi, account for the majority of sales while other players such as Jaguar, Land Rover, Lexus and, of course, Volkswagen, are all competing for a share in the premium segment which accounts for about 19% of the total passenger market. It takes time to build a brand, and we have invested substantially in the last few years in television, print, and outdoor advertising. The Touareg established its credentials right from the launch of the first generation with the V10 diesel and the class-leading technology offered in the car in the luxury SUV market,” he says
French manufacturer PSA Peugeot Citroën is also not sitting on the sidelines. The long-awaited Citroën DS5 is on the brink of being unveiled, and this will be the flagship model in its premium DS range of cars. Based on the C-Sport Lounge concept unveiled at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show, the DS5 combines a coupe with some grand touring features. This car emphasizes technology and luxury embodied in clever elements such as a color heads-up display, individually-selected lighting for the cockpit roof, seats employing the ‘watch bracelet’ design and significant soundproofing. The DS5 even sports a refrigerated storage compartment under the armrest and has Citroën Wi-Fi On-Board so passengers can surf the internet while they’re being driven.
While the mass-market manufacturers are striving to get a slice of the premium pie by offering more for your money, it remains to be seen whether consumers will be swayed by the affordability of the competitor brands, or whether they’ll subscribe to Ghosn’s ideology of paying for the privilege of luxury and exclusivity.

Luxury On A Budget

A supercar has been defined as a vehicle that’s extremely fast or powerful and also commands a high price. The term first saw the light-of-day as part of an advert for the Bentley Speed Six on November 11, 1920, but only really caught on after being revived by British motoring journalist L.J.K Setright in the 1960s. He was writing a review on the Lamborghini Miura and claimed to have coined the phrase himself.
South African-built supercars have been few and far between. Traditionally, home-grown forays into this market have been limited to the making of headers, radiators, exhausts and chassis by Port Elizabeth-based Hi-Tech Automotive, on behalf of Noble, a British supercar manufacturer. These items would be shipped to the head office in Leicester England, to be fitted with engines and transmissions.
It’s no mean feat to have been selected by Noble for this auspicious task, considering that the M400—which made its debut in 2005—has been described by local salesman Neville Ritchie, as “the closest you’ll get to Formula One acceleration”. The extremely high tolerances that are required, along with Hi-Tech Automotive’s supreme craftsmanship, has seen them gain a prodigious reputation drawing delegates from Ferrari, who visited the plant to view their processes. In addition, Carroll Shelby—the originator of the Cobra—was so taken by the company’s quality workmanship, he demanded the replicas produced in the Port Elizabeth factory bore his name.
While South Africa is able to deliver world-class items, the moniker of “South African-made” was rarely attached to a vehicle deemed worthy of supercar status.
In 2009 however, all that changed with the advent of the Barnard. Housed in a secluded factory outside Bloemfontein, the South African-conceived, designed and built supercar can match the performance levels of the upper echelon of European performance vehicles. It boasts a top speed in excess of 300km/h, and sprints from standstill to 100km/h in less than four seconds. Providing the blueprint for the Barnard was the Porsche 962, and it is from this German marquis that the powerplant for the Barnard has been sourced. The twin-turbo V8 engine has undergone significant performance enhancing changes and delivers a staggering 460kW of power.
Despite these technological advances, the Barnard is still a purist’s car, in many respects, shunning the use of power steering, vacuum-assisted or ABS brakes, traction control as well as luxuries such as electric windows.
Borrowing from the advances made in Formula One, the Barnard’s shell is a monocoque chassis made from hi-tech steels such as Domex and Docol—both light and strong materials that can easily be shaped as the manufacturer wishes. The rear of the car is a sophisticated tubular steel cradle which houses the engine, gearbox and rear suspension. The Barnard’s front suspension is mated directly to the car’s rigid structure. Each vehicle is built according to the individual purchaser’s requirements—something one might expect considering these cars command a hefty price tag of approximately R1.1 million ($136,000).
The brainchild behind the eponymously-named vehicle is Chris Barnard. His deep roots in endurance racing were the driving force behind the production of a Le Mans-style race car. “This is a car which has been built with the objective of breaking barriers,” Barnard says. “No expense has been spared to make what I believe is the most single-minded performance machine yet from South Africa.”
More recently, a vehicle going by the name of the Perana Z-One, has come under the spotlight. The South African-built hypercar—assembled again at the Hi-Tech Automotive plant—has been limited to 999 units, and is a two-seater, Italian-designed vehicle that boasts 0-100km/h sprint times around the four second mark. Power is generated from a front/mid-mounted Chevrolet Corvette LS3 6.2-litre V8 engine that produces a whopping 328kW and 583Nm of torque. The Perana’s chassis is made from tubular and box-sectioned fibreglass and has seams so well machined it looks like the car was skinned in aluminium. The man responsible for this immaculate bodywork is chief stylist, Nori Harada.
Power is delivered to the rear wheels by the same six-speed transmission found in a Ford Shelby GT500 Mustang. Of course this hurtling rocket needs to be brought to a standstill and stopping power is provided courtesy of remarkable Brembo callipers. The vehicle’s shocks and springs are supplied by Bilstein and Eibach respectively.
The Perana marks the first collaboration between a Milanese coachbuilder and South African car manufacturer, Zagato, who have a 90-year long history in building fully-functional running concept cars. Amazingly, the car can be built in an unheard of four months’ time.
The Perana has a 50/50 weight distribution, which allows for a balanced and predictable drive. The steering has been described as sharp and gives the driver immediate and accurate feedback of the road conditions. The Perana is nimble and weighs in at an ascetic 1,195kg. Power is delivered to a six-speed manual gearbox with limited slip differential. The price for this sublime vehicle is around the R1 million mark ($124,000), but sadly the cars will be available only to the European market.
So what can we expect from local supercar manufacturers in the future? In recent years, South Africa has been one of the best performing motor vehicle markets globally. South Africa exports cars to some 70 countries internationally and represents all of the major car makers and eight of the top ten vehicle component companies. The Motor Industry Development Programme has helped boost exports and its successive programme, which will come into play in 2012, will reportedly result in more jobs and long-term sustainability for the industry. It seems the local motor vehicle industry is set to go from strength to strength. If the advent of these hypercars and the Joule—South Africa’s first, and much heralded, electric car—is anything to go by, locally-manufactured supercars might very soon be gracing a road near you.

Tag: Engine

FORBES AFRICA SOCIAL MEDIA

Defending The Cayman

Heels On Wheels

Luxury On A Budget

The Heart Of African Supercars