NBR Showroom: Hot times ahead

Welcome to another edition of Showroom,  NBR celebrates some of the latest cars that you might aspire to own or drive. At NBR, we look for fun in business life.

And when you look for it, there is plenty to be had.

When it comes to the cars that you might aspire to drive, there are also plenty to be had.

Toyota’s Lexus continues to introduce ever more models, to the point where it now covers everything from old Corona-sized cars to big luxo limos and lots of big 4WDs too. Lexus has put a lot of work into hybrid technology, which it offers instead of diesel. Don’t be fooled into thinking that a hybrid vehicle is some sort of slug. I have driven hybrid Lexi that are faster off the mark than their petrol siblings.

Audi continues to excite its audience with the small A3, the new A6, right through to the mighty A8 diesel. As sales of the big three German luxury brands go, Audi leads in our market. Globally, BMW is the leader. In New Zealand, Audi is. But BMW has this year titillated the local market with funky and fashionable cars such as the adventurous Mini Countryman and the new BMW X1. Mercedes Benz a few days ago added a new C Class coupe to the range it offers in New Zealand, providing a truly compact Mercedes two door car. Let’s take a look at some of the latest models

Hybrid compact hot
Lexus CT200h
The hybrid Lexus CT200h has been around for a while but being tops in the luxury class for August makes it “hot” for summer. The CT200h may not be the first hybrid Lexus but is the first luxury compact hybrid the brand has introduced. Powered by the latest generation of Lexus hybrid technology, the Lexus has a combined fuel consumption of just 4.1L/100km. The engine is a 1.8 litre petrol engine, while there is also an electric motor which, when combined with a large battery and sophisticated power management system, means the Lexus is an extremely efficient car. Just like the Toyota Prius, the car can even be driven on batteries alone at low speeds for a certain distance.

For the CT200h to be defined as a luxury compact car it has to have plenty of gear in it and this small Lexus doesn’t disappoint. There are three models, with the entry level CT200h having climate control air conditioning, reversing camera, cruise control, a leather steering wheel with audio controls, chrome and leather gear lever, display with hybrid system information, auto dimming inside rear view mirror; six speaker audio system with CD player, audio input jack, USB jack and digital audio player holder, and front and rear parking sensors. The CT200h Limited adds a satellite navigation system, 10-speaker CD changer system, Bluetooth hands-free telephone functions, leather and wood steering wheel with additional controls, driver’s seat power adjustment with memory system and lumbar support, leather seats and a wood style instrument panel. Top of the range is the sporty CT200h F Sport, with sports suspension and body kit, special F Sport steering wheel and a metallic instrument panel.
Lexus CT200h
Engine: 1.79L in line four cylinder petrol engine, electric motor
Power: 100kW (total combined petrol and electric power)
Fuel consumption: 4.1L/100km
Price: CT200h $51,500 CT200h Limited $67,900 CT200h S Sport $69,000

Hot summer in luxurious hatch
Audi RS and A4 quattro
The hottest thing from Audi this summer will be the RS3 Sportback hatch, which arrives this month. The latest in the always popular top performance RS range has quattro all wheel drive and its turbocharged 2.5 litre, five cylinder engine is powerful enough to propel the car to 100km/h in just 4.6 seconds and on to a top speed electronically limited to 250km/h. With body styling more akin to a wagon, the RS3 evokes memories of the older and exceptionally good RS4 wagon. Almost every stability and traction control device known to man is standard, as is a luxurious yet sporty interior, complete with RS3 badges everywhere.

For those who like their Audi cars with a little more offroad ability, a limited number of Audi A4 Allroads will be arriving by the end of the year. Like all Allroad models, the A4 Allroad has raised suspension for that “off roader” look (in this case 180mm more than a standard A4), and is powered by a 2.0 litre turbocharged four cylinder engine with a seven-speed automatic gearbox and fulltime quattro all wheel drive. The A4 Allroad will do the 0-100km/h sprint in 6.9 seconds and go on to a top speed of 230km/h. For comfort in summer heat, the climate control system has three zones, left front, right front and rear.
Audi RS3 Sportback
Engine: 2.48L five cylinder turbocharged engine
Power: 250kW
Torque: 450Nm
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
Price: $99,900

Audi A4 Allroad
Engine: 1.98L four cylinder turbocharged engine
Power: 155kW
Torque: 350Nm
Fuel consumption: 8.3L/100km
Price: $94,900

Munich carmaker flies the coupe
BMW 6 Series coupe
Summer may be the time for convertibles but in this case it’s the other way around as BMW has already launched the 6 Series convertible and is preparing to release the coupe version of the car. Two versions will be available to match those of the convertible, with a 235kW 3.0 litre turbocharged V6 and a 300kW 4.4 litre V8. Both cars have an eight-speed automatic transmission and even the slower version will accelerate from a standstill to 100km/h in just 5.7 seconds, with the V8 shaving that to 5.0 seconds. In common with most high performance German cars top speed is limited to 250km/h in both versions. High-tech features on the 6 Series coupe are LED headlights, which consume very little power but are brighter and enable the driver to see more than standard lights. As with most BMW’s today the dashboard is angled slightly toward the driver, to give that feeling of being enclosed in a cockpit. A full leather interior completes the effect of being in control and in comfort. BMW’s Dynamic Driving Control adjusts the various settings of engine and suspension, from comfort, through to sport and sport +, which aims to give the driver a true driving experience.
640i coupe
Engine: 2.97L turbocharged V6
Power: 235kW
Torque: 450Nm
Fuel consumption: 7.9L/100km
Price: To be announced

Convertible on a skyhook
Maserati GranCabrio
What could be better for a hot summer than the new Maserati GranCabrio? Not only is the car beautifully styled and powered by a 328kW 4.7 litre V8 engine, it also has the longest wheelbase in its class, which means it is a true four-seat convertible. The GranCabrio will blast from a standstill to 100km/h in just 5.3 seconds and storm on to a top speed of 283km/h. The gearbox is a six-speed ZF automatic and the drive is directly purely to the rear wheels in true Maserati fashion, while the drivers can choose their own gear ratios manually if required. And, because it’s an Italian convertible, when the driver pushes the sport button one of the functions of the Sport mode opens a special flap in the exhaust to make the car sound even better with the top down. The suspension is electronically controlled, using Maserati’s "skyhook" suspension, so-called because it is aimed to make the car feel as if it suspended from the sky rather than sitting on the road. Not that this means it is a floating ride as the system can be changed through several modes, from extremely comfortable to flat out sportiness.
Maserati GranCabrio
Engine: 4.69L V8
Power: 328kW
Torque: 490Nm
Fuel consumption: who cares?
Price: from $310,000

New, improved but stylishly conservative
Mazda3
The Mazda3 may be a hot arrival for summer but not quite in the way you would think. While the car is an update of the Mazda3 familiar to New Zealanders, one version of the new model range is going to have Mazda’s new Skyactiv fuel economy system that includes a very efficient engine and gearbox.

The new 2.0 litre engine is two kilograms lighter than the current 2.0 litre engine and has dual valve timing and specially designed piston shapes that increase economy. The exhaust system also has a four into two into one pipe, which makes for smoother flow of exhaust gases. This will be familiar to old school engine tuners, as engine makers these days tend to prefer the less efficient but cheaper one-piece manifold.

Also helping economy is a very high compression ratio of 14:1, which unfortunately means the engine has to run on 95 Octane or higher. Power increases from 110kW to 115kW but, more importantly, the fuel economy drops to 5.9L/100km, which is a 21% improvement over the current engine. The body of the new Mazda3 is stronger, with more spot welds, which helps handling. The styling of the car is a touch more conservative than the current model, with a face that doesn’t quite look so “happy.”
Mazda3
Engine: 2.0 litre inline four cylinder
Power: 115kW
Torque: To be announced
Top speed: To be announced
Fuel consumption: 5.9L/100km
Price: to be announced

Room for speedy two
Mini Coupe
Mini has something special arriving before the end of summer – the Mini Coupe. This two seater is based on the standard Mini but is lower and sportier, with the best performance of any modern day production Mini variant. While other Minis can squeeze a couple of people in the back, this car is strictly a two seater, with the space where the rear seats were taken up by a large boot and hatchback configuration. The Mini Coupe is 6mm shorter than a standard Mini and 29mm lower. Combined with that is a lower centre of gravity, through the way the components are positioned, for better handling. Because of the unique roof shape, the Mini Coupe also has a special “helmet” roof, with cut-outs in the roof lining to accommodate taller drivers. As with the rest of the Mini range a series of different engines are available but the specifications that will come to New Zealand have not been finalised yet. Pick of the bunch would have to be the Mini John Cooper Works Coupe, with a 155kW 1.6 litre turbocharged engine. Even with that amount of power the fuel consumption is a low 7.1L/100km. There is even an overboost function on the engine, which temporarily increases the torque produced and the car will accelerate from standstill to 100km/h in 6.1 seconds. On all models a special spoiler pops up at the rear of the car at 80km/h for better aerodynamics.
Mini John Cooper Works Coupe
Engine: 1.59L turbocharged inline four cylinder
Power: 155kW
Torque: 260Nm (280Nm on Overboost)
Fuel consumption: 7.L/100km
Price: To be announced

Hot double clutch hatch
Skoda Fabia vRS
Skoda is pretty quiet at the moment – although there are a few special editions on the way – but if you want something hot for summer it will have to be the Fabia vRS hot hatch. Based on the Volkswagen Polo platform, the Fabia vRS just happens to be powered by a 1.4 litre four cylinder engine that is not only supercharged but also turbocharged. The idea is that the supercharger supplies power at low revs while the turbocharger takes over at higher revs. The end result is an impressive 132kW, enough to push the car to 100km/h in 7.3 seconds using the DSG seven-speed gearbox. Like the engine, this has also been donated by the Polo and is the latest in a long line of double clutch gearboxes. The technical explanation is long but essentially the gearbox is two gearboxes mounted together, so that the next gear you select is already set up to engage without any loss of power. The result is a race-car like gear change that adds to the full experience of driving this agile little hatchback. And all this while achieving a combined fuel economy of just 6.2L/100km, showing that you don’t necessarily have to give up performance for fuel economy.
Skoda Fabia vRS
Engine: 1.39L in line four cylinder, supercharged and turbocharged
Power: 132kW
Torque: 250Nm
Top speed: 224km/h
Fuel economy: 6.2L/100km
Price: $37,000

Drives the way you like it
Mercedes C63 AMG
The Mercedes C63 AMG has been around since June but it is well worth talking about it again. With a 5.5 litre V8 engine boosted by two turbochargers, the 386kW two-door coupe can sprint to 100km/h from rest in just 4.4 seconds and rocket on to a top speed of 250km/h (electronically limited of course). The special AMG seven-speed MCT automatic gearbox ensures lightning-quick gear changes and the standard sports suspension with a three-stage electronic stability programme means the driving experience can be as smooth and stable as a sedan or outright sporty like a race car. As you would expect, the interior is pretty much completely covered in leather and high-end trim and a sportsdriver’s seat that can be electronically adjusted any way required. The C63 also gets a few items not found on lesser Mercedes coupes, such as the special AMG instrument cluster, AMG performance steering wheel with aluminium gearshift paddles and a special Harman Kardon Logic 7 sound system. On the outside the C63 has a special AMG sports exhaust and a full AMG body kit that includes a power dome on the bonnet. And, of course, to bring it all to a stop, the C63 AMG has massive AMG brakes.
C63 AMG
Engine: 5.46L V8 twin turbocharged
Power: 386kW
Torque: 700Nm
Fuel consumption: 9.9L/100km
Max speed: 250km/h
Price: $168,900

Coming up soon

New Jag, new price
Jaguar is soon to field its new 2.2 litre diesel engine.
I am told by overseas mates that this engine is a stunner. It’s looking as if the pricing of the 2.2 litre powered car when it gets here, is going to highly embarrass the Germans.

Scent of summer
I also liked the Renault RS250. It was delivered to me in winter. It has the scent of summer adventure about it. This is a hot little number. It is a 2 litre turbo petrol powered coupe,  which bristles with hubris. Renault fights low brand-awareness in this country, even though in world terms it is in the top five car makers by sales.

A bit more original
Peugeot’s new 508 is here. A Camry-sized car running an option list of engines around the 2 litre mark, this car is designed for people who don’t want to be seen in the German three and rather wish to be a bit more original.

Must have
Women do it with shoes. Men do it with cars. It’s the “must have” thing. The Range Rover Evoque is a car I must have. It’s here at year’s end or not long after. It’s Range Rover’s idea of how to get away from SUVs that look like 40ft sea containers. If you are in the market for a reasonably compact 4WD that sears the eyeballs of lookers-on and can happily claw its way through mud, snow and sand, this one has to be on your list