Monday Choon: Afroki - Everything You Do (ft. Aviella)

Afroki see's the collaboration between two heavy weight DJ's and Producers in the EDM world. Dutch DJ Afrojack teams up with American DJ Steve Aoki to form the formidable Afroki. Making their on stage debut at EDC Orlando last November, South African audiences got a taste of it a couple of weeks ago at Ultra South Africa. The high energy set with bespoke tracks combining the best of both styles proves to be a festival winner. Their track "Everything You Do" encapsulates that, with a mixture of trance, house and big room techno sound. The song features the vocals of Aviella that transitions well with the production, the bass line has a progression through out the track from the first part to the second part and not repetitive like you'd normally be used to on most tracks. I thought this was brilliantly done and gives the song a better sound. It's the first of what will be many from the duo, one which I'm looking forward to seeing what they have up their sleeves for the future. 

Bucket Seat: Renault Megane RS 300 Trophy

It's been exactly two years since I was behind the wheel of Renault's hot hatch, the Megane RS and while that car was everything I expected and more, there was also a hotter version in the pipeline and this year I got to sample that beauty, it's the Renault Megane RS 300 Trophy. Only seven units of this French stunner has been brought into the country so to say I am fortunate to drive one is putting it mildly. Renault's status in the local market is a tough one to judge, while they offer a wide variety of cars, its their budget vehicles which are the popular ones. Not that it is a bad thing, I just feel that it's not fair that the more upmarket luxury models don't get the fair share of recognition. Yes, there is still this stigma about French cars and reliability but if this was such a major issue, why are the budget ones doing so well with so little issues? Surely it can't be limited to just certain models? Oh well, I guess this is my job to try and convince you otherwise and hence I got to drive this stupidly fast ultra-hot hatch for a week. 

DESIGN

Let me start off by saying that this is the best looking hot hatch on the market, I don't care who you are, what fan boy of a certain German brand, there's nothing that looks as striking, as appealing as this RS 300 Trophy. I mean the normal RS itself was a looker but with subtle differences this one just pips that top spot. Renault's new design language flows so well with the Megane, I think they actually started off with this and then translated it into the other models, the flow and symmetry of the lines and details can have you looking at it all day and you won't get bored. From the checkered flag styled LED fog lamps to the L shaped day-time running lights, it just makes the front so attractive, but that is not all. The front splitter is greyed out with the word "Trophy" prominent, signifying their presence in Formula One. The tri-tone 19" rims are a stand out, with bright red inners and the Brembo caliper visible through the spokes also in red. The car has a molded wide body kit with lots of folds and ducts to give it that aggressive look. The rear diffuser is also quite a focal point in the design with ribs designed to let airflow up to keep the car grounded. The massive single exhaust sits dead center, in line with the Renault symbol above which serves as the start point for the large rear lights. The car is adorned with Trophy 300 stickers, just so no one can mistaken it for a normal RS. Overall, stunning car, I can't stop looking at the pictures of it. 

PERFORMANCE

Unsurprisingly Renault opted to use the same engine as the RS but obviously with a bit more oomph, the car features the 1.8-litre 4-cylinder turbo-petrol engine. The car was available in both a 6-speed manual and a dual clutch EDC automatic with me having the latter on test. While I did want to see how the manual faired, the auto was lots of fun as well. The motor produces 221kW and 420Nm of torque, a bit more torque on the the auto gear box with the manual getting 20 less. The Renault Megane RS 300 Trophy also comes with 4Control 4-wheel steering, with rear wheel steering that assists at lower speeds and accelerating out of corners with more speed. It works like a charm and if you download the RS Link app, you can view exactly how it works. The launch control on the auto takes some time to figure out, but once you do, you won't stop launching it! It has a claimed 0-100kph time of 5.7 seconds and I got quite close to that on a few occasions, granted there were small mistakes in my launches but that is pretty rad. On the road performance, the car can be a demon when you want it to but also a chilled hatch as well. The various driving modes let you dictate the level of noise the coming from the dual sound exhaust valve system. This is not only for sound but the valve system maximizers engine performance as well. Lets just say in Sport mode with the feedback you get from those dual-pipes, its very entertaining and ranks very high on the "Vrrpha" list. 

COMFORT

Now being a hot-hatch, comfort is not the first thing that comes to mind. The front seats are proper Recaro sport-bucket seats in alcantara, they are even fitting 20 mm lower in the cabin to improve the centre of gravity. It is adjustable to get you in the perfect driving position, now while being racing seats, its pretty comfortable and keeps you in your position while thrashing the car around. The cabin comes kitted out with pretty much all your creature comforts, the stand out feature on the dash is the 8.7"-inch infotainment screen which practically controls everything. It has onboard navigation as well as Buetooth connectivity. I don't think there is Apple Car Play and Android Auto connectivity but there is an apps section in the home menu, so not sure if you can download them at a later stage. There is dual climate control air-conditioning for the front and a single zoned controlled by the passenger temp for the back passengers. There's lots of sports detailing in the cabin as well as ambient lighting which changes colour dependent on the driving mode you're in. Practicality wise, the boot is still a good size which can fit a set of clubs so that says enough about the space there. While the ride quality might be a bit stiff and bumpy, its expected in a car that is meant to be thrown around on a track. 

VERDICT

I love this car, I loved the normal RS but I love this even more, I mean the presence it has and the power to back it up is something else. From the bright colours its available in, its hard not to notice this car and with only 7 being brought into the country, there will be a lot of hardcore Renault fans vying for their allocation. While the car won't garner much respect from the GTI boys, they should be wary that this thing holds it own on the road and on the track. Renault have spent a lot of time fine tuning this product and while they do introduce F1 technology in this car, it does a lot of things right for me. It's still hands down my favourite hot hatch on the market, lots of fun to drive, effortless power when you put the foot down, the digital speedometer just jumps on the speeds it reaches. It's crazy how much power this 4-cylinder motor produces. The Renault Megane RS 300 Trophy really is one for the collectors, a bit pricey but when compared to some others on the market it is not bad in the greater scheme of things.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	1.8-litre, 4-cylinder turbo-petrol
Gear Box	Dual clutch EDC
Torque	420Nm
Power	221kW
Economy	8.2L/100km
Price	R799,900

 Pics by @YuviK - Photography and @DBN_Spotter

Bucket Seat: Renault Duster - Prestige EDC 4x2

There's always a sense of excitement when you get your first press car of the year, the thrill of getting behind something new that is hitting the road, experiencing what it has to offer and at the end of it all, summarizing my experience for you to read. There is no choice of what we can get but more of what is available and this year, first up with Renault's new Duster. I recall seeing the Duster for the first time at it's local debut, at the then, Johannesburg International Motorshow back in 2008. It was something different from the French manufacturer and had been causing quite a stir world over. A good friend of mine and fellow motoring journalist who was working at the show spoke so enthusiastically about the Duster that it was hard to ignore it. Truth be told, the first Renault Duster didn't look spectacular, it's boxy, there's a lot of plastic elements to it but the thing that made it so attractive was its capabilities and its price tag. The Renault Duster was one of the cheapest 4 x 4's around, in a compact SUV format and you can see the appeal it had going for it, fast forward to this new model, not much has changed, its still relatively cheap and has everything other, more expensive SUV's have to offer. 

DESIGN

White the overall design of the Duster hasn't changed much, it has evolved nicely from the box like shape to well rounded edges and more curves than before. It was never a bad looking car but with some of the latest input of the Renault Design language has done it wonders. The badge now big and bold, prominently mounted up front at the midpoint of the grille which has chrome accents and fuses well into the headlamps. The front headlights form to the new Renault design language with the day time running light LED having that signature C shape, it looks pretty cool. While the overall design doesn't look like it has changed much but if you take a closer look, you will notice it has changed a lot. Renault have added a lot more bulk to the new Duster, given it subtle characteristics to make it look robust and off-road worthy. Like the plastic console which the number plate sits on looks like a bull bar finished in brushed aluminium, it has the same feature on the back. The side just behind the front wheel arch has blacked out vent with the indicator below. The roof racks have the Duster signage visible, all these small elements added character to an already good looking vehicle. The colour I had was Dune Beige which gave the car a classy look, and suited the five spoke bi-colour rims. 

PERFORMANCE

Renault's 1.5dCI engine is nothing short of amazing, as it couples performance with economy and with my time with gave me endless pleasure while on my daily commute. The engine delivers 80kW and 260Nm of torque, I know that doesn't sound like much, especially for an off road vehicle but with Renault's EDC dual-clutch gearbox, which assists the engine when changing gears ensuring that speed is not lost during the gear transitions as well as no jerking or loss in acceleration. Upshiting is fast and smooth, and as mentioned before, the fuel economy is quite substantial compared to others in this segment. Driving wise, while the cabin is made up of mostly plastic, there is no weird noises or rattles, and the car gives a very smooth ride. It feels well balanced and with the various driving aides available on the Prestige model, its almost effortless to drive in tight spots and park virtually anywhere. 

COMFORT

The cabin is extremely spacious for both the front and back occupants, the leather seats feel good and normally with cars like this, I feel that they compromise on seat size to accommodate more space but none such issue with the new Duster. The key of the Duster is the controversial card like one, which I must admit is a bit built but the slim factor helps, the proximity senor on it is second to none though, giving the term "comfort access" a new meaning, its almost freaky how good this thing works for both locking and unlocking. The Duster comes with single zone climate control which does a pretty decent job cooling the entire cabin without a sweat, and compromising the engine. The storage capacity on the Duster is pretty good too, with the entire rear seat being able to fold for extra loading space giving you a 1/3 and 2/3 split.

        

TECHNOLOGY

The Prestige model is loaded with toys for the fundies and I was quite taken a back at the amount of features it came with standard which are not even standard on other luxury cars which cost twice the price of this! While the Duster may be geared for adventure enthusiasts, it has a heck load of things to help you with city driving, from blind spot warning with lights on either side mirrors to make you aware of cars on the lane next to you. It has ABS with EDC making sure braking power is distributed to all four wheels equally. Rear PDC's to make parking a breeze and if that wasn't enough it also has multi-view camera, which is four cameras around the car. One in the front, two either side and the reverse camera which all work in union when wanting a birds eye view of the car. The Duster also comes with a speed limiter and cruise control which I found odd that the controls for these were located next to the hand brake. Speaking of hand brake, there is no need to use it when on a steep incline as the Duster has hill assist. The Media Nav Evolution touch screen infotainment cluster, which is easy to use and has big tiles for effortless navigation. 

VERDICT

While the Duster is geared for adventure, truth be told its even more better for city driving which essentially is the place its going to spend most of its time with the odd weekend break away. It still maintains that charm which came with the first Duster and with its great looks, and very attractive price it will maintain its position in the market as the go-to cheaper alternative off-road option. With all these extras that are available for the Duster it will only make it more appealing to the buyer. For me, it wasn't the type of car I would go for but after driving around in one for a week, my perception has changed. With the increased ride height and spacious opening, its really a great way to drive and get in and out off. I won't be surprised to see this one do as well, if not better than the previous generation.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	1.5dCi
Gear Box	6 Speed Automatic
Power	80kW
Torque	250Nm
0-100	11.9 seconds
Economy	4.8L/100km
Price	R 334 900

Monday Choon: Tiesto ft. John Legend - Summer Nights

It's no secret that I am a big fan of Tiesto, besides his legendary status, I do enjoy the music he produces and he exerts a certain energy that I relate to and enjoy tremendously. In the same breathe, I can tell you I'm a massive fan of John Legend, he's really one of the stand out R&B stars of late and his voice reminds you of that old school sound but with such a great flow that it sends you into a state of calm. With two such talented individuals teaming up, you know the end result is going to be great, this is the first time the two have collaborated in produces a track, but it's not the first time they've worked together as Tiesto's Remix of John's "All of me" was the best selling remix of the track. Summer Night's is just as epic and is bound to be another chart topper and judging by the reaction it got after EDC Las Vegas where John came onto stage during Tiesto's set to sing, it's heading there fast.

                     

Monday Choon: Major Lazer & DJ Snake feat. MØ - Lean On (Tiësto & MOTi Remix)

DJ Snake, more famous for his tracks such as Get Low which is featured on the Fast & Furious 7 sound track teamed up with American DJ and Producer Major Lazer to make the chart climbing track "Lean On" which features vocals from Mo. The song is quite a catchy number and the music video even more interesting as it was shot in India. But as most songs do, this one went under reworks by Moti and Tiesto and the outcome has been phenomenal, Tiesto has played it on almost every set of his in the last month to raptures from the crowd. It's an epic track but made to sound even better by a great produced remix. 

                   

Monday Choon: Gareth Emery feat. Krewella - Lights & Thunder (Club Mix)

It seems like ages since we last heard from Gareth Emery, Concrete Angel was the last single of his that made it big in the charts but this time round sees him team up with a group that seems to cannot do any wrong at the moment. Krewella are fast becoming a big name in EDM and if they are still doubters out there, then they're just lying to themselves. With UMF around the corner they are sure to be considered one of the headline acts for the festival. This track was just released today but has been played on various radio podcasts, its sure to be another chart topper, enjoy!

NYE Ball - CPT

Electric SA have done it yet again! They have announced legendary UK House DJ Carl Cox as one of their headliners for the NYE Ball which is set to be at the CTICC on the 31st of December. With Hardwell set to blow our minds in the first week of December, we have this to look forward to. Carl has been on fire of late, wowing crowds at UMF, EDC and most recently Tomorrowland. There are still more artists to be announced for the line up at NYE Ball so stay tuned to Electric SA Facebook Page or follow them on Twitter. 

Monday Choon: Alice Deejay - Better off alone (Dash Berlin Rework)

Digging back to 1998 when Alice Deejay released their hit track "better off alone", it sky rocketed to the top of the various charts world wide and proved to be a club favourite for a while. Most recently listeners would have recognised the tune when David Guetta borrowed the sample for his track "Play Hard" featuring vocals by Akon and Neyo. The song is okay and is a current radio favourite but Dash Berlin unleashed his rework of the original at ASOT600 and again at EDC Las Vegas a week ago, lets just say its phenomenal!