Bucket Seat: Lexus LC Convertible

When it comes to luxury, Lexus know what they're doing. The intricacy and details that goes into their models surpasses the standards in most German models let alone European ones in general. They spend time on perfection rather than rolling out what seems "right" and its because of this their models always feel special, none so than the recently launched LC Convertible which touched down on our shores last week. The bespoke luxury drop-top forms part of the LC Coupe line up, powered by a roaring naturally aspirated V8, all fitted into that jaw dropping modern design which now features a folding cloth top. The design is nothing short of extraordinary, with sharp lines and edgy creases, tear-drop like lights with classy edgings make it one beautiful car to look at. With the Coupe being so gorgeous and having those sweeping lines with the roof line, the designs didn't have an easy task for cutting the roof off and tying in a foldable one but they've managed to do a stunning job. Tadao Mori, Chief designer had this to say, "Few convertibles are stylish and elegant when the roof is open and when it is closed. We put maximum effort into realising the same beautiful roof line for the LC Convertible as for the coupe". The folding roof boasts an extra fold in the soft top to fit in the space between the rear suspension towers, creating a character line running form the front to the back. 

There is only one model for the LC Convertible and that is the LC 500, as mentioned before it boasts a very throaty naturally aspirated V8 petrol engine with direct injection, this in turn produces 351kW of power at 7100rpm and 540Nm of torque at 4800rpm. The 10-speed automatic gearbox has been recently-retuned with the revised chassis to leverage the best from the highly rigid GL_L rear wheel drive platform, and enable smooth ride comfort to coexist with excellent dynamics. The LC 500 Convertible can accelerate from 0-100km/h in just 4.7 seconds, the car has a claimed fuel economy of 12.7L/100km and a C02 emissions figure of 290g/km. 

The interior of the LC 500 Convertible is ever luxurious as any high-end Lexus models, sporting only the finest materials and textures. The cabin is well laid and very kitsch, with impeccable craftsmanship that offers a level of opulence that intensely focuses on driver and passenger comfort. The instrument cluster features a LFA-style 8.0-inch digital screen with slide-out meter ring. A 10.3-inch multimedia screen with Lexus Remote Touch-pad. 13-speaker Mark Levinson Sound System, Dual-zone climate control, 10-way power electric seats with driver memory settings, heated and ventilated front seats, sports pedals and retractable door handles which make up just some of the features that are a standard on this model. 

The Lexus LC 500 Convertible comes standard with a best-in-class 7-year/105 000km warranty and full maintenance plan. This approach from Lexus illustrates the belief Lexus has in its vehicles master craftsmanship and outstanding build quality. Price on this bad boy is R2 345 000. 

Bucket Seat: Renault Koleos

Renault like many other manufacturers have their affordable cars which roll off a certain platform and have similarities along the lines of shared engines and chassis, then they have the premium cars which again, do share similarities here and there, whether it be engines, looks or tech but each has characteristics that make that model standout from the others. One of my favourite models from the French brand spent a week with me recently, and while I used it for my normal commutes, I also had the opportunity to take on a long distance trip, something which needs to be done on larger SUV's like the Koleos. The particular model I had was the new Dynamic CVT 4x4, which offers some off-roading features that enable you to take the Koleos on more adventurous routes rather than just the ones with smooth surfaces. 

DESIGN

While this shape has been around for a few years now, it really is a stunner, this particular model in "Dune Beige" stood out more than normal and sparkled in the suns rays. It encapsulates the brands design language so perfectly. It looks like they just took lights from the Megane and slapped in on a bigger body but on closer inspection you can notice the differences in size and details that make this more than just a copy and paste job. The lines of the Koleos flow effortlessly along its huge chassis, caressing the large bulges that house the wheels but rather than a harsh indentation, its transitions are smooth and faultless. The C shaped lights really are an eye catching feature on the front end which ties into the large grille that has the Renault emblem bold and center on the top of the frame. Being an SUV, Renault have added some scuff plates on the front and rear finished off in brushed aluminum. There is also some nice chrome detailing which borders and enhances details on the exterior. The rear difussor is finished off neatly with large twin tail pipes. In the interior, the design us much of the same with the center unit being the main feature that houses the large infotainment unit. Everything is well laid out and looks invited to all occupants. 

PERFORMANCE

Powered by a normally aspirated 2.5L petrol engine in a world where everyone is opting for turbo powered motors may be frowned upon but in actual fact this engine was quite brilliant to serve its purpose. Producing 126kW with a peak power rating at 6,000RPM, I hardly ever found the need to stretch it to that extremes as the power on tap was more than adequate, this was also assisted by its torque which comes in at 233Nm. These figures won't light up many peoples eyes but trust me, given the purpose of a vehicle like the Koleos, it was sufficient to tackle anything that came its way. The car is fitted with Renault's new X-Tronic 7-speed CVT gearbox, yes that dreaded three letter acronym normally doesn't sit well with many but you have to ask yourself, if it is that bad, why are manufacturers still opting to use the technology? Yes, there is tweaking that needs to be done in certain instances but overall, I quite enjoyed the transitions between gears. There was the odd occasions when down-changing that the gearbox would get confused for a split second which would see it drop from 5th to 2nd but that was vary rarely. While Renault claim that the extra-urban cycle economy comes in at 6.9L per 100km, with my journey the Koleos delivered 7.8L per 100km which isn't the worst but quite far from what the brochure says. 

COMFORT

I cannot fault the comfort of this vehicle, infact every Koleos I've driven has been nothing but a pleasure to sit in. I love how well everything is laid out and apart form that, the quality of materials that are used in the car just gives you that premium, luxury feel. This particular model came in the standard black. leather and plastic trim but with some faux wood accents along the dash and doors. While these did look nice, I didn't quite like the feel to them as they felt a bit plastic. The ambient lighting in the Koleos is gentle and not brash like most other cars that we're seeing. End of the day you want to sit in a relaxed environment, not one that mimics a nightclub. The seats are big and comfy with ample leg room for front and rear passengers. The front passenger and driver have dual-zone climate control which is adjusted via the large touch screen as well as the dials that sit below it. The occupants in the back don't receive their own zone of climate control but they do have dual USB ports to power their devices. The Koleos does come with built-in mobile apps for CarPlay and Android Auto which is loaded by plugging in the phone to the front USB port. 

VERDICT

Overall the Koleos is a no fuss kind of SUV, its large, practical and functional. It has loads of luggage space, more than enough space for a family to travel on long distances. It makes cruising enjoyable again, with this 4x4 offering it allows you to venture off the beaten track to do more exploring as well as enjoy your surroundings while doing it from comfort and luxury. It really is one of my favourite larger SUV's on the market, what would make this model even better is a diesel engine offering but for now this petrol variant is pretty good too.  

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	2.5L N/A Petrol
Gear Box	7-Speed CVT
Torque	233Nm
Power	126kW
0-100km/h	9.8 seconds
Price	R554,900

Bucket Seat: Suzuki Dzire

Earlier this year I attended the launch of the new Suzuki Swift hatch and Dzire sedan in Durban, after spending a brief few hours with the cars at the launch, it was apparent what Suzuki have done and done so well with their 3rd generation Swift, which is why it has sold over 6 million units world wide. The cars which are assembled at their brand new facility in Gujarat, India have come into the market well priced, similar if not cheaper that it's predecessor! While that short time with the cars did feel good, the real test comes when you're spending an entire week driving one, going through the everyday things you're doing and seeing how it performs then. I had the sedan version of the Swift, now known as the Dzire to cruise around with for seven days and while it maybe budget, this little car worked its charm on me. 

DESIGN

Normally with budget cars, you're not going to expect a runway model to look at, but I got to give it to the Suzuki design team, this car looks great. While the car may look dinky from the side profile, every other element in the design gives the car a bold perspective. Being the sedan version of the Swift, Suzuki opted to make it more elegant with touches of silver in the front and back, this really brings out the design. The front of the car is very pleasing on the eye, nothing too bold and brash, the grille is prominent with Suzuki badge in the center and overall a very pleasing package on the eye. The rear is much of the same, normally when companies turn hatch backs into sedans, the rear normally looks like an after thought but I cannot say that with the Dzire. Its well rounded off and the rear tail lights don't look out of place. On the inside, the design is carbon copy to that of the Swift with a bit more space, everything is laid out well and while the materials might not be the best in terms of aesthetics, you can see it is quite robust and durable. 

PERFORMANCE

You don't expect me to start singing praises when it comes to the engine of a budget hatch, especially one that isn't fitted with a turbo but bly me, this 1.2 litre naturally aspirated motor in the Dzire is a dream! It's the same engine that has been retained from the previous generation and I can see why, it is a perky little bugger with it going from 0-100 in just 11.7 seconds. The engine produces 61kW of power and 113Nm of torque which is not bad stats if you take into consideration some turbo power engines deliver almost similar figures. Here on the coast, the engine is in its prime element, and I honestly had a lot of fun driving it around. The 5 speed manual transmission did help, as I could down shift when extra oomph was needed. The best thing about this engine is how light it is on fuel,  with a claimed average of 4.9L per 100km, it's quite low considering its a bold move by Suzuki for not opting for a turbo powered unit but its one that seems to have paid of for me. 

COMFORT

Ride quality on the Dzire isn't the best, then again you can't expect much from a car that is price below R162,000 but with that said it isn't terrible. Yes there is a lot of cabin noise and its pretty evident when the road surfaces change but my answer to that is just turn up the volume on the radio. Which has bluetooth connectivity and easy to use steering wheel controls. Space in the rear isn't too shabby either with good head room for the passengers as well. The extra boot space is quite significant with the boot height being quite high so you can manage to fit in some rather large items, including my golf clubs, which I need not have to find an awkward angle to get them in or out. 

VERDICT

Overall, the Suzuki Dzire is a brilliant little compact sedan and honestly say its one of the better one son the market. Unfortunately for the brand, its one of the underrated ones when it comes to consumer interest, while they have won many awards over the years for products and service, the consumer mindset to the brand needs to the change and from the looks of what is coming next from the brand, they're slowly starting to turn the tide with some interesting models which are catching the attention of many. 

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	1.2L VVT Petrol Engine
Gear Box	5 Speed Manual
Power	61kW
Torque	113Nm
0-100km	11.7 seconds
Economy	4.9 L/100km
Price	R 161 900