Bucket Seat: 2027 Audi RS5 Avant

Audi have lifted the covers off its all-new RS5 Avant which takes over from the outgoing RS4 Avant and it has the motoring world doing cart-wheels. All motor heads love station wagons and when its a performance station wagon we going nuts! And with good reason too. This new RS5 which is also offered in a sedan as well but nobody is paying much attention to that as the Avant is the one featuring all the headlines. 

This new RS5 is taking cues from its competitors as its a plug-in hybrid, featuring a  2.9-litre twin-turbocharged V6 petrol engine upfront which is mated to a single electric motor at the rear, giving you a combined power output of 470kW and 825Nm of torque. 130kW is thanks to the electric motor to boost performance and that is instant power with lower emissions. 

The car also features a brand new RS suspension setup, a new quattro drivetrain and Audi Sport has done some magic with the engine mapping by introducing an electromechanical torque vectoring at the rear, allowing the RS5 a pure electric range of 85km with the battery capacity rated at 22 kWh. 

The design of the Audi RS5 is nothing short of menacing, its everything we expect from Audi and more with plenty of aggression in the body work, large black air-intakes, massive wheels and a bloated rear that would make Shakira jealous of its hips. The twin exhaust system looks like it comes straight out of the Porsche factory and it looks like the car is equipped with afterburners. With all that power you need some good stopping power, Audi is offering customers the option of carbon-ceramic brakes or steel which will come fitted as standard. 

Audi never disappoints when it comes to the theatrics, their lighting specialist are showing off again with some extremely detailed designs with their matrix LED setup for both front and rear lights. The animations and light greetings are really something that must be admired, giving individuality to every car of theirs. The rear lights feature a checkered pattern which is also on the rear center break light. 

The RS5 has picked up a lot of weight thanks to its electric power unit, that has added an addition 600kg's from its predecessor giving the car a total weight of 2,355kg's. Now a lot was said about the new M5 when it came out, that however is still 100kgs more than this RS5. No one is seems to care about the RS5's extra kilo's though, we all waiting to see what it can do on the road and track. The car is scheduled for arrival in 2027 which means we have to sit and wait to hear if it will be coming to South African and if it does, how much it will be costing us but for not we can sit and admire how pretty she is.  

Bucket Seat: OMODA and JAECOO PHEV efficiency endurance drive

OMODA and JAECOO are embarking on an electrified adventure with the all-new C9 and J7 plug-in hybrid SUVs, which are due in South Africa later this year. 14 PHEVs (4 C9s and 10 J7s) will set off a long-distance trip between Cape Town and Gqeberha to prove their efficiency, combined petrol-electric range, and comfort and driving experience over several days.  The objective? To travel more than 1,100 km - without charging or refuelling any vehicles along the way. While this may seem like a tall order in many SUVs, the C9 and J7 PHEVs boast exceptional range thanks to their electrified drivetrains. 

28 journalists and guests from Australia, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia will depart Cape Town in electrified SUVs. Over four days, they will travel to the Addo Elephant Park, enjoying a specially curated trip themed after the natural beauty of the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces.  The trip starts on 22 February in Cape Town, with the range drive beginning the following day. The drive is set against an Ocean/Beach theme. As the convoy of electrified OMODAs and JAECOOs heads towards Gqeberha, drivers and passengers will be immersed in a Forest, Flora, and Fauna theme inspired by the natural beauty of the Garden Route. On the final day, 25 February, the journey will take on a Bush and Safari theme, concluding at the iconic Addo Elephant Park.

“Our upcoming endurance drive is more than just a long-distance journey—it’s an opportunity to demonstrate the impressive efficiency, performance, and comfort of the OMODA C9 and JAECOO J7 plug-in hybrids,” commented Tony Liu, CEO of OMODA & JAECOO South Africa. “Covering over 1,100 km without refuelling or recharging highlights the capability of our electrified drivetrains while giving drivers a chance to experience the beauty of South Africa’s diverse landscapes from behind the wheel of cutting-edge vehicles.” The J7 PHEV is powered by a turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine paired with a 3 DHT (Dedicated Hybrid Transmission) that integrates an electric motor, delivering a combined output of 255 kW and 525 N.m of torque. An 18.3 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery provides a WLTP-estimated all-electric range of 90 km, providing a driving range of 1,200 km. When connected to a DC fast charger, the battery can be recharged from 30-80% in just 20 minutes. 

The range-topping C9 PHEV takes performance to the next level. While the standard C9 is equipped with a 2.0-litre turbopetrol engine, the PHEV variant features a turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine that, together with a 3 DHT and three electric motors, delivers a remarkable 440 kW and 915 N.m of torque. This enables the C9 to accelerate like a performance car while maintaining the refinement and composure the C9 has become known for. The WLTP-estimated all-electric range is 150 km, pushing the total range to 1,100 km. When plugged into a DC fast charger, the C9 PHEV can replenish its battery pack from 30-80% in 25 minutes.