Bucket Seat: Range Rover Velar 300D Dynamic HSE

I always maintained the Range Rover Velar was for men who secretly like the Evoque but didn't want to buy the Evoque for fear of their masculinity being in question. Not that there is anything wrong with the Range Rover Evoque, but it is a bit small and you will struggle to get a set of golf clubs in the boot. So maybe the designers down at Range Rover figured they'd make something that has the sleek lines of the Evoque but with more space and hence the Velar came about. Of course that reasoning is totally made up in my head and they probably needed a mid-sized SUV to fit their line up. Not too long ago I got to spend a week in the Velar 300D in Johannesburg, the Range Rover Velar 300D is part of the luxury midsize SUV lineup from Land Rover, and it perfectly balances sophisticated design with advanced engineering. The car is a looker of note and while it not have the bulky presence of its bigger brother the Range Rover Vogue, it still commands respect on the roads when driven. 

DESIGN

The Velar’s design is sleek, minimalist, and futuristic, with smooth lines and a floating roof that makes it instantly recognizable. Its flush door handles, slim LED headlights, and coupe-like profile give it a unique stance that sets it apart from other SUVs in its class. The 300D comes with 21-inch alloy wheels as standard, with options to upgrade to even larger 22-inch alloys for a sportier look, this is standard when ordering the Velar with the R-Dynamic kit. The rear design is equally impressive, featuring dual exhaust outlets and a clean, minimal tailgate with striking taillights. The Velar stands out as one of the most attractive SUVs on the road, balancing elegance with an athletic edge. The profile of the Velar is to be admired, hence during my time I parallel parked this beauty on every occasion I could, preferably in front of a cafe, so I can sit and sip on my coffee while admiring the lines of the car and watch as passers by gazed into its charm. I quite like the paint work Range Rover is doing with their cars, this model came in Varesine Blue and had the details finished of in a bronze colour that really enhanced the look of the car. The interior design has gone completely minimalist, and its practically a carbon copy of the rest of the Range Rover range, just adapted to suit the size of the car. 

PERFORMANCE

The "300D" refers to the turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six diesel engine, which combines decent power with good fuel efficiency, appealing to those who prefer a more efficient yet still powerful engine option.The 300D engine is a 3.0-liter turbocharged diesel, delivering 221kW of power and 650 Nm of torque. With this engine, the Velar accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in approximately 6.5 seconds, impressive for a vehicle of its size and weight. The eight-speed automatic transmission is smooth and responsive, making everyday driving a breeze, whether in the city or on the highway. One of the standout features is the inclusion of mild-hybrid technology, which helps to improve fuel efficiency and emissions, especially during stop-start traffic. In terms of fuel economy, the Velar 300D achieves around 8 liters per 100km on highways, with slightly higher figures in city driving. While it's not a full off-roader like the classic Range Rovers, it retains a good deal of Land Rover’s Terrain Response system and All-Wheel Drive (AWD) capabilities, meaning it can handle moderate off-road conditions and weather challenges with ease. The Velar is designed with luxury and comfort in mind, and that is immediately evident once behind the wheel. The adaptive air suspension provides a smooth, float-like ride, soaking up road imperfections and making long journeys relaxing. The steering is precise, and while the Velar’s focus is not on sports-like agility, it is still composed around corners, with minimal body roll for a vehicle this size. In city driving, the Velar feels nimble enough despite its size, and active driver assistance features (such as lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and parking sensors) enhance the driving experience, making tight city streets easier to navigate.

COMFORT

Step inside the Velar, and you’re immediately greeted by a plush, luxurious interior. Premium materials such as leather, brushed aluminum, and high-quality plastics are found throughout. The seats are extremely comfortable, with the option of heating, cooling, and massage functions for both the driver and passengers, this is an optional extra. Unlike previous models which featured a dual touch screen, the minimalistic design of the cabin now incorporates a 11.4-inch infotainment touch screen,. This controls pretty much everything in the cabin, from the radio, to the GPS as well as climate control.  The UI, which at first glance looks pretty simple to operate can become a bit complicated when diving into the options and controls of the cars full capabilities but still, to do the important stuff is quite easy and with the built-in wireless mobile app connectivity, you will be projecting your phone most of the time. The Velar comes with a Meridian sound system, ensuring passengers enjoy top-tier audio quality. Additionally, the system includes navigation with real-time traffic updates, a 4G Wi-Fi hotspot, and various connected services like remote vehicle monitoring through the Land Rover app. The cabin is quiet thanks to excellent sound insulation, and the Velar's panoramic sunroof adds to the open, airy feel. In terms of space, both the front and rear seats offer ample legroom, and the cargo capacity is decent for its class, offering 558 liters of boot space, which can expand with the rear seats folded. The driver's display is a fully digital 12.3-inch TFT unit, which is customizable to show everything from maps to vehicle information.

SAFETY

The Velar, like any other car from the Land Rover stable features a host of safety features, starting with the 360 camera system, it gives the driver a complete overview of the car and its surrounds, so navigating this car at low speeds is made easier with this. Adaptive cruise control is pretty intuitive and responsive when in use, it monitors the cars around you and not just the ones in front, this is also aided by the lane-keeping assist which keeps the car in line when you on the open road. There is park assist to help you get into those tricky spots or, if you like me want to admire the cars side view, and parallel park it everywhere, you can let the car do it for you! Other key safety features include Autonomous Emergency Braking: Detects potential collisions and applies the brakes if necessary. Blind-spot monitoring, Rear cross-traffic alert, Lane departure warning, Traffic sign recognition and Driver condition monitoring. The Velar has earned high marks in various safety tests, making it a secure choice for families.

VERDICT

The Range Rover Velar 300D stands out for its combination of elegance, luxury, and practicality. While it's not designed to be a hardcore off-roader, it offers more than enough capability for most drivers and excels in providing a plush, tech-laden cabin, refined on-road manners, and a design that will turn heads. For those in the market for a luxury SUV with a powerful yet efficient diesel engine, the Velar 300D is a solid choice. It’s an ideal vehicle for individuals or families who value style, comfort, and technology in their driving experience.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	6 cylinder, 3-litre Turbo Diesel
Gear Box	Automatic
Torque	650Nm
Power	221kW
Fuel Economy	7.3L per 100km
Price	R1,991,100*

*base price

Bucket Seat: VW Taigo 1.0 TSI R Line

Volkswagen still remains one of the chart toppers in the monthly NAMSA figures and it’s no surprise why. Apart from being one of the countries favourite brands, the variety of offerings in the various segments make the choices wide for the consumer. With the success of the T-Cross crossover, it was no surprise that the sportier version of the car, the Taigo would also have some fanfare with it. While sales on the T-Cross still trump the Taigo, the appeal of the sleek coupe style crossover has a younger target market but still delivering the performance of its much more mature looking sibling. I got to drive the updated version of the Taigo a few weeks ago and this is what I made of it.

DESIGN

Subtle changes from the original do make a substantial difference to the overall appearance of the Taigo. Most notable would be the solid LED light that runs above the new honeycomb grille and is illuminated at night. The car I had came fitted with the aggressive R Line package which add’s black detailing, including 17-inch blacked out split 5-spoke rims. The profile of the Taigo gives it that fast back look with the sloped roof line and hatch like rear. The design of the rear remains pretty similar and it’s probably a good thing since in my personal opinion it looks great. The rear bumper with the R Line has a very sporty finish with the twin exhaust pipes having cutouts and finished off in black as well. The interior remains mainly unchanged to the launch edition with updates to the VW infotainment OS that will be discussed later.

PERFORMANCE

Powered by that 1.0-litre TSI engine that’s been a star in most models coming out of the Volkswagen stable, its performance in the Taigo is no different with it producing 85kW and 200Nm of torque. With the 7-speed DSG automatic transmission, it makes the Taigo quite frugle with its fuel usage but can be adapted for a more sportier drive with the usage of the paddle shifts. While many think this is suited to the more aggressive driver it could also be quite the opposite as it allows you to dictate when and how the car transitions through the 7 gears. Sitting on 17-inch rims the car handles quite well on the open road and urban streets. The size of it makes it nimble and easy to manoeuvre around. Parking the Taigo doesn’t break a sweat with its PDC’s and reverse camera but one could opt for the auto park function and have the car do it for you!

COMFORT

The Taigo’s interior remains similar to the launch edition model with some extra textures and trims to choose from. The R-Line comes with patterned material seats with the R logo stitched in of the seat, black plastic dash with R-Line sports style 3-spoke multi-function steering wheel. The start/ stop button is located at the top of the center unit where the gear changer is along with the parking assist button, auto start/ stop control and pdc. In front of that you will find the wireless charging tray for mobile devices along with twin USB C charging ports. One of which being for the use of mobile car apps. Yes, unfortunately the Taigo does not have wireless car play or android auto but regardless, I still find myself plugging the device in as the wireless connection does tend to drain the phones battery. Single zone climate control cools or heats the cabin, heated seats are an optional extra that you could have. Space in the cabin is decent, many would think with the lower roof like it would affect the space at the back but it’s still pretty roomy there. Another misconception is that the luggage capacity would be compromised because of that roof but that’s not the case, as it can fill 440 litres compared to the 377 litres of the T-Cross.

VERDICT

While the Taigo might be considered the sporty, more youthful alternative of the T-Cross, it certainly warrants a lot more than that title. In a new segment it stands out as a the front runner offering not only the consumer the name tag but a brilliant car that comes along with it. I admit, the pricing is a bit stiff when compared to the T-Cross but like I said, this does offer a bit more that the other. 

SPECIFICATIONS

Motor	1.0 TSI
Gear Box	7-speed DSG
Torque	200Nm
Power	85kW
Fuel consumption	5.4 liters per 100km
Price	R537,100

Bucket Seat: Rolls Royce Spectre

When one thinks of Rolls Royce, words such as "Opulence", "Luxury", "Rich" come to mind. Of course one also associates it with Royalty but since there's too much drama going on at Buckingham Palace with the Windsor's, I'll exclude that one for this article as I am about to talk about something quite special from a special brand in the motoring world. Ever since the introduction of the Carbon Tax in Europe, vehicle manufacturers were forced to make their cars more green or introduce models that would have lesser impact on the environment than before. Rolls Royce had a major problem on their hand as most, if not all of their cars at the time had massive V12 engines fitted in them. They couldn't go down the route as their British counterparts Aston Martin and make a 1-litre car like the Cygnet, that would mock its very existence! Instead, with the help of their parent company BMW, Rolls Royce found innovative ways to work around this, until now that is. With the introduction of the first fully electric model named the Spectre, this would be a massive plus in their books. The Spectre was first showcased back in October 2022 with production models being ready by end of 2023. This week I was extremely fortunate enough to sample what this electric beauty has to offer and my word it is magnificent. 

I think my history with electric cars has been mentioned one time too many, but I still get blown away when I see the progression in technology from the various brands. Rolls Royce being in a category I've never driven before, be it ICE or EV, I was in for something really special and you couldn't wipe the smile off my face even if you tried. Just standing and looking at the car feels special, the design of it echoes the brands styles but with a modern yet classic twist. The car exudes elegance in any angle that you look at it, the regal nature of its silhouette has onlookers shocked at its stature. Yes, it's a coupe but one that measures 5.475 meters, that is longer than the new BMW 7-series! Inspiration for the Spectre's design is drawn from worlds far beyond automotive, including haute couture, modernist sculpture, nautical design, tailoring and contemporary art. The Spectre features the widest grille ever on a Rolls Royce and the first which is illuminated, it is adorned with split headlights either side of it. The vanes of the Pantheon grille are now smoother in section and a flusher fit, designed to help guide the air around the motor car’s front. The profile of the car has classic lines from the Phantom Coupe, with the eye catching fastback rear design that mesmerizes you as the car glides by. 

Stepping inside, you are greeted by a vast array of plush materials, from the shaggy pile sheep wool carpets, to real oak inserts on the dash. The long suicide doors feature a star light pattern that has over 4,000 inserts, this is married with various high quality leathers which is available in any colour of your imagination. No, really, the specification guide seems endless with the combinations available making each and every car made bespoke to the owners tastes. I've driven a lot of fancy cars that cost a pretty penny but this league is next level. I found myself flabbergasted seeing the details and feeling each and every panel and trim on the interior. There's no detail spared, and it shouldn't given the price tag. While the user interface and some of the controls feel familiar from the Germans, the the comfortable seats and plush surroundings make up for it. The car has loads of tech, all of which come from BMW but it has a few tricks up its sleeve too, the automated closing doors is definitely a feature I could get used to and a handy trick is that when the driver presses the brake pedal, the door automatically starts to close. 

In 1900, Rolls-Royce co-founder, Charles Rolls, prophesised an electric future for the motor car. Having acquired an electric vehicle named The Columbia Electric Carriage, he foresaw its suitability as a clean, noiseless alternative to the internal combustion engine – providing there was sufficient infrastructure to support it. 120 years later, that vision is finally here. Rolls Royce boasted the quietest cabin noise as they viewed it as disruptive to listen to the mechanics of the engine in the car whilst driving. They strive for this silence and to an extent much of their line-up delivered through many sound proof layers in the engine bay, but with an all electric setup, its not required as the silence is guaranteed. The two electric motors pump out and equivalent power output of 577 horses and a max torque of 900Nm which gives it a 0-100km/h time of 4.5 seconds! Bear in mind this car weights just less than 3,000kgs thanks to the lithium iron batteries which have a 102kWh capacity and fully charges in 95 minutes using a DC fast charger. The maximum reported range from a full charge is 520km, this includes regeneration through braking. The term "floating on clouds" come to mind when driving this car, as it glides along any surface with ease, the rear wheel steering help navigate the long chassis with ease. 

The Spectre is Rolls Royce introduction into the EV era and my word is it something, if this is the start the company is making into an all electric future, it does look like a bright one from the company. Starting price for the Spectre is in the region of R15 million.

Bucket Seat: Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Coupe

 

When it comes to coupe's, there is no denying that Merc do it right, I cannot think of one bad looking coupe from them and with their latest CLE which was unveiled not so long ago, they still hold their title quite high in terms of making good looking two-door cars. It wouldn't take long before the guys at the Affalterbach gave it their special treatment. This week we saw the CLE 53 AMG break cover and my word is it stunning.

Fitting from head to tow in bespoke AMG aero styling, the CLE53 AMG coupe is powered by a newly upgraded 3-litire twin-turbo changed in-line six cylinder which produces 330kW and 560Nm of torque. Unlike the C43 which has the 2.0-litre 4 cylinder engine, Merc opted for the bigger boy in this one due to the amalgamation of the two models ( C and E Coupes). All this power translates to a 0-100km/h time of just 4.2 seconds. They have made tweaks to the chassis to make the car more agile and neutral than the previous models and features a more sporty setup which is easily adjustable on the fly allowing it to adapt to changing road conditions. Local availability and pricing is yet to be announced but for now we can look at how stunning it is. 

 

Bucket Seat: BMW M240i xDrive

People often ask me what's the best car I've ever driven and it's a difficult one because I've driven a lot of great cars so it's hard to pinpoint one that has been "the best". Also there's so many factors that make certain cars great, each with their own "x factor" that make the drive with them memorable. While I can name some of the more expensive and exotic brands that I've gotten behind the wheel off, it wouldn't feel right as some of the more mainstream manufacturers get it right with some models too. Not too long ago I got to spend some time with a car just like that, a car where the manufacturer developed with a purpose, and that purpose was to bring joy to whomever drove it, that car was the new BMW M240i xDrive.

DESIGN

Looks are subjective and with most of BMW's designs of recent, this one too received a mixed bag from the greater motoring community. Whole the new 2 Series doesn't come with the big buck-tooth grille, the rear end was the issue if concern for many.  Personally, I don't see the problem, the car is designed beautifully with all the right curves and looks, it's a proper coupe design with its short-wheel base stocky stance and menacing figure. It is very different to the 2 Series Gran Coupe which came out a few years ago, that was based on the 1 Series, this is brand new design based on technology from the old 4 Series that see's it gain a wider wheel tract, stiffer chassis and 3cm lower than the previous model. This particular model I had on test is quite a special one, as its the only example so far in the country that features the full M Sport bits and pieces in exposed carbon fiber. Finished in "Thunder Night Metallic" which is a purple that funny enough seems to be the colour of choice for most manufacturers now with each finding creative names for it. The combination works quite well with the dark contrasts of the carbon fiber and the shadowline package which see a black finish to various elements. The car came with the optional extra 20" M Sport Star Spoke Alloy Wheels which really add to the menacing character of the car. The 2 Series features a more common kidney grille style from BMW unlike its bigger brother, the 4 Series, and the grille is active which see's it closed when required. Moving to the rear, which is the area that has caused the most controversy, the car is shaped to taper to the back with has a straight off hexagonal shape. and the lights take on a similar shape as well. Many feel that this isn't very BMW like but it doesn't take you a while to find similarities with previous gen BMW designs for example the E90 BMW 3 Series. The interior of the new 2 Series is pretty similar to the G20 3 Series, obviously customized to suit the slightly smaller cabin. 

PERFORMANCE

Now we get to the crux of the matter with the new BMW 2 Series, at the heart of the car it features BMW's award winning B58 engine which is a 3.0-litre, straight six motor that produces 285kW and 500Nm of torque. With the TwinScroll turbo, the engine is extremely reactive with minimal lag when power is required. Coupled with BMW's Sports 8-speed Steptronic automatic gearbox, it is literally a marriage made in heaven where the two talk so perfectly with each other that there isn't a need for one to swap over into manual mode to make use of the paddle shifts. The M240i does feature BMW's four-wheel drive system, xDrive which powers all four wheel but the car is rear-axel biased where by more power is sent to the rear wheels of the car. This is very apparent when launching the car, BMW claim the 0-100km/h time is 4,2 seconds but on my few attempts it was much quicker than that, even hitting below the 4 second mark. We know it can go fast in the straight line but with my time with the car, I found it to be even better on the bends, the cars low center of gravity combined with BMW's perfect 50/50 weight distribution make it an absolute demon when hitting the winding roads. The downforce generated by the cars design keep you planted and with the four-wheel drive gives you more confidence to speed up when exiting corners knowing that car will do what you want it to do. M240i has upgraded brakes which increase the stopping power on a car of its size, couple this with the clever rear differential and adaptive multi-mode suspension makes this a track ready car which begs my next question, how much more better can the upcoming M2 actually be?

COMFORT

Which this cars suspension is much stiffer and features large 20" alloy wheels, the ride quality of the 2 Series is very comfortable for a sports coupe. Driving modes do play a big part in this where EcoPro and Comfort mode ease up on the sports suspension while Sports and Sports+ make it much more rigid and stiffer but with the nicely styled sports leather seats, its still maintains that level of luxury that won't give you lower back pains when exiting. The car comes with dual-climate control, heated seats for the driver and front passenger. Both seats are electronically adjustable with the driver getting memory seats with up-to 3 settings. While the BMW M240i does feature two rear bucket seats, it's worth noting that it isn't the most comfortable place to sit and can get quite claustrophobic for them, what is nice though is when getting into the back seats, there is a lever located at the back of each chair that when pulled forward it automatically moves forward to give the passenger a nice big entrance to get to the rear, and when the lever is released to put the seat back, it automatically adjusts to the position it was. This negates the previous issues faced in previous coupes that find the front passenger having to re-adjust their seat to their preference prior to the seat being pulled forward for the rear passengers to get in. This car was loaded with extras, stand out for me has to be the BMW Adaptive LED headlights, BMW Connected drive which has your integrated mobile apps which are enabled wireless and even has the option to download a virtual key to your phone, using NFC and other technologies, you can drive the car without having the actual key. Other options that were included were a glass sunroof, Harman/ Kardon sound system, and that M Performance parts. 

VERDICT

When you look at the M240i xDrive on the whole, its not much different to the Z4, which has the same engine, same sort of chassis being a coupe roadster but the drive is so much more different in the two, its actually more aggressive that the Z4 and has a certain level of practicality to it compared to the Z4. Everything about this car works well, from the comfort of the car, to the luggage compartment being large enough to get two golf bags (with the drivers out), yes I tested this myself. Also while this engine is widely used in the BMW model range, I genuinely feel its best suited to this car, as a drivers sports car it delivers the perfect amount of power and the notes from the trapezoid shape tailpipes produce a beautiful orchestra when in full thrust. Unlike the larger coupes, the 2 Series is the perfect length, meaning you won't find your self in awkward situations at shopping centers if someone parks to  closely to you as the doors aren't as long as that of the 4 or 8 Series. Overall, this car blew me away, yes there is a impractical part to it like any sports car with the fuel economy being the biggest red flag, but if you buying a car like this, the last thing in your mind is your average consumption. It really is a beautiful car and you will fall in love with driving again when getting behind the wheel of this, for me this is the perfect sports coupe and others should take note of what BMW have done, but coming back to my question previously, if this car is so great how are BMW going to better the M2? Having more power is one thing but could it be too powerful?

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	3.0L TwinScroll Turbo, 6-cylinder
Gear Box	8-Speed Steptronic Automatic
Torque	500Nm
Power	285kW
0-100km/h	4.2 seconds
Price	R1,100,000*

*Base Price