Peugeot Onyx Concept

Picture from RD Magazine

@ROBERT_MABUSELA

French manufacturer Peugeot has always been associated with Aesthetic designs, Slick lines and futuristic interiors. Peugeot designers have come up with a concept car that`s performance is based on the French Manufacturer`s Le Mans 24hrs racer car.

The  mid-engined Onyx supercar concept will be powered by a 3.7-litre V8 hybrid HDi FAP engine similar to the one that is used for Peugeot's Le Mans programme,  developing  447kw that will be transmitted to the rear wheels through a six-speed sequential gearbox . Extra power will come from the push of a button, the Onyx boosts an extra 60kw from a boost button that will give that extra power when needed.

Peugeot`s energy system features a Kinetic energy system, battery power will be produced from brake energy. Breaking and the generation of brake energy will be assisted by 380mm front discs and 355mm at the back

Hand-made Copper sheets are used to make the door panels while Carbon Fiber material is responsible for other body panels. Light weight acrylic constructed roof and windows, will be used in order to produce a light weight supercar that weighs in just over a ton at 1100kg.

Article published in the November issue of the Tshwane Youth Magazine

Like most recent concepts the onyx interior comes to light with a digital instrument cluster, in addition to the natural light that will be sourced into the car through its glass roof. The concept see`s away with traditional seats and various other components which may changed if and when design improvements are made.

Mercs Answer to Audi`s RS3

Photo from ForceGT.com

@ROBERT_MABUSELA

Mercedes Benz is taking an aim at the top performance premium hatchbacks within the “Big Three” German brands with its plans to launch the A45 AMG, which is the flagship of the model range from Merc`s A class offerings. Merc has taken a bold step by dubbing the A45 AMG a possible RS3 killer, not because Audi is any greater than its German rivals but because of how Merc has used two top hatchback models as benchmarks for their A45 AMG.

Competition in the hatchback segment is tight with competitors including BMW`s M135i and their main target the Audi RS3, amongst others. Merc has always benchmarked it`s sports cars amongst the top three German brands. Although from the previous A class range there has not been a model produced in the range that could compete in the less powerful Audi S3 and BMW 130i league, but as soon as Merc unveiled plans of creating such a model they didn't limit the capability of Mercs performance. The A45 will be powered by a 2.0 liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which will be the most powerful four-cylinder engine Merc has produced. It Is one cylinder shorter than Audi`s 2.5 liter turbo engine which powers the RS3 and two of BMW`s 3.0 liter six-cylinder Twin turbo engine, it will be interesting to see all three rivals go head to head.

Mercedes plans to use a similar system to Audi`s Quattro system, the A45 will transfer power to all four wheels via a twin-clutch gearbox and a Haldex-alike multiple clutch four wheel drive system.  This sounds complicated but essential enough to propel Merc`s “RS3 killer” from 0-100 in five seconds. According to www.autocar.co.uk, “Mercedes-Benz insiders suggest it will match the claimed (0-100 km/h) time of the M135i “, but the RS3 does the dash in Just 4,6 seconds.  On paper the A45 is able to match the M135i`s performance, but will this be another case were figures are good on paper but tell a different story when they officially go head to head on the tar? Not to mention that the RS3 will be 0,3 seconds away from the Merc

The A class has always appealed more to consumers as a mom’s car, so one would think that it will be more reasonable for the brand to start matching its performance with models like the Audi S3 and most probably the BMW 130i. The A class hasn't had a model that could compete in the S3 and 130i league but as soon as Merc unveiled plans of creating such a model they didn't limit its capability.

On paper, this is may seem to be a bold step but we shouldn't rule out the possibility that Merc could give Audi a taste of its own medicine as we have seen Audi`s smaller capacity engine giving their bigger counterparts a run for their money, in the case of the S3.

The battle between Audi and BMW in the hot hatch segment has been going on for years while Merc has been absent, but credit goes to the brand for jumping into the competition.

Article featured in the November issue of the Tshwane Youth Magazine

Model Specifications

CAR	Mercedes Benz A45 AM	BMW  M135i	Audi RS3
Engine	2.0l Turbocharged	3.0l Twin turbo	2.5l Turbocharged
Power (KW\h)	261kW	331 kW	250kw
0-100	4.9 (Estimated to match M135i)	4.9 secs	4,6 secs
Drive	All wheel drive	Rear wheel	Quattro (all wheel)
Transmission	7 speed dual clutch	6 Speed Manual	7 Speed Double clutch

Support exchanges hands at Spin City

Open hood spinning by Pontso Raikane, at the Summer Spinning Bash hosted by Westside Connect in Pretoria West

@ROBERT_MABUSELA

A challenge when hosting Spin City events has always been the support from spinners and the measure of the events success, petrol heads and motoring fans attending the event.

October marked the beginning of a new era in the spinning industry and the beginning of consistent spinning events at an official spinning venue in Pretoria West. Motoring enthusiast in their numbers attended Westside Connect Crew`s Spin City Grand opening, a day that will go down in the history books of the Spinning industry as contributions to the industry will be made in Pretoria West. The event featured local and guest spinners from as far as Botswana, local spinners showed their support to Zwikhodo “Ziko” Nembambula, who has always supported other spinners at their events. The Sheriff, Thuto Rasegojwa returned to the opening after making his debut at one of the build-up events to Westside Summer Bash.

The Sherriff provided the crowed with spinning from a Botswana perspective during his performance, while other guest spinners included Speed and Sound (SnS) Spin Army spinner, Sunesh Pursad and Vernon Veejaro Hendricks who made his debut at the event. Soshanguve Spin Kingz member, Bongani “RBM” Makhubo and Sunesh Pursad showed comradeship during the event.Makhubo and Pursad were the top two spinners who put up the most performances at the event. Mamelodi Spinners member, Mabitsi Kekana`s reverse and one “RN1” signature move seemed to be a crowd pleaser, as supporters waved their hands back and forth simultaneously to Kekana`s performance.

Zwartkops and Mayhem Raceway`s were the only venues in the Pretoria West where people can go out and enjoy a day of motoring but both venues didn`t cater for Spinning events on a regular basis and this is where the opening filled in the gap.

Apart from performances by people who weren`t featured as spinners which brought up mixed reactions from the crowd, the event set a benchmark that will keep supporters returning for more action.

Article published in the November Issue of the Tshwane Youth Magazine

Spinners at the Event

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