sports car

Lexus LC 500

First drive in Lexus LC 500 Convertible

Car Reviews /

Is the Lexus LC 500 Convertible the most beautiful convertible in the world? Well that was the goal the Lexus team was tasked with. I will confidently say that they succeeded. It is not often that a convertible can look good with both the top both up and down. But gee whiz, this car is something to behold. It is quite literally breathtaking in the metal. RAW MAGNETISM I am not sure I can get away with saying something like “raw magnetism” but I didn’t include the word “sexual” so I think I can. I also hate using the word “sexy” when describing a car. This LC500 Convertible just draws you in though. I found myself constantly glancing at it, a bit like the creep who kept unashamedly staring at me while licking his lips at the airport (yuk!) but that is a story for another day. KEEP STARING The interior will have you as entranced. The attention to detail and build quality is next level. There is only one tiny issue that I have with most two-seaters, the centre console never has enough space to hold all my things. There are cupholders and there is a centre-bin but it always seems as if I am having to put stuff in the door and then it rolls around and drives me mad. Diva much? The other thing that irks me, and this is not exclusive to this LC500, is the Lexus Remote Touch pad controller. Crisis! Who invented it? I want to have a talk with that person. It might just be my ridiculous hand-eye coordination, but I can never, and I mean never, click on the exact thing I want to click on. I now aim for something completely different and end up on the icon I originally wanted. Look, I had to find something to moan about otherwise this would have been a ridiculously positive review. Speaking of ridiculous, the seats are really, quite ridiculously, comfortable. Which isn’t often said of sports car seats, mind you. The boot on the other hand, as is expected, is tiny! But we still managed to get our carry on luggage and two backpacks in there. Otherwise, the cabin feels quite spacious. I never felt like I was uncomfortably or awkwardly close to my driving partner…you know, being Covid times and all. Nah, I wasn’t worried about that, we had the earbud stuck up our noses just before the launch to ensure we were all virus-free. My wasabi eye afterwards though, well that was not a vibe. IT’S A RARITY At the heart of this beautiful vehicle is something we don’t often get to see (or hear) anymore. It is a naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 engine. Can you hear the roar through this review? It produces 351 kW of power and 540 Nm of torque. It will get you to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds. I wish I could say that I had it on a track and then on a closed mountain pass, but alas, I was contained to the public road that was filled with four million potholes. But what I can say is that it is certainly very poised, even when, at the very last minute, you gooi a massive swerve to the left and then to the right to avoid a crater. Not once did the LC 500 Convertible falter. Ever so the elegant master. When I was able to put my foot down, if only momentarily to overtake a truck, the butterflies in my tummy came out to play. Oh how I wish I could have driven this car on a long stretch of road with no such thing as traffic cops. PRICING OF THE LC 500 CONVERTIBLE It doesn’t come cheap, that is for sure. You will need to save R2 345 500 if you want this sitting pretty in your garage. But, remember, there are no options available, so it does come with everything you need and more. If I were a wealthy one, and didn’t really have my head screwed on all that well, I would own this car. I would still want a few others in the garage for practical reasons, but I think this is my favourite Lexus to date.

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Swift Sport

Juliet drives the Suzuki Swift Sport

Car Reviews /

I could not wait to get my hands on the new Suzuki Swift Sport for a video. I was lucky enough to drive it at the launch last year, on a track! And then later in the year I joined the CAR magazine team on their annual Performance Shootout and I really out the Swift Sport through its paces. Crisis it is a fun fokkin thing to drive! I cannot get enough of it. Even someone breaking in to my car moments before I was about to film could not ruin my excitement about this car. If you missed last week’s review, then fear not. Because you can still watch it, I am sure you have the time 😉 It is a video of the Audi A7 55 TFSI Sportback. Also, if you want to chat, catch me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. And don’t forget to be a peach and subscribe to my YouTube channel obviously follow me on TikTok. And now for the main event: The Suzuki Swift Sport

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Porsche Macan

First drive in the Porsche Macan

Car Reviews /

Who would have thought that Porsche’s baby SUV, the Porsche Macan, would have sold over 400 000 units in just five years? Me, that’s who! Back at the launch in 2014 I descried it as the 911 of SUVs and I wasn’t all that wrong. (Ag, but look how young I was in that video). 2018 saw Porsche’s best year yet and the Macan was the number one selling model for the German brand. It is a Porsche success story and in keeping up with the ever growing compact SUV segment, Porsche has given the Macan a little nip and tuck. Upfront we see subtle changes to the LED headlights and the large, central side air intakes. There are also new wheel designs on offer up to 21-inches and the side blades come in five different variants. The Porsche Macan is now offered in four new colours including Miami Blue as seen in the pic below. While we are looking at that sexy ass, check out the new LED tail lamp that stretches right across the rear. I think it looks hot AF. If you like the look of the Cayenne, then you will love the look of this little tiger (side note: ‘Macan’ is Indonesian for the word ‘tiger’). Let’s take another look at the booty! Hop inside and the real highlight is Porsche’s 10.9-inch PCM touchscreen infotainment system which gives the interior a modern look and feel. It still has buttons for Africa and looks a little too busy. With that said, I do love a button and so once you have familiarised yourself with what does what, if you’re like me, you will love that everything hast’t been incorporated in to the screen. The materials used in some places scream luxury and in other places, not so much. But having that Porsche badge right up under your nose on the 918 Spider-inspired steering wheel is a constant reminder that you are winning at life. There are two models currently available, the Macan and Macan S – you can expect the GTS and Turbo at a later stage. The more budget “friendly” of the two is the Macan with its 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engine under the bonnet offering up 180 kW of power and 370 Nm of torque. It might not scream performance at you, but it can still get you to 100 km/h in just 6.5 seconds. PERFORMANCE ISN’T EVERYTHING And I cannot imagine the potential buyer of the Macan wanting to throw it around mountain passes like we did at the local launch. (All legally, obviously). But if you do want a little fire in your belly, pop it in to Sport mode and you might find the kick you’re after. True Porsche enthusiasts might turn their noses up at this, but for the average car lover, the sound and performance will be enough to keep you happy. BUT FOR SOME IT IS The Macan S might appeal to those other folk who will appreciate the 3.0-litre V6 engine that pushes out 260 kW and 480 Nm. It will certainly be a more exhilarating drive as you get to 100 km/h in just 5.1 seconds. Porsche really knew what they were doing when they made this car, calling it practical but never ordinary. That is my kinda mantra! I think it describes me. I HAVE THE FINAL SAY Some might argue that the likes of the Macan is not worthy of a Porsche badge because it is not a “true sports car.” Whatever that really means. But I would vehemently disagree with such people. The first time I drove the Macan, in 2014, I said that there was no other SUV quite as convincingly sporty. We have seen competitors such as the BMW X4 and Mercedes-Benz GLC give it a good run for its money since then. But, I am not sure anything quite beats the emotional power that a Porsche evokes. PRICING OF THE PORSCHE MACAN Macan: R849 000Macan S: R1 099 000

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BMW i8 Roadster

First drive in the new BMW i8 Roadster

Car Reviews /

The only reason I am writing this review is to brag (ok it’s also because I sort of have to, but mainly, it’s to brag). I got to drive the ONLY BMW i8 Roadster in South Africa last week. That’s right people, my job f%#ing rules! By now you will know what BMW’s i-lineup is, right? Don’t fret if you don’t, that’s what I am here for. It is bascially BMW’s electric sub brand, if you will. They are caring for the environment, you see. This is the third model in the i line-up, the first two being the i3 and the i8 Coupe – which, interestingly, has been the highest-selling hybrid sports car since it launched back in 2014. And according to cars.co.za, the i cars have become so popular that, globally, BMW sells more i cars than M cars. Back to the BMW i8 Roadster, because, well…just look at it! PS. I took these pics myself! You can clap if you want, I would. The i8 Roadster forms part of the facelifted i8 range and includes a few design tweaks here and there. The distinct (now frameless) gullwing doors still attract a lot of attention and the electrically operated roof opens and closes in 15 seconds at speeds of 50 km/h…which can also draw a fair amount of attention. In fact, it is safe to say that if you hate attention, this car is certainly not going to work for you. I drove with another blonde colleague of mine and believe me, we both struggled to get out of the cars…not only because of the awkward way one has to attempt this, but because our heads had certainly grown larger from all the attention we received. So what powers a plug-in hybrid sports car you ask? Well it has a 1.5-litre turbocharged 3-cylinder petrol engine which sends power to the rear wheels (170 kW/ 320 N.m) and is combined with an electric motor (105 kW/250 N.m) mounted on the front axle. All of this means fuel consumption is a ridiculous 2.1l/100 km. And you can drive in electric mode at speeds of up to 105 km/h, previously it was only 70 km/h. And just in case you wanted to know how quick it is, you can shoot to 100 km/h in just 4.6 seconds. Look, this is not going to be the fastest sports car ever made, obviously! It is more about the environment than it is about the thrill, although, some are thrilled by the thought of helping the environment, soooooo…. anyway, moving on. With that said, before I move on, this is still a driver enthusiast car which means you will have a whale of a time throwing it in to corners and being grateful that it sticks to the road like shit to a blanket. It is an exciting drive whichever way you look at it. This is a car that will turn heads and like I mentioned earlier, draw a LOT of attention. Especially, if like me, you smack your head on the doors every time you get in or out of the car. And a side note to those who like wearing skirts…do NOT attempt to get in or out of this car unless you are wearing something that covers your crumpet. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. PRICING FOR NEW BMW i8 ROADSTER AND COUPE eDrive Roadster      R2 329 300 eDrive Coupe          R2 095 200 Watch my video on the BMW X2.

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