Ford Figo Concept unveiled

Ford has officially unveiled the Figo Concept at the 2014 Auto Expo in New Delhi. While it may wear a concept badge, we'd argue this little sedan, which is under 12 feet long, looks ready to replace the current Figo and do battle with other B-segment cars in the world's emerging markets.

We would definitely love to see this one land on our Shores but knowing the local dealership... well let's wait for it to go into production first

65 Years of VW Beetle In US

Timeless Beauty

There are few shapes more recognizable than the profile of Volkswagen's most famous vehicle. If you were to ask a hundred people who knew nothing about cars to pick one out in a lineup, few would get it wrong.  I personally remember my dad having one of these bamba datyas as they were known in Zim. Aside from its charm and unique shape, one of the factors in the Beetle's impact is its longevity--and this month, Volkswagen is celebrating 65 years since the Beetle hit U.S. shores, all the way back in January 1949.

This was the very first beetle to arrive in the States back in 1849

Volkswagen produced its last German-built Beetle in 1977 and U.S. imports also stopped around that time. While Type 1 Beetle production continued in Mexico until 2003--where the model is still abundant--U.S. buyers had to wait until 1998 for the car to return, under the 'New Beetle' name. This was replaced in 2011 by the current model, once again returning to the simple Beetle moniker. With turbocharged gasoline and diesel engines it's quicker and more frugal than the original--and a whole lot safer and better-equipped too. Importantly though, the styling is as recognizable as ever.

2014 Jeep Now in Zim!!

ZIMOCO is not wasting time on launching the 2014 Jeep. The vehicle is already available at their showroom and on Friday they invited their customers for a private quick see at their Sam Levy Branch.

F-Trucks

 

When muscle means business F - Trucks

Sometimes, a regular coffee just won't do it. You need something on the order of a double cappuccino to get the job done -- something with more kick, more muscle. For pickup truck buyers needing a similar boost, there's the Ford F-350 Super Duty. More robust than even the capable F-250, the F-350 Super Duty is fit for extreme grunt work thanks to the availability of a dual rear-wheel setup ("dually") that greatly improves stability when towing. And in Ford pickup tradition, the F-350 is available with a wide choice of body styles, powertrain options and trim levels. Another reason this heavy hauler is a fave is that it's also easy to drive and comfortable to ride in. They certainly were not kidding when they coined the phrase " we own work"! Rednecks aside, this is one serious workhorse. I for one cannot get over the sheer size of this monster, this car is simply huge!

The interior remains tastefully imbued with finnesse and very hi-tech. The overral layout does feel a tad dated but no doubt for a work-horse, it's very spacious.

the outside noise doesn't make it into the inside cabin. bluetooth makes it possible for smart-phone users to sync the car and phone, enabling voice commands.

The F-350 is offered in XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum trim levels.

The stripped-out work truck of the lineup, the XL, comes standard with A/C, vinyl upholstery, vinyl floor coverings, a two-speaker AM/FM stereo, black plastic exterior trim and 17-inch steel wheels.

The XLT adds power windows, locks and mirrors, cruise control, SYNC, an upgraded four-speaker stereo with a CD player and an AUX input, keyless entry, heated exterior mirrors, cloth upholstery, floor carpeting, an integrated trailer brake controller and 17-inch aluminum wheels.

The Lariat brings leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, MyFord Touch, a rearview camera, rear parking sensors, foglights, an eight-speaker audio system with SiriusXM satellite radio, power-adjustable pedals, a power rear window, imitation wood trim and 18-inch alloy wheels.The King Ranch includes upgraded leather upholstery, a navigation system, unique exterior trim (including two-tone paint), power-folding and telescoping mirrors and 20-inch polished aluminum wheels.

The range-topping Platinum gets copious amounts of chrome adorning the door handles, mirror caps, running boards, exhaust tip and tow hook, perforated mesh accents and a satin chrome surround for the grille, and unique 20-inch wheels. Inside, there's unique faux-wood trim, heated and ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel and premium leather upholstery.

An available FX4 Off-Road Package prepares the F-350 for tackling tough trails with Rancho shocks, an electronic locking rear differential, skid plates, hill descent control and all-terrain tires

BMW 4 Series Coupe - Monster meets Style

The new BMW 4 Series Coupe is visibly larger in width and wheelbase than the outgoing BMW 3 Series Coupe, and its dynamically stretched coupe silhouette sits considerably lower to the road. This, together with its BMW-typical short overhangs, long bonnet and set-back passenger compartment with flowing roof line, lends the BMW 4 Series Coupe impeccable balance. The car’s striking front end – with its characteristic BMW design features, such as the double-kidney grille, twin circular headlights and a large air intake in the front apron – is keen to display its family ties with the BMW 3 Series. However, the more sporting interpretation of the BMW 4 Series Coupe also underlines its dynamic convictions. A new element of the BMW 4 Series Coupe are the Air Breathers, positioned rearwards of the front wheel arches to reduce drag in this area. The Coupe’s muscular wheel arches and wide track make a particularly prominent contribution to the hunkered-down design of the rear, with its prominent horizontal lines.

Interior and exterior

The interior of the BMW 4 Series Coupe presents a stylish fusion of sporting allure and exclusivity. All the controls central to driving are arranged ergonomically around the driver and give him or her optimum access to all functions. The doors are designed so that all the lines converge towards the rear, pulling the focus of the interior clearly towards the front. In the rear compartment, contoured seats underline the sporting credentials of the BMW 4 Series Coupe. Recessed head restraints and broad, continuously moulded side supports give the

rear bench the apearance of two individual seats. High-grade material combinations and unbeatable finish quality accentuate the premium ambience of the new BMW 4 Series Coupe. Customers can choose from three equipment combinations and an M Sport package as alternatives to standard specification. The Sport Line, Modern Line and Luxury Line packages allow visible individualisation of the car’s exterior and interior appearance.

Six-cylinder and four-cylinder engines available from launch.

The sporting two-door model will be available from launch powered by the following engines: the six-cylinder in-line petrol engine in the BMW 435i Coupe, the four-cylinder petrol unit for the BMW 428i Coupe. All the engines work using the latest BMW TwinPower Turbo technology and cover an output spectrum stretching from 180 kW to 225 kW. These state-of-the-art engines not only imbue the BMW 4 Series Coupe with outstanding acceleration and elasticity, they also join forces with the car’s intelligent lightweight construction concept to deliver further improvements in driving dynamics and lower fuel consumption.

Six-speed manual gearbox or eight-speed Sports automatic.

The power from the BMW 428i is sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox as standard. BMW will also fit all the engine variants – as an option – with an eight-speed Sports automatic gearbox (standard on the BMW 435i), which allows the driver to change gear manually as well using shift paddles on the steering wheel.

The new BMW 4 Series Coupe deploys a unique combination of driver assistance systems and mobility services (available as standard or as an option under the BMW ConnectedDrive banner) to set the benchmark in terms of safety, comfort and infotainment. Among the highlights are a new generation of the Navigation System Professional, which offers extra capability, sharper graphics and 3D elements for the map display, the full-colour BMW Head-Up Display, Driving Assist Plus, which warns the driver of a potential collision with a pedestrian, the intelligent, glare-free LED High Beam Assist, Active Protection with Attentiveness Assist and the latest development stage of the Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go function. As far as infotainment is concerned, extremely efficient interface technology enables the integration of smartphones and numerous Bluetooth office functions. The latter now also offer the driver the services of a dictation function with full speech recognition.

The engaging driving pleasure available on board the new BMW 4 Series Coupe is a product of outstanding economy as well as impressive dynamics. This is down to the BMW EfficientDynamics development strategy, the results of which are incorporated into virtually every area of the sporty two-door model. In addition to petrol and diesel engines with optimised fuel economy, the new BMW 4 Series Coupe’s highly efficient transmissions, intelligent lightweight design, optimised aerodynamics and further efficiency-promoting measures secure its status as a winner not only in terms of sporty and dynamic qualities, but also with regard to its enviable fuel consumption and emissions figures.

Auto Start Stop, Brake Energy Regeneration, ECO PRO mode, coasting mode and Proactive Driving Assistant.

As standard, the new BMW 4 Series Coupe comes with the Auto Start Stop function, which can also team up with the eight-speed automatic gearbox. Another standard feature is Brake Energy Regeneration, which ensures that – as far as possible – power for the vehicle’s electrical system is generated during braking and coasting.

The sixth-generation BMW 3 Series is the benchmark choice in the compact executive sector. But it’s far from exclusive, with just shy of 25,000 finding homes in the UK to date this year. So if you want something that stands out on the road, the new BMW 4 Series promises all the traditional strengths of the 3 Series with an added dollop of style.

This is Beemer back to the fore. Stylish looks are backed by an intelligent suspension tune - with adaptive dampers - to make it a prestige coupe with solidly sporty attributes. And the price-features equation finally matches what BMW's three-pointed-star rival's been doing for some time.

Mercedes - The Best or Nothing

ML500- MGuard

Mercedes-Benz kicked off proceedings with four launches.The company’s armoured ML500 M-Guard is rated at B4 level, which means it can withstand small arms fire. The level B6/B7, capable of withstanding military-spec ammunition, will be available next year this side of the world.

The GLA compact sport-utility, launched at the Frankfurt show, made its local debut with the news that it will be on sale in South Africa from early next year.The sporty CLA four-door coupe looks a serious contender for the likes of BMW’s M3 in its high-performance version. It boasts a world-best drag coefficient, for a production car, of 0,22.

Speaking of drag, the S-Class cuts through the air impossibly well for a flagship sedan with a Cd of just 0,26. In AMG form, it has a formidable 420-plus kilowatts and 900 N.m available.

The S Class will most sell like hot-cakes in Zimbabwe especially since it is arguably the best car
Mercedes has ever made. We are pretty excited
about all those safety features it has.

It's pretty clear why the Mercedes stand was ever so popular at JIMS. I for one cant get over all those super- sexy cars.

GLA Class

BMW

Most exciting news has to the electric twins the i3 and i8. These two new models herald BMW’s foray into the world of sustainable mobility. Both of these, all, carbon-fibre models will be available here next year, soon after they go on sale in international markets.The company didn’t hold back and also unveiled the 4 Series in 435i guise. The new range is effectively the two-door version of the popular 3 Series sedan



The BMW Group also offered a preview of the future of the BMW X family in the form of the new BMW Concept X4. It takes no more than a first glance to see how smoothly the qualities of a BMW X model can blend with the genes of a BMW Coupe. The new Sports Activity Coupe concept from BMW is poised to continue the success story of the BMW X6 in a new vehicle class.





BMW - 435i coupe