Torque Magazine

How Does the Kiger CVT Actually Perform at the Pumps?⁣
⁣
When it comes to daily fuel efficiency, the 1.0T CVT presents a slightly different real-world reality compared to the incredibly optimistic numbers printed in the official brochure. During our time with the crossover, we have been averaging around 12.9 km/L, which translates to a steady 7.7 L/100km on the daily commute. ⁣
⁣
While achieving Renault South Africa’s claimed 6.0 L/100km has unfortunately remained out of reach for us, we are certain we could coax those figures down into the low 7s or even the late 6s if we could find the willpower to steer clear of the surprisingly addictive Sport mode.⁣
⁣
Thankfully, the Kiger’s relatively light curb weight of just 1070 kg actively works in its favour, allowing this CVT-equipped variant to deliver punchy performance without entirely punishing your wallet. ⁣
⁣
However, if absolute frugality is your primary goal, it is definitely worth looking at the 5-speed manual version of this iconic 1.0-litre turbo variant, which boasts a stellar claimed consumption of just 5.0 L/100km - a figure that makes it a seriously compelling option for the economy-minded driver.

Should the Luce Bear a Ferrari Badge?⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
Enzo Ferrari once said he would never build an ugly car. He also famously declared that Ferrari would only ever make one more car than the market demanded - keeping desire at a fever pitch and exclusivity as iron law. ⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
The old man built his legacy on screaming V12s, on road cars that were barely domesticated racing machines, on the intoxicating and wholly irrational notion that a car could have a soul. That was Ferrari. That 𝘪𝘴 Ferrari.⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
So when the wraps came off the - a silent, five-seat, four-door, all-electric grand tourer penned not by Ferrari's own design studio, but by a consultancy co-founded by the man who gave the world the iPhone - the internet did what the internet does best. It lost its mind.⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
And honestly? Fair game.⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
The trolling has been spectacular. Kitkat, Toblerone, Nissan, Mazda - yes, Mazda, the maker of the original 𝘓𝘶𝘤𝘦 back in 1966 - all took shots. The bash-Ferrari bandwagon filled up faster than a Pista on a warm-up lap. ⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
But here's the thing: Ferrari absolutely played the room. Whether by accident or cold-blooded calculation, they have managed to get the entire world talking about a single car for weeks on end. Their share price dipped briefly when the Luce was revealed, then rocketed back up. Millions of eyeballs, millions of conversations - all of them with one word on their lips. Ferrari.⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
That, ladies and gentlemen, is a masterclass in brand exposure.⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
Now, let's talk about who this car is actually for - because it isn't for us. If you're reading this, you almost certainly grew up with a Ferrari poster on your bedroom wall. You know the sound of a flat-plane V8 on cam. You feel a specific kind of physical unease when someone says "EV Ferrari." You are, respectfully, not the target market. ⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
The buyers Ferrari are pursuing with the Luce have more money than opinions about throttle response. They want a status object. The Luce - with its 725 kW, its 0–100 km/h sprint in 2.5 seconds, its 310 km/h top speed and its 530 km range - delivers that in spades.⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
And the car itself? Genuinely impressive. Designed with significant input from LoveFrom, the studio co-founded by former Apple design chief Sir Jony Ive and Marc Newson, the Luce is aerodynamically the most efficient vehicle Ferrari has ever made - a drag coefficient of 0.25, achieved after 50,000 hours of development and 12 new patents. ⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
Four electric motors power each wheel independently. There's rear-wheel steering, active suspension, and steering-wheel paddles that actually do something - five stages of regenerative braking on the left, five torque maps on the right. The interior is extraordinary: a three-spoke retro steering wheel, layered instrumentation combining analogue dials with digital elements, and an integrated analogue clock, compass and stopwatch that is almost offensively beautiful.⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
Even Luca di Montezemolo, Ferrari's former chairman and a man who has never been shy about speaking his mind, was forced to concede that the Luce is unlike any other EV ever produced - in terms of its exterior, interior, and performance. He declined to go further, suggesting his full opinion would do the company "a disservice." Make of that what you will.⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
There is a theory doing the rounds that Ferrari built the Luce as a deliberate provocation - a message from the petrolhead faithful to the world's new automotive order: 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘌𝘝, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨. There is another theory that Ferrari simply needed to tick a regulatory box. Both are entertaining. Neither particularly matters.⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
What matters is this: if this exact design wore a Tesla badge, we'd be applauding its modernity. The Luce is fast, refined, technically extraordinary, and built with a level of care that shames most of the industry. ⁣
⁣
But a Ferrari earns its badge through theatre - through the way it sounds, the way it communicates, the way it makes you feel like you're getting away with something. On those terms, the Luce remains a question, not an answer.⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
Enzo would have hated it. He also would have understood exactly why it exists.

This Is Exactly What Happens When Ridiculous Excess Meets Left-Field Customisation⁣
⁣
MANSORY has never understood the concept of subtle. Their latest creation, the , takes the and turns it into a full-blown visual assault on your eyesight.⁣
⁣
The vehicle is coated in a blinding gold finish, inside and out, featuring a widebody kit with sharp creases, fender flares, and an avalanche of front apron attachments. ⁣
⁣
There are claw-like daytime running lights, a completely revised hood, and an eight-fin rear diffuser that looks ready to slice tarmac. It is a styling exercise that thoroughly throws traditional aesthetics out the window. ⁣
⁣
Under the hood, they have tweaked the 4.0-litre bi-turbo V8 to deliver 530 kW and a stout 1,000 Nm of torque, which allows the vehicle to disappear before onlookers can fully process the wild styling.⁣
⁣
Inside, the cabin matches the exterior energy with a sea of light brown leather, carbon fiber trim, and an illuminated starry sky headliner. Practically every surface is stamped with a Mansory logo, signaling an absolute rejection of understatement.⁣
⁣
While purists will inevitably label this creation as gaudy, Mansory deserves props for thinking outside the box. More importantly, people are clearly buying these machines. If the company is still building them and pushing the envelope, a lucrative market exists for these creations. ⁣
⁣
The buyers deserve credit too; in a sea of automotive sameness where every premium SUV starts to look identical, they are willing to stand out. It proves that while taste cannot be bought, sheer individuality certainly can.

Rolls-Royce Improves The Unimprovable With The Upgraded Spectre Series II⁣
⁣
For over a century, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has operated on a rather simple, unwavering philosophy: build the absolute finest motor cars in the world, and charge a small kingdom for the privilege. ⁣
⁣
When the original Spectre arrived back in 2022, it represented a monumental shift for the brand. The lords of Goodwood had finally embraced electricity, ditching the revered V12 for silent, battery-powered wafting. ⁣
⁣
It was a triumphant debut, quickly becoming a staple of the global elite. However, the fiercely competitive automotive market waits for no one. ⁣
⁣
Thus, we are introduced to the new - a mid-cycle update that perfectly encapsulates the British stiff upper lip: quietly competent, unapologetically grand, and utterly devoid of panic.⁣
⁣
designers have wisely left the exterior alone. The striking fastback profile and split headlamps remain entirely intact. Underneath the meticulously sculpted metal, however, the engineers have been frightfully busy. ⁣
⁣
The re-engineered 102kWh battery now provides an estimated WLTP range of 628 km, while charging times have been slashed by 14%. Then there is the power. The flagship Spectre Series II now produces a rather brisk 500 kW. Crucially, it delivers a solid 1,100 Nm of torque when engaged in 'Spirited Mode'. ⁣
⁣
It is a remarkably stout figure that ensures this 2.9-tonne super-coupe can depart from a set of traffic lights with an alarming, yet entirely silent, urgency.⁣
⁣
The interior is where the true madness of Goodwood’s craftsmanship shines. Buyers can specify the new 'Duality Twill' fabric, spun from bamboo and demanding 2.6 million individual stitches and 16 km of thread to complete. ⁣
⁣
If you prefer leather, Rolls-Royce will politely punch exactly 78,138 perforations into it to create a cloud-like motif. They have even fitted a new aviation-inspired clock above an up-lit stainless steel Spirit of Ecstasy.⁣
⁣
Why is this machine so highly coveted? Bear in mind, the average owner already has half a dozen other cars sitting in the garage. Their collection easily spans from weekend exotics to the obligatory bakkies for the country estate. The Spectre is certainly not a purchase of necessity; it is a canvas for pure, unadulterated indulgence and isolated driving enjoyment. ⁣
⁣
In an era where premium electric vehicles are beginning to look dreadfully alike, the Spectre Series II stands entirely alone. It represents the absolute pinnacle of modern luxury - a tailored, beautifully excessive motor car for those who demand nothing less than complete perfection.