2014 Lamborghini Huracan LP610-4 – Passenger Impression

Words and Photographs by Gero Lilleike

Just the other day, I was minding my own business, working away quietly, when in the distance I heard a rumbling sound barreling towards me. It was a sunny day so there were no storms around, just this rumbling sound coming closer, and closer. Baffled, I peered out my office window and saw nothing. Seconds later, the 2014 Lamborghini Huracan rolled up before me in all its glory and the sound spitting from the quad exhausts was so loud, my heart skipped a beat.

2014 Lamborghini Huracan has looks to kill

There are few cars in the world that have a hypnotic effect on those who set their eyes on it and the Lamborghini Huracan is one of them. You simply can’t help but ogle and drool at the beauty of this car. Its low, predatory stance and sharply defined features lock you in and if your’e not careful, will hold your gaze for eternity and possibly turn you into stone.

The face of the Huracan is dominated by large reptilian-like air intakes and the LED headlights are reminiscent of a snake ready to strike on command. Stepping inside the Lamborghini Huracan is like stepping into a fighter jet, with flickable switch gear and viper green sports seats that make you feel like you going to war. Everything about the the Lamborghini Huracan just screams FAST! And it is…

Riding the Bull

Obviously, there was no way I was going to drive the Huracan, I’m just not man enough, or rich enough, so I was quite happy to experience my first ride in a Lambo in the passenger seat. Out on the road, the Lamborghini Huracan seemed out of place. Congested city roads is no place for a car of this caliber.

Other motorists quickly fell under the spell of the Huracan and just couldn’t help themselves from stopping in the middle of traffic to get a snapshot of the car. The attention the Huracan generates on the road is perplexing and fascinating, people just love supercars I guess, and what’s not to love about the Lamborghini Huracan?

With a stiff suspension setup geared for track driving, the drive within the city was rather bumpy and every little imperfection in the road surface could be felt. But who cares, this is a Lamborghini Huracan right? On the open road, the Huracan comes to life and the sound of that 5.2-litre V10 howling away behind you is just magical. With thumping 448 kW of power and 560 Nm of torque on command, you can just imagine what’s possible on a quiet country road.

 

Acceleration in the Lamborghini Huracan is ridiculously brutal with the help of a 7-speed dual clutch transmission that sends power to the large 20-inch alloy wheels. The 0-100 km/h sprint is claimed at 3.2 seconds and if you have the nerve to press on even faster, the beast that is the Huracan will take you right up to 325 km/h without even batting an eyelid.

I got back to the office with my heart in my throat and a big smile on my face, my work was done for the day.

Read the full 2014 Lamborghini Huracan LP610-4 Review

 

 

 

 

2014 VW Golf 7 R – Passenger Impression

The 2014 VW Golf 7 R ready to feed. Photo: Gero Lilleike

Words and Photographs by Gero Lilleike

Just the other day, out of the blue, a friend hooted outside my house. I opened my front door and a sexy blue 2014 VW Golf 7 R, the most powerful production Golf yet, stood before me for the first time. ‘Can I drive?’ I asked. The answer from the driver’s seat was a powerful ‘No, just get in’. I smiled and happily headed for the passenger seat. I had to ask.

The new 2014 VW Golf 7 R was literally launched in South Africa a few weeks ago, so this was expected to be a very special experience, even though I wouldn’t get my hands on that flat-bottomed steering wheel. You can’t have everything, you know.

First Impressions Count – The 2014 VW Golf 7 R shows its teeth

I stepped in and was instantly overwhelmed by a smart, comfy interior bathed in blue ambient lighting. Unlike anything I had ever seen before, this was the highly-anticipated 2014 VW Golf 7 R, in all its glory before my eyes. The leather sport seats felt remarkably genuine and the clean surfaces around me refreshed my senses. The lights and gadgetry however, hinted at something a little more sinister lurking beneath its skin. Then, I heard a distinct rumble.

The uprated 2-litre TSI four-cylinder turbo petrol engine came to life, growling under its breath. Bred with 206kW of pure muscle available from 5500rpm and 380Nm of vicious torque dripping from its fangs at 1800rpm, the 2014 VW Golf 7 R is a hungry wolf wrapped in wool.

The VW Golf 7 R, a gorgeous wolf in disguise. Photo: Gero Lilleike

The hunt begins with a bang

In Normal Mode, the 2014 VW Golf 7 R seemed to tolerate urban roads with utter confidence, but I could sense a certain frustration within this beast, possibly a longing to stretch its legs and hunt on the open road. At standstill and with an empty highway stretched out before us, my good friend switched into Sport Mode and suddenly the atmosphere dropped a gear. In full-blown hunt mode, the wolf piped up quickly and with eyes locked on the clock, my heart rate felt like it doubled instantly as I took a deep breath. About six intense seconds later we were clocking 120km/h and I finally had a chance to grab my breath, my body tingling all over.

The VW Golf 7 R ready to pounce. Photo: Gero Lilleike

VW claims 0-100km/h in 4.9 seconds which is pretty fast for a layman like me, but as hungry as it is for speed, the new VW Golf 7 R isn’t as thirsty as you’d think. It’s said to average at about 7-litres/100km which is excellent considering what it thumps out on command and only expels 159g of CO2 every kilometer. Not bad, hey.

The hunt ends tragically

The new 2014 VW Golf 7 R delivered me home safely but I was reluctant to get out. I just didn’t want to. ‘Can I drive?’, I asked again, pushing my luck once more. My friend gave me a devilish laugh and replied, ‘No, get out’. I laughed and about six seconds later, the sexy blue 2014 VW Golf 7 R was gone, and I was left to ponder on my dreams, in silence.

The 2014 VW Golf 7 R prepares to abandon me forever. Photo: Gero Lilleike

1968 Pontiac GTO

Jerome’s Al Goaté

 Photos and words by Gero Lilleike

The 1960’s in the United States was undoubtedly marked with a distinct counter culture and brazen rebellion particularly amongst the youth in America. However, the 1960’s was also the decade of the muscle car, a direct result of the tumultuous culture of the time. The muscle car in many ways embodied the rebellious spirit of the 60’s that forever entrenched and solidified the muscle car within American culture. Born from the relentless desire for speed and power, the muscle car culture lives on in the present day, not only in America but across the globe.    

Some 30 years ago, Tyrone Tozer, a young man living in the United States discovered his passionate love for muscle cars. Many years later in South Africa, Tyrone passed his passion on to his son, Jerome, who has embraced the thrill and beauty of building and driving his dream machine.

It was through his Dad that Jerome developed his passion for muscle cars. They shared the pleasure of re-building a 1971 Firebird and discovered the thrill of creating a unique street machine. 4 years ago, Jerome received a phone call from his Dad who had found a 1968 Pontiac GTO body for sale outside a sweet factory in Johannesburg.

The Pontiac GTO, also commonly known as ‘The Goat’, is revered by many as the most influential muscle car of the 60’s, not only because it set the trend at the time but also because it’s beastly sleek design was simply unparalleled.  Tyrone asked Jerome if they should buy it. Of course Jerome said yes. It turned out that Jerome had a remarkable project on his hands.  

Jerome’s passion for building muscle cars grew from watching the TV program Overhaulin and decided he wanted to build his 1968 Pontiac GTO into a Chip Foose custom street machine, instead of merely trying to achieve the common classic look. Jerome completed many drawings depicting various design options at his disposal. For Jerome this was an integral part of the conceptualising and creative process.

The project lasted over a period of 4 years and although the car has come a long way since Jerome started his work,  Jerome admits that work still needs to be done to the car and is still in many ways a work in progress. “It’s not finished, it’s driving on the road, but it’s not completed to the point that I want it to be” says Jerome. Jerome plans on spending more time and money on tweaking the paint job as well as completing the interior.

The car was built with the help of a family friend by the name of Patrick, ‘The Mechanic’. “This guy’s insane. He actually built the whole car. He’s got amazing knowledge. He built the motor up from scratch, he re-did everything, the petrol lines, electronics, the interior, everything” explains Jerome.

When Jerome acquired the body, he sent it to a panel beating shop where the body was worked on for more than a year. Plenty of time and effort went into the body, from sanding to sourcing new parts and panels. Some of the parts were sourced locally in scrap yards and other parts had to be imported from the United States. For Jerome, sourcing parts for his Pontiac GTO was part of the fun of building his own muscle car. All the parts on the car are either brand new or reconditioned. The 6.5 litre V8 engine was rebuilt from scratch. “This car has a certain look and although it’s got a classic feel, I wanted to add a custom street machine twist, which I think I’ve achieved. I love the sound of the car and the fact that it’s completely unique, there is no other car like it” says Jerome.

Passion for muscle cars alone is not always enough when building the car of your dreams, “its also about determination, I’ll tell you that much, because starting one of these projects and finishing one is another thing, many people give up half way, and I’ll be honest, I wanted to give up a few times” laughs Jerome. 

Street custom culture is big in the United States and is steadily growing in popularity in South Africa. For Jerome, it’s not just about the cars but rather the people and the culture surrounding muscle cars. “There is a crew of like minded people, sharing their passion for muscle cars and a significant camaraderie exists amongst muscle car owners and that’s what it’s about” says Jerome.

Jerome’s future in building muscle cars is far from over and he has some exciting new challenges lying before him. “I don’t think it will be the last [laughing] let me put it to you that way, there are a few muscle cars that I would still love to build, like the 1971 Plymouth Hemi Cuda or a 1967 Mustang, if I could ever find one [laughing].”

Jerome’s 1968 Pontiac GTO Al Goaté is hot for a reason. Its performance on the road is, well, brutal, to put it simply.