By: IOL Motoring Staff
Midrand - The inaugural SA Festival of Motoring kicks off this Wednesday, August 31, at Kyalami and promises to be a motor show with an exciting twist as not only will the latest and greatest products be on display but in certain instances visitors will be able to experience some of them on the newly refurbished circuit.
Since it is being held at a race track after all, the show is going big on supercars, with car companies showing off some brutal new machinery for the first time on local soil.
Nissan GT-R
Nissan will be treating its GT-R fans to its 2017-model-year supercar, first shown at the New York Motor Show back in March. What's more a few lucky visitors will get to experience the new GT-R at “race speeds” around the circuit, albeit as a passenger. Consider it a tease or sorts as the first local shipment has already been sold out, although those lucky customers that ordered in time will receive their cars shortly after the show.
The 2017 GT-R has been freshened inside and out, while the uprated twin-turbo 3.8-litre V6 now produces 408kW and 632Nm, delivered to all four wheels through a six-speed dual clutch gearbox.
BMW M4 GTS
The festival will also mark the SA launch of BMW's most potent M4 to date, the limited edition, already-sold-out GTS, which is powered by a modified and water-injected twin-turbo V8, rated at 368kW and 600Nm (up from 317kW/550Nm).
It's also lighter thanks to numerous carbon-fibre body panels and that all adds up to a 3.8-second 0-100km/h getaway and 305km/h top speed.
Jaguar F-Type SVR
Jaguar's most powerful F-Type to date, the SVR, will make its SA debut at the show. Priced at R2 303 286, the wild new feline is powered by a 423kW/700Nm version of Jaguar's supercharged V8 (the 'standard' V8 R produces 405kW/680Nm), and will leap from 0-100km/h in just 3.7 seconds.
Jaguar is also offering some high-adrenalin passenger seat experiences, albeit in standard F-Type models as well as XJ and XF sedans.
Mercedes-AMG GT3
Mercedes-AMG will treat its fans to a proper race car in the form of its new GT-3 and a few lucky AMG customers will get to experience a hot lap in the passenger seat of this brutal competition car.
Designed to comply with the FIA's GT3 race rules, GT3 is powered by the 6.2 litre normally aspired V8 found in the previous SLS AMG as race teams wanted to retain the engine they'd gained experience with. It proved a perfect formula, with the newcomer stealing the podium at the Nürburgring 24-hour race.
More muscular treats
The abovementioned are just the tip of the iceberg as far as high-adrenalin machinery expected at the show. Two other notables to look out for include the new Shelby Mustangs that were launched in SA last month and a Porsche 918 is also believed to be making an appearance at the show, although you can't have one due to its left-hooker status.
The SA Festival of Motoring runs from Wednesday until Sunday, September 4, and promises to entertain the whole family, with live music, food and other attractions scattered throughout the event. Tickets can be bought at the gate, but are cheaper online (from R95 on week nights to R245 for a weekend day). Discounts apply for teens and kids. Full details HERE.