Inhaltsverzeichnis für October 2023 in CAR

With exterior dimensions that broadly mimic those of the Toyota Urban Cruiser, the new Mitsubishi Xforce compact SUV is set to arrive as the new Outlander Sport in the second-half of 2024, and sit alongside the Xpander MPV as the replacement for the current ASX. Unveiled at the Indonesian Motor Show, the latest entry into this hugely popular segment boasts distinct, standout styling, a full house of sparkling LED lighting tech and a claimed 222 mm of ground clearance. Depending on the grade, the Xforce’s interior can be specified with either an eight-inch infotainment display and conventional instrumentation, or upgraded to a 12-inch touchscreen infotainment unit housed alongside digital instruments. Mitsubishi has prioritised practicality with the Xforce, offering ample storage options. The company claims that the door trims, floor console…

Showcased this year at the annual Monterey Car Week in California, the Aston Martin DB12 Volante is Gaydon’s newest open-top cruise missile. Based on the much-lauded DB12 Coupé, the drop-top version shares its 500 kW AMG-sourced four-litre twin-turbocharged V8 and eight-speed automatic transmission with its tin-top sibling, with several structural and suspension updates made in order to compensate for the deletion of the fixed roof. Additionally featuring an engine strut brace and strengthened front- and rear suspension compared with the coupé, the latest Volante’s bonded-aluminium platform has also received extra beefing up. The result is that this soft-top derivative’s body offers a combined 3,7% increase in torsional rigidity over the model on which it’s based. The car’s adaptive dampers are also bespoke for this application. With eight layers of insulation…

From the venerable locally assembled Colt bakkie (complete with a bonnet scoop) from the early 2000s to the still sought-after Pajero SUV in both long- and, indeed, short-wheelbase body styles – and a brief flirtation with several mighty Lancer Evos – the Mitsubishi brand’s legacy in the South African market remains strong. This is despite what current Managing Director of the local office, Thato Magasa, describes as a recent lean period in terms of product offerings and variety within each portfolio. This may have led the brand to be viewed as more niche than mainstream. “Our path to reaching this exciting point in our legacy has been an interesting one,” says Magasa. After the diesel emissions scandal in 2016 that resulted in Mitsubishi being amalgamated into the Nissan/Renault Alliance, and…

Unavailable, but inevitable. When it comes to the rapidly growing double-cab market and all its sub-segments, it must surely only be a matter of time before South Africa sees the arrival of the Ranger Platinum. This model is set to complement the now-available Wildtrak X, both of which were on offer to drive at a media event in New Zealand at the end of July. By way of convention, the Platinum grade descriptor speaks for itself in verbalising the uppermost luxury offering within the Ford Ranger family. Sure, the Raptor still exists in a realm of its own, and while it may mirror many accoutrements fitted to the Platinum and sport equally high-grade materials, the former is first and foremost still an off-road bruiser. On the other hand, the Platinum…

According to Suzuki South Africa’s marketing team, the Fronx name is a portmanteau of “Frontier” (referring to the way in which the vehicle supposedly crosses a frontier for Suzuki within this segment) and “X”, which points to the fact that the vehicle is a crossover. If this multitude of references to the concept of crossing sounds too complicated, just know that in simpler terms, the Fronx is a Baleno-based crossover featuring a swooping rear design and inherits all of the traits that have made Suzuki products popular locally. As befits today’s image-conscious society, arguably the most important characteristic of the Fronx is its style. Being a B-segment crossover, it’s been designed to incorporate coupélike SUV elements to stand out on the road. It succeeds, making a strong first impression with…

It’s indicative of South Africans’ inherent sense of adventure and love for the outdoors – as well as the modern desire to sit taller, with a more commanding stance in all traffic situations (potholes included) – that the introduction of the new Ford Ranger in late 2022 was the most highly anticipated new vehicle launch in South Africa of that year. On the back of noteworthy market-share gains made by the previous-generation (T6) Ranger and following significant investment in both Ford Motor Company South Africa’s Silverton assembly line and its Struandale engine plant, the new Ranger has been mandated to lead the Blue Oval’s charge against its competition in markets around the globe. Its underpinnings also happen to carry the hopes of the second-generationVW Amarok, which is currently assembled alongside…

RENAULT CAPTUR 1,3T EDC INTENS Following its later-than-planned arrival in South Africa, the new Renault Captur has added a touch of sophistaction to our long-term garage. Driver: Kyle Kock 2 978 km 7,1 L/100 km + Eager drivetrain, high level of refinement - slight delay on rear-view camera Finished in Passion Red and with its contrasting roof, chrome trim and distinct alloy wheels, it’s easy to spot the range-topping Renault Captur Intens model in our test garage. Drawing inspiration from the fifth-generation Clio, the Captur’s elongated head- and tail lamp units and wheel-in-each-corner design add a welcome sense of both presence and substance to this second-generation model. A floating centre console and a 9,3-inch infotainment touchscreen display are highlights of this car’s otherwise well-considered and impressively well-put-together cabin. Some younger…

With an internal mandate to be a “simple and sturdy vehicle that can be trusted by customers,” if the 11,3 million global sales to date of the Land Cruiser 250 (known in our market as Prado) are anything to go by, it seems that Toyota knows a winning formula when it sees one. Fourteen years after the previous Land Cruiser Prado was introduced, the all-new fifth-generation car is expected to arrive in South Africa in the first half of 2024. Unveiled in two different design styles, one modern and the other boasting retro finishes that include round LED headlamp units, it seems our market will receive the former style that more closely mimics its big brother, the Land Cruiser 300. This obviously leaves the door open for a limited run…

One of the most underrated double-cabs on the South African market returns with renewed vigour and intent in 2024. Not likely to be called soft-looking, the sixth-generation Triton offers bold new styling, complete with Mitsubishi’s latest “Dynamic Shield” grille design, and an abundance of colour-coded presence. Marginally longer and 50 mm wider than the outgoing Triton double-cab, the headline news in terms of the new model’s stance, overall comfort levels and off-roading ability is a 130 mm stretch in wheelbase compared with the previous-generation car, as well as a claimed 60 per cent gain in torsional rigidity. With a longer and deeper load bay, the new Triton is set to be powered by a newly developed 2,4-litre, four-cylinder turbodiesel that exists in three states of tune. Likely to be market…

CAPE TOWN’S GOLDEN ARROW BUS COMPANY COMMITS TO EV FUTURE Having served Cape Town commuters for the past 161 years, Golden Arrow Bus Services (GABS) has stated plans to steadily replace its existing fleet of 1 100 diesel-powered passenger buses with electric-powered units at an initial rate of 60 units per year, starting from 2024. The company has been conducting a trial run with two all-electric buses sourced from China for the past two years (one in service and the other not fitted with seats) and has realised an energy saving of up to 70 per cent on each. At the moment, these early iterations are being charged by the company’s own solar PV installation, which feeds surplus energy it generates back into the City of Cape Town’s electric grid.…

Isuzu-land has a new sheriff in the form of the range-topping, second-generation D-Max Arctic AT35. The newcomer slots in above the Double-Cab D-Max 3,0TD V-Cross 4x4, yet with a R262 920 price premium. Legendary Arctic Trucks badging aside, what else does this flagship derivative offer that might justify its R1,1 million price tag? Visually, the new AT35 introduces flared wheel arches, an obviously raised ride height compared with a standard modern D-Max and difficult-to-miss ultra-fat all-terrain tyres. Look closer and you’ll note valves embedded within the rear fenders that help an owner re-inflate the massive 35-inch tyres to their correct pressures in between off-roading adventures. These items are fitted at the only wholly accredited Arctic Trucks facility outside of Iceland, housed within Isuzu’s Struandale plant in the Eastern Cape. Bespoke…

As the global automotive market toils on how best to meet the demands placed on it by boardroom decisions around emissions and so-called “dirty” fuels, of the many solutions that have been touted to date, including a push towards mandated respective all-electric deadlines and real-world experiments with hydrogen, the re-emergence of hybrid powertrain technology has been interesting to note. Indeed, while the word implies the seamless marriage of two sources of propulsion, in execution, this could mean anything from a 48V battery system that simply supplements functions like start/stop and initial throttle response, to a plug-in type of setup able to offer a full EV mode for as long as the floor-mounted battery has charge, before defaulting to a traditional internal combustion engine. The best-known proponent of the most mainstream…

As more manufacturers are rolling out their secondor even third generation of EVs, battery-powered cars are rolling on chassis specifically designed to hold electric motors, not engines. Meanwhile, Volvo’s current stable of EVs is still making do with their Compact Modular Architecture platform; it was designed to cradle everything from turbopetrols to lithiumion batteries. Unlike with some other (mostly German) brands in the same predicament, this has proved to be a successful decision nevertheless. In a refreshing departure from the tendency of most car makers to go all out with the cosmetic execution of an all-EV model, Volvo has taken the typically Swedish approach of understatement with their XC40 Recharge, with the new C40 simply adding a dash of style to this proven recipe. A couple of subtle decals around…

Just shy of 60 years since they last battled on Southern African racetracks, two immaculately restored icons – the ex-Dawie Gous Elva Porsche and the Thompson Brothers Lotus 23 – have hit the tarmac together and have in the past few weeks again competed as part of the HSSA (Historic Single Seater Association) championship for historic race cars. To brush up on each of these cars’ unique histories, it’s worthwhile embarking on a trip down memory lane. 1965 was a stellar year for South African sports car racing, with Dawie Gous and Keith Berrington-Smith going wheel to wheel in each outing. Gous had swapped his Porsche 550 RS for a Porsche 4-cam-powered Elva Mk VII, while Berrington-Smith took the helm of the Thompson Brothers Lotus 23. The duo led the…

With the popular EcoSport exiting the South African market earlier in 2023 and the likes of the Figo, Fiesta and Kuga no longer available, Ford Motor Company SA suddenly found itself with a product portfolio consisting of only a soon-to-be-replaced Mustang, an aspirational, full-size Everest SUV and a range of otherwise headline-grabbing Ranger bakkies. Sourced from Romania, the brand is looking to supplement the absence of an affordable entry point into its stable by means of the Puma compact crossover, a vehicle that in terms of its size and stance should rival competitors such as the VW T-Cross and Renault Captur. The Ford offers 164 mm of ground clearance. With an updated package set to launch in Europe in early 2024, the current Puma, introduced globally in 2019, will be…

Far be it for us to argue, but in the midst of its all-electric e-tron plans, Audi seems determined to bid its high-performance internal-combustion engines a fitting farewell. This includes the four-litre twin-turbocharged V8 petrol unit installed in the brand’s already potent RS6 Avant. The new Performance derivative of this vehicle introduces bespoke styling compared with the standard car, including a matte-grey exterior finish on the mirrors, spoilers and roof rails, as well as – as the name suggests – increased performance. With larger turbochargers seeing to an increase in boost pressure from 2,4 to 2,6 bar, the RS6 Avant Performance (as well as the RS7 Sportback Performance) will now deliver 463 kW and 850 N.m of torque – an increase of 22 kW and 50 N.m, respectively – to…

Volkswagen Metal Wall Art R999–R1 799 Capital Shifters aims to infuse the spirit of automotive art with everyday spaces. Among its offerings, Volkswagen-based metal art pieces are the most popular. Volkswagen holds a unique place in the hearts of car enthusiasts, spanning generations and appealing to various walks of life. Capital Shifters offers an opportunity to manifest your affinity for the brand through captivating automotive art displayed on your wall. The collection spans a broad range of VW products, in particular, inclusion classics like the Beetle, local favourites like the Caddy bakkie and, more recently the modern Golf GTI. For those seeking a more personalised touch, the option to commission a custom steel art piece of your chosen car model is also available. Designed for practicality, each art piece comes…

The Chery Tiggo 8 Pro has been updated to introduce a new flagship Max derivative. Including subtle styling enhancements, the largest model in this Chinese brand’s portfolio looks to offer enhanced levels of sophistication throughout. To the untrained eye, it may even be possible to mistake the newTiggo 8 for that of the previous model year, but there are some important exterior revisions. For this model, the Chery logo gracing the newly designed grille is illuminated using LEDs and combines with an animated light-up sequence from the LED-matrix headlamps and daytime running lights. At the rear, the redesigned LED taillamps are connected by a light bar for added visibility and presence. Other notable changes include dark grey inserts around the front grille and fog lamps. While the exterior design offers…

WLutjeharms Petridish_Mooks Although you’d assume most limited-edition cars from any brand to be special due to their rarity, heritage and individual backstory, somehow a limited-number Ferrari always feels that much more distinguished. Add to this a V12 powerplant, open-gate manual transmission, store-away roof and styling from one of the world’s most renowned design houses, Pininfarina, and the offer of an afternoon behind the wheel of this limited-edition automobile felt a little like Christmas to this particular petrolhead… There’s no denying that the styling of the 550 Barchetta, which was produced between 2000 and 2001, is dated by contemporary standards. Still, it sports very strong design details shared with the hard-top 550 Maranello, and the fact that it is essentially a permanent roadster makes it quite attractive. Of course, the car’s…

The legacy of compact Bavarian coupés endowed with free-revving six-cylinder engines and their respective significance in terms of sheer driving pleasure for both racing legends around the world and, indeed, the average motorist won’t be soon forgotten. While BMW would have you believe that the new M2 coupé shares a spiritual connection with the famed 2002 Turbo, we’re inclined to also compare it with the mighty 3,0 CSL – a vehicle that is diminutive by today’s standards. Of course, South African fans of the brand also have favourites like the 333i and 325is to compare any special new powerful compact coupé from BMW to. The first enticing taste of a return to form of this type of product from BMW M came in 2011, in the form of the now…

Introduced in 2014 as a spiritual successor to the venerable Getz – the car that made Hyundai a South African household name – the Grand i10 was seen as a compelling centre bookended by the plucky, Europe-sourced i10 city car and Polo-rivalling i20. As opposed to the regular i10, the newcomer’s Grand prefix implied a touch more substance and versatility. This was realised by means of a 40 mm extension of the wheelbase. When the third-generation car launched in 2020, the more refined Grand i10 was superseded by its sibling, the i20, in the local line-up and sat above the Atos that served as an entry point into the range. With the Atos no longer available, today the updated Grand i10 has inherited this essential role. Additionally, as Hyundai South…

Andrew Thompson initially intended to study architecture, but when funding didn’t work out, he took up work at a mine. There he got into bikes and soon realised there was more to motoring than just commuting, so tried his hand at motorsport with a 500 cm³ BSA Goldstar-powered Norton. After two events, the wild Norton/BSA self-destructed and Thompson switched to four-wheel action. To solve the “financial issue” that racing tends to cause, he figured he had to work in the same industry. He then started at Basil van Rooyen’s Superformance outfit, but was fired for doing a private job – re-grinding the cam shaft of his own Morgan Plus 4 racer. After some success on track, he got hooked and upgraded to a PECO Formula Vee that he modified and…

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