Tabla de contenidos para June 2024 en CAR

If you haven’t already realised, we’re in for a fascinating few years in terms of how we fuel the vehicles we use to get from A to B, as well as the types of active safety systems mandated for our transport. Making it all the more interesting are the intricacies of the South African market, where the latest generation, high-end wares built around modern EU regulations are sold alongside back-to-basics entry-level offerings sourced from the subcontinent and China, and those assembled locally. The Volvo EX30 (page 70) is a ground-up product built to showcase this brand’s mandated all-electric, sustainable future. Its execution, I believe, best suits an EV lifestyle. But while I relished my time behind the wheel of this future-focused product – including a cabin produced from recycled materials…

CLOSING THE TRIANGLE The Junior is the third model in the Stellantis stable to be spun off the e-CMP platform that also underpins the likes of the Jeep Avenger and Fiat’s 600e. This not only makes it the smallest model in the Alfa stable (4 170 mm long, 1 780 mm wide, and 1 500 mm high), slotting into the range beneath the Tonale, it’s also the first of the company’s models to be offered with an all-electric powertrain. GLIMPSE OF ALFAS TO COME? The Junior’s styling is unashamedly retro inspired, but according to Alfa, it is a blueprint for the styling treatment destined for future Alfas. Particularly prominent are the E-shaped LED headlamps and a rendering of the company’s biscione emblem integrated into the grille. The profile incorporates a…

1 544 km 7.26 L/100 km + Clever packaging; rear air conditioning; capable engine - Limited rear shoulder room for larger passengers Being the only Johannesburgbased member of the CAR magazine team, a brisk oneweek foray to the Mother City meant I would call on the long-term fleet for my weekend commute. Previously, the XL6 proved its chops as a means of ferrying younger members of my colleagues’ families, but things would be slightly different on this occasion. This time, the XL6 was tasked with transporting a group of young adults round the bustling suburbs of the Atlantic seaboard. Despite its six-seat configuration, the rugged-trimmed XL6 measures in at only 4 445 mm, making it one of the smallest three-row vehicles available in the market right now. Crucially, this makes…

Adorning a million boyhood bedroom walls and a matching number of garages of older racing fans across the world, is a poster teasing a rear shot of Gilles Villeneuve at an impossible angle over a trackside curb, flanked by the words of Il Commendatore reads: ‘What’s behind you doesn’t matter.’ It’s stirring stuff that crystalises the heroism, enchantment and sheer iconography of wringing a steed crafted by motorsport’s most revered team in its zenith echelon. Except that, owing to its legacy, driving for Ferrari inescapably invites conversations – and comparisons – with its glorious gallery of ghosts. For Lewis Hamilton, whose 2025 arrival at the Scuderia was announced on 1 February, over time and in the wake of several previous overtures, that gravitational pull became irresistible. The maverick move sets…

2024 TOYOTA GR COROLLA 1.6T GR-FOUR CIRCUIT (M) Black leather/alcantara interior All possible extras! Only 300 km! Balance of F/Warranty and S/Plan Be quick! R899 900 IN PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE 2023 AUDI RS3 SPORTBACK QUATTRO (A) Black leather/alcantara interior Full loaded with many extras! Only 2 600 km! Balance of F/Warranty and F/way Plan Like new! R1 269 900 View all our exquisite stock at: www.theautoshed.co.za 31 Kwartsiet Street, Zwartkops Ext 15, Centurion.…

Dutch businessman Ben Pon first encountered a Plattenwagen, a modified Beetle frame that was used to transport parts on the factory floor at the Volkswagen facility, in 1946. The purpose of that particular business trip had been to acquire new Type 1s to sell in the Netherlands, but the curious-looking transportation vehicle had caught Pon’s attention, and he believed it could be improved upon for general use as a utility vehicle. On 23 April 1947, Pon submitted his design for this new cargo vehicle and suggested it would weigh no more than 750 kg and would be able to carry the same amount. Volkswagen caught wind of his plan and made two initial prototypes, dubbed Type 29. Unfortunately, the prototypes had woeful drag coefficients (0.75 Cd) as wind-tunnel testing in…

+ FREE DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION & FREE DELIVERY OF YOUR MAGAZINE SIMPLY CONTACT US AND QUOTE 20/06/SP/CAR HOW TO SUBSCRIBE email: subscribe@habarimedia.com call: 087 550 0329 TERMS AND CONDITIONS: This offer applies to print subscribers with a South African address only. By providing your personal details, you are giving CAR permission to communicate with you via email or SMS. For foreign rates and other great offers, email subscriptions@habarimedia.com…

As the star of the 1961 Frankfurt Motor Show, the broad mandate of the BMW 1500 sedan was to showcase a fresh start for its Munich-based maker. In dire need of both financial impetus and a clearer direction in terms of a disjointed product portfolio that spanned from a ‘Bubble’ car to the low-slung 507 sportscar, BMW’s Neue Klasse (new class) introduced well-considered, practical dimensions with a new design language and fresh thinking in terms of engineering, production and mechanicals. Acknowledging what then proved to be a pivotal moment in the history of the BMW brand, the new Vision Neue Klasse concept models – including the sedan and recently released, raised-ride-height X derivative – showcase a watershed moment for the firm as it aligns itself to embrace an altogether more…

860 km 7.2 L/100 km + Feels accomplished and sophisticated - Specification anomalies As introduced on page 52’s drive of the Q3 Sportback 35 TFSI Black Edition, Audi South Africa’s newest marketing campaign aims to combine the most popular specification added by customers to respective models within its current portfolio of ICE products within one easy-to-navigate package. While an Urban Edition will be added to the likes of the Q2, the Black Edition looks likely to dominate the broader range. Offered on the entry-level A3 Sedan 35 TFSI, the Black Edition adds nice-to-have cosmetic touches such as an S line exterior kit, LED headlamps, and the black styling package, which includes badges and side mirrors, a sunroof and 18-inch alloy wheels. The interior upgrades are an S line package, ambient…

9 783 km 7.38 L/100 km + Attention-grabbing styling; unobtrusive Eco setting - Could still be a little more frugal The Puma had its work cut out this month in a test face-off with the stylish but comparatively understated Volkswagen Taigo, and the result was a lot closer than expected. As you may have gathered from the write-up on page 62, we try our level best to look at the cold, quantifiable facts when assessing cars. But given their aspirational billing on buyers’ radars, there has to be some credence given to their styling and emotional appeal, too. It’s here that the Puma continues to score points; from shopping centre carparks to seaside resorts, I’ve encountered a number of folks taking in the Desert Island Blue ST-Line Vignale with approving…

Like the undulations from one side of the Kyalami’s Mineshaft to the other, motorsport can deliver spectacular highs and petrifying lows. One of South Africa’s premier motorsport locations, there is a palpable excitement among competitors new and old, who arrive at these hallowed grounds. The layout, the architecture and details as small as the rumble strips allude to a worldclass facility, there is no doubt about that. Shared with any other circuit in the world, top-tier or not, it’s not over until the chequered flag is paraded at the finish line. Coming off the back of a modest performance in Cape Town, with P3 in the bag but a sizable pace deficit, I had hoped to up the ante, since Kyalami is not only a circuit with which I have…

Email: car@habarimedia.com Mail: CAR, PO Box 180, Howard Place, 7450 OVER TO YOU… Please include your physical address and telephone number. Diverse ideas and opinions are welcome, but publication of your letter doesn’t necessarily mean we agree. Please stick to a maximum of 300 words. CAR reserves the right to edit and shorten letters owing to space constraints. WINNING LETTER STILL NEED CONVINCING I respectfully request an in-depth article be published on ICEs, hybrids and EVs. I am aware this would entail a lot of research and time, but I am sure many readers would find it most interesting and informative. We often feel bombarded with all the advantages of EVs, while not being fully convinced. My first concern: the production costs of a combustion engine vehicle compared with that…

Audi Universal Traffic Recorder R9 545 Part of Audi’s Genuine Accessories portfolio, the Universal Traffic Recorder (UTR) is designed to seamlessly integrate with your Audi. Featuring easily installed modules at the front and rear of your vehicle, the UTR can record driving footage for safety, security or insurance purposes. The unit’s HD camera captures high-definition footage of your car’s surroundings, whether it’s a scenic drive or an unexpected event on the road. Through its associated smartphone app, the UTR’s Live View feature can also provide real-time monitoring via a live stream to your phone. With three surveillance modes, it acts as a sort of personal private eye. In Standard Mode, it records while the engine is running, stopping when the engine is turned off. Event Mode is triggered by an…

Ferrari is in a unique position when it comes to the variety of powertrains it can install in its cars, especially when it comes to the number of cylinders, and the position and orientation of the engine and gearbox. However, depending on your age, you are likely to have your own set of preferences as to where a Ferrari engine is best positioned. Many of us who love cars – particularly Ferraris – are usually interested only in the firm’s sportscars, or racing cars. But in truth, it was the ‘daily drivers’ and more useable cars that kept Ferrari in a positive financial position and allowed Enzo Ferrari to pursue his motor-racing dreams. This specific car resides in Knysna and its owner is a retired corporate leader. However, the conventional…

658 km 8.90 L/100 km + Comfortable seats; generously equipped - Infotainment display too dim A little more than two years after I left CAR magazine, I was excited to rejoin the team at South Africa’s leading motoring publication. To quote Eminem, “Guess who’s back? Back again.” However, I wasn’t the only one set to make a comeback to CAR. Following an impressive showing in its April 2024 road test, the Honda Elevate has returned for an extended test period of three months. Our test unit cuts a dashing figure, with its vibrant Phoenix Orange pearlescent paintwork, elevating (pun definitely intended) its appearance. The addition of chrome finishes and a set of eye-catching 17-inch alloy wheels helps lend a touch of sophistication to the exterior. Inside, the Elevate’s perceived interior…

The current narrative around vehicle electrification typically covers issues such as battery cost, raw materials, weight, driving range and charging infrastructure. There is rarely any discussion about the use of hydrogen as an alternative means of achieving vehicle-emissions targets. Why this apparent lack of interest? Some of the world’s leading vehicle markets have already committed to, and in some cases even legislated, a timeline for the phase-out of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. Additionally, in many markets, the transition to battery electric vehicles (BEV) over hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) is being incentivised to accelerate the shift towards zero-emission vehicles (ZEV). While these measures effectively guarantee a future for BEVs, their adoption has recently encountered the proverbial bump in the road. Despite global sales reaching…

CASE STUDY: KIA SORENTO FOR UNDER R400 000 Kia Sorento This month we chose the large SUV/crossover category winner from our 2019 Top 12 Best Buys to see whether it remains an excellent choice as a used buy. We then list two rival options for comparison. 7 seats, 96/416-472/1 464 L 6 airbags, ABS, EBD, ESC R12 450 October 2015 (2.2D SX AWD AT) 0–100 km/h: 9.52 seconds Top speed: 203 km/h Power: 147 kW Torque: 440 N.m Fuel consumption: 7.92 L/100 km The first Sorento arrived in 2004 featuring a 2.5-litre turbodiesel. We were impressed by this SUV during an extended 12-month test. With a low-range transfer case, it could negotiate tricky terrain, too. We witnessed one tackling the steep and rocky ascent at Matroosberg to reach the snow…

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