Table of contents for November 2024 in CAR

Finished in Galactic Brown, the R17’s retro-futuristic bodywork wraps around a carbon-fibre chassis. Thanks to the use of this lightweight material, the two-door’s weight has been kept down to a light-by-EV-standards 1.4 tonnes. The ultra-contemporary exterior features rectangular LED headlamp clusters, which are incorporated into the front facia, while an LED light strip spans the rear of the concept coupé. Louvres have been placed on the rear windows as an homage to the original car. Inside, sited in front of the angular, two-spoke steering wheel, the dashboard features a quartet of individually placed square-shaped instruments, each housing a display relaying driving information such as speed, power usage and charge, and range. A rectangular display is fitted to the centre console. The fabrics and materials used for the interior are reminiscent…

Price: TBA Powertrain: 111 kWh battery, dual electric motors Transmission: single-speed automatic Power: 380 kW Torque: 910 N.m 0–100 km/h: 4.9 seconds Top speed: 180 km/h Range: 600 km Rivals: BMW iX; Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV + Feels upmarket; impressive usable range - Still not 100% ready in terms of its software Launched nearly a decade ago, the XC90’s styling speaks volumes of Volvo’s contemporary design language that ensured its flagship SUV remains both striking and refreshingly distinguishable among its peers. Its smaller XC60 sibling has become one of the Swedish brand’s best-selling products, yet much of the ground-work for this success was laid by the presence, inherent style, and still impressively modern, comfortable and versatile interior of the current-generation XC90. An unavoidable delay in its first production run may have…

Price: R1 336 200 0–100 km/h: 6.15 seconds Top speed: 200 km/h Power: 227 kW Torque: 450 N.m CAR fuel index: 1.6 L/100km CO2 : 29 g/km The term ‘best of both worlds’ is something of a misnomer. Whether it’s business dealings, politics or relationships, more often than not, attempting to get two opposing principles to gel just ends up as a sticky compromise. But every once in a while, two seemingly conflicting elements – with a little clever manoeuvring – can present a practical or even pleasing solution to a problem. It’s the same in the world of motoring. With fuel prices headed skywards and manufacturers under growing pressure to adopt EVs, there has to be a halfway point between electric and combustion-engined cars that can keep expenditure at the…

Price: R288 500 0–100 km/h: 12.79 seconds Top speed: 177 km/h Power: 63 kW Torque: 132 N.m CAR Fuel index: 7.08 L/100 km CO2 : 140 g/km The cover star of our October issue, a timely update of Volkswagen Group Africa’s homebrewed Polo Vivo hatch line-up aims to stave off growing stiff competition in the local entry-level segment while preparing this best-selling product for introduction into several right-hand-drive African markets. Interestingly, more than 75% of Vivo’s components are locally sourced. With its previous-generation Polo PQ26 underpinnings and engine range unaltered, this locally derived and engineered update introduces subtle cosmetic changes, new headlamp and alloy wheel designs, a considered upgrade of the car’s interior trim and a revised specification list. Distinguishable via the brand’s modern labelling format, which places the model name…

968 km 7.31 L/100 km + Sharp new looks; plenty of standard equipment; pleasant road manners - Some strange spec omissions; overly intrusive active safety systems Among the updates applied to Kia’s popular Sonet compact SUV – the entry-level LX version of which impressed in our road test on page 76 – is the inclusion of the new range-topper in the guise of the SX model that has joined our long-term test fleet for its six-month tenure. Mechanically almost identical to its CVT-equipped stablemates further down the range, the SX commands a sticker price of R484 900 that ushers in the inclusion of myriad additional features. These include LED-equipped head-lamps, a larger complement of airbags (six vs. two), alloy wheels, synthetic leather upholstery, climate control, cruise control, drive mode selector,…

In a blockbuster, high-profile move, the legendary Formula 1 designer Adrian Newey (65) will join Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team from 2025. The deal, which is reportedly worth £30 million a year (R700 million), was announced in September 2024 and stretches over five years. It will include him becoming a shareholder in the British team. Since announcing his departure from Red Bull, Newey has been on the respective radars of Ferrari, Williams, Audi and Alpine, which made a late bid. Ultimately, he decided on Aston Martin as his next career move. Having been with Red Bull F1 since 2006, Newey leaves the Austrian team with which he has won seven Drivers’ and six Constructors’ championships for a new challenge. Newey-designed cars have won 13 Drivers’ titles, 12 Constructors’ titles, and…

Audi Centre Menlyn has always been at the forefront of service excellence and the car dealership to visit in the heart of Menlyn’s motoring and shopping suburbia. As a flagship Audi Dealer for the renowned Bidvest McCarthy Group, they are conveniently situated off the N1 highway via the Garsfontein Road off ramp. Their ultra-impressive facility is where they proudly offer all their Audi Lifestyle products and services. Audi Centre Menlyn gives you the opportunity to experience all your driving ambitions with their extensive selection of new, demo model and quality pre-owned Audis. As a Certified Sport Dealer, they also offer the most exquisite S and RS models from their showroom floor. Models like: a stunning Floret Silver S8, a fully stylized SQ5 Sportback, absolutely magnificent Nardo Grey RS Q8 and a…

In a bid to enhance the appeal of its seven-seater, ladder-frame SUV, Ford has handed the Everest the Tremor treatment, first seen on the new-generation Ranger. Included in the package are a model-specific grille with auxiliary LED lights, front tow hooks and a steel bash plate. The suspension setup (lifted by 26 mm) has been upgraded to include Bilstein dampers and Ford has wrapped the 17-inch alloy wheels in General Grabber AT3 all-terrain rubber. However, whereas the Ranger Tremor is exclusively available with the Blue Oval’s 2.0-litre, twin-turbo four-pot, the Everest Tremor employs a 3.0-litre V6. The turbodiesel develops 184 kW and 600 N.m, which is transferred to all four corners via the firm’s familiar 10-speed automatic transmission. In addition to the six existing driver’s settings, the Everest Tremor gains…

Price: from R5 950 000 Engine: 4.0-litre, twin-turbo V8 Transmission: 8-speed automatic Power: 494 kW @6 000 r/min Torque: 800 N.m @2 750-5 900 r/min 0–100 km/h (tested): 3.76 seconds Top speed: 325 km/h* Fuel consumption: 12.2 L/100 km* CO2 emissions: 278 g/km* Rivals: Ferrari Roma; Bentley Continental GT + Sense of occasion; build quality; usable performance - Equally compelling competition Aquintessentially British automotive brand, over the last few years the staff cafeteria at Aston Martin’s Gaydon headquarters would have been agonising over what to add to its increasingly cosmopolitan weekly menu. Owned since 2020 by Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll, while this company’s ongoing Formula One outfit is naturally multinational, efforts to match its nevertheless prestigious car division’s creations with the level of under-the-skin engineering required at the pinnacle of motor…

Price: R906 100 Engine: 3.0-litre, four-cylinder, turbodiesel Transmission: 6-speed automatic Power: 140 kW @3 600 r/min Torque: 450 N.m @1 600-2 600 r/min 0–100 km/h: n/a Top speed: n/a Fuel consumption: 7.9 L/100 km* CO2 emissions: 208 g/km Rivals: Ford Ranger, GWM P500, Mitsubishi Triton, Toyota Hilux, Volkswagen Amarok + Additional accessories; tried-and-tested turbodiesel - Steering could do with more feedback Forty-five years. That is how long Isuzu has been assembling bakkies in South Africa. During this time, the firm has introduced numerous technological innovations to the local bakkie segment, including rack-and-pinion steering and independent front suspension (with the 1981 second generation) and a turbocharged petrol engine option with the 1993 Turbo Blazer model. Over that time, many South Africans have fond memories of an Isuzu; a 2005 KB300 was the…

Price: R999 900 0–100 km/h: 8.38 seconds Top speed: 180 km/h Power: 255 kW Torque: 648 N.m CAR fuel index: 11.76 L/100km CO2 : 225 g/km In the booming local bakkie segment, is bigger really better? And we are not just talking about sheer size here. Indeed, having increasingly adopted the role of a family vehicle (as opposed to the workhorse applications of old), bakkies are now more focused on comfort and technology than ever, blurring the once distinct line between double cabs and SUVs. In a relatively short time, GWM has proved itself a worthy player among the bigger brands in the South African bakkie market. However, with the introduction of its P500 series of double cabs, the Chinese company is aiming to make a big statement and further disrupt…

1 100 km 8.3 L/100 km + Attractive styling; plenty of tech - Turbo-lag; throttle calibration Having touched down locally in the middle of the year, the Jolion Pro seeks to pick up where the original Jolion left off; catering to tech- and style-conscious buyers in the bustling compact-crossover segment. In the restructured line-up, the Pro covers the more upper-tier trim lines (including a hybrid and the higher-performance model we are testing here), while the original model soldiers on in the form of three more budget-conscious offerings wearing the ‘City’ badge. This strategic move sees the range span from just under R350 000 to a shade over half a million, with each of the several trims catering to buyer preference and budget. In the Pro S, both the underpinnings and…

Since their US introduction in 1966, legislated vehicle exhaust emission standards have been adopted in other markets and progressively tightened, requiring automotive manufacturers to continuously develop and refine engine technologies to achieve compliance. As a result, with each new model generation, motorists have benefited from improvements in fuel efficiency while becoming familiar with such developments as catalytic converters, fuel injection, downsized engines with turbocharging, and other emission-reducing technologies. Less familiar are the improvements made by the oil companies in changing fuel formulations to enable and support the development of these new, cleaner engine technologies. FUEL FORMULATION While advances in engine technology have resulted in lower vehicle exhaust emissions, this could not have been achieved without corresponding changes in fuel formulation. In the pursuit of lowering emissions, one of the earliest…

Suzuki Vitara Brezza The closely related first-generation Suzuki Vitara Brezza and Toyota Urban Cruiser were on the SA market for only a brief period but proved immensely popular. We look at both models and list two rival options for comparison. 5 seats, 240–1 200 L 2, ABS, EBD R7 196 February 2022 (Vitara Brezza 1.5 GLX Manual) 0–100 km/h: 12.6 seconds Top speed: 170 km/h Power: 77 kW Torque: 138 N.m Fuel consumption index: 7.4 L/100 km Barring their badges and some cosmetic differentiations, Suzuki’s Vitara Brezza and the Toyota Urban Cruiser are essentially the same vehicle. Born out of a marriage between the two automotive giants, they share the Brezza’s underpinnings. However, with the Brezza’s discontinuation in 2023, a noticeable gap emerged in their respective manufacturers’ portfolios. The new…

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. SPECTACULAR GOODWOOD The Goodwood Festival of Speed article in the September 2024 issue of CAR brought back so many wonderful memories of what it is like to be a participant at an exclusive international event like Goodwood in a locally built car you own. The journey to Goodwood started at the 2017 South African Festival of Motoring, where our Group 5 Zakspeed Ford Escort was on display. This racecar is a recreation…

Price: R264 900 Engine: 1.2-litre, four-cylinder, petrol Transmission: 5-speed manual Power: 60 kW @5 700 r/min Torque: 112 N.m @4 300 r/min 0–100 km/h: n/a Fuel consumption: 4.4 L/100 km* CO2 emissions: 102 g/km* Rivals: Volkswagen Polo Vivo; Kia Picanto; Hyundai Grand i10 + Ably builds upon the virtues that made its predecessor such a hit - Engine’s outputs remain somewhat modest Metrics are a funny thing. In most regards, having quantitative information and numbers to crunch doesn’t align well with determining the actual quality of whatever is in question. Looking at numbers alone, we could argue Taylor Swift makes the best music in the world and McDonald’s the best food, but when it comes to Suzuki’s Swift, the figures in question speak to just what an accomplished little product the…

Price: R391 995 0–100 km/h: 9.25 seconds Top speed: 170 km/h Power: 85 kW Torque: 144 N.m CAR fuel index: 8.40 L/100 km CO2 : 148 g/km When it first hit the South African market three years ago, the Kia Sonet was immediately pegged as one of the standout models in the compact-crossover segment. It lived up to our expectations as, shortly after arriving locally, the then-mid-spec 1.5 EX manual joined our long-term test fleet. It didn’t put a foot wrong in its six-month stint with us, and went on to pick off rivals such as the Nissan Magnite, Suzuki Vitara Brezza and Ford EcoSport in a group test. Fast forward to the present and the Sonet has undergone a mid-cycle facelift. Kia has slightly modified the nose to incorporate a…

532 km 22.5 kWh/100 km + Plush interior; usable range - Unsettled ride Delivered to the CAR long-term test fleet in the same month as I sampled the otherwise excellent new E-Class sedan, I have to confess it has taken me longer than anticipated to connect with the Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV. I understand why this vehicle exists – ostensibly to take on the likes of BMW’s iX and the forthcoming Audi Q8 e-tron – yet, the traditionalist in me still relates to the inherent quality, comfort levels and proven powertrain options available in this German brand’s old-school executive sedan portfolio. Built on an all-electric platform, the only drivetrain configuration currently offered in the EQE SUV range is the brand’s 350 specification. In this application, it sees an 89 kWh battery…

The 2025 Formula 1 season is just a matter of months away but 2024 has seen a flurry of activity on the driver market. From Lewis Hamilton switching Mercedes silver for Ferrari red, to Jack Doohan finally getting a full-time racing seat, this year’s bout of ‘F1 Musical Chairs’ had everyone on edge. With most of the 2025 driver line-ups (at the time of writing) confirmed, here’s how the changes played out. TO ANOTHER TEAM CARLOS SAINZ In 2025, Carlos Sainz will celebrate 10 years in F1; he made his debut with Toro Rosso, alongside Max Verstappen, in 2015. The Spaniard has raced for many teams over the years and will vacate his Ferrari seat for one at Williams next year. 2024 has been a year of mixed emotions for…

Notes • The PRICES shown are the latest available at the time of going to press. Our deadline occurred on 17 September 2024. Readers should check with a dealer before making a decision. • The HP payment calculations are based on a 10% deposit, current prime interest rate @11.75% and a 5-year (60-month) repayment period, with no residual value at the end. • Under ENGINE we list the number of cylinders and the cubic capacity in cm3. Here, V = V-shaped engine layout; H = horizontally-opposed engine layout; The absence of an initial symbol implies an in-line engine layout. • FUEL SUPPLY abbreviations are P = petrol-engined; D = diesel-engined; T = turbocharged, a compressor driven by exhaust gases; S = supercharged, a compressor driven by the engine; P/H = petrol-hybrid…