Table of contents for September 2023 in CAR

The used-car wormhole is the CAR reader’s nemesis. Calculating the hours spent – no, not wasted – clicking and scrolling through the classifieds is a number no one needs to know anything about, other than it was all time very well spent. Dreaming, fantasising, scheming and then using your phone’s calculator to work out the “man maths” is a pastime far more productive than, say, watching Extreme E wreak havoc across some of the most fragile landscapes on Earth to raise awareness of just how fragile these landscapes are. Used-car purchases are also more emotive than new ones. Actually, that’s not strictly true, because buying new is still special for some, but it’s becoming a faceless transaction, one devoid of emotion, lacking the anticipation expected when buying something you have…

IamDamianAdams For many motorists, tyres will be the most overlooked components of their cars. Once fitted and filled, they are meant to steer, accelerate, brake and turn – and absorb the odd bump – without much further thought given to them. But instead of existing inertly, all tyres have a life of their own, and their purpose and history can be deciphered from the alphanumeric codes on their sidewalls. These include a tyre’s specifications such as size, load-carrying capacity and maximum speed capability. Decoding these numbers and letters can help you choose the right tyres for your vehicle and ensure a safe, comfortable and efficient driving experience. TYRE SIZE A tyre’s size is represented by a series of numbers and letters, such as 205/55 R16. This code indicates the tyre’s…

RyanOConnorZA The popularity of Chinese automotive brands is soaring. With one of the largest populations in the world, one shouldn’t forget that the Chinese automotive industry is truly massive when compared with South Africa. Haval, for example, can sell close to 30 000 vehicles per month in its home market. Long-established leaders in fields of technology and production, it was always only a matter of time before this sleeping giant of a market would look to export its wares – including vehicles – to other countries and continents. South African customers could be forgiven for having trust issues when it comes to spending their hard-earned rands on products that don’t wear the badge of well-established, proven manufacturers. In the early 2000s, the French brands in particular found this out the…

Toyota Vitz 1,0 XR manual With its reputation to uphold, Toyota wouldn’t be adding its badge to a product it does not have complete faith in. Affordable and ultimately reliable, the Vitz looks set to continue the local trend of outselling its DNA-donating Suzuki rival. price: R219 900 cyl/capac: 3/998 cm3 power: 49 kW/5 500 r/min torque: 89 N.m/3 500 r/min gears/drive: 5/F 0–100 km/h: 13,69 sec top speed: 160 km/h fuel index: 5,28 L/100 km luggage capac: 248/550 L serv/maint plan: S2/30 000 km Suzuki Celerio 1,0 GL manual The disadvantage that Suzuki SA has in terms of this battle is that the modern Celerio’s pricing remains enticingly close to that of the even more versatile and well-specced Swift. It’s a no-brainer if you can make the financial stretch.…

2 500 km 10,7 L/100 km Like its sister model in the current Ranger double-cab, the Everest does struggle to hide its presence, especially within the confines of tight shopping-centre parking lots. One needs to concentrate on centring the vehicle within an open bay so that all passengers, anticipating to exit left and right, are able to disembark without their doors nerfing the vehicle parked in the adjacent bay. To prevent any such unfortunate incidents, I’ve taken to instead helping my young children out of their seats. Another domain where this vehicle always feels somewhat cumbersome is on the freeway, where the particularly sensitive lane-keeping alert system continuously intervenes once it assumes the vehicle is unintentionally leaving its much-too-narrow-for-an-Everest designated lane. After habitually disabling this feature, I got another nanny,…

The 296 GT3’s achievement at the 2023 Nürburgring 24 is one for the record books. It is Ferrari’s first victory at the Nürburgring and the 296’s first win at a major event Finishing 162 laps, it set a new distance record, besting 2022’s race by three laps It is the first V6-engined car to win the event since the Ford Capri in 1982 Smashing two decades of dominance by German cars since a Dodge Viper won in 2002, it also recorded the first win for an Italian car. As it happens, both of these packages were assembled by French firm b. Nicky Catsburg becomes the event’s 23rd double winner, the first Dutch double winner and the eighth non-German multiple winner. Earl Bamber is the first Kiwi winner, adding to a…

PeterPalm12 Model: Ford Cortina GT 0–100 km/h: 13,9 seconds Top speed: 146 km/h Fuel consumption: 10,6 L/100 km (at 100 km/h) Price: R1 984 CAR test: December 1967 (plus two others from 1968 to 1969) We covered the Mk II Ford Cortina range a few years ago, but we only featured the 1,3-litre and 1,5-litre models. The more collectable models include the GT, XL, Meissner- and Lotus-tuned versions and of course, the mighty Perana V6. Following the success of the Mk I GT, it became essential for Ford to continue the trend with subsequent ranges, though the Mk III and Mk IV models would eventually grow too large, with some of the initial sharpness lost. PACKAGING The car’s conservative, squared styling does somewhat belie its exciting nature. Originally, there were…

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@ianmclaren76 WHERE WE DROVE IT ETA: 2024 Price: TBA Engine: 5,0-litre, naturally aspirated V8 Transmission: six-speed manual or 10-speed auto Power: 372 kW @7 250 r/min Torque: 567 N.m @4 900 r/min Like a child receiving rare permission to skip dinner and head straight to the dessert table, it doesn’t often happen that my first experience with an all-new vehicle is behind the wheel of the model lineup’s most hardcore road-going derivative – and that while merging from the pit lane on to a race track. And yet, considering the extensive racing-programme plans Ford has for its seventh-generation Mustang, in this instance, it is perhaps the perfect place to begin. Officially launched just a few weeks earlier, the new Mustang inherits most of its underpinnings from the outgoing model. Inside…

Price: R499 999 0–100 km/h: 8,38 seconds Top speed: 193 km/h Power: 113 kW Torque: 270 N.m CAR fuel index: 7,92 L/100 km CO2 : 149 g/km Noteworthy refinement that builds on the already impressive modern Clio package. I really like itIan McLaren The competent Captur has always been on the fringes. This one deserves its time in the spotlightDamian Adams Of the many automotive marques still recovering from any number of scuppered plans and unforeseen delays caused by semiconductor shortages, logistical backlogs and conceivably just a general run of bad luck, Renault South Africa must sit near the top of this list. Fortunately supplemented by continued and noteworthy showroom performances of its Indian-sourced products, such as the volume-selling Kwid, this French brand’s “in-house” wares – like the fifth-generation Clio and…

Mercedes-Benz GLC 300d AMG Line With a balance of presence, dynamics, ride quality, frugality and a modern interior, the updated GLC ticks many boxes. It comes at a price premium, though, and has less impressive utility space thanks to a sloping roof and wide C- and D-pillars. price: R1 492 787 cyl/capac: 4/1 950 cm3 power: 198 kW/4 200 r/min torque: 500 N.m/1 800–2 800 r/min gears/drive: 9/4 0–100 km/h: 6,15 sec top speed: 243 km/h fuel index: 6,6 L/100 km luggage capac: 280/1 112 L serv/maint plan: M5/100 000 km Volvo XC60 T8 Recharge AWD Plus Dark With Volvo diesels now consigned to the history books, this plug-in hybrid provides performance and efficiency. 340 kW mean it’ll smash the 0–100 km/h dash in a claimed 4,8 seconds. There is…

Chery Tiggo 8 Pro 1,6 TGDI 290T Executive Surprisingly well crafted with an exceptionally long features list, the Tiggo 8 is a far cry from Chery’s first-gen models that landed in South Africa 15 years ago. Dynamically a bit disappointing, but offers a posh interior and inspired exterior styling instead. price: R582 900 cyl/capac: 4/1 598 cm3 power: 145 kW/5 500 r/min torque: 290 N.m/1 800–2 800 r/min gears/drive: 7/2 0–100 km/h: 8,71 sec top speed: 190 km/h fuel index: 8,4 L/100 km luggage capac: 193/360/1 930 L serv/maint plan: S5/60 000 km Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace 1,4 TSI Lags behind the XUV700 in terms of power and value for money. Furthermore, VW’s entry-level styling could be divisive. It’s refined and solidly built, but meagre spec before costly options make it…

3 850 km 8,3 L/100 km Who doesn’t enjoy a purpose-built vehicle? A Toyota FJ Cruiser on underinflated 35-inch tyres? Absolutely. How about a BMW M2 Competition with a limited-slip differential? Guilty. A Rolls-Royce Phantom with umbrella dryers built into the doors? Bring it on. By not pretending to be anything else, their lack of compromise only makes these cars better. So, where does the Tiguan stand after just two months in the CAR garage? For starters, it is far more purpose built than it looks. If you want an off-road-ready SUV, or a luxury SUV, or a fast SUV, look elsewhere. But if you want a comfortable, refined, and well-built family SUV that feels like it cost more than it did, this mid-level Tiguan’s well worth considering despite the…

As GT3 cars, all entrants are subjected to stringent Balance of Performance (BoP) regulations. With controversy never far away, through specially targeted penalties, BoP aims to equalise performance across entrants through timed sessions in the run-up to a race to control variations in power, weight, fuel consumption and aerodynamic efficiency. The aim of the performance equalisation is noble, but the outcome is seldom satisfactory, nor perceived as fair for all. After this year’s Nürburgring 24, paddock whispers (or grumbles) suggested that all of the German marques were more or less equally pegged, though less so the Italian debutant. Hans-Peter Naundorf, Team manager of the #82 and #83 BMW squad, told Sportscar365, “We have been stronger in the night, because of the turbo. The Mercs were stronger during the day. Porsche…

The Meissner conversion tested in December 1968 featured only a high-lift camshaft and free-flow exhaust system. With these simple tweaks, though, acceleration to 100 km/h decreased by a full two seconds, realising a nearly 10% improvement over the standard car. Willie Meissner was a clearly a genius, albeit probably not a very rich one: Fully installed, in 1968 this kit cost R95. The first copy of CAR magazine I persuaded my father to buy me was the March 1967 issue. I was 12 at the time and noticed that the familiar Ford Cortina had changed its styling entirely. In those early days, both the magazine’s cover and back page were sold to advertisers – and in this issue, both featured the new Cortina. A classmate later had a highly modified…

Notes • The PRICES shown are the latest available at the time of going to press. Our deadline occurred on 14 July 2023. 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…

KyleSpliceZA The Singer Dynamics & Lightweight Study Turbo, or simply DLS Turbo, is an exceptional piece of automotive engineering pushing the boundaries of performance and design. At the time of writing, it was due to make its debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in England, followed by an outing at the Monterey Car Week in California. The DLS Turbo appears set to offer the perfect blend of classic motorsport aesthetics and modern technology. With Singer’s reputation for impeccable attention to detail and accompanying performance upgrades to realise the potential of older Porsche chassis, the Singer DLS stands as a testament to the art of automotive restoration and customisation. GO THAT MATCHES THE SHOW The Singer DLS Turbo is powered by a 9 000+ r/min twin-turbo 3.8-litre flat-six engine that…

IMMINENT BAIC BJ80 Lotus Emira Maserati Grecale McLaren Artura Nissan Qashqai e-Power Toyota Crown Toyota Supra manual Q2 BMW Z4 Fiat Doblo Jaguar i-Pace Kia Seltos Lexus RX Porsche 911 Dakar Q3 Aston Martin DBS 770 Ultimate BMW M3 CS Hyundai Grand i10 Renault Arkana Subaru Outback XT Volkswagen Touareg Q4 Audi Q8 e-tron BMW M2 BMW 7 Series JAC T9 Land Rover Defender 130 V8 Land Rover Defender 130 Outbound Mazda BT-50 Mercedes-AMG C 63 E performance Rolls-Royce Spectre TBC Aston Martin Valhalla Ferrari Purosangue Jaguar F-Type 75 Lamborghini Urus Performante Land Rover Defender 75 Mitsubishi ASX Porsche 718 Spyder RS Renault Captur Toyota GR Corolla Toyota Hilux hybrid Volkswagen T-Cross *Please note this list is in no way exhaustive and dates may be affected by production- and delivery…

ianmclaren76 Petridish_Mooks PORSCHE HAS BEEN HONING ITS PREFERRED DRIVETRAIN LAYOUT FOR MORE THAN 75 YEARS From the times when as children we used to mount a playing card or two that would flutter against the wheel spokes of our BMXs, or lip trill while flinging Hot Wheels cars along imaginary roads in our bedrooms, the association with sound as a showcase of speed was matched by increased levels of exhilaration. Over the years, the majority of renowned car makers have focused an inordinate amount of time and effort on ensuring that the exhaust note of notably their high-performance enthusiast offerings deliver the kind of sound that both enhances the driving experience and remains distinctly on brand. Indeed, exhaust acoustics has become an art, and are affected in no small part…

WLutjeharms Petridish_Mooks WHERE WE DROVE IT What is it about the combination of certain letters with a series of numbers on the back of performance cars that gets pulses of enthusiasts racing? While certainly, these usually marketing-department-derived signatures don’t always hit the mark in terms of this mandate, one brand with a proud history of success in this naming game is, Porsche - and notably when it comes to its Cup cars. In its modern form, we associate the Cup nameplate with the brand’s 911 GT3 Cup racing programme yet, in the late Eighties, it was used more broadly than this. While for many years the 924 represented the most affordable entry points into the Porsche brand, the similarly accessible successor 944 model spawned arguably one of the finest examples…

Renault Captur 1,3T Intens EDC The top-of-the-range Captur offers just about enough substance and sophistication to justify a relatively premium price tag. Its 1,3-litre turbopetrol engine strikes an optimal balance between real-world performance and efficiency. price: R499 999 cyl/capac: 4/1 332 cm3 power: 113 kW/6 000 r/min torque: 270 N.m/1 700 r/min gears/drive: 7/F 0–100 km/h: 8,38 sec top speed: 193 km/h fuel index: 7,92 L/100 km luggage capac: 296–368/744 L serv/maint plan: S3/45 000 km Volkswagen T-Cross 1,5 TSI R-Line DSG Upgraded to include the VW’s popular R-Line external styling kit and fitted with a more powerful four-cylinder 1,5-litre TSI motor, the top-of-the-range T-Cross is a compelling, if pricey proposition. In this company, it’s the least spacious, however. price: R531 800 cyl/capac: 4/1 498 cm3 power: 110 kW/5 000…

Volkswagen Amarok DC Aventura 3,0 V6 TDI Owners of the previous generation will miss the strong acceleration, but the new model makes up for it with a luxurious cabin and a newly introduced low-range transfer case. There are better-priced V6-powered options lower down the range, though. price: R1 138 200 cyl/capac: 6/2 996 cm3 power: 184 kW/3 250 r/min torque: 600 N.m/1 750–2 250 r/min gears/drive: 10/4 0–100 km/h: 9,54 sec top speed: 180 km/h fuel index: 10,32 L/100 km luggage capac: N/A serv/maint plan: M5/100 000 km Toyota Hilux 2,8 GD-6 4x4 Legend RS Although more affordable, this model has features similar to the Amarok, including sporty trim and a standard roller shutter cover for the load bay. It could be the top choice of many potential purchasers but…

PeterPalm12 OUR RATIONALE While taste is always subjective, by general consensus, some cars simply offer more head-turning appeal than others. It’s an art form that over the years has seen many mainstream automotive brands turn to renowned design studios for special projects and limited editions. Known for their flair when it comes to auto design, names such as Pininfarina, Giugiaro, Bertone, Zagato and Italdesign immediately spring to mind as the most famous Italian styling houses in the game. Giorgetto Giugiaro actually worked for Bertone before founding Italdesign with Aldo Mantovani in 1968. When Giugiaro himself left, Marcello Gandini took his place and penned icons like the Lamborghini Miura and the Lancia Stratos. While trends will continue to evolve – including the shape and sizes of headlamps, glass houses and grilles…

By the early 1960s and then under the ownership of Kaiser Industries, the American brand that gained (and made) its name from supplying all-terrain vehicles to US troops during World War II sought to harness its reputation for ruggedness and off-road ability into packages that would appeal to the broader US audience. Based on the same SJ platform as the first Gladiator pick-up, the Jeep Wagoneer in 1963 brought everyday, family-adventure-focused versatility to the market that no one else – Land Rover included – had previously attempted. Featuring all-wheel drive, independent front suspension, power steering, optional air-conditioning and the availability of an automatic transmission, the Brooks Stevens-designed Wagoneer arguably defined the SUV segment as it is known today. Building on the early success of its “raised station wagon” offering, the…