Honda Civic Tourer – First Look

Honda has unveiled its 2014 Civic Tourer ahead of its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Honda SA has confirmed to us that the car is being considered for local introduction in 2014. A roomier, sleeker version of the popular Civic hatch, the Tourer is a particularly good looking rival to cars like the Golf Variant and Toyota Auris station wagon.

Honda Civic Tourer – Features

Developed and designed in Europe, the production model shares similar styling and design features with the concept previewed earlier this at the Geneva Motor Show such as the front fascia with angular headlights and daytime running lights.

Further, the Civic Tourer has class-leading interior space and can hold up to 1668 litres of luggage. Extra storage comes from below-floor spaces, and rear seat bolsters which can flip up to make space for tall goods.

An included tonneau cover hides valuables in the back and can be stored out of the way when not in use, while a 60:40 split in the seat base offers even more options for carrying both people and cargo and provides an alternative load area if access via the tailgate is limited.

Honda Civic Tourer – Engine Range

Engine choice for the new Civic Tourer includes a 1.6-litre i-DTEC engine from the manufacturer’s Earth Dreams Technology series or the 1.8 iVTEC engine. Either engine can be mated to a manual or automatic transmission.

Its brand new Adaptive Damper System (ADS) is designed to help enhance stability and comfort under varying load and driving conditions. Three settings are available on the ADS: comfort, normal, and dynamic. This allows the Civic Tourer to remain comfortable during highway cruising, yet firm and agile when high-performance handling is required.

Highlighting the new Civic Tourer is its sporty and sophisticated exterior design which is defined by a bold line that runs continuously from the front A-pillar to the D-pillar. The glass of the rear quarter window has been extended to cover the body work of the D-pillar and the rear door sash has been raised by 17mm compared to the Civic 5-door.

Petrol price in South Africa over the last 10 years infographic

Petrol price in South Africa infographic

Just 10 years ago South Africans were paying 339% less for petrol. In August 2004, unleaded fuel on the reef was priced at R4.00 a litre, with diesel at R3.29.

Petrol price increases

On average, the price has gained nearly rand a year, but the jumps have been erratic.

There was a brief period of respite from August 2008 to August 2009, when the price dropped by nearly R2.50. But since then, it has almost doubled to new highs seen this month.

Current South African fuel prices

Current fuel prices in South Africa stand at R13.55 for unleaded 95 on the reef, and the wholesale price of diesel (0.05% or 50ppm) is R12.48 on the reef.

All South Africa’s New Car Launches For July 2013

The month of July 2013 saw a host of new and exciting models introduced to South Africa. We’ve compiled a list of new car launches that took place during the month of July 2013.

Renault Fluence Dynamique CVT from R254 900

Renault extended its Fluence line up with a new Dynamique 2.0-litre sedan, the final variant in the brand’s 2013 model line up. The model was facelifted in 2012 with the new Renault family face, standard Xenon headlights and a few minor changes. The mid-sized sedan is now offered with a CVT transmission.

Volkswagen Golf GTI from R368 300

Volkswagen brought us the long awaited seventh generation Golf GTI to South African soil, not only featuring a heavily revised turbocharged engine. The GTI is 42kg lighter than before (from 1393 to 1351kg), thanks to VW’s new ‘transverse matrix’ MQB platform.

Citroen C4 Grand Picasso – not yet available

Citroen revealed the second generation C4 Grand Picasso designed to offer a “pioneering balance between interior spaciousness and flowing body styling.” The model also has class-leading second and third row spaciousness as well as a cargo capacity in excess of 700 litres. There is no indication as to when or whether the model will be available in South Africa.

Mitsubishi Lancer Sedan R239 900

Mitsubishi upgraded the Lancer 2.0 GLS sedan with a number of features (Bluetooth, a full complement of seven airbags, reversing camera and touchscreen controls for the audio system) that provide added value to buyers without an increase in the selling price.

Lexus IS 350 from R449 900

Lexus introduced its redesigned third generation IS sedan sporting rich sporty looks, a claimed fuel consumption figure of 9.7 litres/100km, and a new interior design available in a choice of three smooth leather colour schemes.

FAW Sirius from R149 995

FAW released an updated Sirius model, a rival to the Nissan Livina. Specification levels on the Sirius range include alloy wheels (even the spare), air-conditioning, dual airbags, remote control central locking, and power steering to name a few.

Peugeot 208 GTi R259 900

The Peugeot 208 GTi is available with a high pressure turbocharged 1.6-litre engine that delivers 147kW of power, accelerating to 100km/h in just 6.8 seconds. The GTI rides on 17-inch Diamond Carbon alloy wheels and also features revised steering settings that increase firmness.

Nissan NV200 Combi from R235 800

Nissan added to its range of LCVs the NV200 Combi which is much like its sibling the NV200 panel van, with sliding doors on both sides of the vehicle, 14-inch alloy wheels and is available in array of colours including white, silver, grey, black, and a more zesty red, blue marine and blue green

Mercedes Benz SLK AMG from R579 238

Mercedes-Benz further enhanced its SLK AMG Sport-line range featuring new generation 4 and 6-cylinder engines with direct injection.

Toyota Fortuner LTD Edition from R434 700

Toyota launched the Fortuner LTD Edition which is available exclusively across a number of models, including the Fortuner 3.0 and 4.0, as well as the 4×4 variants.

Honda Brio Sedan from R128 900

Japanese manufacturer Honda extended its Brio range with a contemporary sedan version based on the same platform as the hatchback, and is equipped with a 1.2-litre i-VTEC four-cylinder, delivering 65kW of power at 6000 pm.

Toyota Hilux Dakar Edition from R292 200

A Dakar Edition Hilux was released by Toyota and is available for a limited period (till September) on Raider grade models across all three body types. Some improvements include stainless-steel nudge bar, rear styling and door steps with a Dakar logo.

Peugeot RCZ Coupe from R423 500

Peugeot introduced its updated RCZ coupe which is available with an extensive list of safety features; extra boot space which can be expanded to 760 litres with the rear seats folded flat, and will also be offered with a choice of two versions of the 1.6-litre turbocharged engine.

Porsche Panamera from R958 000

The heavily updated Porsche Panamera is now locally available in eight derivatives with a change in the engine line-up, and a new V6 3-litre biturbo engine replacing the previous 4.8-litre V8 engine in the Panamera S and Panamera 4S.

Nissan Juke dCi R263 800

Nissan added the CVT automatic and all-wheel drive versions to the Juke line-up, which are equipped with the 1.5 dCi engine and feature three driving modes: Normal, Eco and Sport. The models are mated to a six-speed manual gearbox as standard.

Latest Hyundai i10 Specs Officially Revealed

Hyundai has taken the wraps off its all-new second generation Hyundai i10 city car, scheduled for public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month.

2014 Hyundai i10 specs & features

The new generation Hyundai i10 takes a more “evolved and mature” design approach, falling more in line with the i20 which is not a bad thing at all. The new i10 model is 80mm longer, 65mm wider and 50mm lower than the outgoing model. The boot capacity has been boosted by more than 10 percent to 252 litres with all seats in place.

To take full advantage of its enhanced dimensions, the new Generation i10 has also been carefully tuned to deliver refined driving dynamics and low noise levels, for an experience claimed to be close to the standard of B-segment cars. The automaker also promises an improved interior quality, with soft-touch dash and door materials and a host of storage options.

Front and rear passengers will benefit from increased legroom space and higher levels of comfort and safety features in the new Hyundai i10. These include automatic climate control, heated leather steering wheel and cruise control with speed limiter, standard-fitment stability control and front curtain airbags.

Hyundai hasn’t revealed any engine details but it is suspected that the automaker will be using the regular three and four cylinder engines available with petrol and diesel options.

The New Generation i10 is set to enter production in September, and will be made at Hyundai’s factory in Azmit, Turkey.

Five Options You Need On Your Next Car

You’ve decided on the car, you’re in the dealership and the salesman lays down the “options list” in front of you. We’re past air-conditioning, remote central locking and electric windows, some of which are still not fitted as standard, as Dave pointed out yesterday in his list of features we wish were standard on modern cars . Now though, MSport packs, adaptive suspension and ambient lighting are in the mix. More often than not vehicles are ordered by the dealers with options fitted, and you often have to take what’s on the floor, but here’s a list of options you should definitely be ticking.

Five Options You Need On Your Next Car by John Beale

Note that some options require you to take a “package” much like a meal from a fast food restaurant. Make sure you’re getting value out of everything in the package, otherwise spec individually. Also note some manufacturers require certain options to be fitted for others to be added e.g. Multimedia interface with Bluetooth.

Xenon headlamps R6 000 – R13 000

Headlamps have come a long way from candles in tins. From standard bulbs, to Halogen and most recently LED headlamps, they are brighter than ever. Tick the box for Xenon headlamps, they usually make the vehicle look better, and can give up to 40m extra forward visibility. Careful, don’t get too excited, the Adaptive headlamps are cool (lamps that turn with steering input) but the technology is still too expensive for the added benefit so steer clear of that option.

Bluetooth R1200 – R4000

You’d be surprised at how many manufacturers still have this as an option. Besides it being illegal to talk on your cellular phone and drive, it’s downright stupid. Spec the option, even better if it includes Bluetooth streaming so you don’t need to plug in your phone to play music through the system.

Park Distance Control R1500 – R6000

Now you can say we’ve been parking cars for years without it, but with more underground parking and large SUV’s with terrible views around, it’s more necessary than ever. Rear PDC is a definite on larger vehicles, it’ll help you save on repairing those nasty little bumps.

Auto Lights and Wipers R800 – R3500

Again, we’ve done without these for years, but once you have them you’ll wonder why any car comes without them. Negating the need to switch lights off when you get out, and the safety that they automatically come on when you’re in areas of low lighting. Generally they also activate automatically over certain speeds / distances for safety. Automatic wipers switch on automatically should it sense a certain amount of water on the windscreen, and also increase / decrease wiping speed on their own. Leaving you to concentrate when you’re driving in the rain.

Cruise Control R900 – R1500

Not the adaptive kind, but rather just straight up cruise control. If you have an automatic you definitely need it. It makes for much more relaxing highway travelling, allowing you to set your speed for safety and less speeding fines. There is an added benefit of increased fuel efficiency – cruise control is better at managing throttle than you are with your right foot at highway speeds.

Toyota Sales Summary in South Africa for July 2013

Toyota sales in the month of July 2013 amounted to 11 935 units, representing 20% of the total industry sales of 58 140 units. The automaker continues to lead the way as the largest vehicle exporter in the country, constituting 25% of all South Africa’s vehicle exports. In July, it exported 6 668 units to countries around the globe.

The budget Etios picked up very well with 2122 units sold in July, and the Hilux is still very popular in the LCV segment.
In addition, Toyota Financial Services announced that it received 21% more applications for finance in July than in June, while the average daily sales rate increased from 2 080 in July 2012 to 2 153 units in the past month.
Here is a breakdown of Toyota sales including Top 5 model sales and the most popular Toyota used cars for July 2013.

Toyota sales summary – July 2013

  • Total new car sales: 11 935 units
  • Total market share: 20.5%
  • Total passenger vehicle sales: 6903 units
  • Total Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) sales: 4703 units

Top 5 Toyota new passenger car sales – July 2013 (compared to June 2013)

Most popular used Toyota cars in South Africa – July 2013

Toyota in the news

Volkswagen Sales in South Africa for July 2013

Volkswagen sales in South Africa peaked in July 2013 with sales of 10 613 units in the total vehicle market. The Polo Vivo was the top selling vehicle in South Africa, while Audi strengthened its position in the premium segment with the delivery of 1 750 units.

In the light commercial vehicles segment, Volkswagen’s Amarok single and double cabs reported sales of 412 units, and the Crafter sold 76 units in the medium commercial segment. Here’s a breakdown of Volkswagen sales including top 5 model sales and the most popular Volkswagen used cars for July 2013.

Volkswagen sales summary for July 2013

  • Total new car sales: 10 613 units
  • Total market share: 18.2%
  • Total passenger vehicle sales: 9842 units
  • Total Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) sales: 695 units

Top 5 Volkswagen new passenger car sales for July 2013 (compared to June 2013)

Most popular used Volkswagen cars in South Africa for July 2013

Volkswagen in the news

Five Car Features We Wish Were Standard

Many cars come fully-equipped and jam-packed with the latest in technology, safety and comfort. However some car companies still skimp on what you’d assume would be standard kit by now. What makes it even worse is some even charge you a small fortune for basic extras like a little cable to connect your music devices.

Five Car Features We Wish Were Standard – By David Taylor

Here is a list of what we’d hope to see fitted as standard to passenger vehicles. Let us know what you’d like to see standard in your next car, or what feature your current car is missing, that you hoped it would have.

USB Port

This is a simple one. With so many car buyers owning smartphones, the ability to charge devices is invaluable. It seems there are few smartphones (especially those named after fruit) which have a battery life spanning more than 12 hours and given the amount of usage, that device is going to bleat like a dying sheep until it can be charged. Little USB flash drives have grown considerably in size, and you can easily cram a dozen CD’s worth of music into a tiny piece of plastic the same dimensions as your thumb. It’s very convenient, but some cars still don’t have this as standard. Let’s hope the port is located somewhere sensible too, like the centre armrest, or glove compartment.


Anti-lock brakes

We find it abhorrent we live on planet with over a billion cars and yet there are still vehicles being manufactured without anti-lock brakes. Trying to justify the slower and smaller vehicles don’t actually need them because they’re slower isn’t a valid excuse. Vehicles are can be deadly regardless of whether they’re travelling at 60km/h or 120km/h. Countless studies have shown that an inexperienced driver with an ABS-equipped car can stop quicker than an experienced driver using a traditional cadence (braking hard and releasing pressure when the wheels are about to lock up) technique.


Electric windows

Many cars companies fit these without second thought and regard them as standard equipment. However there are still some cars rolling out with manual winders in the front. This isn’t the ‘90s. At the very least there should be electric windows in the front and we will accept manual winders for the rear.

Air conditioner

In case no-one had noticed, we live in Africa which happens to offer a rather warm climate. In winter the conditions can be pleasant, but during the summer months temperatures rocket over the 30 degree mark. Your car essentially becomes a sauna on wheels, and you’ll soon make the seat damp with your sweat. We’re not asking for state-of-the-art climate control here, just a simple system to blow cold air into the driver’s face, his feet, the windscreen or a combination of the above.

Spare wheel

Despite road surfaces being of generally good quality in urban areas, there’ll come a time when a motorist will suffer a puncture He or she will need to replace that wheel in order to resume driving. The boot however doesn’t have a spare wheel and instead, there’s a tyre repair kit with a can of sealant. What is this nonsense? How do you use it? You can’t expect the average person to know how to use this stuff effectively. All we ask for is a spare tyre and it doesn’t even have to be a full-size wheel if space is limited.


GMSA Sales Summary in South Africa for July 2013

General Motors South Africa delivered 5487 vehicles in July which is an increase of 376 vehicles from last month. The demand for the Chevrolet brand was at a high level of interest from both private and fleet buyers, with 737 units sold during July.

The refreshed Captiva logged 178 sales for the month, and the new Isuzu KB experienced a significant boost in sales on the back of increased production.

We’ve put together a breakdown of GMSA’s sales including key sales figures, Top 5 model sales and the most popular GMSA used cars for July 2013.

GMSA new car sales summary – July 2013

  • Total new car sales: 5487
  • Total market share: 9.4%
  • Total passenger vehicle sales: 2053
  • Total Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) sales: 3082

Top 5 GMSA new passenger car sales – July 2013 (compared to June 2013)

Most popular used GMSA cars in South Africa (in terms of views on Cars.co.za) – July 2013

GMSA in the news

Ford Motor Company Sales Summary in South Africa for July 2013

    July was the best retail month for Ford since September 2006, with strong growth from small cars such as the Fiesta and Focus. The brand continued out-performing the market by more than four times with sales up to 29% year-to-date and 33% year-on-year.
    The budget Figo did particularly well with 1313 units sold, and the Ranger bakkie series remains the second best selling Light Commercial Vehicle. Here is a breakdown of Ford sales figures including Top 5 model sales and the most popular Ford used cars for July 2013.

    Ford new car sales summary – July 2013

    • Total new car sales: 5738
    • Total market share: 9.8%
    • Total passenger vehicle sales: 3575
    • Total Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) sales: 2163

    Top 5 Ford new passenger car sales – July 2013 (compared to June 2013)

    Most popular used Ford cars in South Africa – July 2013

    Ford in the news