Nissan car sales summary in South Africa for June 2013

Nissan’s sales success for the first half of the calendar year has ended on a high note, totaling 4273 units in June, increasing volume by 744 units or 21 percent compared to May.

The NP200 enjoyed a very strong month too with 1682 sales making it the best-selling half-tonner locally, while the NP300 Hardbody one-tonne workhorse showed an increase over May, as did the Navara, and the passenger vehicle, Livina which recorded percentage growth of 17.5 compared to May.

Here is a breakdown of Nissan car sales including key sales figures, Top 5 model sales and the most popular used cars for Nissan in June 2013.

Nissan car sales summary – June 2013

  • Total new car sales: 4273
  • Total market share: 7.9%
  • Total passenger vehicle sales: 1573
  • Total Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) sales: 2700

Top 5 Nissan new passenger car sales – June 2013 (compared to May 2013)

  1. Nissan NP200 – 1682 units (1476)
  2. Nissan NP300 Hardbody – 600 units (517)
  3. Nissan Micra – 414 units (422)
  4. Nissan Juke – 395 units (336)
  5. Nissan Qashqai – 389 units (263)

Most popular used Nissan cars in South Africa – June 2013

  1. Nissan Navara
  2. Nissan Hardbody
  3. Nissan X-Trail
  4. Nissan Tiida
  5. Nissan Qashqai

Nissan in the news

Nissan launches two new panel vans to shake up the Light Commercial Vehicle market

The refreshed 2013 Nissan Micra revealed

Nissan NV200 Combi in South Africa

The new Nissan NV200 Combi is now available in South Africa, following the release of the NV200 panel van in June, and forms part of an already comprehensive new LCV range from the brand.

Nissan NV200 Combi offers petrol or diesel engines

The new Nissan NV200 Combi comes with the choice of two power units, the 1.6i Petrol and 1.5 dCi Diesel. Both engines are mated to five-speed manual gearboxes and feature front-wheel-drive.

The NV200 Combi 1.6i is fitted with a normally aspirated 1.6-litre petrol engine producing 81kW at 6000 rpm and 153Nm of torque at 4400 rpm. Fuel efficiency is rated at an average of 7.3-litres/100km on the combined cycle average with CO2 emissions of 169 g/km.

The diesel-powered 1.5 dCi variant delivers 66kW of power at 4000 rpm and 200Nm of torque at 1750 rpm. Fuel consumption is rated at 5.1-litres/100km with CO2 emissions of 134 g/km.

Features

Much like its sibling the NV200 panel van, the Combi is fitted with sliding doors on either side of the vehicle, 14-inch alloy wheels, and is available in seven colours including white, silver, grey, black, and a more zesty red, blue marine and blue green.

The interior is furnished with two-tone grey and blue upholstery, an uncluttered dashboard, seats covered in durable cloth, and a simply-laid-out instrument binnacle which houses a large speedometer flanked by a smart 2.8-inch multi-information LCD display screen.

The load space

There are lots of smart storage solutions throughout the cabin, among them a conventional cubby, a storage tray atop the facia, smaller trays in the centre console and around the steering-wheel, large door pockets and four cup-holders. With the rearmost seats folded up against the sides of the vehicle, a generous 2.3 cubic metres of cargo volume is made available, and folding the middle row forwards turns that into a massive 3.1 cubic metres.

Equipment

Standard-fitment equipment includes remote central locking and an immobiliser, air conditioning, a radio/CD audio system with aux and USB input ports as well as Bluetooth for audio streaming and hands-free cell phone use, an anti-bacterial gear knob and steering wheel, electric windows up front, electric mirrors, a multi-function steering wheel, front fog lights, and a full-size spare wheel.

The NV200 Combi also comes equipped with high levels of safety and standard equipment such as ABS with EBD, VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control), driver, passenger and front side airbags, ISOFIX child seat anchor points as well as a seatbelt warning buzzer for both driver and front passenger.

Nissan NV200 Combi – Price

View the new Nissan NV200

Nissan NV200 1.6i Visia Combi R235 800
Nissan NV200 1.5 dCi Visia Combi R266 100

All new Nissan NV200 Combi models come standard with a 3-year/ 100 000 km warranty. Service intervals for both petrol and diesel variants are 15 000 km.

Ford sales summary in South Africa for June 2013

First half Ford sales have performed largely to expectation, and are 6,8% ahead of the first six months of 2012, and in line with expectations and broad forecasts of 7% for this year.

Ford sales continue to perform very well and contribute effectively to the growth of the new car market. As demand of the SUV continues to grow, Ford sold record numbers of the Kuga during the month of June, while the Ford Fiesta ST accounted for 184 units of Fiesta sales, 79% ahead of the best previous generation Fiesta ST sales month.

Here is a breakdown of Ford sales figures including Top 5 model sales and the most popular Ford used cars for June 2013.

Ford sales summary – June 2013

  • Total new car sales: 5186
  • Total market share: 9.6%
  • Total passenger vehicle sales: 3264
  • Total Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) sales: 1922

Top 5 Ford new passenger car sales – June 2013

  1. Ford Ranger – 1627 units
  2. Ford Figo – 1184 units
  3. Ford Fiesta – 685 units
  4. Ford Kuga – 585 units
  5. Mazda 3 – 337 units

Most popular used Ford cars in South Africa – June 2013

  1. Ford Focus
  2. Ford Fiesta
  3. Ford Ranger
  4. Ford Bantam
  5. Ford Figo

Ford in the news

The Ford Fiesta 1litre EcoBoost reviewed

Ford wins International Engine of the Year award for the second time

Ford uses robot drivers to test durability

The Ford Kuga EcoBoost reviewed

The Ford Fiesta 1.0 Trend reviewed

The Cars.co.za June Motoring report infographic

We will be updating the infographic each month based on your feedback of what information you want to see. For this month’s infographic we have included a section on vehicle types to see which are the most popular among South African used car buyers.

Motoring report sections

The June Cars.co.za motoring report covers the following sections:

  • Top 5 motoring brands
  • Used car popularity based on vehicle type
  • New car market share
  • Most popular new and used cars in South Africa
  • Hot release of the month

*The new car statistics included in the infographic were sourced from the Naamsa new car sales report.
**The used car statistics used in the infographic are sourced directly from Cars.co.za

View the previous months report: – May motoring report

Cars.co.za – June motoring report

* Click the below image to view the full infographic

Cars June infographic

New Toyota Corolla – What to expect

The  Toyota Corolla has long been a stalwart on local roads, topping sales charts year after year, or coming a very close second. It is the world’s bestselling car, with over 40 million units sold since launch in 1966.

However intense competition, especially from the South Koreans, means that the new Toyota Corolla has to be very good indeed. In fact, good won’t be good enough. It has to set a new standard and be competitively priced – no mean feat – and I think Toyota feels that pressure.

I’m happy to report then that at least aesthetically, the new Toyota Corolla looks very good. You wouldn’t be too wrong for feeling that all these Far Eastern sedans look the same, but much of a car’s proportions these days is dictated by the need to meet stringent safety regulations.

I think the new Toyota Corolla is rather handsome, and manages to look quite sporting too. It can’t look too sporting; you don’t want to alienate the more conservative buyer. Goodness, I don’t envy whoever it is designing global models like these.
But this global model will be very South African indeed, and will be built at Toyota’s Prospecton plant in Durban.

The New Toyota Corolla ushers in new engine range

South Africa will be receiving the European-spec Corolla, which is good news because we’ll be getting a new frugal diesel. The 1.4 lire turbocharged unit replaces the 2.0 litre unit currently available. Toyota was quite late to the diesel party, and although the 2.0 litre unit was a little rougher than its competitors, it had great pulling power and great economy.

The latest, smaller unit boasts a fairly modest 66kW and 205Nm of torque, but claims a rather incredible 3.8 litres/100km. That would make it more efficient than a Prius – maybe that’s why Toyota stayed away from diesels…

There will be three petrols, a 1.3, 1.6 and 1.8 litre, all 4-cylinder. The 1.3 offers healthy power figures, but low torque, at 73kW and 128Nm. There are two variants of the 1.6 for some reason, a 90kW and 97kW, and the range-topping 1.8 litre offers 103kW and 173Nm.

With all that in mind, I think I’d have the diesel.

Design features

The 11th generation is longer, wider and lower than its predecessor, with a bigger boot and substantially more rear legroom. All models will feature a 6.1 inch touch screen as standard, with such functionality as text message reading as standard, and navigation with access to Google Places as a pricier option.

Toyota says this is the most refined, most comfortable Corolla ever, and we’ll have to take their word on that for now as we await a first test drive in 2014.

Mercedes-Benz A180 BE Review

Mercedes-Benz has been rather late to the party when it comes to an actual competitor in the C-segment. I’m not talking about the wedge of cheese that was the first A-Class, but rather a real driving competitor in the segment that is one of the biggest cash cows for Audi and BMW. Not that the previous A-Class didn’t sell, but a driver’s car it certainly wasn’t; you sat up high, had quite a bit of space, and it was easy to move around in the city… so people who didn’t give two hoots about driving bought it in droves. Meet the Mercedes-Benz A180…

Mercedes Benz A180 BE Auto review by John Beale

Exterior looks

To appeal to the masses a C-segment hatch needs to look good, and the A does that very well. From the front and side the low slung hatch look is sporty and aggressive, but from the rear it all doesn’t come together too well in my view. Not since the FJ Cruiser have I driven a car that turns heads like this car. That alone will be enough for most people to consider this car, and that is part of the problem with the Mercedes-Benz A180 BE Auto.

The Drive

The Mercedes-Benz A180 BE is the entry-level unit, delivering 90kW and 200NM from a 4cylinder turbocharged 1.6litre engine. It’s a bit too unrefined and up against the top of the rev range sounds terribly high pitched. The figures aren’t really impressive from a 1.6Turbo, but it does an ok job of moving the A around. The 0 – 100km/h time clocks in at 10 seconds. A 7speed DCT gearbox (with steering wheel paddles) puts the drive through the front wheels.

Gearbox and fuel economy

The gearbox is probably my least favourite part of the car, being way too lazy in normal mode, and too revvy in sport. It just never seems to be in the right gear when you really want to push on, and when in eco mode, it leaves you without any torque. I achieved just over 9.2l/100km, far from the 5.8l/100km claimed.

Ride and Handling

Since the launch, the ride has been the other mechanical bit that’s been under much criticism from international press. Thanks to the 16inch runflats with a lot of rubber, the ride wasn’t too harsh. That said, over bad roads it still thumps and crashes too loudly. When you push on there’s very little communication from the Servotronic steering, and it’s hard to read what the chassis and suspension is going to do next. Drive in a more relaxed fashion and you wouldn’t notice any of this, and I doubt 80% of drivers will.

Safety Features

Brakes and other safety equipment are class leading, with everything from ABS, 7 Airbags, stability and traction control as well as hill-hold and attention assist, which warns you if you’re getting tired behind the wheel.

Interior and Features

Get in and the Mercedes-Benz A180 interior is beautiful to look at. Front seats look and feel like something from SEGA arcade games, but do cut rear seat leg space in the kneecaps. On the positive side the silver air vents are straight from the SLS supercar, and the dash is clad in hand-stitched leather. Everything is easy to operate, with quality feel to the materials. The only two things that look and feel out of place is the aftermarket looking multimedia interface screen strapped to the dash, and controller which is too far back on the centre armrest to use without dislocating your shoulder. The options I would definitely fit are the panoramic sunroof (which helps looks and interior ambiance), leather seats, aux plug in for sound system and Bi-Xenon headlamps. Skip on the shoddy Harmon Kardon or COMAND system as well as pointless reverse camera.

Mercedes-Benz A180 – Conclusion

For 80% of future A-Class owners, the same people who didn’t give a hoot about driving the last A-Class, there will be nothing wrong with the car because it looks so damn good. Also, as a replacement to the previous A, it’s light-years ahead. That said, it’s neither terribly comfortable nor sporty, so it misses the mark on trying to be something in the middle.

Value for money considered, the Mercedes-Benz A180 does beat BMW and Audi on standard kit, but my well-specced A180 BE Auto came in at R351 000, which is rather expensive for the “base spec” drivetrain. Keep the options down and you have a beautiful hatch for a fairly reasonable price. If you enjoy a spirited drive, you’ll have to fork out more cash for the A250 or the 1 Series.

Mercedes-Benz A180 Price

Mercedes-Benz A180 90kW/200NM – R273 718

Looking for even more information? Read David Taylor’s review on the new Merc A-Class.

FAW Expands Range in South Africa and updates Sirius

FAW entered the SA market with a clone of the Toyota Avanza called the Sirius, and it seems to have worked as they have just updated the model.

For about 60 years, the company has been a pivotal part of the Chinese auto industry, and has production ties with VW/Audi, Mazda, Toyota and General Motors. FAW’s group sales in 2012 were more than 2.6-million (passenger and commercial) and it ranks 165th in the Forbes Fortune 500, with South Africa being the first right-hand drive market to get the Sirius.

The company will also soon launch the V2 hatchback to compete in the B segment against cars like the Toyota Yaris, but in the meantime let’s have a look at the latest update to the Sirius.

FAW Sirius – Features

Power output of the 1.3-litre engine is 67kW with 120Nm of torque, while the 1.5-litre power unit develops 75kW of power, with an increase of 20Nm in torque – going up to 140Nm.

Both engines are mated to a five-speed manual gearbox, and drive is through the rear wheels. Front suspension is independent with Macpherson struts, while the solid rear axle has a coil-sprung multi-link suspension.

The Sirius 1.5 MPV is available in two versions – Standard and Comfort, while the panel van will continue to be available only as a 1.3-litre.

Standard specification on both FAW Sirius models includes alloy wheels (including the spare), air conditioning, dual airbags, ABS brakes, remote central locking, power steering, electric windows, MP3 radio/CD with USB, remote keyless entry, front and rear fog lamps, alarm immobiliser, headlamp levelling, child locks for the rear doors of the 7-seater and LED indicator repeaters in the front of the vehicle and in the wing mirrors.

Load capacities for the two models are 525kg for the 7-seater (including occupants and load) and 545kg for the panel van (including driver, passenger and load), while loading space in the FAW Sirius panel van, which has an aluminium plate floor fitted at the FAW factory in China, is 1 670mm long, 1 270mm wide and 1 070mm high.

Growing the brand

According to Pedro Pereira, general manager of FAW cars and light commercials: “Increasing awareness of the FAW brand through a strong national advertising campaign and growing sales of the FAW Sirius people-carrier have spurred us to expand the range to include a larger, more powerful, engine.”

FAW Sirius – Price

FAW SIRIUS 1.3 Panel-van R149 995
FAW SIRIUS 1.3 Comfort R159 995
FAW SIRIUS 1.5 Standard R179 995
FAW SIRIUS 1.5 Comfort R189 995

Both FAW Sirius models are covered by a 3-year/100 000km factory warranty, one year roadside assistance and a 4-year/60 000km service plan.

Opel Monza Concept Shows Future Design Direction

Nostalgia is a powerful marketing force, and when a brand is in trouble, looking backwards can often lead to success going forward. Look at what BMW did with MINI, what Ford did with Mustang, VW with Beetle and Fiat with the ever so cute 500.

The Opel Monza name is a prominent moniker in SA car culture, and although we know it as a sedan from the late ‘80s and early ‘90s the name adorned a sporty coupe in Europe. Both variants were successful, and futuristic, and Opel is the latest brand to go back to the past to brighten up the future.

Although they’ve only released this one image of the Opel Monza concept, curiously with a happy CEO perched next to it, the concept looks striking, and Opel admits it showcases the brand’s future design language. I’m totally okay with that.

Opel Monza – German Rivalry?

At this stage, nobody outside of Opel knows what the Monza looks like in profile, but speculation is that the car will be a rival for cars like Audi’s A5 coupe, and BMW’s upcoming 4 series Coupe. That’s a bold ambition indeed, but Opel has successfully played in such segments before; the Bertone Coupe from the 90s immediately comes to mind, and has become a bit of a cult classic.

The Opel Monza coupe was the first car with a digital speedometer display, and in keeping with this small but significant world first, Opel is promising the next Monza will feature “a quantum leap” in infotainment and connectivity functionality, as well as a ground breaking drivetrain solution. Sounds promising, but these are big claims. That’s all we know for now, but at the very least, its exciting to know that Opel is thinking big.

Opel Monza – Debut

The Opel Monza will debut in the metal at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

Citroen DS3 Cabrio THP155 Review

French carmaker Citroen has taken the top off its popular DS3 hatchback and I’ve spent a week with the top-of-the-range derivative. The Citroen DS3 Cabrio is a car particularly close to my heart as the launch of the hardtop was the first launch I ever attended. The fact that the DS3 hatch is actually a damn good car makes the memory even sweeter.

The Citroen DS3 Cabrio THP155 Review by David Taylor

The DS3 Cabriolet Design

The Citroen DS3 Cabrio is not a true cabriolet, as it still retains the B-pillars so you can think of it as a giant sunroof. The roof is made from canvas yet looks strong and durable. The bonus with this particular roof is you’re able to open and close it at any speed. Most other convertibles require a complete stop, or crawl speed, to operate the roof. And again, unlike most convertible roofs, which fold neatly into the boot, this roof instead folds up and back. The downside of extending the roof all the way down means your rear visibility is obstructed. Thankfully, the side mirrors are reasonably large enough to cover for the now useless rearview mirror.

Engine and Performance

I was in the high-spec THP155 version, which features a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine. This motor is aimed at the enthusiast and promises much in terms of overtaking ability and fun factor. It also happens to sound quite aggressive too, with numerous pops and whistles coming from the exhaust and turbo while accelerating. On paper it has 115kW and 240Nm which are decent numbers. It’s reasonably efficient too, with the trip computer reading 8.1L/100km with the majority of the driving done in urban areas.

The DS3’s Ride and handling

Many convertibles can become rattle boxes due to the lack of a hard roof. The roof is an integral part of vehicle rigidity and convertibles tend to flex around a bit. This doesn’t really happen in the Citroen DS3 Cabrio and the sporty characteristics from its hard-topped cousin are still there. This means you’re driving a bit of a grown-up go kart, which is rather entertaining. The power is strong and with the action of the solid six-speed gearbox, driving the DS3 is involving.

Interior Design and Features

If there’s one thing Citroen does really well, its interior design. The DS3’s cabin in particular is exquisite and the attention to detail is wonderful. The steering wheel looks like it’s from a spaceship. With an extensive glossy carbon fibre dashboard, with integrated satellite navigation screen, the Citroen DS3 Cabrio looks very plush. Speaking of satellite navigation, while there’s nothing wrong with its ability, the actual controls and interface are poorly designed. To type an address into the GPS takes far longer than it should, surprising considering the older brother DS5’s system works well.

The DS3 can be personalised quite extensively. From the colour of the roof, the wheels, the interior trim and even the key, there’s a great chance you won’t see two Citroen DS3s, which are the same.

Standard specification for the THP155 model is substantial. There’s cruise control and radio controls which are neatly tucked behind the steering wheel. You get automatic air-conditioning with a built-in pollen filter, hands-free Bluetooth as well as a USB port for charging and connectivity. It’s rather safe too, with ABS brakes, ESP and six airbags.

Interior space

The boot size has had to be reduced, thanks to the roof mechanism and what you get resembles a giant glove box at the back. It’s not the best if you’re intending to carry large suitcases, but for those little weekends away the boot will take two tog bags with ease. The DS3 does feature rear seats, but tall people in the front will result in the back becoming an extra storage area.

Citroen DS3 Cabrio – Conclusion

When compared to its rivals with their hefty pricetags, the Citroen DS3 Cabrio actually makes a good case for itself. It combines zesty performance with a healthy dollop of French style. While some may worry about the dreaded unreliable French car cliché, it’s interesting to note the engine is the same as the MINI Cooper S’ unit. It’s a fast, funky and stylish vehicle, the only downside of which is it’s a bit of a girl’s car. I still would though.

Citroen DS3 Cabrio – Price

Citroen DS3 Cabrio THP155 – R291 900

  • Why you should: Stylish vehicle, turns heads, exceptional performance.
  • Why you shouldn’t: A bit feminine, a little thirsty when driven hard, fussy satnav interface.
  • It would be better if: the GPS interface was improved, roof didn’t obstruct rear visibility.
  • View the vehicle: New Citroen DS3 / Used Citroen DS3
  • Competitors worth checking out:

South African new car launches for June 2013

High interest rates, rising fuel prices and economic downturn have hurt auto sales, however new vehicle launches may have had a positive impact on June’s sales which indicate the market is up 3.3% on the corresponding month last year. The following list shows another batch of exciting, new and upgraded vehicles that were launched in South Africa during the month of June 2013.

2013 Toyota Etios – from R118 800

Toyota brought us a revised Etios which has sold 24 523 units since its first launch. The model was upgraded to celebrate its one year milestone, and now features a 66kW engine, enhanced exterior features and a redesigned interior.

Citroen C3 – from R166 900

Citroen launched the supermini C3 available in three trim lines namely Attraction, Seduction and Exclusive. The quirky-looking car also claims fuel consumption figures as low as 4.7 litres/100km with emissions of 109 g/km.

Hyundai Sonata – R379 900

Hyundai introduced the sixth generation Sonata to tackle the premium sedan segment with its advanced fuel efficient 2.4-litre GDI engine, and fresh appearance.

Isuzu KB – from R400 900

GMSA dropped prices across the board and added five derivatives to its already comprehensive Isuzu KB range.

Maserati Quattroporte – exclusively available at Viglietti Motors

The flagship of the Maserati model range, the fourth generation Quattroporte is now available in South Africa, which the company claims is a significant leap forward that not only sets the high-technology tone for Maserati’s upcoming range of new models, but also remains faithful to Maserati’s long history of luxury sports sedans.

Subaru Outback – R459 000

The Subaru Outback is now offered with a diesel and CVT boost and is available with a three-year/100 000km warranty and three-year/60 000km maintenance plan.

Nissan Panel Vans – from R187 000

Nissan launched a new range of panels vans consisting of the NV200 and NV350 which will be complemented by the new Combi variants later this year.

Mercedes Benz E 300 BlueTEC – R 634 000

The whole E-Class range was given makeover including an addition of Mercedes-Benz’ first locally available hybrid, the E 300 BlueTEC Hybrid which offers a wealth of extra functions that enhance the sedan’s comfort and efficiency.

Mercedes Benz E 63 AMG – from R1 275 604

Another upgrade from Mercedes-Benz is the new top-of-the-range high performance E 63 AMG with S-power, which in 4matic spec is the fastest 4-door production car ever. 0 – 100km/h in 3.7 seconds makes it as fast as supercars like the Lamborghini Gallardo.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe and Cabriolet – from R582 554

The revamp also included the dynamic Coupe and Cabriolet line-up, sporting fresh looks and top of the class intelligent drive features from Mercedes-Benz.