The 2014 Hyundai Tucson has been revealed sporting a series of changes including two new GDI four-cylinder engines.
Performance enhancements
The most significant upgrade to the Tucson is seen under the hood with two new GDI four-cylinder engines that replace the previous MPI units. The 2.0-litre Nu GDI produces 122kW and 204Nm of torque, while the 2.4-liter Theta II GDI develops 135kW and 240Nm of torque. Both engines are mated to a six-speed automatic transmission which can be paired to an optional all-wheel drive system.
Improved styling and functionality
Visual changes to the 2014 Hyundai Tucson includes LED-infused headlights, restyled wheels, optional LED taillights, shark-fin antenna on Limited trim levels, roof side rails with panoramic sunroof, and redesigned 17- and 18-inch alloy wheels.
Inside, there are more extensive changes, such as a tilt/telescopic steering wheel, illuminated front cup holders, reclining rear seats and Bluetooth connectivity. The model also has revised upholstery (with a choice of two new cabin colours beige and brown) and a higher quality instrument panel on SE and Limited variants. The Limited variants can be equipped with an upgraded infotainment system that has an improved user interface and a larger touchscreen display.
Hyundai has confirmed that the facelifted Tucson will be available in South Africa in the first quarter of 2014. Prices and more specs will be revealed closer to the launch date.
2014 Hyundai Tucson gallery
GMSA Sales Summary For September 2013
Total sales of 54281 vehicles were reported for the month (excluding 505 sales by GWM who do not fully comply with reporting criteria), a number that is 1.5% down on the same month last year.
GMSAs key passenger vehicle models, the medium sized Chevrolet Cruze and the Chevrolet Spark small car offering continued to fare well with sales of 592 and 718 units respectively. The Chevrolet Trailblazer continued to make its mark on the market with 283 deliveries while the Chevrolet Utility continued to dominate the sub 1-ton light commercial sector with 1329 sales.
September sales show a gain of 0.8% over September 2012 for passenger vehicles while the LCV sector is a significant 9.6% down. Factors of influence here are the strength of the rental market during the past month, up 21.6% on September 2012, which buoyed demand for passenger vehicles. In addition, a shortage of inventory in the Light Commercial sector where there is a high percentage of locally manufactured vehicles that will have impacted negatively on sales, says GMSA Vice President for vehicle sales, marketing and service.
Here a breakdown of GMSA Sales Summary For September 2013 including key sales figures, Top 5 model sales and the most popular GMSA used cars in trms of views on cars.co.za.
GMSA new car sales summary for September 2013
Total new car sales: 5096
Total market share: 9.3%
Total passenger vehicle sales: 2397 units
Total Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) sales: 2441 units
Top 5 GMSA new passenger car sales September 2013 (compared to August 2013)
Chevrolet Utility 1329 units (1485)
Isuzu KB 1049 units (1439)
Chevrolet Spark 718 units (1086)
Chevrolet Cruze 592 units (401)
Chevrolet Trailblazer 283 units (271)
Most popular used GMSA cars in South Africa for September 2013 (in terms of views on Cars.co.za)
We all love supercars for their power, style and presence. Weve all dreamed of driving at speed through the scenic countryside, but its time for a reality check. What is a supercar like to own on a daily basis? This is the fastest, most powerful and most expensive car to feature on Cars.co.za.
McLaren technology
Forget how fast (very fast) it goes and how it looks (gorgeous) for a moment. This car is about the incredible engineering and technology from Formula One racing cleverly placed into a road car. The body is made from a combination of carbon fiber, aluminium and magnesium.
This means its exceptionally light and when placed on the scales, weighs about the same as a Toyota Yaris. My personal favourite bit of tech has to be the airbrake. When you brake hard, the wing rises up by 70 degrees which helps slow the car down and it looks brilliant in your rearview mirror. Another feature worth mentioning is the hydraulic lift. You no longer need to worry about steep driveways or speedbumps because you can raise the front of the car a few centimetres. It may not sound like much, but in most cases thats all you need to avoid scraping the nose.
Simple to drive
The McLaren MP4-12C is amazingly easy to drive. Im not a professional driver, but after the first few hundred metres it felt very straightforward to drive. Its calm and sedate, which is a pleasant alternative to the average supercar which lunges around like a caged animal trying to escape. The suspension is something of a masterpiece. Yes it is firm, but at no point did I feel like my back was suffering any damage and even on the bumpier sections of tarmac, the cars ride felt great. I found it very composed and gentle in peak hour traffic too, something which McLaren can be proud of.
Once that traffic clears, you can start squeezing that throttle and seeing what sort of entertainment the 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged V8 can dish up. With 460kW and 600Nm, the McLaren is a stupidly fast machine. Ive been in quick cars before, but the way this accelerates even with just 70% throttle applied is dizzying. Yes, dizzying in the way it blurs your vision.
Theres a slight pause as the turbos spool up, and then full power comes in at around 3 000rpm. By that time you should already have your right index finger resting on the gearshift paddle in anticipation of the change Words cannot really describe how fast the MP4-12C is. Top speed is rated at 333km/h and itll hit 100km/h in 3.1 seconds It even sounds aggressive, with the turbos whooshing and whistling as you drive along. It may not have the vocals of a screaming V12, but I quite liked the character of the engine. Accelerate hard and the cabin fills with an angry noise as if youve awoken a monster.
Inside youd expect it to be quite bare, but in fact its quite the opposite. Theres a McLaren-designed satnav/infotainment system complete with Bluetooth connectivity. A USB port and an aux jack rounds off the sound system. I didnt try it out as I was too busy enjoying the burbling V8 located behind me. There is climate control and cruise control as well.
The supportive seats are made from leather and on longer journeys were surprisingly comfortable. From a quick glance you can see the carbon-fibre cabin is aimed at being functional with a strong focus on ergonomics. A prime example here would be the ventilation controls being located in the doors. Speaking of doors, did I mention they open upwards? The engine is located behind you, so theres no boot. Instead there is a small compartment at the front of the vehicle which has enough space for two small suitcases or four bags of shopping.
McLaren MP4-12C price in South Africa
The McLaren MP4-12C is priced at R3.5-million
McLaren MP4-12C review conclusion
The McLarens critics complain that it doesnt look outrageous enough, nor does it sound dramatic. Those people are liars and clearly need their heads checked. Nearly every millionaire has a Ferrari or Lamborghini, and in my opinion, those brands have lost some exclusivity. McLaren on the other hand, isnt trying too hard nor is it creating brand-building nonsense like laptop bags, iPhone covers or amusement parks.
This is a driving machine which has been designed from scratch as the company hasnt really ventured into the everyday supercar arena. The best part is you dont need to be an F1 driver or have an engineering degree to appreciate how superb a vehicle this is. Its brutally fast, yet simple enough to use on a daily basis. This is how all supercars should be.
Why you should: a smart alternative to the Ferrari/Lamborghini/Porsche Turbo brigade, brutally fast, excellent ride quality, effortlessly simple to drive, quite light on petrol when driven gently.
Why you shouldnt: This is the real deal. If youre in the market for a high-performance vehicle, you shouldnt overlook the MP4-12C.
It would be better if: The name wasnt just a series of letters and numbers.
Introduced first in 2011, the GWM H5 SUV enters the 2014 model year with a number off refinements and upgrades but still maintains its rugged looks and luxurious features in a spacious cabin.
Comfort and entertainment
The revised H5 off-roader adopts a modified front fascia encompassing a chrome strip above the lower front airdam, redesigned rear LED lamps and new spoiler. Other tweaks include a near ground clearance of 200mm and 17-inch alloy wheels as standard. The model will be available in Pearl Black, Sky Silver, Titanium White, Noble Grey, Blue or Red.
Standard features include climate control, leather seats, automatic headlights and an infotainment system that comes with a reverse camera and MP3/USB/AUX audio system, a leather wrapped steering wheel and gear knob, seatbelt reminder and height adjustment system. Additional features for the diesel models include an auto dimming rear view mirror, instantaneous fuel consumption read-out on the instrument panel, tyre pressure monitoring and an airbag disable function, as well as cruise control.
Power and economy
Powering the 2014 GWM H5 SUV is the same 2.4-litre normally aspirated petrol engine that delivers 100kW of power and 200Nm of Torque. The 2.0-litre VGT turbodiesel produces 110kW at 4000 rpm with maximum torque of 310Nm available from 1800 to 2800 rpm.
The H5 petrol models are mated to a five-speed manual transmission while the diesel models make use of either a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic.
Safety features
A series of safety features have been added to the 2014 H5 SUV which earned the brand a four-start rating by Australias ANCAP organisation. These include dual SRS airbags, side impact protection bars, Isofix child seat anchors, ABS with EBD, and pretensioning front seatbelts with load limiters.
Included is a three-year/100 000km warranty and 2-year roadside assistance package.
2014 GWM H5 gallery
Range Rover Evoque Black Edition Now In South Africa
Land Rover has introduced a new Black Design Pack for the Range Rover Evoque Dynamic, available to a select few featuring distinctive exterior details on both three and five-door variants. The package is designed to further enhance the model’s “assertive and confident stance.”
Distinctive bold features
The Range Rover Black Edition features tinted lighting units, black “Range Rover” lettering and exclusive 20-inch gloss black alloy wheels, as well as gloss black accents, a tailgate-mounted spoiler and Santorini Black exhaust finishes. The front headlamps and foglamps have been darkened, while the rear lamps are similarly unique, and have clear lenses.
Only 30 of these distinctive cross-roaders are available, and are all built to Dynamic 5-dr specification level with either a 177kW Si4 2.0-litre petrol engine, or the SD4 2.2-litre turbodiesel rated at 140kW. Both are mated to a six-speed transmission.
In addition, the four-wheel-drive Range Rover Black Edition has carefully designed stowage areas under the load floor which add extra capacity, while load rails help secure contents in the luggage compartment. For even more space and flexibility, 60/40 folding rear seat allows the luggage capacity to be expanded.
The Range Rover Evoque Black Edition will be available from November and is priced from R670 100.
Range Rover Evoque Black Edition gallery
Toyota Sales Summary For September 2013
In September, Toyota maintained its popularity despite suffering severe production losses due to the strike in the manufacturing industry and the current strike in the component manufacturing industry.
The brand recorded sales of 9751, and further managed to export 1913 units. Strong sales came from the passenger car market and were spearheaded by the Etios which increased sales by 506 units from August.
The decline in sales will weigh heavily on overall vehicle sales growth for 2013 which has dropped to 5% compared to the same period last year. This is well below many initial industry growth estimates of 10% or more, explains Calvyn Hamman, Senior Vice President for Sales and Marketing at Toyota.
Here is a breakdown of Toyota sales summary for September 2013 including Top 5 model sales, and the brands top 5 used cars according to views on cars.co.za.
Toyota new car sales summary for September 2013
Total new car sales: 9751 units
Total market share: 17.9%
Total passenger vehicle sales: 5654 units
Total Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) sales: 3799 units
Top 5 Toyota new passenger car sales September 2013 (compared to August 2013)
Toyota Hilux 2739 units (3339)
Toyota Etios 2358 units (1852)
Toyota Corolla/Auris 1005 units (821)
Toyota Fortuner 821 units (945)
Toyota Quantum 676 units (1122)
Most popular used Toyota cars in South Africa for September 2013 (in terms of views on Cars.co.za)
Mitsubishi South Africa has added another derivative to its ASX line-up and although the exterior remains unchanged – since the car was upgraded early in January, the 2014 model gains changes to the interior, comes with extra equipment and revised prices.
The ASX, which was introduced to the SA market in September 2011 has already sold more than 3 500 units locally, with global sales in more than 100 countries already exceeding 380 000 units.
More value-added features over its predecessor
The five models are the GL, GLX, a new derivative, the GLS with five-speed manual gearbox and Rockford audio system, GLS with CVT and GLS with CVT with a Rockford Fosgate sound system. The range is further available in a wide choice of colours: Cool Silver Metallic, Quartz Brown Metallic, Red Metallic, Titanium Grey and White Pearl.
The models also have a dark titanium colour centre panel, an upgraded audio system with four speakers and two tweeters on the GL and GLX models as standard. Theres an optional Rockford Fosgate system on GLS derivatives which incorporates a 500W subwoofer plus nine speakers. In addition the GLX models get a multimedia touchscreen, rear-view camera, rear parking sensors, a full glass roof, auto aircon, leather and heatable seats, indicators in the side mirrors and 17-inch alloy rims. The GLS offers HID headlamps (on CVT models), Active Stability Control and Electronic Traction Control.
Powertrain
The powertrain is also one other thing that hasnt changed. The 2014 Mitsubishi ASX is still equipped with the same 2.0-litre petrol engine, with a choice of five-speed manual or six-step continuously variable transmission (CVT). Fuel consumption is also still claimed at 7.5-litres/100km.
Safety
Standard safety features include seven airbags, Mitsubishi Dakar developed Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution (RISE) safety cell, ABS brakes with electronic brake distribution (EBD), cruise control which is controllable from the steering wheel, rain-sensing windscreen wipers, automatic lighting control according to the ambient light and brake assist (BAS) with Isofix fittings for child seats.
The 2014 Mitsubishi ASX is covered by a 3-year/100 000km warranty and comes with a 5-year/90 000km service plan, with service intervals every 15 000km.
2014 Mitsubishi ASX gallery
Popular Car Brands In South Africa for September 2013
The automotive industry experienced slow sales in September due to the prolonged strike at the seven major manufactures. Overall industry sales of 54 281 units for September 2013 reflected a decline of 1.5% from the 55 093 units sold in the same period last year.
According to the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa, the main impact on domestic sales of the prolonged industrial action had been relatively muted due to existing record levels and the fact that about two thirds of new cars sold in South Africa were imported.
However, automakers sold a total of 39 792 new passenger vehicles during September, representing a marginal improvement of 0.8% compared to the 39 489 in the same month last year. While sales of new light commercial vehicles, bakkies and mini buses reflected a decline of 1 269 units compared to the 13 283 vehicles sold during the corresponding month last year.
Despite the setback, the industry remains on pace to reach their sales target for 2013, especially with positive contribution from the car rental industry which accounted for 20.1% of new car sales sold during September.
Here is a breakdown of the popular car brands in South Africa for September 2013 in comparison with August 2013 sales figures, as well as each brands top 5 selling vehicles.
Toyota retailed 9751 units in September giving it a 17.9% market share in tough trading conditions. Hilux sales decreased by 600 from last month, while other locally produced Toyota models performed ahead of their various market segments, including the Etios with 2358 units.
Volkswagen Group South Africa has been the market leader in the passenger car segment for nine consecutive months. During September, a total of 8961 Volkswagen vehicles were sold, including Audi models the best being the Audi A4 Sedan. The Polo and Polo Vivo are also among the top five best selling passenger vehicles in South Africa.
Ford was led by sales of its Figo and recently introduced Ford EcoSport that continued to lead its segment for the second month running, more than doubling sales of its closest rival with 827 sales. Results were also motivated by the highest Ford retail volume month since September 2005. Despite an industry faced with tough industrial challenges, Ford reported astounding sales of 6152 units.
General Motors South Africa achieved sales of 5096 vehicles out of total sales of 54 281 reported for September. The medium sized Chevrolet Cruze and the Chevrolet Spark small car offering continued to fare well with sales of 592 and 718 units respectively. The Chevrolet Trailblazer continued to make its mark on the market with 283 deliveries while the Chevrolet Utility continued to dominate the sub 1-ton light commercial sector with 1329 sales, even though shortage of inventory in the Light Commercial sector where there is a high percentage of locally manufactured vehicles will have impacted negatively on sales.
Nissans performance in September translated to 4129 units being sold and a considerably low market share of 7.6% is down considerably over September 2012s 9.6% figure. The brands growth and strong performances were result of strong demands of the half-tonne NP200 and one-tonne NP300 remains, as well as the new Almera which is up by 21 sales from last months 439 units.
Model
September Sales (Compared to August 2013)
Nissan NP300 Hardbody
836 units (883)
Nissan NP200
726 units (1089)
Nissan Micra
495 units (391)
Nissan Almera
460 units (439)
Nissan Juke
356 units (323)
Limited Edition Megane Renaultsport Pricing Announced
The limited edition Megane Renaultsport comes packed with smart technology, exclusive Twilight Blue body colour and overall styling – inspired by Red Bull Racings F1 identity in tandem with Renault Sports F1 prowess. There’s also on-board RS Monitor real-time, vehicle performance data-logging system, an R-Link navigation and multi-media system, as well as special sporty features which include: RS CUP chassis, three-mode ESP, Brembo Red front brake calipers and Bridgestone Potenza 19-inch tyres.
Pricing
The limited edition Megane Renault Sport Red Bull RB8 is priced at R429 900 with an optional rear reverse camera costing only R5000.
As with Renaults entire product range, the Megane RS RB8 comes with Renaults industry-leading five-year/150 000km mechanical warranty, a five-year/100 000km service plan and a six-year anti-corrosion warranty. Services are at 10 000km intervals.
Advanced driver training
Renault further offers Advanced Driver Training to their RS vehicle drivers and customers. The training provides a broad and comprehensive range of advanced driver training which includes not only the high performance race track and skid pan courses, but also training that assist in the day-to-day driving public roads.
With the transfer of racing technology to our production cars there is a need and responsibility to equip drivers with the necessary skills to drive and handle these high performance vehicles.
Limited Edition Megane Renaultsport gallery
2014 Porsche Macan Unveiled
Arriving at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November, the 2014 Macan has been leaked onto the interwebs, clearly showing styling queues from the Cayenne with chassis and component likely shared from the Audi Q5.
Engine specifications
The 2014 Porsche Macan range of engines include two petrols and two diesels, with the smaller diesel likely coming from the Q5. The Macan will be offered with a 3.6-litre petrol engine for the regular Macan delivering 220kW and a 3.0-litre twin turbo motor for the Macan Turbo delivering 276kW. Diesel choices will include a 2.0-litre TDI developing 142kW and a V6 3.0-litre TDI outputting 186 kW.
2014 Porsche Macan design
Both the regular and Turbo Macan differ slightly when it comes to design. The regular version has only one row of LED daytime running lights below the headlights, while the Turbo version has two rows of LEDs and more vents in the front. Even though the lights and D-pillar are lightly masked, it’s clear that the Macan will borrow much of the Cayenne’s look, including the familiar glasshouse and simple body lines.
Pricing for the 2014 Porsche Macan when it enters production in December is expected to sit between the Audi Q5 and its larger sibling, the Cayenne.
