Volkswagen Polo Vivo GT in South Africa

The VW Polo Vivo GT has been added to the incredibly successful Polo Vivo range in South Africa. Volkswagen note that the Polo Vivo has sold over 40 000 models, including hatchbacks and sedan, since they were introduced in 2010. The GT model should improve on these already impressive sales figures and give Vivo buyers another option when buying their favorite hatchback.

Volkswagen Polo Vivo GT packed with features

The Polo Vivo GT comes with a number of standard features, including ABS, electric windows, bee-sting antenna and more. What makes the GT stand out though is the exclusive exterior and interior features. These include,

Lowered sport suspension
Sport seats
Gear shift and handbrake boot (with red stitching)
3-spoke steering wheel (also with red stitching)
15 inch alloy wheels
A tailgate spoiler
Twin chrome tail pipes
GT badges on the tailgate and grille
Red seat belts
The dashboard panels come in gunmetal silver

Powering the Volkswagen Polo Vivo GT is a 1.6 litre engine that produces 77 kW and 155 Nm of torque, this allows the car to complete 0-100km/h in just 11 seconds before topping off at 187 km/h. The transmission is a 5 speed manual and the fuel consumption sits at a comfortable 6.6 litres/100km.

Exterior paint options include Deep Black, Candy White, Flash Red and Reflex Silver.

The car comes with a 3 year/120 000km warranty and 6 year anti-corrosion warranty, with an optional service plan.

Volkswagen Polo Vivo GT – Price

Volkswagen Polo Vivo GT – R155 320 (including emissions tax)

New Nissan Juke at the Joburg Motor Show

Nissan had a strong presence at this years Johannesburg International Motor Show with the impressive new Nissan Juke, as well as plans to launch the much anticipated LEAF in South Africa. Nissan have created a new market segment with the Juke, the small crossover, which combines elements of a SUV as well as catering to buyers looking for a vehicle from the small car segment. It has toughness and sportiness, similar to the very popular QASHQAI.

New Nissan Juke breaks boundaries

The new Nissan Juke comes with chunky wheels and wide tyres, along with extended ground clearance, which is classic SUV. The top section of the Juke is more sports car though, with a high waistline and coupe style falling roofline. And in what is becoming a more and more common trend, the rear door handles are hidden in the frame of the door. The interior of the Juke comes with a centre console that has been inspired by a motorbike fuel tank, which Nissan note adds a sense of “fun”.

The new Nissan Juke comes with ALL-MODE 4×4-i, which is the vehicles electronic all-wheel drive system. It enhances the agility and handling of the vehicle as well as reducing the understeer when cornering.

The new Nissan Juke will be launched in South Africa in November and will be available in 4 different spec choices. These specs include a 1.6 litre engine which will be available on the entry level Acenta and the mid-range Acenta options. There is also a 1.6 litre DIG-T which will be available in the Tekna option and will also include sport options that include fabric changes and leather interior upholstering.

While there is no definitive price for the new Nissan Juke in South Africa, it will range somewhere between R200 000 and R260 000.

Range Rover Evoque at the Johannesburg Motor Show

The Land Rover Range Rover Evoque has arrived on South African shores at the Johannesburg International Motor Show and is causing quite a stir. One of the big factors that Land Rover are punting is the customizability of the Evoque, this comes in a number of forms but primarily in a choice of design themes. The two design themes available include Prestige, which is the luxury package and Dynamic, which is the more sporty option.

Range Rover Evoque in South Africa

Engine choices come in the form of a 2.0 litre 177 kW Si4 petrol engine which allows the vehicle to complete 0-100km/h in 7.6 seconds. It comes with an advanced turbo charger and direct fuel injection. Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions have also been reduced compared to traditional larger engines of the same power.

The other engine option is a 2.2 litre Turbodiesel which produces 140 kW of power with high-torque performance. The engine has been updated to produce more power, a reduction in noise levels and lower CO2 emissions as well as impressive fuel economy. Land Rover do note that over 60% of components in the vehicle are either newly developed, or significantly modified.

The Land Rover Range Rover Evoque goes on sale in South Africa in November 2011.

Range Rover Evoque – Price

Range Rover Evoque – starting from R582 995

 

The finalists of the South African Car of the Year announced

As is customary with the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists, the top 10 finalists for the South African Car of the Year were announced at the Johannesburg International Motor Show. The final 10 cars are voted on by 30 selected members of the SAGMJ, with this years competitions being sponsored by WesBank, Total and Hollard Insurance.

The next phase of the competition will take place at the Gerotek test facility near Pretoria. Over 2 days the cars will be put through their paces in a variety of conditions, with sports cars and 4×4’s etc being tested on routes they would be generally used on. The cars are then judged on their aesthetics, build quality and ergonomics, with value for money coming into consideration as well. Additional data is also available, as well as the fuel economy stats for each of the vehicles.

All cars eligible for the competition were drawn from those which were launched from the 1st of October 2010 to the 31st of August 2011. The winner of the South African Car of the Year will then be chosen in March 2012. Below are the top 10 finalists, in no particular order:

Alfa Romeo Giulietta 1.4 125 kW MultiAir Distinctive

Audi A6 3.0 T TDI Quattro S tronic

Citroen DS4 THP 200 Sport

Ford Focus 2.0 TDCI Trend Sedan Powershift

Hyundai Elantra 1.8 GLS

Kia Picanto 1.2 EX

Mercedes Benz SLK 350 BlueEFFICIENCY

Peugeot 5008 2.0 HDi Active Man

Suzuki Kizashi 2.4 SDLX Man

VW Jetta 1.4 TSI 118 kW Highline

21st Century VW Beetle shown at Johannesburg Motor Show

The 21st Century VW Beetle has been unveiled at the Johannesburg International Motor Show before its launch in South Africa in 2012. VW have created the new Beetle to be an “icon of a new era”, which will be a hard act to follow, based on the success of the first generation Beetle and a far more competitive market.

21st Century VW Beetle takes you back in time

The 21st century VW Beetle has been made with the first generation in mind, and VW note how they have nearly identical silhouette lines. Another factor VW were keen to emphasize was the fact the latest Beetle has been completely redesigned and doesn’t share any part from the previous Beetle model. The proportions of the latest Beetle come in at 84mm wider, 12mm lower and 152mm longer which creates a more sporty look.

Under the bonnet the 21st century VW Beetle, in South Africa, will come with a choice of 2 TSI engines; a 1.2 litre TSI engine that produces 77 kW and a 1.4 litre TSI that produces 118 kW. The 1.4 litre engine will also come with the option of seamless and fuel-efficient dual-clutch transmission (DSG).

As information comes in regarding pricing closer to the release date, we will let you know.

Toyota Innova for the family

The Toyota Innova has been made to be affordable, spacious and aimed with big families in mind. The Innova is not necessarily an IMV (International Multipurpose Vehicle) and is more focused on being a passenger vehicle, with some of the important characteristics of an IMV.

Toyota Innova moves people in class

The styling of the Innova pays tribute to the Toyota IMV styling, with a trapezoidal grille and chrome headlights at the front. It also has an inverted bottom grille with integrated fog lights. It comes equipped with 205/64 R15 tyres in the 8 seat version and alloy wheels on the upper-spec 7 seat version.

Inside, the Toyota Innova features a 2-tone instrument panel with silver detailing and blue lighting. Adding to the ambiance are wood grain inserts in the centre cluster, as well as the door switch base and the steering wheel (on the 7 seat version). Still on the 7 seat version, there will be individual captain seats in the middle row, while the 8 seat has a bench in the middle row. These middle seats can be folded down as needed, with the 3rd row able to fold sideways.

Under the hood the Innova comes with Toyota’s 2.7 VVT-i 4 cylinder petrol engine, with 16 valves and intelligent adaptable variable valve timing. It produces 118 kW at 5 200 rpm and 241 Nm of torque. Fuel consumption clocks in at 11.2 litres/100km at a combined cycle, with CO2 emissions coming in at 265 g/km.

Toyota Innova – Price

Toyota Innova 8-seater -R249 700
Toyota Innova 7-seater – R265 500

The Toyota Innova comes with a 5 year / 90 000km service plan, 3 year / 100 000km warranty and service intervals of 15 000km.

New SEAT Mii Revealed

With the new SEAT Mii, Spanish automaker SEAT are making a strong play at the small city car segment, which will definitely start heating up once the VW UP is available. The new SEAT Mii is designed for an urban lifestyle, and punts the fact that it is practical, fun and highly efficient. The new SEAT Mii clocks in at 3.55 metres long and will initially be available as a 3 door and later as a 5 door.

New SEAT Mii – Features

The typical ‘arrow’ visual style of the front of the new SEAT Mii as well as its wheel arches and roof pillars are typical of SEAT vehicles. The steep rear end of the new SEAT Mii emphasizes the spaciousness of the vehicle, and is well suited for long distance drives.

Under the hood the engines have been completely redesigned. The petrol engine is a 3-cylinder 1.0 litre with output options of 60 PS or 75 PS. This engine allows a top speed of 160km/h and 171km/h with a seriously impressive 4.7 litres/100km. Also available are Ecomotive options, which include start/stop systems, brake energy recuperation and more, to bring the fuel consumption figure down to 4.2 litres/100km and a CO2 emissions rate of 97g/km.

The new SEAT Mii will be launched in Spain at the end of 2011 and the rest of Europe there after. As more information becomes available we will let you know if it includes a release in South Africa.

New Citroen C4 AirCross compact SUV revealed

The already impressive Citroen C4 receives another model variant in the form of the AirCross SUV. The new Citroen C4 AirCross looks to combine the driving pleasure of a saloon, with off-road capability and still maintain low emissions, which Citroen claim are some of the lowest in the segment.

Appealing Styling for new Citroen C4 Aircross

The new Citroen C4 AirCross combines many elements of other Citroen models to create a robust style. This is reinforced by the horizontal lines and aerodynamic vents on the front, along with wide wheel arches and reduced front and rear overhangs. Additional styling for the vehicle was taken from the Hypnos concept car. This styling includes the 18-inch wheels, rear lights and the inverted shark fin at the rear. It also comes with a panoramic glass sunroof that can be illuminated by integrated LEDs when it gets dark.

The C4 AirCross comes with the latest 4-wheel transmission system, which allows the car to be constantly driven in 4-wheel drive mode. The torque is optimally distributed between the front and rear wheels, as well as providing optimal handling. Much the same as the Peugeot 4008, the AirCross can be set to 2WD, 4WD and Lock mode.

Engine Performance

There are a number of engine options available, including a1.6i petrol engine, a HDi 110 diesel, a HDi 150 diesel and a 2.0i 150. The power output for these engines ranges from 85 kW in the 1.6i to 113 kW in the 2.0i. The new Citroen C4 AirCross will be launched in Europe in the first half of 2012. Look for more information on a local release should it become available.

New Peugeot 4008 SUV Revealed

Peugeot note that since 2005 the demand for SUV’s has grown worldwide, and with the new Peugeot 4008 they hope to create a vehicle that can compete in this new market. The new Peugeot 4008 is a multipurpose vehicle with a number of impressive features that should see it fare well in such a competitive market.

New Peugeot 4008 – Features

The styling of the new Peugeot 4008 creates a strong Peugeot identity, with a floating grille, LED daylight running lamps and 3 red claw sculptured rear lamps. The 4×4 styling of the new Peugeot 4008 is created by the vertical design of the grille, the inclusion of body sill protectors and wheel arch protection trims. There is a panoramic glass roof which has LEDs for night/dark light illumination for reading. Other features include; 18 inch alloy wheels, touch screen navigation system as well as reversing camera.

The 4×4 version of the new Peugeot 4008, which will be the only option available in certain countries, will allow the driver to select between 2 wheel-drive, 4 wheel-drive and Lock modes. In 4WD and Lock modes, the distribution of the torque between the front and rear is managed electronically. Lock mode will force the vehicle into permanent 4×4 mode, which allows for even greater distribution of torque to the rear wheels.

Engine Options include:

1.6 litre petrol 85 kW (116hp) 5 speed manual
2.0 litre petrol 113 kW (150hp) 5 speed manual or CVT
1.6 litre HDi Diesel 82 kW (112hp) with overboost 6 speed manual
1.8 litre HDi Diesel 110 kW (150hp) with 6 speed manual

There is no information yet on the model lineup available for a South African release. Look for more information as it becomes available.

2012 Honda Insight Revealed

Making its debut at the Frankfurt International Motor Show, the 2012 Honda Insight comes with a number of improvements over the current model. A big focus has been on making the car more environmentally friendly but there are also a number of expected changes; from new design, improved interior, passenger headroom as well as general improvements to the comfort and stability of the ride.

New 2012 Honda Insight offers more comfort and style

The new 2012 Honda Insight has seen a reduction in CO2 emissions by 5g/km in both the 15” and 16” wheel version. Fuel economy has also been improved thanks to a number of factors. The aerodynamic design has been improved as well as advancements in the power train. The air conditioner has been improved and now features a new cold storage, also there is a reduction in engine friction, and all of this has resulted in improved fuel economy.

The design of the exterior has also been updated; there is a refreshed grille as well as new bumper design and changes to the headlights. The rear of the 2012 Honda Insight comes with a new tail spoiler, as well as some other minor changes. Inside the vehicle there is an improved feeling of comfort, with new seat fabric and black wood paneling. The headroom has been improved in the rear, this was achieved by adjusting the angle of the rear seat and creating a headlining that is curved at the edges.

The 2012 Honda Insight comes with a 1.3 litre i-VTEC engine as well as an electric motor, the same combination used in the new Jazz Hybrid. Look for more information on the 2012 Honda Insight as it becomes available.

Images from AOL