Cars.co.za’s new MD – Amasi Mwela joins the team, company history and latest news
Amasi Mwela has had a wide-ranging and fascinating career across finance, banking, insurance and tech industries, and we are delighted that he joined Cars.co.za in our 14th year of business to help steer the company across new frontiers.
Not only is he an utter professional, but he is by all accounts regarded as a generous and kind soul, with a human-centric approach to management and a pleasure to work with.
Our business is already on a stronger footing since he joined and as we say, onwards and upwards.
In this podcast, our video guy Ciro De Siena is joined by Amasi to discuss his background, his vision for the future of Cars.co.za, Ciro’s history with the company and latest updates including the return of the Cars.co.za Consumer Awards and our hugely successful new Whatsapp the Dealer feature.
VW gives new small bakkie the green light – report
A fresh report out of Brazil claims Volkswagen has given its rumoured new small bakkie the green light. Could this be the unibody pickup earmarked for production in South Africa, too?
Volkswagen has given its new small bakkie project the “green light”, according to a fresh report out of Brazil.
Motor1.com’s Brazilian division says the new compact unibody bakkie will be produced in double-cab form, further speculating it will resemble the Tarok concept revealed at the São Paulo International Motor Show back in 2018.
The Tarok concept was revealed in Brazil in 2018.
Though that sub-Amarok pickup was intended to go into production – with Brazil named as the initial market – the project was ultimately shelved. Interestingly, however, Motor1.com claims the latest reportedly approved new version will be smaller than the 4 914 mm-long Tarok concept, adding it will likely be built on the same platform as the T-Cross, with production likely to start in 2025.
Of course, that crossover – along with the likes of the Polo hatchback – uses the MQB-A0 architecture, which will also underpin the mystery “SUV-ish” model that is planned for production at VW’s Kariega facility in South Africa. As a reminder, this as-yet-unrevealed model – internally known as the “A0 Entry SUV” – is expected to be positioned below the T-Cross.
Furthermore, Martina Biene, chairperson and managing director of Volkswagen Group SA, revealed to Cars.co.za back in April 2023 that “there is hope” for a Kariega-built half-tonne bakkie, which would be closely related to the mystery sub-T-Cross model. She said production of the latter would provide “an opportunity for an even bigger than half-tonne bakkie”, suggesting a payload of 750 kg.
Considering Biene also told us the upcoming A0 Entry SUV “is kind of in partnership with Brazil”, there’s at least a chance that the new unibody pickup referred to in this latest report could also be the small bakkie that VW SA hopes to eventually produce in Kariega.
The rumoured new bakkie is expected to be smaller than the Tarok concept.
This latest report follows the same Brazilian publication’s claim earlier in the week that the Wolfsburg-based automaker’s upcoming small Polo-based SUV will wear the “Volkswagen Yeah” badge (though the website interestingly also spells the alleged nameplate “Yeh” elsewhere in the article).
In this latest instalment of our “What To Buy” car-buying advice series, we turn our attention to the popular double-cab bakkie market and pose the question: Should you buy a new GWM P-Series or rather purchase a used bakkie? Let’s take a closer look!
So, you’re in the market for a double-cab bakkie, but you have a critical decision to make: Should you buy a new GWM P-Series (and save thousands of Rands) or buy a used bakkie?
The Case for Buying a New GWM P-Series
GWM P-Series 2.0TD LT 4×4
Price: R653 750 (as of October 2023)
We Like: Value for money, standard features, advanced safety tech, interior design, keen pricing
We Don’t Like: Engine performance is underwhelming
Ever since its arrival in South Africa in 2020, the GWM P-Series has found favour with leisure double-cab bakkie buyers who want “bang for buck”. The P-Series, particularly in LT 4×4 guise, represents excellent value for money with its keen pricing and fully loaded standard specification, which its traditional – and more expensive – rivals struggle to match. More than this, the P-Series’ interior styling and -execution are arguably leaps and bounds better than what’s offered by the now-ageing Toyota Hilux, for example.
The P-Series employs a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbodiesel engine with outputs of 120 kW/400 Nm and while those outputs don’t compare favourably with those of its rivals, the P-Series’ performance, if somewhat underwhelming, is still adequate for the bakkie to perform its function as a modern leisure double cab.
Overall, the P-Series is a compelling buying proposition for those seeking a stylish leisure double-cab bakkie, new for less than R660 000.
If you’re not convinced, however, what options are available to you in the used car market for the same money? Here are some alternative used bakkie options to consider!
Note that our search parameters include 4×4 double cab bakkies from 2017 to present with mileages of under 100 000 km.
3 Used Bakkies to Buy Instead of a New GWM P-Series
Toyota Hilux
The Toyota Hilux is an SA favourite and there is a wide selection of used examples listed on Cars.co.za. Buyers can choose between Toyota’s 2.4-litre turbodiesel engine with 110 kW and 400 Nm of torque or opt for the more powerful 2.8-litre turbodiesel engine with outputs from 150 kW and 500Nm.
While the Hilux arguably falls short of the P-Series in terms of standard spec and interior execution (this model was launched in 2016, after all), the Toyota makes up for it with its reputation of being one of the most capable 4×4 bakkies that money can buy with the backup of an extensive local dealership network.
At the R500k mark, you are most likely to find 2.4GD-6 units in SRX or Raider trim grade. Most of these have mileages of under 100 000 km and still fall within the 3-year warranty period. If you want a 2.8GD-6 derivative, however, you may have to settle for a pre-2020 example with a mileage of nearly 100 000 km.
The Hilux is sold with a 3-year/100 000 km warranty and a 9-services/90 000km service plan so if you manage to buy a 2021/22/23 example, you’re likely to inherit the balance of this support. Note that the Hilux holds its value well in the used market, which means you are likely to obtain a favourable selling price when you decide to sell it down the line.
The new Ford Ranger may hog the limelight, but there are many low-mileage examples of the previous-gen model in the used market. Buyers are spoilt for choice with derivatives such as the Wildtrak, FX4 and Thunder on offer, including Ford’s 2.0-litre single-turbodiesel engine with 132 kW and 420 Nm of torque as well as the firm’s more potent 2.0-litre bi-turbodiesel engine with 157 kW and 500 Nm of torque.
Depending on what you choose to buy, you’re likely to benefit from the balance of Ford’s 4-year/120 000 km warranty. Bear in mind that although a 6-year/90 000 km service plan was standard on the Ranger up to the end of October 2021, service or maintenance plans were optional on the bakkie thereafter. Check whether the previous owner of a prospective purchase specified such a plan and whether it is still valid.
The previous-gen Volkswagen Amarok 3.0TDI V6 still holds appeal with its 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel engine providing ample pulling power with no less than 165 kW and 550 Nm of torque on offer. The Amarok has long been commended for its SUV-like driving character and on-road comfort. While its cabin feels a little old school by modern standards, there is no doubt about its enviable build quality.
At R500k, there are fewer Amaroks to choose from than Rangers and Hiluxes, but that is to be expected seeing as the VW bakkie’s sales figures paled in comparison to those of the Ford and Toyota. Most of the V6 derivatives listed for sale on Cars.co.za are 2018 and 2019 examples, but notably Highline Plus (full) spec examples – that version was notably a Cars.co.za Consumer Awards category winner.
The previous-generation Amarok was sold with a 3-year/100 000 km warranty and a 5-year/90 000km service plan, so you may be able to “inherit” the balance of the warranty and service plan depending on what used Amarok you choose. Having said that, bear in mind that aftermarket warranties and service plans are available and these can be financed when you purchase your used bakkie.
Cars.co.za was invited by BMW Group South Africa to attend the 2nd annual President’s Green Hydrogen Summit in Cape Town and witness the signing of a historic Memorandum of Cooperation between Anglo American, Sasol and BMW SA.
The Century City Conference Centre was filled to the brim with delegates from all over the world for the summit and, following a presentation by SA’s Minister of Electricity, Dr Kgoshientso Ramokgopa, to the attendees, the President of the Republic dialled in via video call to address the summit, beginning his speech with commentary about the Springboks’ win over France, which was well received by all.
From left: Craig Miller, Priscilla Mabelane and Peter van Binsbergen sign the historic memorandum in Cape Town.
The CEO of Anglo American Platinum, Craig Miller, the Sasol Executive Vice President for the Energy Business, Priscillah Mabelane, and the CEO of BMW Group South Africa, Peter van Binsbergen, then joined each other on stage to sign the memorandum in a very public manner indeed. The memorandum commits the three multinationals to a partnership that aims to accelerate the adoption of hydrogen mobility in South Africa in both the commercial and passenger segments.
The vehicles in question, which create the demand for hydrogen, are known as FCEVs (fuel-cell electric vehicles) and they truly do come in all shapes and sizes.
Anglo American & Sasol are no strangers to hydrogen
Anglo American in South Africa operates the world’s largest FCEV hydrogen mine truck, a 290-tonne carrying behemoth earth-mover operating at the Mogalakwena mine outside Polokwane, with green hydrogen being produced on site.
Anglo American expects the FCEV market to increase demand for platinum group metals by about 5 million ounces per annum by 2050, which will be a boon for the South African mining industry.
Sasol has been working with the element for 20 years already. In June this year, the company produced its first green hydrogen (as opposed to grey hydrogen, which is produced using energy from coal power stations) and while they are currently only producing 150 kg per day, that figure will balloon to 5 500 kg per day in the near future, when a 69-MW wind plant and 4-MW solar plant come online in June 2024.
BMW Group South Africa has been selected by BMW Group Global to be one of a handful of countries that will test hydrogen vehicles in real-world conditions. We have already driven the iX5 Hydrogen in Belgium last year and you can read that review, or watch the video, here:
Much to the excitement of attendees at the summit, BMW SA secured a test unit of the iX5 Hydrogen for display at the summit, placing it in the lobby for all to get acquainted with.
Sasol will also supply BMW Group SA with a mobile hydrogen refuelling unit (which we suspect will be placed at the Rosslyn plant), which will enable the real-world testing of the FCEVs.
Cars.co.za spent some time with the firm’s CEO at the summit and asked when South African motorists might find a BMW FCEV on local showroom floors; no date has been set, but it will be after 2030.
Van Binsbergen told us that the technology has not matured yet to the point where it is commercially viable – much testing still needs to happen – and he also believes that hydrogen needs to become cheaper per kilogram for the whole ecosystem to make sense to the average motorist.
BMW Group SA’s Peter van Binsbergen says hydrogen-powered BMW models WILL be launched, but only after 2030.
What will happen now however is that BMW will produce a batch of road-legal iX5 Hydrogens, which will be dispatched to all corners of the globe for real-world testing, including right here in South Africa.
BMW Group is pursuing a multiple-drivetrain strategy for its global business. The company believes that there is no silver bullet to carbon-neutral mobility, and a variety of solutions is required to service vastly different markets around the world, a stance that we agree is prudent and positive going forward. BMW believes that hydrogen-powered vehicles will eventually make up about 10% of the cars it sells globally.
It is possible that the iX5 Hydrogen will not become a series production vehicle, but the learnings and technology will be implemented in a wide range of BMWs in due course.
Rest assured that, at some point, SA motorists will have petrol/diesel-powered, hydrogen-powered, hybrid- and battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) to choose from, which is quite exciting in and of itself.
A demonstration of a hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle being refuelled – looks familiar, doesn’t it?
Okay, what happens now?
A massive game of chicken and egg, that’s what; for hydrogen cars to be adopted and work on our roads, Sasol needs to roll out the infrastructure across its network of fuel retailers across South Africa, but until there are FCEVs on our roads, there will only be demand from industrial and commercial players.
What is particularly exciting about green hydrogen, however, is that it will be produced locally; it doesn’t have to cross borders, it doesn’t have to be paid for in dollars, it doesn’t have to be loaded onto a ship, traverse vast oceans and then be offloaded in South Africa and, most importantly, the supply of which is not at the mercy of cartels such as Opec. It has the potential to provide South Africa with a fuel that has a much more stable price and a much more predictable supply.
The fuel price is, of course, a major pain point for all South Africans and, at least initially, the price of hydrogen will likely be on a gradual downward trajectory for many years to come as the technology matures and more suppliers come online.
A BMW iX5 Hydrogen is being tested near Antwerp.
There are some use cases which already make sense, say (for instance) forklifts in a warehousing environment, which is already happening in BMW plants around the world and is apparently already in use in some warehousing sites in South Africa (outside of the BMW Group).
Additionally, an FCEV powertrain is better suited to trucks and buses than a BEV one, in our opinion. If you look at the case of buses used in public transport, the buses travel a predictable route and duration, and return to the same depot every evening. This is an almost perfect fit for a hydrogen ecosystem.
It would also make much sense at facilities that require a variety of vehicles to operate, such as airports.
SA is well-placed to manufacture green hydrogen
That’s because we have sun and wind in abundance and this project is so important to the President that essentially the entire project reports directly to his office. In the South African context, the production of green hydrogen has the potential to create jobs, drive investment and even create an export programme.
Toyota has produced a Hilux prototype that utilises elements of the Mirai hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicle.
BMW was an early player in the hydrogen space; it unveiled the 745 Hydrogen in the early 2000s. However, that was a hydrogen vehicle that utilised an internal combustion engine, where cooled hydrogen was stored on board the vehicle and injected into the cylinders to create combustion.
Van Binsbergen told Cars.co.za that BMW was no longer pursuing that technology, and fuel cells would be the focus of the company in perpetuity.
The iX5 feels exactly like an electric vehicle to drive, and in terms of fuel economy, is said to be capable of travelling 500 km on 6 kg of hydrogen on the WLPT cycle. Doing some rough maths, 1 kg of hydrogen should be good for 100 km of range, and it is predicted that hydrogen will be commercially viable at around $2.50 per kg, or around R45, which means it would cost around R45 in fuel to travel 100 km.
A BMW iX5 Hydrogen’s infotainment screen displays the vehicle’s efficiency in kgH2/100 km.
A petrol-powered X5 might use around 10 L/100 km, which at current fuel prices costs around R250. Therefore, hydrogen really does have the potential to bring running costs down for the average motorist.
There is no indication of what FCEVs might sell for, however, but we do expect that they will be pricier than their traditional ICE-powered siblings. However, given the multiple commercial use cases for hydrogen, it may well be that the last South Africans to make use of hydrogen will be everyday motorists.
Even so, it’s encouraging that large players have already spent years in discussion to get to this point and have now publicly committed to developing the hydrogen ecosystem to the benefit of all South Africans. The ball is certainly rolling and, while it may be early days for sure, we have no doubt that hydrogen is part of the future of our country, both industrially and in the hands of consumer motorists.
We will eagerly be watching this space and will, of course, keep you updated as the story progresses.
Toyota’s new bakkie concept is actually Hilux sized
Toyota has revealed fresh versions of its new boxy workhorse bakkie concept, which interestingly shares its wheelbase with the current-generation Hilux…
At the end of 2022, Toyota revealed the IMV 0 Concept in Thailand, before showing off a few interesting applications of this flexible bakkie concept – since christened “Rangga” in that country – in August 2023. Now, ahead of a display at the Japan Mobility Show 2023, further fresh iterations have been unwrapped.
In addition, though the Japanese automaker has released very little official technical information on the IMV 0 Concept, it has at least finally confirmed the boxy ladder-frame bakkie’s dimensions. Fascinatingly, its wheelbase is listed as 3 085 mm, precisely the same distance between the axles of the current-generation Hilux. So, the newcomer is not nearly as compact as previously thought…
The concept measures 5 300 mm from nose to tail, which is 30 mm longer than a single-cab Hilux but 25 mm shorter than extended- and double-cab versions of Toyota’s strong-selling bakkie. The IMV 0 Concept is 1 785 mm wide (a mite narrower than a standard Hilux) and stands 1 740 mm tall. Still no word on payload capacity or engine options, though.
Billed as a “mobility solution that works with users to fulfil their vision”, the IMV 0 Concept is listed as a 2-seater vehicle and shown mostly in single-cab form. However, perhaps the most interesting iteration features an extended-cab body style, along with a raft of overlanding kit (from a front-mounted winch and an LED bar to chunky all-terrain tyres and a roof-mounted storage system.
Toyota says the IMV 0 Concept “supports future mobility lifestyles by offering the potential for further customisation, from business to leisure applications”. In short, customisable parts can be bolted onto the bakkie’s deck section, allowing the vehicle to be set up for various applications.
While potential conversion applications for the Rangga concept shown at the Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show 2023 included a mobile café, an ambulance, a mobile EV charging service and even a pace car, images released ahead of the Japanese display show the concept as a single-cab workhorse, a motorhome, a Red Cross disaster-relief vehicle and the aforementioned overlander.
It’s not yet clear exactly when the IMV 0 Concept/Rangga will reach production, though some reports suggest it could be as early as 2024, with an initial market launch likely to take place in Thailand before the vehicle rolls out to other emerging markets, such as Indonesia.
Whether or not such a model is on the cards for South Africa remains to be seen, but it’s worth keeping in mind that earlier in 2023, as reported by IOL Motoring, Toyota SA Motors executives hinted at an upcoming model that could slot in below the Hilux and likely be built at the same factory in KwaZulu-Natal. Considering the IMV 0 Concept seemingly shares its underpinnings with the current-gen Hilux (and Fortuner), could that mean local production is on the horizon?
GR Corolla vs GR Supra Video – Manual Hatch vs Manual Sportscar, which one should you buy?
Toyota is on such a roll right now with its GR range of performance enthusiast machinery. We get behind the wheel of the new GR Supra and GR Corolla on a closed mountain pass.
This is a curious question but when life gives you a closed mountain pass and two exciting performance cars, well then you chase each other up the pass, don’t you?
And while you’re at it, you might as well answer the questions, which is better, and which one should you buy?
Cars.co.za‘s professional racing driver Ashley Oldfield and relative muppet Ciro De Siena did just that in this video, with Ciro in the all-wheel-drive car (mostly in an act of self-preservation) and Ashley in the near-300 kW rear-wheel-drive Supra.
Yes, these cars are not exactly rivals, but if you’re in the market for something to set your hair on fire, they both do the job.
The popular Indian-built baby SUV has received an update! Here’s what we know so far about the facelifted Kia Sonet.
The Sonet is Kia South Africa’s most popular model. In September 2023, over 740 units found homes locally and it’s easy to see why. It offers good value for money, combining fresh modern looks, generous level of standard equipment and a comprehensive aftersales package.
Now, the facelifted Kia Sonet has leaked out. The images come from China and we can see some substantial visual changes on the outside. There’s a new-look front with redesigned headlamps and daytime-running lights, while the rear gets the currently fashionable LED lightbar across the tailgate. There are some new wheel designs too.
There were no interior photographs, so we cannot comment on the cabin updates. We expect the engine lineup to be carried over and our market has a diverse selection of powertrains. There’s a 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated petrol four-cylinder which makes 85 kW and 114 Nm, and a 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol with a punchy 88 kW and 172 Nm. Both manual and automatic gearboxes are offered.
When will the facelifted Kia Sonet arrive in SA?
Multiple Indian publications (the Sonet is assembled there) have reported that a reveal is likely before the end of the year, and we estimate the updated Sonet will be landing in South African showrooms before the middle of 2024.
SA’s best-selling double-cab bakkies in September 2023
We list South Africa’s best-selling double-cab bakkies for September 2023 and take a closer look at the sales race, year to date. Here are the all-important figures…
We’ve already brought you our usual list of South Africa’s most popular bakkies overall for September 2023, but you may well be wondering which nameplates were at the top of the best-selling double-cab bakkie table last month.
Since Naamsa’s monthly sales figures sadly don’t include a breakdown of the 3 available bakkie body styles (the single-, extended- and double-cab shapes), we’ve again turned to our learned friends over at Lightstone Auto for help identifying SA’s best-selling 1-tonne double-cab bakkies for September.
The Toyota Hilux (seen here in Raider X guise) is SA’s best-selling bakkie overall, year to date.
Before we examine these fascinating figures, it’s worth taking a step back and considering what the overall picture – that is, including all body styles – looks like, year to date. Based on Naamsa’s figures, the Toyota Hilux is leading the bakkie pack overall with 28 341 units, followed by the Ford Ranger (18 595 units) and the Isuzu D-Max (14 813 units).
Right, now let’s break down the sales statistics by body style. According to Lightstone Auto’s figures, the Silverton-built Ford Ranger was at the very top of the double-cab pile in September 2023, with 1 890 units registered in South Africa. For the record, dual-cab derivatives thus represented 79.8% of the Blue Oval bakkie’s total for the month, with 309 examples of the extended cab (or “Super Cab”, in Ford speak) and 214 units of the single cab also sold.
And the Toyota Hilux? Well, the Japanese firm’s local division registered 1 645 double-cab units of the Prospecton-built stalwart last month, translating to 49.7% of the nameplate’s overall tally in September. As you might have gleaned, the Hilux led the charge on the 1-tonne single-cab front, with 1 230 units of the 2-door version sold, along with 374 examples of the extended cab (known in Toyota circles as the “Xtra Cab”).
The Straundale-manufactured Isuzu D-Max completed September’s double-cab podium, with 696 units – or 42.6% of the nameplate’s total, which includes the prolonged-lifecycle Gen 6 line-up – registered in the 9th month of 2023. In addition, Isuzu sold 777 examples of its D-Max single cab, along with 166 units of its Extended Cab.
SA’s best-selling double- and single-cab bakkies, year to date
The Ford Ranger (pictured here in flagship Raptor form) is leading the double-cab sales race.
What about the year-to-date double-cab sales race in South Africa? Well, Lightstone Auto’s latest dataset shows the Ranger is in pole position on 15 782 units, though that puts it just 1 846 units ahead of the Hilux, which finds itself on 13 936 units. Again, the D-Max completes the top 3, with a year-to-date aggregate of 6 821 units.
And the single-cab space? Well, with the opening 9 months of the year behind us, the Hilux is far ahead in this segment (on 10 247 units), with the D-Max single cab placing 2nd (on 6 558 units) and the 2-door version of the KwaZulu-Natal-assembled Mahindra Pik Up taking 3rd (on 4 799 units). The Ranger single cab, meanwhile, is some way off the pace on 1 146 units.
According to Lightstone Auto, sales of all other bakkies (over and above the Ranger, Hilux, D-Max and Pik Up) available in the double-cab body style total 11 272 units year to date, while the single-cab tally (again, excluding these 4 mentioned nameplates) sits on 7 537 units over the same reporting period.
SA’s best-selling double-cab bakkies for September 2023
BMW 333i and 325iS – Legendary SA-only 3 Series models – BMW Group SA Chronicles (Ep 4 Video)
The local introduction of the 2nd-gen BMW 3 Series (E30) opened up BMW to a wider audience and, with it, came the birth of SA special versions that would immortalise themselves in South African history.
In the 4th episode of a 6-part video series about the history of BMW in South Africa, Jacob Moshokoa discusses the cultural impact of the evocative inline-6-powered apex coupe derivatives of the E30-generation 3 Series, which were developed and built in Mzansi during the mid-Eightes and early Nineties.
BMW SA produced just 210 units of the 333i after it was decided not to import the left-hand-drive-only E30 M3, which, of course, would dominate touring car racing for many years. The result was a mixture of Alpina parts and a 3.2-litre straight-six engine transplant that became iconic on the streets of SA.
Its partner in crime, the 325iS came along a few years later and was immediately used in local Group N (production car) racing to demonstrate its pedigree. The 325iS even has a nickname locally, where BMW enthusiasts refer to it as a Gusheshe, which simply means fast thing.
Former BMW SA managing director Dr Walter Hasselkus (1984–1989), -motorsport & product planning manager Paul Weavers and -Head of vehicle testing, Geoff Goddard share their memories of the era.
New Toyota Hilux GR Sport III ‘under study’ for South Africa
Toyota has confirmed that a new Hilux GR Sport III is currently “under study” for a launch in South Africa. Here’s what we know about this widebody bakkie so far…
Toyota South Africa Motors has confirmed to Cars.co.za that a new Hilux GR Sport III double cab is currently “under study” for a possible local introduction.
Thus far, Mzansi has seen 2 versions of the Hilux GR Sport offered locally. The first came in mid-2019, with a revised iteration (replete with extra power and torque) hitting the local market in September 2022. While both the original and the current SA-spec model feature standard bodies, the Thailand-built Hilux GR Sport available in markets such as Australia boasts a widebody configuration.
Back in February 2023, Toyota SA Motors hinted to us that a widebody version of the Hilux GR Sport (or “GR-S”, for short) could eventually be sold here as well. And it seems such a launch remains very much on the cards.
Why? Well, Toyota’s division in the United Kingdom has just released fresh images and information on the new Euro-spec Hilux GR Sport (pictured here), which upgrades to the widebody configuration. Considering markets in Europe source their Hilux units from the Prospecton factory in KwaZulu-Natal, we asked Toyota SA Motors if the updated GR Sport was in line for a local introduction, too.
“Toyota UK and Europe’s product timing and model line-up differs quite substantially from our market. As such, they’ve also followed a different model and specification strategy we cannot comment on at this stage. However, I can confirm that Hilux GR-S III is under study for possible local introduction,” a spokesperson for the Japanese brand’s South African division told Cars.co.za.
It’s interesting to note the updated Prospecton-produced Hilux GR Sport is scheduled to hit the market in Europe only during the 2nd half of 2024. What this means for timing of a possible local introduction remains to be seen.
Like the Aussie version, the UK-spec model gains a wider track, increased by 140 mm fore (to 1 675 mm) and 155 mm aft (to 1 705 mm) compared to the standard Hilux, increasing the double-cab bakkie’s overall width to 2 020 mm. This, says the automaker, creates a “confidence-inspiring ride whatever the weather or road conditions”.
As a result, Toyota bills the latest GR Sport as the “best-driving Hilux yet, on and off-road”, thanks to the wider track and “significant improvements” in handling characteristics, including a reduced roll angle and “more precise” steering response. There is also ostensibly less noise and vibration, while the suspension and brakes (larger front discs and new rear discs in place of the previous drums) have furthermore been revised.
The bakkie’s approach angle improves from 29 to 30 degrees, while ride height grows by 20 mm (improving ground clearance to about 265 mm). New monotube dampers take the place of the previous twin-tube items, apparently providing “better performance and faster response in tough conditions”, while the lighter 17-inch wheels are again wrapped in all-terrain tyres.
Styling changes for the UK-spec Hilux GR Sport include red coil springs and coloured dampers (black at the front and red at the rear), plus chunky black overfenders and red brake callipers. There’s also a new black grille (complete with bold “Toyota” lettering), a silver front bashplate and an interesting “aero-styled sport bar and deck cover”.
Inside, you’ll find a smattering of red accents, along with paddle shifters, alloy pedals and crimson-hued seatbelts. The Hilux GR Sport’s front seats have been upholstered in a combination of black synthetic suede and leather, with silver stitching and perforations.
Though the model for the UK market sticks with the standard 150 kW/500 Nm tune for the 2.8-litre, 4-cylinder turbodiesel engine (which again drives all 4 wheels via a 6-speed automatic transmission), we’d expect the SA-spec version – should it receive the green light, of course – to stick with the updated version of this motor, which churns out a healthier 165 kW and 550 Nm.
