The mystery vehicle Volkswagen SA plans to add to its production line will be part of the “Polo family” and positioned “below the T-Cross”, but it won’t be as “SUV-ish” as the latter…
The head of Volkswagen Group South Africa has dropped a few more hints about the identity of the mystery 3rd product the German firm plans to build – alongside the Polo hatchback and the Polo Vivo – at its Kariega plant in the Eastern Cape.
In November 2022, VWSA announced an intention to add a new model to its local production line, confirming the vehicle will ride on the same MQB-A0 platform as the Polo and numerous other VW Group products. Now, Martina Biene, chairperson and managing director of Volkswagen Group South Africa, has revealed some fresh information.
Speaking to Cars.co.za video journalist Ciro De Siena during an exclusive podcast interview covering a wide range of topics, Biene confirmed the new model under consideration will feature an internal combustion engine rather than an electrified powertrain.
VWSA’s Eastern Cape facility has produced the Polo since 1996 (Biene pictured 3rd from left).
Biene, who previously held the position of head of the Volkswagen passenger brand in South Africa (from October 2018 to August 2020) before briefly returning to Germany, added production of the newcomer will likely commence in 2026 or “probably 2027”.
“It [will be positioned] below the T-Cross – we call it ‘A0 Entry SUV’ currently. So, it’s an SUV body style but it’s on the Polo platform,” she explained.
When asked whether the 3rd model will be similar in size to the aforementioned T-Cross – which measures 4 235 mm from bow to stern – but offered at a lower price point, Biene simply said: “100 percent”.
“It will not be as SUV-ish as the T-Cross but [will be] more SUV-ish than the Polo. We still need the final tick in the box from [VW’s global headquarters in] Wolfsburg, but we’re planning something like a sneak preview,” she said.
Interestingly, Biene furthermore revealed the vehicle “we are looking at is kind of in partnership with Brazil”, adding many Latin American countries – and, to a certain extent, India as well – have similar market demands to those of South Africa.
The Polo Track debuted in Brazil late in 2022, replacing the long-running Gol.
“Hopefully, when we have the final tick in the box, we’ll get another nice addition to the Polo family,” Biene said.
For the record, Volkswagen Brazil phased out its long-running Gol hatchback towards the end of 2022, replacing it with a new model called the Polo Track. The latter model is described as the “first of a family of compact vehicles in the entry-level segment”.
Late last year, Biene said Kariega’s as-yet-unidentified 3rd product will be “very much shaped for the A0 segment and for South Africa and Africa”, emphasising it will not function as “a replacement for the Polo”. Instead, the mystery model looks likely to fill any production capacity that could potentially be lost once key European markets phase out combustion engines and Polo hatchback exports to the Old Continent start to fall.
Chery South Africa has introduced its Omoda brand to South Africa and the Omoda C5 Crossover will be the first model to go on sale. Pricing and specs below
Chery South Africa has confirmed that its new premium Omoda brand will launch in South Africa on 13 April 2023. No less than 30 pre-selected Chery dealers will offer the necessary sales and support to local customers and the Omoda C5 will be the first model on offer. The new Omoda C5 crossover SUV was revealed back in 2021 at the Guangzhou Motor Show.
If you are wondering what Omoda means, wonder no more. O stands for Oxygen, representing life and vitality while MODA represents the modern and style-conscious aspirations of the Omoda brand.
“OMODA is a new, modern and luxurious new vehicle brand that showcases what can be done when a brand is not hindered by legacy technology or design,” says Tony Liu, the Executive Deputy General Manager of Chery South Africa.
“Every aspect of this range of products, from vehicle design, performance, technology and driving pleasure, has been designed from a clean slate and will truly surprise and delight South African motorists,” says Liu.
The Omoda C5 is a family-size crossover SUV that measures 4 400mm long, 1 830 mm wide, 1 585 mm high with a wheelbase of 2 630 mm making it slightly bigger than a VW T-Roc but slightly smaller than a Toyota RAV4.
The Omoda C5 showcases Chery’s new ‘Art in Motion’ design language boasting an integrated diamond matrix grille which is flanked by split LED headlights and LED daytime running lights. From the side, the Omoda 5 takes on a sporty stance with the roofline adopting a sloping, coupe-like silhouette. Sharp, angular taillight clusters further add to the sporty look.
The luxuriously-finished interior continues to impress with 2 integrated and curved 10.25-inch high-definition screens in a single panel reminiscent of Merc’s widescreen cockpit. The system will take care of infotainment, comfort and driving needs. The Omoda C5 is also equipped with front sports seats.
The Omoda C5 is one of the first new models that will be built on Chery’s next-generation T1X architecture which can accommodate internal combustion engines (petrol and diesel), hybrid, electric and hydrogen powertrains.
Powering the new Omoda C5 Coupe Crossover is the 1.5-litre turbopetrol 4-cylinder from the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro, but with a bit more power. The unit puts out 115 kW and 230 Nm of torque. A 1.6-litre turbopetrol unit may become available later this year with 147 kW.
With the Omoda C5 going on sale in April 2023, Omoda is launching a pre-order campaign in South Africa where the first 100 customers will be treated to a selection of gifts including a R10 000 voucher, Bathu-OMODA sneakers, customised vehicle decals celebrating a first edition model and other unique merchandise.
The C5 is available in 3 trim models namely Tech, Elegance and Elegance S. Top spec Omoda Elegance S models are equipped with adaptive cruise control, traffic alerts, automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, high beam assist, blind spot monitoring, rear cross collision warning, lane departure warning and emergency lane keeping.
All models come standard with a 360 degree camera, wireless Android Auto and Apple carplay as well as a wireless charging bay and 64 colours of ambient lighting within the cabin. More spec details will follow soon.
How much is the Omoda C5 in South Africa?
Omoda C5 1.5T TECH – R447 900
Omoda C5 1.5T Elegance – R507 900
Omoda C5 1.5T Elegance S – R509 900
The Omoda C5 is sold with a 5yr/150 000 km warranty, a 5yr/70 000 km service plan and a first owner only 10 year/1 million km engine warranty.
After a few leaked images hit the Web, some official photographs have now appeared. Here’s a first look at the all-new 2024 Mini Cooper.
What you see here is a first look at the brand-new 2024 Mini Cooper that will be officially and formally revealed at the IAA Motor Show, which is being held later this year in Munich.
Visually, it’s a Mini alright, especially at the front, but the rear lights are radical and new. At the front there’s a gaping one-panel grille, which we assume means this exact model is the electric version. We understand that Mini will continue to offer petrol engines for its lineup and these will essentially be updated versions of the current 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre motors.
Critically, this new Mini Cooper electric model gives us our first viewing of the GWM partnership. As a reminder, BMW and Great Wall Motors signed an agreement to work together on compact electric vehicles. The Spotlight Automotive venture as its called, will see a new electric platform that will serve as the base for every new Mini over the next few years.
Interestingly, Mini is following in its parent company BMW’s footsteps with the naming convention. Instead of going for pure model designations, it’s sticking to the established name, but offering customers a choice of powertrain options. So, basically you can have your Mini Cooper S in petrol or electric flavour.
Expect to see significant increases in range with the 2024 Mini Cooper as even the entry-level model is said to have 320 km from a single charge. This is a big leap forward as our experience with the outgoing model pegs it at 180 km.
We estimate the brand-new Mini Cooper will be launched in South Africa by the middle of 2024.
The head of VW SA Interview – Secret new model, Golf 8 R, Polo theft challenges, half-tonne bakkie?
In an exclusive interview with us, Volkswagen South Africa’s new managing director Martina Biene shares some insights about the Golf 8 R delay, Polo theft challenges, a half-tonne bakkie and a secret new model to built right here in SA.
We were grateful to be joined by Martina Biene, MD of Volkswagen SA, for a wide-ranging and candid interview with Ciro De Siena in our Cape Town podcast studio. Martina offered us tonnes of info about the future of Volkswagen in South Africa, including plans for hydrogen, plug-in hybrids, the cost of new Polos, the challenges around the the theft of Polo, the secret new model that they will be building in Kariega, the possibility of a half-tonne bakkie and the widely discussed delay of the Golf 8 R launching in South Africa.
We hope you enjoy this exclusive interview and we’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
BMW vs Mercedes-Benz: premium sales race after Q1 2023
BMW and Mercedes-Benz have resumed their fight for sales dominance in the premium market. So, which of these Teutonic foes is leading the global race after the opening quarter of 2023?
With the opening quarter of 2023 now behind us, it’s time to see which German automaker is leading the premium sales race. So, let’s examine the latest global sales figures from BMW and Mercedes-Benz.
In Q1 2023, the BMW Group – which, as a reminder, comprises the BMW, Mini, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad brands – reported a worldwide sales figure of 588 138 units, interestingly representing a year-on-year drop of 1.5%.
Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz Cars (which includes Smart but seemingly excludes Mercedes-Benz Vans products) ended the same January-to-March period on 503 500 units, or a year-on-year improvement of 3%. Add 98 900 sales from Mercedes-Benz Vans in Q1, however, and the Stuttgart-based firm’s total swells to 602 400 units.
Of course, as always, it’s worth examining the statistics a little more closely. For instance, BMW’s figures show the Mini brand accounted for 68 541 units of the group’s tally, while a further 47 935 units came courtesy of the motorcycle division, plus another 1 640 units from luxury marque Rolls-Royce.
BMW says the new M3 Touring (seen here wearing M Performance parts) was “in very high demand” in Q1 2023.
The BMW brand thus contributed 517 957 units, which is a few thousand more than the Mercedes-Benz brand (keep in mind the latter’s total of 503 500 units also includes Smart models, since the company hasn’t made a Mercedes-only figure available).
What about the fight in the fast-growing all-electric premium sector? Well, the BMW Group says it registered 64 647 fully electric BMW and Mini vehicles (up 83.2%, year on year) in the first quarter of the year, while Mercedes-Benz reported year-on-year growth of 89%, finishing on 51 600 battery-powered sales (including Smart).
Meanwhile, the BMW M division grew its sales 18.9% year on year to finish the first quarter on 46 430 registrations (note this includes not only full-fat M products but also M Performance models), ahead of Mercedes-AMG’s total of 40 300 units (up 44%, year on year).
In South Africa, it’s not clear how well each firm performed in Q1 2023, since BMW reports sales figures for only every 3rd month and Mercedes-Benz unfortunately doesn’t share registrations with Naamsa at all (but you can check out SA’s best-selling passenger vehicles for Q1 2023 here)…
The new Nissan X-Trail is powered by a 2.5-litre naturally-aspirated petrol engine which produces 135 kW and 244 Nm. The vehicle is front-wheel driven and features a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT).
Nissan South Africa will be offering in the new X-Trail in a 3-model model lineup. There are three trim levels; Visia, Acenta and Acenta Plus. It’s important to note the Acenta Plus flagship is available in four-wheel drive. The four-wheel drive model is a 7-seater vehicle, whereas the standard X-Trail is a 5-seater.
The e-Power powertrains for both the Nissan Qashqai and the new X-Trail are confirmed for 2024. Customers have five basic colours, five colour variations and two-tone combinations to choose from.
Trim Levels
Visia
Intelligent Emergency Braking with junction assist & pedestrian/cyclist detection
Rear emergency braking with pedestrian detection
Intelligent Blind Spot Intervention
Lane departure warning
Intelligent Lane Intervention
17-inch wheels
Black cloth seat trim
Tilt & telescopic steering wheel adjustment
60/40 split fold second row seat with manual recline and centre armrest
Reverse parking camera
Rear parking sensors
Rear Cross Traffic Alert
Intelligent Driver Alert
Speed limiter with Intelligent Cruise Control
8.0-inch touchscreen display
Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, Bluetooth phone & audio streaming
Voice recognition
6 speaker audio system with AM/FM radio and DAB+ digital Radio
BMW M340i (2023) Review – Huge jump in price but is it still the pick of the range?
The BMW M340i has often been billed as the ‘baby M3’ for its adequate power and M-tuned handling. How does this new facelifted model stack up now that the price has been jacked up?
BMW’s sub-halo 3 Series has just received the company’s midlife facelift and on the surface at least, the results look impressive. Ciro De Siena took the car out to his favourite country road to find out if the M340i offers “enough BMW” this side of the M3.
In this review, we focus on the driving dynamics of the car and take a look at the new, revised interior of the M340i, which now features the new curved touchscreen and BMW’s iDrive 8 infotainment system.
Volkswagen South Africa has confirmed price and specification details for the Golf 8 R. Here’s how much you can expect to pay for it, plus we examine the options on offer.
Covid-19-related delays, the semi-conductor shortage and the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine are but some of the contributing factors that have resulted in the long wait for the Golf 8 R to reach South Africa.
The Golf 8 R was due to go on sale locally in Q3 2022, which is now, but Volkswagen South Africa has confirmed that the local launch has been further pushed out to 2023 which will undoubtedly further frustrate local Golf R fans who have been eagerly waiting to finally get their hands on Volkswagen’s latest hot hatch.
What engine will power the VW Golf 8 R?
The new VW Golf 8 R will land in SA in April 2023.
A turbocharged 2.0-litre EA 888 petrol engine will offer no less than 235 kW and 400 Nm of torque and will be paired with an updated, quick-shifting 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. The Golf 8 R is also equipped with a new 4Motion all-wheel-drive system with R-Performance Torque Vectoring which is linked to the Vehicle Dynamics Manager (VDM), electronic centre and rear differential and Adaptive Chassis Control to deliver precise and agile dynamic handling ability.
As far as performance is concerned, the Golf 8 R will take just 4.8 seconds to reach 100 kph from standstill and will go on to reach a top speed of 250 kph. Claimed fuel consumption is said to be 7.8 l/100km.
What features will be fitted as standard on the VW Golf 8 R?
The Golf 8 R will feature the firm’s latest digital and infotainment technology.
The VW Golf 8 R will be fitted with standard features including mobile inductive charging, a panoramic sunroof, Keyless Entry with safelock, an electric tailgate and luggage compartment as well as Volkswagen’s Discover Pro infotainment system with satellite navigation, Wireless App-Connect and Voice Control. Nappa leather upholstery will also be standard along with a Light and Vision Package including high-beam control light assist.
The Golf 8 R will ride on 19-inch Estoril alloy wheels as standard and will be offered with a choice of 3 exterior colours including Pure White, Lapiz Blue Metallic and Deep Black Pearl.
Buyers will also be able to choose from a selection of optional features including IQ.Light LED Matrix Headlights (R11 000), Akrapovič Exhaust (R73 000), Head-Up Display, Harman Kardon sound system (R12 600), Parallel Park Assist, Rear Assist with a rearview camera (R5000), Blind spot monitor with Rear Traffic Alert and Lane Assist with electronically folding side mirrors (R13 700), Travel Assist with Lane Assist and Adaptive Cruise Control (R12 500), IQ.Drive Adaptive Cruise Control with Front Assist, Autonomous Emergency Braking System (R12 000) as well as the Black Performance Package with drift mode, an increased top speed of 270 km/h and black 19-inch Estoril alloy wheels (R27 400).
How much will the VW Golf 8 R cost in South Africa?
Volkswagen Golf 8 R 2.0 TSI 235 kW DSG R912 800
The new Golf 8 R will be sold with a 3 year/120 000 km warranty, 5 year/ 100 000 km EasyDrive Maintenance Plan with service intervals every 15 000 km.
The new Mahindra Scorpio N has arrived in South Africa and our video man, Ciro De Siena, spent some time with the newcomer to bring you this consumer-rich review. Watch the video!
Mahindra has embarked on an assault of the South African market with a slew of new models, which boast high quality and high levels of specification. The brand’s latest model is this, the Scorpio N, which our video journalist found is a huge leap forward from the previous generation.
Mahindra is a full subsidiary of Mahindra and Mahindra, the Indian parent company. They have been trading in South Africa for 18 years and now have 74 dealerships across the country.
Join us for a thorough tour of the top-spec ZL8 model and let us know what you think of the newcomer in the comments below.
With perfectly formed roads sweeping high up from George and offering much to the keen driver, Mercedes-Benz’s C107-series 450SLC coupe and R107-series 350SL roadster make ideal, entertaining transport for the “job”.
IMAGES: Charles Russell
What is the value of a car? It is a question that will fuel many debates. The easy answer is: “Whatever a buyer is willing to pay for the vehicle”. Depending on your preference, though, there are cars that might seem like a bargain, especially compared to certain other models. Or, if your taste is similar to that of current market favourites, you might need to fork out more than you planned or anticipated.
Mercedes-Benz’s SL range has one of the longest family trees in the manufacturer’s history. Of course, there is the small matter of the car that laid the foundation for this range – the astonishingly beautiful 300SL. The square design of the R107 SL might not appeal to all buyers, but as the years have passed, their values have bottomed out and have slowly started to climb. They don’t quite come close to that of the more valuable Pagoda models though. The C107 SLC, however, is an altogether different story…
The comparison
After a morning spent in both of these cars, the similarities and differences quickly surface. From a distance, the coupe might seem little more than a hard-top version of the R107 SL. But, when you view them side by side and drive them back-to-back, you realise they were built for discrete market segments.
These cars belong to a collector in George. The owner purchased the Mercedes-Benz 350SL in 1989 (the previous owner had the incorrect 500SL badge fitted). I’m not objective, but the SL is finished in the perfect colour; first, it’s an uncommon shade for an R107, and second, because the interior matches the exterior perfectly. It has done 81,000 miles (130 000 km), although it is hard to find signs of the mileage.
This SL was produced in 1978 (registered in 1979), a year when only 743 of the 350SLs were made. When production ended, a total of 15 304 of the 350SL had rolled off Mercedes’s production line.
At the front, the headlights are adorned with petite wiper blades, a very uncommon sight in South Africa, which points to this SL’s roots… It was probably originally earmarked for the UK market as the water temperature is indicated in Fahrenheit and the oil pressure in lb/square inch.
Specifications
Model: Mercedes-Benz 350SL (R107, E35)
Engine: M116, 3.5-litre V8, petrol
Power: 149 kW at 5 800 rpm
Torque: 285 Nm at 4 000 rpm
Transmission: 3-speed auto, RWD
Weight: 1 540 kg
0-100 kph: 10.1 sec (claimed)
Top speed: 200 kph (claimed)
Years produced: 1971–1980
The SLC was unveiled at the 1971 Paris Motor Show, 2 months after production was halted on the 280SE 3.5. Interestingly, this 450SLC is a more recent purchase by the owner, who merely wanted to add the car to his collection of Mercedes-Benz coupes. Compared to the 3.5-litre V8 in the SL, the SLC has the stronger 4.5-litre V8 engine. Both examples are installed in conjunction with automatic transmissions.
While our photographer, Charles captures the first pictures, I take a proper look and the longer wheelbase of the SLC is immediately visible. This lends the SLC a different stance, especially from a front three-quarter view and in profile. In terms of elegance and style, the longer rear half of the SLC certainly looks classier than the shorter and compact dimensions of the SL. The more than 30 cm longer wheelbase plays another vital role once behind the wheel, which we will get to shortly.
Specifications
Model: Mercedes-Benz 450SLC (C107, E45)
Engine: M117, 4.5-litre V8
Power: 162 kW at 5 000 rpm
Torque: 360 Nm at 3 250 rpm
Transmission: 3-speed auto, RWD
Weight: 2 120 kg
0-100 kph: 9.3 sec (claimed)
Top speed: 210 kph (claimed)
Years produced: 1972–1980
Behind the ‘wheel of the Mercedes-Benz 350SL
I open the heavy, solid door of the Mercedes-Benz 350SL, and the compact cabin is roomy enough for two adults. The area behind the front seats offers additional luggage space.
As I start the engine, you realise this is a smaller V8 engine compared to Mercedes’s larger capacity V8 engines of the time. The engine’s voice is not as deep and purposeful as that of the 450SLC.
As I pull away, I point the nose of the Mercedes-Benz 350SL along the mountain pass’s corners that flow up the side of the valley, and the SL quickly settles into a comfortable rhythm. I am probably working the engine slightly harder than I would have if it was a 500SL.
Even so, the engine pulls with a level of vigour I didn’t expect, especially as you approach the final 3rd of the rev range. With the steering wheel close to the dashboard, you feel in total control. This feeling is highlighted by the sensitive steering the moment you turn either side from dead centre.
It’s apparent from the scuttle shake that it is a cabriolet (although the cabin still feels solid), but honestly, as I settle into a relaxing cruise, appreciating the view, I soon forget about the slight body flex. With the speedometer at an indicated 100 kph, the engine revs in top gear at 3 000 rpm.
As I pull into the lookout point I park the Mercedes-Benz 350SL and discuss my findings with the owner. He was keen for me to immediately slide behind the wheel of the 450SLC. I oblige and with the engine ticking over, there is already a slightly more serious tone from under the bonnet.
Unlike today’s powerful machines with engineered exhaust tones, the aural experience from these earlier cars is dominated by their engine sounds.
The cabin feels familiar to that of the 350SL, although there is a welcoming amount of space for small, adult passengers in the rear. The odo indicates 170 000 km, most of which was clocked up by previous owners; the current owner bought it 12 years ago. Since then, it has been resprayed in the original colour.
A similar view over the bonnet could fool you into believing you are driving an SL. However, the moment you reach for the safety belt, you realise it is a different car; it is positioned further back.
I press the accelerator closer to the floor and there is a noticeable amount of available torque, especially below 3 000 rpm. In the 350SL you have to use slightly higher revs to keep up. But, press the long pedal to the stop, and the slight gain in horsepower and 26% gain in torque suddenly comes into play. The 450SLC pulls stronger and, owing to its longer wheelbase, is marginally more stable through the corners.
It feels as if the car settles quicker and is more composed than the Mercedes-Benz 350SL. The unyielding road behaviour had me pushing the car a little harder; after all, it was Mercedes-Benz’s sporting coupe.
By moving the transmission lever into the “S” position, the ‘box immediately switches to a lower gear. It retains a gear for a few seconds longer as the rev needle climbs closer to the red line and shifts to the next gear only around the 5 500 rpm mark.
Which one?
After driving both cars it is clear they’re from the same era; they offer very similar driving experiences. Of course, the SL’s roof can be lowered, enough of a feature for many buyers to not even consider the SLC. As a long-distance cruiser or even just for a Sunday drive, you can make a strong case for the SLC.
The pillarless side profile and those unique vertical blinds are two elements which make it so attractive. Motorsport enthusiasts will also point you in the direction of small victories the SLC achieved at the time, such as the 11th Rally Bandama in the Ivory Coast in 1979. A 450SLC 5.0, driven by team Mikkola/Hertz won this 5 500-km African event.
Summary
However, as one fellow enthusiast and collector once told me: “If the roof drops, the price goes up.” A valid remark but, if you can appreciate the breeze offered in the 450SLC when all the windows are open, it is possibly just as attractive an experience as that offered in the Mercedes-Benz 350SL.
As so many SLCs were produced, it is understandable that the general buyer doesn’t regard them as collectors’ pieces – and that will probably be the case for the immediate future. However, as demand for the R107-series SL increases, its 2-door sibling is unlikely to stand in its shadow for much longer.
