AARTO Demerit System Not Happening (Updated)

The implementation of the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) act will be rolled out in phases according to Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula, with the Points Demerit System scheduled to be introduced in 2022.

Update: As of 13th January 2022, many SA news websites are reporting that the AARTO Amendment Act has been declared unconstitutional and invalid. SA motorists can relax as the demerit system has basically been postponed indefinitely.

You can read the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (Aarto) Bill here

Many South Africans (including Cars.co.za), were under the impression that AARTO would come into effect on 1 July 2021, but this isn’t the case. Earlier this year it was reported that the AARTO act might be delayed due a forensic investigation into alleged maladministration at the Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA) and its CEO and Registrar, Japh Chuwe, has, along with other senior managers, since been suspended.

It’s now been announced that the Department of Transport will adopt a phased approach to the implementation of AARTO but the Automobile Association (AA) believes that further delays could be on the cards.

“Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula announced a phased-in approach to the roll-out of AARTO but these phases can really only be implemented once the regulations are finalised and enacted. This process may delay the final implementation of the system scheduled for July 2022. Today’s communication, though, should have been made weeks ago as many people believed it was coming into force today. Despite this, we at least have a better roadmap going forward, but much of that relies on the finalisation of the regulations which must happen before any meaningful roll-out can occur,” said the AA.

AARTO roll-out phased announced

The 4 phases for the rollout of the AARTO act as announced by Fikile Mbalula are as follows:

Phase 1 – Present to 30 September 2021: 7 AARTO outlets established nationally and eNATIS will be enabled to collect AARTO payments. A motorist education campaign will also be implemented.

Phase 2 – 1 October 2021 to 31 December 2021: 67 local metropolitan authorities expected to ‘come online’ for AARTO processing. Adjudication process and Appeals Tribunal to start functioning. 18 additional AARTO outlets will be established.

Phase 3 – 1 January 2022 to 30 June 2022: 144 municipal areas to be added to the AARTO system.

Phase 4 – 1 July 2022: Introduction of the Points Demerit System as well as the rehabilitation programme for repeat offenders which is regarded as the backbone of AARTO.

AARTO has been criticised for not wholly promoting road safety but is rather a mechanism to generate revenue and while the AA supports the introduction of a points demerit system, the body recognises that legislation alone is not enough to alter poor driving behaviour in South Africa.

“South Africa’s annual road fatality rates are among the highest in the world per capita and amount to a national crisis. Legislation such as AARTO can only assist in reducing these numbers if there is proper implementation and effective law enforcement that supports it. For us, more attention must be given to the root causes of poor road safety, rather than simply introducing a system without consideration of the capacity of traffic law enforcement and other state services to implement it. Doing this will also speed up the process of achieving better road safety in our country,” said the AA.

What is the Points Demerit System and how will it work?

The proposed points demerit system is very similar to what is already used in several European countries. Essentially, points are added onto motorists’ licences if they commit a road offence. Once the motorist has reached a certain number of points, the licence can be suspended and if the motorist continues to commit offences, the licence can be taken away or effectively cancelled.

The law for the points system was signed in September 1998 as part of the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) Act 46 of 1998.

The amendments include the removal of the courts from the AARTO process which is to be replaced by a dedicated Road Traffic Infringement Authority, which is to be largely funded by traffic fine revenue. Transgressors will be required to make written representations to the authority while the bill also makes provision for an Appeals Tribunal, allowing for motorists to challenge infringements within 30 days. If these options are not exercised within the required time frame, the issuing of a driver’s license or vehicle license disc will be blocked and demerit points imposed.

What this means is that if you do not pay your traffic fines, you may be blocked from renewing your driving and vehicle licences. Previously, documents had to be sent via registered mail, but this bill now means that documents can be served by email with reminders over WhatsApp and SMS. Frustratingly, the option for motorists to challenge the prosecution in court has been removed.

The Points Demerit System will work as follows:

– Each driver starts off with zero points.

– Points are allocated according to infringements or offences committed (there are different values for different infringements and offences)

– Points are incurred (allocated) on the date a penalty (fine) is paid or when the person is convicted of the offence (as the case may be)

– Operators receive points separately from their drivers (ie a transport company receives points allocated to the operator’s permit)

– When you have more than 12 points, the licence (and/or operator card) is suspended with effect from 32 days after the maximum points have been reached. 3 suspensions will result in the cancellation of the license.

– The suspension period is calculated in months equal to the number of points exceeding 12, multiplied by three (or such number as may be prescribed by the Minister of Transport)

– The number of points (demerits) added will depend on the severity of the offence

– The driver/operator may apply for the return of the license on expiry of the suspension (disqualification) period

– A driver/operator who is disqualified for the third time will permanently lose the license/operator card and will have to reapply for testing and issue (as if a first time license/operator applicant) after expiry of the disqualification period.

– Demerit points will be reduced (for all persons/operators) at a flat rate of one point per every 3 months (or as otherwise prescribed), except in the case where the evidence points to the fact that the process has been deliberately delayed to obtain a reduction in points.

How Many Points Can You Earn

These are just a few examples of infringement, the bill contains over 2 600 charges which drivers can be held to account. You can find a draft of the regulations here.

Will It Work?

The points system is not a bad one and it’ll quickly send a message to those flouting the law. The key issue, as ever, is enforcement and getting the visible policing out on the roads to catch the offenders. Do you think the points system will have any effect on stemming the carnage on South Africa’s roads?

Spy Shots: 2024 BMW M5

The 2024 BMW M5 has been spotted on the roads. With an all-new V8 hybrid powertrain, the new performance flagship sedan should be both fast and efficient.

Picture credit: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien. We have paid for these photos and at the photographer’s request, have watermarked them.

Rumours of the death of the performance sedan have been greatly exaggerated as the 2024 BMW M5 has been spotted out in public, albeit camouflaged.

It is still early days as our spy photographers say the all-new BMW M5 will appear in 2024, with the standard 5 Series sedan hitting the market in 2023. The tell-tale cues are all there, big wheels with ventilated brakes as well as the trademark 4-exhaust setup at the rear.

Keen-eyed spotters will notice the ‘hybrid test vehicle’ sticker on the door, and that gives us some idea of what the new 2024 BMW M5 will be powered by. The BMW Concept XM press release made mention of an electrified V8 engine that boasted staggering outputs of 550 kW and 1 000 Nm. There’s talk of a pure electric range of up to 80 km too.

Going over the 500 kW mark means that this all-new model comfortably outguns the current hardcore BMW M5 CS with its 467 kW and 750 Nm, and we reckon it should be able to get to 100 kph in just under 3 seconds. The key factor here will be weight and while the BMW M5 is a large sedan, the hybrid tech and battery will add substantial weight.

There is also a rumour that the next BMW M5 will also be offered in a pure electric setup that will be pitched as a Tesla Model S rival, but we’re not convinced as the carmaker will be building on its i brand. There’s already a flagship BMW iX M60 which has just been announced.

The new BMW 5 Series could be revealed before the end of 2022.

Mitsubishi Vision Ralliart Concept is no Evo

New stuff from Ralliart – on a PHEV.

Mitsubishi has an extraordinary legacy of performance cars, the most famous of which were evolutions of the Lancer sedan.

These giant-killing Lancer Evos were developed and marketed under the Ralliart sub-brand, and Mitsubishi is struggling to keep that name relevant.

The latest offering from Mitsubishi is the Vision Ralliart Concept, which looks very purposeful, but remains an Outlander – in reality.

Where Ralliart was once a byword for trick differentials and outrageous turbocharged engines, the sub-brand is now simply a cosmetic presence on Mitsubishis.

The Vision Ralliart Concept is distinguished by huge 22-inch wheels, which hide larger brake discs and 6-pot callipers. Why an Outlander would need massive wheels (which debit ride quality) and a significant brake upgrade, remain a mystery.

To accommodate those enormous wheels, the Vision Ralliart Concept features bolder wheel arches. Mitsubishi claims the larger wheels and tyres enhance cornering grip, but they will also increase rolling resistance. Not ideal on a PHEV, such as the Outlander.

Beyond the wheel wells, Mitsubishi has finished the Vision Ralliart Concept with some lower bumper reshaping, front and rear, and a sealed-off front grille. Signature Ralliart styling details, such as scarlet mudflaps, are disappointingly absent on this new Vision Ralliart Concept.

The strategy with Ralliart appears to be a repositioning, from limited-edition Mitsubishi performance vehicles to a role as an in-house accessories brand for Triton. It will be a difficult sell for historic Mitsubishi Lancer Evo followers.

It also creates a marketing problem for Mitsubishi, which no longer competes in rallying, but wishes to continue using the Ralliart moniker.

BMW Tops Global Premium Sales in 2021

BMW has claimed the leading sales position in the premium segment after achieving record global sales results in 2021.

BMW Group (BMW, Mini, Rolls-Royce) has rocked the sales charts in 2021 with a total of 2 521 525 units delivered resulting in 8.4% year-on-year sales growth. BMW alone delivered 2 213 795 units to customers, representing year-on-year growth of 9.1%, making the Bavarian firm the sales leader in the global premium segment.

But that’s not all. BMW has been forging ahead with its electrification strategy and for 2021, BMW reports that electric sales more than doubled to 103 855 units! More so, BMW is optimistic about its sales prospects in 2022 and the firm will aim to further expand on its EV success and will look to more than double EV sales in 2022.

“Despite supply bottlenecks and the continuing coronavirus pandemic: We achieved a strong sales performance in 2021, thanks to a powerful operational performance and stellar product line-up. Our brands reported numerous all-time best sales results around the globe – spearheaded by the BMW brand, which is number one in the global premium segment. With more than 100,000 fully-electric vehicles sold last year, ramping up electromobility was our clear focus” said Pieter Nota, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Customer, Brands, Sales.

It’s worthwhile noting that 13% (37 939 units) of BMW and Mini vehicles sold worldwide in 2021 were EVs. In Europe alone, BMW and Mini achieved 23% (225 415 unite) EV sales.

The BMW iX3 achieved 37 939 worldwide sales while the BMW i3’s sales performance grew by 5.4% with 28 216 units delivered to customers. The Mini Electric also posted impressive results with global sales of 34 851 units.

Late in 2021 BMW launched the iX and the i4 and in 2022 the firm will welcome all-electric version of the 7 Series and X1 while a high volume electric 5 Series is expected in 2023. Over the next 10 years, BMW aims to sell roughly 10 million EVs!

Rolls-Royce will be an all-electric brand by 2030 and so will Mini.

Rolls-Royce posted its highest ever sales result in 2021 with a 48.7% year-on-year increase with 5 586 units delivered worldwide. The Ghost, Cullinan and all Black Badge derivatives proved to be hugely popular in China, the Americas and the Asia-Pacific region. The first all-electric Rolls-Royce Spectre is due for market introduction in Q4 2023.

BMW M Also Posts Record Sales

BMW’s M performance arm also reported all-time global record sales results with 163 542 M vehicles reaching customers in 2021 and representing an increase of 13.4%. The new BMW M3 and M4 were standout performers while sales of the X5 M and X6 M also boomed. The X3 M40i and X7 M50i also proved popular as did the 4 Series Coupe. In 2022, BMW expects the iX M60 and the i4 M50 to make positive sales contributions.

BMW EVs for SA in 2022

BMW will be introducing the iX3 SUV and i4 sedan in South Africa in the second quarter of 2022.

The iX3 is essentially an electrified version of the firm’s popular X3 SUV. Powering the 2022 BMW iX3 is an electric motor that’s packaged with the gearbox and electronics in one single housing. Outputs are rated at 210 kW and 400 Nm, and BMW says its updated iX3 is good for a 0-100 kph of just 6.8 seconds. Power consumption is said to be 18.9 – 18.5 kWh/100 km and the vehicle has a range of 460 km based on the WLTP cycle. Fast-charging is available and a 10-minute charge from a 150 kW charger will give you around 100 km of range.

As for the i4 eDrive40 sedan, it will offer 250 Nm and 430 Nm with a claimed range of around 483 km using an 83.9 kWh battery and a zero to 100 kph sprint time of about 5.9 seconds. There is a possibility that BMW will offer an i4 M50 derivative with at least 400 kW and a zero to 100kph sprint capability of 3.9 seconds but with a reduced range of 394 km.

Buy a used BMW on Cars.co.za

10 best-selling bakkies in South Africa: December 2021

We’ve laid our paws on detailed Naamsa figures and picked out the country’s best-selling bakkies for the month. Here’s what you need to know!

While the year-on-year sales performance of South Africa’s total new vehicle market fell 3.5% in December 2021, the decline was a little more aggressive in the light-commercial space at 16.6%. This part of the market, of course, is dominated by bakkies, with a handful of dropside workhorses and commercial vans thrown in for good measure.

Here, we’ll concentrate on exactly how the individual players in the traditional bakkie market fared in the final month of 2021. We’ve combed through the statistics to identify the models that proved most popular with local buyers as well as those that found themselves languishing at the very foot of the table.

Predictably, the venerable Toyota Hilux was the strongest-selling bakkie in December, with 2 426 units registered. The Prospecton-built Hilux finished 2021 with a considerable tally of 36 085 units, again making it the country’s top-selling vehicle by quite some margin. With a new flagship GR-S version set to hit the market towards the middle of the year, the Hilux’s crushing dominance shows no signs of abating.

Isuzu D-Max — *Despite a new model being just a few months away, the old D-Max continues to sell well.*

Despite its advanced age and the fact a new-generation version is scheduled to (finally!) launch in the second quarter of 2022, the Struandale-produced Isuzu D-Max snaffled second spot for the second month on the trot, with its total of 1 247 units putting it 318 sales ahead of the third-placed Ford Ranger, which ended the month on lower-than-usual 929 units. It’s worth noting the current Ranger will soldier on until late in 2022, when the new version (complete with V6 power) is expected to start rolling off the upgraded Silverton line for the local market.

GWM’s P-Series (724 units) continued its strong run, again grabbing an impressive fourth place, while the Nissan NP200 – long the sole surviving half-tonne bakkie on the local market and thus virtually unchallenged in its sub-segment – moved up one spot to fifth with a solid 565 units.

Meanwhile, the facelifted Nissan Navara (477 units) fell one place to sixth, with the Rosslyn-built bakkie ending up just a handful of units ahead of the seventh-placed Mahindra Pik Up (463 units). Toyota’s evergreen Land Cruiser 79 range – which now includes a pair of 70th Anniversary Edition derivatives – was eighth with 163 units, pushing the recently upgraded GWM Steed (138 units) down to ninth.

The Volkswagen Amarok – which will be replaced by an as-yet-unrevealed second-generation model based on the new Ranger and likewise produced right here in South Africa – rounded out the top 10 with 124 examples registered.

Best of the rest in December 2021

So, what about the bit-part players? Well, the Mahindra Bolero found 52 buyers in December. Peugeot registered 38 units of its Landtrek in what was the Chinese-built bakkie’s first full month on sale, enough to put it just ahead of the often-overlooked Mitsubishi Triton (32). The Mazda BT-50, meanwhile, continued to disappoint on the sales charts, with the imported D-Max-based bakkie settling for a mere 14 units for the month.

Export winners in December 2021

While the Ranger found itself quite some way off the pace in terms of local sales in the final month of 2021, its export figure of 5 093 units wasn’t far behind the Hilux’s tally of 5 771 units. The D-Max (292) was third in the export race, ahead of the facelifted Navara (232). Interestingly, Nissan also shipped off 158 examples of its Hardbody – a model that has since been discontinued locally – during the month.

10 best-selling bakkies in South Africa for December 2021

1. Toyota Hilux – 2 426 units

2. Isuzu D-Max – 1 247 units

3. Ford Ranger – 929 units

4. GWM P-Series – 724 units

5. Nissan NP200 – 565 units

6. Nissan Navara – 477 units

7. Mahindra Pik Up – 463 units

8. Toyota Land Cruiser 79 – 163 units

9. GWM Steed – 138 units

10. Volkswagen Amarok – 124 units

Eleksa CityBug is the Cheapest EV in SA, but is 4kW enough?

Following successful homologation, the Eleksa CityBug is now the cheapest Electric Vehicle (EV) you can buy in South Africa.

The year 2022 will be an important one for the introduction of new Electric Vehicle (EV) products in South Africa. Luxury brands such as Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz will be welcoming a flurry of new EV products to the local market and by the end of the year, South African buyers will, for the first time ever, have the luxury to choose from a much wider range of EVs.

However, all of these forthcoming luxury EVs, as well as the EVs currently on sale in South Africa (including the Porsche Taycan, Jaguar I-Pace, Volvo XC40 Recharge, BMW i3 and Mini Cooper SE), will all have one thing in common — hefty price tags.

The Chinese-built Eleksa CityBug, however, bucks the trend and is now the cheapest EV you can buy in South Africa with a retail price of R230 000. It’s also the weakest EV you can buy as it’s powered by a 4kW electric motor and 9kWh battery that delivers a useable range of 100 km which can be extended to 200km upon request.

The CityBug isn’t likely to blow your hair back either as its top speed is rated at 60 kph. Charging from empty to full charge will take roughly 6 hours using a standard 220V home socket. More so, Eleksa says that the cost of charging is roughly 15c/km, the equivalent of about R15 for a full charge.

The Eleksa CityBug is ideal for city use and is squarely aimed at the short distance delivery market which is currently predominantly served by scooters.

So, what do you get for your money?

Well, the Eleksa CityBug measures 2 960 mm long, 1 480 mm wide and 1 520 mm tall. It has 2 doors with seating for 4 passengers. Load-carrying capacity is rated at 300 kg.

Other notable features include 12-inch alloy wheels, artificial leather upholstery with contrasting stitching, an android-based tablet infotainment system with Bluetooth and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, sound system, reverse camera, USB ports, air conditioning and electric windows.

Eleksa has been selling other electric products such as scooters, bikes, trikes, ATV’s, mobility vehicles and work vehicles for 6 years in South Africa and the CityBug joined its local offering in 2021 with first customers taking delivery in December 2021.

The Eleksa CityBug is also on sale in other markets including Germany, the UK, Spain and Uruguay.

We spoke to Eleksa spokesperson, Philip Geyser, who confirmed the local availability of the CityBug as well considerable interest from local businesses. Geyser also highlighted Eleksa’s intent to bring new affordable EVs to South Africa in 2022, including a small electric bakkie (expected in May 2022) as well as a small family SUV (expected in November 2022).

We have already seen the Eleksa CityBug in use in South Africa and we wouldn’t be surprised if it becomes a more common sight in months to come. Watch this space!

Cape 1000: Get Your Entry In

Inspired by “the most beautiful race in the world”, the Mille Miglia, the Cape 1000 is a new classic car event that will take place in the Western Cape in March 2022. Only 60 cars will be selected to take part, so if you think you have a car worthy of the Cape 1000, then here’s what you need to know!

If you’re a dyed-in-the-wool petrolhead, then the name “Mille Miglia” will immediately stir emotions. This storied 1 000-mile race took place in Italy from 1927 to 1957, and helped cement iconic names such as Tazio Nuvolari and Stirling Moss in our memories of motorsport’s golden era. The spirit of the “Mille Miglia” actually still thrives to this day. Since 1977 it has been run as an historic rally that attracts some 350 high-profile entrants annually, all in cars manufactured between the original racing years. The event is so admired, that so-called “tribute” races have popped up around the world, in places such as Japan, the United States, Dubai and now, for the first time, in South Africa, with the announcement of the Cape 1000.

With the most incredible scenery and roads that the Western Cape has to offer, it is the obvious location for a similar road rally that pays tribute to “the most beautiful race in the world.” The event will be run in partnership with SCL Travel and Cars.co.za.

“We are excited to be paying tribute to such an incredible part of motorsport history right here in the fair Cape,” says Dave Alexander, Route Convenor. “With some of the best and rarest motor vehicles taking part, it should be quite a spectacle!”

“Classic car culture is alive and kicking in South Africa,” added Hannes Oosthuizen, Consumer Experience Manager at Cars.co.za. “We are thrilled to partner with the Cape 1000’s organisers, and look forward to bringing all the glamour and excitement to our audiences, across all our platforms, including Youtube. We are also excited to confirm that we will be participating – and documenting the journey – in the Cape 1000 with our freshly restored Ford Capri Perana!”

Cape 1000 organiser, Ross Crichton, commented, “For this inaugural 1000 Mile Tribute event we decided on a limit of 60 cars, and I’m pleased to announce that just about half of those available slots have already been snapped up!”

The event, which takes place from 8-13 March 2022, will be run over the course of four days (five nights). It will include grand touring, regularity stages and non-competitive track events. Entries are limited to certain brands, models and by invitation or application (and subject to approval by the admissions committee to ensure a line-up of top-end entrants).

The categories are;

1927-1957: Mille Miglia Specific
Pre-1976: Classic
1977-1996: Modern Classic
1997-2021: Sports

“Based on the feedback thus far, we anticipate a stellar line-up of rare and exotic vehicles, ranging from cars nearly 90 years old, to more recent, modern classics,” says Crichton. It promises to be quite a fantastic sight when the 60 entrants leave the starting point at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town in March next year”, he adds. He encourages owners who are unsure about the eligibility of their cars to get in touch.

Some of the Mille Miglia Class cars already confirmed include a super-rare 1961 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster, a 1955 Jaguar XK140 OTS, 1974 Porsche 911 2.7 RS as well as an iconic 1990 Ferrari F40. Other entrants from the Franschhoek Motor Museum could include a Bristol 401, a 1957 MGA, 1956 Triumph TR3 and 1934 MG K-Type.

Beneficiaries of the Cape 1000 include the Motorsport Legends Benevolent Fund and QuadPara Association of South Africa (QASA).

Registrations are now open on www.cape1000.com or by contacting [email protected]. Entries close on 24 January 2022.

Follow thecape1000 on Instagram.

New Car Sales in SA: December 2021

Take a look at what transpired in terms of new car sales in South Africa during the month of December 2021 as well as what to expect in 2022!

New car sales remain under pressure but the local automotive industry bounced back somewhat in 2021.

Covid-19 wreaked havoc on the industry in 2020 with a massive 29.2% decline in new car sales. Consequently, 2021 was a year of recovery with a year-on-year increase of 22.1% and total industry sales amounting to 464 122 units. Those gains are fairly impressive when you consider the major challenges faced by the industry during 2021, such as global supply chain disruptions, stock shortages, load-shedding, increasing fuel costs, cyberattacks, strikes and civil unrest.

December 2021 new car sales reflected mixed results as indicated below.

New Car Sales for December 2021

Aggregate new car sales of 35 948 units down by 3.5% (-1 302 units) compared to December 2020
New passenger car sales of 24 949 units up by 1.7% (+408 units) compared to December 2020
Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) sales of 8 990 units down by 16.6% (-1 794 units) compared to December 2020
Export sales of 21 430 units up by 19.4% (+3 487 units) compared to December 2020

Top 10 Car Brands in South Africa fro December 2021

1. Toyota – 9 580 units

2. Volkswagen – 5 131 units

3. Hyundai – 2 892 units

4. Nissan – 2 417 units

5. Ford – 2 181 units

6. Suzuki – 2 102 units

7. Kia – 1 862 units

8. Renault – 1 758 units

9. Isuzu – 1 481 units

10. Haval – 1 453 units

Best-Selling Cars in South Africa for December 2021

1. Toyota Hilux – 2 426 units

2. VW Polo Vivo – 2 028 units

3. Toyota Corolla Cross – 1 752 units

4. Isuzu D-Max – 1 247 units

5. Toyota Starlet – 1 180 units

6. Toyota Hi-Ace – 1 019 units

7. Ford Ranger – 929 units

8. Suzuki Swift – 798 units

9. VW T-Cross – 766 units

10. Ford EcoSport – 765 units

New Car Sales Outlook for 2022

Many of the above-mentioned challenges will continue to have a negative impact on the local automotive industry in 2022 and the global semi-conductor shortage will continue to affect stock availability for certain models for the short to medium term.

Loadshedding will continue to hamper and prevent the economy from reaching full capacity while rising interest rates will negatively impact vehicle affordability and apply further pressure to household budgets. As a result, economic recovery will be slowed.

The GDP growth forecast for 2022 is pegged at 1.8% and the new vehicle market is expected to recover slowly during the year with an aggregate year-on-year improvement of 8% expected. Export performance is expected to improve by 15% while local vehicle production is expected to increase by 17%.

New Ford Ranger V8 Possible

The new Ford Ranger might gain Mustang V8 power!

Ford’s new Ranger will have a V6 turbodiesel engine. That’s no secret.

But what could be even more interesting is the potential of a V8-powered Ranger.

The current T6 Ranger was going to receive a V8 derivative, but that project never evolved into production maturity. That doesn’t mean the idea has faded into obscurity.

How could a V8 Ranger happen? Thanks to the Bronco, that’s how! Ford has seen tremendous demand for its revived Bronco and a competition-specification version, which uses the brand’s Coyote 5.0-litre V8 petrol engine.

With the Bronco built on an advanced Ranger platform, the proof of concept exists for a V8 double-cab version of Ford’s global bakkie.

Speaking to CarsGuide.com, Trevor Worthington, Ford’s vice-president of global product development, and Mark Rushbook, Ford Performance motorsports global director, alluded to the appeal of a V8 Ranger.

Worthington recognized the parts commonality between Bronco and Ranger. “There is a lot of that Bronco DR that is standard Bronco. And the underpinning of the standard Bronco and the underpinnings of the new Ranger, is the same architecture.”

Rushbook echoed the sentiments. Regarding the Bronco DR V8, it is worth remembering how this is an Australian project, not an American one. “It’s developed by our team in Melbourne. So, there’s a lot of opportunity.”

Melbourne is where the Ranger T6, Everest and new Ranger have been developed. It is the location for one of Ford’s global engineering hubs.

The global demand for high-performance double-cab bakkies shows no sign of ebbing. And that could be an adequate incentive for Ford to finally bring a V8 Ranger to fruition.

Buy a used Ford Ranger on Cars.co.za

Volkswagen ID.Buzz Production Reveal in March 2022

After a long wait, the all-electric Volkswagen ID.Buzz aka Kombi will be revealed in March 2022.

The news comes directly from the Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess who confirmed in a tweet that the production version of the ID.Buzz will be revealed on the 9th March 2022.

The reveal in March 2022 is a long time coming, with the original concept making its debut at the Paris Motor Show back in 2016. The tweet was accompanied by a simple drawn animation, that gives us some idea of what the new Volkswagen ID.Buzz will look resemble, but sadly it does appear that some of the futuristic elements from the concept have been lost.

We’ve already had a chance to see a preview of the new model, as Volkswagen teased the ID.Buzz during the ID.5 presentation.

Under the skin, the Volkswagen ID.Buzz is expected to share the same platform and running gear as the ID.4. The VW MEB platform will serve as the base and if the ID.4’s lineup is anything to go by, the electric buss will have a multi-model portfolio. An entry-level model with a single electric motor and 150 kW/310 Nm is expected to kick off the range. The top-spec will feature all-wheel drive and have two motors producing 220 kW and 459 Nm. An estimated range of around 480 km could be possible.

The Volkswagen ID electric family is growing at a considerable pace, with the brand offering a product for nearly every segment it sells an ICE equivalent in. The Volkswagen ID.3 kicked things off, offering a Golf-sized hatchback with the entry-level bringing 330 km to the party.