As the official distributor of Tesla Energy products in South Africa (such as the Tesla PowerWall), Rubicon South Africa worked for months to legally import a Model X into South Africa.
And it has been a huge success. The car is the best rolling billboard you could hope for, attracting attention wherever it goes.
The Rubicon team also tours the country with it, proving you can do long-distance road trips in South Africa with an electric car.
For our video guy, Ciro De Siena, this was a career highlight and a dream come true. We were afforded a few hours with the Tesla Model X and produced this video for you. Watch as Ciro takes you through the awesome infotainment system, plays Asteroids with the steering wheel, experiences the ludicrous acceleration, explains the power figures and maximum range, opens the falcon-wing doors, and shows the boot space.
Let us know what you think of the Tesla Model X in the comments below.
Toyota Land Cruiser 70th Anniversary Edition in SA
Toyota is celebrating the 70th anniversary of the formidable Land Cruiser with the introduction of a special Land Cruiser 70th Anniversary Edition which is now available in South Africa. See specification and pricing details below…
Over the course of 70 years, the Toyota Land Cruiser has earned the reputation of being one of the hardiest offroaders on earth. Rewind to 1951, the year the military-use and super-capable Toyota BJ came to life. The BJ was in 1954 called the Land Cruiser and sold to the public and the rest is history.
While we ogle at the marvel that is the new Land Cruiser LC300, Toyota is honouring the heritage of the Land Cruiser with the market introduction of a special 79-series Anniversary Edition that’s now available in either single or double-cab guise.
What’s on offer?
The Land Cruiser’s go-anywhere ability has made it hugely successful over the course of 70 years.
The Toyota Land Cruiser 70th Anniversary Edition includes features that boost not only its utility but also its appearance.
The model is easily recognised with 70-year emblems seen on the bodywork as well on the cotton cloth seat covers. The familiar Toyota roundel has also been replaced with Toyota lettering and badges on the doors are familiar from the iconic Land Cruiser 40-series.
As far as practical additions go, the model gains a heavy-duty front steel bumper with an integrated winch, because you never know when you might need to rescue a Land Rover! A towbar is also fitted. The load bed is also protected with 3mm rubber lining.
Buyers can choose between Ivory White and Sand Beige body colours.
The Land Cruiser 70th Anniversary Edition is powered by a 4.5-litre V8 turbodiesel engine with 151 kW and 430 Nm and is paired with a 5-speed manual transmission.
How much does the Toyota Land Cruiser 70th Anniversary Edition cost?
Pricing includes a 3-year/100 00km warranty and customers are able to purchase a service plan package of their choice at one of Toyota’s 220 dealerships nationwide.
The Navara recently received an extensive update and is now produced at Nissan’s assembly plant in Rosslyn. Has Nissan done enough to reignite interest in its bakkie offering, which has been optimised for the local market? We’ve had an opportunity to sample the range-topping Navara Pro-4X 4×4 to find some answers…
We like: Bold styling, adequate performance, comfortable ride quality
We don’t like: Cabin execution (plastic and trim choice), not enough value for money
Fast Facts
Model tested: Nissan Navara 2.5DDTi Pro-4X 4×4 Automatic
Price: R749 000 (As of December 2021)
Engine: 2.5-litre turbodiesel
Power/Torque: 140 kW / 450 Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic
Fuel economy: 8.1 L/100km (claimed)
What is it?
The updated Nissan Navara is arguably the best-looking bakkie in South Africa. Wouldn’t you agree?
You could be forgiven for thinking that this is an all-new Navara, but it is, in actual fact, a thoroughly-revised iteration of the 3rd-generation Navara, which was introduced in the local market in 2017 and, importantly, it’s now built right here in South Africa at Nissan’s Rosslyn production facility.
From a styling perspective, we think it looks fantastic – we love the bold, powerful and squared-off look of this latest Navara! In fact, we think it’s one of the best-looking double-cab bakkies on the market right now. That’s a good thing, because the Navara needs to stand out from its more popular rivals such as the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger.
For this update, Nissan didn’t just focus on styling though. Perhaps most importantly, the Japanese firm has dropped a new (it’s actually the previous generation’s engine) 2.5-litre 4-cylinder turbodiesel motor into the engine bay, revised the bakkie’s suspension- as well as its steering setups – and beefed up the safety specification, to name a few of the major changes. Is it enough for the Navara to remain relevant in this segment, however?
We spent some quality time (finally) with the range-topping Navara Pro-4X 4×4 to find out if it’s worthy of your attention. Let’s dive in…
How it performs in terms of…
Engine performance and economy
The Navara employs a new engine and retains its notable offroad ability.
The pre-facelift Navara’s twin-turbocharged 2.3-litre turbocharged diesel engine has been replaced by a larger-capacity (2.5-litre), but single turbocharged diesel mill, but you may be disappointed to know that it’s not more powerful than its predecessor. The peak outputs are still pegged at 140 kW and 450 Nm. Even so, the Navara is still an ever-willing performer on the road!
Hit the engine start-stop button and the Navara’s engine chugs away with a hearty diesel thrum that’s perhaps not as refined as you’d expect. There’s some initial turbo lag off the line (but that’s not uncommon) before the Navara lunges forward with intent. Acceleration to highway speed is adequate, but not as urgent as a Ranger or Hilux; it’s a trait that was highlighted in our Big Bakkie Drag Race earlier this year. Once up to speed, however, the engine noise diminishes as the bakkie settles into its stride; we found it easy to execute swift overtaking manoeuvres at highway speeds in the Navara.
The 7-speed automatic transmission seems well calibrated to the 2.5-litre mill, but it’s not as smooth-shifting as some of the Nissan’s rivals’ boxes. At times, the transitions between gears felt a bit jerky.
This Navara returned fairly average fuel consumption for a vehicle of its size and engine capacity. Nissan claims 8.1 L/100 km and our test yielded figures of between 9.7 L/100 km and 10.2 L/100 km.
As far as off-roading is concerned, the Navara remains very capable and has proven itself numerous times. Nissan has retained the familiar shift-on-the-fly dial that allows drivers to easily switch between 2H, 4H and 4L as required, as well as an electronic rear diff-lock, which can be engaged at the press of a button if the 2.5DDTi Pro-4X 4×4 Automatic needs to tackle more challenging off-road routes or courses. Ground clearance is claimed to be (a useful) 221 mm and the Navara has an increased payload of 1 003 kg and a maximum braked-trailer towing capacity of 3 500 kg.
Ride and handling
The Navara’s ride and handling ability is good, but not class-leading…
Although this particular test unit wandered a little on the road (it tended to track slightly to the left), the Navara delivered a very comfortable and forgiving ride quality over various road surfaces. Nissan has tweaked the 5-link coil-sprung rear suspension and retuned the shock absorbers to improve the bakkie’s ride characteristics and the Navara, which was fitted with 17-inch alloy wheels, performed admirably on tar and gravel. Most bakkies suffer from a “jiggly” ride when unladen; that trait is less apparent on this model, but, again, the suspension felt more settled after cargo had been loaded onto the load tray.
The Navara’s revised steering setup makes its electrically-assisted ‘wheel light to wield in the city, which aided manoeuvrability. Still, one could feel the bakkie’s heft through the tiller, which felt imprecise and dopey (it wasn’t very responsive). As we mentioned before, this particular Navara didn’t feel particularly sharp in the handling department, which could have been because of a number of reasons.
Interior execution and features
Nissan missed an opportunity to enhance the Navara’s cabin. It’s simply average…
The Navara’s interior execution is, in our opinion, the biggest disappointment of the revised package. Nissan has upgraded the cabin, but it’s missed an opportunity to improve the ambience appreciably. Hard, scratchy plastics are the order of the day and while the perceived build quality is good, one can’t help but feel like you are sitting in a workhorse derivative that costs half of what this bakkie does…
It’s not all bad though… the leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel does look and feel stylish. The 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system is intuitive to operate and covers the basics in terms of connectivity with Bluetooth, voice recognition and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability. Navigation is also integrated into the system, for those who need it (most people use map apps these days).
The screen can also display a surround camera view of the Navara (which is made possible by the provision of 4 cameras at strategic positions), which is useful when you are unsighted while performing difficult off-roading manoeuvres or while you’re parking in a tight space (to see how close you are to obstacles that would otherwise be difficult to see).
Some of the key nice-to-have features offered in this range-topping Navara include leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, cruise control, rain-sensing wipers and keyless access. However, heated seats and adaptive cruise control would have been welcome additions.
As far as the safety specification is concerned, the Navara comes well-equipped with 7 airbags, ABS with EBD, brake assist, electronic stability control with traction control and hill-descent control. Driver assistance features (incorporated in the Nissan Intelligent Mobility suite) includes forward-collision warning, emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning and rear cross-traffic alert.
Rear passenger space is average, but taller passengers might struggle to get comfortable.
In terms of practicality, there are 2 cupholders in the front of the cabin, bottle holders are availed in the door mouldings and storage for oddments are located ahead of the transmission lever and in the central storage bin. Rear occupant space is only average for vehicles in this segment; taller passengers might find rear legroom a little tight.
Lastly, it’s worth mentioning that the Navara’s load bay doesn’t feature a protective bin coating as standard, but Nissan’s Utili-track with 4 adjustable cleats are fitted – they’re useful for tying down cargo.
Price and after-sales support
The range-topping Nissan Navara 2.5DDTi Pro-4X 4×4 Automatic is priced from R749 000 and is sold with a 6-year/150 000 km warranty and a 6-year/90 000 km service plan.
The Navara looks great, but the package is let down by its middling interior execution.
This latest iteration of the Nissan Navara is undoubtedly better than its predecessor. It has a purposeful kerb presence and offers good overall performance, including for those who like to venture off-road.
The overall product, however, is let down by its piecemeal interior execution. There’s simply not enough of a sense of occasion when you step into this range-topping Navara! Still, many buyers are looking for solidity and value and the lesser derivatives in this range offer a better more of that, because Nissan’s bakkie comes with a comprehensive warranty and service plan, both of which cannot be ignored.
Does this Navara offer enough to warrant your consideration? We think Nissan could have done better, and here’s why…
Firstly, we don’t think the 2.5DDTi Pro-4X 4×4 Automatic represents enough value for money for buyers of high-end leisure double cabs. If you want outright bang-for-buck over all else, then the range-topping GWM P-Series LT 4×4, priced from R559 900, can’t be beaten. You could save almost R200k by opting for the flagship GWM P-Series over its Navara counterpart!
Secondly, even though the Navara is competitively priced against the equivalent Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux derivatives, we don’t think the overall purchase proposition is strong enough to meaningfully compete against those of the top-selling bakkies. We suspect that many buyers won’t mind financing an additional R30-50k to get the benefit of notably more power and torque either.
The double-cab bakkie market is rapidly changing and, next year, numerous all-new products will be coming to market, such as the new Isuzu D-Max, Ford Ranger and new Volkswagen Amarok. With all the movement in the market and despite the Navara now being locally built, we suspect that the Navara’s relevance in the leisure double-cab segment will fade further into obscurity as we head into 2022.
That’s not to say the Navara does not have its place in the broader market; more soberly specified derivatives of the bakkie are still worth a look – but then there’s that new D-Max lurking in the shadows…
The BMW X4 LCI has touched down and here are the specifications as well as pricing for this model in South Africa.
Unlike the BMW X3, the X4 LCI is not built in South Africa and is instead imported from the BMW facility in Spartanburg, USA.
Bucking the trend of oversized grilles, the 2022 BMW X3 and X4 LCI features an updated version of the kidney grille, redesigned front and rear bumpers, new-look LED headlamps and some interestingly-styled rear LED taillights.
Inside, the 2022 BMW X3 and X4 LCI receive a new-look center console with the climate control now above the audio controls. There’s a new 10.250-inch infotainment screen, but if you go for the Live Cockpit Professional (standard on X4), there’s a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and a 12.3-inch screen on offer. There are also tweaks to the interior trim and materials.
What’s on offer?
BMW South Africa is offering the sporty coupe SUV in three flavours. Kicking off the range is likely to be regarded as the most sensible option. The xDrive20d is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine that produces 140 kW and 400 Nm, with power going to all 4 wheels via an 8-speed automatic gearbox. It’s said to consume just 5.6 L/100 km.
The rest of the range is petrol-powered and geared towards the enthusiasts. The next model is the M40i, which features a turbocharged 6-cylinder petrol engine delivering 285 kW and 500 Nm. It too features all-wheel drive and is capable of a 0-100 kph time of just 4.5 seconds, before running onto a top speed of 250 kph.
Finally, at the top of the pile comes the mighty X4 M Competition, which packs a big turbocharged 3.0-litre motor punching out 375 kW and 650 Nm. BMW claims a 0-100 kph time of just 3.9 seconds, thanks to a clever all-wheel drive system and a quick-shifting automatic gearbox.
Inside, the BMW X4 LCI M will receive powered M sport seats with illuminated M logos, Merino leather upholstery, Alcantara knee pads on the center console, the M multifunction steering wheel, M seat belts, and other goodies.
How much does the BMW X4 LCI cost in South Africa?
The BMW iX electric vehicle has done something remarkable. It achieved the highest possible five-star rating in the Euro NCAP safety assessment.
Car safety is something we take an interest in and it’s fascinating to see how far cars have come in terms of both crash avoidance as well as active safety measures. The Euro NCAP test program is brutal and the goalposts get moved very often, so if your product passed previously, you’ll likely struggle in the next year’s test. Of course, we’ve had some shockers too and few will forget the infamous zero-stars Datsun Go.
The Euro NCAP test not only focuses on the number of airbags as well as how strong the vehicle is, but also looks at the number of semi-autonomous safety features. This is the tech that will intervene if the driver isn’t paying attention, like your autonomous emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and rear cross-traffic alert to name but a few. While these sound like gimmicks, the Cars.co.za team all have had instances where their car has touched the brakes to avoid a minor incident.
In the era of the electric car, there are some additional complications. Firstly, there are the battery packs which represent a fire hazard and secondly, the packaging. Traditional internal combustion vehicles have a large heavy mass in the front of the car in the form of an engine which affects its safety rating, while electric cars have their batteries at the bottom and motors are on the axles. Despite these challenges and the strict Euro NCAP rating system, the new BMW iX came out on top when it achieved the highest possible five-star rating.
“The BMW iX sets new standards in sustainability, and its top rating of five stars in the Euro NCAP underlines the vehicle’s comprehensive sustainability concept,” says Dominik Schuster, Head of Vehicle Safety BMW. “The extremely stable body structure and the extended range of restraint systems ensure an outstanding level of occupant protection. In addition, the BMW iX scores highly both in the test programme and in everyday driving with innovative driver assistance systems that significantly reduce the risk of accidents in a wide array of situations.”
The BMW iX scored highly when it came to occupant protection as well as its advanced driver assistance systems, which are effective in helping to prevent accidents. Another highlight was the new airbag located between the driver and front passenger seat that helps negate the effects of a T-bone crash from the side. Child safety was also noteworthy for both front and side crashes.
The BMW iX is available in South Africa in two flavours; xDrive 40 and xDrive 50, and is priced from R1.65 million.
A much bigger i3 with 250 kW, but don’t expect it outside of anywhere but China.
There’s good news if you like the idea of an i3 but prefer a lockable metal boot instead of a liftgate.
Thanks to the Chinese product registration authorities, BMW’s latest 3 Series derivative has been outed: and it is an i3. Confused? Don’t be.
Pandering to the demand for electric vehicles in China, and the country’s bias toward sedans, BMW has created an i3 version of its current 3 Series. Literally.
The car in question has two badges on its bootlid: i3 on the left and eDrive 35 Li on the right. In terms of design, the only differences between this i3 eDrive 35 Li and any other 3 Series are the lack of exhausts, solid kidneys on the nose and model-specific alloy wheels.
Like most sedans in China, the eDrive 35 Li has a stretched wheelbase of 2.97m, compared to a European or South African specification 3 Series, which has its axles 2.85m apart. The overall length is 4.87m.
A longer wheelbase is usually a comfort feature, creating greater cabin dimensions. But on the eDrive 35 Li, it has an additional benefit: creating more space for the battery pack.
Although official powertrain specifications have not been confirmed, the eDrive 35 Li should be powered by a 250 kW electric motor – used by other BMW EVs. Battery capacity should also be similar to the i4 eDrive 40i, which would see an 80.7kWh energy density unit.
Electrification always has a weight penalty and the i3 eDrive 35 Li is much heavier than an internal-combustion powered 3 Series. Its kerb weight is 2 029 kg – not far off a luxury SUV.
Acceleration numbers are unconfirmed, but top speed is limited to 180 kph. With any electric vehicle range is the crucial statistic, and the i3 eDrive 35 Li should do 590 km before requiring a recharge.
We get behind the wheel of the new Audi e-tron S Sportback – one of the many electric cars the German brand will be offering to the South African market.
Audi South Africa has committed to launching six fully electric cars on the local market within the next three years, and we were excited to be afforded the opportunity to drive the flagship SUV.
While Audi will sell ICE cars in South Africa (such as its RS range) until at least 2033, electric mobility is a big focus for the company and we’re excited to see the roll-out.
The flagship e-tron S Sportback that we sampled offers a stonking 370 kW of power and is good for a 0-100 kph time of 4.5 seconds – but it certainly feels faster, and offers a range of between 350 and 380km.
In this video, we take a detailed look at the newcomer and try to answer as many of your questions as possible.
For a detailed discussion on the future of Audi in South Africa, we hosted Audi SA’s MD, Sascha Sauer, in our podcast studio, and you can watch that video here:
How much does the Audi e-tron S Sportback cost in South Africa?
e-tron 55 advanced R1 990 000 e-tron 55 S line R2 045 000 e-tron 55 Sportback S line R2 115 000 e-tron S Sportback R2 425 000 e-tron GT R2 715 000 RS e-tron GT R3 300 000
French assets in Stellantis want to go electric earlier than most.
Peugeot is accelerating its transitioning to an all-electric vehicle line-up, which leaves very little room, for any future petrol cars, by the end of this decade.
The French brand, which is part of the Stellantis group, has confirmed that by 2030, it will only market electric vehicles in Europe.
A broader theme is how that decision could impact Peugeot’s international business. Like South Africa.
Will Peugeot retain some petrol engines to power its vehicles by 2030, for intentional markets? In theory, it could be the case. But in practice, it could be challenging.
As part of Stellantis global product strategy, Europe will become Peugeot’s market of choice. Peugeot’s strategy sounds quite clever because of favourable incentives toward electric car ownership and its legacy brand equity in Europe.
Smaller markets, like South Africa, could become a complicated issue. It is improbable that South Africa will have the required investment in electric vehicle charging infrastructure by 2030 – a date at which Peugeot’s product portfolio will be nearly wholly electric.
The French brand’s designers and engineers are working towards a future where four dedicated electric vehicle platforms will underpin all its products. And that leaves very little possibility for petrol engines – unless they are part of PHEV vehicle configurations. And what about the diesel double-cab bakkie question?
To engineer vehicle platforms that can be built as hybrids are complex. PHEVs also forego many of the benefits that full-electric platforms bring – such as a frunk and flat floor.
As Peugeot’s focus on electric drive increases towards its European goal of EV-only by 2030, peripheral markets could suffer from powertrain option starvation.
A specific challenge for Peugeot will be containing cost. It is a value brand in many markets, offering French design flair at modest prices.
Electric vehicles are very expensive, due to the implied R&D costs and components. Reconciling Peugeot’s desire for an all-EV product portfolio and entry-level pricing compatible with its compact car legacy, could prove difficult.
Stellantis may end up leveraging some of its other brands, such as Jeep, and Alfa to keep petrol versions going worldwide on legacy ICE platforms.
The 2023 Mercedes-Benz E-Class has been spotted out testing on public roads. Despite the vast SUV portfolio, Merc still believes the E-Class has its place in the family.
Picture credit: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien. We have paid for these photos and at the photographer’s request, have watermarked them.
What you see here is the 2023 Mercedes-Benz E-Class. It’s still fairly well camouflaged, but our spy photographers say the development of this model is quite far along and the real heavy-duty camouflage was only used internally at Mercedes. Are we looking at a groundbreaking design for the E-Class?
It’s too early to tell obviously, but naturally, you’d think the E-Class would look like a larger version of the all-new Mercedes-Benz C-Class, which in turn looks like a shrunken S-Class. We’d definitely bank on the all-new 2023 Mercedes-Benz E-Class not looking like any of the new EQ range, which is due to hit SA in early 2022.
From what we can see here, the design is long and very E-Class. The headlights and grille are just about visible, but we know that the devil is in the details. Inside, expect the full array of connectivity options as well as semi-autonomous driving tech. The new MBUX tablet-style infotainment screen is highly likely.
When it comes to engines, we suspect that the current crop of 4-cylinder and 6-cylinder engines will be carried over, although they would have been given hybrid electric tech to help keep emissions down and improve economy. For those who are looking forward to the thundering 4.0-litre biturbo V8 in the AMG model, we have some bad news. Autocar is reporting that a plug-in hybrid 2.0-litre turbo will be offered. This will be a very similar setup to the all-new Mercedes-AMG C63.
Expect to see the all-new 2023 Mercedes-Benz E-Class revealed in 2022.
Mazda adds hybrid option to its popular compact hatch.
Badge engineering happens. And in a world of escalating R&D costs, you can expect to see it happen – a whole lot more.
Mazda is the latest company to ask for a favour. This time, from Toyota.
Although Mazda has a promising fleet of pure electric and PHEV vehicles on the horizon, it needs to dramatically reduce its fleet CO2 numbers – now.
To help Mazda, it has a new hybrid that looks an awful lot like Toyota’s European specification Yaris. Because it is.
Requiring a Mazda2 hybrid right away, Toyota has allowed its Japanese rival to put a Mazda badge on the Yaris hybrid. The result is an absence of Kodo design, with Mazda badging inside and out.
The Mazda2 hybrid uses a 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine, augmented by a single electric motor. Total system output is 85 kW, which is good enough for a benchmark 0-100 kph sprint time of 9.7 seconds.
Top speed is an undramatic 175 kph, but as with any hybrid vehicle, the true appeal is fuel economy.
The Mazda2 hybrid is claimed to run at 3.1L/100 km, making it a remarkably efficient proposition.
To reduce inefficiency, the Mazda2 hybrid defaults to full EV mode on start-up. Instead of burning fuel, it uses the electric motor at low speeds, to overcome inertia.
Regenerative braking technology also helps to harvest maximum efficiency from this hybridized Mazda2, feeding the recovered energy back into the battery and keeping it topped up.
