The Chinese car brand has just revealed an all-new family car. Here’s the Haval Shenshou, a production version of the Haval XY Concept.
Shenshou translates to Mythical Beast and rides on the same Lemon platform as its Jolion and H6 siblings. It features a sharp and angular design language and from the front three-quarter angle, it really stands out. At the rear are large LED tail lamps, diffuser and 4 exhaust pipes.
Inside, the Haval Shenshou features an airy and futuristic cabin with a 12.3-inch digital dashboard and a large 14.6-inch infotainment screen. There’s a wireless charging pad and a 3-spoke steering wheel. If you look closely, it appears there are very few physical buttons, with functionality all being controlled by the touchscreen.
The infotainment system is an all-new affair with Haval going with a Qualcomm chipset and a new operating system called Coffee.
Under the bonnet is a 1.5-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder petrol motor that’s producing around 140 kW and 220 Nm, and that’s paired to a 9-speed dual-clutch gearbox. A 2.0-litre and a plug-in hybrid derivative will be available down the line.
Right now it appears the Haval Shenshou is for the Chinese market only, but given the South African market’s appetite for Haval’s products, we suspect a derivative or version of the Shenshou might make its way to our shores. The Haval Jolion has been an instant success for the brand and demand for the product has been high. Outside of China, South Africa is the largest market for Haval products.
Kia has shown the potential of electric crossovers to become more hardcore all-terrain vehicles.
The Korean car company’s UK division had a battery-powered Soul that had served its purpose as a demonstration vehicle. This particular Soul has been converted into an impressive Boardmasters edition.
Without a traditional front grille, this Soul is clearly battery-powered. Atop, there is a sturdy roof rack for mounting those surfboards, while long-range radio antennae ensure you can stay in touch, even when venturing into the deepest wilderness.
An LED lightbar adds additional illumination, handy when navigating unchartered coastal routes, to that secret surf spot.
One strange feature is the ratchet straps used to secure those surfboards, featuring metal fastening mechanisms, which are sure to ding and ruin the glassing of any surfboard deck or bottom, they make contact with. We imagine the Kia UK marketing department would be best served, by using traditional soft-straps for tie-down duty.
By far the most impressive aspect of this Kia Boardmasters edition is its stance. It rolls massive 265/75 tyres on 16-inch steel wheels – very uncharacteristic for any Kia, not to mention a Soul.
Although the additional flotation and traction of those huge tyres are beneficial, they also need a lot more room. Kia fitted a lift kit to raise the Boardmasters edition by 70mm, while the tracking width increases both front and rear.
Off-road ability should be way beyond what any Soul owner could imagine. The Soul Boardmasters edition has more ground clearance than a Land Cruiser, at 310mm.
The standard Kia Soul EV powertrain remains in place, which means a 150 kW electric motor, drawing energy from a 64 kWh battery pack.
Range Rover Sport SVR Special South African Edition – “The Midnight Train”
Range Rover is looking to show off the customising capabilities of its SVO division based in the UK. And what better way to do so than creating a paint colour exclusively for South Africa. What you’re looking at is not a wrap. It’s a stunning satin black called Stimela sa Sebusuku, which translates to “Midnight Train” in Zulu.
In this video, Ciro takes you on a guided tour of this ultra-special Range Rover Sport. Watch the video to find out what makes it so special!
This week’s news you need to know (Aug 2021, Week 1)
In this week’s news you need to know, Honda promises to produce a hardcore Type S version of its underappreciated NSX supercar (but may need to enlist Max Verstappen’s help to promote it), Toyota is studying diesel-hybrid tech to advance the cause of working bakkies and while Audi has set a new lap record around the famed Nurburgring with the new RS3 sedan, its upcoming South African line-up of e-tron models might not fly out of local showrooms quite as quickly…
Honda NSX – Third time’s a charm?
Originally, the letter X in NSX, Honda’s revered supercar, stood for eXperimental. For the 2nd-generation NSX, which was under development for more than half a decade and finally debuted in 2016, the X stands for eXperience, but the hybridised supercar has never got the credit it deserves. It simply doesn’t have the mystique of its giant-killing predecessor, which was developed to humble Italian exotica – and duly did that, according to the cognoscenti. The Honda’s cult status was assured by a video of (then McLaren-Honda F1 driver) Ayrton Senna heel-toeing (in loafers) while lapping Suzuka in an NSX…
Now Honda hopes to reinvigorate the NSX with the limited-production Type S, but it’ll need a serious injection of something special, not just a few extra kW, a selectable “drift mode”, strategically positioned badges and swathes of carbon fibre and Alcantara to do it. In the original car’s heyday, there weren’t many supercar producers, but now there are several mainstream ones, plus a few boutique brands.
Suffice to say the level of competition is savage in super- and hypercar land. This time, Honda should really pull out the stops: enlist (Red Bull Honda F1 pilot) Max Verstappen to whip the Type S to within an inch of its mechanical life at Suzuka – for the sake of nostalgia he could wear loafers too (clogs might be more in keeping with his Dutch heritage, but then they’ll probably be too clunky for heel-toeing). That, further advancement in Lithium-Ion technology and notable reductions in the kerb weight of the NSX could really change the game. Come on Honda, the world needs a visceral Japanese supercar.
Diesel-hybrid Technology – Bridging the gap
Toyota is a conservative brand – product-wise, it tends to stick to what it does best. If it does depart from the formula, it’s for marketing purposes – the low-volume (but high interest) GR variants are good examples.
Still, the Japanese giant is not afraid of following its own path philosophically… it could, for example, have followed the trend of recent concept trucks and entertained the thought of developing and mass-producing petrol-electric and BEV bakkies. No, instead the typically practically-minded Toyota is taking a hard look at the diesel-hybrid option (in general and especially with developing nations, like South Africa, in mind). With Toyota dominating the bakkie market here, that seems a prudent approach and, besides, they wouldn’t want Ford etc. to catch them off-guard.
Globally, Toyota has been favouring hybrids over battery electric vehicles (BEVs), while also exploring more efficient fuels like hydrogen (as employed by the fuel-cell-powered Mirai). Depending on who you speak to, or which reports you read, Toyota wants solid-state batteries to become sustainable before it will “go full EV”; in the meantime, the Japanese brand sees hybrid technology as the bridge between the ICE engine and the EV age. One can only take a step back and appreciate the complexity that exists in the global world of motoring in our generation. I sure wouldn’t want to be the decision-maker.
Audi RS3 – 5 cylinders and the ‘Ring
Those who’ve seen this video will understand just how seriously hard that new Audi RS3 sedan was driven to achieve that time; the effort involved every inch of concrete (and then some) while going at 13/10ths pace, to the soundtrack that is the now legendary inline 5-cylinder combustion engine… that glorious motor has been turning everyday office workers into Walter Röhrl for more than 4 decades.
I have previously written that manufacturers’ obsession with setting new Nürburgring lap records with road cars is not just silly, but ultimately counterproductive. But I have to make an exception in this case, because Audi set the record with a sedan – not a hot hatch or behemoth SUV, a good, old-fashioned sedan. You remember those, don’t you? The question that remains is whether BMW and Mercedes-Benz will “retaliate”? You can bet your last bite of bratwurst that they won’t back down until the RS3 sedan’s record no longer stands. Will Audi’s 5-pot banger still be in production when that happens, though?
Audi e-tron – 6 new models all dressed up and nowhere to go
Audi SA had planned to introduce its first e-tron (an electric executive SUV) in Mzansi 2 years ago, but, for a variety of reasons, that will now only happen next year, when no fewer than 6 e-trons models will be made available in the Republic! Several (premium) brands are lining up EVs for South Africa in the next few years and kudos to those manufacturers (of which Audi is one) that demonstrate sufficient belief in their products to introduce them in the marketplace even if they’re unlikely to sell very many units in the short term. Apart from lofty prices, range anxiety is likely to scupper a few potential sales…
In developed countries, the private sector recognised that investment in infrastructure was necessary to make battery electric vehicles viable, let alone appealing to buyers. The key was not to sit back and wait for governments to roll out development plans. Jaguar wanted to introduce the iPace in a developing nation like South Africa (where the decision-making process is even slower), so action was needed.
Jaguar Land Rover SA took the initiative to partner up with Gridcars and get a plan into action, plus it proved it could be done on a limited budget. Now, with 84 charging stations and 22 strategically placed between our major cities, the reality of EV inter-city mobility seems to be coming alive. Disappointingly, I expected the powerhouse that is Volkswagen SA (which, of course, includes Audi SA) to do more to drive the local EV transformation process.
Grand new Cargo hatches from Hyundai
Better than a bakkie, for light loads? Hyundai has expanded its utility vehicle portfolio with two new cargo-carrying hatchbacks – the Atos Cargo and Grand i10 Cargo.
Recognising the increased demand for short-delivery services in South Africa, the Korean brand is now marketing Cargo versions of its Atos and Grand i10 city cars.
Although the NP200 bakkie has traditionally dominated the trade for compact utility vehicles in South Africa, a bakkie remains exposed to weather and cargo theft.
The hatchback configuration of Hyundai’s Atos and Grand i10, allow for secure cargo space. Both vehicles have a similar change in configuration. The rear seats are gone, replaced by a flat floor, to optimise loadability. Wire mesh is clipped into place behind the rear windows to discourage smash-and-grab incidents.
One of the issues with a cargo vehicle conversion of any open-cabin design is the risk of pieces of cargo becoming hazardous projectiles during emergency braking manoeuvres. Hyundai has compensated for this drawback by fitting a metal mesh cargo partition between the derivatives’ rear section and front seats.
How many Takealot packages can these new Hyundais take? The Grand i10 cargo will pack 1 210 litres and carry 488 kg of weight. Atos is slightly smaller, with a corresponding reduction in loadability and weight carrying capacity: 1 170 litres and 444 kg.
The brand’s familiar 1.0- and 1.1-litre petrol engines power these newly released delivery cars from Hyundai.
Atos Cargo runs the more potent 1.1-litre, with 50 kW of peak power and 99 Nm of torque. The 1.0-litre engine in Grand i10 Cargo is even more modest in specification, with 49 kW and 94 Nm. Both models use a 5-speed manual gearbox.
Although the fuel consumption claims are between 5.4- and 5.7 L/100 km, you are unlikely to match those if these new Hyundai Cargo hatches are loaded to purpose.
The base-specification Atos Cargo Motion is priced at R179 900, with the Atos Cargo Fluid costing R189 900. If you want the additional load capacity, the Grand i10 Cargo is R211 900. Prices include a 1-year/15 000 km service plan and a 5-year/150 000 km warranty, with a further 2-year/50 000 km mechanical warranty on top of that.
JAC has introduced another bakkie model to bolster its local line-up. Not only does the T6 sport a surprisingly tidy design – it is priced quite affordably.
While we await the arrival of the T9 luxury double-cab, which will top off the JAC bakkie range next year, the Chinese brand has expanded its local line-up by launching the T6 as a complement to the T8.
Unlike most other Chinese bakkie designs, which are characterised by huge grilles and abundant chromes finishes, the T6 features understated, mild SUV-like styling. With its small headlamps and a bonnet with distinctive ridgelines, the JAC T6 cuts quite an elegant appearance for a utilitarian workhorse.
How is it possible that the JAC T6 looks so different (and better) than other Chinese double-cab bakkies? Easy. JAC contracted the design work to a studio in Italy with predictably excellent results.
JAC is targeting the sub-R400 000 double-cab market with the T6. It is aimed at commercial operators and small-business buyers, who need the double-cab configuration to safely transport staff or technical teams, while retaining some loadability in the back, for equipment.
The T6 is powered by a 1.9-litre turbodiesel motor, with German engineering input. It only produces 100 kW and 320 Nm, but JAC claims it will consume an average of 8.0 L/100 km. Available exclusively with a 5-speed manual gearbox, it will have to be seen how many local users achieve that ambitious consumption figure!
Load capacity is rated at 900 kg, which is okay, but not quite in the league of rival Japanese and American double-cabs that are available in the South African market. Rolling 245/65 tyres on 17-inch wheels, the JAC T6 should have decent gravel road ride quality.
As with many Chinese bakkie offerings, the standard equipment offering is strong. T6 has two airbags and ABS, while comfort and convenience features include automatic central locking, a multifunction steering wheel, a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment centre and a reverse-view camera.
Price is the key product differentiator with JAC’s T6; it enters the local market with a single derivative – 1.9TDi double cab Comfort. Its list price is R332 400, which includes a 5-year/150 000 km warranty and a 5-year/60 000 km service plan.
Audi South Africa wants to lead the local high-performance EV market and will offer no fewer than half a dozen e-tron models in Mzansi from early next year.
Electrical-vehicle sales and demand might be negligible in South Africa, but that is not stopping Audi. The German brand has heavily invested in electric vehicle architecture, and it boasts an impressive array of potent battery-powered vehicles.
Although local incentives and energy policies make South Africa a challenging destination market for any electrified vehicle range, Audi has committed to 2022 being its tipping-point year. Many would have expected Audi to test customer adoption trends with a single electric vehicle offering, but Audi South Africa CEO, Sascha Sauer, has announced a comprehensive e-tron range.
Audi customers who want to trend ahead of turbopetrol and diesel powertrain choices will have the option of no fewer than 6 e-tron models in early 2022. Battery options will be large capacity 95-kWh and 71-kWh packs, denoted by the familiar Audi 55 and 50 nomenclatures.
The range will start with e-tron 50 and 55, while Audi followers who prefer the sloping roofline profile will also have the option of Sportback versions.
With the e-tron 55 being good for 300 kW and the 50 producing 230 kW, performance should not disappoint. Acceleration for the 55-series e-tron is claimed at 0-100km/h in 5.7 seconds, with the 50 runs that same performance benchmark in 6.8 seconds.
Top speeds are predictably much lower than what would be the case with an equivalently powered Audi petrol or diesel vehicle. The e-tron 55 vehicles top out at 200 kph, with the 50s limited to 190 kph.
Driving estimates are always a contentious issue with any electric vehicle, but the e-tron range should see a usable driving endurance in the mid-300km range.
Those Audi customers who wish to transition from V6- and V8-engined RS models without losing performance will be served by the e-tron GT and RS.
With the e-tron GT featuring a 350-kW electric motor and being capable of 0-100 kph in 4.1 sec, RS brand fans needn’t worry. The GT RS amplifies peak power to 440 kW, creating a true electric vehicle successor to the brand’s storied RS6 vehicles.
Volkswagen has applied a facelift to the Tiguan, which incorporates exterior styling tweaks, new technologies and interior updates. The names of the derivatives have also changed, but with the range’s prices trending upward, does VW’s best-selling family car (globally) still fit the bill?
What’s new on the Tiguan?
Revisions to the grille and bumpers, plus the fitment of LED lights are the major design changes to VW’s family car.
This generation of Tiguan has been extremely popular – globally and locally. The facelift incorporates modest styling updates, most of which have been applied to the front bumper area. The lower section of the bumper has brackets at either end [like in a sentence] to make it look a bit like a GTI. The grille, which was been widened and gained an extra slat, flows into the all-new IQ light system headlamps.
The interior is a veritable touch-fest where most onboard features are controlled by a swipe of this – or a touch of that – rather than physical buttons. Then there’s the addition of a new sound partner in Harmon Kardon and more passive safety features with lane-change assist and forward-collision alert.
The derivative names are different to those of the pre-facelift model, starting with the entry-level version, which is simply called Tiguan. The mid-spec version is the Tiguan Life and the range-topper is the Tiguan R-Line. We drove the very top-spec 2.0 TSI 4Motion R-Line for a weekend as part of the updated model’s local introduction programme.
Which engines does the Tiguan have?
The line-up consists only of petrol engines for now, but a turbodiesel will be added later in 2021.
At launch, there are only 2 engines available, but a turbodiesel unit will join the lineup later in the year. The range starts with a 1.4-litre turbopetrol motor, which produces 110 kW and 250 Nm of torque. This engine is only available in front-wheel-drive configuration and, apart from the base version, it is available in combination with either Life or R-Line trim.
A 2.0-litre turbopetrol derivative, with peak outputs of 162 kW and 350 Nm of torque, tops the range. It’s equipped with 4Motion all-wheel-drive and is exclusively available in R-Line specification. This is the unit we drove for the weekend and while the 2.0TSI 162kW 4Motion R-Lineis rather rapid for a family car, it never really felt quite as fast as the claimed 6.5-sec 0-100 kph sprint time would suggest. It has a Sport mode (accessible through the rotary dial in the centre console) that makes the throttle more responsive and adds that familiar GTI vrr-pah! sound to every upshift from the DSG transmission.
Fuel consumption may be a factor to consider when deciding between the engines; the 2.0 litre is quite thirsty round town, but if you intend to drive on the open road often, especially with a full complement of passengers on board, the 2.0TSI should not need to work quite as hard as the 1.4-litre motor (at least, in theory), so the powerplants’ real-world consumption figures should be closely matched. After clocking up 400 km with the test unit, we saw an indicated consumption of 9.6 L/100 km, but if efficiency is a major concern, it may be best to wait for the arrival of a turbodiesel derivative later this year.
What’s the Tiguan like to drive?
20-inch wheels are an optional extra on the R-Line model.
Considering that there haven’t been discernible changes to the MQB platform, which underpins the Tiguan, we weren’t expecting any major changes to the Volkswagen family car’s driving dynamics.
The optional 20-inch wheels (as fitted to the 2.0TSI 162kW 4Motion R-Line test unit we drove) certainly ramp up the Tiguan’s kerb presence, but they also exacerbate the family car’s firm ride quality! The MQB platform underpins several VW Group products and although it benefits the models’ ride refinement on tarred roads, it doesn’t fare particularly well when traversing potholed- or washboard gravel surfaces. Granted, the Tiguan’s on-road demeanour is not awful when you drive the family car on dirt roads, but the going is noticeably shakier than in some of the Volkswagen’s newer competitors.
Still, the Tiguan’s suspension setup is nicely suited to travelling on freeways and country roads where the firmness is put to good use to aid the vehicle’s body control and instil driver confidence through sure-footed road-holding. The driver’s seat offers good adjustability and provides impressive vision out of the Wolfsburg-based brand’s newcomer.
The 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission shifts even more smoothly than before; in the past, the ‘box could be caught out because it tended to shift up to the highest gear as quickly as possible (arguably, too soon). Now the ‘box holds onto gears for slightly longer, which means you don’t have that lull (while the software actuates multiple gear changes) before notable forward progress occurs.
The new IQ lighting package, which was also optionally fitted to the test unit, proved impressive. The Matrix LED headlamps light up the road, well, brilliantly – their main beams virtually mimic sunlight! The headlamps also come with an auto-dip function, which creates a dark patch for oncoming drivers so that they won’t be blinded by the intense light discharge, but perhaps the Matrix LEDs are a little too effective for their own good – on multiple occasions, oncoming vehicles’ lights were flashed at us even though those vehicles’ drivers weren’t supposed to have the Tiguan’s beams directly in their eyes.
What’s it like inside?
The Tiguan’s climate control buttons are all touch-sensitive now.
The Tiguan’s interior has been thoroughly modernised – it’s now a much more digitised affair. The toggles for the climate control console are touch-sensitive… or you can swipe your finger across the blue or red sections to make larger temperature adjustments. The instrument cluster, meanwhile, has a newer digital design that’s more colourful; it brings the cluster to life and is one of the best in the segment!
The steering wheel buttons are all touch-sensitive too and covered in a glossy Piano Black finish. These look great, but we found it a little difficult to make precise adjustments to the volume and cruise control settings; conventional physical buttons (aided by built-in resistance) would have worked just as well, if not better.
What’s more, the optional Discover Pro infotainment system comes with App-Connect, which makes activating Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as simple as initiating a wireless connection. This, in combination with the wireless charging pad located directly underneath the climate control console, represents a very user-friendly connectivity setup.
Space-wise, the Tiguan offers plenty of room for aft passengers and the ability to recline the rear seatbacks for more comfort is a boon. The claimed load-bay capacity is 520 litres and while the hold is quite deep, it isn’t as wide at the entry point as some of its rivals such as the Peugeot 3008 or Subaru Forester. With the rear seats folded down, the Volkswagen offers 1 655 litres of utility space.
Pricing and after-sales support
Prices continue to rise rapidly in the family car segment. The Tiguan range starts at R521 000 and tops off at R710 000. All derivatives are sold with a 3-year/120 000 km warranty and a 5-year/90 000 km service plan. For full specs and pricing click here.
Summary
Will the increase in pricing still make the Tiguan a popular choice in the family SUV segment?
Unless you are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Tiguan R, there is little to choose between the driving experiences offered by pre-facelift and updated Tiguan derivatives. The Volkswagen remains an accomplished premium product within the family car/compact SUV segment, which is why it commands a premium over its rivals. The engine lineup remains good with a turbodiesel option in the pipeline.
The technology- and interior updates modernise the cabin and make it more upmarket, even if some of the touch-sensitive buttons are, paradoxically, slightly more difficult to use than conventional buttons.
There’s no doubt that buyers will want many of the features on the Tiguan’s options list – each of which pushes up the derivatives’ asking prices, of course. Given that these premium family cars are becoming rather expensive, it’ll be interesting to see if buyers will start looking to the upper end of the compact family car segment… or push on to the more 4×4-capable bakkie-based Adventure SUVs.
Spy Shots: 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class All-Terrain
Spy shots of a very interesting-looking Mercedes-Benz C-Class were released this week. Is Mercedes-Benz targeting the Subaru Outback and Volvo V60 Cross Country with a C-Class All-Terrain?
Picture credit: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien. We have paid for these photos and at the photographer’s request, have watermarked them.
The Mercedes-Benz C-Class All-Terrain looks set to enter production if these spy shots are anything to go by. The All-Terrain is essentially an estate with a raised ground clearance, some plastic cladding to protect the bodywork, and an offroad theme in the cabin.
Mercedes-Benz already offers the E-Class All-Terrain for select markets in Europe and North America, but given its premium positioning, its only real opposition are the Audi A6 AllRoad and the Volvo V90 Cross Country. The latter is available in South Africa and is a very stylish yet capable alternative to the SUV range.
The Mercedes-Benz C-Class All-Terrain is expected to be revealed at the Munich Auto Show, which takes place in early September 2021. As you can see, the vehicle is still camouflaged, but we’ve been tracking its gestation and this is the first time we’re actually seeing production elements.
Expect 4Matic all-wheel drive as standard, with a dedicated offroad mode which will cleverly send power to the axle which needs it the most. It’ll probably feature hill-descent control too and the additional ride height and specific bumpers will increase the approach/departure angles, but don’t expect offroad ability like a Mercedes-Benz G-Class
The new range of Mercedes-Benz C-Class engines all feature electrification and while just the C200 and C220d have been confirmed for the SA market, the overseas engine portfolio is substantial. Every engine features an integrated starter generator and 48Volt tech.
No more 6-cylinder or 8-cylinder engines and the manual gearbox option for some markets has been removed. Every Mercedes-Benz C-Class will now feature a 9-speed automatic. We reckon the punchiness and economy of a diesel engine would be a brilliant setup.
While the Mercedes-Benz C-Class All-Terrain is unlikely to sell in great numbers in comparison to its comprehensive SUV range, it will offer a distinct alternative for a customer who loves the great outdoors and doesn’t want a crossover/SUV. With the C-Class All-Terrain, Mercedes-Benz forges ahead with its strategy of offering a product in every conceivable category.
We’ll see the covers come off in just under a month’s time.
The all-new Audi RS3 Sedan has only just been revealed, but it’s already making its intentions clear. It’s not here to take part, it’s here to take over, and it’s just set the record for compact cars on the Nurburgring.
The all-new Audi RS3 has set the record for compact vehicles at the Nurburgring, with a time of 7 minutes and 40.748 seconds. This time deposes the current record holder, the wild Renault Megane RS Trophy-R (7 minutes and 45.389 seconds) and is comfortably ahead of its arch-enemy, the Mercedes-AMG A45 S (7 minutes and 48.80 seconds).
The vehicle you see here and the below video is still in the pre-production camouflage as the record-breaking run was completed before the vehicle’s official reveal.
Behind the wheel is Audi Sport racing and development driver Frank Stippler. The Audi RS3 sedan was chosen over the Sportback as it features better aerodynamic properties. The Audi RS3 also wore the optional Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R semi-slicks tyres.
As a reminder, the 2.5-litre 5-cylinder petrol engine has been retained, but some clever upgrades have allowed for more torque. Figures of 294 kW and 500 Nm are on offer, with the 2022 Audi RS3 being said to sprint to 100 kph in a claimed 3.8 seconds and onto an optional top speed of 290 kph.
The all-new Audi RS3 will be arriving in South Africa during the 2nd half of 2022.
