Take a look at how new car sales performed in South Africa during July 2021.
There were a number of momentous events during July that had an effect on new car sales in South Africa. Disruptions due to unrest in KZN and parts of Gauteng, a shift to level 4 lockdown and the cyber attack on the local ports all proved to be the perfect storm for a horrid month of sales. The port closures heavily affected exports and imports resulting in a 33.1% drop in vehicle exports for the month.
There was however a small positive in terms of sales compared with July 2020 (1.7%). Passenger car sales contributed the most towards that number, while LCVs and bakkies saw an 8.1% drop vs the same period last year.
New Car Sales in SA July 2021
Aggregate new vehicle sales of 32 949 units up by 1.7% (+544 units) compared to the 32 405 units sold in July 2020.
Passenger car sales of 20 575 units up by 9.1% (+1 719 units) compared to the 18 856 units sold in July 2020.
Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) sales of 10 266 units down by 8.1% (-899 units) compared to the 11 165 units sold in July 2020.
Export sales of 16 931 units down by 33.1% (-7 381 units) compared to the 25 312 units expired in July 2020.
Top 10 Best Selling Car Brands in South Africa for July 2021
Toyota – 8 320 units
Volkswagen – 5 078 units
Hyundai – 2 698 units
Ford – 2 360
Nissan – 2 354 units
Suzuki – 1 532 units
Haval – 1 525 units
Renault – 1 522 units
Kia – 1 501 units
Isuzu – 1 193 units
Sales Outlook
“South Africans once again showed their goodwill and social solidarity during these challenging times. With the calm returning to KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, the country moving to adjusted alert level 3 lockdown restrictions and the accelerated roll out of the vaccinations, the gradual recovery in the new vehicle market is anticipated to continue for the remainder of the year”, affirmed naamsa CEO Mikel Mabasa.
However, Mark Dommisse of NADA (National Automotive Dealers Association) is not so confident of an immediate recovery – “The effect is not limited to July and will in all likelihood have an ongoing negative effect for several months to come. Dealers face stock shortages while local manufacturers battle to keep production going due to disruptions in the component supply chain caused by global semi-conductor shortages and the cyber-attack on the port operating systems.”
Kia Pegas (2021) Review
It would appear the South African compact sedan market is not in terminal decline after all… Kia has launched the Pegas – a sensibly priced small sedan amid a swarm of budget crossovers.
We like: Value for money, ride comfort, generous boot, generous spec, comprehensive after-sales support.
We don’t like: Lack of sound insulation at triple-digit speeds & mildly irritating speed alert, but that’s about it.
Fast Facts:
Model Tested: Kia Pegas 1.4 EX
List Price: R236 995
Engine: 1.4-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power/Torque: 69 kW/132 Nm
Transmission: 5-speed manual gearbox
Fuel efficiency: 5.7 L/100 km (claimed)
Performance: NA
Load capacity: 475 Litres
What is the Kia Pegas?
The arrival of the Kia Pegas was rather unexpected, but it has livened up a quiet segment of the SA compact-car market.
These days, SUVs (or at least SUV-inspired products) make up the bulk of new-model introductions, so when a pocket-friendly compact sedan comes to market, we tend to sit up and take notice, because it is such an anomaly.
In South Africa, there’s still some appetite for sedans in the passenger car market: in 2020, sedans accounted for just under 14%, SUVs and crossovers took up around 34%, with hatchbacks being the most popular choice at 46%.
Most car brands offer compact family cars these days and they range from budget to upmarket offerings. Kia is no outlier – the adorable Sonet and stylish Seltos small crossovers cover most bases. There’s also the Sportage and Sorento on offer, making that 4 “SUVs” from the Korean manufacturer. Sedans? Well, it’s just the one you see here.
Thanks to the proliferation of e-hailing companies, the general public assumes most compact sedans are used by Uber, DiDi, Bolt operators. It’s easy to understand why – those sedans offer generous rear legroom and boot space.
Kia SA challenges that assumption, however; it says the Pegas is more than just an “Ubermobile”. We wanted to find out whether there was any merit to Kia’s claim, so it would have been pointless to conduct a road test in and around Cape Town. Therefore, we packed our things into the Pegas and headed to the Garden Route for a family getaway.
The Pegas’ rear styling looks rather generic in combination with the white paint finish, but it’s not an unattractive sedan.
Which models are the Kia Pegas’ rivals?
Among the compact sedans that are still available from new, the 4-door Volkswagen Polo is the main protagonist. It may not have been updated as extensively as its hatchback sibling, but it still commands a notable share of the market. Rand for Rand, the Polo lacks a service plan and the Pegas’ standard feature list is far more extensive.
Suzuki offers exceptional value in the budget-car segment, but the Dzire is, comparatively, not particularly spacious. Not only is it a fractionally smaller car than the Pegas, but as good as its warranty is, the Kia’s is more extensive.
Other sedans worth considering are the Honda Amaze and, if your budget can stretch a bit further, the Suzuki Ciaz and Toyota Corolla Quest.
The standard 14-inch alloys wrapped in high-sidewall tyres contribute to the Pegas’ comfortable ride quality.
The Pegas is positioned as a value-for-money compact sedan, so our driving-experience assessment focused mainly on refinement. We weren’t looking for corner-carving ability and engaging dynamics whatsoever, but paid close attention to the newcomer’s “ease of use” and comfort when driven in town and a longer, open-road trip.
Under the Kia’s bonnet sits a 1.4-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine that produces 69 kW and 132 Nm; power is directed to the front wheels via either a 5-speed manual gearbox or a 4-speed automatic transmission. We had the manual-equipped EX derivative on test and despite progress in the quality of automatic transmissions, we feel there’s still a place for an easy-to-use manual ‘box. The Pegas’ gearshift action is light and the clutch pedal has minimal travel.
The instrument cluster is a study in neat simplicity… but is the 120-kph warning chime and indicator really necessary?
Well, the engine does the basics right. The motor can get a bit noisy when you rev it hard, such as when you need to accelerate to merge with a highway or overtake slower vehicles, but it’s not buzzy at cruising speeds… At 120 kph, the rev counter needle sits just above the 3 000-rpm mark.
There is some engine noise present at that speed, which suggests the Pegas’ product team decided that no more than a moderate amount of noise- dampening material needed to be installed – but that wasn’t all that bothersome, because we found another reason to set the sedan’s cruise control just below 120 kph…
Once the Kia reaches a speed of 120 kph, a small light on its instrument cluster flashes in time with an audible chime. It’s a subtle – or irksome, depending on your opinion – reminder that you’ve reached the national speed limit. The chime eventually quietens, but the light on the dashboard remains on until you slow down to under 120 kph.
Kia’s newcomer might be a value-oriented offering, but its road manners are refined, apart from mechanical-noise intrusion.
The on-road refinement and ride comfort levels are good – unlike some budget-car offerings, the Pegas doesn’t feel insubstantial in terms of its road-holding or slightly ponderous to drive at extra-urban speeds. There’s some feel to the steering, but generally, it is light and quick in action, which is great for executing tight parking manoeuvres.
The Pegas 1.4 EX rides on 14-inch alloys wrapped in plump 175/70R tyres. The higher-profile tyres combine with the Kia’s comfort-orientated suspension tuning to soak up minor bumps in the road with notable aplomb. The sedan proved quite good to drive on gravel, which suggests the model was designed to traverse roads of variable quality. If you do decide to corner briskly, you’ll encounter quite a bit of body roll, which is the trade-off for the ride comfort.
As our route comprised mostly open-road driving, the Kia indicated an impressive 5.7 L/100 km fuel economy figure. Be aware that this figure will be quite higher if you drive in cut-and-thrust traffic on the daily commute, however.
What’s the interior of the Kia Pegas like?
The newcomer’s neat front-cabin layout will be instantly familiar to owners of current Kia models. Standard spec abounds.
The Pegas’ front-cabin layout is pleasingly simple. The dials in the instrument cluster are easily legible and the infotainment system is positioned so that the driver can easily access it. Most infotainment functions are accessible via the steering-wheel controls and, if you’re using Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, voice commands are supported. The screen-mirroring tech enables a host of bonus features, such as streaming audio services and navigation apps.
Current Kia owners will find the Pegas’ interior instantly familiar. Everything looks and feels well assembled and hard-wearing, which bodes well for durability. Interestingly, the electric window switches are on the centre console.
It’s impressive stuff, considering the newcomer is not assembled in Korea or India (as the majority of Kia models in the SA market are). The Pegas comes from China, where it is produced as part of a Dongfeng Yueda Kia joint venture (we enquired during a courtesy visit to a Kia dealership and the answer confirmed our hunch). Conservative buyers can rest assured there’s no discernible difference in quality between the Pegas and its Rio hatchback sibling.
The oddment tray positioned ahead of the Pegas’ gear lever is handy for storing smartphones, face masks and other items.
The Pegas has a long list of standard features – even in entry-level LX grade. A reverse-view camera, rear parking sensors, as well as the Apple CarPlay- and Android Auto compatible 7-inch infotainment system with Bluetooth is almost unheard of at this price point. The driver’s seat even features an armrest, a nice touch for the longer trips.
EX grade – as featured on this test unit – adds mostly cosmetic items such as the artificial leather trim, leather-bound steering wheel, front fog lights, 14-inch alloy wheels, cruise control and some chrome detailing.
As far as safety features are concerned, the Kia Pegas comes with dual front airbags, ISOfix child-seat anchors and ABS with EBD. Electronic stability control would have been a plus, but that would have hiked up the asking price.
Is the Kia Pegas practical?
A class-leading boot capacity is certainly a competitive advantage in a segment dominated by the Volkswagen Polo sedan.
The Pegas has the longest wheelbase and largest boot capacity in its segment. The newcomer’s 475-litre luggage capacity eclipses that of its arch-rival, the Polo sedan – the Volkswagen’s boot is said to accommodate 454 litres.
No other rival, apart from the Ford Figo sedan (445 litres), comes close to the Kia in that regard. The Honda Amaze offers 420 litres and the Suzuki Dzire just 378 litres (the latter’s Ciaz sibling is a bigger car, but also pricier).
To put that into perspective, we could load 2 full-sized suitcases, a week’s groceries and the author’s angling gear into the Pegas – with room to spare. The boot should be big enough for a small family of two adults and a child.
The Kia offers generous legroom by compact-car standards, although taller aft passengers will find headroom limited.
What’s more, the Kia’s relatively lengthy wheelbase optimises cabin space. There is sufficient legroom for adult occupants; a sit-behind-yourself test was passed with ease, but taller passengers may find rear headroom tight.
At the front, there are a few clever storage solutions to house errant coins, access cards, keys and so on. We stored our face masks in the recess ahead of the gear lever – it also serves as a convenient cradle for your mobile device.
How much does the Kia Pegas cost in South Africa?
The Kia Pegas’ prices start from R225 995 for the LX, with this EX derivative retailing for R236 995. An automatic version of the EX is also available and its asking price is R251 995.
The Pegas is sold with Kia’s industry-leading 5-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty (inclusive of roadside assistance), as well as a 4-year/60 000 km service plan.
Although the keenly-priced Pegas may prove popular with e-hailing operators, it’s a compelling compact family car nonetheless.
Despite my colleagues joking that smartphone-clutching pedestrians might try to get into the test unit every time it stopped next to a street kerb (because they mistook the sedan as their Uber ride – haha), the Kia Pegas proved very competent during its tenure in our test fleet. The long list of standard features, good rear legroom and that sizeable boot, coupled with that extraordinarily good price and long-lasting warranty, should win it more than a few fans.
We had a couple of minor gripes regarding the Korean offering’s powertrain refinement, as well as its minimal insulation from road-noise, but, given the Pegas’ keen pricing, we’d quite willing to look past those drawbacks.
The Pegas may not be the flashiest product or offer the most engaging driving experience, but it’s one of the most sensible products in Kia’s portfolio. While it’s easy to dismiss this sedan as “just another ride-sharing special”, it offers quite a lot of “family car” for not too much money. In these times, when austerity is the order of the day for many households, value for money should be commended. Therefore, the Kia Pegas gets a thumbs-up from us.
If you are thinking about purchasing a new or previously owned car, you will have many decisions to make. Unfortunately, choosing the car that you would like to buy is the easy part… Once you’ve calculated the true cost of owning a car, you will also need to determine the best vehicle finance option for you…
PARTNERED CONTENT
How to pay for our new wheels… Most of us would look at selecting one of the following options: a cash deal, an instalment, an instalment with balloon (residual) payment, or a lease. One could also weigh up the choice of a guaranteed buy-back deal. motus.cars, supported by Motus Select (previously Imperial Select), helps us understand and explore the various options available to SA car buyers.
1. Cash purchase
If you can pay cash for your car, it would be the ideal way to buy it! You would own the title to the car and could sell it privately – or to a dealer – when the time comes to dispose of (or replace) the vehicle.
2. Instalment finance
This is the most common – and straightforward – car payment method. You pay off the car in monthly instalments for up to 72 months either with, or without, a deposit.
Monthly repayments are worked out by calculating the purchase price of a vehicle, less the deposit that is put down at the start of the deal.
The lengthier the term, the more interest one would pay. Ideally, you should put down a substantial deposit and structure the loan over the shortest possible time. This way you will ensure that you pay the least amount of interest.
With this option, you will own the car outright after you’ve made your last payment of the contracted instalment term.
What’s more, towards the end of the term, once the settlement balance of the contracted instalment term is lower than the private sale- or trade value of your car, you can start thinking about replacing it. Should you wish to buy a replacement car, you could use the price you raise for the vehicle (either by selling it privately or trading it in) minus the settlement balance as a deposit for your next purchase.
3. Instalment finance with a balloon payment
Also known as a residual – this option is similar to instalment finance, except a portion of the purchase price is set aside so that the repayments are calculated on a lower amount. Simply put, balloon payments are like deposits except they are payable at the end of a term instead of at the beginning.
Buyers must be careful of the amount put into a balloon because they will be responsible for the lump sum once the finance term is finished. After paying that instalment for all those years, the car is still not yours – that amount that was taken off the full purchase price of the vehicle you bought (to effectively lower your monthly instalment to something you could afford) is now due.
At that stage, if you don’t have sufficient cash available to pay the balloon/residual and own the car outright, you can either apply to a bank to refinance the remaining amount and the vehicle will hold the title and ownership of the vehicle once you have fully paid off the debt. Alternatively, you can sell the car (provided its private sale or trade value is higher than the balloon/residual) and keep the change.
4. Leasing instead of buying
Leasing a vehicle is just what it says: You pay for the use of a vehicle for a set period and return it at the end of the period. The lease agreement gives you the right to use the vehicle as your own, without owning it. It has its pros and its cons, such as restrictions on the vehicle’s usage, but it also means that the instalments are more affordable.
You can drive a new car every 2 to 4 years and enjoy the benefits of the latest models. When the lease lapses, you do not have to worry about selling or trading in the car – or settling any outstanding money owed to your bank, for that matter. Monthly repayments are more affordable, and there are no service and maintenance costs as these are covered by the service and maintenance contracts.
On the other hand, lease agreements have strict limitations and penalties, so you need to ensure you get the car serviced at the specified intervals, repaired by approved repairers and adhere to the mileage limits (usually a maximum number of kilometres that you may travel in the car during 12 months) set by the lease provider.
5. Guaranteed buy-backs / Guaranteed Future Value (GFV)
Guaranteed Future Value is becoming a more popular option of vehicle finance in South Africa. Any new car starts to depreciate the second you drive it off the showroom floor, but a GFV plan at least determines what the future value of your car will be at the end of the contract term… if detailed terms and conditions regarding the vehicle condition, mileage and maintenance are met.
This means that you will be aware of what your car will be worth once the contract term (usually between 3 and 4 years) is reached. You are then given three choices – you can either:
Enter another GFV deal and drive away in a new car,
Settle the outstanding amount and own the vehicle, or
Return the vehicle to the dealership and walk away (provided you did not exceed the agreed mileage, and the vehicle is in an acceptable condition as stipulated in your plan).
If you do plan on choosing this type of finance, you need to make sure that you read and fully understand the fine print.
Make use of free tools available to further help you decide what the best vehicle finance option is for you. Use these simple affordability and finance calculators to help you determine what you can afford and what finance option will be best for your needs.
In these tough economic times, South African car buyers are desperate to find good value, which is generating increased demand for quality, well-priced vehicles in the used car market.
We have analysed used car data which indicates that low-mileage vehicles priced at just under R290 000, which were first registered between 2016 and 2019, are the most popular cars on the site, which, at the time this report was compiled exceeded 70 000 used vehicles for sale.
“We looked at the number of enquiries put through to dealers during the past 90 days, rather than the majority of vehicles listed,” says Cars.co.za’s Consumer Experience Manager, Hannes Oosthuizen. “An enquiry, also called a ‘lead’, is, of course, an indicator of intent to purchase.”
A deeper analysis of the headline numbers (of vehicles first registered between 2016 and 2019) reveals that user enquiries about listed used cars that were first registered in 2017 and are priced between R200 000 and R300 000 represent the lion’s share of the lead volume (in fact, 24,4% of leads for vehicles first registered from 2016 to 2019 are from that price bracket).
“It comes as no surprise to find that the ‘R150 000 to R200 000’ and ‘R300 000 to R400 000’ brackets are the next biggest. For vehicles of this particular age (2016- to 2019 models), nearly 60% of leads fall into the price range of R150 000 to R400 000,” Oosthuizen says.
It is also clear that consumers who are shopping in the previously mentioned price and vehicle age categories (2016-2019 and R150 000-R400 000) are looking for low-mileage vehicles.
“A whopping 31,8% of leads are for vehicles with mileages of between 10 000 km and 50 000 km and the overwhelming majority (81,4%) of all leads put through in those categories are for vehicles with a mileage of less than 100 000 km,” he adds.
Top 10 Most Popular Used Cars on Cars.co.za
Based on lead volume during the past 90-day period, the most requested vehicles on Cars.co.za (with no limit on price and mileage) are the following;
Rising new vehicle prices (some examples are shown below), the economic impact of repeated Covid-19 lockdowns and stock challenges (caused by several factors, including the international semiconductor shortage), have all put the new vehicle market under significant pressure. “All of these factors have a compounded impact on the used-car market,” says Oosthuizen.
“Firstly, new vehicle prices have risen sharply in the past year and, in some cases, by more than double the country’s official CPI inflation rate. This alone will result in some buyers now simply being forced to purchase their next vehicle in the pre-owned market.
“The result is a decline in new-car sales, which ultimately leads to pressure on used-car stock availability. Meanwhile, the increasing demand for quality used cars, combined with lower stock availability, will inevitably drive up used-car prices,” he adds.
Vehicle Make & Model
New Price in June 2020
New Price currently (July 2021)
Percentage increase
BMW 320i
R700 562
R731 762
4.45%
Datsun Go! Mid
R170 800
R183 900
7.7%
Hyundai Tucson 2.0 Premium Auto
R465 500
R506 900
8.9%
Kia Seltos 1.6 EX Auto
R387 995
R417 995
7.73%
Mazda CX-5 2.0 Dynamic Auto
R458 800
R506 600
10.4%
Nissan NP200 1.6 16v High
R247 100
R251 900
1.94%
Renault Triber 1.0 Dynamique
R181 900
R195 900
7.7%
Suzuki Swift 1.2 GL
R183 900
R199 900
8.7%
Toyota Fortuner 2.4 GD-6 Auto
R561 800
R611 800
8.9%
Volkswagen Polo 1.0 TSI Comfortline
R301 000
R327 500
8.8%
Top 10 Best Value Used Cars on Cars.co.za
“We’ve used the results of previous iterations of the Cars.co.za Consumer Awards – powered by WesBank (#CarsAwards) to rank various brands’ performances in terms of after-sales support, reliability and other criteria. By combining that data with the availability and -pricing of stock on Cars.co.za, we‘ve been able to identify the 10 best buys in the used car market right now,” Oosthuizen explains. “The biggest challenge, of course, is to find a vehicle from a reputable brand at a good price, but also with relatively low mileage.”
“A lot of research goes into the annual Cars.co.za Consumer Awards, including surveying thousands of South African car owners on their ownership experiences,” he concludes.
If you’re shopping for a vehicle that’s no older than 5 years, has a mileage of under 100 000 km and is priced between R200 000 and R300 000, the Cars.co.za editorial team – and our data – suggest the following vehicles. Note that the emphasis is on vehicles in the B/C-segment hatch, C/D-segment crossover/SUV and Double-Cab bakkie categories, as most South Africans are currently shopping for private vehicles of those types. Safety features have also been prioritised.
Isuzu South Africa has confirmed that its bakkie-based 7-seater offroad family vehicle will be arriving on our shores before the end of the year.
The Isuzu MU-X is a 7-seater bakkie-based SUV that takes on the Toyota Fortuner and Ford Everest. Built on the Isuzu D-Max platform, the all-new Isuzu MU-X will be a big step up in comparison to its predecessor.
“The upcoming Isuzu MU-X is a game-changer for us, as it offers class-leading driver assistance technology, new state-of-the-art powertrains, and a luxurious interior designed for maximum comfort for seven occupants,” said Dominic Rimmer, Senior Vice President Technical Operations.
The all-new Isuzu MU-X will be sold with an arsenal of active/passive safety systems, plus modern connectivity solutions such as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The cabin is said to feature luxurious fittings and soft-touch surfaces, to give the vehicle a bit more of a premium feel.
Will the all-New Isuzu MU-X be built in SA?
The new model will not be built in South Africa, but instead will be imported from Isuzu’s Thailand plant and will also be sold in other African right-hand drive markets. “We are steadily on track to launch the next generation Isuzu MU-X in South Africa.
“Vehicle testing was successfully conducted late 2020 and we continue to test the vehicle under a number of conditions to ensure it is suitably prepared for South African conditions,” adds Rimmer.
Interestingly, the all-new Isuzu D-Max will be assembled at Isuzu’s plant in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape. Currently, the plant is undergoing conversion for the new model’s production and the all-new SA-built Isuzu D-Max will be hitting showroom floors in 2022.
We’ll have confirmation on the specifications, engine choices, and pricing of the all-new Isuzu MU-X closer to the vehicle’s launch at the end of 2021.
The world might be edging towards greater electric vehicle adoption, but the fact remains – all classic and collectable cars, are petrol- or diesel-powered.
And for those enthusiast owners, who are committed to actually using their classic vehicles, parts availability becomes an issue.
Sourcing low-volume parts, made to original specification, can be disastrously expensive. Mercedes-Benz was the first large automotive brand to start supplying ‘continuation’ parts, for its classic car customers.
Toyota might not have as many classic models and variants as Mercedes-Benz, but it is recognizing the issue for Land Cruiser owners.
The original FJ40 series Land Cruisers are highly coveted – and used. That means that parts demand is real, as some of these FJ40s still venture off-road, unlike the sheltered existence, of many other collectable cars.
After engaging various global Land Cruiser clubs, Toyota feels confident that it has a reliable dataset for what is required, in terms of FJ40 continuation parts.
The biggest issue is keeping those engines in shape. With its legacy supplier relationships and knowledge of what an acceptable tolerance in production variability would be, Toyota remains the best source, for continuation parts.
One of the trickier parts with these FJ40s, is their exhaust systems. The carburettor fed in-line six engines have exhaust shape and materials requirements, that are vastly different to what most modern vehicles do.
Instead of forcing its FJ40 owners into an unreliable aftermarket, Toyota is also securing a supply of period-specific exhaust systems.
But why is Toyota bothering to supply such a small minority of owners, with continuation parts?
Because it knows, that nothing beats the recognisable marketing value, of seeing FJ40s rolling around, demonstrating Toyota’s reputation for durability.
The parts will be reproduced for the 40 Series Land Cruiser, which was produced between 1960 and 1984. Availability of parts will be launched as preparations have been completed, with a target launch date of the beginning of 2022.
German carmaker BMW is forging ahead with its electric-car offerings and in an effort to make them part of the family, the brand is releasing an M Performance Parts catalogue.
With the car industry focusing on electrification, attention is now turning into making the cars more acceptable to the masses, more mainstream and the norm, as opposed to the current offerings which, based on public perception, seem far removed from the current crop of ICE vehicles.
BMW’s radical offerings of the i3 and i8 have been on sale for some time, with the latter bowing out fairly recently, but even by today’s standards, they’re so far removed from mainstream motoring just going on design alone.
With the BMW i4 Gran Coupe, BMW hopes to target the mainstream masses as opposed to the early adopters, and with the i4 M50, offer the first-ever electric performance model from BMW M. With BMW M and BMW M Sport products comes the M Performance catalogue which highlights some tasty visual goodies that will make your car stand out from the rest.
Thanks to BMW Sweden, we can see the really cool additions BMW M is cooking up for the i4 M Performance. If you love carbon fibre, you’re in for a treat as the grille, diffuser, trunk spoiler are all offered. Inside, there’s a gorgeous alcantara M Sport steering wheel and carbon fibre gear selector.
Also on offer are 20-inch M Performance alloy wheels which are finished in Bicolor Night Gold.
The BMW i4 M50 has been confirmed for a South African market introduction and will be arriving in 2022, along with the BMW iX. As a reminder, the i4 M Performance features 400 kW, xDrive and a range of 510 km. It’ll be quick too, with a claimed 0-100 kph of 3.9 seconds.
Toyota is a global leader in hybrid technology and if rumours out of Japan are true, we might see some diesel hybrid powertrains come to market.
Japanese automaker Toyota and luxury brand Lexus have extensive experience in producing hybrid powertrains and it can even be argued that the firm is the best in the hybrid business.
The most recent petrol hybrid vehicle we tested was the Lexus IS300h F Sport but there are rumours swirling in Japan that Toyota will not only expand upon its petrol-hybrid offerings but will also look to develop diesel hybrid-electric powertrains which are likely to be applied to the brand’s 4×4 vehicles and commercial products.
A diesel-hybrid-electric powertrain is expected to deliver gains in efficiency over a conventional diesel powerplant while torque delivery will also be enhanced.
By 2025, Toyota is expected to have about 70 electrified models worldwide including HEV (hybrid electric vehicle), PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle and (fuel-cell electric vehicles), which will include a total of 15 battery-electric vehicles (BEVs).
We will keep you updated as soon as official information from Toyota becomes available.
Special Land Cruiser marks icon’s 70th anniversary
The Toyota Land Cruiser turned 70 at the weekend (on 1 August 2021) and, as if the launch of the new 300 wasn’t momentous enough to mark the platinum anniversary of the legendary off-roader, the Japanese marque is releasing special-edition versions of the 70-series pick-up, double cab and wagon.
The past 18 months have been a rather busy time for Toyota’s long-serving and famously conservative nameplate (the pauses between the introductions of updated models can often last several years!). Having released 2 batches of the Namib Edition of the 70 series (120 double cabs and 60 single cabs), Toyota SA rolled out Land Cruiser 200 and Land Cruiser Prado model-year updates, reintroduced the 78 Wagon and, last week, the Prospecton-based manufacturer announced specs & prices for the Land Cruiser 300, which includes a maiden GR Sport derivative.
The 70th-Anniversary Land Cruiser is instantly recognisable by its black grille with white TOYOTA lettering.
Now, just to clear up any confusion… Toyota’s legendary off-road nameplate did not appear until 1954, but the firm has chosen to celebrate the platinum anniversary of the Japanese introduction of the Toyota BJ in 1951, because that model became (was renamed) Land Cruiser about 3 years after that. Since then the Land Cruiser has become ubiquitous to the point that its model name is virtually a vehicle brand in itself. It has been estimated that Toyota sells approximately 400 000 Land Cruisers per year in 170 different markets; Land Cruiser production passed the 10-million-unit mark in 2019.
To quote regular Cars.co.za contributor Lance Branquinho, who penned our Testing the Land Cruiser Legend in Angola article: “Land Cruiser customers are some of the most demanding owners imaginable: people who use their vehicles to run businesses and emergency services where there are none. For them, vehicle durability is sacrosanct and breakdowns, simply intolerable.
The first batch of Land Cruiser Namib Edition derivatives sold out in a matter of months.
“In an automotive world where brands are drowning in the technological anxiety of evolving customer expectations, Land Cruiser remains the outlier. Its range manages to hold true to the most fleeting marketing concept: authenticity. These are vehicles that sell strongly, (with respect) little marketing effort on the part of Toyota,” he concludes.
Only 600 examples of the special-edition 70th-Anniversary Land Cruiser will be produced and it will be available in 3 variants (320 double cabs, 200 single cabs and 80 wagons will be made) and with a choice of 3 exterior finishes: French Vanilla, Merlot Red and Sandy Taupe.
The 70th-Anniversary Land Cruiser can be distinguished by its black heritage grille with “Toyota” lettering, with a matching black front bumper and wheel-arch flares, darkened 16-inch alloy wheels and headlamp bezels, plus LED front fog lamps and daytime running lights. The special edition bears a “Heritage” Land Cruiser badge above the front wheel arches, as well as a “70th Anniversary” emblem.
The 70th-Anniversary Land Cruiser’s interior features woodgrain trim and a number of leather inserts.
Inside, the 70th-Anniversary Land Cruiser features a number of premium options “not previously offered on the Land Cruiser 70 Series”, Toyota says. The seats are finished in premium black upholstery, while black leather-accented trim has been applied to the steering-wheel rim and gear knob.
Furthermore, the special-edition derivative’s cabin has been enhanced with woodgrain-look trim (including around the HVAC controls on the centre fascia), silver accents on the air vents and black switch surrounds on the insides of the doors. A newly designed black centre console has also been fitted, replete with a pair of additional 2.1-amp Type A USB chargers and a pair of cupholders.
All versions are powered by a 151 kW/430 Nm 4.5-litre turbodiesel V8 mated with a 5-speed manual transmission. Suffice to say all Land Cruiser 70 series special-edition variants feature low-range transfer cases, a 3 500-kg braked towing capacity, front and rear differential locks, a raised air intake and a 130-litre fuel tank.
Toyota South Africa Motors confirmed it will be releasing the 70th Special Edition model based on the 70 Series. While development is still under way, customers can register their interest at their nearest Toyota dealer. The model is expected to touch down in SA in the 4th quarter of 2021.
The Hyundai Tucson serves as the Korean brand’s medium-sized SUV catering to families looking for a spacious 5-seater with a raised ride height. The Tucson’s main competitors are found in the Volkswagen Tiguan, Kia Sportage, Toyota Rav 4 and Peugeot 3008 to name a few in this hotly contested SUV segment.Here’s everything you need to know about the Hyundai Tucson.
Hyundai Tucson 1.6T Elite Sport (2019) Review
With a bold, look-at-me styling kit and beefed-up performance, Hyundai’s latest iteration of the Tucson Sport (now available in both turbopetrol and -diesel flavours) is generating significant interest after the success of the first (pre-facelift) Tucson Sport back in 2017. How good is the latest Tucson Sport? Let’s take it for a spin…
We Like: Bold and sporty styling, standard features, practical interior
We Don’t Like: Overly-sensitive throttle, the interior lacks special character, thirsty, pricey
For those with a penchant for a practical family SUV festooned with a Fast and Furious-style body kit and endowed with heightened power/torque outputs, Hyundai has delivered a solution (yet again). Introducing the locally-developed Sport derivatives of the facelifted Hyundai Tucson.
The Hyundai Tucson is currently the best-selling compact family SUV in South Africa, but the latest Mazda CX-5 is a strong product and we brought these two segment heavyweights together for a comparative assessment. Does the handsome Hyundai Tucson have what it takes to best the suave Mazda CX-5? Take a look at our findings for the answers…
The popular Hyundai Tucson has been facelifted for 2018. The Korean brand has trimmed its family car range and the updated model incorporates a handful of changes in terms of appearance, trim and specification. We drove the facelifted model at its local launch in the Western Cape.
The facelifted 2018 Hyundai Tucson family car launched in SA in September 2018. Take a look at 5 key changes that the latest Tucson brings to the road.
The Tucson is an important model for Hyundai and since its launch in 2016, more than 13 591 units have found homes in South Africa. The Tucson competes in a competitive segment against rivals such as the Toyota Rav4, Volkswagen Tiguan and Mazda CX-5. Now, Hyundai has refreshed its Tucson range in an effort to improve competitiveness and tighten its grip in this hotly-contested segment.
Take a look at 5 key changes to the Tucson lineup..
Hyundai recently introduced a sportier version of its top-selling Tucson family car in South Africa. It’s called the Tucson Sport and we tested it to find out if there is any merit in considering this beefed up compact family SUV.
We Like: Exterior enhancements, ride quality, performance, space
We Don’t Like: Annoying exhaust drone, stock-standard interior
Korean brand Hyundai’s Tucson is a firm favourite in South Africa. Though the brand does not officially publicise its monthly sales volumes, we have it on good authority that the Tucson is one of the top-selling family car/SUVs in this country. Besides, you can gauge its popularity by just witnessing the sheer number of them in traffic. But which derivative is best? We think a mighty strong case can be made for this… the 1.7-litre turbodiesel Executive.
We like: Smooth, economical engine, ride quality, spacious, well-built cabin
