Porsche Taycan RWD Review – Will this car make you want to go electric?
Porsche’s Taycan all-electric sportscar is targeting early adopters of electric cars. Will electric cars take off in SA soon? We break down the Taycan RWD and answer some of the questions that electric cars pose in South Africa.
Looking for a used Porsche for sale in South Africa? We have over 260 to choose from!
South African motorists’ choice of fully electric vehicles continues to grow and become more affordable with this, the new bottom-of-the-range Porsche Taycan RWD. However, unfortunately, “affordable” here is a very relative term. At just over R2.2million, the new Taycan is nearly half the price of the top-of-the-range Taycan Turbo S, and so it does represent a significantly more “affordable” way of parking an electric Porsche on your driveway.
But why is it so much cheaper? Our video guy, Ciro De Siena was on leave and so we sent our in-house race-ace, Ashley Oldfield, to find out.
The Mini Urbanaut is not really a Countryman JCW, now is it?
Despite some strange products, such as the Roadster JCW, Mini is a brand that has a legacy of practical family transport.
Although BMW has spent a fortune reinventing Mini and making it into an A-Class and VW Golf/Polo rival, there is a timelessness about the brand. People have a very high tolerance for quirkiness from Mini, and the company’s latest concept is a play on that.
It is called the Urbanaut and what was merely a digital rendering last year, has now transformed into a driveable vehicle. The Urbanaut configuration is decidedly MPV, instead of crossover, which is a clear indication of its purpose as a sustainable people mover.
At 4.46m, this Urbanaut is longer than any current production Mini – even the Countryman. There are no powertrain details yet, but as you would expect from any new vehicle concept, this Urbanaut is battery-powered.
The pod-like exterior proportions are telling. Mini has designed the Urbanaut to be a terrifically comfortable vehicle, adaptable to mood and socializing.
Urbanaut’s cabin architecture is more pleasant than most boutique apartments and uses a majority of recycled and sustainable materials: such as wool and polyester. Minimalism is the interior theme and there is no longer any leather or chrome, present in the cabin.
The interior can be transformed into three different modes. In Chill configuration, it has a lounge-style set-up. This is ideal for relaxing near a lake, the seaside, or when you feel like that impromptu yoga session, in the car, whilst travelling through the Karoo.
Urbanaut’s Wanderlust cabin setting is for driving, with more conventional seating positions and then there is Vibe, which folds the windscreen and projects a graphic display onto the wheels. Yes, your Urbanaut can be used as a mobile entertainment venue.
After a teaser sketch and recent spy shots, the updated 2021 Volkswagen Polo GTI has been revealed. Here’s a look at the changes, updates and when it’s coming to South African showrooms.
The updated Volkswagen Polo range which was revealed earlier in 2021 has gained its performance flagship. This is the 2021 Volkswagen Polo GTI and it features extensive changes inside and out, including a number of firsts for the range.
Of course, being a GTI everyone will want to know what’s under the bonnet. The good news is the rumour of more power has turned out to be true, with the 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo petrol engine upgraded to punch out 152 kW and 320 Nm. Interestingly Volkswagen says the additional power doesn’t improve the performance, with the claimed 0-100 kph of 6.5 seconds and top speed of 240 kph remaining the same as before.
The 2021 Volkswagen Polo GTI gets a lowered suspension, electronic differential and VW has introduced the optional Sport Select suspension which features adaptive dampers that work in conjunction with drive select profiles. As far as transmissions are concerned, the GTI features a 7-speed DSG.
Visually, the 2021 Volkswagen Polo GTI features some updates that bring it in line with the rest of the latest Volkswagen products. There are new IQ Light LED headlights at the front, LED rear tail lights, an illuminated front grille, red trim on the bumper and GTI badges on the nose and rear. For the first time, Volkswagen has introduced dynamic turn signals.
Inside, the updated Polo GTI gets a new look dashboard trim and sees the introduction of the new 8-inch infotainment system. International customers can go for the 9.2-inch Discover Pro which has additional content. Making its debut in the Polo GTI is semi-autonomous driving tech which VW calls IQ.Drive. This tech ranges from adaptive cruise control, auto emergency braking, lane keeping assist and so on. It’s too soon to say what the SA-spec cars will feature.
When will the 2021 Volkswagen Polo GTI come to SA?
Good news as not only is the 2021 Volkswagen Polo GTI confirmed for our market, but the VW facility in Kariega (formerly Uitenhage) will continue to manufacture the entire Polo range including the GTI for local and export. As far as local sales go, Volkswagen SA has said the updated Polo GTI will hit showrooms in the first quarter of 2022.
Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT is the World’s Fastest SUV
The mysterious Porsche Cayenne coupe mule which broke the crossover record at the Nurburgring has been uncovered. This is the Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT and features a significant number of upgrades to make it deadly quick in corners as well as straight-line sprints.
The 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 petrol has received upgraded crankshaft, pistons, timing chain, connecting rods, while the transmission has been tweaked too, with the aim of quicker gear shifts.
Power is now 471 kW and 850 Nm, and power goes to all 4 wheels via an 8-speed gearbox. The additional power helps the Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT hit 100 kph in a claimed 3.3 seconds, complete a quarter-mile run in 11.6 and it will run to a top speed of 300 kph.
This powertrain is exclusive to the Cayenne Coupe and the vehicle also features a suspension setup that’s 17mm lower than the standard Cayenne Turbo Coupe. The 3-chamber air suspension has also been revised for torque vectoring, stiffness too.
At each corner there are 22-inch wheels wrapped in custom Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres and there are ceramic-composite brakes as standard.
Visually, you can spot the new Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT with its larger front intakes, bolder lip, carbon fibre roof, central exhausts, rear diffuser and adaptive spoiler.
How much is the Porsche Cayenne Coupe GT in South Africa?
Porsche SA has confirmed its Cayenne Coupe GT is on its way to the market and sent us the pricing ahead of its arrival.
Porsche Cayenne Coupe GT R3 350 000 (3-year Driveplan)
Porsche Cayenne Coupe GT R3 400 000) (5-year Driveplan)
Personal Loan vs Car Finance – the best way to buy a car?
In this article, we set out the reasons to choose a personal loan over conventional vehicle finance and vice versa.
If you want to lend money to buy a car, a simple Google search will present you with a number of options… These fall into 2 main categories – vehicle finance or personal loans. So which is better?
If you suffer from attention-deficit disorder and can only read on for 2 more sentences, let me give you the quick answer:
If you can get an offer for vehicle finance from a bank or dealership then, almost always, the “terms” will be more favourable (that is to say the monthly payments will be lower) than for a personal loan. Offers for vehicle finance will generally encompass better interest rates and longer durations, both of which will reduce your monthly premium.
Lenders are fussy about to whom they would offer vehicle finance. They will technically “own” the car they finance so that will affect their consideration… This might mean that they decline your application for vehicle finance, but you might get approved for a personal loan. If you are buying an older vehicle with a low price tag, personal loans can be easier to get than asset finance.
If I can keep your attention for a couple of minutes longer, let me add a bit of explanation…
Why traditional car finance is better
The main reason that banks offer better rates for vehicle finance is that they have a “get out of jail free” card in the event that you fail to repay the loan. Because they legally own the car, if you stop paying your instalments, they will take back (repossess) the vehicle and resell it to pay off part of your debt. This means the loan is less risky for them, which is why you get a better deal (most of the time).
The banks are less likely to offer you a finance deal on older cars. At this juncture, a personal loan may be a suitable option.
But it also explains why they get fussy about who (and what) they will approve for vehicle finance…
To put it simply: Banks don’t like financing purchases of older cars. In fact, vehicle financiers generally won’t finance cars that are 10 years old or older. Finance agreements generally last for 6 years, but when a car is 16 years old, there is not much point in repossessing it because it will be worth very little. Thus, they tend to either stay away from older cars or offer very poor deals.
Why consider a personal loan?
They are not as keen on the “budget end” of the market either. Most banks will say that they offer asset finance for cars priced as low as R30k, but in reality, they prefer “bankrolling” more expensive vehicles. When the price tag gets below R80k, they are not likely to be keen. Again, the value of the car means there is not much point in re-possessing it – so they either stay away or offer poor deals.
They take a long hard look at the price you are willing to pay for the car too. They will “own” the vehicle until the loan is paid off so they might not want to pay for any “extras” that you want to add to the deal, such as vehicle accessories or aftermarket (also known as bolt-on) warranties. Nobody will care about those extras once the car’s been repossessed, so the bank will lose money.
With vehicle finance, when the banks get a little nervous, they will ask you to pay an upfront deposit on the car as part of the credit arrangement. Personal loan providers will not be as fussy, but they may charge you a higher interest rate.
If you’re looking to purchase an older model vehicle with a low price tag then securing a personal loan might be your solution. Bank asking for a deposit you can’t pay? Again, a personal loan could well work. However, you’re unlikely to secure a personal loan if you want to buy a car worth more than R150k. You can try, but generally, Asset Finance is the ticket you need for a more expensive “ride”.
It’s not looking good for motorists as the Automobile Association of SA has confirmed the price of petrol and diesel will be increasing in July 2021.
Based on the monthly unaudited fuel price data from the Central Energy Fund, the Automobile Association of SA has said the prices of all grades of fuel will be going up in July 2021.
“International petroleum prices have climbed throughout June. Even some marginal gains on the Rand have not been enough to counter the rise. On average, the Rand was positive against the US dollar during June, but the daily exchange rate has sagged alarmingly since mid-month, weakening from around R13.75 to the dollar to nearly R14.30,” the AA says.
As it stands, we’re looking at increases of 23 cents a litre for petrol, 38 cents a litre for diesel, while illuminating paraffin will be going up by 32 cents.
“This increase is going to be very difficult for those who use paraffin for cooking, lighting, and especially heating as South Africa heads into the heart of winter,” said the AA. The AA also expressed concern about the exchange rate and oil price for the rest of the year.
“If the Rand continues to slide with oil on an upward trajectory, this could bring further bad news for South Africa’s economy,” the AA concludes.
Land Rover has introduced its updated Discovery premium SUV in South Africa. Take a look at what’s changed and how much you can expect to pay for the latest Discovery.
The Land Rover Discovery has been updated but its recipe to offer high levels of practicality, luxury and offroad ability remain intact. However, the new Defender is cannibalising local Discovery sales as many buyers are buying into the Defender trend but with Defender production grinding to a halt as a result of a chip shortage, perhaps the 7-seat Discovery will claw back a few sales.
Styling changes for updated Discovery
The Discovery has undergone a mild styling revision with most of the changes seen in the cabin.
The latest Discovery can be identified by its new LED headlight design with the daytime running lights now set lower in the headlight housing while sweeping indicator lights add further sophistication to the Discovery’s light show. The front bumper has also been revised while a gloss black panel with the ‘Discovery’ lettering neatly placed between the taillights.
The Discovery R-Dynamic adds unique features such as Gloss Black and Shadow Atlas accents as well as Premium LED headlights with Auto High-Beam Assist (AHBA). Two-tone leather with contrast stitching is offered for the Discovery R-Dynamic.
Tech features for Land Rover Discovery
A larger infotainment touchscreen makes its way into the Discovery.
The most notable change inside the Discovery is the redesigned centre console which houses Land Rover’s new 11.4-inch Pivi Pro infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay functionality. More so, 2 smartphones can be connected via Bluetooth simultaneously. A customisable 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster is also offered and can be configured using the new 4-spoke steering wheel (with shift paddles). A full-colour Head-Up Display and wireless smartphone charger are optional.
The Discovery also offers Cabin Air Ionisation which can actively monitor air quality in the vehicle and filter out allergens, toxins and harmful particulates.
For rear passengers using tablets, Click and Go tablet holders are fitted on the front seatbacks for convenience and up to 8 devices can be connected to the onboard 4G Wi-Fi hotspot.
Land Rover has also improved second-row seat comfort with redesigned seat profiling, seat cushions and enhanced lateral support.
In terms of practicality, the load bay of the Discovery with the third row of seats in place offers 258 litres of space but increase to as much as 2 485 litres with the seats folded down. The seats can be configured electronically using the central touchscreen.
The Discovery can be had with a hands-free Gesture Tailgate as an option while the lower inner power tailgate can also be used as a bench.
What engines are offered for the Land Rover Discovery?
The Discovery has been rationalised with 2 new engines with 48V mild hybrid technology.
The Discovery range welcomes two new 3.0-litre straight-six Ingenium engines, both featuring 48V Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle (MHEV) technology.
The petrol-powered Discovery P360 offers 265 kW and 500 Nm and claims 6.7 seconds in the sprint from zero to 100kph.
The diesel-powered Discovery D300 replaces the previous SD4 and SDV6 offerings with outputs of 221 kW and 650 Nm. Land Rover claims a zero to 100kph sprint time of 6.8 seconds for the Discovery D300.
The Discovery is equipped with air suspension and adaptive damping for improved ride comfort while its offroad ability is ensured with Land ROver’s Terrain Response 2 system. The Discovery also benefits from ClearSight Ground View technology which uses cameras to give the driver a view of the ground underneath the vehicle which is displayed on the central touchscreen.
How much does the Land Rover Discovery cost in South Africa?
Discovery D300 – R1 452 700
Discovery D300 SE R-Dynamic – R1 561 200
Discovery D300 HSE R-Dynamic – R1 675 900
Discovery P360 S – R1 487 600
Discovery P360 SE R-Dynamic – R1 596 100
Discovery P360 HSE R-Dynamic – R1 710 900
* Prices include VAT but exclude CO2 tax
The Land Rover Discovery is sold with a 5-year/100 000km warranty and a 5-year/100 000km maintenance plan.
After a long wait and many teasers, Toyota’s road-legal rally car has touched down in South Africa. Here’s what’s on offer, performance details and how much you can expect to pay.
This Toyota GR Yaris is so far removed from being the compact city hatchback we’ve come to know, we’re actually surprised it even retains the name.
What you see here is a homologation special that has been designed from the ground up to be a performance car. This is not a normal Yaris with a more powerful engine. Nearly every component from the normal Yaris has been replaced in the GR Yaris.
There’s a clever 4-wheel drive system with 3 driving modes that will distribute power and torque between axles. If you’re after a fast time around a track, there’s a mode for that. If you want to hang the tail out and do some drifting, there’s another mode for that too.
Our initials impressions have shown the GR Yaris to be one very impressive offering that rewrites the rulebook when it comes to hot hatch dynamics.
Toyota GR Yaris Engine
Under the bonnet you’ll find a 1.6-litre 3-cylinder turbopetrol which delivers 198 kW and 360 Nm. Power goes to all 4 wheels via a 6-speed manual gearbox. The vehicle is said to sprint to 100 kph in just 5.5 seconds and it will run to a top speed of 230 kph. While it is a performance vehicle and fuel economy is not that much of a priority, Toyota claims its new GR Yaris will consume 7.6 L/100 km.
What’s On Offer?
Toyota South Africa is offering the new GR Yaris in two flavours: GR Yaris and GR Yaris Rally.
The standard features for the Toyota GR Yaris include auto lights, auto wipers, climate control, touchscreen infotainment with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, a 6-speaker audio system, steering wheel controls, and Toyota Connect.
As far as safety systems go, the new Toyota GR Yaris features tyre pressure monitor, Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Brake Assist (BA), Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), Hill Assist Control (HAC), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Curtain/Driver/Passenger/Front Side airbags.
The GR Yaris Rally gets additional content on top of the standard car, like a limited-slip differential, active noise control, synthetic leather trim, a special UV cut windscreen, LED headlights with auto high beam and a heads-up display. The Toyota Safety Sense is fitted with lane-keeping assist and adaptive cruise control. There are also forged alloy wheels wrapped in performance tyres.
How much does the new Toyota GR Yaris cost in South Africa?
The new GR Yaris is sold with a 9 Services / 90 000 km plan, 12 months / 10 000 km service intervals, and a 3 years / 100 000 km warranty.
Africa could be one of the last places VW will sell petrol engines, before its 2050 deadline.
The future between what VW shows, and South Africa gets, is going to dramatically diverge. In future.
Klaus Zellmer is VW’s head of sales and the man who has to plan future product demand. If anyone has an idea what VW’s realistic product portfolio is going to be in a decade from now, it is Zellmer.
In a candid interview with Germany’s Muenchner Merkur, Zellmer confirmed that VW is not going to sell any internal combustion vehicles in Europe, beyond 2035. And implies no hybrids, either.
The boldness of Europe’s largest car company, committing to a zero tailpipe emissions portfolio by 2035, is significant. It also means that Porsche, which is within the VW ownership organogram, won’t be producing its classic flat-six engine, for the 911, by 2035.
A telling aspect of Zellmer’s interview, was when he was quizzed about VW’s product strategy for Africa. Zellmer’s view is more long-term. Which has implications for the local market.
Despite VW committing to an exclusively electric vehicle product line-up in Europe, by 2035, Africa will not transition on a similar timeline.
But when will the African VW product offering, bid farewell to petrol and diesel? That would be 2050. This is the date by which VW has committed to having a carbon zero global business, which includes Africa.
What are the implications? Turbopetrol and diesel engines until 2050 at your local VW dealer? Probably. In a phased approach, with the benefit of hybridization.
The challenging bit will be keeping those engines current, with software and injectors.
There is no new engine development happening, and 2050 is a long way into the future. An analogy for the issue: using 2021 engines in 2050, might be like driving the Golf 2 GTI engine, in your Golf 8 GTI.
Toyota Coaster in SA (2021) Specs & Price
Toyota has launched the Coaster people mover in South Africa! See specification and pricing details below.
The South African transport network will welcome the arrival of the new Toyota Coaster people mover which will serve to fill the gap between the 16-seater Quantum LWB and the Hino-300 bus. Millions of South Africans depend on taxis for the daily commute to and from work and the new Coaster is perfectly suited for this important transport role. Toyota’s Quantum taxi is locally produced at the brand’s facility in Prospecton, Durban, and it’s the most common taxi on South Africa’s roads.
The 4th generation Toyota Coaster will appeal to taxi operators and tour operators alike with a capacity of 23 seats (including the driver). The seating arrangement includes 6-single seats on the passenger side with 6 double seats on the driver side and a 4-seater bench at the back of the bus.
Some key features include a tilt/scope adjustable steering wheel, multi-information display, Toyota audio system (Toyota Connect with 15GB), 12V socket and USB and auxiliary ports. Safety features include dual front airbags and ABS with EBD.
The interior is finished in a durable PVC finish for the floor and seat trim while the steering wheel and gear lever are finished in Urethane.
The Coaster is exclusively offered in White with regulatory mini-bus stickers and chevron markings.
A Hino-sourced 4.0-litre turbodiesel engine provides 100 kW and 353 Nm of torque and makes use of a 5-speed manual transmission that drives the rear wheels.
How much does the Toyota Coaster cost in South Africa?
Toyota Coaster 4.0D 5MT LWB R899 900
The Coaster is sold with a 3-year/100 000km warranty and a 6-services/60 000 km service plan.
