The 2021 Tokyo auto show might be a digital affair, but that has not prevented Japanese car companies from preparing some interesting concepts.
One of the more attainable and relatable cars set to be part of the 2021 Tokyo auto show experience, is from Honda. The company has taken its popular and reliable Jazz hatchback and converted it to a proper crossover.
This Jazz Crosstar concept is based on a hybridised Jazz platform, with Dal electric motors supplementing the performance of its 1.5-litre petrol engine. It is also the reason you’ll notice the peculiar dual-grille bumper design.
Core performance numbers are what you’d expect from a Jazz. The total system output is 80 kW and 253 Nm, with a CVT transmission converting those numbers to modest acceleration. Honda claims 0-100 kph in 9.4 seconds, with a 175 kph top speed.
This Jazz Crosstar concept is not about acceleration numbers. It is all about the accessories. You’ll notice the elaborate roof rack system, intended to hold whatever you can’t fit inside, on top. That said, the Jazz has a terrifically adaptable cabin architecture and 1 203-litres of luggage space with its rear seats folded, so if you end up actually using those roof racks and their storage boxes, you’ll be planning a very long journey.
By far the best aspect of this Jazz Crosstar concept, are its wheels and tyres. Anybody who travels huge distances on gravel roads will tell you: steel wheels are more durable than alloys. The Crosstar rolls black painted steelies rolling appropriate Toyo Open Country all-terrain tyres, with a mildly aggressive tread pattern and generous sidewall.
Those tyres will make a discernible difference on gravel roads and with the large sidewall, they should offer good impact absorption over larger bumps and potholes. The Crosstar concept also has 152 mm of ground clearance, which is 16 mm more than a conventional Honda Jazz.
A Toyota engineer has said the all-new Toyota Fortuner will be revealed in 2022. Here's what we know so far.
In an interview with AutoCar India with Yoshiki Konishi, chief engineer at Toyota Motor Corporation, it has been revealed the all-new Fortuner will be revealed in 2022.
The interview was extensive, with loads of nuggets of information on the changes. The good news is the body-on-frame assembly willl be retained, in order to keep its offroading credentials intact. Interestingly, in terms of powertrain, hybrid technology is being discussed. “We need to introduce high efficiency powertrains on our Fortuner, which depends on the region,” explained Konishi. “At this time, a (pure) diesel powertrain is not the best. It’s difficult to meet regulations. So, we need to change from diesel to a diesel-plus-hybrid system, or also another powertrain,” said the product head.
There will be a complete revision of its electronic and electrical (ENE) architecture, and the hydraulic power steering setup will be replaced by electric power steering, which Konishi said 'will make the vehicle easier to drive.' There will also be extensive changes to the safety systems, like stability control and assistance systems. “We will introduce electronically-controlled VSC (vehicle stability control) technology into the next Fortuner,” he said, before adding, “We are on the way to introduce connectivity features step by step.The next generation of the Fortuner will have some additional items. It will have (greater) digitisation and ADAS.”
These developments are substantial, but we suspect the timing isn't. The South African market received the updated Toyota Fortuner towards the end of 2020 and based on product lifecycles, the earliest our market could possibly receive a new model is late 2023. The report is sourced from India, a market which just received its updated Fortuner in January 2021.
We'll keep tabs on the development of the all-new Toyota Fortuner.
While hot-hatch aficionados eagerly await the local arrival of the rally-bred Toyota GR Yaris, which produces 200 kW in standard trim, a Hampshire-based tuner has been cranking up its 3-cylinder turbopetrol motor to produce 224 kW and is developing a slew of custom components for the newcomer.
Developed with the express purpose to homologate Toyota’s contender for the world rally championship, the all-wheel-driven GR Yaris is built in the Japanese firm's Motomachi factory, in a dedicated section of the plant that is reserved for the production of GR sportscars.
Litchfield conducting a dyno test on the more muscular GR Yaris, the initial engine upgrade comprises tweaked ECU software.
We’ve seen spy pics of what appears to be a prototype of an even hotter GRMN version undergoing testing, but while Toyota may – or may not – be working on a more potent GR Yaris of its own (consider that once the firm has sold enough units of the car to satisfy competition regulations, it may quietly suspend production… that's what the overwhelming majority of manufacturers do), tuners have been fettling the Japanese hot hatchback; many of them are JDM-based, but some are from Europe – well, in this case (in a post-Brexit world), the neighbouring United Kingdom.
Litchfield, which also produces upgrade kits for performance cars such as the Alpine A110, BMW M2 and Ford Focus RS, bought a pair of GR Yaris units shortly after the vehicle’s UK launch late last year and is developing a plethora of aftermarket parts, such as performance exhaust systems, a bolt-in roll cage, a new intake system, an ECU tuning package, an uprated intercooler, polyurethane bushes, as well as race seats for the car, Autocar reports.
The customer coilover kit from Nitron is said to lower the ride height AND improve the GR Yaris' ride quality.
In standard trim, the GR Yaris’ 3-cylinder, 1.6-litre turbocharged engine offers up 192 kW and 360 Nm, but there is also said to be a high-output version that produces 200 kW and 370 Nm… and we understand the South African market is likely to get the latter.
In developing new engine management software for the GR Yaris’ ECU, Litchfield has effectively reverse-engineered its way into the Toyota’s control systems. The firm has been testing a piggyback system that extracts at least 224 kW from the mechanically unmodified "triple" motor, representing a gain of about 24 kW over the standard car, but is also refining the software tweaks to ensure "smooth, consistent" power delivery.
Note the more aggressive stance now that the wheels sit more tightly in the Toyota's wheel arches.
The GR Yaris’ all-wheel-drive system can apportion power between its front and rear axle dynamically via the Normal (60:40), Sport (30:70) and Track (50:50) drive modes. Whereas the standard model (equipped with a 6-speed manual gearbox) is said to bolt from 0 to 100 kph in 5.5 sec, Litchfield may hope to shave a 10th or two off that time.
Meanwhile, the company is planning to offer a pair of suspension upgrade packages for the Toyota, both of which are said to "result in a lower ride height and improved ride quality without compromising the factory-specification car's dynamic characteristics," at least according to the tuner.
During the initial development phase, Litchfield has extracted 224 kW from the 1.6-litre 3-pot motor, how much more is to come?
To that end, Litchfield is developing a custom coilover kit in conjunction with UK suspension company Nitron. The prime setup offers 3-way adjustment “for maximum capability”, but the firm has also fashioned a 2-way kit that “locks-in” the basic optimised in-house settings at a lower starting price. A by-product of the mod is a lower, decidedly hot hatch-like ride height and a sportier stance.
In the meantime, we await the Toyota GR Yaris’ arrival on local shores. We will publish local specs and pricing info as soon as official details become available.
Spy shots of the facelifted Volkswagen Polo have landed. Here's what we know about the popular compact hatchback ahead of its estimated arrival in 2022.
Picture credit: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien. We have paid for these photos and at the photographer's request, have watermarked them.
*Update* In January 2021, prototypes of the facelifted Volkswagen Polo were spotted on the road. At first glance, we can see a revised front end, complete with new headlights. We suspect the updated Polo will feature Golf 8-like lights at the front as this unit's headlamps are carefully camouflaged. There's also a change to the boot lid and the rear lights have been tweaked too. The real changes will be under the skin, with improvements and enhancements likely in the refinement, performance, and efficiency departments.
Given its popularity in SA and the fact that the VW plant in Uitenhage contributes significantly to both local and international markets, it wouldn't surprise us to see Polo prototypes running around the Eastern Cape before the end of the year. As for showroom arrival, we expect the updated Polo to be revealed before the end of 2021 and hitting dealer floors in 2022.
The changes aren't immediately apparent, but if you look closely, you'll see some tweaks to the rear lights as well as a new bootlid.
The current iteration of the Volkswagen Polo has been on sale for some time. Officially launched in South Africa back in January 2018, the Volkswagen Polo has been a popular compact hatchback, tallying up more than healthy sales numbers. Globally, the Volkswagen Polo was revealed in the middle of 2017.
With almost 3 years of local market dominance, you can bet Volkswagen has started internal discussions on the facelifted model. Given the fact that Volkswagen's Uitenhage plant churns out Polos for both the local and international markets, the updated Polo is of paramount importance.
Brazil Automotive has done a render of the Volkswagen Polo and if you, like us, think this looks unusually familiar, you'd be right. The front of the Volkswagen Golf 8 has been superimposed onto the nose of the Polo, and we think it looks great. This new face is not unique to the Golf 8 either and we've seen a variation of this design language on the updated Tiguan SUV.
What can we expect in the updated Volkswagen Polo? Volkswagen is a firm believer in incremental improvements, so don't expect a major overhaul both in terms of visual design and under the skin changes. We can speculate and suspect there will be updates to the infotainment system, cabin trim as well as revisions to the powertrain in an effort to make them more efficient.
As it stands, Volkswagen SA currently offers the Polo with a few powertrain combinations revolving around the 1.0-litre turbocharged 3-cylinder petrol motor. It's available in 2 states of tune (70 kW and 85 kW) and there's a manual gearbox or dual-clutch auto on offer. For those wanting some firepower, the 2.0-litre Polo GTI is also available, but that's dual-clutch only.
Despite its shrinking local presence, fans of the Opel brand do have some exciting battery-powered models to anticipate.
The German value car brand is rapidly transitioning to an electric vehicle offering and not forgetting about its legacy OPC customers.
Although the notion of OPC badging and a lack of rear exhausts might trouble established Opel performance car customers, the company is promising an authentic driving experience.
During the tumultuous last five years, as Opel has attempted to settle its business, the OPC brand was greatly neglected. Since the discontinuation of Opel’s previous-generation Corsa, there has been no new OPC version. The best the brand has been able to deliver is a sportily clad GSI rebadge that was tossed onto the local market back in mid-2019.
Opel has now confirmed that it will introduce a high-performance version of the latest Corsa next year. Fans of the brand should brace themselves for a very different driving experience as this new OPC will use the Corsa-e platform and powertrain.
There will be no turbocharged four-cylinder engine option or manual gearbox. Opel’s new OPC will also have a great deal less power. Using the Corsa-e’s lithium-ion battery pack and electric motor configuration, it will store 50 kWh of energy and deliver only 100 kW of power.
Compared to the previous OPC’s 152kW petrol engine, that could leave many potential Opel hot hatchback customers a touch confused- and disappointed.
Design flair will be a given and with its electric power- and drivetrain, the new OPC will have a much better centre of gravity and better cornering stability. It should also be credibly quick from 0-100 kph, as the current Corsa-e runs that performance benchmark in only 7.6 seconds.
Expect top speed to be governed to a relatively low threshold, to preserve battery cell integrity and conserve range.
Toyota has updated its Quantum and Hiace Ses’fikile people-movers in South Africa. See the changes below.
Taxis transport millions of South Africans to and from work every day and the taxi industry forms the backbone of public transport in South Africa. The Hiace Ses’fikile and Quantum models are a common sight on our roads and they are locally produced at Toyota’s Prospecton facility in Durban.
With the Covid-19 pandemic gripping the country, Toyota SA has fitted a driver guard inside the Hiace Ses’fikile to improve safety for both the driver and passengers. Hiace Ses’fikile’s produced from October 2020 are fitted with this guard.
Moving onto the changes for the Quantum range, the Quantum GL bus (11- and 14 seater) gains 16-inch alloy wheels replacing the previous steel wheels. An upgraded rear-view mirror with an auto-dimming function and reverse camera display is now also offered and is also available for the Quantum Panel Van and Crew Cab derivatives.
Toyota has also discontinued non-air-conditioned derivatives from the Panel Van and Crew Cab ranges and the rear air-conditioned Crew Crab derivative has also now been discontinued.
See the updated Toyota Quantum range with pricing below…
Toyota Quantum – Price in SA
Quantum 2.8 LWB Panel Van 3-s – R535 700
Quantum 2.8 SLWB Panel Van 3-s – R574 600
Quantum 2.8 LWB Crew Cab 6-s – R545 300
Quantum 2.8 LWB GL Bus 11-s – R669 800
Quantum 2.8 SLWB GL Bus 14-s – R684 900
Quantum 2.8 LWB VX Bus 9-s – R985 600
A 3-year/100 000km warranty and 9-services/90 000 km service plan is standard.
After a long wait, the latest generation of Audi R8 supercar is about to touch down in South Africa. Here are the specifications and pricing.
We attended the launch of this supercar in Spain, on a very wet Ascari circuit back in December 2018. We came away impressed with its abilities, particularly in the rain.
What has changed? On the outside, you'll notice sharper-looking sheet metal with aesthetic detail revisions to the front and rear. There are enlarged oval exhausts and 3 slots on the bonnet, which are a tribute to the 1984 Sport Quattro Group B rally car. Don't fret too much about this "tribute", the new Audi A1 has them too. However, the critical changes lie under the skin, where Audi Sport has stiffened its supercar's suspension and installed an anti-roll bar (made of carbon) at the front.
The latter is much lighter than the unit on the pre-facelift version, which was made out of steel. There are also tweaks to the steering setup to give a bit more feel and involvement.
The iconic 5.2-litre naturally-aspirated V10 motor is retained. For the SA market, it produces a screaming 449 kW and 560 Nm. Thanks to quattro all-wheel drive and a clever launch control system, Audi claims this generation of R8 can sprint to 100 kph in just 3.1 seconds and run into a top speed of 331 kph.
Audi South Africa is offering its new R8 in both coupe and spyder body styles, and there'll be numerous options available too. A cursory glance at Audi.co.za highlighted some of these; Carbon styling package (R150 000) , Laserlight headlamps (R64 500), Audi magnetic ride (R35 000), Dynamic steering (R27 000), and you can even get a gloss carbon engine cover for R77 300. There are also a few colours to choose from, but be mindful of the flagship Crystal paint range which starts from R30 000. There are a handful of alloy wheel designs to choose from, all 20-inch in size.
Standard equipment levels are high, given its flagship status. A Bang & Olufsen sound system is standard fare, as is the Audi Virtual Cockpit with built-in MMI Navigation.
Mazda has updated its popular CX-5 family car range with a new CX-5 Carbon Edition which replaces the CX-5 2.0 Individual derivative in the local lineup.
The Mazda CX-5 has proven to be a formidable offering in the family car segment, so much so, in fact, that it’s currently the #CarsAwards powered by WesBank Family Car champion and might even scoop yet another win in the 2020/21 iteration of the awards programme with the winners due to be announced in mid-February.
In an effort to boost the CX-5’s already impressive kerb appeal, Mazda SA has now introduced a sportier version called the CX-5 Carbon Edition which effectively replaces the CX-5 2.0 Individual derivative.
The CX-5 Carbon Edition retains the familiar naturally-aspirated 2.0-litre petrol engine which offers 121 kW and 213 Nm powering the front wheels via a 6-speed automatic transmission.
On the outside, the CX-5 Carbon Edition gains styling enhancements such as glossy black mirrors and 19-inch black alloy wheels while the interior boasts black film seen on the dashboard and door panels as well as red stitching on the steering wheel, gear lever, knee pads and seats. Leather and suede combination upholstery is standard.
Customers will have the choice of 6 exterior colours including Snowflake White Pearl, Sonic Silver, Machine Grey, Soul Red Crystal, Polymetal Grey and Jet Black.
“The Mazda CX-5 is still an appealing SUV with its exterior styling, comfortable and pleasing interior, and the many standard features it offers. We have added the Carbon Edition to subtlety enhance the style of this SUV further, whilst retaining its outstanding balance of ride and handling” commented Craig Roberts, Managing Director of Mazda Southern Africa.
The Mazda CX-5 Carbon Edition will be available at Mazda dealerships as of January 2021.
Mazda CX-5 – Price in SA
CX-5 2.0L Active FWD Manual – R455 500
CX-5 2.0L Active FWD Auto – R469 100
CX-5 2.0L Dynamic FWD Manual – R484 400
CX-5 2.0L Dynamic FWD Auto – R499 100
CX-5 2.0L Carbon Edition FWD Auto – R565 800
CX-5 2.5L Individual AWD Auto – R644 300
CX-5 2.2L DE Akera AWD Auto – R676 100
The CX-5 is sold is with a 3-year/unlimited km warranty and a 3-year/unlimited km service plan. A 5-year corrosion warranty and 3-year roadside assistance is also included.
Meet the finalists in the Compact Hatch category of the 2020/21 #CarsAwards powered by WesBank!
Now in its 6th year, the #CarsAwards was conceived to be South Africa's definitive automotive awards programme and is backed, for the 5th year running, by the country's leading supplier of vehicle finance, WesBank.
In this extremely competitive category, we’re looking for a balanced offering that is excellent across the board. Cars in this segment must appeal to a very wide audience – from the young professional or family buying up from an entry-level car, to pensioners buying down from something larger and more expensive. The winner of this award must truly reflect what is best about modern automotive design and engineering, but present it in a concentrated, reasonably affordable form.
This category is guided by both eligibility factors and Pillars of Success.
Eligibility factors for this category include a list price from R300 000 to R350 000 (as of October 1, 2020) and pricing must include the cost of all necessary optional features.
Eligible vehicles must be equipped with ABS, ESP, minimum of 4 airbags, air-conditioning, Bluetooth and service plan.
Pillars of success for this category include balance of fuel economy, power and performance, value for money, brand strength, design and quality appeal, ride & handling and safety.
The Volkswagen Polo remains the most popular choice in the compact hatchback segment. Released in 2018, this generation Polo is built on the brand’s sophisticated MQB platform and is larger (and, therefore, more spacious) than its predecessor. Apart from its perky and fuel-efficient 1.0-litre turbopetrol engine, the Polo arguably offers the best build quality in its segment.
The latest-generation Fiesta is a vastly improved product, featuring refined exterior styling and a higher-quality interior. Not only is the Fiesta reasonably equipped in 1.0T Trend guise, but it’s also a strong value proposition with perky performance and dynamic ability that makes it a strong contender in this category.
The Suzuki Swift Sport is perhaps the most feisty contender in this category, but in addition to its punchy performance, the Japanese fun hatch is also a reasonably practical – and generously equipped – compact 5-door car that represents commendable bang-for-buck in this segment.
While the introduction of an all-new Ford Ranger is still a while away, a photograph showing its smaller, unibody-based sibling – the Maverick – ostensibly rolling off the Blue Oval’s production line in Sonoro, Mexico, has appeared on a fan forum.
Leaked image: www.mavericktruckclub.com. Spy shots: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien. We have paid for these photos and at the photographer's request, have watermarked them.
While Hyundai is readying a unibody (as opposed to ladder-frame based) double cab based on its Santa Fe 7-seater SUV – the Santa Cruz, Ford is putting the final touches on what is now widely expected to be called the Maverick bakkie. The newcomer, which will slot in below the Ranger, will be built alongside the Bronco Sport family car at Ford's Hermosillo Assembly Plant in Sonoro.
This is our earlier rendering of what the final version of the Ford Maverick could look like. Credit: Duwyne Aspeling.
Known internally as 758, it’s believed this compact “lifestyle bakkie" will be produced on the current Focus C2 platform that underpins the Bronco Sport. A full reveal is expected at some point this year and, as speculated, the Maverick will share at least some styling cues with the Bronco Sport, which should give it a bold and suitably rugged appearance.
Cars.co.za has been following the Maverick's development with interest… In September 2020, we published spy images of a heavily camouflaged prototype. The cladding on that vehicle hid most of the details, but previewed the bakkie’s boxy, squared-off front-end. Cars.co.za’s Duwyne Aspeling also produced a rendering of what the forthcoming “baby Ranger” could look like "as a pick-up variant of the Bronco Sport" and, judging by the new image, the Maverick will have an even bigger grille and bolder headlamp clusters than expected, although the spied bakkie doesn't look very specced-up.
Given its passenger-car underpinnings, the Maverick will ride lower than the Ranger and because its load bed won’t be required to haul significant loads (because of the Bronco Sport underpinnings), the package’s cabin space – and creature comforts – will be prioritised. The model will be produced in front-wheel-drive guise, with part-time all-wheel-drive possible for high-end derivatives.
In terms of the engine line-up, reports suggest naturally aspirated 121-kW 2.0-litre 4-cylinder petrol and a turbopetrol 134-kW 1.5-litre 3-cylinder motors will be offered, both in conjunction with an 8-speed automatic transmission, as well as a manual gearbox.
As for the name of this new Ford bakkie, it was initially believed that it might be called the "Courier" or that Ford might revive its Ranchero nameplate. However, images of the tailgate bearing the Maverick name has been doing the rounds and most observers believe the “758” will debut in South America, before going on sale in the ‘States shortly thereafter.
No, this is not a panel van, but rather a well-disguised Ford Maverick prototype.
Although the Renault Duster Oroch small pick-up has been confirmed for the local market, there is no indication that the Maverick will be offered in South Africa; because it will be produced on the Bronco Sport's platform, it will probably only be produced in left-hand-drive guise. But even if right-hand-drive production goes ahead, the case for the Maverick isn't strong…
The Ford Motor Company of South Africa has strengthened its position itself as an exporter, choosing to cut its model lineup to focus on producing (and components for) the Ranger, Everest and the next-generation Volkswagen Amarok. Unless this "baby Ranger" can be offered at a lower price than the popular 1-tonner Ranger, it's unfortunately unlikely to be made available in Mzansi.
