New Car Sales in SA: December 2020 and what to look forward to in 2021
The South African new vehicle market continued to recover somewhat in December 2020, but the industry remains depressed as a result of the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, both locally and abroad.
To say that 2020 was a tough year is an understatement and the South African automotive industry has taken a proper pounding and much like the economy in general, it’s struggled to recover and it may take many more months and even years to reach pre-Covid levels. December 2020 vehicle sales figures, released by naamsa today, are not particularly inspiring but they do reflect glimmers of hope.
Take a look at the summary below as well as the outlook for 2021.
New car sales summary for South Africa – December 2020
Aggregate new vehicle sales of 37 493 units down by 10.1% compared to December 2019.
Passenger car sales of 24 784 units down by 14.4% compared to December 2019.
Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) sales of 10 801 units up by 3.2% compared to December 2019.
Exports of 18 479 units up by 36.3% compared to December 2019
It’s worth noting that Covid-19 resulted in a massive new vehicle sales decline of 156 163 units or 29.1% from 536 612 units in 2019 to the 380 449 units in 2020, despite interest rate cuts of 300-basis points during the year.
Exports also registered notable declines in 2020 with a fall of 29.8% or 115 273 units from the 387 092 vehicles exported in 2019 to the 271 819 units exported in 2020.
The current market continues to reflect a buying-down trend with the used car market being particularly robust. The premium car market was under tremendous pressure in 2020 and this continues to be the case.
Outlook for 2021
Naamsa expects the South African economy to rebound sharply in 2021, albeit from a very low base coming out of 2020. However, naamsa warns that it will take time for consumer confidence to rebuild. Medium-term growth, however, is likely to be constrained by new potential Covid-19 infection waves, stricter lockdown measures, fiscal tightening and potential power-supply disruptions.
Demand for new vehicles is likely to remain depressed for the short-term while the Rand exchange rate, negative business confidence and consumer sentiment will also impact negatively on new car sales. Low interest rates and low inflation will, however, continue to stimulate the economy.
Naamsa predicts a year-on-year improvement of about 15% for aggregate new car sales for 2021. As for exports, improvements of 20% are expected while industry vehicle production is expected to improve by about 18%.
This is the McLaren Sabre, an exclusive hypercar for the US market.
Like all extreme limited-edition hypercars, there'll be very few and they're already spoken for. That's right, there'll be just 15 units and all have been sold. McLaren customers are said to have 'participated in the development process'.
The McLaren Sabre has been designed and homologated exclusively for the US market and the UK carmaker says the Sabre takes 'design, engineering and aerodynamic conventions to new limits.'
It's powered by the twin-turbocharged V8 engine, but in this application, outputs have been ramped up to 614 kW and 800 Nm. A top speed of 350 kph is claimed, making the Sabre the most powerful non-hybrid and fastest 2-seater McLaren. Towards the end of 2020, the Sabre customers enjoyed a private test drive of a prototype version of their new car on track in Partnership with O'Gara Motorsport and McLaren Beverly Hills.
"I've been fortunate enough to have been involved with a number of very special cars and I've never seen a manufacturer give clients the level of access that McLaren Special Operations has provided for the Sabre," commented Parris Mullins, Motorsport Director for O'Gara Motorsport. "Everything from visiting the 'skunkworks' style design studio in the UK to flying out the actual development test mule for clients to get behind the wheel of and drive at a private track -these just aren't things you typically get access to," said Mullins.
"We were extremely pleased with how the event went and were honoured to support such an integral part of the customer journey for the Sabre," said O'Gara Motorsport director, Parris Mullins. "And today we are thrilled to hand over the first McLaren Sabre to its new owner – this time, not just a client, more a customer who has been in part collaborator, designer and factory test driver as their dream came to reality"
Jeep has unveiled its 7-seater Grand Cherokee, which brings an additional row of seating to an already spacious product.
Visually, the Jeep Grand Cherokee L is a little different to the standard 2-row model. With design cues straight from the mammoth Grand Wagoneer, it looks bold and imposing.
Inside, there’s a smart-looking and luxurious cabin. There’s an 8.4-inch touchscreen or an optional 10.1-inch touchscreen, with the FCA Group’s UConnect 5 infotainment system fitted. There’s also a 10.3-inch digital dashboard fitted. As far as trim levels go, there will be 4 derivatives for the American market.
In terms of engines, the Pentastar 3.6-litre V6 soldiers on, and in this application it develops 216 kW and 348 Nm. The engine we suspect most will go for is the 5.7-litre Hemi V8 which pumps out 266 kW and 528 Nm. Irrespective of engine, all Jeep Grand Cherokee Ls come with an 8-speed automatic gearbox. Interestingly, 4-wheel drive is an optional extra, with the standard model going the 2-wheel drive route. If you’re an offroad enthusiast, you’d be keen to hear about the new Quadra-Lift adaptive air suspension that can raise the vehicle by 4 cm in Off-Road Mode 1 then with Off-Road Mode 2 engaged, go a further 6cm higher. There’s also an Aero mode, which will lower the vehicle for on-road driving.
Will it come to South Africa? According to information we have received, the new Jeep Grand Cherokee 7-seater is scheduled to arrive in South Africa in the fourth quarter of 2021 along with the 5-seater version. We will keep you updated as and when we receive further details.
Here are 5 of the most popular and most searched for used cars on South Africa’s most loved car website, Cars.co.za!
New cars are increasingly becoming prohibitively expensive for many South Africans, especially in the current economic climate. However, the used car market provides car buyers with an endless amount of choice to suit just about any budget.
It’s therefore not surprising that many consumers are turning to the used car market to find their next car in these cash-strapped times. Provided that consumers take the time to research and shop around, there are high-value deals to be had on the used car market.
There are many advantages to buying a used car and perhaps the most pertinent (depending on the used car) is that the cost of depreciation of the vehicle has already been absorbed by the previous owner. Another advantage is that you can effectively get more car for your money in the used car market as opposed to buying a new car for the same amount of money.
Cars.co.za currently has nearly 62 000 used cars listed on site from all major brands and covering all price ranges. More so, if you need car buying assistance, we encourage you to reach out to our experienced team of car journalists who will be happy to offer advice and guidance. You can make contact with us via Twitter and Facebook.
Here are 5 of the most popular used cars on Cars.co.za!
1. BMW 3 Series
The BMW 3 Series has long been a top-seller in South Africa and it remains a hugely popular choice in the used car market. Even though crossovers and SUVs have severely eroded the sedan market, there’s still a strong demand for used premium sedans from BMW and indeed Mercedes-Benz. The new G20-generation BMW 3 Series was launched in South Africa in 2019. There are currently 1 337 used BMW 3 Series advertised on Cars.co.za.
Like the BMW 3 Series, the rivalling Mercedes-Benz C-Class is hugely popular and often searched for on Cars.co.za. A new C-Class is in development and is expected to be revealed in 2021. There are currently 1 459 used Mercedes-Benz C-Class for sale on Cars.co.za.
South Africa’s most-loved bakkie also happens to be the most sought-after used bakkie on Cars.co.za, with the rivalling Ford Ranger hot on its heels. There are currently 1 348 used Toyota Hilux for sale on Cars.co.za.
The locally-built Ford Ranger is also hugely popular in South Africa with a wide selection of used examples in the used car market with over 1 888 Rangers advertised on Cars.co.za.
The Volkswagen Polo is often the go-to choice for an affordable and dependable urban runabout. This high-volume passenger car is highly regarded in terms of reliability and overall running costs, making it a no-brainer for buyers looking for a no-fuss car. There are currently 2 955 Volkswagen Polos currently up for grabs on Cars.co.za.
The Indian-made Nissan Magnite compact family car, which was recently awarded a 4-star rating in ASEAN NCAP crash testing and is already on sale in Indonesia, is set to arrive in South Africa in the coming months (1st quarter 2021). The local market will offer the Magnite with a 1.0-litre turbopetrol engine.
Last year, Nissan South Africa's marketing director, Kabelo Rabotho, confirmed the Rosslyn-based brand was looking at introducing 2 new compact crossover/SUV products (the Magnite, as well as the next-generation Qashqai – in the 4th quarter – as well as the Navara-based Terra SUV, the latter towards the end of the year. There's no word on when the next-generation X-Trail will arrive, however.
The Magnite is underpinned by the CMF-A+ platform that also underpins the Renault Triber and it's the cousin to the French firm's upcoming Kiger, which is also earmarked for Mzansi. It's produced at the Oragdam plant in India and rivals lower- to mid-spec derivatives of the Ford EcoSport, Hyundai Venue and Volkswagen T-Cross, Kia Sonet, Mahindra XUV 300, Renault Captur and Suzuki Vitara.
Wait, isn't that a Datsun? The Magnite's styling incorporates cues of its sibling brand's design language, but it's no coincidence.
Autocar India reports that while "ASEAN NCAP has confirmed that the Magnite has received a 4-star crash test rating… sources tell us that crash test results for the Magnite conducted by Global NCAP (which local readers will recognise for the body's #SaferCarsforAfrica programme) are expected to be out in the coming months."
The India-spec Nissan Magnite features safety features such as dual front airbags, front seatbelt pre-tensioners with load limiters, ABS, EBD, rear parking sensors and front passenger seatbelt reminder as standard. Turbocharged iterations of the model (more about this later) also feature ISOfix child-seat mounts, ESC, traction control, hill start assist, brake assist, a 360-degree parking camera and a tyre-pressure monitoring system. The Indian publication points out Global NCAP only considers the standard safety equipment while testing and awarding its crash test rating…
An instant hit in India…
The Magnite's styling is eye-catching; some may even go so far as to say its chunky detailing is reminiscent to that of the Hyundai Venue. It features the prerequisite raised ride height (205 mm), sleek headlights with L-shaped LED DRLs, as well as accoutrements such as front and rear skid plates, rugged plastic cladding around the wheel arches, roof rails, and at least 16-inch wheels/alloys.
The newcomer has attracted massive interest in its home market by virtue of Nissan India's "aggressive pricing strategy for all variants", which has resulted in a long waiting period for some variants.
Incidentally, it’s no surprise that the Magnite's grille has a Datsun look to it; this crossover was meant to have a Datsun badge but it bears a Nissan badge instead. You might be wondering why this is the case and it makes sense if you consider that Datsun is being scaled-down globally and instead of scrapping the project entirely, it has now been allocated to Nissan…
The Magnite's interior architecture is clean and simple, but Nissan has not skimped on creature comforts and infotainment.
In terms of what will power the newcomer, Nissan SA has confirmed that an all-new 1.0-litre turbopetrol engine will be offered in South Africa in conjunction with a 5-speed manual or a continuously variable (CVT) automatic transmission. According to a Nissan India product brochure, the manual version produces 100 kW and 160 Nm, while the CVT has a slightly lower peak torque of 152 Nm. That suggests that the naturally aspirated 72 kW/96 Nm 1.0-litre petrol, which ostensibly helps the Magnite to be "most affordable compact SUV in the Indian market, won't be offered here.
As for the interior, the newcomer’s overall design is very minimalist. Lower- to mid-spec versions in the Indian market feature dual-tone trim, electric windows, a multifunction steering wheel, a 3.5-inch LCD drive info display, a 6-speaker audio system, and surprisingly, auto climate control, plus electrically adjustable and folding side mirrors.
We expect that SA-market derivatives are likely to feature at least some of the following features: 16-inch alloys, fog lamps, an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with (apparently wireless) Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 7-inch TFT driver info display, voice recognition technology, a reverse-view camera, as well as push-button start.
The Magnite's load bay has a 336-litre capacity and the rear seatback can split in 60:40 configuration.
Interestingly, the top-spec Magnite derivative in India features LED headlamps, cruise control, the aforementioned 360-degree around-view camera and tyre-pressure monitor, as well as an all-black interior. Nissan will also offer an optional Technology Package, which includes a wireless charging pad, air purifier, ambient mood lighting, puddle lamps, and JBL speakers.
Suffice to say the specifications and prices for the Magnite in the South African market are still being finalised, but we expect most of the previously mentioned features to be offered, depending on whether Nissan has designs on the top end of the compact family car market, or hopes to offer the Magnite primarily as an alternative to lower-end compact hatchbacks.
We’ll bring you updates on the Magnite’s local line-up as soon as more info becomes available.
Good news for Mazda fanatics as the iconic rotary engine is officially making a return, but in a rather interesting application.
Mention the words 'Mazda' and 'rotary' and images of the iconic RX-series of performance vehicles will come to mind. The RX-7 was already a superstar, but it was elevated to stratospheric heights in the first Fast and the Furious movie, where Vin Diesel's character piloted a particularly striking red 3rd-generation FD model. The subsequent RX-8 was a good car, offering a combination of style and a high-revving rotary motor.
Sadly the rotary engine was discontinued as the cons outweighed the pros. Notorious for seal failure, high consumption and high emissions, the rotary motor was shelved in favour of traditional internal combustion engines. What's interesting is the company’s in-house research department tasked with evolving the rotary engine technology, has never seen a funding cut, despite no current Mazda vehicles powered by the Wankel. Back in April 2020, patent documents were filed showing a rotary engine in a hybrid setup.
Right now the most advanced vehicle in Mazda's stable is the MX-30, an all-electric SUV. While it looks good with its suicide doors, overseas reports have been disappointed with its meagre range. The MX-30 can mustre just 200 km based on the European WLTP cycle. Now with a rotary engine in the mix working as a range extender, this should theoretically double the range to 400 km, which is far more palatable to the electric car sceptics.
In an interview with The Detroit Bureau, US Mazda operations boss Jeff Guton confirmed there will be an MX-30 with a rotary range extender launched to the North American market. “We have launched the MX-30 in Europe, which is our first battery-electric vehicle. And we will be making that product available in the future with a rotary range extender. Any chance of it coming to the US? Yes, it will, though we haven’t talked about the date publicly yet,” Guyton said.
While the return of the rotary motor is welcomed, could anyone have predicted it would be to bolster an electric car's range? As far as South African Mazda's offerings for 2021 go, we're unlikely to see the MX-30 with the CX-30 and BT-50 bakkie taking centre stage.
2020/21 Cars.co.za Consumer Awards – Powered by WesBank; Finalists
Cars.co.za is proud to announce the 39 finalists of the 2020/21 Cars.co.za Consumer Awards – powered by WesBank.
Now in its sixth iteration, #CarsAwards annually recognises the best purchasing propositions in 13 respective segments of the domestic new-vehicle market and is widely acknowledged as South Africa’s definitive automotive awards programme.
With the support of WesBank, #CarsAwards has grown in reach, influence and stature. The theme for this year’s programme is “Be Part of the Journey – My Car, My Freedom”.
“As South Africa’s leader in vehicle and asset finance, it is important to us to align our brand with impactful industry initiatives, particularly those that add value to consumers. There are many aspects to consider when making a major budget-impacting decision such as buying a car. As such, consumers should have access to credible opinions and objective data on the models of cars and features available in the market, to assist them in making an informed purchasing decision,” says Ghana Msibi, CEO of WesBank Motor.
“Our successful partnership with Cars.co.za in powering the Cars.co.za Consumer Awards is now in its sixth year. It seems fitting that this year’s awards theme is ‘My Car. My Freedom’. After the months of lockdown and restrictions to movement we have all had to endure, being able to get behind the wheel and drive across our country’s roads and highways is certainly a sense of freedom. However, if you are still deciding which car is right for you and your needs, the 2020/21 Cars.co.za Consumer Awards category finalists and eventual winners should go a long way in guiding you to that decision.”
Categories reflect a changing marketplace
The 13 category winners will be selected from the list of 39 vehicles, which includes model derivatives from no fewer than 19 brands represented in the South African market. All vehicles available on the South African market on October 1, 2020 were eligible, not only new products that were launched during the past 12 months.
The 39 finalists for the 2020/21 programme were selected by the extended Cars.co.za editorial team; each member scored the 65 pre-selected semi-finalists individually, based on the "Filters of Eligibility" and the "Pillars of Success" of the 13 respective categories. Once the scores were tallied, 3 finalists remained in each of the segments.
Compared with the preceding #CarsAwards, Performance Car and Fun Hatch have been replaced with new and more relevant categories: Entry-Level and Premium Crossover. Nonetheless, as many as 10 of the previous programme’s category winners have made the list of finalists again, although only four of them with exactly the same derivative as in 2019/20: Volkswagen Polo, Mazda CX-5, as well as BMW X3 and X5 respectively.
“We made some revisions to the categories to make sure that they are in line with what South Africans are shopping for in the new vehicle market, but also factored in which segments had seen significant activity in terms of new launches,” says Cars.co.za Consumer Experience Manager Hannes Oosthuizen. “We also consider pricing movements, to make sure that our categories remain relevant to the consumer.”
Suzuki, Toyota have the most finalists
Whereas the 2019/20 #CarsAwards Brand of the Year, Volkswagen, had the most semi- finalists (7), followed by Suzuki (6) and Toyota (5), the Japanese marques, both of which have won the Brand of the Year title on two previous occasions, lead the list of finalists with 5 contenders apiece – the Wolfsburg-based firm has 4, followed by BMW and Volvo (3 each). Citroën, Honda, Isuzu, Land Rover and Subaru, which weren’t represented in the decisive round of the programme last year, each have at least one finalist in 2020/21.
Full list of 2020/21 #CarsAwards finalists
Entry Level
Hyundai Atos 1.1 Motion
Suzuki S-Presso 1.0 S-Edition
Suzuki Swift 1.2 GL
The Suzuki Swift was last year's Budget car winner but fits into this year's Entry Level category.
Budget Car
Suzuki Baleno 1.4 GLX
Suzuki Ignis 1.2 GLX
Toyota Starlet 1.4 XR
Both the Suzuki Baleno and Toyota Starlet feature as Budget Car finalists this year, it is a very tight category.
Compact Hatch
Ford Fiesta 1.0T Trend auto
Suzuki Swift 1.4T Sport auto
Volkswagen Polo 1.0 TSI Comfortline auto
The VW Polo is back this year to continue its winning streak in the Compact Hatch category.
Compact Family Car
Kia Seltos 1.5 CRDi EX+
Renault Duster 1.5 dCi Prestige
Volkswagen T-Cross 1.5 TSI 110kW R-Line
The Kia Seltos is a top challenger this year, hoping to steal the T-Cross' title.
Family Car
Citroën C5 Aircross 1.6T Shine
Mazda CX-5 2.0 Dynamic auto
Toyota RAV4 2.0 AWD GX-R
Reigning Family Car champ the Mazda CX-5 is back to defend its trophy.
Adventure SUV
Ford Everest 2.0 Bi-Turbo 4WD XLT
Isuzu M-UX 3.0 4WD
Toyota Fortuner 2.8 GD-6 4×4 VX Auto
The facelifted Isuzu MU-X has shown improvements worthy of inclusion as a finalist this year.
Executive SUV
BMW X3 xDrive20d M-Sport
Range Rover Evoque P250 R-Dynamic SE
Volvo XC60 D5 R-Design
The same 3 contenders are up against each other in Executive SUV this year, maybe the Consumer Survey could change the outcome this time around.
Premium SUV
BMW X5 xDrive30d M Sport
Land Rover Defender D240 HSE
Volvo XC90 T8 Twin-Engine R-Design
The new Defender has proven to be both rugged and premium in the judges' eyes.
Crossover
Mazda CX-3 2.0 Individual Plus
Subaru XV 2.0i-S ES
Toyota C-HR 1.2T Luxury
The Crossover category is an all-Japanese affair in the finals.
Premium Crossover
Audi Q3 Sportback 40 TFSI quattro S Line
Mini Countryman Cooper S
Volvo XC40 T5 AWD R-Design
In the new Premium Crossover category, Audi's recently-launched Q3 Sportback has made the cut.
Hot Hatch
Honda Civic Type R
Hyundai i30 N
Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR
The GTI badge has been a serial winner of awards at the CarsAwards event, can the new TCR version continue that trend?
Leisure Double-Cab
Ford Ranger 2.0 Bi-Turbo 4×4 Wildtrak
Toyota Hilux 2.8 GD-6 4×4 Legend Auto
Volkswagen Amarok 2.0BiTDI Highline Plus 4Motion
Facelifted for 2020, this looks to be the Hilux's best shot yet at taking the Leisure Bakkie title.
Sport Executive
Audi A4 40 TFSI Sport S Line
BMW 330is Edition
Mercedes-Benz C300 AMG Line
Audi's revitalised A4 will be up against familiar rivals in the Sports Executive category.
Each of the three finalists per category will now be subjected to back-to-back testing at the renowned Gerotek proving ground in Gauteng by the combined judging panel (the 6 Cars.co.za editorial team members and 14 respected guest judges from various backgrounds and fields of expertise) on 3 and 4 November 2020.
Combined judging panel for the 2020/21 #CarsAwards (in alphabetical order):
Khulekani Dumisa (Khulekani on Wheels), Aluta Maqoko (Entrepreneur), Juliet McGuire (Freelance), Brenwin Naidu (Sowetan & Sunday Times), Leanne Manas (Morning Live), Dasen Thathiah (eNCA), Ciro de Siena (Cars.co.za), Nafisa Akabor (Tech Journalist), David Taylor (Cars.co.za), Ernest Page (Performance with Page), Jacob Moshokoa (Eyewitness News), Phuti Mpyane (Business Day), Wendy Knowler (Consumer Specialist), Mpho Letsholonyane (SuperSport & Power 98.7), Wezile Bonani (Bay FM), Gero Lilleike (Cars.co.za), Kojo Baffoe (freelance), Thami Masemola (In4Ride), Ashley Oldfield (Cars.co.za) and Lerato Matebese (Top Gear).
The 20 judges’ scores for each of the 39 finalists will only count for 50% of the final standings, however. The other 50% will be based on rankings that the respective vehicle brands represented by the finalists achieved in the Cars.co.za Ownership Satisfaction Survey, conducted in partnership with data specialists Lightstone Consumer. The data incorporates feedback from thousands of vehicle owners, based on their experiences of their vehicles (less than five years old and serviced through franchised outlets).
“The Cars.co.za Consumer Awards – powered by WesBank is designed to be a guide for all new passenger vehicle buyers, not only those who follow motoring publications," Oosthuizen concludes. “With 50% of the final scores determined by brands’ rating in the survey, a vehicle only really stands a very good chance of winning if it is a good product in the eyes of the judges and if its brand delivers solid after-sales service.
It goes without saying that ongoing public participation in the Ownership Satisfaction Survey enables Cars.co.za to deliver the most relevant and accurate data-driven insights to consumers. The survey also represents a golden opportunity for owners to have a say in the outcome of the 2020/21 #CarsAwards. Have your say at bit.ly/CarsSatisfSurvey
Next-gen Toyota Land Cruiser Loses V8
Is it the end of the road for Toyota's V8-powered Land Cruiser? A report suggests the all-new model will be powered by V6 motors only.
A report from Autoweek suggests Toyota's iconic flagship vehicle will lose its V8 and the all-new Land Cruiser 300 Series will be powered by 6-cylinder engines. There will be petrol and diesel options, the latter with a headline-grabbing 3.3-litre V6. Petrol fans can rejoice as there's reportedly a 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6 in the works, and being a Toyota product, there's a hybrid derivative expected.
What else do we know about the new Land Cruiser 300? We know the last Land Cruiser 200 is rolling off the line at the end of the first quarter in 2021. As customers anticipate the end of lifecycle for Land Cruiser 200, demand for these Toyota luxury adventure vehicles has soared. In some markets, orders for Land Cruiser have increased by more than 20%. The all-new model should be physically similar in terms of dimensions, but Autoweek's report says it will sacrifice a small portion of its offroad talents in favour of a more luxurious on-road experience. The all-new Toyota Land Cruiser is expected to be revealed in April 2021, if the report from Bestcarweb.jp is anything to go by.
This Japanese outlet sums up the new model's changes succintly. Assembled on the TNGA platform, the new Toyota Land Cruiser 300 will also see substantial revisions to the suspension, 4WD tech as well as the aforementioned engine updates. Want a Toyota Land Cruiser, but the 200 is sold out and you don't want to wait for the 300? Can we suggest the recently-updated Prado, complete with a 150 kW diesel engine?
Spy shots of the soon-to-be-revealed BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe have emerged. Here's what you need to know about the 4-door coupe.
Picture credit: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien. We have paid for these photos and at the photographer's request, have watermarked them.
While many have suggested the pretty 4-door Gran Coupe is what the BMW 3 Series should have always been, it never sold in enough numbers to justify such a claim. Nevertheless, BMW thinks there's enough demand to satisfy the creation of a new 4 Series Gran Coupe and these spy shots show a near-ready prototype on European roads. It's immediate rival would be the Audi A5 Sportback.
We can see right away it adopts the 4 Series design cues, from the bold and controversial nose, to the neat tail lamps at the rear. Judging by the size of these exhausts, we reckon this is the M440i xDrive derivative. Powered by a 3.0-litre turbocharged 6-cylinder petrol engine developing 275 kW and 500 Nm, and it's good for a 4.5 second run to 100 kph. The current BMW 4 Series engine lineup for SA includes this motor, as well as a 4-cylinder 20i petrol and 20d diesel.
Given its shape and hatchback rear, expect the new 4 Series Gran Coupe to shade the 3 Series when it comes to rear boot space, at the expense of rear headroom. It will also adopt the 4 Series switchgear and cabin layout, in an effort to differentiate it from the 3 Series sedan.
Expect to see the new BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe revealed by the middle of 2021.
With those big exhausts, this is the BMW M440i xDrive Gran Coupe.
Ford is developing a new Indian-built C-segment SUV that will share its underpinnings with the new Mahindra XUV500. Could it be destined for South Africa?
Ford and Mahindra have been engaging in talks over a possible joint venture to co-develop at least 7 new models but it has now been reported that negotiations are off the table and that a JV is no longer on the cards. However, all is not lost and despite the failed talks, it appears that the 2 car manufacturers will still produce a new C-segment SUV which is known internally as ‘Project Black’.
Mahindra is due to launch its new XUV500 this year which will form the basis for Ford’s new SUV and it's expected to be revealed in the first quarter of 2022. The new SUV from Ford will rival the likes of the Kia Seltos, Hyundai Creta, Mazda CX-3, Honda HR-V, Nissan Qashqai and Suzuki Vitara, to name a few. Both models are expected to be produced at Mahindra’s Chakan facility in India.
Ford’s new SUV will reportedly be sold as a 6- or 7-seater and while it will share some componentry with the XUV500 (such as doors, windows and windscreens), both models will feature their own design identity in line with each brand’s design language. The interior execution will be different too, with Ford’s interior expected to be more upmarket in look and feel.
As for what will power the new Ford SUV, it’s likely to share the all-new 134 kW / 400 Nm 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine that’s expected to propel the new XUV500 as well as a 2.0-litre petrol engine with 142 kW and 380 Nm. A 6-speed manual transmission and a 6-speed automatic transmission is expected too.
Will it come to SA?
The Kuga namelplate is just about dead in SA, which means there's potential for a new family car product to join the range.
It appears that Ford’s new SUV will be a ‘Built for India’ model only but it’s not inconceivable to think that it could be introduced in South Africa at some point in the future. If you consider that the SA-spec EcoSport and Figo are sourced from the Indian subcontinent, then it could very well be a possibility as conditions are similar.
The Kuga family car was once the most popular offering in its segment and while the Kuga fire saga all but destroyed the Kuga nameplate locally (which may be why we are not getting the new Kuga), we could make an argument for Ford South Africa to strategically introduce a new family car model to fill the sales void that now exists between the smaller EcoSport and larger Everest adventure SUV. Do you think Ford should discontinue the Kuga nameplate in South Africa and introduce a new model to replace it?
