As Mercedes-Benz prepares for the reveal of its new S-Class, the German automotive giant has lost an important court case in Germany.
One would expect the legal issue to perhaps involve one of the other German premium vehicle brands, but it does not. A Mannheim judge found of favour of Nokia, the once-dominant Finish mobile phone brand, which is now a shadow of its former self.
The legal issue surrounds Mercedes-Benz’s use of phone pairing and synching technology, which has become a critical customer feature in cars during the last decade. Nokia’s 4G technology is an enabler of phone-to-car functionality, yet it appears that the company was never duly compensated for it.
Nokia’s revenue from its technology and coding, instead of physical devices, amounts to R19bn a year. Part of that relates to the automotive industry and the Finns believe they are being underpaid.
The crux of the case appears to concern the issue of a broad licencing agreement, with a once-off fee, as opposed to a licence fee per vehicle built and sold with 4G technology.
"The finding is a major endorsement of the long-term engineering work by innovators at Nokia and the important principle that innovators should receive a fair reward,” said Jenni Lukander, president of Nokia Technologies. "We hope that Daimler will now accept its obligations and take a license on fair terms."
At worst, Mercedes-Benz risks the suspension of sales, with Nokia being able to prevent any car with its technology, from being sold – until it is paid the licencing fee. This would cause enormous disruption to the German and global automotive industry.
It is unlikely that Nokia will pursue the route of enforcing a sales embargo on Mercedes-Benz vehicles. In order to stop Merc's production, the Finnish technology company would require R145bn of collateral to escalate the legal issue, covering the risk of losing.
Mercedes-Benz has said it does not understand the legal issue and has already initiated a counteraction in another German court.
The long-awaited 735-kW-plus Project One has begun the next stage of its development programme at Mercedes-AMG’s Immendingen proving ground. Powered by an F1-derived turbocharged 1.6-litre V6 hybrid engine supplemented with no fewer than 4 electric motors, the Three-pointed Star’s hypercar can catapult from 0 to 200 kph in under 6 seconds. It sounds like an F1 car too – only better!
We sensed that Mercedes-AMG was stepping up its efforts to get the Project One (of which only 275 units will be produced) ready for delivery – the first units are expected to be shipped in early 2021 – when our spy photographers spotted pre-production units last month. A concept of the audacious hypercar was revealed as long ago as the 2017 Frankfurt Show, but the task of adapting rarefied Formula One technology for a road-car application has proven trickier than the Affalterbach-based firm had expected.
Mercedes-AMG has adapted the complex powertrain to comply with WLTP emissions standards using a petrol particulate filter.
However, the Project One’s development programme “has now largely transferred from the test stands to concentrate more on test tracks”, the firm has announced. Several pre-production models are currently being put through their paces at the Three-pointed Star’s technology centre at Immendingen and, for the first time, project leaders have been authorised to test the hybrid powertrain with its full output of more than 735 kW.
To recap, Mercedes-AMG’s hypercar is powered by an adapted version of the hybrid power unit from the brand’s championship-winning WO7 F1 car (2014), which works in conjunction with 2 electric motors: the first 80-kW unit keeps the turbocharger on the boil at all times, while the second 120-kW motor is linked directly to the crankshaft. What’s more, 2 additional electric motors are mounted at the front axle (the wheel-selective front axle drive concept) to allow a pure-electric driving range of up to 25 km.
All 275 units of the Mercedes-AMG Project One have been pre-sold, for more than R60 million apiece.
It was initially reported the engine would idle at 4 000 rpm and redline at 13 500 rpm, but Mercedes-AMG has had to adapt the powertrain, which is mated with an 8-speed automatic transmission, to idle at 1 200 rpm and “rev to over 11 000 rpm”. Still, the Project One is expected to accelerate from 0 to 100 kph in 2.5 seconds and achieve a 350-kph top speed. The engine should be good for 50 000 km before requiring a rebuild.
Along with the dynamic test programme and some refinements to the car's driveability, Mercedes-AMG is also honing the hypercar’s active aerodynamics. The effectiveness of the “complex interplay between the various active components (such as the louvres, the air outlets in the front fenders and the large rear aerofoil) as a means of delivering the car's exceptional lateral dynamics” is now being benchmarked outside the wind tunnel.
Following a series of tests at the Immendingen proving ground, Mercedes-AMG has set its sights on the Nurburgring.
The belated release of the Project One is juxtaposed with the upcoming Aston Martin Valkyrie, which is rear-wheel-driven and powered by a 865 kW/900 Nm 6.5-litre naturally-aspirated petrol-electric hybrid V12. The Mercedes-AMG, by contrast, can deliver all-wheel-drive traction via its petrol engine (rear wheels) and twin electric motors up front.
What’s the next step in the hypercar’s exhaustive testing and development programme? It will soon be tested on Nürburgring Nordschleife! Mercedes-AMG has said on a previous occasion that it won’t seek to set a new lap record with the car, but we think the German firm "doth protest too much".
Volkswagen Golf 8 GTI (2020) International Launch Review
The 8th-generation Volkswagen Golf GTI is a case of evolution, rather than revolution. It’s outgunned by the Hyundai i30 N and Renault Megane RS, for example, but there’s more to it than that. International correspondent Dave Humphreys drove the newcomer in Germany.
The keenly anticipated GTI will spearhead the introduction of the latest generation Golf in South Africa. The GTI is the nameplate that helped to kick start the hot-hatch segment in the 1970s, but these days it has no shortage of rivals eyeing its position at the top. The latest iteration builds upon the excellent 7th (and 7.5th) GTI, with more tech.
The latest-generation Golf tends to look a little underwhelming in photographs, but any uncertainty about the visual impact of the new GTI's appearance is swiftly dispelled when you see it in the metal… The slender headlights wrap around into the front wings and follow an invisible line to the GTI "flitzer" badge ahead of the front doors. The signature red band runs across the top of the grille and through the light units. Furthermore, this band is highlighted by an LED light strip that gives the GTI a distinctive lighting signature. The IQ.Light matrix headlights feature 22 LEDs in each module that can produce 10 different types of illumination as required (and that includes sweeping turn signals).
The new face of the GTI – not as immediately attractive as previous generations.
Meanwhile, a larger honeycomb mesh spans the full width of the lower front bumper and is not dissimilar to the look of the Golf 6 GTI. This design helps with cooling, though it leaves the radiator prone to stone-chip damage. The eye-catching look is further enhanced by 5 LEDs that form an X design in each corner of the front bumper as the fog lights.
Some will rue the demise of the 3-door body style (not that we ever received the 3-door variant in South Africa), but the 5-door Golf looks good, especially as the GTI sits 15 mm lower than its conventional equivalents. The standard wheel size is a 17-inch Richmond alloy, with 18- and 19-inch designs available at extra cost; the latter option suits the look of the Volkswagen the best because it fills the wheelarches smartly. Black sill extensions visually tie into the rear diffuser that surrounds a chrome exhaust tip on either side.
When you swing open the driver's door, the most tech-laden cabin to ever grace a GTI comes into full view, replete with an all-digital dashboard comprising of a 10.25-inch instrument cluster with bespoke graphics, which includes a large, central, red rev counter. The standard 8.25-inch "Composition" touchscreen infotainment system is upgradable to a 10-inch unit. This display, and the "Digital Cockpit", are inset in a single gloss black surround that includes a touch panel for the lighting controls on the opposite side.
Very few physical buttons any more, almost every action can be done through the touchscreen.
There are few physical buttons in the Golf GTI's cabin – almost everything is controlled through the touchscreen interface. Not everyone will be a fan of the layout, and during our drive, the infotainment software was occasionally slow to perform some tasks, suggesting the CPU isn’t powerful enough. A square panel in the dashboard, under the touchscreen, features a quartet of shortcut buttons for accessing functions such as climate control and drive modes. Meanwhile, the GTI is treated to a new sculpted steering wheel with capacitive controls. These can be finicky to use/require familiarisation, but the 'wheel itself is nicely shaped and sized, plus trimmed in tactile perforated leather.
Buyers still get to choose between a 6-speed manual gearbox or the 7-speed dual-clutch automatic (local specification may differ, we anticipate that only the latter will be offered in Mzansi). For the latter, there is no longer a traditional shifter (transmission lever) as such; instead, a small stubby rocker switch is located in the centre console. The upside is that this occupies less space and there are still paddles behind the steering wheel for actuating manual gear shifts, if desired.
No Golf GTI would be complete without the famous tartan upholstery, and the new model gets a fresh take on it; the fabric is called "Scalepaper". There are new sports seats too, featuring integrated head restraints and a mix of materials. They’re quite comfortable over a longer journey and have all the right support in the bolsters to hold you in place when you're driving enthusiastically. Rear passenger space is largely unchanged from the previous generation, as is load-bay capacity, which remains at 380 litres.
What’s it like to drive?
GTI badge has moved to a central point on the boot.
Throughout its history, Golf GTI has been renowned for offering a balanced driving experience that blends handling performance with a degree of comfort, which of course made it such a usable car on a day-to-day basis – and a bona-fide sales success.
The 8th iteration of the GTI sticks with the tried-and-tested front-wheel-drive layout and Volkswagen has, once again, called the EA888 engine into service. The 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbopetrol motor is a known quantity, and despite having to conform with tighter emissions regulations, it has outputs of 180 kW and 370 Nm. That’s an increase over the standard outgoing GTI and matches the old GTI Performance. However, it falls short in comparison with some of the competition. Top speed is limited to 250 kph, and it will get from 0-100 kph in 6.3 seconds. Many will understandably look at the GTI’s figures and think Volkswagen is leaving buyers short, but there’s more to it than mere numbers.
Developments to the MQB platform see the introduction of an aluminium front subframe, similar to that used on the limited-run GTI Clubsport S, which saves about 3 kg. Added to that are revised suspension components that increase stiffness by 5%. Furthermore, the rear suspension has been made firmer by 15% to improve the car’s stability at higher speeds and the latter is immediately noticeable by the level of composure the GTI now exhibits; the dampers allow enough compliance to be civilised without sacrificing agility.
The optional DCC (Dynamic Chassis Control) system allows for greater tuning of the adaptive dampers, while the Volkswagen Vehicle Dynamics Manager (VDM) is a new addition. It is a control system for dialling the car in to your exact preferences. For example, you can choose a more comfort-biased suspension setup while keeping the steering, engine and transmission in a sportier tune. It’s well worth exploring as the suspension gets busy over less-than-even surfaces when left in Sport mode.
The same 2.0-litre turbopetrol from the Golf 7.5 GTI serves in the 8th generation of the iconic hot hatch.
A variable ratio steering setup is standard with 2.1 turns between locks. It feels perfectly weighted at the immediate point of turn-in to a bend and provides the driver with a clear impression of what the front axle is doing. Aiding power delivery through (and out of) curves is the latest iteration of Volkswagen’s XDS electronic locking differential. If you delve through the menu layers and select ESC Sport, the front will allow a small bit of slip and wheelspin without landing you in trouble… and I believe it adds measurably to the overall driving experience. Direction changes at higher speed seem sharper than before, too, which is partly thanks to the adjustments made to the rear suspension.
Engine pick up is brisk, and the soundtrack it produces is decent – if a touch muted. You need to keep the motor spinning higher in its rev range to extract the most performance from it, and this is where it feels most alive. At times, the DSG transmission can be slow to react on kick down, so you’re arguably better off using the paddle shifters to shift gears eagerly. The GTI starts to feel alive above 7-tenths driving, with a composure that imbues confidence and lets you explore the car’s dynamic capabilities.
Verdict
It might lack in terms of outright performance numbers, but the GTI now feels more capable in the corners.
The Golf GTI remains a superbly balanced and engaging – yet practical – driver's car. It personifies "the thinking person’s hot hatch" by virtue of the steps that Volkswagen has taken to tune its standard-bearer's chassis. Those seeking a tyre-smoking, exhaust-popping hot hatch may want to look elsewhere, because the GTI takes a more considered approach. Nevertheless, it’s one that point-to-point remains a very brisk car in the right hands and, for those who appreciate setup and driving feel, it ticks myriad boxes.
Porsche will be unveiling its facelifted Panamera luxury performance sedan later this month and the Zuffenhausen-based brand has released a video of the Panamera setting a new record at the famous Nurburgring. Check it out!
There’s an updated Panamera on the way and Porsche wants you to know that it’s amazing. All will be revealed on 26 August 2020 and it’s been reported that a more powerful Panamera Turbo S might join the range and slot in between the Turbo and Turbo S E-Hybrid and pack as much as 466 kW and 832 Nm from its turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 engine.
The Nurburgring is often used by car manufacturers to flex their muscles and show off their new products before they come to market. It’s also a good place for general performance testing and Porsche is no stranger to the Green Hell.
In fact, the Porsche 919 Hybrid currently holds the overall ‘Ring record with a time of 5:19 which was set back in 2018. Other notable Nurburgring record laps include the 911 GT2 RS in 2017 with a time of the 6:47 and the 918 Spyder back in 2013 with a time of 6:57.
The video below shows the updated Panamera setting a 2020 record for a production car in the ‘executive cars’ category with a time of 7:29:81. The Panamera was driven by Lars Ker (32).
You may also recall the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S 4Matic achieving a time of 7:25.41 back in 2018 on the shorter 20.6km Nurburgring layout, whereas Porsche’s record run utilised the longer 20.8km track layout.
“The Panamera has always been both an exclusive touring sedan and a true sports car at the same time. In the new model, we have enhanced these attributes even further,” says Thomas Friemuth, Vice President Product Line Panamera. “Alongside the increased engine power, improvements have been made in the areas of cornering stability, body control and steering precision. These enhancements benefit both everyday comfort and performance. The lap record is impressive proof of this.”
The Panamera used for the record run was fitted with a racing seat for the driver as well as a roll cage.
We will keep you updated as soon as official details for the facelifted Porsche Panamera are revealed. Stay tuned!
Did the delay of the release of the 25th James Bond film, No Time to Die (triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic), present Aston Martin with an unexpected opportunity to produce a pair of special editions to make the most of the upcoming movie’s razzmatazz? We’ll never know…
No Time To Die, which is widely believed to mark Daniel Craig’s final outing as the world’s most famous fictional spy, will finally be released worldwide in November 2020 and the film will feature a quartet of Aston Martins: the iconic DB5, the classic Aston Martin V8, the DBS Superleggera and mid-engined Valhalla hypercar.
The DBS Superleggera's execution is the more conventional of the 007 Editions, but its Ceramic Grey finish is very striking.
Aston Martin, which recently commenced production of the DB5 Goldfinger Continuation model, has aligned its marketing activities closely with instalments of the James Bond franchise since Pierce Brosnan portrayed the titular character for a final time in Die Another Day in 2002. In fact, the Gaydon-based firm calls its bespoke division: Q by Aston Martin (with reference to the iconic Quartermaster character immortalised by the late Desmond Llewelyn – more recently portrayed by Ben Whishaw); not only has the division created these DBS Superleggera and Vantage 007 Editions, it exists so that Aston Martin buyers can individualise their cars to heart's content via the commission service.
Let’s start with the rarer model of the two. Production of the DBS Superleggera 007 Edition will be limited to just 25 units and the model features the same specification as the example featured in the upcoming film.
The DBS Superleggera features tasteful red contrast stitching and subtle 007 badgin in its cabin.
Decked out in a bespoke Ceramic Grey exterior finish and shod with gloss-black and diamond-turned Y-spoke 21-inch wheels, the DBS Superleggera 007 Edition features a black-tinted carbon-fibre roof, mirror caps, splitter, diffuser and rear spoiler blade. This special edition further features a 007 fender badge finished in chrome with a black enamel infill and stainless-steel silver 007 foil applied to the aforementioned “Aeroblade”.
Meanwhile, the DBS Superleggera’s black-leather-trimmed cockpit features flashes of red detailing in the form of contrast stitching. Subtle 007 branding is applied on the door cards, armrest buckle badge and on the rear sub-woofer cover. Finally, a sill-plaque denotes that the car is one of a production run of 25 units.
Sean Connery's Bond was a stickler for Aston Martins, but the brand disappeared from the 007 movies in the Roger Moore era.
The other 007 Edition model is a Vantage inspired by the Aston Martin V8 that made its 007 debut in The Living Daylights (1987) and also features in No Time to Die (in the latter movie, James Bond uncovers the car from his personal lock-up in London). The car’s production run will be limited to 100 units globally.
Although Aston Martin is synonymous with the James Bond franchise today, The Living Daylights marked the first time that 007 had been behind the ‘wheel of one of the marque’s sportscars since the late Sixties. A host of other brands (most notably Lotus) featured in the Roger Moore-era 007 films of the ‘70s to mid-‘80s.
The Living Daylights featured an Aston Martin V8 in "winterised" spec, hence the skis and ski rack of the Vantage 007 Edition.
The Vantage 007 Edition features a bespoke mesh grille (with chrome surround) as an homage to the classic V8, plus side-strake Vantage badges and a yellow-accented diffuser inspired by the stripes on the film car’s rockets. The skis and ski rack – which reference the “winterised” V8 in the film – are optional.
The special edition is finished in Cumberland Grey, while its cabin is trimmed in obsidian black leather with dark chrome accents. The seats feature heritage fluting reminiscent of that seen in the V8, along with carbon fibre seatbacks and, in a particularly detailed nod to the 1987 film, the outline of cello “f holes” inspired by the snow chase scene featuring Bond (Timothy Dalton) and Kara Milovy (Maryam D’Abo).
The Vantage 007 Edition's seats feature gorgeous heritage fluting, which looks period-correct for the heyday of the classic V8 model.
Meanwhile, 007 branding features on the centre console of cars equipped with a manual gearbox and the sun visors are embroidered with a radio station frequency – 96.60 FM – which was the Russian police frequency that Bond used to aid his escape in The Living Daylights. On automatic derivatives, crosshairs are etched onto the car’s paddle shifters to reference the missile guidance system seen in the film…
So far, the Vantage 007 Edition's cabin detailing is, um, quaint, but the following adornment might be a bit much for some… Buyers can also splurge on a laser-etched gadget plaque that references the various weapons and devices (including a rocket motor, missiles, lasers, a targeting display and ski outriggers) as seen on the original film car. Hmm.
The 007 Editions are officially on sale now, with the first deliveries scheduled for the 1st quarter of 2021. If you'd like to secure 1 of the 125 units, keep calm and call Q.
There's some good news on the horizon as the Automobile Association of SA is forecasting a fuel price reduction for September 2020.
The Automobile Association of SA (AA) reckons there's a petrol, diesel and illuminating paraffin reduction on the cards for September 2020. Basing it's claim on the mid-month data, the AA says there's a 'tug-of-war between international oil prices and the Rand/US dollar exchange rate', which helps SA consumers.
As it stands, it looks like petrol will decrease by around 9 cents a litre, diesel down by approximately 7 cents, while paraffin's cost will come down by 12 cents.
"Oil prices have slipped a little, with the landed price of fuels in South Africa showing a slight reduction in the first half of August. Over the past six weeks, oil has traded in a fairly narrow band, indicating that a more reliable plateau has been reached, absent any unexpected shocks," says the AA.
However, the AA notes that the Rand had lost ground against the US dollar since the start of the month, with the average rate having climbed from just over R16.80 to the dollar to nearer R17.40.
"This spells trouble for South African fuel users if it continues, but for now, the oil price is the stronger of the two forces. If this picture retains stability in the second half of the month, we expect only modest changes to the fuel price," the AA concludes.
Drive along in our fully electric Volkswagen e-Golf
In preparation for the launch of fully electric models in 2021, Volkswagen SA imported 6 e-Golfs into the country to conduct some real-world testing, and we were given one of them to help out.
We can't wait for the upcoming ID3 and ID4 to arrive in the country, but in the meantime, we're really really enjoying driving the fully electric eGolf. These were never sold in South Africa but they were hugely popular in Europe, in fact at one point, in Norway, this was the best-selling car in the whole country. Volkswagen introduced the e-Golf to gauge the interest and feasibility of electric cars in SA. VW doesn't really have a choice going forward though as it is committed to an electric vehicle future. Join our video guy Ciro De Siena as he takes you along for a ride around Johannesburg in this very special car.
Ford has revealed a special-edition of its GT supercar to celebrate its Le Mans win. Meet the Ford GT Heritage Edition.
When the Ford GT won the 1966 24 of Le Mans as well as numerous other endurance events, it became a legend. Watch the 2019 Ford v Ferrari film to get an idea of what a momentous achievement this was. Drivers Ken Miles and Lloyd Ruby led a 1-2-3-5 Ford domination at Daytona, kicking off a magical season for the Ford GT40 MK II, with additional 1-2-3 wins at Sebring and Le Mans. Ferrari's dominance in racing was smashed.
To celebrate this iconic moment in motor racing history, the 2021 Ford GT Heritage Edition features a unique paint finish, with an exposed carbon fibre bonnet adding a great contrast to the white bodywork. There are red accents, 98 roundel graphics on the side as well as Heritage Gold 20-inch forged wheels to round off the look.
Inside, there's black Alcantara suede on the instrument panel and steering wheel. There are also anodized red paddle shifters as well as red performance seats.
As a reminder, the Ford GT is powered by a twin-turbocharged V6 petrol engine delivering 482 kW and 746 Nm. It has a top speed of 348 kph.
Another Californian electric car start-up shows a new product.
The relentless pace of new electric vehicle company product announcements shows no sign of abating.
As the world is navigating its way out of lockdown, start-up electric vehicle companies are keen to leverage a sense of future by offering customers a clean break with legacy automotive technology.
The latest of these is Mullen Technologies, operating from Brea, California. Thanks to a new round of funding, Mullen is now keen on producing its very own electric vehicle, which is configured as a compact crossover.
As a design consultancy, Mullen had already assisted Chinese car brand, Qiantu, to develop its own Dragonfly K50, but the new venture will be an independent product, scheduled for introduction by 2022.
The name might rankle Mazda’s legal department a touch, as Mullen’s new battery-powered crossover is called the MX 05. That naming convention is uncomfortably close to Mazda’s iconic MX-5 sportscar, but a court will have to decide upon the merits and semantics of such a case – if it is ever filed.
Built on a skateboard-type electric vehicle platform, the MX 05 promises much potency. Its floor section is anchored by a 100 kWh battery pack, which is greater energy density than anything on offer from both Tesla and Porsche’s current electric vehicles.
Although the electric motor system’s power output is not disclosed, Mullen does claim performance and range figures for its MX 05. The compact crossover should be good for 0-100 kph in 3 seconds and deliver a very competitive 480 km worth driving range, on a single charge.
The MX 05’s single available product image shows a vehicle which is quite mature in its design journey, indicating that Mullen is committed that 2022 delivery date. It has also confirmed that a R2bn capital funding source has been secured, toward outfitting an assembly facility for production.
Mahindra has revealed the new generation of its Willys-Jeep-inspired Thar compact off-roader. Compared with its predecessor, however, this rival to the Suzuki Jimny will be available in 3 configurations, in turbopetrol and –diesel guises, and come extensively equipped.
The 1st generation of the Thar (the closest thing in our new-vehicle market to a budget off-roader… well, apart from the Jimny) has served the Indian brand dutifully for about a decade and last year, Mahindra South Africa introduced the Adventure Series spec of the Thar, which was aimed squarely at the local market's plucky off-road enthusiasts. With an Indian-market launch date of early October earmarked for this, the new-generation Thar, we’re confident the newcomer should be introduced in Mzansi in early 2021.
After 10 years of service, it's time for the Thar to be replaced by an all-new model; it looks similar, but is much fancier inside.
Just as was the case with its predecessor, which drew inspiration from the original Willys Jeep (which Mahindra began building – under licence – in India in the ‘50s), the new Thar retains its purposely boxy 2-door silhouette. There will be more flavours than before, though: it will be offered with a hardtop, a fixed soft-top or manual convertible roof.
Apart from a wider, better-balanced stance, the new Thar’s exterior features dual-tone bumpers, chunky black cladding, front fog lamps, LED daytime running lamps and tail-light clusters. Its 18-inch alloys are shod with 255/65 all-terrain tyres.
The background of this image might be a bit fantastic, but for enthusiasts who like al fresco off-roading, the convertible fits the bill.
As before, Mahindra’s diminutive off-roader has a body-on-ladder-frame construction and this model sports an independent front- and multi-link rear suspension configuration. It will be available with a choice of 4-cylinder turbocharged powerplants – either a 112 kW/320 Nm 2.0-litre petrol or a 97 kW/320 Nm 2.2-litre diesel.
Manual or Automatic
The 2 engines will be available with either a 6-speed manual ‘box or torque-convertor automatic transmission in combination with a shift-on-the-fly 4-wheel-drive system, replete with a low-range transfer case and a mechanical rear differential lock. Brake-locking differential and electromechanical driveline disconnect functions are also included.
Hardcore bundu bashers will want to know the following info urgently, so here goes… Important off-roading stats for the new Thar are 226 mm of ground clearance, a wading depth of 650 mm, while the newcomer's approach-, departure and breakover angles are 41.8-, 36.8- and 27 degrees respectively.
Mahindra has packed the new Thar's touchscreen infotainment system full of off-road-related functions and gizmos.
Given the new model’s (still) rather utilitarian exterior packaging, one would be forgiven for thinking the Mahindra would have a relatively no-frills interior, but although hard-wearing plastic surfaces abound and the dashboard switchgear is said to be (IP54 Standard) drizzle resistant, the cabin is appointed relatively luxuriously.
The Thar will be offered with 4 front-facing seats, of which the rear seatback splits 50:50 (we believe this will be the most popular configuration) or 2 front seats in combination with 4 side-facing seats positioned behind them in the load bay. The newcomer's instrument panel includes a TFT multi-info display, the multifunction steering wheel offers satellite controls for audio, phone and cruise-control functions (and is tilt-adjustable), while the driver’s seat is adjustable for height (with adjustable lumbar support).
The Thar is perhaps too small to be classed a compact family car, but it's cabin is certainly a lot less utilitarian than before.
Apart from the remote central locking, electric windows, power-adjustable side mirrors, electronic HVAC controls, the new Thar comes equipped with a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with built-in navigation and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. Metal-look accents and faux carbon-fibre trim complete the upmarket look.
Roof-mounted speakers
Although Mahindra did not go into too much detail on the specific funtionality, the newcomer’s infotainment system is also said to incorporate an adventure-statistics display, including adventure calendar display, smart watch and -phone connectivity (through pairing with the Blue Sense app), plus tyre-pressure and direction monitoring systems.
In terms of safety features, the Indian-market-spec Thar will come equipped with a built-in roll cage with 3-point seat belts for all passengers (in 4-seater configuration), dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, an electronic stability programme (with rollover mitigation), hill-start assist and hill-descent control, as well as rear parking sensors.
The addition of an automatic option will certainly broaden the Thar's appeal to urban-based weekend outdoorists.
Designed and engineered in India and manufactured at Mahindra’s Nashik Plant, the all-new Thar will be available in 6 colours: Red Rage, Mystic Copper, Napoli Black, Aquamarine, Galaxy Grey and Rocky Beige, the manufacturer says.
We’ll keep you updated on the new Thar's estimated time of arrival in South Africa and expected specifications as soon as more information becomes available.
