Jaguar Land Rover’s court bid in the United Kingdom to obtain trademark rights for its Defender SUV design has failed.
The shape of the Land Rover Defender is easily recognisable and forms part of the Defender’s history and appeal. So, when Ineos (founded by billionaire Jim Ratcliffe) revealed its forthcoming Grenadier 4×4 SUV a few weeks back, it looked very familiar, featuring a strikingly similar shape and look to the out-going Defender.
As you can imagine, Jaguar Land Rover wasn't pleased with this development and consequently filed a court bid to obtain trademark rights for the shape of its Defender, which would halt the progress of the Grenadier making it to production.
Now, a London court has dismissed JLR’s appeal with the UK Intellectual Property Office finding that the shape/s that Jaguar Land Rover aims to protect is not distinctive enough with the judge commenting that the design "may be unimportant, or may not even register, with average consumers." JLR is understandably disappointed by these findings as the Defender shape is trademarked in other markets. The new Land Rover Defender was recently launched in South Africa.
As for the Ineos Grenadier, it will be powered by BMW’s 6-cylinder engines and promises to be a "capable, durable and reliable 4×4 designed and built to handle the world’s harshest environments." The Ineos Grenadier will be built in the UK and production is due to start in the latter half of 2021.
South Africa is an ideal market for the Grenadier and Ineos is in negotiation with potential importers, so there is a chance that we will see it on local soil. Importantly, pricing is expected to come in at a similar price point to the Toyota Fortuner or Ford Everest which is great news for local consumers.
We will keep you in the loop as this story develops further.
Fuel prices are rising in August 2020. See the adjustments below…
The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy has released the fuel price adjustments which will take effect on Wednesday, 05 August 2020.
The Rand strengthened against the US Dollar from R17.43 to R16.82 during the period under review while the average Brent Crude oil price increased from $40.01 per barrel to $43.49 per barrel. The price of finished petroleum products also increased.
As a result, the fuel price adjustments for August 2020 are as follows:
Petrol (93 and 95 octane) increases by 5 cents per litre.
Diesel (0.05% and 0.005%) increases by 45 cents per litre
Paraffin (wholesale) increases by 39 cents per litre
Deliveries of the Aston Martin DBZ Centenary Collection, which consists of 19 pairs of the DB4 GT Zagato Continuation and new DBS GT Zagato, began at the end of last year, when the Gaydon-based firm shipped the first batch of the legacy models to their owners. However, the ravishing DBS GT Zagato hadn't been seen in the metal… until now, where it's been spotted undergoing testing at the Nurburging.
Late last year, Aston Martin delivered the first of the 19 of the DB4 GT Zagato Continuation units, produced to mark the British sportscar brand’s 50-plus year association with the world-renowned Italian coachbuilder and design house, which celebrated its centenary in 2019. See also: Aston Martin DB5 Goldfinger Continuation [w/video]
Originally built to race against the might of Ferrari in the '60s, the DB4 GT Zagato is powered by an inline-6 engine (said to produce at least 283 kW) mated with a 4-speed manual transmission, which sends power to the rear wheels via a limited slip differential. But the legacy model is only half of the £6-million (R135-million) pair…
The DBS GT Zagato (right) is one of the most exclusive models ever produced by Aston Martin.
The statesidesupercars YouTube channel recently uploaded this video of the eagerly anticipated new DBS GT Zagato undergoing testing at the Nurburgring. Prior to the Covid-19 outbreak, Aston Martin had hoped to commence production and deliveries of the exclusive supercar in 2020. It's not clear whether it may still happen before the year is done, but the brand is clearly giving its new creation a thorough shakedown on the famous Nordschleife circuit… As expected, the DBS GT Zagato looks stunning in the metal!
The DBS GT Zagato uses the DBS Superleggera as its foundation and features a "dynamic grille" which incorporates 108 diamond-shaped carbon fibre pieces which are flush when the car is parked but at start-up, the elements ‘flutter to life’, each opening to allow the big twin-turbocharged 5.2-litre V12 engine to breathe.
Note the full-length carbon fibre roof which calls for camera technology to provide rearward visibility.
As for outputs, if it’s the same engine as found in the DBS Superleggera, the motor will produce 553 kW and 900 Nm. Note that the roof is full-length carbon fibre which means a camera-operated rear-view mirror is fitted to provide rearward visibility. The finished model will sport gold-look 20-spoke wheels too…
Marek Reichman, Chief Creative Officer, Aston Martin Lagonda said: “This is a car that is not only focused around beauty, but drama too. Our dynamic grille gives us an opportunity to provide the car with two very different identities. When parked, DBS GT Zagato will almost look like it’s resting, but with the rear of the car still appearing muscular and primed for action. Only on start-up will the car truly become alert and ready to perform, delivering both an aural and visual treat for onlookers”.
Despite having more than 600 000 pre-orders, Elon Musk is not totally committed to the eventual marketability of his Cybertruck.
The charismatic Tesla CEO has admitted to Automotive News, that the company’s futuristic bakkie was very much designed on a whim and intuition.
Unlike most other bakkies, there were no focus groups involved, allowing Tesla’s designers to test its design on customers – and develop it accordingly.
Musk’s mission was simply to design a bakkie which looked like something from a sci-fi movie. The original Cybertruck concept has certainly achieved that and triggered broad interest from customers who would ordinarily never have considered a bakkie.
Tesla desires greater scale in its business. Global demand for its products remains strong, but Musk is not unaware of the huge profits that are being made by the likes of Ford, FCA, GM and Toyota in the bakkie market.
Rivian has been an increasing source of worry for Tesla. The bakkie and SUV electric vehicle company is seen by many as Tesla’s most credible rival and it is launching straight into the best possible revenue stream segment: double-cabs.
There is no question that Rivian’s potential success is hastening Tesla’s Cybertruck development, with the two brands scheduled to launch their bakkies mere months apart, towards the end of 2021. The Rivian double-cab bakkie looks a lot more conventional than Tesla’s Cybertruck, and that could make it better suited at conquering traditional bakkie customers.
It appears that this reality is now crystallizing in the mind of Musk, who has admitted that although the Cybertruck’s daring design is a futurism that Tesla values, it is not resistant to the idea of building a more conservative bakkie.
Although the Cybertruck’s exoskeleton construction and angular lines are defining attributes, Musk is not immune to changing it. If the market demands something different. “There are lots of normal trucks out there that look pretty much the same; you can hardly tell the difference. And sure, we could just do some copycat truck; that's easy. So that's our fallback strategy."
Upgraded engine includes a Black Edition visual package.
The current-generation Toyota Land Cruiser Prado is long in the tooth, even by Toyota’s standards. The Prado and its Land Cruiser base have gone relatively unchanged since 2008. Yes, there have been improvements made along the way to the design, specification and handling but it’s probably time for a new model to be ushered in, after all, it now has to compete with Land Rover’s Defender and Discovery for customers.
Japan has seen fit to upgrade the engine in the Prado for starters, the 2.8-litre turbodiesel unit acquires the same power hike as the facelifted Hilux will get when it arrives. That means an increase to 150 kW from the 130 kW it currently has and a slight boost in torque to 500 Nm.
The Japanese special, called the Black Edition also includes updated safety specification with features like lane departure warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, rear cross-traffic alert and road sign assist.
The exterior treatment matches the black interior with the help of black 18-inch alloys, black fog lamp surrounds and black mirror caps. Helping it stand out further is the black grille and black finishings around the headlights and tailgate. The only change to the interior are the silver buttons below the infotainment system.
While this is a Japanese only model, Toyota SA has noted that the engine updates will likely filter through to its product range in time. An all-new Land Cruiser is slated for 2022, meaning the current generation will have lived a solid 14 years.
With concept-car looks, mindblowing performance figures and a whopping pricetag, the Porsche Taycan Turbo S is a headline grabber of note. But does Zuffenhausen's BEV still feel like a Porsche? We spent a day on some of the Western Cape's best driving roads to find out.
The Porsche Taycan has myriad party tricks – so many, in fact, that it's quite tricky to figure out where to start a dissection of this amazing machine. I've driven a number of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) before, and consider myself a convert, particularly due to the immediacy of these cars' power delivery (in addition to all the obvious "green" reasons), but I'm also a fan because when it comes to their EVs, car firms tend to embrace the future in several aspects of the products' engineering, as well as design.
Consider the Taycan's exterior styling, for example. For most onlookers, the Taycan looks like nothing other than a car from the future. And so, as we parked at a little roadside coffee shop to take a break during the Porsche media presentation, it was fascinating to see people of all ages and backgrounds being drawn to this "car from the future".
Instantly recognisable
It was also interesting to note that the general public's awareness of what the Taycan is – and what it represents – appears to be quite high. "If this is what electric cars will look like," one burly, bearded biker said as he dismounted his Harley, "then I'll take one."
"A car from the future", was a regular comment wherever we parked the Taycan.
The Taycan rides on an all-new platform and is slightly shorter than its (also 4-doored) Panamera sibling, but the newcomer's obviously somewhat longer than a 911. In the metal, it looks squat and purposeful; Porsche's designers were evidently extended the freedom to create an exagerrated low-slung, powerful look, because, compared with conventional cars' packaging, the Taycan's batteries and motors are more compact and mounted lower down than internal combustion engine (ICE) drivetrains.
You get two "boots" of reasonable size – one in the front and one in the rear. Through clever battery packaging, there are foot "garages" for rear passengers, which create the sensation of greater rear legroom. I'm just over 1.8m tall and I fitted in comfortably in the back, but anyone taller than me will find headroom a bit tight.
Rear leg- and footroom is impressive, but headroom will be tight for those taller than 1.8m.
In front, there's a lot that will remind you of other (contemporary) Porsche models. The finishes feel familiar, the seat-to-steering-wheel ratio and the amount of adjustability is similar to what you'll find in a "conventional" Porsche sportscar. And although the instrumentation and most of the switchgear have been "digitised", the look is pure Porsche.
It will take some time to get familiar with all the settings, however, simply because there are a staggering number of menus and sub-menus, display options (and so forth) to choose from. A more familiar dial is the one on the steering wheel that allows you to choose from "Range", "Normal", "Sport" and "Sport+". When you select "Range", the Taycan goes into range-optimising mode.
Our fully-charged Taycan Turbo S test unit showed a range of around 330 km when we left our base. From there we drove (enthusiastically, we should add) for around 200 km and, when we returned, the range meter still showed a healthy 110 km "in the tank". A nice touch is that when you punch in your destination on the navigation, the car will tell you what your remaining charge will be upon arrival.
The numbers
The Taycan features charging ports on both sides of the vehicle (AC on the one side, and AC+DC on the other).
The top-dog Taycan Turbo S features a pair of electric motors (driving all four wheels), and a raft of lithium-ion batteries (gross battery capacity of 93.4 kWh) located under the cabin floor. It is also the first EV to feature a 2-speed transmission, and the first to boast an 800V architecture. The Taycan runs in "second" gear most of the time, but the first ratio is called into action upon hard acceleration runs.
That brings me to one of the Taycan Turbo S' party tricks. Porsche claims a power output of 560 kW, but for short period of time, a further 136 kW is made available for launch-control starts, the nett result of which is a 0-100 kph sprint in an astonishing 2.8 seconds. Top speed is 260 kph. The car's long-distance cruising range is a claimed 340 km.
Now, those are the numbers, and they're pretty impressive. But they can't quite prepare you for the sheer hilarity of what happens when you floor the throttle and immediately get catapulted to the horizon with zero lag. In fact, you have to be so vigilant when executing overtaking manoeuvres to ensure that you don't apply the throttle too early and risk slamming into the vehicle in front of you – it's that instantaneous. And very, very addictive.
The Taycan Turbo S sets a very high bar for performance EVs to follow, but also impresses with its touring comfort.
Also impressive is the way in which the brand has engineered-in that familiar Porsche weighting to the major controls. Yes, the throttle response is beyond anything that a traditionally engined Porsche can muster, but the pressure that needs to be applied to the pedal, the weighting of the steering etc. all feel familiar… very Porsche-like. You'll also quickly realise that the tremendous slow downeffect that is present in other electric cars when backing off the throttle is less pronounced on the Taycan, which feels more free-wheeling. You can, however, at the press of a button (and when range-anxiety sets in), select the option to have the brake recuperation at a more aggressive setting.
Is it exciting to drive? Tremendously. Here's a statistic that you have to get your head around. Over the first few metres of a Launch Control start, the Taycan Turbo S puts in a 1.2g performance… which means its faster, according to Porsche, from rest than a skydiver in free fall.
With its low centre of gravity, rear wheel steering and four-wheel grip, it also feels unflappabble in the twisties. Our test units didn't even have the optional Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) system and, to be honest, I doubt most drivers will ever need it. If driven more sedately, the Taycan Turbo S will not only reward you with improved range, but excellent ride comfort (air suspension) and a quiet cabin that only lets through tyre noise on the coarser sections of South Africa's road surfaces.
Porsche Taycan pricing in South Africa
The high-tech cabin features a number of configurable digital screens, as well as the option of voice control. You can also spec a completely leather-free interior.
The Turbo (R3 426 000) and Turbo S (R4 027 000) have already arrived in Mzansi, and the more affordable 4S (R2 586 000) is coming later. The pricing is steep, due in part to silly punitive government taxes, but, according to a Porsche SA representative, the pricing has not deterred more local buyers putting down deposits than the brand anticipated.
It helps, of course, that there are already cars in the Porsche portfolio that can cross the R4-million mark when generously specced with extras. It's worth noting that the purchase price includes a home 22-kW AC charging system, but that installation of the system is for the buyer's own account. Your home will also need 3-phase electricity supply. Once installed, you will be able to fully charge your Taycan in 4.5 hours.
Summary
Given its heady asking price, a lot of people may describe the Taycan Turbo S as a largely pointless vehicle (within the South African context). Nevertheless, I find myself marvelling at what Porsche has achieved with its newcomer, even within the context of the price. Here is a car with comfortable, luxurious accommodation for 4 occupants that rides well enough to make it an easy "daily driver". It offers similar range to traditionally-engined performance vehicles. It's off-the-mark acceleration compares favourably with a Formula 1 car. It looks like a concept that's just rolled off a motorshow stand. And… and this is a big AND… it is truly special, even memorable, to drive. Worth 4 bar? Every cent.
PerformMaster is a German tuner that specialises in Mercedes-AMG products and this G63 looks the part.
The G-Class is not only a formidable offroad vehicle but it’s also a status symbol for many people, a symbol of success and an indicator of financial standing. If you are not quite happy with the standard Mercedes-AMG G3 and need a little more, then you can approach a tuning firm such as PerformMaster to further enhance the styling and engine performance.
This special G63 wears a carbon fibre body kit that extends over the wheel arches through the front splitter, front bumper, fog light housings as well as over the rear bumper and rear diffuser. Customers can further opt for a carbon fibre bonnet attachment as well as a rear carbon fibre spoiler.
PerformMaster has also managed to squeeze more power and torque from the bi-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 engine. In standard form, this engine develops 430 kW and 850 Nm of torque, but with a new PEC tuning module, outputs now peak at 592 kW and 1 020 Nm. This upgrade allows for impressive acceleration, reducing the standard claimed zero to 100 kph sprint time from 4.5 seconds to 3.9 seconds which is mightily impressive for a vehicle of this size.
Do you like the look of this Mercedes-AMG G63 by PerformMaster?
Renault has launched a new range-topping Sandero Stepway Techroad derivative in South Africa! See specs and pricing details below.
A new Renault Sandero Stepway Techroad now heads up the Sandero range which still comprises the entry-level Sandero Expression and mid-spec Sandero Stepway Expression. The Sandero Stepway Plus, while is still on offer, is now replaced with the Stepway Techroad.
In terms of styling, the Sandero Stepway Techroad rides on 16-inch two-tone wheels and features gloss black mirror housings, roof rails, rugged plastic cladding around the wheel arches and Techroad decals seen on the B-pillars and lower door sections.
Inside, the Stepway Techroad gains a special upholstery design with blue detailing. A 7-inch infotainment system is fitted with integrated navigation, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as well as a smartphone mirroring function. Other features include side airbags (in addition to front airbags), front and rear electric windows, electric side mirrors, multifunction leather steering wheel and cruise control. A rear parking camera and rear park assist is also standard on the Sandero Stepway Techroad.
In terms of engine power, Renault’s proven 0.9-litre turbopetrol engine is found under the bonnet and it offers 66 kW and 135 Nm of torque and comes mated with a 5-speed manual transmission.
Renault Sandero Stepway – Price in South Africa
Sandero Expression – R209 900
Renault Stepway Expression – R223 900
New Renault Stepway Plus – R243 900
New Renault Stepway Techroad – R243 900
The Renault Sandero is sold with a 5-year/150 000 km warranty and 2-year/30 000 km service plan.
The National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA) has released new vehicle sales figures for July 2020. Sales remain under pressure.
July 2020 was the second full month of vehicle sales since the mandated local lockdown. While sales are still under pressure from budgetary constraints, there was slight growth over the previous month.
Compared to June 2020, 754 more vehicles were sold in July 2020. A total of 32 396 vehicles were sold in stark contrast to July 2019 where 46 042 vehicles were sold. Aside from a slight decrease in passenger vehicle sales, most sectors were up on June 2020 results, showing there is some (albeit small) positive growth in the market. Exports seem to also be improving, which bodes well for local manufacturers although the numbers are some way off the same point last year.
New Car Sales Summary: June 2020
Aggregate new vehicle sales at 32 396 units down by 29.6% (-13 646 units) compared with July 2019
+2.4% (754 units) up on June 2020
New passenger car sales of 18 905 units down by 35.8% (-10 552 units) compared with July 2019
-1.2% (-225 units) down on June 2020
Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) sales of 11 123 units down by 19.7% (-2 736 units) compared with July 2019
+8.8% (901 units) up on June 2020
Exports of 24 706 units down by 29.6% (-11 871 units) compared with July 2019
+23.8% (5 910 units) up on June 2020
Top-Selling Car Brands in South Africa for July 2020
Toyota – 7 464 units
Volkswagen – 5 075 units
Ford – 3 194 units
Hyundai – 2 520 units
Nissan – 2 132 units
Market outlook
July 2020 new vehicle sales figures provide a picture of what could be expected for the remainder of the year with some notable changes to market behaviour by the vehicle rental companies, in particular, which could be the beginning of new trends. Although the Absa Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) tracking business conditions in six months’ time turned slightly more optimistic in July 2020, it still remains fairly subdued. Considering the most recent projected negative annualised GDP growth in the country of 7,3% by the SA Reserve Bank, it does not bode well for the outlook on domestic demand for new vehicles over the short term. Positive dynamics such as the further 25 basis point interest rate cut to a near 50-year low during the month and the already 300 basis points interest rate cut for the year, low inflation as well as dealer incentives would be expected to support consumers and businesses into new vehicle purchases. However, a recovery in the new vehicle market will most likely depend on how quickly the economy can break out of its low growth trap and how soon society will recover from the present COVID-19 lockdown.
The domestic automotive industry’s vehicle export performance for the second half of the year hinges on the successful implementation of the lockdown exit strategies in the domestic industry’s major export destinations. The marked improvement in the July 2020 export performance compared to June 2020 export performance provides reason for optimism that exports will gain upward momentum during the second half of the year as international markets ease their lockdown restrictions while many are also stimulating their new vehicle markets with financial incentives.
Thomas Schaefer, the current boss of Volkswagen for the Sub-Saharan area will be heading for greener pastures. The greener pasture is Skoda (its logo is green) and he will take up the position as the brand’s global CEO.
Schaefer has headed up VWSA since the beginning of 2015 and has been able to improve the popular brand’s production and local market share to record levels in 2019. On his exiting VWSA, Schaefer said “My tenure as the MD of VWSA has been the highlight of my career so far. I am immensely proud to have worked for and led such an impactful and good company. Together with my team, we have moved VWSA forward with outstanding production and sales results which have earned our company recognition locally and abroad.”
Thomas Schaefer heads for Skoda, where he takes over as the CEO.
The German will be replaced by a man from Munich, home of BMW. Dr Robert Cisek (44) headed up Industrial Engineering at BMW Group (where he worked for 8 years) before moving to Volkswagen in 2018. He holds a doctorate degree in Industrial Management from the Technical University of Munich. He also holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Technical University of Munich. His current position at VW is Head of Strategy, Processes, and Structures – Production & Logistics at Volkswagen, something that stands him in good stead as he’ll look to improve production and get to grips with the VW Uitenhage plant in the Eastern Cape.
