A petrol, diesel and paraffin price increase is on the cards for the month of August 2020.
With the oil price high during the month of July 2020, it's certain we'll see increases in the fuel price, despite a surprisingly good performance from the Rand. This information comes from the Automobile Association, who comments ahead of the month-end fuel price data released by the Central Energy Fund.
As far as changes go, petrol is set to increase by between 9 and 16 cents a litre, diesel will increase by up to 48 cents a litre and paraffin by 43 cents a litre.
"Oil traded in a fairly tight range throughout July, but it was a substantial climb at the beginning of the month, plus some recent volatility, that combined to push prices higher," the AA says. "The Rand gained eight cents against the US dollar during July and the average exchange rate has firmed to below R16.90.With so much negative news surrounding the economy, the Rand's firmer trend is welcome, but we would like to see the government support this trend in the area of economic policy certainty."
Mitsubishi has announced a 3-year mid-term business plan that aims to focus on the brand’s key strengths. New products are on the way and some are being axed…
Mitsubishi is re-focusing its efforts following the announcement of its Small but Beautiful plan which aims to reduce fixed costs by optimising production as well as implementing a new regional and product strategy.
As such, Mitsubishi will no longer sell new vehicles in Europe but will instead focus its attention on developing its business in the ASEAN markets, Africa, Oceania and South America.
"We will shift our strategy from all-round expansion to selection and concentration," says Takao Kato, representative executive officer and chief executive officer of MMC. "First of all, we will complete our structural reform and further strengthen our competitive areas, ultimately to build a corporate structure that can surely generate profits during this mid-term period."
Let’s talk product
The Xpander Cross is expected in South Africa in coming months…
We reported this week that the legendary Mitsubishi Pajero was no longer viable and production in Japan is expected to come to an end in the near future. Mitsubishi South Africa has, however, stated that it will continue to offer the Pajero locally until production comes to an end.
The Pajero Sport will, however, forge on in the 7-seat Adventure SUV segment with an all-new model expected in 2023. More so, a new Outlander is also expected to be revealed in coming months too with a plug-in hybrid version expected later in some markets (not likely for SA). Mitsubishi will also introduce an Eclipse Cross PHEV in select markets.
South African buyers can expect the new Mitsubishi Mirage budget hatchback and the new Xpander Cross to reach our shores in the near future.
As for the Triton double-cab bakkie, it will play a critical role for Mitsubishi going forward and a new Triton has been confirmed for 2022. It will share a platform with the Nissan Navara and while the 2 bakkies will share key componentry such as engines, transmissions, suspension and so forth, they will each feature their own distinct design.
Further down the line in 2023, two all-new SUV / crossover products are in the pipeline but details of these new products have yet to materialise. Let's hope a replacement for the ageing ASX compact family car is in the works…
We will keep you updated as more information becomes available
Mercedes-Benz G-Glass be warned: Land Rover is developing a V8 version of its new Defender; the prototype is believed to be powered by JLR’s long-serving supercharged 5.0-litre V8, but the production version could utilise a 4.4-litre V8 turbopetrol from BMW.
Picture credit: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien. We have paid for these photos and at the photographer's request, have watermarked them.
*Update* More recent photographs showing a Defender prototype with high-performance brakes have emerged. We can also clearly see the quad exhaust system.
As Land Rover looks to an electrified future and thriving in a post-Brexit and Covid-19-lockdown automotive landscape, the Coventry-based firm is focusing its efforts on producing fleet-emissions-reducing hybrids and EVs such as the I-Pace; that is not to say that Land Rover has lost its penchant for producing high-performance off-roaders, however.
Far from it – apart from the fact that Land Rover is applying the finishing touches to its next-generation Range Rover, Autocar has published spy photographs of an undisguised Defender sporting “Prototype Vehicle” stickers (reserved for testing mules). The vehicle was photographed near the firm’s development facility in Warwickshire in the United Kingdom.
Render of the Land Rover Defender SVR via Avarvarii/AutoCar
The new Defender’s international media presentation event was recently hosted in Namibia – where our correspondent Danie Botha duly put the newcomer through its paces – and we’ve already published a Specs & Price article of the new range. The initial line-up consists of a 2.0-litre turbopetrol and –diesel engines, as well as a P400 MHEV – a mild hybrid that utilises a 3.0-litre V6 turbopetrol with an electric supercharger and a belt-integrated starter generator linked to a 48V system.
But just as the new Defender is a premium SUV with notable off-road ability, but a far cry from its archaic utilitarian predecessor, it might be naïve to believe that Land Rover would be content to limit its newcomer to 4- and 6-cylinder engines. After all, if the Coventry-based firm hopes to take the fight to the equally iconic Mercedes-Benz G-Class, of which the overwhelming majority of sales are accounted for by the 4.0-litre V8 turbopetrol-powered G63 AMG, it will need much more firepower.
Land Rover has made no secret of the fact it wants to benchmark the top Defender against the iconic Mercedes-Benz G-Glass.
Last hurrah for the SV8?
Land Rover engineers have previously suggested to Autocar that the Defender could be adapted to utilise a V8 motor and the images it has published clearly show that the 110-bodied prototype has a quad exhaust system. What’s more, registration data for the car indicated it was equipped with a 5.0-litre petrol engine, which suggests it had a 5.0-litre supercharged V8 under the bonnet.
The engine, which has powered the Jaguar XFR, XJ and Range Rover derivatives, the Range Rover Sport SVR, Range Rover Velar SVAutobiography and, of course, the Jaguar F-Pace SVR, is a well-known quantity, but it’s an old, thirsty (if throaty and potent) motor near the end of its production life. The Bridgend Ford factory in which it’s made will close its doors at the end of the year.
Autocar understands Land Rover intends to produce the V8-engined Defender as a low-volume derivative aimed at performance enthusiasts… If so, it stands to reason that the firm would stockpile the Ford-built V8 to build the special versions; after all, emissions targets are much less of a priority for low-volume special editions.
The Jaguar F-Pace SVR, which we tested late last year, is powered by the supercharged 5.0-litre V8 petrol motor.
This is apparently not a project of Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) division, but an offshoot of the existing Defender engineering operation and it is believed the Defender V8’s motor will be tuned to produce about a moderate peak power output of 375 kW (lower than SVR versions) and mated with an 8-speed ZF automatic transmission.
Underpinned by the Defender’s aluminium-intensive body shell – claimed to be the stiffest Land Rover has ever produced – the flagship should feature larger wheels, a lowered ride height and an air suspension, as well as an optimised selection of on- and off-road driving modes. Suffice to say the thundering quad exhausts will be retained.
The case for BMW power…
However, why would Land Rover produce a low-volume, if enthusiast-pleasing, Defender V8 – even as a farewell to the supercharged 5.0-litre motor? Selling such a product could be quite profitable for the Coventry-based company in the short term, but in these cash-strapped times for the automotive industry, research and development costs need to be kept to a minimum and are expected to be fully amortised through series production.
The most powerful iteration of BMW's 4.4-litre V8 is reserved for the Competition versions of the X5 M/X6 M siblings.
Besides, limited editions tend to come out near the end – not the beginning – of a product’s lifespan; the Defender is brand new. But what if Land Rover was using the supercharged V8 primarily to test the SUV’s dynamic responses with the weight and power increases of the larger motor? What if the motor was about to make way for a BMW powerplant?
Consider that Jaguar Land Rover will, in all likelihood, begin to the use BMW’s twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 under a wide-reaching powertrain deal struck between the British and German firms. It has not been officially confirmed by the Coventry-based firm, but Autocar understands that it’s a mere formality. In X5 M trim, that motor produces peak outputs of 460 kW and 750 Nm!
Last year it was announced the two companies would co-develop electrified powertrains, but sources close to BMW have recently revealed the deal had been extended to include supplying JLR with a range of internal-combustion engines, ostensibly so that the latter could focus its efforts on developing electrified power units.
Remember, some Land Rovers were famously powered by BMW engines when the Munich-based firm owned the Coventry-based brand 25 years ago… We'll keep you posted.
Torsus has revealed its Terrastorm, the hardcore offroader built on the Volkswagen Crafter.
If there was an award for the 'Most Awesome Name for a Vehicle', surely the Terrastorm would be in line for the win. Still, take a look at how awesome this thing is. Built on a Volkswagen Crafter chassis and powered by a 2.0-litre biturbo diesel engine, the Torsus Terrastorm looks ready to tackle any surface.
There are 2 power options, 103 kW and 130 kW, with 410 Nm and you have the option of a 6-speed manual gearbox or an 8-speed automatic. It's the offroad capability that has us fascinated though. The chassis has been upgraded and Bilstein off-road suspension has been installed. All-wheel drive with a locking rear differential is on offer and the vehicle features a ground clearance of 290 mm and a wading depth of 690 mm. Customers can choose the Deep Wave pack which allows wading through 820 mm of water. The vehicle also features underbelly protection to keep the diff and fuel tank protected.
Vakhtang Dzhukashvili, founder and CEO of Torsus said, “Terrastorm is a vehicle that will be at home on the dunes of the Sahara to delivering packages and emergency care work in the mountainous regions. The vehicle is versatile in its configurations, it is always able to offer more capability to serve multiple markets and industries.”
Inside there's seating for 9-20 passengers and everyone gets a bucket seat with 3-point harnesses. A 5-point harness to keep passengers secure is also offered. Torsus is claiming there's a market for cargo hauling to remote areas, as well as getting people to inhospitable places. Think of emergency workers getting to a disaster-hit region, that sort of thing. Torsus also offers the Terrastorm as an ambulance.
As the British premium sportscar and gravel travel brand struggles with production disruptions and the transition from diesel to electric power, it will now have the added complexity of new leadership.
JLR has confirmed that its charismatic and successful CEO of the last decade, Ralph Speth, will be replaced by Frenchman, Thierry Bollore.
Although Speth had guided JLR to unprecedented product acclaim and profitability, he was unable to stem enormous losses over the last year, which amounted to R8bn. Customer rejection of Land Rover’s traditional turbodiesel engines, the spectre of Brexit and then a global health pandemic – these all proved too much for even Speth’s skilled leadership.
The German’s replacements at JLR is a former Renault CEO, who was disposed of late last year, as part of the toxic corporate politics between Nissan and Renault. Bollore spent the first decade and a half of his career at Michelin but was not employed as a design engineer. He specialised in processing and tyre production, eventually heading Michelin’s significantly technical aviation business.
For Bollore the greatest challenge will be to contain costs, whilst not debasing the luxury feel and features of JLR’s products. Jaguar is an enormous issue for the company, with its legacy sportscars and limousines facing dwindling demand in all global markets. Bollore will have to formulate a plan for the Jaguar brand, without endangering Land Rover’s stability – which provides nearly all the company’s current revenue.
The risk for JLR is how much of a product visionary Bollore will prove to be. At Renault, he would never have calculated competing with larger format Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz products. For JLR, its rivals are exactly those luxury German brands and their products are used for benchmarking.
During his time at Renault, Bollore was an expert at supply chain management and if JLR needs to negotiate its supplier base, he will prove adept at this. Whether someone who has no experience of managing daring design and advanced vehicle technology teams is the correct CEO for JLR, will have to be seen.
Mercedes-AMG has completed a top-and-tail exercise with its iconic GT range by following up the recent launch of the headlining GT Black Series with the introduction of upgraded entry-level coupe and roadster variants.
With production of the GT – the first standalone model in the history of the Three-pointed Star’s performance division – nearing its end, Mercedes-AMG rolled out the 537-kW GT Black Series, powered by the most potent V8 engine ever installed in a standard road-going Benz and laced with motorsport-derived components, earlier this month.
However, the Affalterbach-based division is also ringing the changes at the entry point to its GT range – ostensibly to ramp up sales as the countdown begins to the introduction of the next-generation sportscar (which will share its platform with the upcoming SL range) in 2021.
The quickest way to spot the updated GT from its predecessor is by the red front brake calipers.
Although Mercedes-AMG initially offered the GT hardtop in 340-kW Coupe and 384-kW S Coupe guises when the range was introduced to the local market in 2015, the base version was subsequently discontinued (around 2018). However, Benz’s performance division has now discontinued the S version and upgraded the GT instead.
The revised GT Coupe and Roadster, which will arrive in dealerships around November (Mercedes-AMG says), produces a claimed peak output of 390 kW, which is slightly higher than the outgoing S derivative’s output, but significantly more powerful than the previous GT.
The Night Edition looks suitably sinister with its black grille and headlamp elements, as well as the carbon-fibre roof.
They come equipped with AMG Ride Control adaptive suspension, an electronic-locking diff, AMG composite braking system (replete with red calipers), as well as a lithium-ion starter battery and an additional "Race" drive mode. Buyers have the option of specifying active rear axle steering in conjunction with the AMG Dynamic Plus package.
Both variants will also be available with optional blacked-out “Night Edition” execution, which comprises the AMG Exterior Night Package, as well as black brake callipers, AMG radiator grille in dark chrome, main headlamps with black elements, and mixed-size tyres with 19-inch matt black Y-spoke alloys at the front with 20-inch wheels at the rear.
There is an abundance of piano black details in the "Night Edition" cockpit, including on the spokes of the AMG steering wheel.
Other features of the "Night Edition" include the carbon-fibre roof with dark-tinted areas on the coupe. The choice of paint finishes that buyers can choose from (black is standard) include obsidian black metallic, selenite grey metallic or designo graphite grey magno.
Meanwhile, the interiors of the "Night Edition" versions feature the AMG Interior Night Package, including AMG Performance seats (trimmed in black Nappa leather with diamond quilting and black topstitching), while the AMG sports steering wheel has black spokes and shift paddles and the rim is finished in Dinamica fabric. The exclusive appearance is finished off with a plethora of piano-black accents, which are optionally available with additional carbon-fibre elements.
The AMG Performance seats are trimmed in black Nappa leather and feature diamond quilting as well as black topstitching.
Mercedes-AMG has yet to confirm if and when the updated GT will replace the S Coupe derivative in the local market (it might be late this year, or only in 2021); the Roadster, by contrast, is currently only offered in the 410-kW “C” guise in Mzansi, so the GT Roadster is perhaps less likely to reach our shores…
As is customary with most BMW product reveals these days, the German carmaker also reveals the catalogue for its M Performance parts. Now we get a comprehensive look at the updated BMW M5 fitted with M Performance Parts.
The BMW M5 is one of the brand's strongest performance offerings and you'd think there'd hardly be a need for M Performance Parts. However, BMW M claims these accessories aim to deliver sporty accents in terms of design, driving dynamics and performance.
Visually, there's an expansive list of go-faster goodies in carbon fibre on offer. You can get carbon fibre detailing on the grilles, a rear diffuser, side sills, mirror caps, fuel cap, rear boot spoiler and carbon fibre exhaust tips, to name but a few. Other cool accessories on offer include tyre warmers and a cool BMW M car cover, to keep your M5 clean. For those wanting to really show off, there's a carbon fibre engine cover.
Inside, the M Performance steering wheel Pro is on offer and it features polished carbon fibre and Alcantara trim. There's also the 12 o'clock marker in BMW Motorsport blue and the wheel also features BMW M colour stitching. For those wanting a sporty touch, carbon shift paddles are also on offer. Speaking of gears, there's a carbon fibre gearbox shifter trim kit too.
BMW M Performance is offering an M Performance sports suspension, which lowers the car by 5 and 20 mm. With a lower centre of gravity and less roll, BMW claims cornering speeds will be higher. BMW is also offering new-look 20-inch M Performance forged alloy wheels.
We're torn, surely a car as prestigious as the BMW M5 doesn't need M Performance parts? But, on the other hand, we think this example looks exceptional! The updated BMW M5 will be arriving alongside the 5-Series in South Africa before the end of 2020.
BMW has announced details of its new strategic plan that will place sustainability and efficient resource management at the core of its business in an effort to drastically reduce CO2 emissions by 2030.
BMW has set itself science-based CO2 goals that will drastically reduce the firm’s carbon footprint by the year 2030.
Chairman of the Board of Management Oliver Zipse said, “I firmly believe the fight against climate change and how we use resources will decide the future of our society – and of the BMW Group. As a premium car company, it is our ambition to lead the way in sustainability. That is why we are taking responsibility here and now and making these issues central to our future strategic direction. This new strategic direction will be anchored in all divisions – from administration and purchasing to development and production, all the way to sales. We are taking sustainability to the next level.”
The main aim is to reduce CO2 emissions per vehicle by at least one third across the lifecycle including the supply chain, production and end of use phase. On a production level, BMW aims to reduce CO2 emissions at its facilities by 80% come 2030. To meet this goal BMW will look to source 100% green power while also optimising its energy efficiency through increasing digitalisation of processes at its sites across the world.
More electric cars, less CO2
In terms of vehicles, BMW aims to reduce vehicle CO2 emissions by 40% per kilometre driven and this will be primarily achieved by the expansion of e-mobility which ultimately means putting more electrified/electric cars on the road.
The aim is to have more than 7-million electrified cars on the road with two thirds of them being all-electric.
“The best vehicles in the world are sustainable. That is why premium and sustainability will be even more inextricably linked in the future,” said Zipse. “We are using our exceptional technological expertise in both hardware and software not only to make these vehicles desirable, but also to help reduce CO2 through them.”
At the end of 2021, BMW will have 5 full-electric vehicles in its stable including the i3, Mini Cooper SE, iX3, iNext and the i4.
The next-generation 7 Series will also feature an all-electric Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) model in addition to a plug-in hybrid derivative and petrol and diesel derivatives with 48-volt technology. By 2023, 25 electrified models will be on the roads with half of them being fully electric.
More than this, BMW will also be ‘electrifying’ other high-volume models in its range including the X1 and the 5 Series which will be offered with 4 powertrain options (fully-electric, plug-in hybrid, and diesel and petrol engines with 48-volt technology).
In terms of the supply chain, BMW will look to reduce CO2 emissions per vehicle by 20% by 2030. The focus here will be to implement corrective measures to avoid rising CO2 emissions per vehicle as a result of growth in e-mobility. Merc says that attention will have to paid to upstream added value in order to reduce CO2 emissions and sites energy-intensive production of high-voltage batteries as an example. More so, the firm will establish CO2 targets for its supply chain, comprising roughly 12 000 tier 1 partners worldwide and will factor-in a decision criterion in its contract award process.
“Our aim is to ensure the most sustainable supply chain in the entire industry,” said Zipse.
An agreement is already in place for BMW’s battery cell manufacturers to only use green power to produce fifth-generation battery cells which will save about 10 million tons of CO2 over the next 10 years. In addition, BMW too will increase its use of green power and will continue to encourage its supply chain partners to do the same.
Lastly, BMW will also enhance its resource management in an effort to reduce the reliance on primary material over the long term and introducing more high-quality secondary material.
“Our goal is clear: We want to further close the material cycles to protect nature’s finite resources and use them even more efficiently,” said Zipse.
BMW, in partnership with specialist recycling company, Duesenfeld, is developing a method to achieve a high-voltage battery recycling rate of 96% where the current EU recycling rate requirement is 50%.
The recycling of batteries will become more critical over time as demand for high-voltage batteries increases in conjunction with the rise of e-mobility.
Mercedes-Benz is working on a new small van, called the T-Class.
Mercedes-Benz has announced it will be building a new entrant for the small van segment. Called the Mercedes-Benz T-Class, the newcomer will be developed in cooperation with the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance.
"With the new Mercedes-Benz T-Class, we will offer a vehicle which makes it possible for families and those with active pastimes to step into the Mercedes-Benz world. These customers seek attractive and practical compact vehicles – and it is precisely these demands which the new T-Class fulfils", says Marcus Breitschwerdt, Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans.
The teaser image attached to this release shows a typical van shape and it's expected the newcomer will feature wide-opening sliding doors. There will be both internal combustion engines on offer as well as a fully-electric version.
As for an arrival date, Mercedes-Benz has said customers will be taking delivery from the first half of 2022.
German tuner, Oettinger, has shown what’s possible with the new Volkswagen Golf 8…
The new Golf 8 is due to arrive in South Africa in the first quarter of 2021 and if you are in need of a few ideas to modify your Golf then perhaps Oettinger’s treatment will be to your liking.
Perhaps not as flashy as some of the other Golf 8 modifications we have seen thus far, the Oettinger Golf 8 wears a sportier front apron with 3-piece design, spoiler lip as well as flared side skirts that provide continuity to the visual presence of the Golf 8. A spoiler is also mounted to the tailgate and the Oettinger Golf 8 rides on 18-inch gloss-black alloy wheels which are available directly from Volkswagen.
Oettinger will also offer similar subtle treatments for the Golf GTI and eventually for the Golf 8 R when it arrives at a later stage.
Do you like the look of this Oettinger Volkswagen Golf 8?
