Isuzu fans might be waiting in great anticipation for the third-generation D-Max, but that does not mean the Japanese bakkie brand is completely done with its current double-cab.
The new Boondock edition is certainly one of the very last second-generation D-Max upgrades that will come to market, as the third-generation version is due for its global rollout soon. It also shows what is possible with the Isuzu RT-series platform.
Distinguishing the Boondock from other D-Max double-cabs are bold mountain-themed side graphics, which spread across the doors and cabin pillars. Below the cab there are running boards, featuring a honeycomb structure, to ensure superior mud-shedding in off-road terrain.
Isuzu’s product team are not targeting leisure or lifestyle buyers with the Boondock edition D-Max. This double-cab is aimed at adventurous off-roading customers and as such, it rolls Yokohama Geolander G015 tyres, sized 265/70.
Mounted on blacked-out 18-inch alloy wheels, these tyres have adequate air-volume and sidewall strength, to allow for significant deflation, if additional traction is required in challenging off-road conditions.
Isuzu has chosen to leave the proven 4JJ1-TCX 3-litre turbodiesel engine untouched and in the Boondock application, it produces 130 kW and 380 Nm, as it would in any similarly powered D-Max double-cab. Both six-speed manual and automatic gearbox options are available with the Boondock.
The engine might be stock, but the suspension configuration is not. Isuzu has added nitrogen-filled monotube shock absorbers to all four corners, improving the bakkie’s ability to smooth out surface imperfections at speed. This should make it more comfortable and confidence-inspiring to drive at speed, on poorly maintained gravel roads.
Beyond cushioning the Boondock’s off-road ride quality, those new shocks also give it a slight increase in ride height. Whereas a standard D-Max double-cab 4×4 has 225 mm of ground clearance, the Boondock increases that to 247 mm.
For the moment, Isuzu is only committed to its Philippine market with the new D-Max Boondock. And no: it does not come with a preloaded Boondock Saints playlist, programmed into the infotainment system…
Powered by the most potent V8 engine that Mercedes-AMG has ever installed in a road car and laced with motorsport-derived components, the 537-kW GT Black Series is the ultimate version of the Affalterbach-based performance division’s 1st standalone model.
The appearance of the newcomer comes as no surprise; we knew what the ballistic Benz would look like courtesy of the teaser images and video that were leaked last week.
Now that Mercedes-AMG has revealed full details of the GT Black Series have been officially revealed, however, the bespoke track-oriented packaging of the newcomer is no less awe-inspiring; it shares zero body panels with the GT R (that preceded it), features a host of aerodynamic addenda, a revised suspension, is laced with carbon fibre (and other lightweight materials) and its 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine has been extensively reworked, so much so that it has a new designation: M178 LS2.
A Black Series derivative is usually produced near the end of a Mercedes-AMG model's product lifecycle.
Let’s start with the powertrain. Mercedes-Benz has endowed the motor with a flat-plane crankshaft, new camshafts and exhaust manifolds, a dry-sump configuration and revised firing order in addition to beefing up the twin-scroll turbochargers and intercoolers. As a result, the engine revs to 7 200 rpm, and produces 537 kW from 6 700 to 6 900 rpm and 800 Nm of torque from 2 000 to 6 000 rpm – which represent improvements of 107 kW and 100 Nm respectively on the Mercedes-AMG GT R (430 kW/700 Nm).
The M178 LS2 powerplant is mated with a 7-speed dual-clutch AMG Speedshift transmission, which Benz has recalibrated to deliver more intense shifts (as suited to a track environment), and the copious torque is directed to the rear 20-inch lightweight forged-alloy wheels via a 40% lighter carbon-fibre torque tube.
Mercedes-AMG has fitted the GT Black Series with a plethora of carbon-fibre panels, including the adjustable rear spoiler.
Mercedes-AMG says the GT Black Series can dispatch the 0-100 kph sprint in 3.2 seconds, hit 200 kph in less than 9 seconds and go on to reach a top speed 325 kph. Its wheels are shod in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres and, for improved stopping power, the newcomer features enlarged drilled and vented carbon-ceramic discs with 6-piston black-painted calipers up front and 4-piston units at the rear.
Apart from sporting a wider track than the GT R, the GT Black Series comes equipped with a forged-aluminium double-wishbone suspension, -steering knuckles and -hub carriers, coil-over adaptive dampers, a dual adjustable carbon-fibre front torsion bar, manually-adjustable front/rear wheel camber and anti-roll bars. As a matter of fact, the Benz has been configured to run with more negative camber on the front axle to improve its ultimate cornering ability.
The Mercedes-AMG Black Series is said to generate more than 400 kg of downforce at 250 kph…
As well as a number of drive modes (Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus), drivers can fine-tune the GT Black Series’ traction control settings via a yellow dial mounted in the centre of the dash that offers 9 settings.
The dramatic exterior appearance of the GT Black Series is evidently motorsport-inspired; the newcomer closely resembles one of the Three-pointed Star’s GT3- or GT4 racing machines! But, as ever, form follows function: all addenda serve to improve aerodynamic efficiency and cooling, plus save weight.
Mercedes-AMG has fitted a flat-plane crankshaft, along with a host of other upgrades, to the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8.
Carbon fibre features on the newcomer’s manually-adjustable front splitter (with 2 positions: Street and Race), elaborately-vented bonnet (with downforce-boosting exhaust air openings and cooling slats), double-bubble roof, winglet-adorned side skirts, as well as the rear diffuser, which sits between the quartet of exhaust tips. The manually adjustable rear wing, which stands proud of the GT Black Series’ roof (as if you haven’t noticed!) offers 20 degrees of adjustment for either increased downforce or reduced drag.
Further upgrades include new vents for the front and rear wheel arches, thinner glass front and rear and an almost fully-panelled underbody, featuring specially designed longitudinal fins for both aerodynamic and heat dissipation purposes. This AMG creation is said to generate no less than 400 kg of downforce at 250 kph…
The AMG Track Package option adds, inter alia, a roll-cage to the GT Black Series' cabin.
Inside, the Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series is kitted out in a combination of Nappa leather and black Dinamica fabric, with contrasting orange stitching (optionally available in grey). Carbon-fibre bucket seats, while conventional interior door-handles have been replaced with weight-saving loop pull handles.
Other standard features include Benz’s latest 12.3-inch instrument cluster and 10.25-inch MBUX touchscreen infotainment system, as well as a flat-bottomed AMG ‘wheel with aluminium shift paddles. In some markets, an AMG Track Package can be additionally specified, which adds track-specific features such as a roll cage, a 2-kg fire extinguisher and 4-point harness for both driver and passenger.
As is traditional with Mercedes’s Black Series models, the AMG GT version will likely mark the end of the coupe’s lifespan. It should remain in production until 2022 before being replaced by an all-new model; we anticipate that the newcomer will be made available in the South African market early in 2021.
The new Ford Bronco adventure SUV has been revealed with 3 body styles on offer. Meet the Bronco family below…
The Bronco nameplate has made its comeback and it comes to market with 3 derivatives on offer including a 2-door, a 4-door and as a smaller Bronco Sport SUV.
Jim Farley, Ford CEO said, “We created the Bronco family to elevate every aspect of off-road adventure and equipped them with class-leading chassis hardware and exclusive technologies to raise the bar in the rugged 4×4 segment and take people further into the wild. They’re built with the toughness of an F-Series truck and performance spirit of Mustang – and come wrapped in one of the most stunning and functional off-road designs that’s true to the original Bronco design DNA.”
The Bronco 2-door and Bronco 4-door feature frameless doors that can be easily removed. The doors can be stored in the load bin of the Bronco 4-door if need be. Owners will also be able to remove the roof of the Bronco where the Bronco 2-door features a removable hard-top roof while the 4-door variant comes with a soft-top that can be removed in 4 sections.
In terms of styling, Ford also offers customers the opportunity to customise their Bronco with different types of doors, modular steel bumpers (with winches), varying grille designs, roof racks, light bars and various fender flares.
The Bronco 2-door takes square aim at the Jeep Wrangler while the Bronco Sport will go to battle with the new Land Rover Defender.
Engines and Offroad Capability
The Bronco's doors and roof can be removed for an open-air offroading experience.
The Bronco is an adventure vehicle through-and-through and with a maximum ground clearance of 294 mm and a wading depth of 851 mm, it will pretty much go wherever you need it to go.
The Bronco 2-door and 4-door variants will be offered with 2 EcoBoost engines including a 2.7-litre V6 with 231 kW and 542 Nm and a 2.3-litre engine with 201 kW and 420 Nm. These engines can be paired with a 7-speed (6+1) manual transmission as well as a 10-speed automatic transmission.
The smaller, Kuga-based, Bronco Sport is offered with 2 engine choices including a 135 kW/257 Nm 1.5-litre 3-cylinder- or a 183 kW/372 Nm 2.0-litre 4-cylinder Ecoboost turbopetrol engine, both of which are paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. However, 2.0-litre versions additionally feature steering wheel-mounted shift paddles and beefed-up cooling for the drivetrain.
The Bronco is hugely capable offroad and with no less than 7 G.O.A.T. driving modes, you can anywhere you please.
All Bronco Sport derivatives feature MacPherson-strut (front) and multi-link (rear) suspensions in combination with all-wheel drive, of which the Terrain Management System offers as many as 7 G.O.A.T. (Go Over Any Terrain) modes: Normal, Eco, Sport, Slippery, Sand, Mud/Ruts and Rock Crawl.
For the Bronco 2-door and 4-door versions, there are two 4×4 systems to choose from including a base setup and an advanced 4×4 system. The base system features a 2-speed shift-on-the-fly transfer case while the advanced system has a 2-speed electromechanical transfer case with an auto mode for on-demand engagement to select between 2H and 4H. The Bronco is equipped with Dana 44 AdvanTek solid rear axle and an independent front Dana AdvanTek differential, both available with Spicer PerfromaTrak electronic locking differentials.
As you can expect, Ford also offers various packages and optional equipment to suit the particular application for the Bronco.
Interior and customisation
The Bronco's interior is highly customisable and SYNC4 is a technological highlight here.
The Bronco's interior is designed and built to withstand the rigours of life in the outdoors with hard-wearing materials used for this purpose. Grab handles are fitted in the instrument panel and centre console as are practical Molle hooks and mounting points for a device rack where you can mount your cell phone, navigation devices and so forth.
Furthermore, the Bronco’s interior is equipped with an 8-inch (12-inch is optional) SYNC4 touchscreen infotainment system (compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto) as well as the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of driver-assist technologies. The suite incorporates pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking (with pedestrian detection), forward-collision warning and dynamic brake support, blind-spot monitor with cross-traffic alert, a lane-keeping system, auto high-beam headlamps and a reverse-view camera.
Some Bronco derivatives can be equipped with washable rubberised floors with integrated drains as well as marine-grade vinyl upholstery. As for further customisation, 7 colour and trim combinations can be combined with 4 content packages to meet a customer needs with a total of 11 colour choices and over 200 available accessories.
Software challenges continue to buffer VW’s digital and electric vehicle ambitions.
The German automotive conglomerate is steadfast in its commitment to have a fleet of highly digitized future vehicles, mostly powered by batteries instead of petrol or diesel. What VW has discovered, is that harmonizing all those digital features and making the new electric vehicle powertrain architectures work, isn’t easy.
VW has already admitted that software issues are the cause of its delayed Golf 8 global production and delivery timetable. The latest news from Germany would indicate that things might not be getting better.
Bloomberg has reported that VW’s head of ‘Digital Car & Services’, Christian Senger, is soon to be without a job, little more than a year after taking his senior position.
A qualified mechanical engineer, Senger started his career at BMW, serving between 1997 and 2012, where he eventually became the i Product specialist (i3 and i8).
After BMW, Senger worked for Continental, in the supplier company’s impressive Automotive Systems & Technology division. He eventually joined VW in 2016, with the role of E-Mobility product boss. VW clearly identified Senger as a staffer with the required skills to drive the company’s future electric vehicle product development initiatives.
All that would now appear to be at an end, with the Golf 8 and ID-series software glitches requiring consequence management – which has cost Senger his job.
For VW the challenge will now be twofold: it must speedily find a suitably skilled replacement, for a difficult job, while accelerating the product delivery of its Golf 8 and ID vehicles. Both with software issues that Senger probably had a better understanding of, than most.
The BMW iX3 – the Munich-based firm’s fully electric executive SUV that’s closely based on the X3 – has been fully revealed!
We recently reported that BMW would have 5 EV models on the market by the end of 2021 and 25 electrified derivatives by 2023. In announcing the results for the Group (including Mini and Rolls Royce) at the end of the 2019 financial year, BMW also declared its intention to reduce the number of traditional-drivetrain variants (which we understand to be non-hybridised turbopetrol and -diesel derivatives) by 50%.
Now, BMW welcomes it's first electric SUV to market, the iX3. The BMW X3, on which the iX3 is based, is the first BMW model that's available in either petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid and electric guise.
The iX3 still manages to offer useful luggage space at 510-litres.
The Concept iX3 made its debut at the Beijing Show about 2 years ago and following the completion of successful homologation testing and now its full reveal, the iX3 is due to go on sale in global markets toward the end of 2021. Homologation testing required more than 340 hours and 7 700 km of testing over a period of 4 weeks.
"This is the first time we have completed the entire homologation process for a fully electric model in China and Europe at the same time. The staff on our testing team mastered this unique challenge with tremendous dedication and efficiency,” said Arno Keller, head of Development BMW iX3.
The iX3 is built in the same production facility as the X3 SUV.
We assume left-hand-drive markets will have first dibs and right-hand-drive markets will probably receive the newcomer in 2021. Considering that its rivals are either already in South Africa (Jaguar’s 2019 World Car of the Year-winning I-Pace) or heading to our shores in the near future (Audi e-tron and Mercedes-Benz EQC), the iX3 is a good bet for Mzansi, considering that BMW SA has been offering EVs in the local market since 2015; last year it expanded its X5 premium-SUV range with the launch of the xDrive45e. In fact, BMW has confirmed that the iX3 will be introduced to the South African market in Q4 of 2021.
Has BMW been wise to keep the iX3's looks familiar, or will its lack of distinctiveness reduce the newcomer's showroom appeal?
“We are right on schedule with our BMW iX3 pre-production vehicles and will launch standard production in late summer, using state-of-the-art technologies such as custom installation of the new high-voltage battery and artificial intelligence for monitoring parts,” explained Robert Küssel, BBA Plant Director Dadong. “We are also producing the fully-electric BMW iX3 and the BMW X3 with combustion engine on the same production line. This enables us to achieve high efficiency and flexibility in production,” Küssel continued.
As expected, the production version of the iX3 looks closely based on its X3 sibling, which is a rather conservative approach by BMW, considering the aforementioned e-tron and EQC, which are also based on their (Q5 and GLC) executive SUV siblings, were distinctively styled by Audi and Benz so as to appear as completely separate models.
The iX3 features a plethora of characteristic blue BMW i accents (on the conventionally-styled X3 grille, side skirts and rear bumper), brushed-metal fender garnishes, eye-catching lightweight, aerodynamically-optimised wheel trims (surely they can't be rims!) and, of course, no exhaust ends.
As for the interior, it too follows the design of the X3 SUV but comes with model-specific accents. Load capacity is rated at 510 litres and goes up to 1 560 litres.
Watch our Jaguar I-Pace Vlog: Will Electric Cars Work in South Africa?
Interestingly, the iX3 – which will be built at the BMW/Brilliance Automotive joint venture plant in Shenyang, China – is not all-wheel-driven. Its 5th-generation eDrive power unit consists of a 210 kW/400 Nm electric motor, which is mated with an 80-kWh lithium-ion battery pack and powers the executive SUV’s rear wheels. BMW says that the iX3 will dash from zero to 100 kph in 6.8 seconds with a limited top speed of 180 kph.
BMW claims an optimal range of 460 km from a full-cycle charge on the WLTP standard. The iX3 is expected to feature a newly-developed Charging Control Unit, which can be hooked up to fast-charging stations of up to 150 kW capacity. In that case, the batteries can be charged zero to 80% charge in 34 minutes with every 10 minutes of charge adding roughly 100 km of range. The iX3 rides on 19-inch light-alloy wheels with a drag-reducing design to enhance overall efficiency.
There is more in the proverbial pipeline for the iX3 package too. BMW is likely to ultimately offer an xDrive all-wheel-drive version at some point, ostensibly with a dual-motor configuration, but the next models from the BMW i stable are likely to be the i4 and iNext.
Cape Storm Trashes Cars: How to Protect Your Car From Rust
A huge winter storm raged in Cape Town this week, bringing rain and near-hurricane-force winds to the Mother City. Many cars parked along the Sea Pont promenade received a wind-blasted foam wash from the raging Atlantic Ocean nearby. It might have been fun and games for the people witnessing nature’s ferocity, but for the cars covered in seafoam, rusty days lie ahead…
Photos by Dieter Pey.
Social media was abuzz on Monday, 13 July 2020, as a wild winter storm made landfall in Cape Town. A tumultuous sea churned seawater into thick foam which was driven over the Sea Point promenade wall by violent waves and high-velocity wind, leaving numerous cars nearby drenched in seawater and seafoam.
Our very own lensman, Dieter Pey, was in Sea Point to watch and capture the mayhem. Some cars were helplessly caught in the throngs of the storm as nearby streets flooded with seawater and foam. Some people even deliberately drove their cars into the quagmire in the hope of scoring a few likes on Instagram. For the cars in the firing line, however, it was a nightmare…
Salt is very corrosive and it can be hugely destructive when it comes into contact with metal. It’s a known fact that cars that spend their life at the coast will inevitably succumb to rust far quicker than cars inland. Sea air and indeed seawater are but one of a car’s worst enemies. It goes without saying then, that bringing your car in direct contact with the ocean is never a good idea and if you care about preserving your car, this situation should be avoided at all cost.
For this reason, let's quickly take a look at what rust is and how you can avoid it…
What is rust, exactly?
Salt or sodium chloride is a major cause of corrosion and rust. Rust is the result of a chemical reaction whereby the metallic or iron surfaces of your car come into contact with salt and the iron reacts with oxygen and the by-product is iron oxide, which is known as rust. This chemical reaction is sped up in hotter and more humid climates, which explains why cars rust so much faster in places such as Durban which is mostly warm/hot and humid for most of the year.
Here are a few simple ways to protect your car from rust…
Keep your car out of the sea
Unless you are utterly daft, don’t ever drive your car on the beach, into the sea or through seafoam. Direct contact with the sea inevitably means that seawater and salt is being spread deep into the body of your vehicle, including the engine bay and underbody, which will ultimately lead to severe corrosion and rust.
Wash your car often
The most effective way to prevent rust damage on your car is to wash your car often and keep it clean. Remember that salt moisture off the ocean clings to your car and a regular wash will ensure that your car remains as salt-free as possible. If you can, it’s also advisable to have the underside of your car washed/sprayed to minimise corrosion on your car’s underbody. Have your car's underbody checked for rust the next time you have it serviced, you might be surprised at what you find…
Wax on
Sealing your car’s paintwork with a coat of protective car wax will further help to protect your car against the harsh elements such as the sun, moisture and salt in the air.
Park your car in a garage or buy a car cover
Park your car in a garage or covered parking if possible as this will help shield your car from the elements. You can also consider buying a car cover if garage parking is not an option.
Treat rust areas quickly
Exposed metal, chip marks or bonnet and door edges are common areas where rust takes hold. If you see a rust spot, be sure to have it repaired professionally as quickly as you possibly can or else it will soon get worse and deteriorate beyond repair.
The 3rd member of the new Ford Bronco family might be its smallest variant, but the Bronco Sport ranks among few contemporary family cars that offer genuine off-roading ability. The newcomer also offers myriad accessories designed for avid outdoor lifestyle enthusiasts.
Whereas the 2- and 4- door versions of the new Bronco are based on Ford’s T6 platform, which underpins the Ranger double-cab, the Bronco Sport is based on the new Escape family car (that is to say the next-generation Kuga, which has not been launched in South Africa). It may not look as ruggedly handsome as its Bronco siblings, but compared with the market's most popular family cars, including the Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Tucson, Mazda CX-5 and Volkswagen Tiguan, this Ford loves the rough stuff.
Ford has effectively relaunched its Bronco nameplate as a sub-brand, which is why the new model has a Bronco-branded grille.
The Bronco Sport’s design is inspired by those of its body-on-frame Bronco siblings, with styling cues such as the Bronco-signature-encapsulated cartridge grille, round headlamps, flat body sides, short front- and rear overhangs, as well as tough unpainted finishes that serve to protect exterior-contact points.
The newcomer’s tall, upright design facilitates best-in-class 1st- and 2nd-row headroom, Ford says, and the roof rails are long as possible (to offer maximum carrying length). The load bay, meanwhile, can accommodate a pair of 27.5-inch-wheel mountain bicycles upright with the optional Yakima dealer-installed bike-rack.
Other nifty features include a flip-glass rear window, low load floor, "Overlanding-ready" roof rack and fender peaks that help drivers gauge where the vehicle's front corners are.
The Bronco Sport can be optioned with a roof rack that is capable of supporting a small tent.
Camping enthusiasts will appreciate optional features such as a slide-out working table (which is part of the available 5-way configurable Cargo Management System), a 400W electric inverter, liftgate-mounted LED floodlamps, Molle straps to carry extra gear, zippered seatback pockets and even a built-in bottle opener in the load bay.
Badlands and First Edition versions feature washable rubber flooring throughout the cabin and cargo area, easy-to-clean cloth seating surfaces and silicone-sealed control switches. For storing wet or dirty gear, a storage bin is located below the 2nd-row passenger-side seat.
Ford offers the Bronco Sport with 4 distinct accessory bundles – in addition to more than 100 factory-backed standalone accessories – so that owners can kit out/personalise their vehicles for the purposes of transporting kayaks, skis, camping equipment "or whatever gear propels their adventure".
The Bronco Sport's interior comes with an 8-inch SYNC 3 touchscreen infotainment system.
In terms of onboard technology, the Bronco Sport comes equipped with an 8-inch SYNC 3 touchscreen infotainment system (compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto) as well as the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of driver-assist technologies. The suite incorporates pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking (with pedestrian detection), forward-collision warning and dynamic brake support, blind-spot monitor with cross-traffic alert, a lane-keeping system, auto high-beam headlamps and a reverse-view camera.
The newcomer is available with either a 135 kW/257 Nm 1.5-litre 3-cylinder- or a 183 kW/372 Nm 2.0-litre 4-cylinder Ecoboost turbopetrol engine, both of which in combination with an 8-speed automatic transmission. However, 2.0-litre versions additionally feature steering wheel-mounted shift paddles and beefed-up cooling for the drivetrain.
Off-roading cred
All Bronco Sport derivatives feature MacPherson-strut (front) and multi-link (rear) suspensions in combination with all-wheel drive, of which the Terrain Management System offers as many as 7 G.O.A.T. (Go Over Any Terrain) modes: Normal, Eco, Sport, Slippery, Sand, Mud/Ruts and Rock Crawl.
G.O.A.T. is an abbreviation for Go Over Any Terrain. The Bronco Sport offers up to 7 off-road driving modes.
High-spec (such as Badlands and First Edition) versions are shod with 28.5-inch and 29-inch all-terrain off-road tyres and a twin-clutch rear-drive unit equipped with a differential lock. The system can divert virtually all rear-axle torque to either wheel, setting it apart from most AWD family cars.
The Bronco Sport has 224 mm of ground clearance, 30.4- and 33.1-degree approach and departure angles, a 20.4-degree breakover angle, a crawl ratio of 18:1 and can wade through 600 mm-deep water. Four steel bash plates and frame-mounted front tow hooks, which can individually withstand static loads up to 100% of the GVM, are fitted.
The rubber-lined load floor and rear seatbacks are ideal for those who need to transport soiled mountain bikes etc.
Furthermore, the high-spec derivatives are equipped with tuned front struts with hydraulic rebound stops that “provide a quieter, less jarring off-road experience”, 46-mm monotube rear shocks for “improved response and more comfort off-road”, while softer springs and anti-roll bars “offer greater articulation”.
To assist less experienced off-roaders, the Trail Control low-speed cruise control system allows the Bronco Sport to travel at speeds of up to 32 kph forward (or 10 kph in reverse), while the system controls the throttle and braking so that the driver can concentrate on their steering inputs as they navigate tricky routes.
The Bronco Sport can wade through water that's up to 600-mm deep.
A notable optional extra (budding off-road enthusiasts may want to consider) is a front off-road camera with an integral lens washer, which effectively serves as a spotter to provide better visibility of the trail ahead by displaying the video feed on the fascia-mounted touchscreen.
So, what are the chances of the Ford Bronco Sport or any of its 2- or 4-door siblings being offered in South Africa? A recent report suggested the F-150 full-sized pick-up and the Bronco might be offered in the IMG market, which includes Australia, New Zealand, India, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, the Middle East, Africa and ASEAN, in future…
However, as things stand, the Bronco and Bronco Sport will, unfortunately, be built in left-hand-drive guise only. If the situation changes, we’ll be sure to let you know.
Production of Aston Martin’s first SUV, the DBX, has started at the firm’s new production facility in St Athan, Wales.
The rise of the SUV has translated into huge profits for car brands that previously only focussed on sports cars. Look at the success of the Cayenne for Porsche, the Bentayga for Bentley or the Urus for Lamborghini. There's method in the madness…
For Aston Martin, the development journey of its very first SUV started in 2015 and now the DBX has finally reached the production phase with first deliveries expected at the end of July 2020.
“I’m extremely proud of the Aston Martin team who have worked so hard to transform this ex-Ministry of Defense site into a world-class car manufacturing facility, to now be producing cars, it is testament to the resilience and fortitude of everyone at Aston Martin. It is an honour to see the first DBX come off the line and my only regret is that everyone who works for this incredible brand can’t be here to witness it,””, said interim COO, Keith Stanton.
The DBX will combine fine luxury while offering scintillating performance in an SUV body, as you would expect from a high-performance luxury car brand such as Aston Martin.
Under the bonnet of the DBX is a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 engine sourced from Mercedes-AMG and tuned to deliver 405 kW and 700 Nm of torque with power directed to all four wheels using a 9-speed automatic transmission. As you can imagine, the DBX is no slouch and zero to 100 kph will take just 4.5 seconds before thrashing on to a top speed of 291 kph.
The arrival of the Aston Martin DBX in South Africa has not yet been confirmed, however, 2021 is likely. Pricing in the UK starts at just over R3.3-million as a base indicator, it’s likely to be priced closer to R4-million when it lands in South Africa.
Italian design is never subtle and this new all-terrain luxury vehicle concept is proof of that.
The idea is to create a combination of limousine and average off-road ability, within a strikingly styled package. It is called the Aznom Palladium and if you need something to make a Rolls-Royce Cullinan owner feel insignificant, this could probably be it.
Measuring 6 metres bumper-to-bumper, the Palladium is huge and every design feature which could be made more elaborate – has been duly shaped for effect.
There is an enormous grille up front, with very angular panels framing the light clusters. Towards the Palladium’s rear, it features hugely flared renders, accentuating the wheel arches.
Powering the Palladium, is a twin-turbocharged petrol engine, boosting 500 kW. Aznom is not at liberty to say which configuration or displacement this engine is – yet. There is also little detail on the Palladium’s platform or drive set-up, but from the renderings, it would appear to have substantial ground clearance.
Although its proportions are rather odd, there is no questioning the Palladium’s presence. Aznom says that a production-ready model will be revealed in September, with full technical details.
And if you are wondering about the company’s name: Aznom is ‘Monza’, written backwards. And yes, they have a strong history of producing Italian leather and carbon-fibre fashion and industrial design items, since 2006. Including bespoke products, for Pagani’s customers.
The updated Haval H6 has made its debut, with 3 images showing off the newcomer. With a full reveal just around the corner, here's what we know so far.
Under the skin is the new Great Wall B30 platform, which is said to boast excellent lightness and ridgity. It's also capable of handling hybrid and electric motors, so don't rule out an entire range of cars based on this model.
In terms of dimensions, the new Haval H6 is 53 mm longer, 26 mm wider and 10 mm taller, while the wheelbase has increased by 58 mm. The increased space should bode well for interior comfort. Speaking of cabin, there are no interior photos as yet, but we expect to see it when the vehicle is revealed.
As it stands, the 1.5-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder petrol with 126 kW is likely to power the new Haval H6, but a more powerful 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine is forecast for later.
In terms of styling, the new Haval H6 has gone for a bold approach.
