New Cars Sales in SA: May 2020

The National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA) has released new vehicle sales figures for May 2020. Take a look at what transpired under Level 4 Lockdown…

Stringent safety measures have been put into place across the board to ensure that the automotive sector can resume operations safely under Level 3 regulations. Manufacturers are ramping up production and dealers are now open for business.

As is to be expected, new car sales statistics still reflect significant declines in May 2020 but there has been a notable uptick from April’s numbers. In May 2020, new vehicle sales declined by 68% compared with May 2019 while exports also took a major knock with a decline of 64.1%.

Lebogang Gaoaketse, Head of Marketing and Communication at WesBank commented “These low levels of activity are no surprise,” continues Gaoaketse. “While we expect a slow resurgence of activity, necessary access to repairs and maintenance will have been appreciated by consumers and businesses alike. The move to Alert Level 3 from today (June 1) will begin to provide more general access to dealer facilities and trade.”

“These May volumes are reassuring given the slow resumption of activity during the month from such an unprecedented circumstance. With a full month of sales ahead and more freedom within Alert Level 3 regulations, we will begin to understand what the new normal level of activity will be in the new vehicle market.”

New Car Sales Summary: May 2020

Aggregate new vehicle sales at 12 932 units down by 68% (-27 496 units) compared with May 2019
New passenger car sales of 9 019 units down by 65.4% (-17 083 units) compared with May 2019
Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) sales of 3 073 units down by 74.8% (-9 128 units) compared with May 2019
Exports of 10 819 units down by 64.1% (-19 333 units) compared with May 2019

Top-Selling Car Brands in South Africa for May 2020

Volkswagen – 2 749 units
Toyota – 1 848 units
Hyundai – 1 368 units
Ford – 811 units
Mercedes-Benz – 795 units (estimated)

Top-Selling Cars in South Africa for May 2020

Toyota Hilux – 796 units
Volkswagen Polo – 668 units
Volkswagen Polo Vivo – 636 units
Isuzu D-Max – 611 units
Ford Ranger – 538 units

Sales Outlook

Full OEM production is expected to commence from 1 June 2020 and export numbers are therefore expected to rise sharply over the course of the month. As for new vehicle sales, the market is expected to remain depressed due to weak demand and poor consumer and business sentiment as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The market remains very unpredictable and the industry is likely to remain depressed over the medium term. Nonetheless, current factors such as reduced fuel prices, sharp interest rate cuts, below-inflation new vehicle price increases, dealer incentives and low inflation is currently supporting the new vehicle market. However, it remains to be seen to what degree these factors will influence consumers and businesses to buy new vehicles.

“While we were reassured by the levels of demand from consumers and business judged by volumes of applications for finance during May, we shouldn’t expect sales to return to any form of normality for the remainder of the year,” said Gaoaketse.

Export performance takes direction from global market performance and while export projections will be impacted in 2020, the severity of the impact will be determined by the projected fall in vehicle demand as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Buy a new or used car on Cars.co.za

Also see:

Most Fuel Efficient Budget Cars in SA

Fuel Price increase for June 2020

2020 Toyota Fortuner: What we know so far

Toyota is working on its updated Fortuner, which could potentially go on sale in SA before the end of 2020.

Render by Duwyne Aspeling, Cars.co.za

An article by AutoCar India suggests Toyota is working on a facelift for the popular Fortuner. First revealed globally in 2015 and with an SA launch back in 2016, Toyota's Fortuner has been a massive success for the Japanese brand. It has received a few updates here and there, but from what the source article says, this new update will be its biggest yet.

The actual reveal of the facelifted model appears closer than ever with Thailand slated to host the event in May 2020. Although, much of that will no doubt depend on the Coronavirus pandemic and lockdown situations in that country. Update: it appears the Toyota Fortuner will be officially revealed in the first week of June 2020 thanks to a teaser.

There have been very few mules spotted and aside from a grainy picture of one spotted in Thailand, there's very little to go on in terms of visual changes. Our in-house render specialist used several camouflaged vehicle images and spy pics to conjure up what you see here. We think the updated Toyota Fortuner will receive a subtle front end upgrade that looks similar to that of the RAV4. The grille from the RAV4 will likely be carried over too and there should be subtle changes to the wheels, headlights and taillamps. Given the conservative nature of the typical Toyota customer, changes will be subtle. Inside, we assume an updated infotainment system will replace the current unit (Toyota has steadily added Android Auto and Apple CarPlay to its models) and there could be changes to the trim and materials used.

As far as engines go, we expect all engines to be carried over. Both petrol and diesel powertrains are tried-and-tested in the global market. There could be slight revisions to improve both power and efficiency, however. The current global engine portfolio ranges from the 2.7- (4-cylinder) and 4.0-litre V6 petrol engines to the 2.4-, 2.8- and 3.0-litre diesels (certain overseas markets only). Reports from Australia suggest that the 2.8 turbodiesel could get a power boost (currently 130 kW) to move it into line with competitors such as the Ford Ranger (157 kW) and Nissan Navara (140 kW).

Importantly, the Toyota Fortuner is assembled right here in Durban, South Africa and it will be critical to the economy for SA to receive the go-ahead to build this updated version.

SA Petrol Price 2020 – Where Does Our Money Go?

The wildly-fluctuating fuel price is a massive discussion point and we've often wondered how the numbers work. The AA has published a breakdown of the fuel price to show SA consumers where their money is going.

The past few months have been extremely volatile for the petrol price. COVID-19 combined with the oil price war as well as an unstable exchange rate has resulted in some wild decreases. Sadly, we think that's the last of them as things are slowly reverting back to normal. These decreases, however, refer to the basic price of fuel as the taxes do not change.

Let's look at these taxes that go into every litre of fuel. First up is the General Fuel Levy (GFL) which is R3.77 (31%) of every litre of inland fuel and 32% of every litre of coastal fuel. The second tax is the Road Accident Fund Levy (RAF) and its R2.07 per litre which is around 17% per litre of fuel sold. The AA is keen to point out these taxes hurt the poor the most as an increase to them always results in an increase in the cost of public transport. Together, both the RAF and GLF add up to R5.84. This is around 49% of the price of every litre of fuel sold in South Africa. It's estimated that the government will get about R135 billion from these levies, with R87 billion going directly to Treasury.

The 3rd factor in the SA fuel price is the actual cost of the petrol itself, plus the add-ons like insurance, transport, harbour fees and so on. It's referred to as the BFP and right now it's in a good place at R2.64, way lower now at the time of writing (25 May 2020) than when the Lockdown started.

Finally, the last factors are the transport costs of getting the petrol from the harbour to inland areas (which explains the differences in coastal and inland price), as well as customs/excise duties as well as a retail margins paid to fuel station owners. Right now, the petrol station owners get R2.11 for every litre sold. The cost of secondary storage also has to be considered and in total, that's R3.54 for inland petrol and R3.02 for coastal petrol.

It's never been a better time for the SA motorist as the last time we had petrol this low, it was 2016. Unfortunately, the cost of petrol is slowly going to increase as economic activity starts to pick up.

Porsche releases retro-inspired 911 Targa 4S

Porsche is all aboard the nostalgia train! The Zuffenhausen-based brand has released the first of 4 limited-edition Heritage Design 911 models through its Exclusive Manufaktur division. This, the first one, is based on the recently released 992-generation 911 Targa 4S and is laced with exquisite details that reference the ‘50s.

In a nod to Porsche’s model series code, only 992 examples of the 911 Targa 4S Heritage Design Edition will be built and, from a marketing perspective, selected interior elements of the car will be available as part of the Heritage Design package for all current 911s. Porsche has also created a high-quality chronograph, exclusively available to buyers of the limited-edition model, but more about that later…

The limited-edition model features a 1963 Porsche crest on its nose and motorsport stripes on its front fenders.

“With the Heritage Design models, we are evoking memories of the ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s and 80s. (It’s) a new product line that represents the lifestyle dimension in our product strategy,” says Oliver Blume, Porsche AG board chairman, which suggests that the next 3 versions in the Heritage Design series will take their inspiration from ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s (911s) respectively.

The 911 Targa 4S Heritage Design Edition is finished in Cherry Metallic (4 other exclusive exterior colours are available). Although the 911 debuted in 1963, the gold logos on the rear and targa bar are in a ‘50s style. The white side livery, matched with spear-shaped graphics on the front fenders are said to recall the early days of Porsche competition history.

The derivative designation on the bumper is finished in gold. Note the Porsche Heritage badge on the grille.

A Porsche Heritage badge – reminiscent of the one that was awarded when a 356 reached the 100 000-km mark – features on the rear grille, while the 1963 Porsche crest appears on the bonnet, steering wheel and wheel centres. To complete the look, the model comes with 20/21-inch Carrera Exclusive Design wheels accented by classic-look black brake calipers.

The interior is trimmed in Exclusive Manufaktur leather available in a choice of 2 dual-tone schemes: Bordeaux Red or Black leather, both in combination with OLEA club leather in Atacama Beige. The perforated roof lining is made of microfibre fabric and (wow, how retro?) corduroy fabric features on the seat and door trims – another nod to the fashion of the 50s.

Green-backlit instrumentation and splashes of Corduroy fabric pay homage to Porsches from the '50s.

Meanwhile, the dashboard features a green-illuminated rev counter and stopwatch, a metal badge on the trim panel records the individual limited-edition number. The 1963 Porsche Crest appears on the key fob and is embossed on the head restraints and key pouch.

Lastly, the aforementioned 911 Targa 4S Heritage Design Edition Chronograph by Porsche Design is shown below and, seeing that it is exclusively available to buyers of the model, also limited to 992 units. Its details are inspired by those of the (‘50s) 356 and (later) first 911 Targa. The design of its watch face, with its white second hand and Phosphorus Green rings, is said to be inspired by the cars' speedometers and rev counters, while the numbers of the hours are in a Porsche font used on the old cars' dials. What's more, the watch's strap is made of genuine Porsche interior leather and embossed with the 911 logo.

The 911 Targa 4S Heritage Design Edition's mechanical configuration and performance figures are the same as its standard 4S sibling. Read about the recently-launched 911 Targa range here.

Ford Preparing 2021 Mustang Mach 1

Ford is preparing to revive the iconic Mach 1 badge for the Mustang.

The Ford Mustang Mach 1 will be making a comeback and will be sold as a flagship Mustang model. Badged as a 2021 model, the new Ford Mustang Mach 1 is still under development as you can see from the photos, but here's what we know so far, thanks to Ford sharing a number of details.

Under the bonnet will be a naturally-aspirated 5.0-litre V8 engine as well as some mechanicals to make it what Ford calls 'the most track-ready 5.0-litre Mustang ever.' We're guessing that means a well-sorted suspension as well as some beefier brakes. The original Ford Mustang Mach 1 was launched back in 1969 and immediately found favour as it was more attainable than the highly sought-after Boss and Shelby models.

“Mach 1 has a special place in Mustang history, and it’s time for this special edition to claim the top spot in our 5.0-litre V8 performance lineup and reward our most hardcore Mustang enthusiasts who demand that next level of power, precision and collectability,” said Dave Pericak, director, Ford Icons. “Like the original, the all-new Mustang Mach 1 will be true to its heritage, delivering great looks and as the most track-capable 5.0-litre Mustang ever.”

Watch this space and as always, we'll update you as soon as we hear more info.

This Polo GTI Makes Golf R Power

Belgian tuners have given the Volkswagen Polo GTI Golf R-beating power and it sounds as insane as you'd think.

The Volkswagen Polo GTI is our current Fun Hatch champion in the #CarsAwards powered by WesBank, but what would happen if you gave that motor some go-faster goodies?

The result is quite extraordinary as Belgian tuner BR-Performance has gone all out with what it calls the Stage 3 package comprising software upgrade, new dump valve, new intercooler, new exhaust system and a new turbo. Compared to the standard outputs of 147 kW and 320 Nm, the BR-Performance Polo GTI pumps out 238 kW and 504 Nm. No performance figures have been given, but you can bet that it's substantially faster than the standard car's 6.7 seconds to 100 kph.

If this sounds a bit too wild, then BR-Performance offers a Stage 2 and Stage 1 package with outputs of 184 kW / 473 Nm and 177 kW and 449 Nm respectively. What's interesting is the soon-to-be-launched Volkswagen Golf 8 GTI packs 180 kW and 370 Nm, so there's a good chance this particular Polo GTI will give the Golf 8 GTI a run for its money.

Watch the below video for a few minutes of delicious VRRPHA.

BR-Performance Volkswagen Polo GTI

Updated Suzuki Ignis in SA (2020) Specs & Price

The Suzuki Ignis has been updated with fresh styling and an improved specification offering. Take a look at the details below.

The Suzuki Ignis has proven popular on local soil and is one of the brand’s best-selling products. The Ignis was also the Budget Car winner in the 2017 iteration of the Cars.co.za Consumer Awards – powered by WesBank. Now, the facelifted Ignis has reached South Africa!

What’s changed?

Two derivatives, GL and the range-topping GLX (shown here) will be offered to local buyers.

The Ignis now wears a new grille with square chrome accents and the front bumper has also been updated. The rear bumper is now also colour-coded.

There are 2 trims levels to choose from, the entry GL and the range-topping GLX, the latter of which features LED headlights and Daytime Running Lights (DRLs). The Ignis GLX further gains roof rails and wheel-arch extensions. The Ignis has a ground clearance of 180 mm.

New exterior and interior colour combinations are on offer as well as two-tone colour options such as Stargaze Blue Pearl Metallic with Black combination and Lutecent Orange with Black Metallic.

A basic Bluetooth radio is fitted in the GL derivative while the GLX gains an infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as a rear-view camera and climate control air conditioning.

Other notable interior features include 60:40 split rear seats while the load bay offers 260 litres of space.

A total of 2 airbags and ABS with EBD is also standard.

The same tried and tested 1.2-litre petrol engine is found under the bonnet with outputs of 61 kW and 113 Nm of torque. A 5-speed manual transmission is standard but customers can also opt for the Suzuki’s automated manual transmission.

Suzuki Ignis – Price in South Africa

Ignis 1.2 GL Manual – R182 900

Ignis GLX MT – R204 900

Ignis 1.2 GLX AMT – R221 900

The Suzuki Ignis is sold with a promotional 5-year/200 000 km warranty and a 2-year/30 000 km service plan. Roadside assistance is also included.

Buy a Suzuki Ignis on Cars.co.za

Nissan Navara becomes a Mitsubishi Triton twin

Tech sharing is the future for these Japanese bakkie models.

During May, Nissan announced startling changes to its business. The Japanese automotive giant is under pressure and its ageing product portfolio is in desperate need of updating.

Nissan is planning to bank on models which are guaranteed to make money, and that includes double-cab bakkies. Although the current Navara has not achieved the success of its predecessor, it is the best bakkie that Nissan builds and will now become an anchor for the brand’s rejuvenation effort.

An updated version of the Navara is expected to be revealed late this year and should include mild styling changes and some equipment upgrades. Of greater interest to Nissan bakkie fans, will be the next-generation Navara project.

Despite the Renault/Nissan Alliance being under tremendous pressure towards the end of 2019, survival in testing economic times has forced reconciliation upon the different stakeholders. In the broader context, this also includes Mitsubishi, which is part of the Alliance and could become the supplier of crucial engineering assets for the next Navara.

Saving costs without sacrificing technology gains is part of Nissan’s immediate corporate vision. Mitsubishi is regarded as having the ascendancy in bakkie engineering skill and technology and as such, most of the platform, engine and transmission bits for any future Navara, will be primarily sourced from Mitsubishi.

The cooperation between these two brands is a bizarre arrangement by proxy of Renault, which owns 34% of Mitsubishi.

How will future Tritons and Navaras be distinguished from each other? Although platforms will be shared, cabs and loadbox designs will be unique to each brand.

The double-cab joint-venture between Triton and Navara is a brave new reality for Japanese bakkie fans, but one that is necessary for the survival of both Nissan and Mitsubishi.

Facelifted Toyota Hilux Teased

The updated Toyota Hilux bakkie has been teased, this time with Fernando Alonso seen thrashing the prototype around.

Seasoned racing professional Fernando Alonso has been hard at work since his 13th place at the 2020 Dakar Rally. He's been behind the wheel of the facelifted Toyota Hilux as it undergoes thorough testing.

Alonso said: “Hilux is an icon and I’ve always been a fan. It was good to test the new Hilux in a challenging environment and to push it to the limits. The new engine behaves well and the new suspension feels great. Even when you push it, the comfort is still there.”

What do we know about the new Toyota Hilux? Well officially, the updated model will feature revised suspension geometry and a new 2.8-litre powertrain. Unofficially, thanks to a leak, we've seen some design elements both inside and out. Toyota Australia is already preparing for the arrival of the updated model so we estimate that market will be getting it in the next few months, however, the COVID-19 pandemic has likely caused a delay.

Regarding a possible arrival time in South Africa, Toyota SA had this to say, "We will be getting those models but not now. Our timing is quite different to Australia as they don’t source their vehicles from SA. In addition, SA-unique models like the Legend 50 and Dakar models bridge the gap and extend the life of our current Hilux product offerings."

See the leak of the updated Toyota Hilux here.

Leaked images: BMW 4 Series Coupe

A mere day before the unveiling of the G22-generation BMW 4 Series, these images from (what appears to be) the new model's brochure have been leaked. While many spy shots –let alone the BMW Concept 4 – suggested the new 4 Series would sport the tall double-kidney grille, it's a still a shock to see the controversial design cue in production guise.

And there most of us believed that the oversized double-kidney grille of the BMW X7 and facelifted 7 Series caused a ruckus a year or so ago. The public response to that particular design cue was merely a guffaw compared with the controversy that's been stirred up by the new 4 Series' front end, which is said to pay homage to design the iconic BMW 328 of the 'Thirties… and that was before we even had a chance to see it in the metal!

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A post shared by ???????????????????????????????? (@bmworldm) on May 31, 2020 at 11:36am PDT

Last week, BMW confirmed that the all-new 4 Series Coupe would make its official (digital) debut on 2 June 2020 and teased the upcoming coupe by a releasing a darkened image of its front end. In another development, BMW M chief executive Markus Flasch confirmed that the M3 and its M4 sibling would be revealed in September and go into production in November. Perhaps the 4er might sneak into the South African market just before the end of the year…

Bimmerphiles were smacking their lips (proverbially) in anticipation of the official reveal – oh, don't worry, we'll bring you more details and publish manufacturer-supplied images as soon as we can. But now, for the umpteenth time this year, a BMW has "leaked out" ahead of a model's scheduled launch… the last one before the G22 was the facelifted 5 Series and, before that, the iX3. These images appeared on the bmworldm Instagram account over the weekend.

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Billed as “An icon in a sea of ordinary” in the brochure, the new 4 Series sports a sculpted, elaborately-vented front bumper. The tall double-kidney grille is flanked by large, ornate air intakes with vertical blades and dark grey upright side channels (they're ostensibly dedicated brake-cooling ducts), while the grille the effectively cupped by a broad U-shaped bar in the front spoiler. The headlamp clusters sport a pair of inverted-C lighting signatures.

Apart from stating that the 4 Series will be available in a large palette of exterior colours (including Alpine White, Black Sapphire, Mineral White, Bluestone, Arctic Race Blue, Portimao Blue, Sunset Orange, Sanremo Green, Black Non-Metallic, Brilliant White Metallic, Dravite Grey, Frozen Deep Grey, Frozen Portimao Blue and Tanzanite Blue), the "brochure" also reveals that the newcomer has a sensuous profile… The G22's C-pillars and rear screen slope gently and oh-so-elegantly towards the slightly kicked-up boot line and the slim tail-light wraparound clusters feature a single swoosh-like lighting signature (as seen on the facelifted 5 Series, which was unveiled last week).

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A post shared by ???????????????????????????????? (@bmworldm) on May 31, 2020 at 11:37am PDT

The car's defined forward-sloping bonnet contours and pinched waistline contribute to the 4 Series' purposeful stance and although some websites suggest that the distinctive front-end treatment is characteristic of an M-Sport treatment (it's apparently an M440i xDrive pictured in the brochure), we believe that all 4 Series derivatives will feature that tall double-kidney grille, but lesser versions will have smaller wheels and more generic (but still sporty) bumper treatments.

We already know that the new 4 Series range will be much more diverse and elaborate than that of the model it replaces. Not only will the CLAR-based G22 from the basis of the upcoming i4 pure-electric sports sedan, but it will spawn a soft-top Cabriolet variant (G23) and include an M4 version of the Gran Coupe (G24). Read all the details here: 10 Cool Things: BMW 4 Series & upcoming M4

We'll be able to get an unobscured look at the newcomer's interior tomorrow.

Apart from being 57 mm lower than its 3 Series sibling (its centre of gravity is also 21 mm lower), the 4 Series’ rear track has been widened by 23 mm at the rear, while the front wheels are set up for negative camber. The newcomer’s lift-related dampers are also tuned for a more engaging and sporty drive and the Munich-based manufacturer has added model-specific front-end strut braces as well as bracing elements around the rear axle to increase stiffness. These measures are all said to be in aid of greater steering precision and improved suspension control compared with the 3 Series while, at the same time, offering “excellent” comfort levels on everyday drives and long journeys.

Our international correspondent Greg Kable has already driven pre-production versions of the all-wheel-drive M440i xDrive (which will be the flagship derivative until the M4 arrives) and the 430i. The former's turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-6 engine is combined with a 48V electrical architecture (giving it mild-hybrid properties) and produces 275 kW from 5 500-6 500 rpm and 500 Nm of torque from 1 850-5 000 rpm. The 430i, meanwhile, adopts the latest version of BMW’s 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbopetrol engine, which is tuned (as in the 330i) to deliver 190 kW between 5 000 rpm and 6 000 rpm and 400 Nm of torque from 1 640 to 5 000 rpm, giving it 5 kW and 45 Nm more than the unit it replaces.

New Cars Sales in SA: May 2020

The National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA) has released new vehicle sales figures for May 2020. Take a look at what transpired under Level 4 Lockdown…

New Car Sales Summary: May 2020

Top-Selling Car Brands in South Africa for May 2020

Top-Selling Cars in South Africa for May 2020

Sales Outlook

Also see:

2020 Toyota Fortuner: What we know so far

Toyota is working on its updated Fortuner, which could potentially go on sale in SA before the end of 2020.

Further Reading

SA Petrol Price 2020 – Where Does Our Money Go?

The wildly-fluctuating fuel price is a massive discussion point and we've often wondered how the numbers work. The AA has published a breakdown of the fuel price to show SA consumers where their money is going.

Further Reading

Porsche releases retro-inspired 911 Targa 4S

Related content:

Ford Preparing 2021 Mustang Mach 1

Ford is preparing to revive the iconic Mach 1 badge for the Mustang.

Further Reading

This Polo GTI Makes Golf R Power

Belgian tuners have given the Volkswagen Polo GTI Golf R-beating power and it sounds as insane as you'd think.

BR-Performance Volkswagen Polo GTI

Further Reading

Updated Suzuki Ignis in SA (2020) Specs & Price

The Suzuki Ignis has been updated with fresh styling and an improved specification offering. Take a look at the details below.

What’s changed?

Suzuki Ignis – Price in South Africa

Related Content

Nissan Navara becomes a Mitsubishi Triton twin

Tech sharing is the future for these Japanese bakkie models.

Related content

Facelifted Toyota Hilux Teased

The updated Toyota Hilux bakkie has been teased, this time with Fernando Alonso seen thrashing the prototype around.

Further Reading

Leaked images: BMW 4 Series Coupe

Related content: