Apart from all this news, BMW will also introduce a new and more powerful 6-cylinder 3.0-litre turbodiesel engine across its range of vehicles. This new powerplant will replace the current 195 kW /620 Nm 3.0-litre turbodiesel engine but power will increase to 210 kW and torque has been increased to 650 Nm. In conjunction with a 48-volt mild hybrid system, which includes a powerful starter generator and an additional battery, this new diesel engine will be more efficient than its predecessor while also delivering better overall performance.
It will feature in the 3 Series, 7 Series as well as in the BMW’s X3, X4, X5, X6 and X7.
The new unit will also be applied to the 740d xDrive, 740Ld xDrive, X3 M40d, X4 M40d as well as the X7 xDrive40d but will be tweaked to produce higher outputs of 250 kW and 700 Nm.
The rollout of this new turbodiesel engine is expected to commence in July/August 2020.
More Nissan Navara production could be heading to SA
The current restructuring of the Renault/Nissan/Mitsubishi Alliance could mean that the Nissan plant in Rosslyn will build more Navaras.
The Nissan plant in Pretoria currently builds the NP200 half-ton bakkie and the NP300 one-ton bakkie. Nissan has invested around R3 billion in upgrading the local plant to build the ‘new’ Navara (it has been on sale since 2014 globally). The upgrade is likely to come online in late 2020 or early 2021 and produce up to 30 000 Navaras a year. That number may be stretched though if its sister plant in Barcelona Spain is closed down, which it is expected to, according to a report from Automotive News Europe.
The decision is expected to be made quite soon with Navara assembly to be shifted to the Rosslyn plant when it comes online. The Spanish plant had a maximum capacity of 120 000 vehicles per year, but this was split across the Navara, X-Class and Renault Alaskan. As we now know, the X-Class has been canned and will not be produced in SA.
The R3-billion investment by Nissan will also add around 400 new jobs to the Nissan payroll, as well as 800 jobs in the larger value chain. Local parts content in the Navara would start at 35%, growing to 48% according to the previous director Mike Whitfield.
The Navara is reaching the end of its lifespan, with a facelift model being shown in 2019 and a new model expected somewhere in 2023/2024. Nissan South Africa could see itself having to invest further in order to meet the needs a new model would require from the plant.
We've all dreamed of outrageously powered bakkies, but a UK tuner is going to make a GTR-powered Navara bakkie.
SB Motorsport, based in the UK, is working on what its calling 'the world's best pick-up.' The new project is an R35 Nissan GTR motor shoved into a Nissan Navara. Dubbed the Navara R, this bakkie is going to be a road-legal high-performance monster.
With a power goal of 1000 hp, the Nissan Navara-R will have the 4-wheel drive system from the GTR too. Expect a properly wild bodykit and huge wing too. Inside, SB Motorsport says the Navara cabin will retain as much of a factory finish as possible.
SB Motorsport founder, Stephen “Baggsy” Biagioni says “This project has always been on the cards for SB Motorsport, ever since our initial GT-R project. With racing currently on hold (due to COVID-19) this was the break we needed to re-visit the idea and bring it to fruition. We have the best partners and they share our vision to create another great vehicle that will challenge the normalities of what’s possible, this is going to be an exciting mix of performance meets practicality.” He continues “The Navara-R as we have already dubbed it, will challenge our in-house know-how. With this build, the aim is to keep the Navara road-legal, all the mod-cons of the vehicle, rather than creating a race-car chassis with minimal extras."
The project is likely to be completed by the end of 2020. Watch this space!
Mercedes-Benz has revealed the coupe and cabriolet versions of its new-look E-Class.
We've already seen the 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan, revealed back in March 2020. Now its time to meet the coupe and cabriolet models. Shown here is the updated Mercedes-AMG E53 Coupe and both models benefit from improvements when it comes to styling and technology.
All models gain the sleek new front, while the E53 coupe gets LED lighting, new-look taillights, Panamericana grille as well as sportier big wheels. There are new colours too, but for buyers wanting something different can go for the Night Package, which offers black detailing. There's also a carbon fibre package available. The cabin gets the latest iteration of MBUX infotainment system, complete with 12-inch central touchscreen and 12-inch digital dashboard. There's also the new touchpad, which replaces the old-school dial.
It's only the engine which hasn't been changed. This is a good thing as the 53 powertrain is a joy. The 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-6 produces 320 kW and 520 Nm, and power goes to all 4 wheels via a 9-speed gearbox.
For those wanting to feel the wind in their hair, Mercedes-Benz also revealed the E-Class cabriolet. Like the coupe, it gains the new attractive front end, LED headlights and if buyers want more, there's the optional AMG Line, which adds some styling details as well as larger wheels. Inside, the cabin gets new upholstery and trim, as well as the new-generation MBUX infotainment system complete with 12-inch infotainment screen and 12-inch digital dashboard.
In terms of engines, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class cabriolet gain EQ Boost tech and loses the ageing V6 motor in favour of the newer inline-6 cylinder motor. It has credible outputs of 269 kW and 500 Nm, driving the wheels via a 9-speed transmission.
Both the Mercedes-Benz E-Class coupe and cabriolet get the latest safety features such has automatic emergency braking, active parking assist with a 360-degree camera and blind-spot monitoring. If you want more gadgetry like head-up display and Driver Assistance package, you'll have to dive into the options.
We suspect the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class range will make its way to South Africa in 2021.
After a tumultuous few months, the eventual outcome appears to be a closer-knit family as the Alliance seeks to expand platform sharing.
After the removal of Carlos Ghosn from the head of the Renault/Nissan/Mitsubishi Alliance, it has been uncertain as to how the brands would emerge going forward. Many expected Nissan to separate from the Alliance and forge its own path again. However, the brands announced that they intend to work closer than ever and improve costings for consumers as well as specifying individual brands as the ‘leader’ in strategic markets. “The Alliance is a unique strategic and operational partnership in the automotive world and gives us a strong edge in the ever-changing global automotive landscape,” said Jean-Dominique Senard, Chairman of the Alliance Operating Board and Renault. “The new business model will enable the Alliance to bring out the most of each company’s assets and performing capabilities, while building on their respective cultures and legacies. The three companies of the Alliance will cover all vehicle segments and technologies, across all geographies, for the benefit of every customer, while increasing their respective competitiveness, sustainable profitability and social and environmental responsibility.”
There was also the mention of further standardisation across the brands where upper bodies may be used widely instead of just the platform. This could be a rebadging scheme where the vehicle would merely be called something different depending on which market it is being sold in.
Nissan is to be the leader in the Chinese, North American and Japanese markets. Renault will lead in Europe, Russia, South America and North Africa. Mitsubishi will take the lead ASEAN and Oceania markets. There seems to be no mention of where South Africa will fit into this but we should expect a local announcement in the coming days.
Further to this strategy, Nissan will develop an all-new C-segment SUV with Renault developing a new B-Segment SUV. Key technology advancements will also be directed to individual brands with Nissan further developing autonomous vehicles, Renault working on connected-car tech and Mitsubishi has been assigned work on a D-segment PHEV vehicle. Both Renault and Nissan will develop electric powertrain technology to be used across all-electric platforms.
These initiatives should allow the Alliance to improve costing on each model under this scheme by up to 40%. It should also allow each brand to work in its particular area of expertise, providing more competitive products, faster, in theory.
The Mini Countryman has been given an update for 2020. Here's what's changed.
The largest member of the Mini family has been updated and while the changes aren't immediately visible, rest assured there are some improvements where it counts.
Visually, you can spot the new model with its tweaked front bumper, redesigned radiator and LED headlamps, which are now standard. The rear gains a new-look rear apron as well as the LED lights in Union Jack design. There are 2 new colours, new alloy wheels and a Piano Black exterior.
The Mini Countryman has always been touted as the most practical model in the range. It boasts 3 fully-fledged seats at the rear, and if you fold down these in a 40:20:40 fashion, you get access to 1 390 litres of space. Standard boot space is rated at 450 litres. Inside, Mini has given the Countryman an extended range of standard kit such as a sports leather steering wheel. An optional digital instrument display is available for the new Mini Countryman, giving it a high-tech look. There's also a reworked infotainment system as well as new-look buttons. The new Mini Countryman is equipped with a SIM card that is permanently fitted in the car, giving you connectivity options such as Alexa and Mini Connected.
All the Mini Countryman engines have been revised and improved with emissions and efficiency in mind. Mini claims the TwinPower Turbo tech motors meet the Euro 6d emissions standards. There are both petrol and diesel motors, with 3- and 4-cylinder options. There's also a plug-in hybrid model that features ALL4 4-wheel drive. All models feature automatic transmissions.
Mini Countryman South Africa details
Mini South Africa will be bringing in 2 models: Cooper Countryman and Cooper S Countryman. The former boasts the 1.5-litre turbocharged 3-cylinder that produces 100 kW. It's enough to give it a sprint time of 9.7 seconds to 100 kph and it will consume 6.3 L/100 km. The Cooper S Countryman features a sportier 2.0-litre turbocharged motor with 141 kW, giving it a 7.5-second sprint to 100 kph. The fuel efficiency claim sits at 6.7 L/100 km.
The updated Mini Countryman will be arriving in our market in the 4th quarter of 2020 and final specifications and pricing will be made closer to the time.
More power and lower consumption from part-electric X2.
BMW has expanded its X2 crossover range with a plug-in hybrid.
The new xDrive 25e features slight styling changes (BMW’s designers have deleted the fog lights), but the most significant update is its battery pack and electric motor.
Powering the xDrive 25e is a combination petrol and electric motor system, totalling 162 kW and 385 Nm of torque. Those outputs are generated by the familiar 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine, and a new electric motor, mounted aft, powering this plug-in X2’s rear axle. Individually the powertrain components delivery 92 kW of petrol power and 70 kW of electric energy.
BMW claims swift performance numbers for its new hybrid X2, with the crossover capable of 0-100 kph in only 6.8 seconds and a lowish top speed of only 195 kph. Like many new vehicles featuring electrification, BMW’s engineers have limited top speed to ensure superior battery endurance and range.
Pure electric driving range is 57 km, which should make this crossover ideal for those who commute in punishingly slow traffic. At very low speeds the X2 xDrive 25e’s 10 kWh battery back can edge it along, without requiring combustion from the petrol engine, saving fuel.
Average fuel consumption, with the hybrid system managing its balance of petrol and electric powertrain elements, is a very impressive 2L/100 km.
As a dynamic driving experience, the hybridized X2 should be a touch more agile and stable too, thanks to a 10 mm lower ride height. BMW’s engineers made the decision to lower X2 eDrive 25e, with the goal of optimising aerodynamics by reducing its drag index.
The plug-in hybrid efficiency does come at a cost, as that electric motor powering the rear axle, sacrifices luggage capacity. Whereas other X2s have 470 litres of stowage space at the back, the 25e hybrid version has 60 litres less, at only 410 litres.
Top 10 Most Highly Recommended Cars in South Africa (by their owners)
Which vehicles come the most highly recommended by the people that know them best, their owners? The Cars.co.za Ownership Satisfaction Survey, conducted in partnership with Lightstone, reveals the top 10.
Since 2015 Cars.co.za has conducted surveys with car owners measuring the Purchasing Experience, Servicing Experience and Overall Ownership Experience. One output from these surveys is the prestigious Cars.co.za Consumer Awards – Powered by WesBank. Over the past 5 years almost 30 000 cars owners have completed the Cars.co.za survey; over 10 000 of these in 2019.
The survey also measures and tracks a wide range of issues of importance to the South Africa car owner and much of this information is shared with manufacturers through an online dashboard that is regularly updated.
Which vehicle models are most likely to be recommended by their owners?
For the purposes of this analysis; and for representative results, we only included models where at least 50 owners had answered the "likely to recommend" question.
Vehicle owners were asked to indicate, based on their overall ownership experience, using a 10-point rating scale how likely it is that they would recommend their car to friends and family. With this scale we regard responses of 9 or 10 as very likely to recommend and consider these owners as “promoters”. The owners who scored 6 or lower are considered unlikely to recommend and are considered “detractors”. By deducting the percentage of detractors from the percentage of promoters we derive a Net Promoter Score (NPS).
The Top 10 (passenger vehicles)
Ranking
Make and Model
NPS Score
1.
Mazda CX-5
89,0%
2.
Mercedes-Benz C-Class
87,5%
3.
Audi A4
84,9%
4.
Mercedes-Benz GLC
84,6%
5.
Mercedes-Benz A-Class
84,6%
6.
Volkswagen Tiguan
84,5%
7.
Hyundai Tucson
82,9%
8.
Hyundai Grand i10
82,7%
9.
BMW 1 Series
82,6%
10
Toyota Fortuner
82,6%
The Mazda CX-5 is a two-times (and current) Family Car segment winner in the Cars.co.za Consumer Awards – Powered by WesBank.
If we look at the Double-Cab bakkie market, there is again strong correlation between the results of the CarsAwards, and the "likelihood to recommend" by owners. The bakkie with the highest score is the Volkswagen Amarok (with an industry-leading 93%), followed by the Isuzu D-Max (80,2%) and Toyota Hilux (77,4%).
Kia has given its B-segment Rio hatchback a significant update which includes refined exterior styling, enhanced safety specification, new powertrain choices as well as featuring the brand’s first-ever mild-hybrid petrol derivative.
The new 4th generation Kia Rio was introduced to South Africa in 2017 and Kia has now given its popular Rio a makeover in an effort to keep it relevant and competitive against rivals such as the Volkswagen Polo, Ford Fiesta, Mazda2, Nissan Micra and Renault Clio, to name a few.
Let’s take a closer look…
What’s Changed?
Exterior and interior styling
A fresh face and new wheels make all the difference…
The latest Kia Rio wears a revised ‘Tiger-nose’ grille as well as a lower and wider front bumper which houses new fog lamp bezels. All Rio derivatives are also fitted with new LED headlights with integrated Daytime Running Lights (DRLs). Kia has also added 2 new exterior colours to the mix and these include Perennial Grey and Sporty Blue, giving customers a choice of 9 colours in total (depending on specification and market). Furthermore, the updated Rio rides on new 16-inch alloy wheels with an 8-spoke design.
On the inside, the major update comes in the form of a new and larger 8.0-inch infotainment system (which includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality) as well as a new 4.2-inch digital display in the instrument cluster. Kia is also offering some added customisation options such as a new blue colour pack which includes coloured side bolsters, dashboard trim and armrests with contrasting stitching. GT-Line derivatives can also be had with a black interior but with white piping, contrasting stitching and a carbon-fibre effect dashboard for some added sporty flair. The driver’s seat is also now adjustable for height (optional for passenger seat) which should make it easier to find the best driving position.
Engine choices
The Rio is the first Kia to feature a mild-hybrid electric vehicle (MHEV) powertrain.
The big news for the updated Kia Rio is that the range welcomes the brand’s first mild-hybrid electric vehicle (MHEV) powertrain to the range. Called, ‘EcoDynamics+’, this new powertrain combines a new ‘Smartstream’ 1.0-litre turbopetrol engine with Kia’s 48V MHEV system with the aim of improving efficiency while providing electric torque assistance and regenerative braking.
This powertrain is said to replace the previous Kappa engine offerings but still produces the same power outputs of 74 kW and 88 kW, but now with supplementation of a compact 48-volt lithium-ion polymer battery and a new Mild-Hybrid Starter-Generator (MHSG) unit, torque output increases by as much as 16% in the 88 kW version which takes torque output up to 200 Nm. Kia says that CO2 emissions are reduced by between 8.1% and 10.7%.
This powertrain will also be mated with the brand’s new ‘intelligent Manual Transmission (iMT) which adopts a ‘clutch-by-wire’ system (the clutch is electronically controlled) to aid fuel efficiency while retaining driver engagement. A drive mode select system will allow the driver to choose between modes such as Eco, Normal and Sport. Kia has also revised its Idle Stop & Go (ISG) system which is now brake-linked and the engine now switches off when both the brake and clutch are depressed when the comes to a stop. The engine starts up again when both pedals are released and gear is engaged (only the clutch was previously linked).
The Rio will also be offered with a new 74 kW, 10-litre petrol engine as well as an updated, naturally-aspirated 1.2-litre petrol engine with 62 kW. A 6-speed manual transmission and a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission will also be available to customers. Engine choices for South Africa have yet to be confirmed.
Advanced Driving Assistance and safety features
A host of new driver assistance features makes its way into the updated Rio. SA specification yet to be confirmed.
Kia has also bolstered the Rio’s driving and safety assistance systems which includes features such as Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) with pedestrian, vehicle and cyclist recognition, Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Driver Attention Warning (DAW) and Blind Spot Collision Warning (BCW). The above-mentioned FCA is also available with Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA), Intelligent Speed Limit Warning (ISLW), Smart Cruise Control (SCC) and Lane Following Assist (LFA).
Depending on conditions, LFA and Smart Cruise Control takes care of acceleration, braking and steering at speeds up to 180 kph and uses camera and radar technology to maintain a safe distance and to monitor road markings. Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA) and Rear Occupant Alert (ROA) is also fitted.
The Rio is equipped with 6 airbags as well as Vehicle Stability Management (VSM), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Cornering Brake Control (CBC) and Straight-line Stability (SLS).
The above specifications are intended for the European market and it remains to be seen what features will make it to South Africa.
The updated Kia Rio is expected to reach South Africa in Q4 of 2020 and local details pertaining to powertrain, transmissions, specification and pricing will be confirmed closer to launch.
European production of the BMW M2 is reportedly coming to an end in coming months.
The current-generation BMW M2 is a fine piece of machinery and not only has it impressed us thoroughly in the numerous performance match-ups we have enjoyed with it, all of which can be viewed on our YouTube channel, but it's also been a deserving multiple #CarsAwards powered by WesBank Performance Car winner and finalist over the years.
In a report on BMWBlog, production of the M2 (M2 Competition and M2 CS) is due to come to an end in Europe in coming months, reportedly due to more stringent emissions standards. The M2, however, is not the latest BMW product to be shown the door. BMW's sole V12 engine which does service in the M760Li is also on the way out because of stricter emissions regulations.
While this development is sad news for M2 fans, BMW is currently developing the new 2-Series Coupe which is due to be revealed in 2022. The new M2 Coupe is expected to employ a longitudinally-mounted 313 kW 3.0-litre straight-6 engine.
The BMW M2 CS, the swansong of the current-generation M2, is headed to South Africa before the end of the year and only 28 units will be available to customers. Due to the sheer interest in the M2 CS with over 300 customers expressing interest, there will be an auction of the 28 units and the customers will be the top BMW M customers from across SA who will have the chance to bid for one of these high-performance exclusive vehicles. The units are pre-configured and customers will not be able to choose specification.
