Toyota Corolla Altis GR Sport Previews Hotter Models
The Toyota Corolla Altis has been given the GR Sport treatment, giving us a small taste of what the future holds when it comes to performance Corolla sedans.
What you see here is the Taiwanese-spec Toyota Corolla Altis GR Sport. Altis is the name given to the Corolla in some markets and this sporty version gives us a great idea of what a performance model will look like.
In terms of GR Sport badging, this is the visual and sporty drive upgrade, not to be confused with GR and GRMN which focus more on more potent engines. Visually, it looks the part with sporty touches everywhere. There's a nice grille, 17-inch alloy wheels, dark tinted tail lights, a rear diffuser and an upgraded cabin. Inside, there's 2-tone red/black leather seats, GR logos on the headrests, red stitching and gearshift paddles on the steering wheel.
The suspension upgrades include thicker front and rear anti-roll bars, which Toyota claims will improve stability and reduces body roll. In terms of engines, it has the current 1.8 naturally-aspirated petrol engine developing 103 kW and 172 Nm, as well as the hybrid 1.8 petrol engine. Power goes the front wheels via a Super CVT-i gearbox with seven virtual ratios.
We know Toyota is investing heavily into its GR family, with many of its portfolio already getting GR, GR Sport nomenclature. The new Yaris GR looks to be one of 2020's most exciting performance models, with its compact turbo engine and all-wheel drive. While a fully-fledged Corolla sedan with big power is some way away, this GR Sport-badged Corolla sedan whets our appetite as we eagerly await the return of high-performance Toyotas.
The lockdown in South Africa in response to the COVID-19 pandemic has brought the automotive sector to a grinding halt and figures released by the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA) have revealed a depressing, but expected, decline in new car sales and exports.
The South African economy has been hit hard in the month of April 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic forced a nationwide lockdown.
Few sectors have been spared and the automotive industry has suffered a crushing blow as production lines came to a stop and dealerships closed their doors.
The result makes for sad reading.
Passenger car sales for the month of April 2020 totalled just 105 units (down by 99.6% compared to April 2019) while Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) sales racked up a meagre 318 units (down by 96.8% compared with April 2019). Aggregate new vehicles sales stood at 574 units.
Exports totalled 901 units, which represents a decline of 97.3% compared with April 2019.
Lebogang Gaoaketse, Head of Marketing and Communication at WesBank commented, “In this unprecedented time, the motor industry is experiencing unchartered conditions and grappling with the solutions to address it. The global consequences of this pandemic will be immense for some time to come, from the economic impacts to the way corporations work and the manner in which consumers behave. How the motor industry adapts now will define just how drastic the changes will be, but one of the few certainties from this crisis is that the industry will be different.”?
Despite the bleak outlook, South Africa has moved into Level 4 lockdown, regulations now permit automotive manufacturing to scale up to 50% and car sales have been permitted ‘under specific directions’ which have yet to be clarified. As such, and provided that the lockdown levels continue to be reduced, improvements in May 2020 are expected. However, the economic ramifications of restrictions on manufacturing and trade will continue to affect the state of the industry for the foreseeable future.
“While government’s risk-adjusted and phased approach to unlocking economic activity is broadly supported, the motor industry will be looking to start operations sooner rather than later,” says Gaoaketse. “The industry’s significant 6.9% contribution to GDP means that many jobs are potentially impacted, across manufacturing and retail, as is foreign currency revenue from exports. Mobility plays a vital role in providing the necessary stimulus to all sectors of the economy to literally get moving.”
There are however some positive aspects for consumers to take from the crisis. Fuel prices are dropping steadily and the low-interest-rate environment will help stimulate the economy, encourage car sales and provide some relief to indebted consumers.
Gaoaketse, however, warns that a return to normality isn't likely anytime soon as “there are simply too many unknowns, from both a pandemic and economic perspective. We should expect consumers to be slow in their return to the car market as they adapt to social distancing measures and remain cautious about their own budgets given the uncertainty.”
The dismal failure of the Mercedes-Benz X-Class won't be forgotten and we'd bet the Stuttgart-based manufacturer would be keen to make amends. How about a G-Class based bakkie then?
The Mercedes-Benz X-Class factory will stop making this model in May 2020, instead focusing on producing the Nissan Navara. It was not a success at all, with dismal sales globally. Mercedes-Benz is likely a tad embarrassed by this blatant failure and potentially, could offer something that would actually find favour in the hearts and minds of the bakkie market. While not official, these Mercedes-Benz G-Class bakkie renders look fantastic.
Thanks to artist j.b cars on Instagram, we get a good idea of what a Mercedes-Benz G-Class single cab bakkie would look like. We know Mercedes-Benz can do a G-Class bakkie, there's been one on sale in Australia and Brabus has made a double-cab version which you can check out here.
What you see here is the AMG version, packing a twin-turbocharged V8 petrol engine – something the X-Class was never offered with, despite the Internet begging for one. Should Mercedes-Benz use the G-Class as a base for a new high-end bakkie version?
New supercars are probably going to be become a rarity, in the post-corona world.
As uncertainty remains about how the global economy will restructure itself in the coming months, brands who have invested in new ‘sustainable’ supercars, are shelving the projects.
The latest of these is BMW. When it revealed its Vision M concept vehicle, traditional fans of the Bavarian brand were excited. Vision M blended dramatic styling and compact packaging, promising an agile supercar driving experience.
BMW had cleverly configured the Vision M’s technical specification. It was powered by a plug-in hybridized petrol drivetrain, which meant that in a stringent emissions future, it would not be taxed into ruin. The company even commissioned Hans Zimmer to produce an augmented sound signature, for the car.
With the Vision M, designers had wished to revive the drama of BMW’s legendary M1, with an evolved i8 driving experience. But that possibility has now faded to nothing.
The Vision M was always going to be a marginal business case, for BMW. Low-volume supercars need enormous per-unit pricing to be profitable, especially when they are debuting new technology. And BMW was always going to struggle with pricing the Vision M at Lamborghini levels.
With an unstable technology supply chain and massive doubts concerning demand in some of its global markets, BMW’s board has made the decision to cancel its Vision M production plans.
For the remainder of 2020, survival is the aim. BMW must, therefore, consolidate the production of vehicles it is guaranteed to profit from, and Vision M was not considered to be one of those.
The car will remain in prototype form and become a storied part of BMW’s museum curation.
Even though this spy image does not show a completed, road-ready example of Hyundai's upcoming, US-built double cab, the side profile of the body reveals cues carried over from the Santa Cruz concept as well as the Korean manufacturer's new "parametric dynamics" in the bakkie's sheet metal…
Picture credits: Motor1.com, with additional photographs by S. Baldauf/SB-Medien. Render by Duwyne Aspeling, Cars.co.za.
It's commonly known that Hyundai plans to commence production of its new double-cab at its Alabama plant in the USA, which also produces the Santa Fe, Sonata, and Elantra, next year. Most reports suggest that the Korean manufacturer is committed to bringing the Santa Cruz name to market and the newcomer will be a unibody vehicle and sold exclusively in the North American market.
The triangular cutout at the end of the load bay suggests a controversial kicked-up rear-bumper treatment…
However, it has been reported (by Which Car) that Hyundai is simultaneously developing a 1-tonne bakkie based on a ladder-frame chassis (in partnership with its sister-brand, Kia) for Australia and other markets, which will likely include South Africa – which is, as we know, a major market for bakkies. Hyundai South Africa has never hidden the fact that it would be very keen to introduce a leisure double-cab in South Africa – if one was available to us and at all possible; if little else, this new "Santa Cruz" will probably set the tone for the look of upcoming Hyundai chassis-cab bakkies…
The photo, which was shared anonymously with Motor1.com, confirms a couple of cues that we had already incorporated in our rendering of the new bakkie. The newcomer will have a short load bed and rearward-sloping C-pillars. However, the upward-sloping rear window sills, which create a kind of Hofmeister kink (with apologies to BMW) has been unexpectedly carried over from the 2015 concept car. What's more, the distinctive contours near the top of the front door and pinched beltline (just above where the side skirts/running boards would be located on the finished product) suggest that there are also elements of "parametric dynamics" (radiating lines that converge at a central point) of the "Sensuous Sportiness" design language incorporated in most new Hyundai models.
We expect the bold grille and slimline headlamp treatment to feature on the final version of the "Santa Cruz".
We have also seen spy photographs of a prototype testing in the snow (see below) and while most of the body is hidden from sight, there are some noteworthy learnings to be gleaned from the spy images. Perhaps the most obvious feature is indeed the large, bold cascading grille which will likely be flanked by slim LED headlights. It's also clear that the fog light bezels will sit directly below the headlight casings. Another intriguing design feature is the sloping load bay design, which bears some resemblance to our render above.
The 2015 Hyundai Santa Cruz Concept was given the green light for production as long ago as 2017. While the production version of the bakkie won't be a rival to the wildly popular full-size Ford F-150, it will effectively be a stylish medium-sized bakkie to rival the likes of the ever-popular Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger; like the top-spec versions of those well-known leisure bakkies, it will be a 5-seater family car, but won't have workhorse ability. Car And Driver believes the finished product will share its underpinnings with the Santa Fe 7-seater SUV in our market: "Hyundai's plan for the Santa Cruz is as an affordable… choice for drivers who haul bulky, but not necessarily heavy items – think mountain bikes, kayaks, and camping gear rather than gravel, boats, and cinder blocks."
Spy images reveal some of the key design cues that are likely to feature on the production Hyundai bakkie.
Rumours about the engine line-up
Previously, we reported that Hyundai's luxury car brand, Genesis, revealed its GV80 premium SUV, which is powered by a 3.0-litre, 6-cylinder turbodiesel engine with 205 kW and 588 Nm of torque. A report from Australia's CarSales suggested that the Hyundai bakkie could very well feature this engine.
In an interview at the launch of the GV80, Head of R&D at Hyundai, Albert Bierman, said "This engine… we can have so many applications. We make also commercial vehicles and so on, so this engine will be out there for quite some time."
Now that we've seen the spy image, the high-tailgate design of the upcoming bakkie looks more apparent.
However, Car And Driver suggests that the "Santa Cruz" is more likely to feature the new Santa Fe's engines, which includes a 137 kW/241 Nm naturally-aspirated 2.4-litre petrol engine and a turbocharged, 175 kW/352 Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, both fitted in conjunction with an 8-speed automatic transmission. Perhaps even the current 142 kW/440 Nm 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine that does service in the SA-spec Santa Fe would be a suitable match in the production Hyundai bakkie. It's also been speculated that the Hyundai bakkie will be offered in 4WD guise only.
More than this, there are rumours that Hyundai’s N Division could very well develop a high-performance bakkie that would rival the Ford Ranger Raptor. There is speculation that this N bakkie could feature the same potent, turbocharged 2.0-litre engine that powers the i30N and could offer as much as 225 kW!
It's not often that a concept vehicle (let alone a 5-year-old one) looks this production-ready. No crew-cab doors in the final version, though.
What else?
Meanwhile, apart from suggesting that Hyundai would offer 2-wheel and 4-wheel drive variants of the upcoming 1-tonne double-cab (as opposed to the one produced in the US), Hyundai Australia CEO, John Kett commented: “What’s clear to us is that if we’re going to bring a ute out, it had better be a ute. We’ve got past the first hurdle of what it needs to look like, but it needs to be functional as well. That’s the important part. We’re going down that pathway and we’re working towards it. We just have to make sure that when it arrives, it’s a bloody ute.”
“We’re looking at a range. When you cut up the ute market, you split it up between 4×4 and 4×2, who owns 4×2 and what powertrain goes with that and then 4×4 crew cab versus cab/chassis and so on… we want to be smart about it and that’s what we’re going through at the moment,” he added.
SentiMETAL launches Legends of Group N Print series
Recalling the glory days of South African motorsport, these colourful prints will feature some of the country's most-loved retro racers.
If you watched local racing in the late '80s and early '90s then the fierce duels fought between the Opel and BMW teams in the Group N championship will forever be etched into your memory. Back then, category A was dominated by the Opel Kadett Superboss and BMW E30 325iS (in Evo 1, and later in Evo 2 guise). In the hands of the likes of Mike Briggs and Tony Viana, paint was swapped on many a corner around the country.
Now SentiMETAL is bringing those icons back to life with a series of stunning prints, the first two of which feature the Briggs A1 Opel Kadett Superboss and the Viana A2 Winfield-liveried BMW. "The response has been overwhelmingly positive," says Hannes Oosthuizen, SentiMETAL project head.
The limited-edition prints feature the a "mirror effect" with the road car accompanying the racing version.
The prints feature artwork by Wayne Batty, created exclusively and painstakingly for SentiMETAL, and is offered in A2 format, printed on high-quality 250g paper with a satin finish. Each print is digitally numbered out of 50 to ensure exclusivity.
To find out more about the prints or to order, head over here.
Fans of Alfa Romeo can now order the new Giulia GTA and GTAm as pricing has been announced, along with these cool historical liveries.
To celebrate 110 years of Alfa Romeo, the Italian brand revealed the ultimate Giulia sedan and revived the iconic GTA name in early March 2020. There'll be just 500 units sold, making it quite collectable.
The 2.9-litre biturbo V6 sourced from Ferrari has been given some tweaks, with power now rated at 403 kW, from 375 kW and 600 Nm. There's a new Akrapovic titanium exhaust system, identified by the large central exhausts. Performance figures are decent, with a 0-100 kph of 3.6 seconds – faster than the standard car's 0-100 kph in a claimed 3.9 seconds. The Giulia GTA is around 100 kg lighter than the standard Giulia QV it is based on.
Alfa Romeo has launched the GTA configurator and customers can now order their cars. Alfa Romeo has launched a number of Centro Stile liveries from the classic GTA racers and customers can opt for one. There'll be just 3 colours on offer, GTA Red, Trophy White and Montreal Green, just like the Italian flag and customers can spec colours for brake calipers, roll bar, seat belts and stitching.
Customers are in for a treat as the purchase process looks incredibly personalised. They'll get a Bell helmet in special GTA livery, a tailor-made Goodwool car cover and a driving course at the Alfa Romeo Driving Academy. If you opt for the GTAm, you'll also get a full Alpinestars race suit, gloves and shoes. And if you want to christen your car with a cross-European road trip, you can opt to collect the vehicle from the Autodelta workshop in Balocco, Italy.
Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA Price in South Africa
At this stage, the Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA is not confirmed for the South African market, but Alfa Romeo UK has supplied pricing for the Giulia GTA and Giulia GTAm at €176,500 and €181,500 OTR respectively. At the current exchange rate in the first week of May 2020, that puts the vehicles at R3 607 144.91 and R3 709 330.32. In comparison, the standard Alfa Romeo Giulia QV retails for R1 430 244.
The McLaren Speedtail is a fine example of modern hybrid engineering.
Back in 2018, McLaren revealed its fastest model ever, the Speedtail. Despite its odd styling, this 3-seater hyper-GT car is magnificently fast and earlier this year McLaren proved its capability by taking the Speedtail to a top speed of 403 kph, numerous times, at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA. As a reminder, the McLaren Speedtail can accelerate from zero to 300 kph in 13 seconds!
McLaren has now provided some insight into how the Speedtail is able to achieve such impressive performance. Its sleek aerodynamic design and a low kerb weight of just 1 430 kg help to achieve this but its hybrid powertrain is undoubtedly the star of the show.
Combining a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine with an electric drive unit that together produces notable outputs of 787 kW and 1 150 Nm of torque. The V8 engine is a technological evolution from the McLaren P1 hybrid hypercar and features a new lightweight air intake system, enhanced cylinder head cooling and revised piston design that contributes 557 kW and 800 Nm of torque.
The electric motor produces another 230 kW with technology derived from Formula E which represents the highest specific battery power output of any production road car. An innovative, high-voltage storage system which comprises a compact, high-power 1.647 kWh cylindrical cell that delivers a power density 4 times that of the unit in the McLaren P1 at 5.2kW/kg with an output of 270 kW.
McLaren says that the design and integration of the battery system contribute to the performance by providing intelligent energy deployment. The battery cells are thermally controlled with a dielectrical cooling system which is immersed in an electrically insulative oil which transfers heat away from the cells which allow the battery cells to run harder over a longer period of time. It’s also the first system of its kind found in a production road car.
Watch the video below to learn more about the McLaren Speedtail
Mild power but big range for impressive Chinese Alpha-T.
As China’s economy attempts to recover from its Covid-19 interruption, one of the world’s largest electric car brands is readying an impressive new SUV.
BAIC’s new Alpha-T is due to be launched by September this year and is being marketed under the ArcFox sub-brand.
Although the brand and model name might be unfamiliar to most, the ArcFox Alpha-T has an impressive list of core technology suppliers.
Canadian automotive specialist, Magna, has produced most of the trick electronics and drive systems for the Alpha-T battery-powered SUV.
ArcFox is making some very bold claims for its Alpha-T, such as a 650 km (NEDC rating, WLTP puts it more at 500 km) driving range. Exterior design is a blend (and possible imitation) of many European design trends, but the technology driving ArcFox’s Alpha-T owes very little to the traditional automotive supply chain.
The Alpha-T’s 93.6 kWh battery pack is amongst the largest you’ll find in any electric vehicle. It is sourced from South Korean chemicals and energy giant, SK. That huge battery pack powers two electric motors, one at each axle, giving the Alpha-T a fair power rating.
Combined electric motor power output is rated at 162 kW, with ArcFox having obviously limited the Alpha-T’s ultimate potency, to conserve battery power and improve driving range. With all-wheel drive, it should have mild gravel travel capability.
Measuring 4.78 m bumper-to-bumper, 1.94 m across and standing 1.68 m tall the Alpha-T is slightly longer and wider than a BMW X3, for reference. The cabin design features a collection of large digital screens, for both the driver’s instrument binnacle and general infotainment.
Exact technical details aren’t available, but the Alpha-T is certified to conduct level 2 autonomous driving functions and includes an electronics architecture which is powered by 5G technology, allowing for select level 3 functions, too.
Pricing
The launch price for ArcFox’s Alpha-T is an estimated R680 000.
V-Class by Schawe Car Design Interior is Next Level
The cabin of the Mercedes-Benz V-Class could hardly be described as mundane, but Schawe Car Design has given the interior a high-end luxury makeover.
The Mercedes-Benz V-Class is highly regarded as one of the more luxurious people movers, with many hotels and airport shuttles opting for this vehicle. The cabin is focused primarily on comfort for passengers, but for those who think this vehicle doesn't offer enough, there are many design houses who are happy to upgrade the interior.
The latest is Schawe Car Design, who has given the Mercedes-Benz V-Class a proper luxury makeover. The standard trim and panels have been replaced by high-end Nappa, black Mercedes-Benz leather as well as Bentley leather. There are also heated seats for everyone and all the plastic trim has been replaced by premium materials. A privacy screen as been fitted to separate the driver from the passengers, making it ideal for those seeking private meetings. Also, how cool is the lighting, which can change colour depending on mood?
There are also some classy touches such as electronically-controlled tables and 2 crystal carafes complete with a mini liquor cabinet. Who said road trips had to be boring? Outside, there's precious little to distinguish the standard Mercedes-Benz V-Class from this Schawe Car Design model other than some 19-inch 7-double-spoke rims.
The rear cabin of the Schawe-upgraded V-Class is one magical place to be. How epic are these seats?
