How wide can you go with a second-generation Volkswagen Golf GTI?
UK-based designer and concept artist, Khyzyl Saleem, is on a mission to answer that question. This widebody Mk2 Volkswagen Golf GTI was conceived as a concept car and Saleem is now preparing to bring the car into the real world with the help of specialists JP Performance and Prior Design.
Saleem’s K.S GTI kit comprises a reworked front bumper and splitter with boldly flared wheel arches which house a wide set of takkies (tyres) that will have enthusiasts drooling in envy. The bodywork is further complemented with low side skirts, petite side mirrors, a custom exhaust system and a massive roof-mounted spoiler, just because…
The second-generation Volkswagen Golf GTI is powered by a naturally-aspirated 16-valve, 1.8-litre petrol engine with 95 kW and 168 Nm of torque and mated with a 5-speed manual transmission. Zero to 100 kph was claimed at 9.0 seconds but we wouldn't be surprised to see some modifications under the bonnet when Saleem reveals the final product.
Do you like the look of this widebody Mk2 Volkswagen Golf GTI?
Mega Drag Race Compilation Vol.1 – Golf R vs Supra, M4 vs RS5, M5 vs E63, 570S vs Audi R8
Over the last 6 years, we've put together a lot of drag races. We thought we'd compile some of the very best into a mega compilation. So that's what we did.
Hello and welcome to the first of our Drag Race Mega Compilations.
Over the years we have thoroughly enjoyed creating these drag race films and it seems you, our audience has thoroughly enjoyed watching them, to date our drag races have received over 20 million views.
So here we go, here's our Mega Drag Race Compilation, volume 1.
This video features the X5 M50d vs Range Rover Sport V8 Supercharged, the BMW M4 Competition vs Audi RS5, the new Toyota Supra vs Volkswagen Golf R, the BMW M5 vs Mercedes-AMG E63 and the McLaren 570S vs Audi R8.
Are South Africans Really Staying at Home Under Lockdown?
Using data from vehicle trackers, it’s clear to see how much traffic has reduced since the national lockdown was implemented on 27 March 2020.
Since the national shutdown the local government has pleaded with citizens to stay in their homes for 21 days in order to ‘flatten the curve’. Data from vehicle tracking company Tracker and data analytics by Lightstone show there has been a significant decrease in vehicle movements since lockdown. Even in the week leading up to the lockdown there was a significant 20% reduction in traffic on the roads. The 2 spikes in passenger traffic on the 25th and 26th March has been put down to the payday rush to the shop and stockpiling of goods we were seeing. Since lockdown however, there has been a 75% reduction of traffic.
Note the spikes on Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 March where people rushed to the shops post payday.
KZN has proved diligent in reducing taxi movement during lockdown.
Breaking it down into provincial statistics, Gauteng and the Western Cape have heeded the call to stay at home, reducing traffic movements by between 75-80%. Although when broken down into taxi and commercial movement, KZN taxis have been the most compliant.
The major business district of Sandton has seen over 90% reduction in traffic.
Khayelitsha in the Western Cape has only seen a drop of less than 50% traffic.
Less dark green on the KZN map, but it is leading the reduction in Taxi trips.
There are certain outliers when broken down into area-specific movement that have not complied as much as everywhere else. In Gauteng, there is still a lot of movement around Soweto, Tembisa and Delmas. Similarly in the Western Cape, Khayelitsha, Blue Downs and Guguletu have seen movement only reduced by 50%.
We shall see how this data continues to unfold over the next 2 weeks as the real tension of lockdown and boredom begins to surface.
A new compact family SUV will be the first love child between the Ford and Mahindra joint venture.
In October 2019, Ford and Mahindra announced a $275-million joint venture with the intention of developing, marketing and distributing Ford-branded vehicles in India and other “high-growth” emerging markets around the world. The JV forms part of Ford’s $11-billion restructuring plan which also includes a $500 million investment in electric pick-up start up, Rivian.
Once fully operational, the joint venture will see the development of no less than 3 Ford-branded utility vehicles as well as the co-development of electric vehicles.
New SUV in the works
This is a design sketch of the Ford Kuga, but the new mid-size SUV from Ford will feature the brand's latest design language.
The first model to spawn from the JV is a mid-size compact family SUV which will ride on the same front-wheel-drive monocoque chassis as the next-generation Mahindra XUV500 which is due for reveal in 2020/21.
The nameless SUV, which is codenamed B745, will rival products in a bustling segment such as the new Kia Seltos, Hyundai Creta, Mazda CX-3, Honda HR-V, Nissan Qashqai and Suzuki Vitara, to name a few. That means the new SUV will sit above the Ecosport in the Ford lineup but below the Kuga. Ford South Africa has tentatively indicated it may introduce the new Kuga, but considering the lack of local trust in the Kuga nameplate, a different model in the mid-to-compact SUV market may yield better sales.
The new Ford SUV will share its powertrain with the new forthcoming XUV500 which is likely to include a 2.0-litre petrol engine with 142 kW and 380 Nm and a 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine with 134 kW and 400 Nm. A 6-speed manual transmission and a 6-speed automatic transmission is expected.
As Ford already imports products such as the EcoSport and Figo from India, there’s a strong chance that these new products may be offered in South Africa.
You can also expect to see the development of electric cars from Ford and Mahindra in time to come.
We will keep you updated as soon as more details become available.
Is there anything better than a military-grade bakkie? No, no there isn't.
Mil-Spec Automotive is a company specialising in hardcore conversions and is renowned for its Hummer H1 work. Now it has turned to the USA's most popular vehicle, the Ford F-150. With a 373 kW naturally-aspirated 5.0-litre V8 motor, the MSA F-150 features some hardcore additions to make go further than most would be brave enough to consider.
Starting with the offroad upgrades, there's the Baja Performance Suspension Package which features Fox Racing components as well as long-travel suspension which has 279 mm of travel and 343 mm wider track width. Want more from your suspension? There's also a Fox 3.0 Long Travel Performance Shock Package including an optional fully adjustable coil-over and shock kit with 76-mm diameter bypass shocks, remote reservoirs, 10AN hoses and Eibach springs for both the front and rear suspension.
In terms of looks, there are new LED headlights, 20-inch alloys wrapped by Nitto Ridge Grappler tires, dual exhaust tips with a black finish and powder-coated heavy-duty side steps. There's also the Baja Exterior Appearance Package that adds a low-profile Baja Roof Rack, a spare tire carrier made for equipping an oversized off-road wheel, and an LED light bar. Inside, the cabin is remarkably standard in comparison with just custom magnesium paddle shifters and centerline stitching, as well as leather seats.
The bigger version of Audi's small four-door spotted on the production line.
The sub-limousine luxury sedan category might be shrinking worldwide, but that has not stopped Audi from investing money in a new A3 four-door.
Although crossover and SUV mania drives the bulk of global customer demand for premium vehicle brands, the world’s two most important markets (America and China) remain very committed to sedans.
The Chinese especially see any extended wheelbase sedan as desirable. Being driven is a sign of supreme status in China, so even smaller vehicles have more comfortable backseats, courtesy of special Chinese long-wheelbase variants.
Audi is catering fo this with its new A3 L. The car was recently spotted whilst inside a production facility and although Audi has not released exact technical details, it is quite plainly a fourth-generation A3 with more space between the axles.
With its longer wheelbase, the A3 L offers three benefits. The most obvious, is increased cabin space, especially for the rear seat passengers. A longer wheelbase also slightly improves ride quality and high-speed directional stability should gain a greater feeling of confidence, too.
Debits? A longer wheelbase will dictate this new A3 sedan derivative to have a larger turning circle, so parking will be a touch more challenging.
How do you recognise an ‘L’ version compared to the regular fourth-generation A3 sedan? Well, those rear doors are slightly larger and have appropriately sized glass to make up the difference in window specification.
Very much a China-specific product, it is unlikely the A3 L will be offered on sale in a market like South Africa.
Suzuki has announced a warranty extension of its S-Presso compact city car.
Due to COVID-19, Suzuki SA was forced to switch its local S-Presso launch from a physical one to a digital affair. Now that the country has been placed under lockdown, dealers can't get stock and customers can't fetch cars.
“We are very excited for customers to see and test-drive the new S-Presso. It has space and ride height of a compact SUV, it is built on our light and rigid HEARTECT platform and it is South Africa’s new affordability champion. We believe it is exactly what our customers want,” says André Venter, divisional manager of sales and marketing at Suzuki Auto SA.
The vehicle costs R134 900 and comes with a 2-year service plan, as well as 1 year’s comprehensive insurance. Suzuki SA is extending its promotional 5-year/200 000 km mechanical warranty beyond the initial launch period. Suzuki has won more than a few awards at the #CarsAwards-powered by WesBank.
One of the world’s most stylish hatchbacks is soon to be discontinued.
The Alfa Romeo Giulietta has been on sale for nearly a decade, which is almost an impossibly long lifecycle for a modern hatchback.
Since 2010, buyers who wanted a very exclusive hatchback with some typically stylish Italian design have had one option, the Giulietta. Alfa Romeo even produced a hot hatch version, attempting to leverage the brand’s legendary Cloverleaf cars, in the form of Giulietta TBi Quadrifoglio Verde, which was good for 173 kW at a time when the Golf GTi was notably less potent on a spec sheet.
As a commercial venture, the Giulietta has been a predictable Alfa Romeo disaster. Despite its outstanding exterior styling and some very clever turbocharged engines, sales have been a fraction of what its full-size hatchback rivals tally.
Marketing realities and shifting customer demand have forced Alfa Romeo’s hand with the Giulietta, which should expire at the end of this year. Expectations are that the forthcoming Tonale SUV will replace the Giulietta’s presence in Alfa Romeo’s product portfolio and give the brand standing in the C-segment.
As Alfa’s volume seller, many Alfisti will be sad to see the charming Giulietta retire. It will leave cherished memories, especially to South African Alfa fans.
Back in 2015, Alfa Romeo allowed 100 Squadra Corse TCT Giuliettas to be built, for the South African market. These cars featured a modified version of the 1750 turbocharged engine, boosting 210 kW.
With the pending retirement of Giulietta, Alfa Romeo will enter 2021 with a sedan and two SUVs, but no hatchback. Strange, but also an entirely Alfa thing to do.
Toyota South Africa has announced specifications and pricing for its Epic and Epic Black editions of the Fortuner. See what's new here.
The Toyota Fortuner has been South Africa's top-selling SUV for some time and a multiple winner of the Adventure SUV category in the #CarsAwards-powered by WesBank. For 2020, Toyota has announced the Fortuner Epic and Epic Black.
The Epic and Epic Black are both based on the 2.8-litre GD-6 derivatives and have been given some nice upgrades, both inside and out. There's a branded nudge-bar and tow bar, while Epic Black models gain a bi-tone design with black roof, black roof rails, black side-view mirrors and unique, all-black 18-inch alloy wheels.
Inside, there are metal scuff plates and Epic-branded carpet set. Toyota hasn't changed the leather interior trim and 7-seat layout, and standard spec includes niceties such as dual-zone climate control, smart entry and push start, touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, reverse camera, TFT Multi-Information Display (MID), blue Optitron instrumentation, cruise control, steering switches, power-adjustable driver seat and power back door.
Toyota Fortuner Price in South Africa (April 2020)
All Fortuner models are sold with a 6-services/90 000 km service plan and 3-year/100 000 km warranty. Service intervals for the diesel models are 10 000 km, while the petrol model is set at 15 000 km. Customers can also choose from a variety of service plan extensions at their local dealer.
The National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa [NAAMSA] has released new car sales figures for March 2020 and if there ever was a chance of market recovery in South Africa it’s now been obliterated with the arrival of COVID-19 and its impact has and will continue to have an adverse effect on the local automotive industry.
The global automotive industry is under considerable pressure in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic which continues to tighten its grip on countries around the world, forcing many into lockdown and bringing production lines to a standstill.
Unsurprisingly, South Africa has been hit hard too and while the local automotive industry experienced significant declines across the board during March 2020, WesBank warns that April 2020 is expected to reflect the true damage as South Africa navigates through a 21-day lockdown in an effort to curb the spread of Coronavirus.
“The market was looking to establish some form of stability judging from February’s performance, only to be undone by the COVID-19 global pandemic,” says Lebogang Gaoaketse, Head of Marketing and Communication at WesBank. “Looking at international markets already under lockdown, we can expect April to look even worse as consumers stay home and only essential services are delivered from dealer workshops.”
New Car Sales Summary – March 2020
Aggregate new vehicle sales of 33 545 units down by 29.7% (-14 150 units) compared to March 2019.
New passenger car sales of 22 200 units down by 26.8% (-8 139 units) compared to March 2019
New Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) sales of 9 425 units down by 37.1% (-5 570 units) compared to March 2019.
Export sales of 28 883 units down by 21.5% (-7 905 units) compared with March 2019.
Top 5 Best-Selling cars in South Africa for March 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a global economic collapse and while South Africa’s economy was in a recessionary state prior to the pandemic arrive on local soil, the outlook going forward is marred with uncertainty.
“While we are in full support of government’s decisive leadership measures to combat the spread of COVID-19, there is no denying the impacts it will have on the economy and certainly the country’s motor industry. With plant shutdowns already in place and dealers closed, the industry’s main concern will be the protection of jobs in this important employer base” said Gaoaketse.
He adds that “The Industry is planning as much as it can amidst the uncertainties presented to the world. South Africa will have further impacts from limited global production and the potential impacts on the supply of parts.”
It’s not all doom and gloom though and there are positives that consumers can take from the current situation. Firstly, the interest rate has been cut by 100 basis points which will assist indebted consumers and with the lockdown in full effect, consumers will also be saving on fuel/travel expenditure and car maintenance costs. Fuel prices have also been substantially cut for April 2020.
