Production of the BMW i8 will be coming to an end and we look back at how groundbreaking and revolutionary the plug-in hybrid sports car was.
When it was revealed back in 2015, the BMW i8 stunned the car community. Here was a visually striking sportscar that looked like a concept freshly revealed off a European motor show floor. Now 6 years after its launch, BMW has confirmed the i8 product life cycle is coming to an end. It sold more than 20 000 units and BMW claims more sold than all competitors in its segment combined.
It brought a number of interesting technologies to market, like the laser headlights, the carbon fibre tub as well its unique 1.5-litre turbo-petrol 3-cylinder engine mated to an electric motor punching out 275 kW. The 113 kW per litre displacement was a new record for BMW series models when it came to high specific power output. Let's not forget how the use of sustainable and recycled materials in the cabin changed how we made car interiors, while 3D printing was used for the first time to make components for the Roadster.
Not only did it look good (the Roadster even more so) but it also drove well, with handling being one of its stand-out traits thanks to its lightweight construction as well as low centre of gravity. We won't forget that electric e-boost acceleration either. Do you think the BMW i8 will become a collector's item? There are some really nice looking examples currently on our site…
BMW Confirms Android Auto Introduction in Q2 of 2020
German carmaker BMW has confirmed it will be offering Android Auto connectivity in its vehicles from July 2020.
As it stands, BMW only offers Apple CarPlay connectivity for its vehicles and worse, it charges customers for the privilege. In a country such as South Africa where Apple sits behind Samsung and Huawei in terms of ownership reach, the lack of Android Auto connectivity is a dour point. At the launch of the new BMW 1 Series in Munich in 2019, we had a chance to chat to some of the tech engineers who mentioned that Android Auto would come at some point.
Now, it's official and BMW confirms that not only will Android Auto be made available for its products, but Apple Carplay will be free. Impressively, Android Auto connectivity will be wireless and there'll be no need to plug the phone in.
“Many of our customers have pointed out the importance to them of having Android Auto inside a BMW for using a number of familiar Android smartphone features safely without being distracted from the road, in addition to BMW’s own functions and services,” says Peter Henrich, Senior Vice President Product Management BMW. “We will offer this service to our customers starting in July 2020.”
From what BMW is saying, the Android Auto integration is impressive. Not only will you get the typical menu functionality you can see in the image above, but there'll also be an interface in the gauge cluster as well as the head-up display. We're assuming this compatibility is only for the latest iteration of BMW's operating system, dubbed OS 7. We'll see the first demo of Android Auto in a BMW at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2020 and will be available for customers in 20 countries from July 2020.
How would you get the update if you're an owner of one of the latest BMW products? BMW Australia is one of the first regions to get Android Auto and the best part is the update will be done over the air, removing the need to take time off and head to the dealership. BMW Australia told Aussie publication carsguide.com.au, " Any BMW already on the road with our latest 7.0 iDrive operating system will be able to receive upgrades, like Android Auto over the air. We want to make sure the infotainment system in the car can be updated without having to take your car to a dealership. It’s downloadable over the air, via the SIM card in the vehicle, or you can download it to your phone at your home or office via Wi-Fi, and transfer it to your car the next time you drive it."
Isuzu Motors SA recently introduced the option of a diff-lock on its MU-X, but now that production of the new-generation D-Max has begun in Thailand (from where the local-spec Adventure SUV is sourced) we could soon see the underrated 7-seater feature an updated look as it inches towards the end of its lifecycle…
Following General Motors’ departure from the SA market at the end of 2017, Isuzu took ownership of the multinational’s former production facility in Port Elizabeth. With the discontinuation of the Chevrolet Trailblazer, Isuzu introduced the MU-X (on which the former was based, anyway) in the local market in 2018. In fact, it was the first model that the (then) newly-formed Isuzu Motors SA – which finished runner-up to Volkswagen in the 2019/20 #CarsAwards Brand of the Year rankings – launched in Mzansi.
Although the sales figures of the MU-X pales into insignificance compared to those of its Toyota Fortuner arch-rival, Isuzu’s Adventure SUV was a finalist in its category of the Cars.co.za Consumer Awards – powered by WesBank in 2018/19.
As is the case with recent revisions to the current D-Max range, black trim features prominently on the Onyx.
Meanwhile, Isuzu Motors SA continues to produce the outgoing D-Max and will begin building the next-generation bakkie in Port Elizabeth next year. That means time is running out for the current-gen MU-X (which is, after all, based on the older bakkie’s design). Reports suggest its replacement will only be revealed next year; perhaps it will arrive in South Africa in 2022.
But there is life in the Japanese firm's Adventure SUV yet. Isuzu recently released an update to its MU-X in Thailand, the most stylish (and flagship) version of which is dubbed the Onyx (shown here). Depending on current stock levels of the Adventure SUV in South Africa and local demand for the model during its run-out phase, a mild series update or special editions such as this one could be introduced in the local market in the near future.
The design of the Onyx derivative's rear bumper is arguably sportier than that of the one at the front.
The exterior look of the Onyx features a plethora of black addenda: its sportier bumpers feature dark accent lines, which match the roof rails, side-window- and wheel-arch trims, as well as the grille finish. Even the 19-inch alloys have black detailing.
Inside, piano-black trim dominates the fascia and the door trims feature LED ambient lighting fore and aft. What’s more, a few small, but nonetheless nifty, features have been added…
According to the Thailand brochure of the Onyx flagship, the Bi-LED headlamps feature auto high/low beam technology and the auto-dimming rear-view mirror incorporates a forward-facing dash camera, while the seats are upholstered in Cool Max (we assume a leather-like) material, which is claimed to “reduce heat accumulation”.
Note how the sporty black instrument cluster complements the piano-black accents on the MU-X's fascia…
In terms of the flagship MU-X's infotainment specification, we don’t believe the Onyx’s built-in touchscreen will be available in South Africa, but perhaps the current model’s optional 9-inch system with 8 speakers, which includes navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility and works in conjunction with a reverse-view camera, could become a standard feature.
If Isuzu Motors SA confirms an update (or special editions) of the MU-X – its unlikely that the name "Onyx" would be suitable for the market, but still – we'll be sure to let you know.
The Porsche 911 Turbo S is coming to South Africa soon. See pricing and details below.
The new 8th-generation Porsche 911 came to market last year and while it has proven to be hugely impressive in terms of execution, Porsche enthusiasts have undoubtedly been waiting to see what Porsche delivers with the potent 911 Turbo S. Well, the wait is now over!
The Porsche 911 Turbo S has a sleek appearance and is easily recognized with a large rear wing and 2 sizable oval tailpipes that communicate its performance intent. The newcomer is 42 mm wider at the front axle and 10 mm wider at the rear. There is new aerodynamics in the form of controlled cooling air flaps at the front as well as mixed-size tyres. There are 20-inch tyres with their unique 255/35 dimensions at the front and 21-inch 315/30 tyres at the rear.
The vehicle comes with the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) sports chassis which lowers the car by 10 mm and for those craving that thundering Porsche sound, there's the sports exhaust system with adjustable flaps.
The Porsche 911 Turbo S is powered by a twin-turbocharged new 3.8-litre flat-six engine that develops 478 kW and 800 Nm. It makes use of a quick-shifting PDK transmission that directs power to the wheels. As you would expect, performance is impressive with Porsche claiming 2.7 seconds in the sprint from zero to 100 kph and it'll go onto a top speed of 330 kph. There's an increase of 51 kW, 50 Nm and the newcomer is 0.2 seconds faster to 100 kph.
The key to the new engines are the special VGT turbochargers, redesigned air cooling system, new air intake as well as piezo injectors.
The new Porsche 911 Turbo S is expected to arrive in South Africa in May 2020.
Our freshly restored Alfa Romeo GTV6 3.0 was revealed to the world at the #Carscoza Consumer Awards – Powered by WesBank, earlier this year. Attendees were treated to a video that went behind the scenes of year-long restoration, and now it's your turn to have a look!
The locally-developed GTV6 3.0 is undoubtedly the most revered Alfa Romeo model ever sold in South Africa. Bred for the track, the 3.0-litre “Alfetta” GTV was, in its heyday, the most powerful Alfa road car ever produced here. You see, Alfa Romeo needed a foil for the rampant BMW 535i in Group 1 racing and its solution was this: the GTV6 3.0.
To homologate a racing car for Group One, a manufacturer had to produce at least 200 road-legal examples (fit for public consumption) and it is believed Alfa Romeo built approximately 220 units of the 3.0 – the most-often quoted number is actually 212. This particular GTV6 3.0 belonged to well-known Alfa Romeo expert and restorer, Basie Theron.
Theron had spent the best part of a decade travelling the world and collecting the best parts for the car's eventual restoration. He believes that it would not be possible to build another one like this… Theron agreed to sell this GTV6 3.0 to us on the conditions that it remained in South Africa, and that he could finish the restoration to his desired standard. Happily, we agreed, and the result is a car that stuns audiences with its attention to detail. Have a look!
The VW Group plans to launch 75 EVs between now and 2029 and its MEB all-electric platform will form the basis of most of those products, including an upcoming city car that will replace the venerable Up.
According to British Car magazine, the ID.1 will be the smallest ID model in an initial EV range of around 7 models. The electric city car, expected to make its global debut in 2023, will have a 5-door configuration, a distinctive blocky shape and minimal overhangs. It should have approximately the same dimensions as the Up, but is likely to be far more spacious inside than its predecessor by virtue of its EV-specific platform.
It’s anticipated that the Wolfsburg-based brand’s entry-level EV will borrow some of its styling cues from the ID.3 premium hatchback and underpin “ID.1 Crozz” crossover and “e-Roomzz” panel-van variants. Volkswagen seems to have taken Fiat's cue (to make the follow-up to the current 500 an exclusively all-electric model), which seemingly predicts the end of the Up in the medium term, although this has yet to be confirmed.
The modular electric drive matrix (MEB) is highly scalable, not only in terms of the sizes of the vehicles that can be built on its chassis (literally, see below) but also the types of batteries it can accommodate – in the case of a city car, for example, a high-capacity battery is not as critical as in family cars or SUVs, which can lower production costs. The platform is so versatile that it could even spawn a light bakkie; indeed, read our recent opinion piece: Why VW Should Build this Electric Bakkie
It is expected that the ID.1 will be offered with 24-kWh and 36-kWh battery capacities with the latter claimed to provide an optimal range of approximately 300 km between charges. The ID.1 will compete with the Honda e and recently-unveiled Fiat 500 EV and, to a lesser extent the SA-bound Mini Cooper ES.
Volkswagen has ambitious plans to sell 1 million EVs a year by 2023 and the brand’s chief operating officer, Ralf Brandstätter, suggests the production cost of MEB-based models is 40% lower than comparable EVs based on platforms designed to accommodate conventional powertrains.
British Car quoted him as saying: “In future, it won’t make sense putting battery cells in a car designed for an engine as we have done with the e-Up. We are working on a battery-powered EV below €20,000 (the equivalent of R364 000) – we can shrink the MEB architecture with less content to get the cost down."
It is our understanding that the ID.4 will be first all-electric Volkswagen to be offered in the South African market.
The ID.1 will then be followed by the ID.2 – a compact hatchback to rival products such as the Renault Zoe and Peugeot e-208. Back to the here and now, production of the ID.3 has already begun and it will be followed by the ID.4 family car/crossover (based on the ID Crozz concept) towards the end of 2020, which is of particular significance to Mzansi…
Volkswagen SA recently began its EV rollout programme by launching an e-Golf pilot project to gain customer insights and -feedback ahead of introducing a range of electric vehicles in South Africa. The 2nd phase is expected in 2021, when the Uitenhage-based firm will include a fleet of ID.3s in the project (neither the e-Golf or ID.3 will be offered for sale, however). But, after that, we anticipate that Volkswagen will introduce the ID.4 in the South African new-vehicle market in 2022.
Suzuki New Zealand has made a single-cab bakkie Jimny and we love the look of it.
It's hard to dislike the Suzuki Jimny. Not only does it look adorable, but its go-anywhere attitude and abilities have won it many fans, including us. One of the very few downsides to Jimny ownership is the lack of practicality and space. The physical boot size is barely big enough to swallow anything bigger than a laptop bag.
Enter Suzuki New Zealand who has made an official Suzuki Jimny single-cab bakkie. First spotted by Driven.co.nz, this is no backyard hack job either as it is an official product sold with a full warranty. It appears a standard Jimny loses its rear and on goes a small deck over the rear axle. The deck also features collapsable sidings and we estimate it has a capacity of 750 kg. A 3/4 ton in other words. Inside, there's a carpeted area behind the front seats.
Suzuki New Zealand has based this model on a low-spec of Jimny, so it does lose comfort features like touchscreen infotainment, climate control, LED headlights, alloy wheels and the leather steering wheel. Instead, you get basic halogen lights and black steel wheels, which some will appreciate. The Suzuki Jimny is powered by a 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated 4-cylinder motor producing 75 kW and 130 Nm.
We'd love to see something like a Suzuki Jimny bakkie in SA, given our love for the workhorse. Should Suzuki SA bring some in?
Italian icons close up shop amidst virus outbreak.
Coronavirus concerns have finally reached into the supercar realm and ended production at two of the world’s most iconic facilities.
Both Lamborghini and Ferrari have announced that their Sant’Agata Bolognese and Maranello industrial assets will be closed until the end of March.
As Italy battles the worst coronavirus outbreak in Europe, economic activity in the country’s industrialised north has ground to a halt. Inevitably, that has meant an end to all automotive assembly.
For Lamborghini and Ferrari, who each had record production and revenue performances in 2019, losing a few weeks of production will be significant.
Although overall build volumes are relatively low for these two elite Italian automotive companies, they serve a very demanding global customer base. Lamborghini and Ferrari customers pay a premium for their vehicles and don’t take kindly to having their patience tested by delayed delivery.
If the Lamborghini and Ferrari factories manage to reopen on schedule, towards the end of March, they could still suffer restarting issues. Many of the specialist suppliers, who produce intricate componentry crucial to Lamborghini and Ferrari’s supercars, could still have problems in terms of staff or supply chain, due to the coronavirus, affecting their larger corporate customers.
Another aspect of the Lamborghini and Ferrari shutdown concerns R&D. Although engineers will be able to operate some software from home, the tangible work of wind tunnel testing, 3D prototype printing and dynamometer engine runs, will be lost for a few weeks. This could significantly impact the rollout of new Lamborghini and Ferrari models, or even mild updates, planned for the near future.
The all-electric Ford Mustang Mach-E is due to go sale in the U.S and Europe later this year and Ford has released a video showing what the Mustang Mach-E is capable of in the snow. Bring on the drift!
Whether you love or hate the idea of an electric Mustang compact SUV, the forthcoming Mach-E is likely to sell up a storm when it goes on sale later this year.
While the Mustang name is synonymous with brawny V8 power and rear-wheel-drive goodness, the electrified Mustang Mach-E will be offered in either rear or all-wheel-drive formats with either a 75.7 kWh or 98.8 kWh battery pack which offer a driving range of 338 km and 483 km respectively. Power outputs range from 190 kW in the base version to 248 kW in the long-range version. Other more powerful variants are expected to be introduced too…
If you doubt the performance abilities of the Mustang Mach-E, watch the video below to see how the all-wheel-drive Mustang Mach-E handles a drift in the snow.
South Africa has a brutally competitive double-cab bakkie market, so is there really room for a French option?
The South African bakkie market has 3 major players: Toyota, Ford and Isuzu. Nissan might achieve respectable overall volumes, but its leisure double-cab offering (the Navara) can't compete with the sales numbers that Hilux, Ranger and D-Max generate.
Beyond those models and Nissan's overall bakkie tally, the South African market is a scrap between peripheral players. We can credit Volkswagen as an exception of sorts, with the Amarok 3.0-litre turbodiesel V6 derivatives dominating the market for bakkies beyond R700 000 (earlier this year, the Wolfsburg-based brand's bakkie won its category of the Cars.co.za Consumer Awards for a 3rd consecutive year). By contrast, vehicles such as the Mitsubishi Triton, Fiat Fullback and Mazda BT-50 are almost forgotten.
That does beg the question: Could a keenly-priced double cab perhaps make more of an impression than a Triton or BT-50? A bakkie endowed with great diesel-engine technology, purposeful design and clever features. Something different. Something French.
Peugeot doesn’t have to fake being a bakkie brand
Peugeot's 504. Easily the best looking single-cab bakkie of the 1980s.?
One of the most significant surprises of the motoring year has been the reveal of Peugeot’s Landtrek. The French company has a proud bakkie heritage, especially in Africa, but it has been so long since Peugeot sold a load-box vehicle, most bakkie fans have long forgotten about the legendary 404 single-cab.
The Landtrek has been confirmed for South Africa; it's scheduled to arrive in 2021. Could it possibly become a stronger alternative to Hilux, Ranger and D-Max, as well as either Triton or BT-50 have been?
Peugeot will be cautiously confident of its prospects, because the French brand does not have to fake any bakkie credentials. It can leverage the authentic workhorse heritage of its 404 and 504 bakkie models from yesteryear.
Global automotive product planners will undoubtedly have taken careful notice of Mercedes-Benz’s X-Class misadventure – and Peugeot will be studying the mistakes that were made by the German marque in South Africa. If the world’s oldest car company could fail that spectacularly at marketing a new double-cab bakkie, it serves as a warning to everyone else…
Has it got the right bits?
Crossover cabin design and ergonomics make the Landtrek more passenger-friendly inside.?
There is no hiding the fact that Peugeot’s Landtrek is a joint-venture project, in partnership with China’s Changan. Landtrek is the development twin of Changan’s Kaicene F70, which was launched in China late last year.
Smart design has always been a symbol of French automotive excellence and Peugeot has done a stellar job with its Landtrek: it possesses a bold appearance without cloning any of the market leaders from Toyota or Ford. This design nous is even better inside…
Indeed, Peugeot has been brilliantly innovative with the Landtrek’s cabin architecture and features. By borrowing components from the company’s passenger vehicle parts-bin, Peugeot has managed to craft an outstanding cabin environment. Bakkies should look robust from the outside, yes, but customers appreciate them being much more car-like on the inside.
Peugeot has managed to gift the Landtrek a slick passenger-vehicle-like interior, replete with a 2-spoke steering wheel and 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The rear bench’s seatback can also fold flat, creating a robust load surface rated for 100 kg of items.
This cabin could, at the very least, have the measure of its other bakkie competitors in terms of ergonomics and fluency of infotainment functions.
Peugeot is going to field a broad range of Landtreks, including single-cab derivatives and a variety of turbocharged engines. For the local market, Peugeot’s strategy should follow that of Mitsubishi and Volkswagen; it will offer only double-cab derivatives.
And the engine?
Peugeot is targeting the whole range, from single to double-cab and commercial use.
The Landtrek's 1.9-litre turbodiesel powerplant will be of particular interest. Supplied by Chinese powertrain company, Kunming Yunnei, its similarity in size and output to Isuzu’s 1.9-litre turbodiesel, which is available in European D-Max bakkies, but not South Africa.
Although both the Landtrek and D-Max’s 4-cylinder turbodiesels are marketed at 1.9-litre engines, the Peugeot bakkie has a 1.85-litre capacity, with a 92 mm of stroke, compared to the D-Max’s 94 mm of piston depth.
The Kunming Yunnei engine produces 110 kW and 350 Nm. Those numbers should make the Landtrek a fair performer compared with the Hilux 2.4GD-6, yet lacking the potency of Ford’s Ranger 2.0-litre single turbo, which is good for 132 kW and 420 Nm.
Landtrek will offer 40 accessory options. This 2017 prototype bakkie shows what might be on offer?.
Those who have had indifferent experiences with Chinese engines, mostly in terms of heavy fuel consumption for the relative power on offer, can take solace in the involvement of FEV with this 1.9-litre turbodiesel unit. Kunming Yunnei engineers have been developing the Landtrek's 1.9-litre turbodiesel in consultation with the German firm's engine specialists. FEV’s involvement should bode well for the performance, efficiency and reliability of the Peugeot’s powerplant.
Gearboxes could be an issue, though. Demand for automatic transmission double-cab bakkies are increasing in South Africa and the Landtrek is only available with a 6-speed manual gearbox, supplied by Getrag, for the moment.
Although the fitment of a low-range transfer case has been confirmed on 4×4 derivatives, there isn’t clarity on the presence of a lockable rear differential – on either the 4×2 or 4×4 versions of the French bakkie.
Could it be built in Namibia?
The reasons that Hilux, Ranger and D-Max dominate the local market are scale and price. South Africa’s department of trade and industry handsomely incentivises Toyota, Ford and Isuzu to build their bakkies domestically and source parts from local suppliers.
In a country with crippling unemployment, the investment made by these companies is significant. This somewhat justifies the import barrier duties applied to rival bakkies, which are sourced from overseas.
To illustrate how much import duties can influence sales and brand awareness, consider the position of Mitsubishi’s Triton in South Africa versus its position in the Australian market. In Australia, Triton outsells D-Max. It is the 3rd-most popular bakkie, behind Hilux and Ranger. Mechanically there are no fundamental differences between the Australian- and SA-specification Tritons, but Mitsubishi is a more substantial business in Oz than SA.
The rear seats fold down, as well as up in the Landtrek.
Expansive dealer networks and sustained high sales volumes have enabled Hilux and Ranger to use economies of scale with regards to minimising parts pricing. That has made their bakkies more attractive as ownership prospects, compared to Triton and other imported double-cabs. So where does this leave Peugeot, with its Landtrek launch strategy?
Peugeot does not have a local production- or assembly facility to enable the French firm to benefit from domestic production incentives. That means Landtrek will be exposed to exchange rate volatility and import tariffs. With the Rand currently at very weak levels against the Euro and Dollar, this could ruin any possible competitive pricing structure for Landtrek.
But Peugeot might have a backdoor solution. Although the firm has been very opaque about details, Peugeot has commissioned an assembly facility in neighbouring Namibia. Located in the port city of Walvis Bay, this Peugeot asset is configured for a peak throughput of 5 000 vehicles a year.
What Peugeot could choose to import nearly-complete (semi-knocked down) Landtreks to Walvis Bay, before simply tightening the last few bolts to complete assembly. These bakkies would then be shipped south or trucked over the border, into the South African market, without incurring punitive tariffs.
Those tariff savings could make Landtrek prices competitive in a manner that other imported bakkies have not been able to achieve in the local market. But there is an issue: stalled production at the Walvis Bay facility.
Peugeot’s ambitions for its Namibian assembly facility is the subject of political friction. There appears to be disagreement over whether vehicles that are assembled in Walvis Bay should be free to be imported into the South African market without being subjected to import tariffs. In late 2019, the French firm threatened to disengage from its Walvis Bay assembly project if a resolution to the issue could not be found.
Peugeot’s Landtrek has the technical formulation to be a great value double-cab bakkie in the South African market. Its exterior and interior design will successfully differentiate it in a competitive market.
The risk is that unless Landtrek can be launched in South Africa with a viable price structure, it will suffer the same indignity of poor sales that has befallen Triton and the (eventually quashed) X-Class.
