Get ready Cape Town! SentiMETAL Gathering Gears Up
The first Cape Town SentiMETAL Gathering for the year has been confirmed for Sunday, 15 March. Ladies and gentlemen, get your machines ready!
Following a massively successful Gathering in Johannesburg in February this year, it is now time for Capetonian petrolheads to get ready for the first SentiMETAL Gathering of the year.
"We're expecting a big turnout, particularly following the 200-odd cars that showed up for the last event of 2019," says Hannes Oosthuizen, SentiMETAL Project Manager. "We're also fortunate to have Killarney International Raceway as a venue, so we'll definitely have space."
SentiMETAL Gatherings allow petrolheads get up close to hero cars such as this Dodge Viper GTS, one of only 2 in South Africa.
The first Gathering of the year will see participants travel to Killarney International Raceway on Sunday, March 15th, and park their vehicles in front of the new Pit Complex and on the pit straight. "As ever, we want to be as inclusive as possible, but I would like to remind applicants that this event is aimed at classic cars – including modern classics – in original, unmodified condition."
Superb coffee is a hallmark of SentiMETAL events, so participants will be able to get a dose of caffeine (and some pastries) and take a stroll among some of the rarest, most beautiful cars in Cape Town. Professional photographers will capture stunning images on the day that will be shared with all participants.
One of the confirmed cars for Sunday is this beautiful Jaguar XK150.
Participants are welcome to start arriving at 9am and by 11:30am those interested in a drive somewhere scenic, for lunch, will depart. The lunch venue is TBC, but most likely towards Darling.
If you'd like to participate in the morning display, please complete this form . Guests and Media are also encouraged to complete the form as it would give the organisers a better idea of the numbers to expect.
Note that only cars that appear on the registration form will be allowed to park their vehicles in the display area. Guests are welcome, but will park behind the Pit Complex.
"Some of the cars already confirmed for the 15th include a first-generation Chevrolet Corvette, a stunning Mercedes-Benz 190SL, the Jaguar E-Type that appeared in the first episode of the SentiMETAL video series and a number of Porsches, from all eras," says Oosthuizen. "There will also be a number of surprises…"
Swedish hypercar manufacturer, Koenigsegg, has thrown in the towel on the speed race and developed a car so fast that it doesn’t need to make another one ever again. This is the Jesko Absolut!
The misfiring Geneva Motor Show is now a distant memory but there is one car from the defunct show that deserves a few words and that’s the Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut.
It’s the fastest production car that the company has ever developed and none of its future models will ever attempt to unseat it.
Before we talk speed though, let’s look at some numbers quickly. Powering the Jesko Absolut is a twin-turbocharged 5.0-litre V8 engine that produces 955 kW and 1 000 Nm of torque when guzzling petrol but on E85 (85% ethanol + 15% petrol) those numbers swell to 1 193 kW and 1 500 Nm. A 9-speed automatic transmission is able to change gears “in virtually zero time from any gear to any other gear – regardless of how many gears are skipped” says Koenigsegg.
While Koenigsegg hasn’t specified an official top speed, the company has crunched the numbers and it believes a top speed of around 532 kph is possible. The Jesko Absolut slips through the air with a drag coefficient of just 0.278 and weighs only 1 320 kg.
Bear in mind that the fastest production car in the world is currently the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ which achieved a speed of 490 kph.
The proof is in the pudding, however, and the challenge Koenigsegg faces now is to find and access a road long enough for the Jesko Absolut to stretch its legs and reach its top speed and claim the crown as the fastest car in the world. That will take some time, but for now, we can only revel in the magnificence of this car.
The 2020 Geneva Motorshow was cancelled to due to the Coronavirus, so everybody had to follow the online unveilings from the comfort of their offices and homes. Behind the safety of a laptop/phone, all the new products revealed had one major theme: Everything must be electrified. Mike Fourie muses over how we need to catch up with the global trend before it's too late.
So Covid-19 put paid to the Geneva Show, but a couple of vehicles that were virtually unveiled last week indicate that the new vehicle market’s speeding towards that “tipping point” where electrical vehicle (EVs) derivatives and their development will not only be prioritised over their conventional (internal combustion engine) counterparts, they will obligate buyers to “switch to electric” because of the (planned) obsolescence of volume products.
Of all the impressive products that were "shown", I had an almost childlike fascination with the Koenigsegg Gemera, a 400-kph petrol electric-hypercar with expansive gullwing doors and seating for 4. Its peak outputs are 1.27 MW (yes, kW is just not going to hack it anymore) and 3 500 Nm, it can hit 100 kph from standstill in 1.9 seconds and run up to 300 kph on battery power alone, not for that long, but who cares? If it’s not the most powerful car ever to be put into series production, it’s certainly up there.
Electric hypercars for everyone
Koenigsegg Gemera packs 1.27 MW of power from its electrified powertain.
There were plenty of other hypercars with extensive electrification, a plethora of plug-in petrol-electric derivatives of well-known premium models and concept cars that preview a pure-EV future; the thought-provoking Renault Morfoz, for example, can shapeshift and utilises interchangeable battery packs.
New Lexus President Koji Sato recently said the market’s obsession with SUVs would “continue for another 5 years or so but after that… people will want something new”. Judging from the myriad new luxury off-roaders and crossovers that were “unveiled for Geneva”, Sato San might be a little quick on the draw. But could internal combustion-engined compact hatchbacks and compact family cars – yes, the most popular non-bakkie or bakkie-based new vehicles in South Africa – be on the endangered-species list too?
The new-generation Honda Jazz was recently launched in Europe, but in e-HEV hybrid guise only. The model is expected to be put into production in Thailand (from where our market’s model is sourced) by the end of the year, probably with either a 1.0-litre 3-cylinder turbopetrol or 1.3-litre 4-cylinder motor (or both). We may get the new Jazz here with a petrol motor – it’s unlikely that the e-HEV version would be viable – but if you live in Europe and don’t want a hybrid, well, you have to cross the Jazz off your list.
The new-generation Fiat 500 goes one step further. Although its predecessor will remain in production (at least for now), the “500e” is based on an all-new EV platform; there won’t be any petrol versions at all. Whether FCA South Africa will be bold enough to bring the much more upmarket and definitively-boutique new 500 to South Africa remains to be seen; perhaps the firm will wait and see whether the upcoming Mini Electric – the 500e’s direct rival – will be successful in Mzansi before making that call.
VW has to choose sides
VW has begun to trial electric cars in SA with the e-Golf, but there will not be a 2nd gen version.
So, what’s the big deal? The Jazz and 500 are not particularly important models from a ZA perspective… would the market miss them if they quietly dropped off local new-vehicle price lists? Well, perhaps not, but most of us probably believed the rate of EV proliferation (of pure electrics, hybrids and plug-in hybrids) would be driven by the laws of supply and demand (sort of); in other words, manufacturers would offer electrified and internal combustion-engine derivatives of the same model, so as buyers increasingly opted for the former, the latter would gradually be phased out or simply discontinued upon the launch of that car’s replacement.
But, as the saying goes: You cannot have your cake and eat it. As much excitement as there is about the Golf 8 GTI, Volkswagen made as big a fuss about its more efficiency-minded GTE and GTD stablemates in its press material. Some observers believe that in some markets, the new Golf will be under threat from none other than its ID.3 sibling. That’s why there won’t be another e-Golf; even the most versatile platform cannot match the optimised packaging of a dedicated EV architecture. And, with the UK government aiming to ban the sale of new petrol-, diesel- or hybrid- vehicles by 2035 (to name but one example of hardnosed legislation) and EU emission regulations becoming increasingly stringent, several manufacturers have turned their focus to adding a plethora of electrified models to their line-ups in order to stay on the right side of lawmakers.
Internal combustion development likely to cease
Something has to give… It was recently reported that Mercedes-Benz would “dramatically reduce” its model line-up as well as platform and powertrain options to reduce complexity and increase profitability. Autocar quoted Mercedes research and development boss Markus Schafer as saying the drive was a result of the firm’s focus on electric vehicles; it would range from reducing models to single components used in its products. Forget “supply and demand” – economies of scale and reduced R&D costs matter more.
That’s why the shift towards electrification is happing faster than many expected; manufacturers can no longer afford to keep developing and producing platforms that offer a variety of powertrains and “let the customers decide” which ones they prefer. I anticipate that turbodiesels will be the first to disappear from everything but bakkies and commercial vehicles and conventional hybrids will be eclipsed by plug-in versions; petrol engines will survive the longest… until they’re no longer the cheapest models to produce…
Dacia (Renault in SA) released the Spring Electric Concept, an attempt to show the cost of electric cars can be brought down.
All of which brings us neatly to the otherwise unassuming Dacia Spring Electric Concept, which is said to preview the Romanian brand's first EV model. EV technology has had a chance to gestate in pricey premium products for the past decade, which has limited such cars’ appeal to the majority of buyers – especially given low- to zero-emissions EVs are taxed heavily by our government, which simultaneously levies a CO2 tax on vehicles that emit more than 120g/km. However, the technology has trickled down to compact hatchbacks (such as the Peugeot e-208), as well as small crossovers.
The production version of the all-electric Spring Electric Concept will be an adapted version of the Chinese-made Renault K-ZE, which is based on none other than the Kwid budget car. We don’t know much about the small crossover apart from a claimed optimal range of 200 km, but imagine how the local introduction of such an affordable model would transform the look of a new-vehicle market in which the Toyota Prius (R508k) is currently the most affordable hybrid and the BMW i3 (R664k) the cheapest electric car…
The South African question
Those looking to switch to hybrid do so at the entry cost of R508k – for a Toyota Prius.
If our government could eventually be persuaded to offer relief from the hefty taxation of EVs (such as a reduction of import duties, luxury-car tax et cetera), electrically-driven or -assisted models could be offered to the public at competitive – let alone incentivised – prices, which would stimulate sales. In that case, more private- and indeed car companies would be willing to invest in the development of the Republic’s EV infrastructure.
Of course, that may all just be wishful thinking on my part. Cynics argue that a government with as high operating costs and debt-servicing responsibility as ours would be all-too reluctant to reduce its income from taxation of new vehicles, even if it would be “for the good of the planet”. Why? Because, in a sluggish economy with nominal growth, the state coffers need to be kept as full as possible. Besides, greater uptake of more-affordable EVs will mean the good ol' GOVT will earn less from CO2-emissions tax and nothing from fuel taxes (in the case of battery-only cars).
No matter which way you look at it, however, the electric train is about to leave the station; the new vehicle market is changing due to factors far beyond simple customer behaviour. We thought the poor quality of fuel was an impediment to new latest cars coming to South Africa. Hah, we better get ready for the EV Apocalypse… it's not that far in the future.
The world's best Volkswagen MK1 GTI is up for auction.
With each year more legacy cars become modern classics and for South Africans, the original Golf GTI remains an icon like no other.
Perhaps it is a question of the country’s special relationship with the first-generation Golf platform, locally built for decades after its international discontinuation, that makes the MK1 GTI such a South African hatchback hero.
Finding a perfectly original Golf GTI is deeply challenging. Many cars have been slightly altered over time, especially with regards to cabin comfort and upgraded radio/infotainment systems. But if you seek a unicorn first-generation GTI, in concourse condition, your Golf of destiny might have just come up for auction.
An original MK1 1.6 GTI has been released for sale in the UK and it appears to be the world’s finest running example in right-hand drive. The car in question was bought in September 1979 and has only done 27 358 km since then.
Powered by a 1.6-litre engine, good for 82 kW, and weighing only 840 kg, it is a reminder of a time when performance-by-lightness was the design mantra of hot hatch engineers.
This 1979 GTI’s configuration adds to its historic value with a treasure of small details. Perhaps the most important of these is its four-speed manual gearbox, which was upgraded to a five-speed shift pattern later in 1979.
Beyond the mechanical novelty of this GTI’s gearbox, it also has some charming cosmetic quirks, such as the fuel-filler cap, which doesn’t have a key slot lock. Inside you’ll find the traditional three-spoke Wolfsburg steering wheel and dimpled golf-ball shifter top. True to its original GTI roots, this 1979 car does not have a factory fitted radio.
Based in the UK and immaculately maintained, the claim of this GTI being the finest original car available for sale, is not ridiculous. What is it going to cost? Regarding the issue of price, auction projections are that it is expected to go for between R660 000 and R900 000 when the bidding starts later this month.
The new Ferrari F8 Spider is on its way to South Africa. Here's how much you can expect to pay for Maranello's latest.
The new Ferrari F8 Spider is the brand's latest addition to the convertible V8 portfolio and it replaces the 488 Spider. The roof mechanism is a retractable hardtop and impressively the vehicle is 20 kg lighter than the outgoing model. This new roof takes only 14 seconds to stow in the rear deck area.
In terms of powertrain, Ferrari has fitted its F8 Spider with the award-winning twin-turbocharged V8 motor. The 3.9-litre twin-turbocharged V8 motor produces a sensational 530 kW and 770 Nm, with the Italian brand claiming 0-100 kph in 2.9 seconds. What's perhaps more impressive is the 0-200 kph claimed time of 8.2 seconds and if the road is long enough, it'll hit a V-max of 340 kph. Power goes to the rear wheels via a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox.
Scuderia South Africa CEO, Mervyn Eagles, comments: "We opted to launch the revolutionary F8 Spider in conjunction with the completion of our new corporate identity facelift of our flagship showroom in Bryanston, Johannesburg. Both the F8 Spider and the newly renovated facilities are set to pioneer the next generation of the customer experience in our market"
As far as pricing goes, the base price for the Ferrari F8 Spider is R6 103 400. First deliveries are scheduled in the 4th quarter of 2020.
The updated Land Rover Discovery Sport is on its way to South Africa and we unearthed pricing for this model. Here's how much it costs.
The Land Rover Discovery Sport is a 7-seater SUV and a past #CarsAwards – powered by WesBank winner.
From what we can see on Land Rover SA's configurator, we're getting 2 engines. The petrol motor is the P249, which is a 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine and it produces 183 kW and 365 Nm. For the diesel fans, there's the D180 which is a 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel which has 132 kW and 430 Nm. All models feature 9-speed automatic transmissions and all-wheel drive.
There will be 2 models, a standard and an R-Dynamic, and the latter boasts 3 levels of trim: S, SE, HSE. A quick glance at the configurator shows the S rides on 18-inch wheels, the SE on 19-inch units, while the HSE boasts 20-inch alloys. A 21-inch alloy is available as an option.
We've been told by a JLR representative that the brand is busy updating its website so final pricing is yet to be confirmed. We'll update the final pricing and specifications closer to the launch.
Land Rover Discovery Sport Price in South Africa (March 2020)
Land Rover Discovery Sport D180 R749 500
Land Rover Discovery Sport P250 R760 000
Land Rover Discovery Sport D180 R-Dynamic S R819 000
Land Rover Discovery Sport D180 R-Dynamic SE R855 000
Land Rover Discovery Sport D180 R-Dynamic HSE R898 000
Land Rover Discovery Sport P250 R-Dynamic S R829 500
Land Rover Discovery Sport P250 R-Dynamic SE R865 500
Land Rover Discovery Sport P250 R-Dynamic HSE R908 000
Audi has previewed sportier versions of its e-tron electric SUV. Meet the soon-to-be-revealed Audi e-tron S.
Given the instantaneous torque from an electric engine that is addictively good fun, it was only a matter of time before electric car makers started applying liberal doses of sportiness to its EV range.
Audi will be making S versions of its e-tron range and released some details and images of its forthcoming products. What you see here are prototypes wrapped in Audi's infamous testing colours. If you see a vehicle with a black, grey and orange colour scheme, it's most likely a new Audi product which is close to release.
The new Audi e-tron S will be available in 2 body styles. Audi claims this is a 3-motor electric setup with enhanced quattro and electric torque vectoring, and total outputs are rated at 370 kW and 973 Nm. Those are serious numbers and Audi claims a 0-100 kph sprint time of 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 210 kph. Interestingly, the car can only produce that insane amount of power and torque for a short period of time. Standard outputs are not too shabby either at 320 kW and 808 Nm. The secret to this performance is the addition of a 3rd motor. In the standard Audi e-tron, there are just the 2 motors producing 265 kW and 561 Nm, but in its sportiest of settings, it'll deliver 300 kW and 664 Nm.
The new electrical torque vectoring replaces the conventional sport differentials by being able to send the power directly to each wheel. The responsiveness is near-instantaneous and Audi claims if a driver accelerates out of a curve in a sporty manner, the electric motor gives the rear wheel on the outside of the curve up to 220 Nm more torque than the wheel on the inside of the curve. Can you say electric SUV power slides? There's also adaptive air suspension which can vary the ride height by up to 76 mm. If you favour sporty driving, it'll lower by 26 mm and conversely, if you want to go offroad, it'll rise up to clear obstacles.
As for charging and range, Audi didn't give exact figures other than when it's plugged into its high-powered 150 kW charger, the Audi e-tron S can go from 5% to 80% in about 30 minutes. We should see the Audi e-tron S revealed at the 2020 Geneva Motor Show. The standard Audi e-tron should arrive in South Africa before the end of 2020.
If you are already driving an electric car or are considering buying an electric car, you will have to learn how to charge it. Here’s a basic guide on how to charge an electric car.
Unlike conventional Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) cars which either use petrol or diesel, electric cars are powered using electricity and you will have to “fill up” at a dedicated Electric Vehicle (EV) charging station, whether it be public or at your home.
How to charge your EV at a public charging station
Public EV charging infrastructure is becoming more prolific in South Africa, especially in urban areas, and finding a public charging station to charge your EV is easy with the help of technology such as the PlugShare app which can be downloaded on your smartphone. PlugShare will show you all the public charging stations in your vicinity, show what type of charging stations are available and whether the stations are operational. EV drivers will also be able to use the PlugShare app to plan driving routes to ensure that they don’t run out of range. The Plugshare app is therefore an essential tool if you are driving an EV.
The charging requirement for every EV will be different and so it’s worthwhile referring to your vehicle’s user manual to understand how and where you are able to charge your EV.
Your EV will be registered to use public charging infrastructure and an EV charging card will allow you to charge your EV at a public charging station. The card is either credited or you will be charged appropriately for charging on a monthly/annual basis.
Note that the cost of charging your EV will vary depending on what public EV charging station you use but bare in mind that public EV charging is more expensive than charging your EV at home.
How to charge your EV at home
Charging your EV at home is by far the most cost-effective charging solution.
Depending on what EV you drive or are planning to buy, a home charging system may or may not be bundled together with the purchase price of the EV. It’s best to ask the brand dealer if a home charger is included. If not, you will have to pay for the purchase and installation of the home EV charger over and above the purchase price of the vehicle. Pricing will vary greatly depending on the type and output of the system.
Once installed, your EV can be plugged in and charged while you are at home and the electricity usage will be billed to your municipal account. However, if you want to “go green” and avoid the effects of load shedding, you might want to consider investing in a solar system to power your EV charger. While this route might be expensive initially, the cost will be offset during EV ownership as your EV will be powered by the energy of the sun and you will no longer be paying for electricity to keep your EV charged.
The Kia Seltos has joined a crowded compact family SUV segment. This top-of-the-range Seltos 1.4T-GDI GT Line's exterior execution may divide opinion, but its performance, spacious interior and practicality are certainly big drawcards. Can it justify its R445k asking price, however? Let's find out.
We Like: Punchy engine, comfortable ride quality, practicality
Another day, another new SUV. This is the new Kia Seltos!
The Seltos is produced in India and slots in below the Sportage in Kia’s local product offering. It’s considered to be a compact family SUV (but it's larger than most models in its segment) and it competes with a wide range of rivals such as the Volkswagen T-Cross, Renault Duster, Nissan Qashqai, Suzuki Vitara, Mahindra XUV300, Honda HR-V and Hyundai’s Creta, to name just a few…
The eye-catching newcomer was Kia’s best-selling model in February 2020 (when 377 units were sold) and there’s little reason to think that it won't continue to sell strongly. However, the mid-spec 1.6 EX and EX+ derivatives are bound to constitute the volume of Seltos sales. Could the turbocharged 1.4T GDI GT Line, which offers appreciably more kerb appeal, be worth the extra outlay?
How it performs in terms of…
Kerb appeal
Not everyone will like the look of the Seltos, but it should still sell very well in South Africa.
The Seltos certainly injects bold styling into a segment filled with inoffensive-looking offerings, but in GT Line trim, the Korean compact family car's looks are so expressive that they might not be to everyone's taste. A few of our testers didn’t like the "busy design" and some onlookers even used words such as "kitsch" to describe the vehicle's cartoonish front-end styling. The plethora of lines and bulges do catch the eye, however – the design is far from boring and Kia deserves some credit for that. This particular test unit came dressed in the vibrant Intelligence Blue body colour, which is complemented by red detailing and -GT Line badging on the tiger-nose grille and tailgate. It rides on 17-inch alloys accented with red brake callipers, which add a dash of sportiness to the package.
Interior execution and features
The Seltos is solidly-built but some of the interior finishes could be of better quality.
Prospective buyers will be happy to know that the Seltos' perceived interior build quality is generally quite good. The GT Line gains a few more nice-to-have features over its lesser siblings, such as leather upholstery, a flat-bottomed multifunction steering wheel, stainless steel-finished pedals and interior mood lighting. The angular speaker-cover design in the doors is also rather interesting…
Perhaps the most prominent (and controversial) cabin feature is the bolt-upright instrument binnacle, which houses the instrument cluster (with analogue dials) and the 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The menus are easy to read and operate, while Android Auto- and Apple CarPlay compatibility is a welcome feature. The binnacle, however, has a shiny piano-black plastic surround that not only attracts dust and fingerprints, but cheapens the overall interior look and feel of the fascia – in our opinion. The same material is used lower down in the console, which doesn't help matters.
Moreover, the lack of dual-zone climate control (or a wireless charging pad) is glaring in this top-spec derivative and the humdrum heating-, ventilation- and aircon dials look as if they were hastily sourced from Kia’s budget-car parts bin. Cruise control and rear park distance control with a reverse-view camera are standard, but the image quality delivered to the screen is disappointingly poor.
On the safety front, the 1.4T-GDI GT Line is suitably equipped with a total of 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, brake assist and electronic stability control.
Practicality
Practicality and space are core strengths of the Seltos – it's larger inside than most offerings in the compact family segment.
The Seltos is larger than most of its direct rivals and its roominess is immediately apparent when you slide into the driver’s seat. It's as if you've stepped into a bigger family car; it feels that substantial. The seat cushions (fore and aft) are very comfortable and the height-adjustable driver’s seat and rake- and reach-adjustable steering column should make it easy to find your preferred driving position.
Rear passengers are afforded more than adequate head-, shoulder- and legroom, as well as a USB port to charge their devices. We took the Seltos on a camping trip up the West Coast… not only is its load bay (claimed to offer a 433-litre capacity) generous, the rear seatback splits in a 60:40 configuration and can fold completely flat, which opens up the rear area for loading longer or bulkier items.
There are 2 cupholders up front and ample storage in the door mouldings to store bottles and other goods. You can also stow valuables in the centre bin and we like that it has a sliding bin lid that doubles up as a comfortable armrest. In terms of practicality, the Seltos gets a thumbs up!
Performance and economy
Punchy performance and forgiving ride quality make for a pleasant drive.
The 1.4T-GDI GT Line is the only turbocharged derivative in the range (at least until a turbodiesel derivative arrives later in the year). The flagship's 1.4-litre turbopetrol engine develops peak outputs of 103 kW and 242 Nm of torque and directs those figures to front wheels via a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
It’s a punchy engine that has little trouble getting the Seltos up to highway speeds. There is some initial lag before purposeful acceleration ensues (such as when you need to execute quick overtaking manoeuvres), but for the most part, the Seltos performs spiritedly.
However, the transmission's shifts are perceptibly notchy and don't seem perfectly calibrated. Coupled with an overly-sensitive throttle, the Seltos can be a trifle lurchy in congested/stop-start traffic conditions or when driven with "a heavier right foot". The transmission tends to respond appreciably better to measured accelerator pedal inputs. It’s by no means a deal-breaker, but quite noticeable.
Drive and traction modes are accessed using this dial…
The GT Line is further equipped with a dial drive mode selector that allows its driver to choose between Normal, Eco and Sport settings. Furthermore, there are 3 terrain modes to choose from: Snow, Mud and Sand. As an ostensibly urban-based front-wheel-drive car that will hardly ever traverse unsealed road surfaces, except perhaps on weekend excursions, these modes seem rather superfluous in the Seltos and we can’t imagine that they'd make much of a difference. To be fair, although we did drive the Seltos on a gravel route for a brief period, we didn’t strictly go off-road with this test unit.
In terms of fuel economy, Kia claims 6.3 L/100 km, which is ambitious, considering that we averaged around 8.5 L/100 km during our test.
It’s worth mentioning that the Seltos offers a pleasing ride quality, which buyers in this segment won't necessarily expect – but appreciate nonetheless. Its suspension is pliant and forgiving and copes well on various surfaces – yes, including gravel. Together with evenly-weighted steering and a commendably well-insulated cabin, the Seltos is perfectly suited for being a family runabout.
Price and warranty
The Kia Seltos 1.4T-GDi GT Line is priced at R444 995 and is sold with a 5-year/unlimited km warranty and a 5-year/90 000 km service plan.
This Seltos GT Line has a lot going for it but it's priced on the high end of its segment.
There’s much to like about the Kia Seltos and one of its most endearing traits is its big-car personality. It rides well and serenely enough and the 1.4-litre turbopetrol engine is punchy. The transmission could be more refined, but compact family car buyers should find it adequate for the purposes of commuting to work and running daily errands. As for the interior, it’s appreciably spacious for its class and generally well-made, but the inconsistent quality of the finishes and a lack of a few nice-to-have luxury features (most notably dual-zone climate control) is disappointing in a flagship offering.
As much as we appreciate its powerplant, the 1.4T-GDI GT Line is steeply-priced for a derivative that offers mostly cosmetic upgrades over its mid-spec siblings. We have yet to test the naturally aspirated Seltos 1.6 EX+ (R389 995), but we have reason to believe that it will offer better value overall as it's more competitively priced against other offerings in this segment.
For about the same money as the flagship Seltos (R445k), you can step into (albeit soberly-specced) derivatives of family cars such as the Toyota RAV4, Subaru Forester and Mazda CX-5. And for about R70k less you can opt for the range-topping Volkswagen T-Cross Highline R-Line (R374 500), Suzuki Vitara Turbo (From R386 900) or, notably, this derivative's aforementioned 1.6 EX+ sibling.
So who should consider the Kia Seltos 1.4T-GDI GT Line? Buyers who can afford a mid- or entry-level family cars, but specifically want something more compact and stylish. Alternatively, if the look-at-me exterior execution of this range-topper really appeals to your discerning taste, you may well find it worthwhile to fork out the extra R55k to have one of the smartest small crossovers in your street.
We do, however, look forward to testing the Kia Seltos 1.6 EX+ in the near future. Hopefully, it will make a stronger case for itself than this flagship version. Stay tuned!
Jaguar I-Pace Vlog – Will Electric Cars Work in South Africa?
Right, what's it like to live with an electric car in South Africa? We spent a month with the Jaguar I-Pace electric car to find out.
One of the Cars.co.za CEO's has just lived with the new Jaguar I-Pacer for a month, but he's not keen on stealing Ciro's job. And so in the run-up to the 2020 Cars Awards, Ciro was in Johannesburg for a few days and stole the keys. Here's the vlog he made about his two days with the car.
Recently we installed our first electric vehicle charger at the Cars.co.za Johannesburg headquarters. We're gearing up to test electric cars and our first test unit came from Jaguar in the form of the rather impressive I-Pace.
The I-Pace was the outright winner of the World Car of the Year award, the World Design award and the World Green Car award in 2019, and has been widely acclaimed as one of the best EV's put on the market to date.
It is currently one of only two EVs that motorists can choose from in South Africa, the alternative being the BMW i3. That should change soon as VW, Audi and Mercedes Benz gear up to the launch ID.3, e-tron and EQC locally, but right now, your choice as a car buyer who wants to go electric is severely limited in this country.
In the meantime, if you have around R2 million and you want to stop using petrol, is the I-Pace going to work for you? You've come to the right place to find out.
For more information about the Jaguar Powerway, the network of superchargers which helps I-Pace and all-electric owners charge their cars in convenient locations, visit this link below:
