Ford AT44 is a Fat Tyre F-150

AT44 Ford F-150 is finally happening!

Arctic Trucks are globally celebrated for building some of the best off-road vehicles you can buy.

When that Hilux or Land Cruiser need some additional traction and floatation over sandy or snowy terrain, Arctic Trucks are the people who can make a plan. And that plan is usually fitting the largest possible tyres, by completely modifying factory wheel arch specifications and suspension set-ups. The company has also collaborated with Isuzu when it produced the D-Max AT 35.

Strangely, Arctic Trucks has never applied its skills to the world’s most popular vehicle (and bakkie). Ford’s F-150 has always orbited beyond the reach of the Icelandic company’s influence. But not anymore.

There is finally an Arctic Trucks version of the Ford F-150. As with most other Arctic Trucks, it rolls enormous tyres, has massively increased obstacle clearance ability and looks very imposing.

Although there is no set naming convention for this F-150, it is safe to speculate that it will have the ‘AT44’ badge, like most other Arctic Trucks vehicles. That naming convention denotes the size of its tyres, which are 44-inch Nokians, featuring the Finnish brand’s Polar Expedition tread compound.

To accommodate such high-volume tyres, Arctic Trucks have completely reshaped the F-150’s wheel arches with custom fenders. A custom suspension set-up for the F-150 AT44 is still being prototyped but is sure to make this bakkie unstoppable off-road.

The Arctic Trucks F-150 AT44 prototype is powered by Ford’s 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6, boosting 272 kW and 475 Nm. With the added rolling resistance and rotational mass increase of those 44-inch tyres, there is little doubt that Arctic Trucks will also be working on an engine upgrade, for its F-150 AT44.

Volvo Mulls V40 Replacement

Volvo is considering a replacement model for its V40 hatchback. But where would the model fit into the current portfolio?

Volvo globally and in South Africa are in a great space. The current arsenal are all highly-lauded products with most having either won a category or been a finalist in the #CarsAwards-powered by WesBank. It's interesting to note that while the majority of the range comprises SUVs, there are still some sedans and station wagons. The only model missing from the lineup is a hatchback and you may recall the V40 was discontinued back in 2019. Since that announcement, there has been no word on a new model and its understandable, given the push into SUVs and the popularity of the XC40.

UK outlet Auto Express had a chat to Lex Kerssemakers, Volvo’s Senior Vice-President for E Europe, the Middle East and Africa regarding the replacement for this model. “We need to do something more creative,” said Kerssemakers. “That’s why we have decided to not just replace the V40 on a one-to-one basis. There are two things you can’t exclude in the thinking process towards the next generation of V40. The high seating position is really an issue, and we see a lot of people moving from V40 into XC40. I was part of it and ran the project when we started the XC40; that polarisation between high and low was much stronger 5 years ago. Now you see even the die-hard low seating people moving to the higher seats. I personally think they may move back in a while because it’s a different driving experience, but it’s a trend. There’s also the fact that you cannot offer a new car any more – now, already – which is not equipped to be fully electrified."

So what does this mean exactly? Essentially, there could be an electrified baby SUV to rival things like the Mercedes-Benz GLA, BMW X2 and Audi Q2, and if Auto Express' report is on the money, we'll see Volvo's new car going on sale in 2022. If like us, you are wondering how a small SUV would fit in alongside the XC40, then think of it as the BMW X2 to the X1. Volvo hasn't followed the German trend of producing a coupe SUV for every regular SUV it produces, so this venture into a smaller XC40 would see it sail into untested waters.

Browse new and used Volvo vehicles for sale now.

Next-gen Mercedes-Benz C-Class Loses V6 & V8 Motors

Reports are suggesting the next-generation Mercedes-Benz C-Class will only have 4-cylinder petrol and diesel engines.

Picture credit: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien. We have paid for these photos and at the photographer's request, have watermarked them.

A report by Mercedes-Benz page JESMB suggests the all-new Mercedes-Benz C-Class will be powered by 4-cylinder motors, with the big V6 and V8 motors have been put out to pasture. Other Mercedes-Benz product portfolios will continue to use these motors, so there's no need to panic for now.

The report claims the new model will continue to be assembled in Merc's facilities of Bremen, East London (South Africa), Beijing and Tuscaloos. Customers will be receiving their new cars in spring 2021, which we assume is a European spring so around the first and second quarter of 2021.

In terms of engine lineup, there'll be 7 models with 4 diesels and 3 petrol engines to choose from. Kicking off the range will be the C180d with 90 kW, followed by the C200d with 120 kW. There'll be a C220d with 145 KW and finally at the top of the pile will be the C300d with 182 kW (with Integrated Starter-generator (ISG) of 15 kW). The motor is the OM654, a modular diesel engine designed by Mercedes-Benz in 2016.

For those wanting a petrol-powered Mercedes-Benz C-Class, there will be a C180 with mild-hybrid belt-driven starter generator tech to develop 116 kW (with an additional 12 kW thanks to the hybrid system) as well as a C200 using the same tech to produce 146 kW (plus 12 kW). There will also be a C350 model producing 202 kW (and 16 kW) from a M254 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder and 48-Volt ISG. There will also be a plug-in hybrid model using the same M254 engine, but the electric motor's output has been increased to around 100 kW and it will have a WLTP range of over 100 km on pure electric. We'd assume all models will feature the 9-speed automatic transmission.

What about the AMG models, you ask? Well, it appears the V8 turbo engine is gone, as is the V6 turbo motor. Replacing them will be the M139 motor, the same as the one used in the A45 S. In C43 AMG 4Matic application, it will be tuned to deliver 290 kW. The C63 AMG will also get the 2.0 M139 motor, but will gain an AMG EQ-Power hybrid module. The report suggests that there will be 2 output versions, one with 355 kW and the S model packing 390 kW. Expect the AMG models a few months after the debut of the base-spec Mercedes-Benz C-Class models.

Is this the cabin of the next-generation Mercedes-Benz C-Class?

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Hyundai Veloster N with DCT Teased

Hyundai has dropped short teaser video showing the Veloster N featuring a DCT.

While some purists prefer to extract a car’s performance using a manual transmission, others prefer an automatic to get the job done.

We recently sampled the manual Hyundai i30 N on road and track and a major highlight was the quality shift action offered by that transmission. We know that an 8-speed Dual-Clutch Transmission (DCT) will make it into the i30 N in due course, but Hyundai has dropped a cheeky teaser video of the Veloster N fitted with an 8-speed DCT.

We also know that the Veloster N is under consideration for South Africa but if you consider how long it took for the i30 N (it arrived earlier this year) to reach our shores and with all the global uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the arrival of the Veloster N remains to be seen.

The standard Veloster is a bit of a performance dud but thankfully the Veloster N appears to be yet another impressive product from Hyundai’s successful N Division and draws power from same turbocharged 2.0-litre engine used in the i30 N with 205 kW and 353 Nm of torque. A 6-speed manual transmission will now be joined with the option of a DCT and the accompanying steering-mounted shift paddles. While zero to 100 kph in 6.2 seconds is achievable with the manual, the DCT should be marginally quicker.

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Watch the teaser video below!

Volkswagen Golf 8 Gets Tuned

Volkswagen played it safe with the exterior design of the Golf 8 but that creates the opportunity for tuners to bring the new Golf to life.

Many Golf fans might be disappointed by the look of the new Golf 8 and while South Africans have to wait until the end of 2020 to get their hands on the latest Golf, some tuners are already developing styling kits for the new Golf 8.

The creation you see here is by German tuning specialists, JMS Fahrzeugteile, who have taken a standard Golf 8 and turned it into something far more striking. Note the subtle red GTI-style detailing and the extended spoiler lip adds an additional 3 cm to the front apron. Flared side sills add a dash of aggression to the overall look. At the rear, a custom diffuser is fitted and it can be adapted to suit either a single or double custom exhaust system.

JSM also decided to fit 19-inch, Y-spoke Barracuda Tzunamee EVO light-alloy wheels with a brushed gunmetal finish and red racing bolts. You’ll notice that this Golf 8 is sitting low thanks to a coilover suspension from KW.

The JMS Racelook Exclusive Line styling package is expected to go on sale in September 2020 and in addition to the kit, there may be some performance enhancements and bespoke exhaust options in the works too.

What do you think of the look of this Golf 8 by JMS?

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Tell us what you think of this look for the Golf 8!

Toyota RAV4 Gains More Tech

Toyota South Africa has given its RAV4 SUV some tech upgrades. Here are some details, plus how much the Toyota RAV4 range costs.

Since it's launch, the Toyota RAV4 has proven immensely popular not just in SA, but on a global scale. In light of recent customer feedback and what Toyota terms 'ever-evolving market requirements', the RAV4 gains some upgrades.

The changes are all in the tactile and feature departments, with the GX-grade RAV4 models receiving leather steering wheel- and shift-lever coverings.

The VX-grade of Toyota RAV4 gets an update to the Adaptive Cruise Control system. It now caters for all speeds, where previously it only operated at speeds above 40 kph. There's also an update to the Lane Keeping System. All new Toyota RAV4 models will gain smartphone integration in the form of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Want to purchase a Toyota RAV4? Browse new and used examples for sale here.

Apple CarPlay (Pictured) and Android Auto allow for app integration like maps, streaming music and of course, your Toyota app.

Toyota RAV4 Price in South Africa

All RAV4 models are sold with a 6-services/90 000 km service plan (service intervals at 12 months or 15 000 km) and a 3-year/100 000 km warranty. Toyota Connect telematics service and in-car Wi-Fi connectivity (with a complimentary once-off 15 GB) also feature as standard.

RAV4 2.0 GX 2WD – R445 600*

RAV4 2.0 GX CVT 2WD – R457 500 *

RAV4 2.0 GX-R-CVT AWD – R541 800 ^

RAV4 2.0 VX CVT 2WD – R541 600 *

RAV4 2.5 VX AT AWD – R618 400 ^

* Available with upgraded multimedia system as of 6 April 2020

^ Multimedia roll-out will be in the form of a running change

Lexus Adds Torque Vectoring to LC

LC becomes lighter and more dynamic.

If you are in the market for a naturally-aspirated V8 grand tourer, the options are few. Amongst those is the Lexus LC500 and the Japanese luxury brand has announced some upgrades for its strikingly styled grand tourer

Starting inside, Lexus has finally added Android Auto to the big coupe's infotainment capability, with full screen mirroring.

There aren’t any substantial exterior styling changes, but the available colour palette has been improved. Lexus will now offer its formerly exclusive Nori Green Pearl paint finish as an option for all LCs and there’s a new Cadium orange hue, too.

Lexus can also now supply a contrasting wheel colour on your LC coupe, with a darkened 20-inch alloy wheel design.

Beyond the new swathe of colours, Lexus has applied some mechanical engineering improvements to the LC range. The suspension components are updated with a new rear stabilizer bar and the electronic absorber controls have now software parameters.

Perhaps the most exciting news for Lexus fans who regard the LC coupe range as a driver’s car, is a new ACTIVE Cornering Assist function. This is effectively the Lexus name for torque vectoring and should enable any LC to exhibit sharper lateral dynamics, by trimming the brakes on its inside wheels, when cornering.

The new suspension components have also enabled Lexus to trim the LC coupe’s weight by 10 kg and further enhancing the LC’s driver appeal is a reprogrammed ten-speed automatic gearbox.

Lexus drivetrain engineers have tested and validated new software, which will hold gears for longer during peak acceleration. The gearbox has been tuned to more regularly gear down to second gear, at lower-speeds with a lot of steering angle, to allow appropriate acceleration through the apex of corners.

Honda BR-V: Production in India Ends

Honda India has announced that the production of the BR-V will come to an end, but the BR-V will still be offered in South Africa.

Honda’s 7-seater BR-V is on the rocks as production comes to an end in India but the versatile 7-seater will forge on in the local market.

"Honda Motor Southern Africa has no plans to discontinue the BR-V and is currently securing sufficient stock of the BR-V from India while the alternate factory is being set up for production," says Dinesh Govender, General Manager of Automobiles at Honda Motor Southern Africa.

Honda SA, however, has not divulged where the BR-V will be sourced from going forward. Other than India, the BR-V is also produced in countries such as Thailand, Pakistan, Malaysia and Indonesia.

A refreshed BR-V was introduced to South Africa earlier this year with mild styling tweaks and revised specification updates.

The BR-V is still powered by the same 1.5-litre petrol engine with 88 kW and 145 Nm and can be had with either a 6-speed manual transmission or a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT).

Honda BR-V Price in SA

BR-V 1.5 Trend Manual – R262 600

BR-V 1.5 Comfort Manual – R295 400

BR-V 1.5 Comfort CVT – R314 100

BR-V 1.5 Elegance Manual – R318 300

BR-V 1.5 Elegance CVT – R336 800

The Honda BR-V is sold with a 5-year/200 000 km warranty, 4-year/60 000 km service plan (BR-V Comfort/Elegance only, optional on Trend) and 3-year AA Roadside Assistance.

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Kia Telluride named 2020 WCOTY

Kia has become the first Korean manufacturer to win the World Car of the Year title. Its Telluride 7-seater premium SUV was chosen ahead of the Mazda3 and CX-30 by a jury of 86 motoring journalists, including Cars.co.za's Consumer Experience Manager, Hannes Oosthuizen, from 24 countries across the globe. The Soul EV also bagged the World Urban Car of the Year title.

The announcement would have been made at the New York Auto Show, but the event was cancelled because of COVID-19, therefore the World Car Awards judging panel announced the winners via an online presentation.

“Everyone at Kia is truly honoured to receive not just one, but two awards from the World Car Awards judging panel,” said Thomas Schemera, executive vice-president and product head of Kia Motors. “These accolades are a testament to the talents and efforts of a worldwide team, who all strive to create desirable, high-quality and practical cars that drivers love.”

The Telluride is Kia's flagship SUV offering. Kia says demand for it is so strong that the brand can't offer it in RHD guise yet.

The Telluride, which is unfortunately not offered in right-hand-drive markets (although the all-new Sorento 7-seater is scheduled to arrive in South Africa during the course of 2020), was chosen from an initial World Car of the Year entry list of 29 vehicles, which was subsequently narrowed to 3 finalists in the category, including the Mazda3 premium hatchback (a losing 2019/20 #CarsAwards premium hatchback finalist) and the CX-30 all-electric family car.

As is the case with the Telluride, the new-generation Soul EV is left-hand-drive only, but its win is significant in that the Kia was chosen ahead of the Mini Electric and Volkswagen T-Cross, which recently won its #CarsAwards category.

Consolation win for Mazda3

Mazda did not go home empty-handed from the 2020 World Car Awards, however. An expert panel including Anne Asensio, Gernot Bracht, Ian Callum, Patrick le Quément, Tom Matano, Gordon Murray and Shiro Nakamura narrowed the candidates for the World Car Design of the Year award to the Mazda3, Peugeot 208 compact hatchback and Porsche Taycan electric performance sedan. The WCOTY jury then picked the Mazda3 as the winner in the category.

Watch our recent video review of the Mazda3, presented by Ciro De Siena

The Taycan may not have won the World Car Design of the Year award, but it was a double winner on in the 2020 WCOTY programme. First, the Taycan was named the World Performance Car of the Year, which the Zuffenhausen-based firm was guaranteed to win because the 718 Spyder/Cayman GT4 and the Porsche 911 were the other finalists. Porsche had previously won the World Performance Car category in 2006, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2017.

The all-electric Porsche Taycan is scheduled to be introduced in South Africa during the second half of 2020.

Porsche's first pure EV product beat its 911 sibling and the Mercedes-Benz EQC all-electric executive SUV, which is also bound for the South African, to take the World Luxury Car of the Year title for 2020.

Previous overall winners of the World Car of the Year programme include the Audi A6 (2005), BMW 3 Series (2006), Lexus LS 460 (2007), Mazda2 (2008), Volkswagen Golf Mk6 (2009), Volkswagen Polo (2010), Nissan Leaf (2011), Volkswagen Up (2012), Volkswagen Golf 7 (2013), Audi A3 (2014), Mercedes-Benz C-Class (2015), Mazda MX-5 (2016), Jaguar F-Pace (2017), Volvo XC60 (2018) and Jaguar I-Pace (2019).

Cars.co.za's Hannes Oosthuizen has served as WCOTY jury member for South Africa from 2006 to 2013 and from 2016 to the present day.

Epic Mercedes-AMG G63 Yachting Edition by Carlex Design

Polish design and tuning firm, Carlex Design, has released renderings of a Mercedes-Benz G63 Yachting Edition and it looks quite impressive, would you agree?

Just a few weeks ago, we were mightily impressed by the fine detailing of the Mercedes-AMG G63 Steampunk Limited Edition by Carlex Design and now a luxurious, maritime-inspired G63 Yachting Edition has been brought to life with a set of render which highlights what this upgrade package could offer.

Featuring a two-tone brushed-silver and black body, the G63 Yachting Edition is striking. The look is further accentuated with large 22-inch wheels and a specially-designed rear wheel cover. For the interior, Carlex Design provides 2 distinct options including a white-leather interior and a brown leather theme. Light and dark wood finishes resembling the decking of a yacht are seen in the load bay and both options give the G63 a classy look. The headliner appears to be finished in Alcantara with a special Yachting Edition emblem which is a visual reminder that this is indeed a bespoke vehicle.

The AMG G63 is powered by a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 engine with 430 kW and 850 Nm of torque and can sprint from zero to 100 kph in 4.5 seconds. There’s no word on whether the G63 Yachting Edition will offer additional power but we wouldn’t be surprised if Carlex Design squeezes more grunt from this engine.

Do you like the look of this Mercedes-AMG G63 Yachting Edition?

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Ford AT44 is a Fat Tyre F-150

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