This is the GWM P Series bakkie and it's coming to SA in 2020. Here's all you need to know about this rival to the Ford Ranger, Toyota Hilux and Volkswagen Amarok.
Billed as the most ambitious Chinese double-cab to date, GWM has stated its intentions to become a 'Top 3' bakkie brand with its new P Series.
Design proportions are bold, and the P Series measures 5.4 metres nose-to-tail, 1.86 metres wide and stands 1.93 metres tall. This new Chinese double-cab rides on the P71 ladder-frame platform, which it shares with the Haval H9 large SUV – familiar to South Africans who are followers of the Chinese brand.
The cabin architecture is impressive for a Chinese vehicle with a large touchscreen infotainment system and passenger vehicle-like ergonomics.
Mechanically, the P Series is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol which drives all four wheels via an 8-speed ZF automatic transmission. The 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine boosts 140 kW and 360 Nm. GWM has also equipped the P Series with 3 differential locks, which should theoretically give it unrivalled off-road ability. GWM has not yet been clear as to whether the 3 differential locks will be a standard configuration or optional, as part of a dedicated off-road package. Features? Plenty. There is a surround-view camera, rear-view camera and 12 radar pods allow for lane departure warning and adaptive cruise control. All active safety interventions systems are managed by Bosch’s 9.3-generation stability control.
When is it coming to South Africa? During the recent Haval H2 facelift launch in January 2020, we chatted to GWM/Haval staff about its pickup aspirations and they confirmed the P Series introduction in South Africa will begin in April 2020, with the launch of the mid-spec model. The flagship GWM P Series bakkie will be arriving in South Africa towards the end of 2020 and while pricing and spec are yet to be confirmed, we suspect the Chinese will come in with an aggressive pricing strategy.
The facelifted Haval H2 compact family car has landed in South Africa and we had a chance to sample the latest version of a former Cars.co.za Consumer Awards – powered by WesBank semi-finalist. Do the improvements make it an even stronger proposition?
Vehicle-launch press conferences are usually a mixed bag of messages: superfluous PR fluff interspersed with genuine nuggets of information. In Haval's case, the headline news is significant: South Africa is now the biggest market for the SUV brand outside of mainland China. It's impressive, considering the next biggest country is mighty Russia.
Haval is a fledgeling brand in South Africa (in our market, it's been around for less than half a decade), but its sales figures are noteworthy. Since its local introduction in May 2017, the H2 has been Haval's best-selling model (more than 7 235 units have found homes in Mzansi). As a matter of fact, it's the 3rd-best seller in its market segment, Haval claims. Interestingly, China sold about 10 000 per month for 4 years in a row, which is one way of saying that Haval's home market is comparatively humungous.
What's on offer?
The updated Haval H2 has landed in SA, complete with fresher looks and generous specification.
The updated range comprises 4 derivatives. The solitary engine offering is a 1.5-litre 4-cylinder turbopetrol (with peak outputs of 105 kW and 202 Nm), mated with either a 6-speed manual gearbox or a 6-speed automatic transmission. In terms of fuel economy, Haval claims 8.2 and 9.0 L/100 km respectively. The trim levels are City and Luxury.
The latest H2 gains a revised grille, new arrow-design headlamp cluster, fresh foglights and a revised lower bumper. Newly-designed 18-inch wheels and a panoramic sunroof (on Lux versions) are also notable additions. At the rear, the newcomer benefits from a new splitter plate and larger exhaust tips. The rear aspect is characterised by additional protective cladding and a redesigned bumper, while the taillights are hexagonally-shaped. The facelifted H2 is further distinguishable by a chrome strip that links the taillights.
On the inside, the H2's infotainment cluster gains Apple CarPlay compatibility, while Bluetooth hands-free and audio streaming functionality, as well as cruise control, are standard across the range. Curiously, however, there's no Android Auto… The steering wheel features controls for the audio system, Bluetooth and cruise control.
Safety-wise, the H2 is now equipped with 6 airbags as standard as well as ABS with EBD, brake assist and electronic stability control. Every derivative comes with rear park distance control with a reverse-view camera, as well as a tyre-pressure monitoring system. To reiterate, Lux versions feature panoramic sunroofs, which is rare in this segment.
A panoramic sunroof is now available in our market, but it only features on the top-spec versions.
What's it like to drive?
We had a chance to put the facelifted Haval H2 through its paces on the R44/Clarence Drive near Gordon's Bay in the Western Cape. It's an exhilarating route, known for its spectacular scenery and excellent tarmac. Annoyingly, the road's almost too smooth (so, not ideal for evaluating a car's general ride quality) – even the most track-focused hypercars ride sublimely on that route! What we hadn't factored in was the wind. Recently, Cape Town and its surrounds have been buffeted with excessively gusty winds; so strong, in fact, that they've prevented ships from leaving the harbour. For road users, it has been a battle to keep cars in their lanes, with the lateral gusts doing their best to push vehicles off course. Surprisingly, the Haval H2 delivered great grip and road-holding; despite the fact that its aimed at a budget family-car market, it exudes a big-car feel.
The big-car feel is a wonderful thing, especially in the compact family car segment, where many offerings are based on puny compact hatchbacks. It's pleasant and endearing to pilot a vehicle that doesn't cost the earth, yet feels upmarket/premium. The steering is good, with a reassuring solidity in feel at low speeds, but with sufficient weighting as you pick up pace. As we mentioned, the tarmac was too good to evaluate ride quality, but we can mention there was a touch of road noise from the 18-inch tyres at higher speeds.
The cabin feels modern and solidly finished.
Speaking of speed, our vehicle for the launch evaluation was the top-spec H2 Luxury with an auto 'box. We found the performance adequate, but the engine could have been freer-revving in nature. Not only did the engine feel "tight", it was quite vocal at higher revs. We'll attribute that to the vehicles being brand new; our red unit (pictured at the top of the article) had only 180 km on its odo'. We suspect that power delivery would be a lot smoother and progressive after the vehicle had been run in (clocked up more mileage).
Still, there's a lot to like here. Many would expect that the cabin quality would be middling (given the H2's particular price point), but in truth, the Haval's solid build quality and good-quality finishes rank among the best in the compact family-car class. The soft-touch dashboard feels wonderfully upmarket and the fascia boasts all the convenience features one'd expect. Apple CarPlay makes its debut, with the USB port located neatly in the centre armrest to keep your phone out of sight, but curiously Android Auto is not supported. We had a good poke around the cabin and noted the rear legroom is decent enough for an adult male to sit behind himself. The luggage space is reasonable too.
Apple CarPlay makes its debut in the Haval H2
Summary
Our time with the facelifted Haval H2 was short, but suffice to say we're itching to delve deeper into what this updated Chinese model has to offer. We'd love to get our hands on a unit that has been run in and drive it on some gravel roads. With 180 mm of ground clearance, it surely should offer more than enough ability to traverse the odd gravel route or farm road? As for rivals, this is one of the most hotly-contested segments in the market, with the likes of the Renault Duster, Volkswagen T-Cross, Hyundai Creta, Ford EcoSport and many more are fighting for their place in the sun. Haval is proof that the Chinese brand is dynamic; its products' quality gets better with each new model we test.
Should you buy one? Keenly priced, with solid aftermarket support and a substantial warranty/service plan, the Haval H2 again represents astonishing value; it should continue right where its predecessor left off. Impressively, the price hasn't increased dramatically either – the starting price of the previous range was R264 900 and the flagship offering retailed at R324 900 (updated pricing is at the bottom of this article). We're keen to spend more time with the H2 and eagerly looking forward to giving it a thorough evaluation.
The updated Haval H2 looks to continue its sales success story.
Mercedes-Benz has offered the world's media a foretaste of its facelifted E-Class executive sedan, which is expected to debut at the upcoming Geneva Show. The upgrade to its electrical system is said to be “more advanced than the S-Class in certain areas.”
Because vehicle manufacturers have to compete against one another for notable press exposure during international motor shows, many marques have chosen to avoid the traditional media melee and opted to “leak” official details days or weeks before the event (heck, some have even released complete press kits). So, in the lead-up to its product’s full unveiling in Geneva, Mercedes-Benz has showcased thinly-disguised examples of its revamped E-Class to the media in Nevada, USA.
The thinly-disguised facelifted E-Classes cruise down the famous Las Vegas strip.
“It might not look like it, but it’s one of the most comprehensive facelifts we’ve ever undertaken,” Mercedes-Benz’s Head of E-Class Development Michael Kelz told autocar.co.uk, “(The significant) upgrade to the electrical system (has allowed) us to add a number of new intelligent driver assistance systems. (As a result, the E-Class is) now more advanced than the S-Class (first-class saloon) in certain areas.”
The W213-generation Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan debuted in the South African market in 2016 and won the executive sedan category of the Cars.co.za Consumer Awards – powered by WesBank – in 2018 as well as 2019. We expect the newcomer to arrive in the local market well into the 2nd half of 2020; the updated E-Class will be distinguishable by its wider grille, redesigned bumpers and boot lid. The Avantgarde trim line will be standard, with the Executive- and AMG- lines optional.
The elaborate air intakes and daimond grille indicate this pre-production derivative has a sportier AMG-line trim.
Inside, the revised E-Class features a new multi-function steering wheel, a frameless rear-view mirror, updated trims and materials, a touchpad infotainment controller (which replaces the current car’s rotary controller) as well as a pair of 10.3-inch infotainment and instrumentation screens that can be upgraded to 12.3-inch units.
The W213’s aforementioned new electrical system first makes its presence felt through the addition of the now-familiar Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) interface with "Hey Mercedes" voice control and augmented reality (information such as house numbers are shown virtually in the video image of the surroundings on the media display), combined with Interior Assist (which allows intuitive, natural operation of different comfort and MBUX functions by movement recognition).
You can notice the revamped E-Class' reprofiled bumper and boot-lid treatment in this image.
Other new features include Energising Comfort Control and -Coach (the individual fitness recommendations are based on an intelligent algorithm), Energising seat kinetics and Power Nap (in conjunction with 48V system or plug-in hybrids), an air-quality indicator and Mercedes-Benz Urban Guard (all-around surveillance of the parked vehicle with collision damage-, tow-away protection- and anti-theft warnings, tracking function in case of theft and the owner's ability to deactivate the vehicle key by smartphone as a preventive measure if the key is lost or stolen, Mercedes says.
Other benefits of the revised E-Class’ new electrical system include the introduction of new Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive functions such as:
Active Distance Assist Distronic with route-based speed adjustment: with the help of information from LiveTraffic, the E-Class can recognise and respond to traffic jams and slow-moving traffic even before the driver becomes aware of them. When a traffic jam is detected (and if the driver does not choose a different response), Distronic (if activated) will reduce the car’s speed to around 100 kph as a precaution.
Active Traffic Jam Assist: in the event of a freeway traffic jam (where there are clear lane markings), the system can substantially assist the driver with lane-keeping and maintaining a safe distance at speeds up to around 60 kph.
Active Steering Assist: can assist the driver with steering into an emergency lane on multi-lane roads.
Active Brake Assist with cross-traffic function: if there is a danger of a collision with “oncoming traffic when making a turn across a freeway, the E-Class can apply braking at the speeds typical of such manoeuvres”, Mercedes-Benz claims.
Active Blind-spot Assist with exit warning: this function can lower the risk of a collision with other road users, for example passing cyclists. Active Blind Spot Assist also monitors the blind spot when at a standstill, and can warn the driver of approaching vehicles, motorcycles or bicycles when opening the door.
Parking Package with 360-degree camera: Side View gives the Parking package a new function that keeps an eye on the entire side of the vehicle. The extended side view makes it easier to manoeuvre alongside nearby, parallel obstacles.
Both the new 4- and 6-cylinder turbopetrol engines feature 48-V electrical systems and integrated starter motors.
On the engine front, Mercedes-Benz has introduced a pair of inline turbopetrol engines with 48-V electrical systems and integrated starter motors that provide them with mild-hybrid properties. The longitudinally-mounted 2.0-litre 4-cylinder (M254) engine, which will also find its way into a host of other Mercedes-Benz models, produces peak power of 200 kW and the 3.0-litre 6-pot 270 kW, each of which are supplemented by 15.7 kW from an electric motor, autocar.co.uk reports.
We’ll bring you more details on the facelifted E-Class’ arrival date in the South African market and local specifications as soon as they become available.
Self-driving car company, Cruise, has revealed its new fully autonomous Origin shuttle which makes a compelling case for the future of public transport.
Cruise, an autonomous technology company based in San Francisco, California, has revealed the Origin, an electric, driverless vehicle that the company intends deploying for a scalable ride-sharing service.
This might look like a concept, but it’s not. It’s actually production-ready and traditional driving instruments such as a steering wheel, pedals and instrument cluster don’t feature, which creates more space to accommodate passengers. Passengers face each other inside the origin and each person has access to their own USB ports to charge devices. Mounted screens are also fitted to provide ride information. Access to Origin is gained via sliding doors as opposed to outward opening doors.
Cruise CEO, Dan Ammann, said “We’ve been just as obsessed with making the Origin experience as inexpensive as possible. Because if we’re really serious about improving life, and our cities, we need huge numbers of people to use the Cruise origin. And that won’t happen unless we deliver on a very simple proposition, a better experience at a lower price than what you pay to get around today.”
The Origin is designed to operate for over 1.6-million km and is modular and upgradeable which means individual components can be easily replaced. Since Cruise specialises in autonomous technology, the Origin is equipped with a multi-layered sensor system that makes use of radars and cameras that are able to track people and objects in a way that creates a safe and reliable autonomous public transport solution.
Is this what the future of public transport looks like?
Details regarding the electric powertrain are unknown at this point but parent company General Motors (GM) is expected to produce the Origin on its electric vehicle platform.
However, as it stands, it might take some time before the Origin is put to work in cities as it reportedly doesn’t yet meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) which are U.S. federal regulations that dictate design, construction, performance, and durability requirements for motor vehicles and regulate automobile safety-related components, systems, and design features.
We will keep you updated as soon as more details become available.
Haval H2 (2020) Specs & Price
Haval has launched a facelifted H2 compact family car in South Africa. Herewith specification and pricing details…
Since its arrival on local soil back in 2017, Chinese SUV brand has experienced notable success in the local market and over 7 235 H2s have been sold to date. Now, a facelifted H2 will look to carry that success forward into 2020 and beyond.
What’s changed?
A panoramic sunroof is now offered and connectivity has improved with the addition of Apple CarPlay.
The latest H2 gains a revised grille, new Arrow headlights, foglights and revised lower bumper. Newly-designed 18-inch wheels and a panoramic sunroof are also notable additions. At the rear, the H2 benefits from a new splitter plate and larger exhaust tips. There’s also additional protective cladding at the rear with a redesigned bumper while the rear taillights now feature a new hexagon shape. The facelifted H2 is further distinguished by a chrome strip seen across the boot lid.
On the inside, the H2 gains Apple CarPlay functionality while Bluetooth and cruise control is standard across the range. Mounted steering wheel controls, including audio, Bluetooth and cruise control, is standard. The H2 is now equipped with 6 airbags as standard as well as ABS with EBD, brake assist and electronic stability control. Rear park distance control with a rear camera as well as a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System is also standard.
Customers can choose between the entry-level City grade or the high-spec Luxury grade.
The H2’s 1.5-litre turbopetrol engine offers 105 kW and 202 Nm of torque and can be had with either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission. Fuel consumption is claimed at 8.2 and 9.0 L/100km respectively.
Haval H2 – Price in South Africa
H2 City 6MT – R269 900
H2 Luxury 6MT – R294 900
H2 City 6AT – R304 900
H2 Luxury 6AT – R329 900
The Haval H2 is sold with a 5-year/100 000km warranty, 5-year/60 000 km service plan and 5-year/unlimited km Roadside Assitance
The outputs of the performance versions of the Volkswagen Golf 8 have been leaked. 245 kW Golf R? Yes please!
The leaks just keep on coming. We've just seen a leaked shot of the new Volkswagen Golf 8 GTI thanks to Instagram user Wilcoblock, now it appears that a screenshot of a product strategy document has been posted by Cochespias.
As for the outputs, the document below shows that there'll be substantial power upgrades across the board. The Volkswagen Golf 8 GTI will boast 180 kW from a 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder motor. Power goes to the front wheels via either the acclaimed DSG or a manual gearbox. Our love for the fast-shifting dual-clutch transmission means, it's highly unlikely we'll get the manual 'box.
Now here's where things get exciting. The document gave us the outputs of the Volkswagen Golf 8 TCR, which will come to market with 221 kW from a 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. Finally, the mighty Volkswagen Golf 8 R will feature 245 kW from a 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder. Power will be sent to all 4 wheels and given this much power, it would not surprise us to see it hurtle to 100 kph in under 4.5 seconds.
These outputs bring the new Volkswagen Golf 8 GTI and R closer its rivals like the soon-to-be-launched Hyundai i30 N (202 kW) and venerable Renault Megane RS280 (205 kW), while the Golf R will be more than a match for the fresh duo of the Mercedes-AMG A35 and BMW M135i xDrive. Let the battle commence!
Ford Sierra XR-8: South African Muscle Car – SentiMETAL Ep14
For SentiMETAL Episode 14 we head back to the Freestate for another fast, locally-developed Ford, the XR-8.
There are few words that get us petrolheads as excited as a homologation special. We often forget how many of these cars were actually produced locally, some of which have already been covered on our SentiMETAL YouTube playlist while a few are coming in the near future. To be able to enter its Sierra XR-8 into Group One racing in the 80s, Ford had to build 200 of these V8-engined beasts.
You could have your XR-8 in any colour, so long it was white…
Earlier, the company had actually planned to increase that number to 250. Appropriately, the initial local launch of this car was held on the Aldo Scribante race track in the capital of South Africa’s Eastern Cape province, Port Elizabeth. Following this event, selected press gained access to the car a few months later. One can only imagine how exceptional and important this car must have been for Ford and the industry in the mid-80s.
There is no mistaking the XR-8 for any other Sierra as it offers a big-bore exhaust, bi-plane rear wing and the car’s designation just below it. Open the bonnet and nestled in the front is a 4,9-litre, V8 engine taken at the time from Ford’s Mustang sports GT. It goes without saying that at the time this was the fastest factory Sierra in the world, developed right here in South Africa. During a road test conducted by CAR magazine, the XR-8 achieved a top speed of 231 km/h and a 0-100 km/h time of 6,95 seconds – impressive figures for 1984, especially since Ford conservatively claimed an acceleration time of "under 8 seconds"!
Massive bi-plane rear wing appears to give downforce even when the car is standing still.
Another interesting figure is the average consumption the car achieved – over 18 litres per 100 km! The engine produces 161 kW at 4 750 rpm and 374 N.m at 3 250 rpm and was imported from the USA, together with a light alloy Mustang gearbox with an overdrive fifth gear. The engine is fed through a four-barrel Holley carburettor. Local might be lekker, but the development of this car included more than 90 specialist components, so it wasn't easy…
These were parts such as a new front cross member, an extended grille, uprated propshaft and axles and, as expected, also a stronger differential. The engine is 33 kg heavier than the V6 engine of the XR-8’s volume-selling sibling. The suspension was modified with uprated coil springs, said to be 50% stiffer in the front and 40% at the rear. Ventilated disc brakes were fitted on all four corners while the fronts offered four-pot calipers. Developed in Germany, the Ronal alloy wheels were specifically manufactured for the XR-8. All of these performance sedans were painted white with Ford Motorsport-inspired blue stripes while the lower rocker panels were finished in grey-blue moulded PVC.
It's not the prettiest… but it's pretty special.
Both Fanie du Preez and his dad have an intense love and interest in cars. As their business is focused around trucks and transport, it doesn’t come as a surprise that their hands are always ready to work or maintain their car collection. These include even full restorations of certain cars in this collection. One would have thought that only being 28 years of age, Fanie would not appreciate or understand the importance of this car, but it couldn’t be further from the truth.
One article confirmed that when the news hit Europe that a V8-engined Sierra was being built in South Africa, there was an immediate level of interest followed by some envy – which is totally understandable. CAR magazine’s article ended by stating that “…the XR-8s could become much sought after…”. It might have taken a while, but 25 years later and this has indeed become the case.
VW’s British business is keen to retain a presence in the limousine market, with high-performance four-door models.
Although Bentley has been forced to recognise that the traditional limousine market is shrinking, it believes that the margins on offer are still attractive.
With its new Flying Spur, Bentley also believes that it offers a combination of performance and luxury which is unrivalled.
Mercedes-Benz has proven that customers can still be enticed to remain in limousines, instead of ultra-luxury SUVs, with its S-Class AMG models. Adding the dramatic performance potential of AMG’s engineering enhancements has made S-Class marketable to a much broader customer profile.
Bentley’s strategy with the Flying Spur is to offer tailored luxury trim and individualisation, comparable to a Maybach, but with much greater driveability and performance.
To that end its Flying Spur is powered by a 6-litre twin-turbo W12 engine, boosting 467 kW and 900 Nm, numbers which compare very closely with the Mercedes/AMG V12 engine. Bentley claims that its new Flying Spur limousine is good for 0-100 kph in 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 333 kph.
Considering the car’s top speed potential, it features a retractable hood ornament and also becomes the first Bentley with four-wheel steering. The presence of rear-wheel steering makes the Flying Spur less cumbersome to park, at crawl speeds, and much stable at high speed, if a sudden change of direction is required.
The new Flying Spur is also lighter than its predecessor, thanks to the expanded use of aluminium in its construction, instead of steel. Bentley claims a saving of 150 kg.
Comfort and trim levels are of the calibre one would expect from a Bentley, whilst infotainment is boosted by the option of a 2 200 W Naim sound system.
Bentley is under pressure to perform, as VW CEO, Herbert Diess, has stressed that profitability is now paramount for all parts of the VW Group.
The 7.5-generation Volkswagen Golf R has not been put out to pasture yet… Volkswagen is releasing a Final Edition, of which a limited number will be available in a choice of three eye-catching (and, ostensibly, hand-painted) exterior finishes straight from the factory.
In August 2019, Cars.co.za quoted a report from Motor Authority that suggested the production run of the current-generation Golf R had come to an end. After all, the Golf 8 GTI is set to make its public debut at the upcoming Geneva Show before spearheading the range’s arrival in South Africa near the end of 2020. In the meantime, the Golf R remains very much alive on our price list and, in some markets, Volkswagen is readying to launch a Final Edition version of the flagship Golf derivative around mid-year.
Violet Touch Pearlescent.
The Golf R is renowned for its accessible performance and giant-slaying capability; it's been featured in many of our articles and videos. Packing a 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-pot with 228 kW and 400 Nm, allied with a quick-shifting transmission and all-wheel drive, the Golf R positively catapults off the line. Given its claimed a 0-100 kph time of 4.6 seconds, we can imagine many bigger, more prestigious vehicles have been embarrassed by the R's visceral performance.
However, the Golf 8-iteration of the R is not expected to be released until 2021 and, until then, Volkswagen is offering fans of the flagship Golf derivative this: the Golf R Final Edition, which is mechanically similar to the current derivative, but it does have a specification all of its own. Read on…
The evocatively-named ?Viper Green Metallic finish.
Available in Pure White, Lapiz Blue and Deep Black exterior finishes as standard, the Golf R Final Edition comes shod with 19-inch Pretoria black alloy wheels and adorned with gloss black door mirrors, dark-tinted rear side and rear screen glass and a unique R Final Edition badge. Inside, the desirable run-out derivative is trimmed in carbon-nappa leather and features a Dynaudio premium audio system. All of that comes on top of the car’s already extensive standard spec: only a panoramic sunroof is an extra-cost option.
But for those who want even more exclusivity, Volkswagen offers something quite special. As a volume manufacturer, the brand doesn’t usually offer bespoke exterior finishes as super-luxury brands do for their cars; BMW and Mercedes-Benz have only dipped their toes in that market with their respective optional Frozen and Magno matte finishes.
The interior of the Golf R Final Edition comes equipped with virtually everything a Golf 7.5 can offer.
However, some Golf R Final Edition customers will be able to order their cars in a choice of 3 limited colour options: Victory Blue, Viper Green Metallic (reminiscent of the almost luminescent hue offered on the discontinued Scirocco R) and Violet Touch Pearlescent. The finishes are said to be applied to the cars “by hand”, independent of the assembly line.
Volkswagen reportedly first made these finishes available as part of a Spektrum Program palette for 2019 model-year models in the States, but the cost of specifying the Golf R Final Edition in any of those 3 hues should be relatively nominal by comparison… Availability will be key, however. The special colours may only be offered on up to a third of a market’s consignment, as is the case with the Australian market (150 out of 450 units), for example.
If victory could be expressed in colour, it would be blue: Victory Blue.
Volkswagen SA has not indicated whether it will be allocated units of the Final Edition to offer through its dealer network. However, the Golf 7.5 will remain on sale for much of 2020 and it’s not inconceivable that special edition “run-out” versions of the GTI and R might appear on the market. Could the Golf R Final Edition find (even more) traction?
Celebrate 30 Years of the Superboss with our new T-Shirt
Opel's iconic Kadett 2.0 GSi Superboss turns 30 this year, and to celebrate, you can now pre-order a new SentiMETAL T-Shirt sporting this uniquely South African little rocket.
Born to beat the equally loved BMW 325iS "Gusheshe", the Superboss is a true South African icon. Featuring a trick limited slip differential, Schrick cams and loads of Irmscher suspension bits, the Superboss was a fearsome racing machine, particularly in the hands of Mike Briggs, who used it to clinch many a Group N victory and championship.
You can also buy an A2 or A3 Limited Edition print (only 50 in each size) featuring the Superboss,here
"We've been informed by local Superboss fans that a special birthday party is planned for this iconic machine, which is increasingly coveted by collectors. Keep a close eye on our social pages as more information becomes available," says Hannes Oosthuizen, SentiMETAL project leader.
"Our new T-Shirt is the result of many requests from the Superboss and bigger Opel fanbase," Oosthuizen explains, "and it is now available to pre-order here." Offered in Small, Medium, Large and Extra-Large, with an image of a black Superboss on a quality light charcoal shirt, it should be a real head-turner.
SentiMETAL, Cars.co.za's growing car-culture sub-brand, acquired a Superboss two years ago and restored it to Concours condition. View the video on this project, below;
