The compact performance range from AMG is due for expansion as our car photographers have sent us pictures of the GLA 35 and GLA 45 AMG. Here's what we know so far.
Picture credit: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien
The Mercedes-AMG GLA 45 offered something different for those who thought the A45 and CLA 45 were a tad mainstream. Now an all-new GLA is due for reveal in the next few months and naturally, there will be AMG versions. Sharing the same engines as the recently-revealed A35 and A45, the GLA range will boast similar performance figures.
The GLA 35 boasts a 2.0-litre turbopetrol engine pumping out 225 kW and 400 Nm. It also makes use of the all-wheel-drive 4Matic system that can send up to 50% of the power to the rear axle. At the top of the range sits the GLA 45, which in S designation pumps out 310 kW and 500 Nm from its 2.0-litre turbopetrol. The GLA 45 will feature the same Panamericana grille as its siblings, while the GLA 35 makes do with a less aggressive front. As you can see from the photos, the prototype GLA 45 already has the grille, while the GLA 35 shows off its exhaust setup.
Mercedes-AMG will soon be launching the performance range of CLA models to South Africans, here's what you can expect to pay.
The AMG army is set to launch a barrage of product to SA before the year is out. On the list to come are both A35 and A45 S, CLA 35 and CLA 45 S. There is also the possibility we will see performance version of the A-Class Sedan before 2020 if Merc can get them int the country fast enough.
As for the CLA, the AMG 35 is powered by a 2.0-litre turbopetrol engine pumping out 225 kW and 400 Nm. It also makes use of the all-wheel-drive 4Matic system that can send up to 50% of the power to the rear axle. The CLA 35 appears to be somewhat of a competitor the Audi S3 Sedan and by somewhat, we mean much more expensive rival. CLA 35 pricing starts at R855 566 including CO2 tax.
The CLA 45 S is more of a brute, making use of Merc-AMG's all-singing, all-dancing 310 kW and 500 Nm 2.0-litre turbopetrol. We've driven the A45 S, which is near identical in execution and you can read about that here. It too has a very premium price tag starting at R1 093 749? including CO2 tax.
The CLA models usually offer a slight premium over the standard A-Class models so expect A 45 S pricing to come in a little under the CLA 45 S.
The 2nd generation of Range Rover's Evoque has arrived in SA. Is the style icon still a head-turner in a crowded segment? Ciro De Siena spends some time behind the wheel of the new petrol version.
The Range Rover Evoque is the best-selling Range Rover ever. Having defined a segment for nearly a decade, the new Evoque has more competitors than ever. What has Range Rover done to fend them off? We test out some of the new features, new turbopetrol engine and its wet weather ability in this very British summer-looking video.
Conservative appearance a thing of the past for Hyundai's city car.
Hyundai has released a teaser of its next-generation i10 and the Korean city car is certainly going to be a lot bolder than is currently the case.
The third-generation i10 is due to be revealed at this year’s Frankfurt auto show in Germany, scheduled for the second week fo September.
From the sketch that Hyundai has released, detailing its new i10, the evidence is clear that the new car will feature a significantly sharper design.
Proportions are larger too, with the i10 growing in both width and height. It also rolls larger wheels, which help to fill out the car’s side profile.
The front view is particularly dynamic, with triangular aero ducts in the bumper and a larger, wider, grille. Hyundai has also added daytime LEDs.
Although Hyundai has not released an image of the i10’s interior, they have confirmed an impressive level of specification. Inductive Smartphone charging, Apple Car Play and Android Auto functionality will all be present. A rear-view camera has also been added, for parking convenience.
Safety specification for the new i10 gains radar-guided forward collision assist, which recognises both vehicles and pedestrians, and lane-keep assist.
While the i10 is not sold in SA (we have an Indian built Grand i10) it is under consideration for our market. Hyundai SA plans to introduce the new Atos first.
Mercedes-Benz V-Class (2019) International Launch Review
A refreshed Mercedes-Benz V-Class, which appeals to well-heeled people-mover buyers and executive-transport operators, is now available in South Africa. We drove it during its international launch in Spain earlier this year.
Since its introduction in 2014, the luxurious people-moving V-Class from Mercedes-Benz has experienced relative success worldwide with sales exceeding 209 000 units – and we've been told that it has sold relatively well on local soil too (Mercedes-Benz only reports aggregate monthly sales).
The V-Class has now been afforded a rather subtle facelift and we travelled to the sunny seaside town of Sitges (on the outskirts of Barcelona, Spain) to experience the updated V-Class in the metal. A throng of shiny V-Classes, as well as a few outdoor lifestyle derivatives (called Marco Polos, although the luxury-spec Benz camper vans are not sold in South Africa), stood in wait in the hotel courtyard. After a formal product presentation, we set the V-Class loose in the Spanish countryside…
The changes are subtle but the V-Class is still the most luxurious MPV money can buy.
Play a game of "spot the difference" and you will soon realise that, by the standards of most mid-lifecycle model updates, this is a rather subtle facelift. The visual changes include a new front bumper and air inlet design, while the grille sports 2 silver slats and a revised black mesh. Opt for the AMG-Line trim and the grille gains diamond-pattern chrome pins that imbue the V-Class with a bit more visual punch. A range of new exterior colours and revised wheel designs (ranging from 17- to 19-inches in size) is also available.
As for the bus' interior, the instrument dials have been refreshed, as have the air vents (they now sport a turbine-look, which will be instantly recognisable to owners of the latest A-Class). What's more, there’s an updated range of upholstery and trim options available, including Tartufo Nappa leather. Incidentally, it has been confirmed that Mercedes-Benz SA offers the optional middle-row luxury seats in the local market…
New luxury seats will be offered in South Africa for ultimate rear passenger comfort.
These seats are fully reclinable and offer a range of massage, heating (and cooling) functions to maximise occupant comfort. As always, various seating configurations and equipment will be offered to suit buyers' personal needs and preferences.
Furthermore, the list of safety features offered on the V-Class has been bolstered with the addition of Active Brake Assist, which detects impending collisions and, if necessary, will intervene by automatically applying the brakes if the driver fails to react to visual and acoustic warnings. High-Beam Assist Plus has also been added and other notable safety features include Crosswind Assist, Attention Assist, as well as the fitment of 6 airbags, ABS with EBD and electronic stability- and traction control.
New turbodiesel engine, but not for SA…
The facelifted V-Class welcomes a new engine but it sadly won't be offered in SA.
The big news regarding this latest V-Class is the introduction of the Three-pointed Star's latest-spec 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine (OM 654). It is offered in various states of tune: 120 kW (V200d), 140 kW (V250d) and a whopping 176 kW in the top-of-the-range V300d derivative, plus it's mated with a 9-speed automatic transmission, which replaces the previous 7-speed auto 'box. The new powertrain, Mercedes-Benz claims, offers improved overall performance in conjunction with reduced fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions.
Sounds great, doesn’t it? Well, not so much. Sadly this new engine and transmission won't be offered locally – Mercedes-Benz Vans points to compliance complications even though this engine is offered locally in the E-Class (E220d). Perhaps you might feel better knowing that the Australian and Russian markets will also be excluded from this engine upgrade…
This is a great pity for potential buyers, because this engine is far more refined than the familiar 2.1-litre turbodiesel engine, which will soldier on in Mzansi. The motor offered impressive performance on our drive in Spain and we had the opportunity to test both the V250d and the more powerful V300d (both equipped with the new 9-speed automatic transmission).
Power delivery was more than sufficient in both variants and the slick 9-speed 'box proved a good match for this engine. In addition to the 500 Nm of peak torque (offered in the V300d), an additional 30 Nm of overboost gives the flagship derivative some handy extra overtaking urge. The V-Class range comprises both rear-wheel- and all-wheel-drive configurations.
On-road comfort levels are impressive but rearward visibility could be better.
Mercedes-Benz says that fuel efficiency has improved by up to 13% by virtue of the new engine/transmission combination, but we were surprised to see consumption figures of above 11.0 L/100km on the V-Class' trip computer. Those indicated returns were surprisingly high, considering that Mercedes-Benz claims optimal figures of between 6.1 and 5.9 L/100 km.
The V-Class’ ride-handling balance was a highlight; it doesn’t feel like you are driving a van – in fact, it’s quite car-like to pilot. The steering is nicely weighted and provides positive feedback. Given the V-Class’ shape, one would expect considerable body roll when cornering, but it turns in with stability and delivers a smooth, comfortable ride (it should cope well with harsher South African road surfaces). We found rearward and blind-spot visibility less than ideal, which means drivers will need to be more vigilant when crossing lanes or reversing.
To reiterate, the South African market continues to employ the older 2.1-litre turbodiesel engine paired with a 7-speed automatic transmission. Buyers still have the choice between the V200d with 100 kW/300 Nm, the V220d with 120 kW/380 Nm and the V250d with 140 kW /440 Nm.
New interior trim and leather options will be on offer when the V-Class arrives in Q3 of 2019.
Summary
We are disappointed that South Africa won’t receive the new diesel engine and 9-speed automatic transmission. As a result, you may argue that this facelift is underwhelming, and you may be right… However, in the V-Class’ defence, it remains the go-to choice if you are in the market for a luxurious and stylish family or business MPV/people-mover. If you don’t agree, you may want to consider alternative products such as the Volkswagen Caravelle and even the Kia Grand Sedona, which offers very good value (read our latest review), if that’s what you are after…
Following the recent launch of the Opel Combo Cargo, the Russelsheim brand is rolling out a people-mover version of its panel van in the South African market. In a market dominated by SUV-flavoured (but compact hatchback-based) crossovers, the newcomer is a conventional MPV that offers an impressive value and practicality for R369 900.
* Note that the vehicle pictured here is of Euro specification, the local model will have a slightly different mix of features, Opel notes.
Compared with its Cargo commercial-vehicle sibling, the Life’s exterior treatment is more in keeping with a compact MPV. It features colour-coded bumpers, -door handles and -side mirrors, plus protective side-mouldings, left- and right sliding rear doors (the former with a tiltable window and latter with a fixed pane), plus a tailgate (instead of cabinet-style doors) with a separately-opening window.
Large side-glass areas create a roomy-feeling interior.
The newcomer is a 5-seater with 60/40-split rear seats that can accommodate loads of up to 690 kg when they’re folded forward, Opel claims.
Standard features include, inter alia, a height-adjustable seat with lumbar support, a rake- and reach-adjustable multifunction steering wheel, which is power-assisted, cruise control, a 7-inch Intellilink touchscreen infotainment system (with smartphone-screen projection technology, in conjunction with a 6-speaker audio setup) and automatically activated headlamps. Roof rails are optional, however.
The Combo Life is powered by a 68 kW/230 Nm 1.6-litre turbodiesel engine mated with a 5-speed manual gearbox. Opel claims the model will consume an average of 5.0 L/100 km and the newcomer is rated to tow trailers of up to 720 kg (unbraked) and 1 100 kg (braked).
As befitting an MPV, the Combo Life affords generous utility space with the rear seats folded flat.
In terms of safety equipment, the Opel is equipped with 6 airbags (driver-, front-passenger, front side and full-length curtain units), ABS with EBD, a high-level brake lamp, electronic stability programme (ESP), traction control and hill-start assist. Security measures include remote-controlled central locking, an anti-theft immobiliser and electronic child locks for the rear sliding doors.
Opel Combo Life Price in South Africa (August 2019)
The new Opel Combo Life is offered with a 3-year/120 000 km warranty and roadside assistance cover and a 3-year/60 000 km service plan (with service intervals at 12 months/15 000 km.
The most hyped bakkie in memory has not delivered for Mercedes-Benz. Here's what went wrong…
Two years ago, Mercedes-Benz corralled the world’s automotive media into a secure part of the Cape Town harbour and revealed its X-Class.
It was Mercedes-Benz's first bakkie and proudly touted as the world's first premium double-cab. The Stuttgart-based brand’s confidence was high –and its ambitions enormous. Volkswagen's product people for the Amarok range may have murmured that their product was, in actual fact, the first "premium" bakkie to market, but, nonetheless, it is now midway through 2019 and Mercedes-Benz’s bakkie project has stalled – badly. Sales have been deeply underwhelming and rumours from Stuttgart suggest the X-Class will be a 1-generation vehicle – that's right, there'll be no follow-up.
Even with the introduction of the V6 derivative to boost the X-Class appeal, it's unlikely there will be a 2nd-gen Benz bakkie.
The global market for bakkies is growing and certain brands are effectively harvesting nearly all their profits from bakkie sales. In North America, Ford is kept in business by a single product – the F-150 bakkie, which is a comfortably larger vehicle than the locally-produced Ranger. Similarly, General Motors would be in deep trouble without the GMC and Silverado, plus FCA would struggle to stay afloat without its Ram bakkie brand.
It appears obvious that bakkies are a great business to be in. South Africans are acutely aware of this. The Toyota Hilux is our best-selling vehicle and Ford South Africa is kept in business by the aforementioned Ranger. If bakkies are so profitable and simple to engineer and produce, how did the world’s most established automotive brand, with a history of technical excellence and trend awareness, get it so wrong with X-Class?
Rushing in
Mercedes-Benz offers the most diverse and largest portfolio of vehicles. The company is not averse to producing new products for niche segments.
In the meantime, bakkies offer a very alluring profit motive for manufactures, as they are very simple to engineer and build. The ladder-frame construction and lower customer expectations in terms of ride, handling and noise, enable brands to build bakkies with a terrific profit margin.
Enticing as the bakkie market is, Mercedes had a problem. Despite managing the biggest R&D budget of any automotive company, to build a ladder-frame bakkie, Benz would need a new factory. The only solution was to utilise an existing bakkie platform and add unique Mercedes-Benz vehicle features and on-road refinement. Unfortunately, Mercedes-Benz’s ambitions would always be ring-fenced by whichever platform it selected.
Special Editions this early into a product life cycle shows signs of desperation.
As a partner platform to engineer and launch the X-Class, the Nissan Navara was not a bad choice. Its coil-sprung rear suspension promised SUV-like ride quality, but Mercedes-Benz’s requirements for noise insulation and vibration suppression meant the X-Class eventually became too heavy.
Inside, there were even more issues. Simply fitting Mercedes-Benz trim, instrumentation and switchgear to the Navara cabin proved disastrous as the X-Class became an embarrassment of ergonomic errors. Certain switches and dials were obscured. As is the case with the Navara, the bakkie's steering column wasn't reach-adjustable, which limits the number of potential driving positions. What's more, there was a huge gear lever between the seats, something Mercedes-Benz had intentionally moved to the steering column years ago, in nearly all its products, to free-up storage space.
Respect your rivals
With a compromised design and huge expectations, Mercedes-Benz made another error when positioning X-Class. There appears to be have been a belief that bakkie customers would pay an enormous premium for owning a Mercedes double-cab irrespective of features, functionality or design.
The result is an X-Class priced at a ridiculous margin compared to its rivals. A direct comparison between X-Class and its Navara twin, in 4-cylinder engine configuration, has seen Mercedes-Benz price the former at a 20% premium over the latter. Even more tellingly, recognised market leaders such as Toyota (Hilux) and Ford (Ranger), offer high-spec derivatives of their models that are more than R100 000 cheaper than that X-Class.
Mercedes-Benz estimated it could charge an even more outrageous premium for its V6-powered X-Class (conveniently ignoring VW’s flagship Amarok offering). Consequently, there exists a R160k difference between the two German V6 bakkies in the local market and it is abundantly clear that customers aren’t being fooled by any slick marketing campaigns. You see a quite a few more Amarok V6s rolling around than X-Class X350ds.
There is a R160 000 price premium on a V6 X-Class over the Amarok V6.
The sales figures tell a story: X-Class has been no less than a commercial disaster. Although Mercedes-Benz does not disclose its individual model sales in South Africa, we can interrogate the company’s total light LCV numbers (which bundle X-Class, Sprinter and Vito) and draw conclusions.
An educated guesstimate ranks local X-Class sales at around 500 units for 2018. That number is substantially less than VW’s Amarok, a bakkie that is also only available in a double-cab configuration, with 4- and 6-cylinder engines. Volkswagen, by contrast, sold 2 972 Amaroks in South Africa last year, making it by far the most popular German double-cab bakkie.
Leisure double cabs are big business, Merc's biggest competitor, BMW has been testing the waters.
The most bothersome number is global. Leaked information suggests that Mercedes-Benz only sold 16 700 X-Class bakkies across a distribution geography of Europe, South Africa and Australia in 2018. In that same time, Toyota sold 131 894 Hiluxes across the same market distribution.
If the Hilux comparison is too embarrassing, and with a fair chunk of its volume being single- and extra-cab bakkies, which don’t feature in the X-Class portfolio, perhaps a comparison with the Amarok is fairer to Mercedes. In Australia, which is the market most like our own in terms of customer profile, driving conditions and product matrix, VW sold 9 290 Amaroks last year. Benz? Only about 1 500 X-Class double-cabs…
Bakkie customers – are demanding and not easily conquered
Speak to a Ranger or Hilux product manager and they’ll tell you that their customers are fantastically loyal, but also equally demanding. Although double-cab bakkies often deputise as family vehicles, they must retain workhorse credentials and robustness. Not to mention value.
There is no question that the X-Class is a good bakkie, despite its weight issues and cabin-design idiosyncrasies. However, it offers nothing new or revolutionary in its segment, thus making any price premium over its rivals completely unjustifiable. Unsurprisingly, Mercedes-Benz has not managed to win over Amarok, Ranger or Hilux customers.
The 6×6 Merc G-wagon pick up has been a more profitable venture than the X-Class.
Within the brand’s own customer profile, a bakkie also has limited appeal. Mercedes-Benz fields a diverse choice of SUVs and crossovers, which, by virtue of their packaging, offer a weather- and theft-proof storage solution at the back. A double-cab bakkie can be an annoying daily-driver in South Africa, requiring constant vigilance when transporting something in the load box or leaving valuables on the back seat.
Mercedes-Benz should have known better. It has been building class-leading vehicles for more than a century. It also has a massively successful trucking, van and off-road vehicle business. If any German automotive brand should have built the perfect double-cab, it was Mercedes, not VW.
Merc has a long history of building capable trucks, vans and off-roaders. X-Class should have been simple.
All the skills developed by decades of Unimog and Geländenwagen, with a sprinkling of ergonomic sensibility added by the company’s passenger car cabin architecture and switchgear, would have made for an awesome double-cab.
There are elements of the X-Class that remain impressive, however: the double-cab's ride quality, noise insulation and the V6 version’s performance, to name a few. But there are way too many issues with Mercedes-Benz’s double-cab. Issues which don’t afflict VW’s Amarok.
If Mercedes-Benz had been a touch more patient and found a facility to build its own bakkie platform, instead of sharing one with Nissan, the X-Class could have been unbeatable. But not at any price. And ultimately, this is the Benz bakkie’s greatest failing: it charges an outrageous premium for technologies and features that are readily available in other bakkies, which cost much less.
Mercedes-Benz hasn't always understood who bakkie customers are in its marketing strategy.
Those South African customers who have chosen to invest in the X-Class are certainly enjoying the status of driving a very rare vehicle. But in years to come, they may have the issue of owning a double-cab bakkie that is worth a lot less than a comparable Hilux of the same age and mileage.
With Mercedes-Benz having posted a loss for Q2 of this year and under pressure to pay emissions fines and develop expensive new electric vehicle technologies, the possibility of an X-Class 2.0 is virtually zero…
VW California Ocean Better Than Airbnb
This new California Ocean could be nicer than your beach house for a weekend away.
VW has updated its California range of T6 MPVs, possibly making them even more comfortable and nice inside than your actual home.
This latest product update is based on the existing T6 Transporter platform, adding minimal mechanical refinements. The design has been refreshed with VW’s latest LED daytime running lights and additional chrome detailing for the grille and front bumper.
As with any large van, the California’s most impressive features are inside. There’s a new overhead control console, which manages the MPV’s cabin lighting and pop-up roof functions. Cleverly, VW has also added a digital pitch and roll indicator, which isn’t meant to help you guide the California through rough terrain, but rather park it level, to ensure all peripheral camping gear and functions are easily attached. And that you sleep on level ground.
VW's California offers Airbnb quality sleeping arrangements.
The refreshed California range features a range-topping Ocean derivative, which has push-button convenience for its kitchen accessories (sink, cooker and fridge). VW’s interior architects also decided to replace the rear cupboard shutters with sliding doors, which are less prone to develop a rattling issue on gravel roads over time.
Sleeping comfort has been enhanced too, with the cabin bed having gained a sprung base – to allow easy height adjustment. There are also additional USB points and LEDs inside the cabin, to make finding things at night easier and charging multiple devices possible.
Beyond the configurable cabin and host of ergonomic improvements, the sole mechanical change to California is its steering system, which now features electrical assistance – instead of hydraulic. This running change allows VW to add an array of driver assistance functions, such as lane assist, park assist, trailer assist and (crucially for a large side-surface MPV), crosswind assist.
Powertrains for the revised California will be VW’s familiar fare of 2-litre turbodiesels, driving either the front- or all four wheels, depending on customers preference. And yes, you still get an integrated camping table, mounted within the California’s sliding door, with camping chairs stowed in its tailgate.
Audi Teases RS Family for 2019
Audi's performance arm has teased its forthcoming arsenal of high-powered vehicles due to be revealed sometime in 2019.
Audi's RS division has been hard at work and will be revealing a flurry of high-performance vehicles in 2019. Granted, we're already halfway through the year, so there's not much time left. This teaser image shows what's coming and we're quite excited to see what RS can offer, especially as rivals AMG and M have been hard at work.
We think the following cars are in this lineup: Audi RS6, RS7, RS Q3, RS Q3 Sportback and RS Q8. However, that's 5 vehicles and there are 6. So what is the mysterious 6th car? Some suggest its a facelift to the RS4.
We think the existing 4.0-biturbo V8 will be carried over, with some revisions and enhancements. Previously, this mill produced 412 kW and 700 Nm, which is fast for sure, but not enough to take the fight to the current versions of BMW M5 and Mercedes-AMG E63. We think this new Audi RS6 will need to be playing in the 440 kW / 800 Nm ballpark.
The RS Q3 and RS Q3 Sportback will be powered by the 2.5-litre 5-cylinder turbo engine, but we suspect it'll be producing similar numbers to the current RS3 hatchback. Previously, it was detuned, but if rumours are to be believed, 300 kW is the figure.
Finally, at the end of the queue is a big SUV. It can only be the Audi RS Q8, which we think will have the same powertrain as the Lamborghini Urus. For the record, a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 produces 478 kW and 850 Nm.
The final instalment of the petrol-powered TT has just been introduced in South Africa. Here's what the design icon/sportscar goes for.
Audi announced earlier this year that this is the last version of its beloved TT that will be powered by an internal combustion engine. Future generations will be electrically powered and may not even carry the TT badge when the changeover occurs.
The last generation has just gone on sale in SA, in its facelifted form. The major changes include an updated infotainment system and more standard spec pumped in. The engines have also received a small power hike. The basic version of the new model now features the Audi drive select dynamic handling system, Audi smartphone interface, parking aid plus, power-adjustable front seats and the multifunction steering wheel plus, with which the infotainment and voice control system can be controlled entirely using the steering wheel. Also standard are the illuminated USB ports as well as MMI navigation plus.
Enjoy the TT while it lasts. This will be the last generation.
The exterior design has had some subtle modifications to update its appearance. The front-end now features a 3-dimensional grille with honeycomb inserts and matching air dams that flank it. The rear-end features more honeycomb design around the rear diffuser. A neat trick is the capless filler cap underneath the metallic-looking fuel flap, meaning you can fill it up racecar style without unscrewing a cap.
Engine performance bonuses come in the form of a 169 kW 45 TFSI unit and a 228 kW TTS quattro S tronic. The former is paired to a 7-speed dual-clutch 'box while the TTS gets a 6-speed S tronic. If you option in the S line sport package or Audi magnetic ride, the body is lowered by 10 mm.
