The forthcoming Mini John Cooper Works GP has been flexing its muscles at the Nürburgring and has broken the record set by its predecessor.
A hot-hatch war is underway and Mini has dropped a bomb called the John Cooper Works GP.
In 2012, the Mini JCW GP lapped the ‘ring in 8:23.04. Now, the forthcoming JCW GP, which is seen here in disguised prototype form, has shaved off the fat with Mini saying that its most powerful and fastest Mini to date has shattered the 8-minute barrier at the 24 Hours Nürburgring pre-race program this past weekend. What’s more, further tests have yet to be completed, so this result is indeed promising. BMW Blog reported that the newcomer completed a lap in 7:56, which is mighty impressive.
Powered by a turbocharged, 4-cylinder mill that will churn out no less than 220 kW, the JCW GP is expected to bring all the driving thrills to the road with a model-specific suspension and weight-optimised construction. The JCW GP rides on large alloy wheels and features sizable air intakes giving it a purposeful stance. Only 3 000 units will be built and sales are expected to commence in 2020. A full reveal is expected in coming months.
Expect to see a staggering variety of classic cars to show up for the mid-winter rendition of The Classic Car Show at Nasrec Expo Centre on July 7th.
Several brands and models celebrate important milestones this year, including Mini, which turns 60. First launched in August 1959, the little car quickly became a global icon. It was launched in South Africa late in 1959, and Minis were actually built in South Africa (in Cape Town) until the early '80s. Expect to see a large contingent of first-generation Minis at Nasrec on the 7th of July.
Joining the party will be a number Ford Capris, with the stylish "mini-Mustang" from the blue-oval celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. How many Peranas will be at Nasrec? We can't wait to see…
The Ford Capri celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Expect to see a number of these cars at Nasrec for the show.
And who can forget the Datsun SSS, also celebrating its 50th birthday this year. Expect to see a big number of these cracking little sedans at Nasrec, some stock… and some not at all!
As per usual, there will be a large number of American muscle cars and some British beauties, too.
The event details
The owners of classic cars will be admitted free of charge to the Classic Car Show on July 7, 2019. Admission will be free for the driver and one passenger, while extra passengers will have to pay a full admission fee.
The Show runs from 8 am to 4 pm. Classic car owners can gain access to the display area from 7 am.
Admission prices are R60 for adults if the ticket is booked through Computicket, or R80 at the gate. Entrance for children under12 will be R20.
As usual there will be a full complement of entertainment, food and drink laid on by the organisers, with live rock musicbeing a traditional feature of the show. There will be entertainment for children such as kiddies go-karts and jumping castles, and helicopter rides will also be on offer.
The long-awaited Audi SQ8 has finally been revealed and it comes to market packing a massive diesel punch. Here's what you need to know about Ingolstadt's luxury performance SUV.
Right now, there's just a turbocharged V6 petrol engine available for the Audi Q8 in South Africa. It produces 250 kW and 500 Nm, giving it credible performance figures. There'll be a diesel V6 joining the lineup later in 2019 too and with 183 kW and 600 Nm. It'll be the more frugal of the 2 derivatives, but what if you wanted more?
Introducing the new Audi SQ8 which should be coming to SA in 2020. Powered by the same 4.0-litre turbocharged diesel V8 engine as the SQ7 and Bentley Bentayga, the SQ8 pushes out a cracking 320 kW and 900 Nm. What's impressive is Audi claims all that torque is available from 1 000 rpm. The secret here is the e-turbochargers and sequential charging which is claimed to eliminate lag.
Performance? Audi claims the SQ8 can hit 100 kph in a claimed 4.8 seconds and it'll hit an electronic limiter at 250 kph. The Audi SQ8 also features a mild hybrid system, where the 48-volt lithium-ion battery pack helps with the turbochargers at low revs.
While final specification for South Africa is not yet confirmed, the international Audi SQ8 comes with 21-inch alloy wheels, sportier exterior, new rear diffuser, oval exhaust tips and naturally, there will plenty of options to choose from. We suspect carbon ceramic brakes might be worth looking at, given the proportions of the SQ8 and what's required to bring it to a stop.
Being the performance version, the Audi SQ8 cabin needed to be quite special and it certainly looks it.
A sportier-clad version of the flagship Opel Astra, replete with a 6-speed auto transmission mated with a 1.6-litre turbopetrol engine, was recently launched in South Africa. Can generous spec and a purposeful body kit, which distinguishes the newcomer from the rest of the range, justify the 1.6T Sport OPC-line's premium price tag?
We Like: Punchy engine, good ride/handling balance, many standard features, practicality
We Don’t Like: OPC-Line kit could be more striking, pricey – given its moderate performance.
Can you spot the differences between this Astra Sport OPC-Line and the standard Astra?
The Opel Astra is, in our opinion, a good looking car, but if we are honest, this particular 1.6T Sport OPC-Line looks less than imposing (we blame the appliance-white exterior finish) – you could be forgiven for thinking that it looks just like a run-of-mill Astra. The devil, however, is in the detail and, upon closer inspection, you are more likely to notice the newcomer's new-look OPC bumper treatment with chrome detailing, colour-coded door handles, a chrome beltline and -exhaust tips, plus the 18-inch alloy wheels. As for special sporty details on the inside, the cabin is adorned with alloy sport pedals, a sports steering wheel, dark-tinted rear and side glass and lastly, a South African favourite, an (optional) tilt and slide sunroof.
How it fares in terms of…
Engine performance and efficiency
Delivering more punch and reasonable fuel consumption, the Astra is a solid all-around performer.
While the letters OPC (the abbreviation for Opel Performance Centre) will undoubtedly remind you of the previous-generation Astra OPC, which had an unruly 206 kW/400 Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged motor wedged in its engine bay, this is not an Astra OPC by any stretch of the imagination.
In fact, apart from the few cosmetic details mentioned above, this is just another Astra 1.6T Sport, albeit with a 6-speed automatic transmission, as opposed to the manual 'box, with which it was launched in 2016. The OPC-Line is, however, far from being impotent – with peak outputs of 147 kW and 280 Nm developed by its 1.6-litre turbocharged engine, the test unit delivered strong pace off the line with good mid-range acceleration too. Opel claims a zero-to-100 kph time of 7.8 seconds, but it’s not nearly hot enough to run something like a Volkswagen Golf GTI close, for example.
It does have enough shove to execute brisk overtaking manoeuvres on the highway and, while we found the auto transmission offered reasonably good shifting performance, it’s not as sharp, snappy or even as smooth as the DSG employed in the GTI. With the Sport button engaged, you will notice a marginal improvement in throttle response, but there’s nothing really to get very excited about. Engine refinement is admirable, however.
Opel claims a fuel consumption figure of 6.1 L/100 km for this derivative and we saw returns of around 8.0 L/100 km, which were satisfactory.
So, although the 1.6T Sport OPC-Line's powertrain refinement and efficiency are commendable, its performance is spirited – as opposed to eager. Although the Astra flagship derivative is no slouch, it doesn't offer enough grunt to be particularly thrilling to drive.
Ride and handling
Ride and handling is one of the Astra's strongest attributes.
For what it lacks in outright pace (or a sonorous engine note), the 1.6T Sport OPC-Line excels in the ride and handling department. Its ride quality straddles the line between firm/sporty and pliant/comfort-oriented. The steering is on the lighter side and nicely-weighted with sufficient feedback and, to its further credit, the Astra feels particularly adept at cornering; it takes changes of direction in its stride without exhibiting excessive body roll. It’s composed and surefooted when you need it to be and it’s more than comfortable enough to drive daily and undertake longer out-of-town trips.
Interior execution and features
A smattering of standard kit makes adds significant value to the overall package. Those leather sports seats are very comfortable too…
We’ve always praised the Astra for its above-average interior build quality and the cabin's quality look and feel. We do have a gripe with the black piano trim, which attracts dust and fingerprints, but apart from that, the interior is smart and comes generously equipped with standard features.
The sports seats are trimmed in Siena leather and offer high levels of comfort and support with good bolstering and height adjustment for both the driver and front passenger. All the seats are heated, as is the multifunction steering wheel, which is always welcome on a cold winter morning.
A comprehensive Navi 900 IntelliLink 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with integrated navigation is fitted and, despite the Astra's relatively advanced age (4 years), the setup incorporates Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. USB and auxiliary ports are also provided.
Other notable standard features include Intellilux LED Matrix headlights (with automatic headlamp levelling, dynamic control and adaptive forward lighting), dual-zone climate control, electric windows all round and electric folding side mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, front and rear park distance control (including Advanced Park-Assist, if you'd like the Opel to neatly park itself) and a reverse-view camera.
In terms of safety features, no fewer than 6 airbags are fitted as standard as well as ABS with EBD, brake assist, hill start assist, blind spot alert, stability control with traction control and ISOFIX child-seat mounts. The standard Driver Assistance Pack 1 adds forward-collision alert, following distance- and lane-keep assist indicators, low-speed collision mitigation braking, as well as a traffic-sign recognition system.
Practicality
The Astra is a practical daily runner and rear passengers will enjoy generous legroom.
The Astra feels spacious inside and rear passengers will find legroom to be generous, which improves comfort significantly for adults of average height, especially on those longer journeys. The load bay measures (a claimed) 370 litres, which compares favourably with other offerings in this segment. The rear seats are split in a 40:20:40 configuration and fold completely flat for easy loading of bulkier items.
There are 2 cup holders up front and sufficient space to store bottles in all the doors, as well as a central bin to keep valuable items out of sight.
Price and warranty
The Opel Astra 1.6T Sport OPC-Line is priced at R508 000 (June 2019) and is sold with a 3-year/120 000 km warranty, 5-year/90 000 km service plan, 3-year/120 000 km roadside assistance and a 12-year/unlimited km anti-corrosion warranty.
The Astra 1.6T Sport OPC-Line offers very good value, but, at the price, lacks performance and badge appeal.
Verdict
As an all-rounder, this Astra 1.6T Sport OPC-Line is difficult to fault in terms of its general performance, an extensive list of standard features and overall practicality. Despite the fact that the market for a C-segment hatchback is treacherous unless you're selling a GTI (or a rival to the GTI), Opel believes the market needs a well-specced, warm compact hatchback. To its credit, few, if any, rival offerings can match the Astra's standard features and, objectively, it offers great value compared with entry-level premium-badged hatchbacks, even if it can't match those cars' brand appeal.
As for the OPC-Line accoutrements, consider it an exercise in snappy packaging, because, from a performance perspective, we don’t think the 1.6T Sport Auto offers quite enough to justify its R508 000 price tag. If it’s driving thrills you are after then it might be worth the additional R60k to step into a GTI or Megane RS 280, or better still, trawl the used car market where you can get better performance bang-for-buck for less.
What's more, if practicality trumps performance in your list of motoring priorities, then perhaps it’d be wiser to opt for the Astra 1.4T Enjoy automatic. It still offers a good spread of features, including Driver Assistance Pack 1, and 110 kW and 245 Nm of torque from its smaller turbocharged 1.4-litre engine, which is roughly 75 to 80% of the outputs offered by the OPC-Line derivative, for a much more affordable price of R389 589.
Ultimately, the 1.6T Sport OPC-Line is a rarity in our market: a German-made car that wants for little, if anything, in the way of standard features. But, given how the Astra nameplate is now a left-field choice, where it once was a market staple (which is not a positive indicator for solid future resale values), perhaps the purchase of the top-spec derivative, from brand new, warrants extra careful consideration. That is not to say that the Opel is a disappointment, quite the contrary; perhaps there are more buyers who want a practical family hatchback (with a modicum of sporty styling and a plethora of interior and safety features), who don't mind if their pricey purchase doesn't perform like a hot hatch, than we think…
Don’t agree with our verdict? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below…
The new Mercedes-Benz GLA has been spotted testing on public roads in Europe. Here's what we know so far.
Picture credit: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien
Curiously, the Mercedes-Benz GLA is taking its time to reach production. The hatchback A-Class has been on sale globally since 2018, the A-Class sedan is about to launch in South Africa and the new CLA sedan is due for imminent global release. You'd think the GLA baby SUV would be further along in its development, but from what we're told, it's only going to be sold in 2020 as a 2021 model.
Sharing the same platform as the A-Class hatchback, the new GLA will bring similar levels of sharp looks and digitally connected cabin with MBUX. The GLA will sit higher than the A-Class with a tad more ground clearance, giving it some offroad prowess and we expect some models to feature 4Matic all-wheel drive. In terms of engines, you're looking at compact petrol, diesel and potentially plug-in hybrid models. We'll be surprised if there isn't an AMG option following on later. It will be interesting to see its positioning and price in relation to the recently announced GLB 7-seater.
South Africa’s Top Selling Cars & Bakkies: Q1 2019
Which brands and, more specifically, which models are currently the most in-demand in the South African new-vehicle market? Look beyond the big numbers on the surface and a fascinating picture emerges.
The sales figures quotes in this article are sourced from Lightstone Auto and are for the first 3 months of the year. Note that certain brands' numbers (notably Hyundai and Kia) are estimates calculated from the aggregated volumes reported and financial data.
Biggest brands in the passenger vehicle market
The top 10 list in this category doesn't really yield any major surprises at the top, but what is interesting is just how tightly contested the bottom half of the table is, with all those brands selling between 3 000 and 4 000 units. The brand in 11th place, Suzuki, only just missed out on reaching the list with sales of 3 043.
Note these sales exclude double-cab bakkies.
Ranking
Brand
Sales
1.
Volkswagen
17 562
2.
Toyota
16 868
3.
Hyundai
7 593
4.
Ford
6 596
5.
Renault
5 706
6.
Mazda
3 545
7.
Mercedes-Benz
3 428
8.
Kia
3 289
9.
Nissan
3 251
10.
BMW
3 067
Most popular passenger cars
Dominant once again, the Volkswagen Polo Vivo has a significant lead in the passenger car market.
Again, there are few surprises at the top of this list, though the enduring appeal of the Toyota Corolla Quest will raise eyebrows. Another Toyota, the Fortuner, is the country's top-selling SUV and one of the pricier cars to maintain a high position in the rankings. Cars that only just missed out on a top 20 spot include the Mazda CX-5 (1 216), Mercedes-Benz C-Class (1 131) and VW Polo Sedan (1 241).
Ranking
Make & Model
Sales
1.
Volkswagen Polo Vivo
7 651
2.
Volkswagen Polo
5 043
3.
Toyota Corolla Quest
3 005
4.
Toyota Fortuner
2 904
5.
Hyundai Grand i10
2 798
6.
Renault Kwid
2 669
7.
Toyota Etios
2 113
8.
Ford EcoSport
2 003
9.
Toyota Corolla
1 986
10.
Ford Figo
1 883
11.
Hyundai i20
1 733
12.
Kia Picanto
1 725
13.
Datsun Go!
1 692
14.
Toyota RAV4
1 523
15.
Suzuki Swift
1 412
16.
Volkswagen Tiguan
1 411
17.
Toyota Yaris
1 302
18.
Ford Everest
1 289
19.
Toyota Avanza
1 261
20.
Renault Sandero
1 252
Best-selling Double-Cab bakkies
During Q1 of this year, it was the Toyota Hilux that emerged as the best-selling Double-Cab, but can it hang on?
The tussle between the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger continues at the top and it will be interesting to see whether the recently updated Ranger will overtake the Hilux during the second quarter. These sales include Rental and Government sales. Isuzu's D-Max soldiers on reasonably well in third place, but Nissan won't be very happy with Navara sales (381). The Mercedes-Benz X-Class found 231 new homes in South Africa during this period. And near the bottom of the rankings, Mitsubishi will be hoping that its updated Triton will put in a much stronger showing going forward (102).
The Toyota Fortuner is our Adventure SUV of the year, crowned a second year running in the Cars.co.za Consumer Awards – Powered by WesBank.
Toyota's Fortuner continues to dominate the SUV segment in South Africa and is one of the country's favourite cars of any type. Ford will be pleased with continued sales support for its recently refreshed EcoSport, while Toyota's brand new RAV4 has gained immediate traction. Lower down the list, but still in the top 10, the presence of a Chinese vehicle, the Haval H2, is sure to raise eyebrows.
The Mercedes-Benz C-Class remains South Africa's favourite premium-badge car.
Traditionally the German premium brands (Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi) have been pretty resilient in tough market conditions, but in recent times they appear to be slipping down the lists in bigger steps. In this table, we list the top 20 products on offer from these 3 premium brands – notice how SUVs and crossovers are performing, as well as the absence on the list of the traditional big sedans where these brands originally built their premium status. But it's not all rosy for the smaller crossover offerings. Audi's Q2 failed to make this list (110 sales), and the BMW X2 only just scraped in.
While countless local bakkie enthusiasts are still celebrating the arrival of the Ranger Raptor, Ford South Africa invited members of the media to a sort of “State of the Nation” address by FMCSA general manager Neale Hill, which culminated in a tour of the Struandale engine plant. Ernest Page reports on his trip to Port Elizabeth…
Local engine production for export continues
The local motor industry is experiencing a bit of a downturn; partly due to the sluggish world economy, but also apprehension about South Africa's political climate. Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa general manager Neale Hill acknowledged that in 2019, sales have expectedly been lower than in previous years, but the company was confident it could ride out this wave of uncertainty and continue to expand its operations over the coming months. The R3-billion investment (announced in 2017) has led to sustained growth in FMCSA's capacity, including the establishment of its 24-hour/3-shift engine plant; Hill acknowledged that having a strong export component was critical to Ford's local subsidiary's globally relevance.
Ford SA exports both engines and fully-assembled Rangers and Everests.
The plant is now able to produce up to 250 000 engines per year as well as hundreds of thousands of components for export to 148 markets worldwide. In fact, the Silverton factory (in Pretoria) now has the capacity to produce up to 168 000 Rangers and Everests (combined) per year – an increase of 44 000 before the investment.
Ford employs approximately 4 300 people in South Africa. Additionally, it supports around 50 000 jobs within its value chain (people employed by its direct suppliers). Hill said: "As one of the country’s leading automotive manufacturers and exporters, Ford plays an important role in the prosperity and sustainability of the sector and the many thousands of people that it supports. Employees have the option to go for anything from marriage counselling to debt counselling and various other support systems to make sure that not only Ford Clients and shareholders are left satisfied.
New models for 2019
The Ford Mustang Bullit will be coming in very limited numbers.
As for Ford's product plans for the next few months, the most exciting new model will be the updated Mustang, which will arrive later this year. With it, comes 55 units of the limited-edition Mustang Bullit. The 2019 Bullit is a homage to Steve Mcqueen's epic 1968 Ford Mustang GT. The new one features a similar green paint job, but with much more power than its inspiration, boasting 338 kW and 529 Nm of torque from its 5.0-litre V8 engine.
Ford will also be releasing a not as exciting – but definitely more accessible – limited-edition Figo Blue, which features the same 1.5 litre 3-cylinder engine as its standard sibling, but with noticeable visual enhancements. The Figo Blue's roof is painted black to provide a contrast to the three available body colour choices: silver, white or grey, the sides of the car feature racy black striping and there are blue insets in the front bumper. All of this is complemented by a leather steering wheel, blue stitching for the gearshift gaiter, and the Figo Blu logo embroidered on the front floor mats.
Ford is hoping this special edition Figo Blu will bolster sales locally.
Notably, there was no mention of the 2019 Ford Fiesta ST. The previous version was loved by many and is still popular among younger hot hatch aficionados. However, it has been confirmed that the new model will not make it to our shores due to its incompatibility with SA-quality fuel.
Ford and World Vision South Africa
World Vision South Africa was a winner of the 2018 Bill Ford Better World Challenge and, for its efforts, it received a grant of $200 000 (approximately R2.8-million) for its pioneering concept to address the devastating drought affecting the Eastern Cape. Additional funding to the value of $130 000 (around R1.9-million) has since been awarded by the Ford Research and Advanced Engineering division.
Ford's World Vision brings water to hard-to-reach areas in the Eastern Cape.
The practical implementation of this grant was showcased in the form of the WaterGen device, which produces water from air. The device can produce up to 900 litres and is 100% mobile, which means it can be transported to remote locations. The system consists of a Generator, water purifier, trailer and a Ford Ranger (to tow it all) and it supports Early Childhood Development Centres in Uitenhage and KwaNobuhle.
“The Eastern Cape has been severely impacted by drought in recent years, and the poorest communities are the hardest hit. Accordingly, the project will primarily focus on assisting schools, clinics and Early Childhood Development Centres (ECDs), as well as households where the need is greatest,” said Chikondi Phiri, Officer in Charge, World Vision South Africa.
Honda South Africa has announced specifications and pricing for its updated Civic. Here's what has changed and how much the updated Honda Civic costs.
Honda has updated the Civic for South Africa. For 2019, there'll be 4 models with 2 engine choices. Visually, the new Civic can be identified by the new wheels, redesigned front grille, while the rear receives new chrome detailing designed to highlight the stance of the Honda, while chrome garnish has been added to the front of the 1.8 Comfort, as well as around the fog lamps of the 1.8 Elegance and 1.5T Executive models. Inside, the updated Civic features revisions to the noise insulation package and new finishes.
There are 2 engines to choose from and all are mated to CVTs. The first engine is a 1.8-litre naturally-aspirated 4-cylinder petrol with 104 kW and 174 Nm. The second is a turbocharged 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol motor which produces 127 kW and 220 Nm.
In terms of specification, all Honda Civics feature dual front, side and curtain airbags, complemented with a reverse camera and rear parking sensors on all, but the base model. Vehicle Stability Control is standard on all cars, as is Hill Start Assist, ABS anti-lock brakes and electronic brake force distribution (EBD). The touchscreen has been changed slightly and now features hard buttons. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is standard on all models, but the entry-level Civic. The top model looks to be very well specced in terms of safety as it features Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Following, Collision Mitigation Braking System, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keeping Assist System, Road Departure Mitigation, Forward Collision Warning and Lane watch with blind spot camera.
Honda Civic Price in South Africa (June 2019)
The updated Honda Civic comes with a five-year/200 000 km warranty, a five-year/90 000 km service plan, as well as three years of AA Roadside Assistance. Services are at 15 000 km intervals for the 1.8 models, and 10 000 km for the 1.5T variants.
The next-generation Hyundai i20 has been spotted. Some details.
Picture credit: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien
What you see here is the new Hyundai i20 which will be marketed as a 2021 model and was spotted testing in the Spanish mountains. Given the hot summer weather, some of the front camouflage had to be removed for ventilation and to keep the engine bay temperatures down. This gives us some idea of what the front end will look like. There's also going to be a performance-focused N version.
Hyundai could be offering an array of both turbocharged and naturally-aspirated petrol engines for its new i20. We've sampled the latest powertrain, a 1.0-litre turbocharged 3-cylinder with 88 kW and 172 Nm in the bigger Kona.
VW SUV customers, who prefer darkened styling details to reflective ones, now have the option on two new design upgrades.
Both the Touareg and Tiguan are now available with a Black Style Package in South Africa – and it does pretty much what it says.
For the Touareg, this Black Style Package is only applicable to the Executive derivative. The upgrades tally an R-specification bumper, with blackened chrome styling elements, darkened air-intakes, black roof rails and wing mirrors.
The grille is also darkened and the Black Style Package is finished off with 21-inch Suzuka themed alloy wheels. The total cost of upgrading a Touareg with the Black Style Package comes to R39 900.
If you prefer the smaller of VW’s premium SUVs, the same can be applied to VW’s Comfortline and Highline specification Tiguans. The only caveat is that you have to option the R-line package too.
All the Black Style Pack upgrades on Touareg are applied to Tiguan, with a few additions and differences. The Suzuka alloy wheels are a touch smaller, at 20-inches, and you get rear and side window privacy glass. Tiguan Black Style Pack vehicles also feature a black headliner inside and sport suspension at each wheel corner.
VW has quoted R25 200 as the price for a Tiguan Black Style Package upgrade. If you don’t mind washing your VW SUV more than once a week, these darkened design upgrades will certainly be worth considering.
