Mahindra XUV 500 2.2 CRDe W8 Auto (2017) Launch Review

With little direct competition at its price point, the Mahindra XUV 500 has built itself quite a sizeable following in South Africa. Until recently, however, it had lacked an automatic offering. Perhaps predictably, the new self-shifter has quickly become one of the most popular derivatives in the XUV 500 line-up.

Facts & Figures

Price: R394 995 (October 2017)
Engine: 2.2-litre turbodiesel
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Fuel consumption: 7.4L/100 km
Seats: 7
Warranty: 5-years/150 000 km

Mahindra South Africa has been on a roll lately, with the local introduction of the much improved new Pik Up following on earlier model launches of the TUV300 and revised Scorpio SUV. It has also recently announced that it intends setting up a local assembly plant, possibly in Durban or Port Elizabeth. Also introduced in the second half of 2016 was the long-awaited automatic variant of the popular XUV 500. We recently had the opportunity to spend some time with this variant in and around Johannesburg.

Focus on Efficiency

XUV 500 offers 200mm of ground clearance, but with front-wheel drive is more family crossover, than rugged SUV.

The XUV 500 was originally launched in South African in 2011 and had its major facelift in 2015, at which time Mahindra introduced not only a new look, but much improved interior ergonomics and other cabin refinements. At its core, however, the XUV 500 is now one of the elders in the local market, but is wearing its years well. While it is offered as a 7-seater, it is important to keep in mind that this is not a direct rival for the likes of the bakkie-based Ford (Everest) and Toyota (Fortuner) SUVs, but rather a spacious family car with SUV looks. It features front-wheel drive in this application and of particular interest is the transmission, a 6-speeder sourced from Aisin.

Coupled with the brand's well-known 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine, the drivetrain has been tuned for efficiency. In other words, relaxed performance is paired with a claimed combined-cycle fuel consumption figure of 7.4 L/100 km, which given the size of the vehicle is impressive. The engine delivers 103 kW and 330 Nm of torque, with the latter figure being available from 1 600 to 2 800 rpm. Mahindra doesn't quote claimed performance figures, but subjectively speaking the XUV 500 has no trouble performing daily driving duties. It generally responds satisfyingly to throttle inputs and there is sufficient power for cruising at the national limit. While the gearbox is generally quite good at selecting the appropriate ratio, it does, however, occasionally select too a low a gear for the prevailing driving situation, and then tends to hang onto that gear for too long, resulting in a strained engine note. Of course, using a little switch mounted on the side of the gearlever, you can always change gears by yourself.

On a side note… with the right gear selected and when cruising at higher speeds, the cabin proved hushed, a big improvement on earlier XUV 500s I had driven. In fact, Mahindra appears to have given the suspension a fair bit of tweaking as well. It claims that Lotus was called in to fine-tune the MacPherson front/multi-link rear arrangement. On the roads around Lanseria/Hartbeespoort Dam, the XUV 500 proved be slightly firm at lower speeds, particularly on poor, broken surfaces, but it significantly improved as the speeds picked up.

Design & Practicality

Revised cabin is an improvement, but some design and fit quirks remain. Specification is comprehensive.

The XUV 500 is a good 30cm-odd shorter than a bulky vehicle such as a Ford Everest, so if you're looking for a 7-seat quasi-SUV primarily for town use, that's worth keeping in mind. The reality is, of course, that it's not quite as spacious as those larger vehicles inside, either. That being said, the XUV 500 offers generous second-row legroom, but the third row is really for kids or smaller adults, and then also only for shorter distances. With all 3 rows occupied, luggage space is negligible. Fold the third row flat into the boot floor, however, and there's sufficient packing space for a family of four or five's holiday luggage. A nice touch is that ventilation outlets and drinks holders are provided for all 3 rows – there is even fan control in the third row.

The focus on family practicality is also evident in the front, where there are two glove compartments, a fairly large and rubber-lined storage box on the facia, more storage between the front seats and a fold-down mirror that allows you to keep an eye on the rear seat passengers.

Features & Design

Seven seats are standard and stow away neatly into boot floor. Luggage space is generous with rear seats folded down.

The automatic version of the XUV 500 is only offered in W8 specification, and that means you get a lot of features as standard, including a touch-screen infotainment system with navigation and bluetooth/Aux/USB support, auto lights and wipers, cruise control, climate control, leather upholstery, rear-view reverse camera, 6 airbags and ESP as standard, amongst quite a few other items. Visually, it's a neatly finished vehicle with far more coherent design than its predecessor. It comes standard with 17-inch alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights, twin exhaust outlets and roof rails.

In terms of interior design, there are however a few niggles. The touchscreen slightly moved in its housing when pressed, which doesn't create an impression of great solidity. You also have to be quite slow and deliberate with it when selecting functions on the screen. That said, the test vehicle had more than 20 000 km on the odo and was completely free of rattles and creaks, so design integrity overall seems good.

Mahindra has clearly worked hard to correct many of the initial model's failings, including haphazard trim and almost OTT (over-the-top) design detailing. Things are much calmer in the latest XUVs, with predominantly tasteful charcoal and black used in the cabin. Still, some awkward surfacing remain, as well as somer lower quality fittings lower down in the cabin. Given the price of the vehicle, however, we can forgive many of these quirks, particularly as they are related to design, which is always subjective.

Warranty and Service Plan

The XUV 500 comes backed with a pretty impressive 5-years/100 000 km warranty and a 5-years/100 000 km service plan. Service intervals are spaced at 20 000 km/12 months.

Verdict

The XUV 500 is still quirky, but offers exceptional value for money and much-improved refinement.

At its current price just below R400 000 there really is very little direct competition for the XUV 500. The nearest automatic Ford Everest sells for roughly R80 000 more, but can't match the Mahindra's specification. And if you look at the Korean 7-seater twins (Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe), those are even more expensive. If you need a feature-laden family/holiday vehicle that is also rich in safety specification, provides occasional 7-up seating and which offers the combined appeal of an efficient turbodiesel motor and automatic transmission, then the Mahindra XUV 500 is hard to beat in the new-vehicle market at the price.

You may also be interested in;

Mahindra to build bakkies in South Africa

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Mahindra TUV 300 1.5CRDe T8 (2017) Review

Looking to buy a new / used Mahindra XUV 500?

Find one on Cars.co.za by clicking here

Isuzu MU-X (2018) International Launch Review

General Motors and its Chevrolet brand will soon no longer feature in the South African new vehicle marketplace, but Isuzu (and Opel) will forge ahead on their own steam from 2018. However, don't assume that the newly independent Japanese brand will only build and market bakkies and trucks… The 7-seater MU-X adventure SUV is, for all intents and purposes, Isuzu's substitute for the perennially underperforming Chevrolet Trailblazer, and it's likely to arrive on local soil in the second half of next year.

Isuzu has such a strong history in the South African market with the KB bakkie that it’s kind of surprising that while the Japanese brand was under the custodianship of General Motors, the MU-X was marketed as the Chevrolet Trailblazer, replete with Duramax engines developed in conjunction with Italian company VM Motori. Suffice to say that, compared with the runaway success of the Toyota Fortuner, the Trailblazer was a relative sales disappointment (ever since its introduction in late 2012), especially considering that it offered surfeit kerb appeal, a diverse derivative line-up, extensive warranty and good off-road capability.

The shape of the MU-X will be immediately recognisable to SA consumers… is it even better looking than the Trailblazer?

Meanwhile, the KB-based adventure SUV has been on sale for a few years now in markets like Australia, and it has forged a name for being a reliable, ready-for-anything off-roader with 7 seats and a bulletproof turbodiesel engine. A recent update to the MU-X saw it attract some refinement changes inside, not to mention a new drivetrain to make it keep up with newer competitors like the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, updated Ford Everest and, of course, the Toyota Fortuner.

Under the bonnet

The big news as part of the updated MU-X launched recently was the pumped up 3.0-litre turbodiesel engine, which retains the same 130 kW of power, but sees a torque bump to 430 Nm – that’s 50 Nm more than before (and what’s available in the current KB), but it’s made more usable by the fact a 6-speed automatic transmission is fitted in place of the old 5-speeder.

It may well be that Isuzu follows the same strategy with the MU-X as it does with the KB in the current (October 2017) market – an entry-level 2.5-litre engine with 100 kW of power and 320 Nm of torque, plus a stronger 3.0-litre with 130 kW and 380 Nm.

Although the Australian-spec 3.0-litre engine might not be offered on the local market; the KB's D-TEQ motor could suffice.

The 3.0-litre is a tireless engine, whether you’re doing backcountry miles with a caravan in tow, or if you’re tramping more common ground in your hometown. The diesel engine’s full torque output is only available across a narrow rev band (2 000-2 200 rpm), but a big proportion of it – 380 Nm – can be wrung from 1700 rpm through to 3500 rpm.

There’s a good level of refinement to the way it builds pace, and the 6-speed automatic doesn't lumber at lower speeds – though it can be a little confused as to whether it should be in 4th, 5th or 6th gear at pace.

It won’t lose too much pace up steep hills when laden with passengers or when tugging a trailer, but it's the day-to-day effortlessness of the 3.0-litre turbodiesel engine, and its well-known reliability, that could make this a good choice for potential buyers.

The Isuzu's fascia shows its age, but here's hoping local models will benefit from that touchscreen interface with integrated navigation.

Driving dynamics

The Isuzu MU-X isn’t a new vehicle, having been around for quite some time in markets such as Australia (since 2013, to be precise), and it can’t necessarily keep up with the best leisure off-roaders on the market for driving dynamics. A Ford Everest, with its fingertip-light steering and pliant ride quality, is certainly a more convincing option for outright car-like-ness.

But that isn’t to say this MU-X is embarrassed by its senior status. It is still quite truck-like to drive, with a heavy and slow steering rack, and suspension that is tuned to deal with bumpy roads rather than absolute body control. However, the company added some extra insulation to the floor, firewall and windscreen as part of the recent update, so it feels relatively quiet and composed if you are hustling along a gravel road. Urban driving is easily dealt with, as the 5-link rear suspension (not leaf springs like the KB) is supple enough without being too soft.

The MU-X also features a 5-link rear suspension, as opposed to traditional leaf springs, which augers well for ride refinement.

There are both 4×2 and 4×4 models sold around the world, though it would be remiss of a buyer to go for the 4×2, because there’s plenty of off-road cred to be explored in a ladder-frame SUV like the MU-X.

It has one of the simplest off-road gearing selectors that allows shift-on-the-fly changes from 2H to 4H at speeds up to 100 kph, and, of course, there’s a 4L mode for when things get particularly treacherous. And if they do, you’ll be assured by the MU-X’s newly added hill descent control system, not to mention the heavy-duty protection to the underbody and transfer case. The Bi-LED headlamps are quite good as well.

In the cabin

You can’t escape the utility roots of the MU-X – it lacks steering column reach adjustment, for example, and it has only single-zone climate control, where some purpose-built family SUVs have temperature controls for both front passengers and a separate setting for those in the rear. There are vents to all three rows, though, and the seating comfort for adults is definitely acceptable for front and 2nd-row occupants.

The interior comfort of the Trailblazer was a revelation upon the product's introduction 5 years ago; that still rings true today.

The cockpit has good storage on offer for loose items, and if you are only using 5 seats, there is a large amount of cargo room on offer (878 litres). With all 7 seats in play that drops to just 235 litres, and if you’re only using the front 2 seats, there’s up to 1 830 litres if you fold the 2nd and 3rd roads flat.

The particular model I drove was the high-end offering, which has all sorts of niceties like leather trim, electric driver’s seat adjustment, keyless entry and push-button start, and even a 10-inch roof-mounted screen for DVDs to keep the kids entertained.

No matter which derivatives end up being offered in South Africa, the MU-X should live up to your expectations IF you bear in mind its workhorse heritage – it remains convincing enough in its attempts to be family-friendly. In a way, it will be a brand builder for Isuzu… an adventure SUV that can only benefit from the buying public's regard for the Japanese marque.

The biggest aesthetic difference between the MU-X and the Trailblazer: the tail-light clusters are more car-like.

Summary

While the MU-X doesn't have a reputation for quality, overall ability and ruggedness to rival the Toyota Fortuner and isn't quite as polished an offering as the Ford Everest or, judging from our recent video review, the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, there is no doubt the Isuzu represents a credible alternative to those vehicles, let alone a replacement for its late cousin, the Trailblazer. The official line is that the MU-X is "currently under consideration and (Isuzu is) studying the opportunity to introduce it to the local market. The proposed timing for potential introduction of the vehicle is around the second half of next year". However, there have been reports of evaluation units of the MU-X being spotted in South Africa and we're willing to bet it will indeed go on sale. If only Isuzu would drop the MU-X moniker and revive the Frontier name!

Interested in buying an Isuzu?

Seach for a new/used example on Cars.co.za

Range Rover Velar: 5 Cool Features

The new Range Rover Velar executive SUV has arrived in South Africa and it’s packed with super-cool technology. These are some of the newcomer's coolest features:

The Velar, the latest member of the Range Rover family is now available in South Africa and it will rival products such as the Volvo XC90, Audi Q7 and the Jaguar F-Pace. We attended the local launch this week where we not only drove 3 of the 6 engines options on offer, but we also experienced much of the technology that the Velar has to offer.

A post shared by Cars.co.za (@carssouthafrica) on Oct 17, 2017 at 2:59am PDT

We came away quite impressed with the Velar. Not only did it deliver good performance and a comfortable ride on tar, but it also dealt with gravel roads with aplomb. However, the full breadth of its offroad capability is yet to be proven. It’s a refined product with excellent interior build quality and apart from its stylish and elegant design, the Velar is packed with great technological features.

Here are some of the coolest features that the new Velar has to offer.

Flush door handles

Retractable and stylish hidden door handles are a unique feature on the Velar.

Starting with the exterior, perhaps one of the first things you will notice on the Velar is its flush, deployable door handles. Upon unlocking the Velar, the door handles conveniently deploy from the bodywork and retract when the vehicle is locked or on the move. It’s a small detail, but adds significant appeal to the Velar’s overall sleek design. The flush door handles contribute to the Velar’s aerodynamic performance and with an overall drag coefficient of 0.32, the Velar is the most aerodynamically efficient Land Rover built to date.

Matrix-Laser LED headlights

A total of 4 LED lighting options are available to buyers with the Matrix-laser LED headlights offering a lighting range of over 500 metres.

LED headlights are standard across the range. However, buyers can choose between 4 different headlight options including the standard LED headlights, Premium LED headlights with signature daytime running lights (DRLs), Matrix LED headlights with signature DRLs and the top-of-the-range Matrix-laser LED headlights with signature DRLs.

The latter offers a laser high beam, static cornering lights, adaptive front lighting, high beam assist and animated indicator lights. The Matrix-laser LED headlights offer excellent illumination and are 5 times more effective than standard LED headlights with a lighting range of over 500 metres.

Comprehensive infotainment system

The two 10-inch touchscreens eliminate most of the buttons in the cabin resulting in an elegant and minimalist interior design.

Stepping inside the Velar, you will notice that there are very few buttons in the cabin. This is because buttons have been replaced with touchscreen technology. The dominant feature inside the Velar is undoubtedly the Touch Pro Duo infotainment system. It comprises two 10-inch touchscreens that house all the interior and infotainment functions as well as most of the vehicle’s settings.

The bottom screen allows the user/driver to choose and set various vehicle functions including driving modes and suspension settings and it also controls seat functions and the climate control air conditioning system. The higher screen is dedicated to functions such as navigation, Bluetooth telephony, music and camera viewing. It’s an impressively slick system and it’s very intuitive and easy to use. When not in operation, the top screen folds back into the dashboard.

The lower touchscreen puts most of the vehicle's functions at the driver's fingertips.

A cool option offered on the Velar is the Interactive Driver Display. It’s a 12.3-inch high-definition digital screen with 4 configurable modes that give the driver access to a host of functions such as vital driving information, navigation, media and telephony. There are also two 8-inch viewing screens integrated into front headrests for rear passenger entertainment, as well as wireless headphones and HDMI, MHL and USB connections.

Off-road capability

The Velar can go offroad and it has a wading depth limit of 650 mm.

The Velar features a Terrain Response system that can be used in various situations depending on the terrain. The system offers 6 settings including Comfort, Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud and Ruts, Sand, ECO and Dynamic mode, all of which can be selected on the lower 10-inch touchscreen. All Terrain Progress Control and Terrain Response 2 are offered as options. Another handy feature is Wade Sensing (optional) which uses ultrasonic sensors to warn the driver (visually and audibly) when the 650 mm wading depth is being reached. An image of the vehicle is shown on the touchscreen depicting the current depth and the maximum wading depth. The 360-degree camera system also gives you an all-around view of the vehicle which is useful in tricky terrain.

In addition to all-wheel drive and active locking rear differential, the Velar is also equipped with Hill Descent Control and Hill Launch Assist. Electronic air suspension is offered as an option and it allows the driver to adjust the ride height of the Velar in an offroad situation. The height of the Velar can be altered by as much as 50 mm, which also makes it easier to load bulky items into the 673-litre load bay. The Velar will also automatically lower by 40 mm when you come to a stop, making it easier for you to get in and out of the vehicle.

Extensive engine choice

Buyers have lots of choice in terms of engines, trim grades and optional equipment to make their Velar unique.

A total of 6 engine variants are on offer for the Velar with 3 diesel engines and 3 petrol engines available to buyers. All engines are mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission.

The Velar range kicks off with a 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine with 132 kW/430 Nm and a claimed consumption figure of 5.4 L/100 km.

Moving up the range is a more powerful 2.0-litre twin-turbodiesel engine with 177 kW/500 Nm and a claimed fuel consumption figure of 5.8 L/100 km.

The most powerful diesel engine on offer is the twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine with 221 kW/700 Nm and a claimed fuel consumption figure of 6.4 L/100km.

On the petrol front, the range starts with a 2.0-litre turbopetrol engine with 183 kW365 Nm and a claimed fuel consumption figure of 7.6 L/100 km.

A more powerful 221 kW/400 Nm 2.0-litre turbopetrol is also offered, carrying a claimed fuel consumption figure of 7.8 L/100 km.

The range-topping engine is a supercharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine with 280 kW/450 Nm and a claimed fuel consumption figure of 9.4 L/100km.

In addition to the extensive engine offering, the personalisation options on the Velar are almost endless and buyers can choose between various colours, interior trim/finishes and trim grades (S, SE, HSE, R-Dynamic S, R-Dynamic SE and R-Dynamic HSE). A bespoke Velar First Edition is also offered. Visit the Velar Configurator to build your own Velar!

Buy a Range Rover on Cars.co.za

Limited Edition Renault Kwid in SA

Renault has introduced a limited edition Kwid Xtreme derivative in South Africa. Herewith the details…

Renault’s budget-busting Kwid has experienced great success in the local market since its introduction almost a year ago with more than 6 000 units finding homes in SA and claims a sizable 11.5% share of the entry-level segment Now, to celebrate the Kwid’s success, Renault is offering a limited edition Kwid Xtreme in South Africa that will be available in limited numbers. Herewith the details.

Kwid Xtreme – Key features

The Kwid Xtreme benefits from a number of additional styling features as well as rear park distance control.

The Kwid Xtreme is powered by a 50 kW / 91 Nm 1.0-litre engine and is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission.

Based on the Kwid Dynamique, the limited edition Kwid Xtreme features an exterior styling pack that includes chrome accents seen on the grille, fog light surrounds, front bumper and on the tailgate. Bumper protection is fitted to minimise scuffs and scrapes.

The interior highlight is the 7-inch infotainment touchscreen with navigation and special red-detailed seat covers.

The Kwid Xtreme is also fitted with black roof rails, black plastic mud flaps and rides on 14-inch alloy wheels. Decals further add to the look of the Kwid Xtreme. In addition to the standard features offered by the Kwid Dynamique derivative, the Kwid Xtreme is fitted with rear park distance control as well as a Lock-On Drive system that automatically locks the doors at 20 kph for added security.

Key standard features include air conditioning, electric front windows and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation and Bluetooth functionality. The load bay offers 300-litres of space and Kwid has a useful ground clearance of 180mm.

Renault Kwid – Price in South Africa

Renault Kwid 1.0 SCe Expression – R124 900

Renault Kwid 1.0 SCe Dynamique – R134 900

Renault Kwid 1.0 SCe Xtreme – R149 900

The Renault Kwid is sold with a 5-year/150 000km warranty and a 6-year anti-corrosion warranty. Service plans are optional.

Buy a Renault Kwid on Cars.co.za

Nissan Navara vs VW Amarok (2017) Which is better for off-roading?

We've enlisted the help of 4×4 expert Alan Pepper to put the all-new Nissan Navara and recently facelifted Volkswagen Amarok through their paces on a 4×4 course to see how well the double cab pick-ups will deal with tricky off-road obstacles…

There are many similarities between these two rival products, so when the going gets rough, will the Nissan or the Volkswagen be the best vehicle for the job? This video also includes helpful tips for the novice off-roader and be sure not to miss Alan Pepper's expert recommendation at the end of the clip.

You may also be interested in:

Why the Nissan Navara shakes up the bakkie market

Are Double-Cab bakkies the new SUVs?

Mercedes-Benz X-Class and the rivals it has to beat

Most powerful Double-Cab bakkies in SA

Looking for a new / used Nissan Navara to buy?

Find one on Cars.co.za today by clicking here

Mahindra to build bakkies in SA

At the recent launch of the facelifted Pik Up range, Indian brand Mahindra made the surprise announcement that it intends setting up a manufacturing base in South Africa. We sat down with Mahindra's Head of International Operations, Arvind Mathew to talk about the Indian giant's African (and global) ambitions.

For South Africans, the Mahindra brand is synonymous with affordable and rugged bakkies, but this vast Indian conglomerate's operations also include subsidiaries that specialise in aviation, farm equipment, motorcycles, electric vehicles, clean energy, financial services and much more. It is the world's largest tractor manufacturer, for example, and owns global brands such as South Korea's SsangYong and legendary Italian design firm, Pininfarina. It has set itself the challenge to be one of the world's top 50 most recognisable brands by 2030… placing it on a stage with the likes of Apple, Coca-Cola, Ford and IBM…

It would appear, given the surprise announcement by Arvind Mathew (Head of Global Operations) at the local launch of the revised Pik Up last week, that South Africa will play an important role in the Mahindra brand's global expansion…

How important is South Africa for Mahindra?

We sat down with Mr Mathew immediately following his surprise statement and asked him for more detail.

"We’re going to head down to Durban tomorrow," Mathew said. "We are very keen to set up local manufacturing in South Africa. Clearly Port Elizabeth and Durban are the most logical places to set up…

"I took this job in December last year. This is my third trip to South Africa in the last 9 months, so South Africa is very important to us. From an international operations perspective my biggest markets are the ones around India, because they’re just across the border, and almost all the products, from generators to trucks in those markets, come from India. But following those markets is South Africa. And that is just on automotive! So I’ve got an opportunity on farm equipment, trucks, construction equipment and so on in South Africa."

Why here? Why now?

The rugged Bolero pick-up could be one of the first vehicles to be assembled locally.

"It's really a strategic decision. We believe that if we're in a market that’s important to us we’ve got to invest. I’ll be honest… South Africa today, if I run the numbers, doesn’t make sense. But I think the benefit of building locally and being viewed as South African, those are things you really can’t put a price on. So that is clearly one reason.

"The other is that I want to make South Africa my big base for the rest of Africa, primarily East Africa. Other African countries are not as mature (as South Africa) in terms of automotive components, manufacturing and so on. And you know, policies keep changing. There is this agreement that if we build in South Africa we can in theory ship all the way to Kenya without duties as long as we have 60% local content. But in practice it doesn’t work that way. However, there will come a time when there will be some sort of trade blocks and I want to make sure we use that, all the way up to Ethiopia! So it’s a strategic play.

"In the short term most of it (local manufacturing) will focus on Bolero and Pik Up… because those are vehicles that go all across the continent. Eventually, if we believe the KUV and TUV volumes are growing, we can look at those, but I don’t see these volumes growing in other parts of Africa though."

It is worth pointing out that at this stage, it looks like the Mahindra operation will at first be a SKD (semi-knocked down) facility, as it wishes to to start production within a very short timeframe.

Lessons from Mzansi

Recently introduced and vastly improved Pik Up could also eventually be manufactured in South Africa.

Now, with more than a decade of sales in South Africa, and having established nearly 60 dealerships and earning its reputation as a trusted brand, we asked Mathew what lessons were learnt on local soil.

"I think the big lesson is that you can’t fool everyone all the time. You just have to deliver on quality and affordability. Don’t over-promise and under-deliver. And eventually through word of mouth your brand gets established. It takes years to build a brand.

"And now we believe the time is right to start building the Mahindra brand, instead of the individual brands, such as Scorpio or XUV. Anand Mahindra, who is our chairman, has told us that he wants Mahindra to be one of the top 50 globally recognised brands by 2030. This means we have to sit side by side with Apple, Coca-Cola, Google, Ford and so forth! It’s a tall ask, considering we are primarily an Indian brand from an automotive persepctive, but Tech Mahindra is clearly global. The only way we can get there is to make sure that all the different parts of the business go global and that the Mahindra brand is established worldwide."

On partners and competing with them

Mahindra and Ford recently signed a new agreement to explore areas where the 2 giants could work together. This follows on an earlier agreement that spanned from 1996 to 2001. According to Mathew, it is time that automotive companies start working together. It's still early days for the new agreement, but they will explore subjects such as electrification, connected services and developing markets, looking for opportunities.

Recently launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the new SsangYong Rexton – part of Mahindra's global strategy.

Interestingly, Mahindra's global ambitions are approached with a somewhat different mindset when it comes to the way it works with (and sometimes competes against), its own subsidiaries. Take SsangYong, for example, the South Korean brand that also specialises in SUVs and crossovers. One would think that platform sharing would be a natural first step, but in this instance, it's not.

"We allow our partners to do their own thing," Mathew explains. "Of course, where it makes sense, if there is an opportunity to share costs through sourcing, for example, we work together, but in the end of the day they're their own brand and they make their own decisions. The brands have to be unique, because the markets are unique. Sometimes we will compete with them!"

You may also be interested in;

Mahindra Pik Up Double Cab (2017) Launch Review

Mahindra TUV300 1.5 CRDe T8 (2017) Quick Review

Mahindra KUV100 G80 K8 (2016) Review

New-look Mahindra Scorpio lands in SA

Looking to buy a new / used Mahindra?

Find one on Cars.co.za today by clicking here

Exchange Rate blamed for petrol price fluctuations in October 2017

Despite the international petrol price coming down, we're not likely to see any benefit at the pumps in SA thanks to the Rand's instability.

The Automobile Association of SA (AA) has blamed the fluctuating exchange rate for the unstable petrol price and as it stands, we're in line for yet another increase at the end of October 2017. "The landed price of petrol has dropped by almost 20 cents a litre since the start of October," the AA said. "Unfortunately, Rand weakness against the US dollar saw an impact of 22 cents a litre, neutralising the fuel price gains and giving a petrol price increase of two cents a litre based on the current data."

Diesel is being particularly hard hit as the international price had increased by as much as six cents a litre. "Including the effects of Rand weakness, diesel is showing a potential price rise at the end of October of around 28 cents a litre, with illuminating paraffin set to rise 20 cents," says the AA. Simply, motorists are at the mercy of what the AA describes as a situation where 'political and economic sentiment which negatively affects the Rand.' We'll have more information on the next petrol price increase before the end of the month.

Vehicle Licence Transaction Fee Hike on the cards

It almost slipped under our radar, but a government gazette proposal suggests that an increase in the transaction fee for eNatis vehicle licensing transactions is likely to be enforced in the near future. This means that whether you want to renew your vehicle's licence, register a car or change its ownership details – or do anything pertaining to vehicle ownership at your local traffic department, the transaction is going to cost you more...

Earlier in October 2017, the Transport Minister Joe Maswanganyi published the increased transaction fee in the Government Gazette 41170. It should be coming into effect on 1 February 2018. Here's where it gets sticky. This transaction fee is the subject of the increase and not the actual vehicle licensing cost. According to the Justice Project South Africa (JPSA), a non-profit organisation focusing on "ensuring that road traffic legislation is fair and equitable and is primarily enacted to achieve enhanced road safety objectives", this increase is absurd and needs justification.

Let's look at the numbers, sourced from JPSA.

"The increase of R30 per transaction equates to a whopping 71.43% increase in this transaction fee, raising it from R42 per transaction to R72 per transaction. In the previous year, the former Minister of Transport, Dipuo Peters increased this transaction fee from R36 to R42 per transaction, an increase of 16.67%."

Inflation, as it stands, sits at just under 5% and this new transaction fee is way above that. You can imagine how much additional revenue will be coming in with this new increase and according to JPSA, "there were 12 153 062 vehicles registered on eNaTIS, all of which must be licensed annually."

We'll keep you posted if there are any further developments to this story. As it stands, you'll need an extra R30 to renew your licence for your vehicle.

Polestar 1 Shows Off Electric Performance Future

Swedish brand Volvo has a performance brand called Polestar and on October 17 2017, Polestar took the bold step of revealing its future as a stand-alone electric performance brand. It also showed off its first offering, called the Polestar 1 with production starting in the middle of 2019.

Polestar is going places. It has moved from being a performance tuner of Volvo and has become a new standalone electric performance brand, complete with three models, a new factory in China as well as a unique ownership plan in the form of a subscription. In terms of actual product, what you're looking at is the Polestar 1, scheduled for production in the middle of 2019. While Polestar is doing a lot of its own work, it can still call upon Volvo for its powertrains and other technologies. This is an all-new direction for Polestar as previously its products were mildly tweaked Volvos.

Polestar 1

Polestar 1 makes do with an electrically assisted 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. 2 and 3 will be fully electrified.

In Polestar 1 application, there's a four-pot Drive-E motor, but Polestar has tuned it to deliver nice round figures of 600 hp (447 kW) and 1 000 Nm. We'll let the photos do most of the talking as it's certainly a striking car, but we do wonder why Volvo wasn't brave enough to build this car in the first place? While there wasn't much need for a powerful coupe, surely an S90 coupe with a regular Drive-E motor would have found favour in the European market? However, we're at the stage now where Volvo Group is claiming that Polestar is now the technology spearhead for the group which means that some of Polestar's tech will filter into mainstream Volvo offerings.

Polestar 1 is a two-door, 2+2 seater Grand Tourer Coupé with an electric performance hybrid drivetrain. There will be a production run of 500 cars per year, but it's the business model which has piqued our interest. Polestar claims that 'all cars will be offered on a subscription basis, with customers benefitting from the convenience of a single, all-inclusive payment that can be topped up by additional on-demand services if required.' In terms of efficiency and economy, Polestar 1 can do 150 km in a pure electric mode. It's built on the same platform as other Volvo products, but the Polestar 1 features new and bespoke underpinnings. There's extensive useage of carbon fibre too, which'll keep the weight down and improve handling.

Thomas Ingenlath, Chief Executive Officer of Polestar, continued; "The Polestar 1 is a Performance Electric Hybrid, but with the longest pure electric range of any hybrid car in the world, we consider it an electric car with support from an internal combustion engine. All future cars from Polestar will be Electric Performance Vehicles but the Polestar 1 bridges today's technology with the future, offering the perfect drivetrain for a Grand Touring Coupé that's likely to be used over longer distances as well as shorter, faster, enjoyable journeys".

It looks like a Volvo cabin, but we don't see any Polestar badges anywhere.

Polestar 2 and Polestar 3?

The news from Polestar and the Polestar 1 is quite big and the Swedes have made it clear that they're planning a full spectrum of vehicles. We'll get to see Polestar 2 when it goes into production in 2019, but the key point here is that both 2 and 3 will be battery electric vehicles, with no internal combustion engines. 2 will be a mid-sized fully-electric car with 3 being a bigger SUV-style fully-electric vehicle. Right now, 2 is in the engineering phase of production, while 3 is almost complete with the design. Polestar is claiming that its 2 is a Tesla Model 3 rival.

Subscription-based ownership

Polestar will be pushing its products through a monthly subscription payment system. "This all-inclusive, no deposit, flat monthly payment ensures that the customer need never concern themselves with the inconvenience or cost of depreciation, insurance and maintenance and all Polestars will be offered on this basis. The subscription also includes pick-up and delivery servicing where Polestar contacts the customer to arrange a convenient time for scheduled maintenance. It will also consist of a number of car rental days and access to a range of concierge services."

There will also be a focus on the on-demand service model, much like an Uber. You'd be able to order a vehicle online or through an app. Polestar points out an interesting example: 'a customer needs the short-term use of a roof box for a forthcoming skiing holiday. At a time and location specified by the owner, Polestar will supply, fit and subsequently remove the roof box, just adding a small incremental usage charge to their monthly invoice.'

The subscription period will be for a fixed term of two or three years and at the end of the contract, the customer returns the car or Polestar collects it and delivers their next Polestar experience. Polestar will then refurbish the vehicle and prepare it for a secondary subscription as a high-quality pre-owned Polestar car.

It's clear that Polestar and its business model are aiming at Tesla, and given the hiccups around Model 3 production, it looks like the electric sportscar race has just begun.

Want to buy a Volvo?

Browse through stock here

Range Rover Velar (2017) Specs & Pricing

The Velar is the latest addition to the Range Rover family of luxury SUVs and it is officially launching in South Africa next week and we will be driving it (again)! Take a look at specification and pricing for the Velar…

Sitting snug between the Evoque and Range Rover Sport is the new Velar, an elegant and modern SUV that can tackle various terrains. The Velar will be officially launched in South Africa next week and we will be driving it in Cape Town. The Velar will be in Land Rover showrooms as of 20 October 2017. Here are some key specification and pricing details for the Velar ahead of its upcoming launch.

Key specification details

A total of 6 engine choices will be offered and Land Rover's Terrain Response system will ensure capable performance offroad.

The Velar will be offered with a range of petrol and diesel engines across 4 trim lines including Base, S, SE and HSE. In addition to this, customers can opt for R-Dynamic trim with adds sportier exterior and interior details. There will also be a Velar First Edition on sale from launch which will be equipped with a range of optional features as standard and will be offered in 3 exterior colours including Corris Grey, Silicon Silver and Flux.

Engines

The engine range includes 3 diesel engines and 3 petrol engines. Starting with the diesel engines, the Velar range kicks off with a 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine with 132 kW and a claimed consumption figure of 5.4 L/100 km.

Moving up the range is a more powerful 2.0-litre twin-turbodiesel engine with 177 kW and a claimed fuel consumption figure of 5.8 L/100 km.

The most powerful diesel engine on offer is the twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine with 221 kW and a claimed fuel consumption figure of 6.4 L/100km.

On the petrol front, the range starts with a 2.0-litre turbopetrol engine with 183 kW and a claimed fuel consumption figure of 7.6 L/100 km.

A more powerful 221 kW 2.0-litre turbopetrol is also offered, carrying a claimed fuel consumption figure of 7.8 L/100 km.

The range-topping engine is a supercharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine with 280 kW and a claimed fuel consumption figure of 9.4 L/100km.

An 8-speed automatic transmission is standard as is Terrain Response which allows you to traverse varying terrain. A single-speed transfer box with high range and an open rear differential is standard.

Key features

High-grade materials and impressive dual touchscreens create an appealing interior.

Standard features on the Velar include heated door mirrors, flush door handles, automatic LED headlights with levelling and rear fog lights. The interior is fitted with a auto-dimming rear-view mirror, illuminated vanity mirrors, front and rear cupholders, interior lighting and a 40:20:40 split rear seat.

The base Velar is equipped with ebony luxtec and ebony suede cloth upholstery. S and SE grades are fitted with ebony perforated grained leather upholstery while the HSE derivative is fitted with ebony perforated Winsor leather.

The base-spec and S grade Velar feature analogue dials with a central TFT display while a 12-inch interactive driver display is offered on SE and HSE derivatives. A highlight of the Velar is the Touch Pro Duo system that incorporates two 10-inch touchscreens housing the infotainment system and majority of the vehicle’s functions, resulting in less interior buttons and a minimalist interior design. The loading bay offers a generous 673 litres of space.

Safety features include 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, emergency brake assist, dynamic stability control, electronic traction control, roll stability control, cornering brake control, hill launch assist, trailer stability assist and lane departure warning, to name a few. ISOFIX child seat mounts are also standard.

If you are interested in building your very own Velar with all the features you desire, you can visit the Velar Configurator on Land Rover’s website.

Range Rover Velar – Price in South Africa

Velar	Base	S	SE	HSE
2.0 diesel 132kW (D180)	R947 700	R1 028 600	R1 077 900	R1 172 400
2.0 diesel 177kW (D240)	R1 010 400	R1 091 300	R1 140 600	R1 235 100
2.0 petrol 183kW (P250)	R947 700	R1 028 600	R1 077 900	R1 172 400
2.0 petrol 221kW (P300)	R1 000 000	R1 080 800	R1 130 100	R1 224 600
3.0 diesel 221kW (D300)	R1 089 000	R1 169 800	R1 219 100	R1 313 700
3.0 petrol 280kW (P380)	R1 099 400	R1 180 300	R1 229 600	R1 324 100

Velar R-Dynamic	Base	S	SE	HSE
2.0 diesel 132kW (D180)	R980 500	R1 061 300	R1 110 600	R1 205 200
2.0 diesel 177kW (D240)	R1 043 200	R1 124 000	R1 173 300	R1 267 900
2.0 petrol 183kW (P250)	R980 500	R1 061 300	R1 110 600	R1 205 200
2.0 petrol 221 kW (P300)	R1 032 700	R1 113 600	R1 162 900	R1 257 400
3.0 diesel 221kW (D300)	R1 121 800	R1 202 600	R1 251 900	R1 346 400
3.0 petrol 280kW (P380)	R1 132 200	R1 213 100	R1 262 400	R1 356 900

Velar First Edition
3.0 diesel 221kW (D300)	R1 529 300
3.0 petrol 280kW (P380)	R1 539 800

Prices include a Land Rover Five Year Care Plan including a 5-year/100 000km service plan, a 5-year/100 000km maintenance plan and a 5-year/100 000km warranty, as standard.

Buy a Range Rover on Cars.co.za

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