South African motorists seem to be suffering from a curious condition. The origins of the condition are the subject of debate among experts but the symptoms seem universal: South Africans just don't like station wagons.
This is in stark contrast to motorists in Europe who have a long and enduring love affair with what many in the industry agree are practical, stylish vehicles.
We've termed the condition "anti-stationwagonism" and in this special report by our intrepid reporter Ciro De Siena, we speak to a pro-estate car journalist in a bid to better understand the condition, and we found a local station wagon owner who was willing to share his experience with us.
The vehicle we've chosen as a case study for this report is the Subaru Levorg. While the model isn't yet on sale in South Africa, a facelifted model will reach local showrooms in 2018.
If you know someone suffering from anti-stationwagonism, or you're experiencing any symptoms yourself, please leave a comment below and we'll do our best to assist you.
The top finalists in all 6 categories of the prestigious 2017 World Car Awards have been announced.
Following a recent first round of voting by the 75 international motoring journalists that make up its jury, the World Car Awards (WCA) organisation has revealed the top finalists for the 2017 honours. The jury, including Cars.co.za's Hannes Oosthuizen, the only South African representative, will now have until mid-February to vote on the winners which will be announced at the New York Auto Show in April. Before then, auditing firm KPMG will reveal the top 3 in each category at the Geneva Motor Show in March.
At a quick glance, it looks like Audi has a particularly strong shot at overall victory, with no fewer than 3 cars in the top 10. Other strong contenders include the newly crowned Cars.co.za Consumer Awards Family Car of the Year, the VW Tiguan, Jaguar's stylish new F-PACE and the upcoming Toyota C-HR.
Click on the names of the cars for more information, where available.
2017 World Car of the Year finalists
Could Toyota's bold move with the C-HR be rewarded with World Car Awards glory soon?
It’s finally here! After plenty of teasing, Porsche has officially introduced the all-new Cayenne Turbo, and it’s a sublime stunner on some serious steroids.
We were lucky enough to be invited on a driving preview of the new Cayenne range in the foothills of the Pyrenees back in August (before its reveal later in the month), and found it to be quite sensational – when the slowest (or rather, least brutal) model in the range hits 100km/h in under 6 seconds, you know you’re dealing with something special (these are full-sized SUVs, people!)
The Turbo model unveiled today in Frankfurt is a good 30% quicker – hitting 100 kph in just 4.1 seconds and surging onwards to 286 kph thanks to its growling 4.0-litre V8 biturbo which delivers 404 kW and an obscene 770 Nm. With a somewhat lighter foot, it will still manage to keep fuel consumption at under 12 L/100 km on the combined cycle. The engine is mounted lower than its predecessor, which enhances driving dynamics.
There’s a lot of impressive stuff going on in the new Turbo that contributes to it achieving the dynamics of a true sports car, such as the electric Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) roll stabilisation connected to a 48-volt vehicle electrical system, Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV+) and (optional) rear-axle steering.
It’ll be capable off-road too, with six different ride height options.
Probably the first thing you’ll notice from the side are the 21-inch wheels specially reserved for the top model, in widened wheel arches with painted wheel arch trims. The twin tailpipes, also specific to the Turbo, are the key distinguishing features on the rear end.
The completely new interior demonstrates the increased spread of the Cayenne Turbo: more sportiness and more comfort at the same time. Virtually all the vehicle functions of the fully networked SUV can be displayed and operated using the high-resolution display and touchscreen of the Porsche Advanced Cockpit.
This is the first SUV to have an adaptive roof spoiler to improve aerodynamics and braking. Oh, and you (and all your passengers) can adjust your exclusive heated Turbo seats in 18 different ways — nice.
You can expect to see the new Porsche Cayenne in South Africa in 2018. We will keep you updated as local pricing and specification details become available.
If you're looking for a positive spin on every concept car at the Frankfurt Show, you've come to the wrong place. Our experienced contributor takes aim at the electric vehicle concepts and fires shots.
Given all the negative sentiment around the diminishing relevance of the traditional car show, you can forgive the Frankfurt motor show (officially, the IAA) for feeling a little like Mark Twain today as the 2017 edition was not only packed with fresh metal, it was also a gathering of huge significance. That significance is rooted in the question that most major exhibitors tried desperately to answer: What does an electric vehicle (EV) look like?
Should an EV, for the sake of easy market acceptance, tie its design to an existing, fossil-fuelled identity? Or should it be an artful interpretation of a better, cleaner future? I’d wager the answer lies in a carefully considered, balanced approach. Nissan chose not to attend the show but its new Leaf, now with the original car’s weird fish-faced style dialled back to something recognisably normal (ala new Micra and Pulsar hatchbacks), perfectly demonstrates the dilemma. Creating something truly new is not easy and rarely commercially viable.
BMW's i3 is distinctive but with the i Vision Dynamics Concept the Bavarian carmaker is trying its hand at the 3-box shape.
BMW’s designers were certainly given free rein with Project i. Despite mixed reaction to the i3’s unique style and distinctive, stepped side window graphic, it at the very least broadened BMW’s design palette while also looking suitably futuristic. But the i3 is an urban-friendly hatch, an entirely new playground for the Bavarian maker; how does it electrify the design of its core sports sedan model, the 3 Series?
Meet the i Vision Dynamics Concept, a 3 Series for the charge generation and a precursor to the forthcoming i5. Reassuringly 3-box in profile and superbly proportioned, the designers have worked so hard to add new elements to the i-car design language that they’ve forgotten one or two essentials that make a BMW so recognisable.
Where is the measured application of fine-line brightwork? And that’s a very poor excuse for a Hoffmeister kick in the rear pillar. Without this concept’s utterly decorative, uncharacteristically linked and unforgivably deep double kidney grille, it could just as easily wear the Peugeot lion or Kia tiger nose. It appears that BMW is afflicted with a tendency towards cartoon-like exaggeration and unintentional biomimicry. Just stare at that face for a moment and try not to think of a cartoon beaver shaving bark off a branch, or try looking at the nose of the monstrous X7 concept and tell me you don’t see a tusky warthog, with emphasis on the hog.
The BMW X7 or as it was nicknamed: "The Warthog"
Audi too, once the bastion of clean surfacing and lineal minimalism, has fallen prey to this affliction – its Aicon concept wears the face of Garfield’s German twin. Again, Audi is grappling with the question of what an electric Audi looks like, but have also thrown "autonomous" into the word scrabble soup. So we get an Audi with no pedals or steering wheel which is kind of appropriate given that it has a somewhat directionless push-me, pull-you profile. Which end is the front again? Oh yes, hello puffy-cheeked Garfield.
What the Aicon (Icon?) concept does do well is incorporate stunning dynamic rear lamps and muscular, beautifully toned haunches that promise dynamic handling. Sadly though, they’re wasted on a car you can’t drive. And can someone please explain how the windows work?
If the badge was removed, could you actually say that it looks like an Audi? Aikona.
I suppose at this point it’s only fair to point out that these are merely concepts designed to gauge reaction and that the production cars will be appropriately muted.
Talking about muted, Mercedes-Benz showed us its 3-door EQA, the second concept under the company’s new EQ sub-brand and the closest indication yet of how Stuttgart plans to counter the BMW i3. Effective, homogeneous and pretty, the EQA is another concept that, shorn of its lit star up front, could confidently wear Opel’s lightning logo or that of any number of fast-improving Chinese brands. No doubt it will take a few more rounds of concept cars and a production model or two before we become more accustomed to what an electric Mercedes-Benz is supposed to look like…
Devoid of angles or corners, the Merc EQA could double as the Goodyear Blimp.
But we all thought we knew how a Mercedes-AMG Formula One-inspired race car for the road was supposed to look, right up until the moment the covers came off Project One. Startling? Indeed. Beautiful? Not so much. When Mercedes gave us the CLK GTR road car in 1998, we forgave its awkwardly assimilated corporate bits because it was designed as a race car primarily – it had an excuse.
Project One was a clean sheet, a blank canvas. It should have been jaw-dropping and extreme. No doubt it will be fast and fearsome but it looks like a 1992 McLaren F1 after it has been stung in the face, a hasty cut-and-paste Photoshop effort with swollen air inlets, incongruent headlight shapes and tacky, tacked on carbon vents, skirts and wings. Marek Reichman and his Aston Martin Valkyrie are both sleeping easier tonight.
If we said McLaren F1 with a few more fins and gills would it be wrong?
So who got it right? Which manufacturer managed to successfully navigate its way through to a new EV design that’s both future proof and respectful of its past? Given this brand’s floundering efforts lately, the answer may surprise you. Yes, it’s Honda’s Urban EV concept that has received almost universal praise from designers and pundits alike. Some see Golf Mk1, others Peugeot 205, but a quick Google image search of the 1972 Honda Civic proves the Urban EV has no need to borrow from any other maker’s heritage.
The car’s simple surfaces, clean details and iconic lines strike a blow to the fussy-surfaced and overstyled efforts from the Germans. It is stylish, friendly and instantly likeable. Isn’t that the easiest way to win over an EV-sceptic car buyer?
A cool modern EV? We think so, even if it looks like every small car from the 80s/90s.
Welcome to Part 3 in our Golf-themed series… A Game of Golfs. In this episode, the front-wheel drive Golf GTI takes on the all-wheel-drive R. We're not taking any bets on what the outcome will be, but how big will the victory be?
In this video, we line up the latest Volkswagen Golf R with the latest Golf GTI for a good ol' fashioned quarter-mile drag race.
Power outputs from the latest Golf R have been beefed up to 213 kW and 380 Nm, and while those figures are impressive, the model is detuned for the South African market, due to our hot climate. Power figures for the new GTI have climbed from 162 kW to 169 kW.
Acceleration figures of 0-100 kph are claimed at a rapid 4.6 seconds for the R, and a slightly less impressive 6.4 seconds for the GTI.
For this race, no one was expecting the GTI to steal a victory, but just how much faster is the R, and in the all-important, straight line race, what does the R100 000 premium over the GTI really buy you?
Mercedes-Benz has released an all-new electric concept at the Frankfurt Show that is a precursor to Sindelfingen's new EQ sub-brand.
The EQA is a compact hatchback sized car and is Merc's first foray into the all-electric small car segment. It showcases new lighting technology as well as usable range and a new design theme.
In the lighting department, Mercedes-Benz has opted for laser fibres. The front lighting area alongside the badge adapts depending on the driving mode selected. For example, In the "Sport" drive program the grille depicts a flaming wing in horizontal format, while in "Sport Plus" mode vertical struts in the style of a Panamericana radiator grille are displayed.
Sport mode grille design
Sport Plus mode grille design
The EQA Concept is powered by 2 electric motors and an all-wheel drive system. The "Sport" and "Sport Plus" driving modes have entirely different torque distribution setups so the car has an entirely different personality between the modes. Merc also claims ultimate power of over 200 kW and a theoretical maximum range of 400 km.
As for the design on the EQA Concept, it sets up the character of vehicles to come from Merc by 2022. It expects to have at least 10 all-electric vehicles on the road. The first of these all-electric cars is slated for 2019 and based on the previous EQ concept shown in Paris last year.
It seems the John Cooper Works GP nameplate has made a comeback at the Frankfurt Show. It looks like a racing wasp.
Mini normally adds the John Cooper Works GP models as limited edition run outs when the Mini range is close to the end of its lifespan. For this, the third generation under BMW ownership, we are seeing the Works GP quite early in the life cycle as the new model arrived in 2014.
The 'Works GP looks more like a stripped out racer than ever, a huge front splitter sits out front, multiple air intakes and that huge rear wing. The wing mirrors look decidedly concept car-ish but Mini says they are an aerodynamic aid. Purists will note that the traditional 'Works GP wheels have been replaced with these 19-inch lightweight alloys.
The interior has been stripped down to just 2 seats – as in previous versions and it’s been kitted with a roll cage and fire extinguisher. It looks more like a GT3 racecar inside than a limited edition, faster JCW. The gear lever has been removed entirely with shifts left to the paddle shifters behind the steering wheel.
Mini did not release any power figures with the concept but speculation around the power unit suggest it will still use the 2.0-litre turbocharged unit from the JCW. Power could be increased to as much as 220 kW and sent to all 4 wheels like it is in the Clubman and Countryman JCW. That would make it quite a serious threat to the likes of the Civic Type R, VW Golf R and upcoming Megane RS.
A new Bentley Continental has been revealed and we take a look at this ultra-luxurious Grand Tourer.
Despite riding on a Porsche Panamera platform, the new Bentley Continental GT was designed, engineered and handcrafted in Britain. Wolfgang Dürheimer, chairman and chief executive of Bentley Motors, said: "Bentley has been at the forefront of luxury grand touring for nearly 100 years. The new, 3rd-generation Continental GT is the pinnacle of our design and engineering achievements and marks the next step in Bentley's journey.
"We are the world leader in luxury mobility and our products and services define new luxury in the automotive world. The new Continental GT encapsulates our desire to innovate as well as celebrate our heritage and take the Bentley ownership experience to the next, unparalleled level."
New engine and chassis
An interesting, almost boat-tailed rear design, but it's unmistakably Bentley.
Powering the new Continental GT is an all-new version of the W12, which Bentley is famous for. It's still a 6.0-litre turbocharged motor, but this time a dual-clutch 8-speed transmission has been added. Interestingly, the unique W configuration means the engine is 24% shorter than an equivalent V12, which means it has better packaging and space, as well as helping with weight distribution. This big engine produces 467 kW and 900 Nm of torque, and when you dial up the Sport Launch Mode, the 0-100 kph sprint is achievable in a claimed 3.7 seconds thanks to a new all-wheel drive system. If you want to try test its top-end speed, you'll find yourself comfortably sitting at over 330 kph!
There's also a new adaptive chassis featuring Bentley's intelligent 48-volt Dynamic Ride System. This arrangement ensures that the vehicle provides excellent comfort and handling.
Cabin
The Bentley Continental GT is one of those wonderful cars that can almost do it all. It offers four seats, a generous cargo area and provides ballistic performance. The driver and passengers are surrounded by leather, wood and luxury. For this new model, there's a big focus on digital and an advanced, all-digital display makes its debut. There's also a 12.3-inch touchscreen on the dashboard.
There is a pair of tech packs on offer: City Specification for urban journeys and the Touring Specification for long-distance driving.
City Specification includes hands-free boot opening, pedestrian warning, traffic-sign recognition and city braking systems as well as a top-view camera. The Touring Specification, meanwhile, offers adaptive cruise control with traffic-jam assist, active lane assist, a heads-up display, night vision with an infrared camera, and pre-sense braking.
Note the all-new digital interface in the Bentley Continental's cabin…
One of the unique selling points of Bentley's products is that you can completely customise the cabin to suit your requirements and tastes thanks to its Mulliner customisation arm. Take the paint finishes, for example: there are 17 exterior colours with up to 70 hues. Carpets? Pick from one of 15! Interior leather? There are 15 variations of trim hide to sample.
Watch the Bentley Continental undergo testing in SA
When is it coming?
The new Bentley Continental GT will make its global debut at the 2017 IAA Frankfurt Motor Show and we expect the first examples to be in South Africa in early 2018.
All-new Suzuki Swift Sport blasts into "proper" hot hatch territory courtesy of its new turbopetrol engine
Frankfurt has welcomed the all-new Suzuki Swift Sport, which is lighter, lower, faster and more rigid than its predecessor, so should be heaps of fun to drive with intent. The more aggressively styled Swift Sport has shed 80kg and its 1.4-litre turbo engine produces 103 kW and 230 Nm of torque, resulting in a torque-to-weight ratio that eagerly competes with genuine hot hatches, among which the Swift Sport can now count itself.
Since 2005, the Swift Sport has been Suzuki’s posterboy, combining the practical convenience of a hatchback with sporty performance. The third generation of the diminutive racer takes things up a few notches on the performance, technology and styling fronts. The direct fuel injection system features seven-hole injector nozzles, enabling increased fuel pressure and highly atomised fuel injection, resulting in higher engine output and a cleaner exhaust.
The turbocharger system is equipped with normally-closed wastegate valve control, which defaults to the closed position to provide excellent response in normal driving, and opens to minimise fuel consumption when cruising. The same 6-speed manual transmission used in the previous Suzuki Swift Sport does duty in the newcomer, albeit with some enhancements to improve smoothness and feedback. Suzuki's new flagship sports model boasts greater stiffness and stability all-round, which makes for improved dynamic response.
Advances in the performance and driving feel of the new Suzuki Swift Sport have been matched with camera- and laser-assisted safety features, including advanced forward detection, Dual Sensor Brake Support, lane departure warning and other key technologies.
Meet the ultimate off-road warrior offered by Land Rover. It's called the Discovery SVX and Land Rover claims its for enthusiasts seeking epic adventures
Let's talk about the badge… SVX forms part of Jaguar Land Rover's Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) and it takes the Discovery to the next level in terms of off-road capability. The Land Rover Discovery SVX is confirmed for production and it'll go on sale in 2018.
Under the bonnet is the iconic 5.0-litre supercharged V8 petrol powertrain, tuned to deliver 386 kW and 625 Nm, but the off-road modifications interest us most. There are extensive suspension modifications, improved approach, departure and break-over angles, a 4-corner air suspension system employing long-travel dampers and revised knuckles, and fitting larger 815 mm diameter 275/55 R20 Goodyear Wrangler all-terrain tyres on forged aluminium alloy wheels.
Visually, the Land Rover SVX gains a satin Tectonic Grey paint finish, a unique colour and material combination of Lunar and Light Oyster with Rush Orange accents inside, and X logo perforations on the SVX-branded seats. Unique Narvik Black side vents with V8 badging, a Narvik Black Dynamic grille, Silver roof rails and a roof-mounted unit with two additional light pods for improved low-light visibility.
