Ford Everest Expanded Range (2016) Specs & Pricing
Ford is expanding its Everest range and some of the new derivatives will be assembled in Ford's production facility in Silverton, Pretoria. We have the specifications and pricing ahead of the range's local launch this week. Take a look!
The bakkie-based Ford Everest SUV was launched into the South African market with just 1 engine option available. The 3.2-litre DuraTorq 5-cylinder is a potent motor, but what about those customers who don't need all that power and torque? Well, the Everest range is expanding to include 8 derivatives available with 2 engine choices, 3 specification levels, manual and automatic transmissions, as well as the option of 2- or 4-wheel drive.
“The New Ford Everest 7-seater created a huge stir in the SUV segment when it was launched as a fully imported vehicle in September last year, delivering outstanding levels of sophistication, luxury, all-terrain performance and versatility,” says Tracey Delate, general manager, marketing – Ford Motor Company Sub-Saharan Africa Region.
“Today, following an investment of R2.5-billion in the Ford Silverton Assembly Plant in Pretoria, we are delighted to officially launch the locally produced Everest – which will be available in Ford dealers this month with a bigger and better line-up that will appeal to a much wider range of customers.
The new engine is the 2.2-litre 4-cylinder turbodiesel, which we've recently sampled in the Ford Ranger double cab. It produces 118 kW and 385 Nm, while its 3.2-litre 5-cylinder sibling offers up 147 kW and 470 Nm. Both vehicles offer a towing rating of 3 000 kg.
The 2.2 XLS comes in 3 guises, comprising 2-wheel drive derivatives with either a 6-speed manual or -automatic transmissions and a 4×4 with a manual 'box. With high and low range, rear diff lock as well as 225 mm of ground clearance, the latter derivative is bound to remain a reputable offroad vehicle.
Ford Sync3
The big news comes in the form of the introduction of SYNC3 – Ford's infotainment and connectivity system. Having experienced it on an international trip the United States, we can vouch for its slick interface and ease of use. This system will be fitted as standard on all XLT and Limited models. It includes a total of 10 speakers and two USB ports for multimedia connectivity. Watch the below video to see how it works.
Ford Everest Price in South Africa
All models come standard with Ford Protect, including a four-year/120 000km comprehensive warranty, five-year/100 000km service plan, three-year/unlimited km roadside assistance and five-year/unlimited km corrosion warranty. Service intervals are every 20 000km, while 4×4 models include free 4×4 training.
Fiat’s racy Abarth 124 Spider arrives in SA [with video]
Fiat has released the South African specification and pricing of its good-looking new 124 Spider. The big news is that it will only be offered in flagship Abarth guise.
Available from local Abarth showrooms from December, the stylish new Abarth 124 Spider will be priced at R649 900. This, we can hear you say, is rather steep for a vehicle based on the Mazda MX-5, which is offered in South Africa for around R200 000 less. But a direct comparison is probably unwise, as the Abarth 124 Spider is not only more powerful and faster, but also loaded with features, some of which is not even available on the Mazda – the only option offered for the Abarth is metallic paint (R4 500).
Focus on Performance
The Abarth's 1.4-litre turbo engine promises sizzling performance to match the racy looks.
Unlike the Mazda MX-5, which makes use of a 2.0-litre, naturally aspirated engine that delivers 118 kW and 200 Nm of torque, the Abarth 124 Spider has a turbocharged 1.4-litre powerplant under its long hood that punches out 125 kW and 250 Nm of twist. This gives the lightweight Abarth an appreciable turn of speed – Fiat claims a 232 kph top speed and a 0-100 kph time of 6.8 seconds (compared with 214 kph and 7.3 seconds for the MX-5).
Standard equipment includes the dual mode Record Monzda exhaust, which is said to be able to modify "the path of the exhaust gas according to the engine speed", to generate a "satisfying, deep sound." We can't wait to hear for ourselves…
Dynamic Prowess
The Abarth's suspension and steering have been tuned with enthusiast driving in mind.
The suspension set-up also appears to have been honed with sizzling dynamics in mind. The Mazda MX-5, a current Cars.co.za Consumer Awards – Powered by WesBank Fun Car finalist, is certainly a good starting point in that regard.
It features double wishbone front suspension and a five-arm multi-link arrangement at the rear. The 124 Spider also gets Abarth by Bilstein shock absorbers, specially calibrated springs and "oversized" anti-roll bars. The power steering system is said to have been given a specific sports calibration to optimise feedback and precision.
The Abarth 124 Spider features a Drive Mode Selector, which offers two different performance settings, selectable by means of a lever on the transmission tunnel: "Normal" and "Sport". The system is said to adapt the driving characteristics in various ways, including steering and throttle responsiveness, stability control thresholds and even the exhaust sound. Of course, the electronic nannies can also be switched off when you want to hit the track.
A standard mechanical self-locking differential is part of the deal, too.
All the toys
Thus far the Abarth 124 Spider sounds like quite an uncompromising sportscar, but the specification sheet appears to suggest that luxury, comfort and safety were also priorities.
Snug cabin is loaded with features and retains much of the MX-5's controls.
Let's start with the eye-catching visuals – Abarth spec means you get dramatic 17-inch Forgiato Grey alloy wheels as well as LED headlamps and taillights. Inside the snug cabin you get leather upholstery, heated seats, keyless start and the Sound Plus pack with its integrated infotainment system consisting of a 7-inch colour touchscreen and control knob on the transmission tunnel. A 9-speaker Bose sound system is fitted, and two USB ports, an Aux port and Bluetooth connection features are also included.
As is the case with the Mazda, opening and folding the double-layered soft-top is done manually and easily in seconds.
The Abarth 124 Spider will be sold with a 3-years/100 000 km warranty and maintenance plan. Five colours are offered: two pastel, "Turini 1975 White" and "Costa Brava 1972 Red", and three metallic, "Isola d'Elba 1974 Blue", "Portogallo 1974 Grey" and "San Marino 1972 Black".
BMW has revealed a version of its new 5 Series wearing M Performance accessories. The new 5 Series will arrive in South Africa in February 2017.
The recently revealed, next-generation BMW 5 Series will bring a host of improvements to customers when it arrives on local soil in February 2017. The new 5 Series is up to 100 kg lighter than before and rides on a newly designed platform with a lower centre of gravity. You can therefore expect improvements in dynamics – already an area of strength for the Five – but the newcomer will also come packed with a wide range of advanced driver assistance systems, the latest version of iDrive and much more.
A number of M Performance accessories can be specified for the new BMW 5 Series.
If the standard 5 Series isn’t quite sweet enough for your taste, you might want to rummage in the M Performance accessory bin to give your new 5 Series additional head-turning power. There are a number of M Performance accessories on offer to achieve this.
A BMW M Performance Power and Sound Kit is offered on the 540i. This kit increases the 540i’s power from 250 kW to 275 kW while also increasing torque from 450 Nm to 500 Nm. But that’s not all. This kit also offers chrome or carbon fibre tailpipe trims.
Both the 540i and 530i can also be fitted with a new stainless steel sports silencer and circular or trapezoidal tailpipe trims in either chrome or carbon fibre.
In the case of the 530d, an M Performance Power Kit is available, which sees power bumped up from 195 kW to 215 kW and torque increasing from 620 Nm to 650 Nm.
Dual-tone 20-inch wheels are offered, along with red, 4-piston callipers at the front.
The new 5 Series range can also be fitted with 20-inch wheels, as well as a sports braking system that includes red 4-piston aluminium callipers at the front and single-piston callipers at the rear.
For a more hardcore look, you can opt for an M Sports Package and M Aerodynamics Package offering beefy bumpers, carbon fibre wing mirror caps, a rear diffuser and a carbon fibre rear spoiler. Polyurethane parts can also be fitted if you so wish. For the interior, an Alcantara M Performance steering wheel with new shift paddles is also on offer.
We will keep you updated regarding local pricing and specification for new BMW 5 Series, so stay tuned!
The facelifted Volkswagen Up! launched in South Africa this week and we took it for a drive in Johannesburg. This is what we discovered…
The term “new” may be a tad overstated, but that shouldn’t undermine the value the facelifted Volkswagen up! presents buyers. In an economy of buy-downs and start-ups, the relevance of cars such as the Up! is immense. So much so, that the entry-level A-segment accounts for more than 50% of the sales in the new car passenger market. It’s a fact, small and affordable is in, big and expensive is out.
It’s hard to think that it's already been almost 2 years since the introduction of the Up! in South Africa. It was probably the strangest looking car in its class. It arrived at the right time though, because its launch coincided with what I like to call “the rise of the hipsters”. As a result, it’s boxy construction and edgy lines were welcomed by many and approximately 4 600 units have been sold locally. The up! has now powdered its nose for the "party of its life" and has come out looking ready for yet another rendezvous with its picky target market.
What’s changed?
The changes to the facelifted Up! have improved an already accomplished product offering.
Exterior changes on the Up! are subtle, but they don’t go unnoticed. The front-end features a new bumper and revamped headlights that now have LED daytime running lights. The nicest change, in my opinion, is the new rear lights, which are darker and more modern. They add a real space age look to an already modern-looking car. However, the interior is where you will notice the real change. In fact, if I happened to own a pre-facelift up! and stepped into the facelifted up!, I would experience what young people refer to as “FOMO” (Fear Of Missing Out).
The dashboard is also higher, making the car look more spacious and the new Composition range of radios look fantastic. In the Take up! you get the 3.1-inch display whereas the Move up! features the nicer 5-inch colour display. Both radios have Auxiliary and SD card readers but the 5-inch radio adds Bluetooth and USB functionality, which is a must have for most people. The up! is now also safer than before, as Volkswagen has made ABS, stability control and 4 airbags standard across the range.
More doors, more options, more fun
As slick as any 2-door car may look, you can't deny the fact that they are generally very impractical. The 5-door variant we drove had much more usable space and although the rear is still snug, it’s much easier to exit the vehicle gracefully. All Up! derivatives are available with 5-doors only and new derivatives are joining the range too. The Take Up! and Move Up! are available as usual, but there's also the newly added Cross Up!, and for the music lovers out there, the Up! Beats, both of which will be introduced in the first quarter of 2017.
The interior has been improved with new Composition entertainment systems and USB functionality.
The latter is a collaboration with Beats Audio, which is known for its stellar sound systems. The up! Beats will have a six-speaker sound system, topped off with a subwoofer in the spare wheel well. The exterior of the Up! Beats will also feature unique styling elements such as red or black accents for the mirrors and wheel caps. If you’re not into annoying your neighbors with a crazy sound system, you can opt for the Sound Plus Package in your standard Up!, which is much more sedate. There are other packages that may interest you, such as the Driver Package, which gives you cruise control, park distance control and a multi-function display. If you don’t want to freeze in the winter months, you can also have heated seats offered by the Winter Package.
Float like a butterfly
With its 3-cylinder, 1.0-litre engine producing only 55 kW, we can’t really say that the Up! stings like a bee. It does, however, float like a butterfly on the road with its nimble chassis and comfortable ride. The advantage of being “average height” (read short), meant that I could fit into the up! with ease. My driving partner didn’t share the same dimensions as me (read fat), but he too felt comfortable enough during our 150 kilometre trip in the facelifted Up!
The engine feels eager to push on, but it does fall short on long, uphill stretches of road. That doesn’t really matter though because the Up! is a city car. It’s meant to zip around town and tip-toe in narrow side streets, something it does very well.
The Volkswagen up! performs best in the city and offers good ride quality and zippy performance.
The customer profile for an Up! is also very different to that of a Polo Vivo. When it was first introduced to the local market, Volkswagen was concerned that the up! could potentially steal sales from the Vivo. This wasn’t the case at all, as the cars speak to different people, hence the introduction of the 5-door up! in South Africa. For that purpose then, it makes sense to improve the offering for that niche market through design changes and features that would appeal to an up! buyer.
Overall, the little “munchkin” is a cute little package that is affordable but can't be regarded as cheap because it’s a quality product from a reputable brand. With an attractive starting price, one understands why this market is flourishing over others. It’s great to know that even when budgets are tight, there are some great small cars, like the Up!, that are still within reach of many buyers looking for an attractive, quality offering.
Volkswagen Up! – Price in South Africa
1.0 MPI Take Up! (55kW) – R164 700
1.0 MPI Move Up! (55kW) – R178 300
1.0 MPI Up! beats (55kW) – R194 700
1.0 MPI Cross Up! (55kW) – R194 700
The Volkswagen Up! is sold with a 3-year/120 000 km warranty and a 12-year anti-corrosion warranty. Service plans are available as an option.
We prowled the deserted streets of Cape Town's industrial areas for a night in our jet black Focus RS, and found that when it comes to hot hatches, it's about more than just power.
The Focus RS has an engine and that engine produces 257 kW, or 350hp. That kind of power in a hot hatch is a lot, but the 2017 Focus RS enters a market where cars like the Mercedes-AMG A45 have 280 kW. The hot-hatch world has gone mad.
And so the RS has a few tricks up its sleeve to make up for the power deficit. A trick all-wheel drive system makes the most of the available grunt and clever driving modes set up the car to be increasingly hardcore, and there's even a drift mode.
Tata has enhanced its one-ton Worker 207DI EX2 workhorse bakkie with the addition of visual and practical improvements.
The Tata 207DI EX2 workhorse bakkie has been refined and now features bold decals seen on the side of the vehicle as well as on the bonnet. The wheels have also received re-styled wheel covers and a cab protector has been added to the specification too. Buyers will also find comfort in the newly-fitted cloth-trimmed bucket seats. The 207DI EX2 workhorse bakkie still offers the same drop-side load bay with a flat floor, allowing for easy loading of large and bulky items.
“We have managed to retain the selling price at a very competitive R169 995 despite the added specification, as part of our aim to offer value-for-money to buyers of Tata vehicles,” explained Larry Da Costa, General Manager Sales and Operations of Accordian Investments, a subsidiary of Imperial, which markets and distributes Tata passenger cars and light commercial vehicles in South Africa.
The Tata 207DI EX2 workhorse will appeal to big or small businesses and it’s powered by a 3.0-litre turbodiesel engine offering 52 kW and 225 Nm of torque. A 5-speed manual transmission is standard.
Tata Worker – Price in South Africa
Tata Worker 207DI EX2 – R169 995
The Tata Worker is sold with a 3-year/100 000 km warranty and roadside assistance.
The less-than-elegant exterior styling – and outlandish name – of the Bentley Bentayga have set tongues wagging, but that may be immaterial to buyers who crave the most luxurious and refined luxury off-roader in the world. Our UK-based correspondent, Andrew Frankel, investigates…
Why do they make it so difficult? Before you can settle into those large deep chairs, and appreciate the best panoramic view ever afforded by a closed Bentley, you have to first be happy to tell people you drive a Bentley Bentayga, and second, be prepared to put up with a shape that is both stunningly lacking in presence for a car of its size and woefully short of the beauty that for too long failed to be a hallmark of Bentley design.
It gets in the way. I know it shouldn’t, because my job is to tell you how this car drives and what it might be like to live with, not waste precious words bemoaning its looks and curious name (which you are as qualified to judge as I am), but to me, it all forms part of the picture.
Despite its polarising styling and hefty asking price, the Bentayga is in high demand.
However, I find the potentially still larger, albeit philosophical, stumbling block concerning what on earth Bentley thinks it’s doing building an SUV somewhat easier to negotiate. In fact, it doesn’t bother me at all, and for two reasons. First, it's not as if Bentley has spent its entire existence building lightweight 2-door sports cars, as did Porsche at the time of the introduction of the Cayenne. Second, the Cayenne business model shows that far from damaging great brands, these SUVs have such high margins and sell in such vast numbers, that their enormous profits mean that more money can be spent on perhaps more "proper" models than would otherwise have been conceivably possible.
Why do you think Porsche makes a broad range of GT models – Cayman GT4, 911 GT3, GT3 RS and soon GT3 R – and sell more of them than ever before? Because it can afford to. Thanks to its SUVs, Porsche is the most profitable car company in the world: even before the introduction of the Macan, the Cayenne outsold every other model combined all by itself.
So, I have high hopes that the Bentayga’s success (demand for which is so great that Bentley has already upped production from 3 600 units per year to 5 500) will result, at the very least, in the Speed Six 2-seater being built, a car that promises to be the most entertaining Bentley production car since Rolls-Royce stepped in, saved the company, but spoiled the fun back in 1931.
Is it a true Bentley?
Elsewhere, journalists will obsess about the fact that the Bentayga shares a wheelbase and a few substructures with the Audi Q7 (as will the next Porsche Cayenne). The Continental GT was pointlessly lambasted for its even looser links to the VW Phaeton, so it’s reasonable to assume the same will happen here. Ignore them: what matters is that the moment the massive door heaves shut behind you, this thing feels like a Bentley.
You won't be left wanting in the Bentayga. Its interior is sumptuously equipped and the fit and finish is top-notch.
Scrutinise the wood, the leather, the chrome, the fit, the finish and the options list (our Bentayga test unit came with over R1.3 million worth of new goodies, that's almost enough (if sacrificed) to put a brand new Porsche 911 in the garage next to it. In this regard, it's as worthy of the wings as any Continental GT or Flying Spur ever was.
Supremely powerful
It sounds like a Bentley, too. As per the modern vogue, the Bentayga is being launched in "top-down" fashion, so while there is a 298 kW V8 turbodiesel and a similarly powered V6 hybrid on the way, the only Bentayga for sale right now has the full-fat 6.0-litre twin-turbocharged W12 motor under its bonnet. Although it retains the same external and internal dimensions as the engine that first appeared in a Bentley in 2003, the company claimed not a nut, screw or bolt has been carried over. It has 447 kW and 900 Nm of torque on tap, which sounds impressive, but it's an uncommonly lazy output for the forced induction engine of a high-performance car these days.
Then again, not only will the Bentayga gain extra power when Speed models come along (as they most assuredly will), for now it doesn’t need it. More counter-intuition is needed here, because when I tell you that, at 2 400kg, the car is actually relatively light, you might splutter into your cornflakes. But thanks to its predominately aluminium construction (it accounts for almost all the body and underlying structure save areas where, for safety, high tensile steel is required), this massive SUV is lighter than the convertible Continental GT. It’s lighter too than a Cayenne hybrid, and only 90 kg heavier than a Turbo S.
Fast and refined, the Bentayga's performance belies its size.
So with all that power (not to mention the accompanying cliff face of torque), it does things other SUVs cannot, such as reach 100 kph from standstill in 4 seconds, which is as fast as an AMG GT and quicker than a BMW M5, the aforementioned Porsche Cayenne Turbo and, perhaps most implausibly of all, every other Bentley on sale.
In short, it's quick enough. Impressively, however, it doesn’t feel that way. There’s no uncouth urgency here, no sense of having to rein the power in, even in the most aggressive of its many driver-configurable settings. It does what a Bentley should do, which is glide inexorably on part throttle, keeping gear changes to a minimum and letting the torque do the work.
Refinement at its best
At once you notice the superb ride quality. I’d call it the best of any SUV I’ve driven were I not inherently suspicious of the way all cars ride out here in California. Then, you realise just how quiet the Bentayga is. Being rather familiar with the local law enforcement community in this part of the world, I’ll skip the details and say simply that at any speed at which you are likely ever to want to cruise anywhere in the world, not even a Range Rover gets close to these levels of refinement.
The Bentayga proved to be surprisingly capable offroad.
We did, of course, do all the off-road stuff too, on dirt tracks, sand dunes and even a race track in the desert, and it coped, well, as well as you could imagine a 2.4-tonne SUV would cope… It wasn’t fun, in a balance-the-throttle-and-let-it-drift kind of way, but what were you expecting? All Bentaygas have suspensions that allow everything from literally zero roll to almost uncoupled anti-roll bars, depending on what terrain you are on. This feature, combined with sound suspension design, a stiff structure and a whole lot of rubber provides a phenomenally wide operating envelope. In the sand and mud, it was impressive and on the limit on the track with that W12 howling away, it was never less than enjoyable.
Verdict
Bentley has a hit on its hands, and that’s not my judgment, but rather of the marketplace: with a base price of R3.9 million (in South Africa), it has the field to itself. Others will come and make things tougher but they will find they’re up against an immensely capable and, if you can get past the looks and the name, likable car. Does it deserve to be called a Bentley? So far as I can see, yes, as much as any from the VW era with the possible exception of the flawed but wonderful Mulsanne. It's a car I liked more than loved, but I’m not exactly the target audience. Those plutocrats, world-famous sports people and self-made entrepreneurs who are, will, in all likelihood absolutely adore it.
The VIZIV-7 SUV Concept showcases a future Subaru 7-seater SUV that will hit the road in 2018.
Subaru used the recent LA Motor Show to unveil its latest creation, a 7-seater SUV concept called the VIZIZ-7, which stands for ‘Vision of Innovation’. The concept shows Subaru’s intentions for a production 7-seater SUV that will reportedly carry the ‘Ascent’ moniker when it arrives in US in 2018. It’s yet to be determined whether the production model will be offered in South Africa.
"The concept expresses our core brand values, safety, dependability, capability for outdoor activities and a forward-looking attitude. We know customers in this segment want a full-sized vehicle and the next 3-row from Subaru will be the biggest Subaru vehicle ever," said Takeshi Tachimori, Fuji Heavy Industries’ Corporate Executive Vice President.
Design details
The VIZIV-7 Concept shows progressive styling for Subaru's upcoming 7-seater SUV.
Standing 5.2 metres in length, 2.03 metres wide, 1.86 metres tall and with a wheelbase of 2.990 metres, the midsize VIZIV-7 Concept is some 38 centimetres longer than the current Outback and is said to offer ‘full three-row capability’, and according to Subaru, was developed to embody “enjoyment and peace of mind”.
In terms of styling, the VIZIV-7 Concept features a bold face with sleekly styled headlights and large fog lights integrated into the wheel arch cladding. At the rear, the concept shows an attractive elongated taillight cluster with a boldly styled rear bumper with what appear to be oversized rear fog lights. The VIZIV-7 Concept rides on 21-inch wheels.
In terms of engines, reports point to the possibility of a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine while a 3.6-litre six-cylinder boxer engine can’t be ruled out at this stage.
Volkswagen South Africa has expanded its Passat range with the addition of a diesel powerplant and rejigged its options list. We drove the diesel-powered Passat in Johannesburg this week and this is what we discovered…
As motoring scribes, we can preach and scream until we’re black and blue regarding the value proposition of the new Volkswagen Passat. It's bang-for-buck one of the best family sedans you can buy. Do people listen though? Not really. The public view the Passat as an “old man’s car” or spend more money and get behind the wheel of a BMW, Audi or Mercedes-Benz sedan. For those who take our opinions seriously, we have good news. The Volkswagen Passat has just become a whole lot better. How? Through the introduction of a diesel variant.
Solid performer
The diesel-powered Passat strikes a good balance between performance and economy.
In the case of the 2.0 TDI from the Passat, you can enjoy claimed fuel consumption of 5.0 L/100 km and the tap into 130 kW and 350 Nm of torque. The torque on this car may seem low for a diesel, but on the road, it’s a different story. What impressed us most about the way it drives, is the urgency in the powerband. Mated with the six-speed DSG transmission, it drives like a dream.
As usual, there are moments of turbo lag and the engine is not the most silent, but the benefits of covering long distances at a reduced cost makes this diesel Passat very appealing. Speaking of long distances, that’s exactly what the Volkswagen Passat does best. That large 519 litre boot needs to be put to good use. Comfortably seating five occupants with ample legroom, a Passat owner would be forgiven for tallying up many kilometres in a short space of time due to many weekend getaways.
The Passat's interior is comfortable and well-equipped for those long family road trips.
Keep It Simple Silly
Stupid is a harsh word. It's silly, however, for manufacturers to offer too much in a car, leaving the buyer not knowing half the specification in their car. The introduction of “Lines” in cars such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi has simplified the buying process. Volkswagen has followed suit with the introduction of equipment lines in the Passat. Luxury and Executive Lines are the choice here, with Executive being the most desirable.
The Luxury Line is not bare bones however, it comes standard with LED daytime running lights, 3-Zone Climatronic Air-conditioning and heated Vienna leather seats. Not bad. The Executive Line gives you the same lights, only this time they change direction as you turn the steering wheel. You also get Nappa leather trim and App Connect as standard. Most importantly, for the Executive Line, an R-Line body kit is standard, which completely transforms your Passat into a sportier looking machine with larger bumpers and 18-inch wheels. The kit is in no way brash. It’s rather a 'sneakers with suit' kind of look, which is the trend nowadays.
Trailer junkies rejoice
For those who loathe the specification process of a car, you’ll be happy to know that Volkswagen has also bundled options to make it easier to choose specification to suit your needs. For instance, you can get a Tow Package, which is a combination of Tow bar, Trailer Assist and Park Assist. Trailer Assist may seem like a foreign feature to many as its new. It works like park assist, but for those towing a trailer. Activated via the mirror stalk, a driver will be able to easily reverse a trailer into a parking spot without zig-zagging their way into an accident. This will come in handy for trailer owners who tow trailers on a regular basis. Other bundled packages include a Safety Package, Park Package and Park Package with Area View.
Whatever you do, if you’re going to buy one of these packages for your Passat, don't forget about the all-digital Virtual Cockpit instrument display. It's possibly the best technology feature in the Passat and after using it, it makes any analogue system feel antiquated.
Audi's Virtual Cockpit is a must-have feature in the Passat.
Engine Nip & Tuck
The addition of a diesel engine in the Passat comes with the removal of the 1.8 TSI engine that was included at the launch of the car. Volkswagen noticed a trend that customers either purchased the entry-level 1.4 TSI or the top of the range 2.0 TSI. So those two petrol engines remain, but the addition of the diesel makes the entire range much more appealing.
Our pick would be the diesel. It's the best of both worlds for the range. With good power and better fuel economy, it translates into less running costs. Servicing is taken care of for 5 years or 100 000 kilometres, so the perceived higher maintenance costs of a diesel are also non-existent during that period. Overall you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to D-segment sedans. You have a choice of many great cars, but the question is how much do you want to spend? If saving money over status is your aim, then look no further, the Passat can be yours.
Volkswagen Passat Price in South Africa
Retail Prices (VAT and emissions tax included)
1.4 TSI Luxury 110kW DSG – R468 200
2.0 TSI Executive 162kW DSG – R522 400
2.0 TDI Luxury 130kW DSG – R493 900
2.0 TDI Executive 130kW DSG – R522 400
The Volkswagen Passat is sold with a 3-year/120 000 km warranty and 5-year/100 000 km maintenance plan.
SA Ratings Downgrade: What It Would Mean for the Motor Industry
The dreaded credit rating downgrades of South Africa by the influential ratings agencies may, or may not, happen… but suffice to say the motor industry will adapt and prevail. Whereas economic factors preclude a recovery in the new vehicle market in the short term, used car sales are expected to keep climbing as consumers seek out good value – especially in the under-R200 000 segment of the market
The tectonic plates of the automotive industry are shifting…
Hope, so they say, springs eternal – and it is simply not in my nature to pen negativity. You could even draw on quantum physics to propound that penning doom will ensure doom – although when it comes to that level of science I have to admit to being more than just a little out of my depth.
More to the point, the question on South Africans' lips right now is: will we or won't we. Have a credit rating downgrade in early December, that is.
Now let's just hypothetically presume the worst and say that those 3 all-powerful ratings agencies – Standard & Poor, Moody's, and the Fitch Group – do downgrade us. Well, it won't ensure quite the carnage that's predicted in the automotive industry. At least not immediately as most manufacturers and OEMs take forward cover for up to 6 months.
'The worst-case scenario is unthinkable'
But I am sticking my head on a block and saying that it won't happen. I'll go one further and say that this time next year we'll see not the R30 to the dollar that's predicted by the doom-mongers. No, we'll see R12 to the dollar. The thought of the worst happening, and up to a predicted trillion Rand in investment leaving our shores is, well, unthinkable.
Now bear in mind that I'm writing this in mid-November, and that the political and economic landscape is changing – and seismically so – on a daily basis.
Already we've seen the NPA drop charges against Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, and while promulgating those charges has been estimated to have cost between R50 and R100 billion in lost investment and capital outflow, the Rand rallied a little on this news. In the same week that former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela's report entitled State of Capture was released, the rand again rallied against major currencies. And as a social media commenter quipped: that report will be downloaded more times than the latest Kardashian sex tape.
Now it's true that the economy is not currently in the best of shapes. Consumers are heavily indebted, and the cost of living continues to soar above levels of salary increases. So it's not rocket science to predict that new car sales – already substantially down over last year's, by over 18% in dealer channels – will continue to tumble. At least for the time being.
Demand will drive up used car sales
At the same time, used car sales will continue to soar, and we find ourselves in a remarkably unique position where used or pre-owned vehicle sales are on the rise, driven by customer demand.
Another trend is that more new and used vehicles are being financed below the average of R200k. The fact that consumers are displaying a preference for affordability is an indication that value for money now far surpasses the need to drive the latest, most prestigious car, and dealerships really do need to take heed of this movement.
What's more, we now find ourselves not only in a contracted market, but we have more vehicle derivatives on our showroom floors than ever before. This gives the South African market an absurd number of new models proportional to market size.
The blind pursuit of volumes
Another worrying – no, despicable – trend is that dealerships have become like ducks force-fed to produce foie gras. This mindless pursuit for volumes simply has to stop.
It's crystal clear that trying to push for, shall we say, 800 000 units in a 600 000 unit market brings about some unintentional and undesirable consequences. One of these is dealers selling cars for little or no profit while their overheads continue to climb, driven by bloated staff numbers and flashy, expensive dealerships.
It’s time for those dealers to realise that consumer patterns have changed, and it's of crucial importance that dealers invest more in the training and development of their staff, and in understanding consumer needs.
It's equally imperative that dealerships stop carrying dead wood in terms of surplus staff and stock. Otherwise, there will be blood on the floor with some dealerships being forced to close their doors – and perhaps even some OEMs ceasing to trade on the market.
Common sense will prevail
But common sense will prevail, the motor industry will live to see another day, and we will not see a downgrade to junk status – we just need to be more attuned to current market conditions.
To sustain the longevity of this beautiful industry and to sustain profit we must seek solutions sooner rather than later. But I am no prophet of doom and can see a strengthening of vehicle sales in around 12 to 18 months.
I also sincerely believe that sanity will prevail and that the powers that be will encourage direct foreign investment to stimulate economic activity – and hopefully deal with pressing issues such as chronic unemployment, crime, and the myriad economic ills we face.
Above all remember: together we stand, divided we fall. I’ll never stop dreaming that one day all South Africans will be one big happy family, loving and understanding each other, not looking backwards to the past but only to the future (adapted from La-Toya Jackson).
