Mercedes-Benz C250 AMG Sports – Best Business Class Car

The Mercedes-Benz C250 AMG Sports came out on top in the Business Class category in the first annual Cars.co.za Consumer Awards, announced on 14 January in Johannesburg.

In order to compete in the Business Class category certain entry criteria had to be met. The judges looked for an aspirational vehicle that appealed to the image-conscious driver who places a priority on performance, dynamics, technology and design. Eligibility into the Business Class meant that the cars had to be priced between R400 000 and R700 000 including extras. Other defining criteria were a minimum of six airbags and Electronic Stability Control (ESP).

Once the criteria were met, certain ‘pillars of success’ led the judging process. These included engine technology, luxury, brand strength, design and quality appeal, driving dynamics and advanced technologies.

 

Why did the Mercedes-Benz C250 AMG Sports Win?

Since its launch, the C-Class has notched up multiple awards and boasts a World Car of the Year title under its belt, so can’t be ignored in this segment. The competition in the Cars.co.za Consumer Awards came in the form of perennial rivals Audi, in S3 Sedan guise and BMW, with 428i Gran Coupe. Once the judging panel completed the comprehensive scoring sheets, the C250 AMG Sports emerged as the winner. At this final voting phase judges also had to consider consumer data collected through our Ownership Satisfaction survey, developed in partnership with Lightstone Consumer.

The C250 is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged, four-cylinder engine that delivers 155 kW and 350 Nm of torque. The C250 is respectably quick with a 0-100 km/h time of 6.6 sec and still very frugal with a claimed consumption figure of 5.9L/100km. Mercedes-Benz’s smooth seven-speed automatic does shifting duties. Manual gear changes can be effected by using standard gear shift paddles behind the steering wheel.

As is the case with most German premium vehicles, the standard specification is decent, but for the really tasty technology you have to spend extra. It is thus in the C250 – PreSafe is standard, as is a comprehensive audio system with Bluetooth support and even two USB ports. There’s also that very attractive TFT control screen that is nearly 18 cm wide. But then there are the options and there are some great items to choose from like a Parking Package that includes rear view camera and active park assist (R14 900). A heads-up display system costs R15 000. The COMAND on-line navigation system that also includes 10Gb of music storage space is priced at R24 500. And Driving Assistance Plus, which includes Distronic Plus, Lane Keep Assist and Cross Traffic Assist costs R29 900.


Vivendren Patchiappen from Mercedes-Benz accepts the Business Class trophy from Cars.co.za co-founder, Alastair MacMurray.

With the Agility Control system as standard, the driver can select a driving mode to suit his/her mood. Left in its default settings the C-Class is an agile handler, and beautifully composed on a wide variety of surfaces. It also feels considerably nimbler than its predecessors, and there’s certainly good entertainment on offer here. This model also offers a lowered (by 15 mm) and recalibrated suspension set-up that further sharpens dynamic responses.

It is often said that the Mercedes-Benz C-Class takes what is best about the S-Class, and makes it available to a broader public. Indeed, step into the C-Class interior and you could be forgiven for thinking you’re inside something much more expensive. The sweeping facia centre section and the obvious focus on technology is what dominates. Still, although the design is far sportier than Mercedes models of the past, comfort levels are among the best in class.

Lastly, Mercedes-Benz’s brand strength was taken into account. The C-Class itself is one of the most desirable buys in the local market, so resale value should be good.

Opinion From The Judges

“The C-Class is the king of the compact executive cars, and in C250 AMG Sport guise the desirability is really heightened. Beware the options list, though!” ­Hannes Oosthuizen

“Mercedes’s C-Class has really moved the segment forward. The engine is superb, the tech is unbelievable and the entire package offers so much. It’s a really difficult car to fault and it is a class act all round.” David Taylor

“This is a car that takes refinement, luxury and comfort to the next level. The C-Class ticks all the right boxes a premium sedan needs.” Ashley Oldfield

Compare the Mercedes-Benz C250 AMG Sports with its Awards Category rivals, the Audi S3 sedan and BMW 428i Gran Coupe Sport sports auto

New Car Prices: Big Increases Coming

 

During September last year we published an article that attempted to preview the effect that the sliding Rand would have on new car prices. At the time, it read like a horror story. Seems as if the sequel will be even more horrifying…

At the time of the original article, the Rand had devalued to the Dollar by just over 20% in a year, and most manufacturers/exporters predicted quarterly price increases of between 2,0 and 5,0%, while some importers expected short-term increases of closer to 8%. With the benefit of hindsight, these predicted increases now seem conservative. At the time, most global predictions were that the Rand would stay in the R13,50-to-R13,80 band to the Dollar.

Instead… the wheels came off.

Since September last year the Rand has been thumped by numerous developments including, of course, the controversial decision to replace a respected Finance Minister with a relative unknown, albeit briefly… Whereas the Rand was hovering around R13,30 to the Dollar late in September 2015, it is currently sitting at around R16,80.

The impact on new car prices will therefore be heightened and accelerated. We spoke to several senior representatives from leading South African car companies, and increases of up to 20% for the remainder of the year is not out of the question. One importer says increases of 5% per quarter are likely, a sentiment echoed by others in the industry as well.

Those that manufacture locally and have healthy export programmes, however, believe that the market won’t be able to stomach such a big increase and that increases of around 10%, just a few points above real inflation, are to be expected. Even so, the same manufacturer/exporter believes that the market would decline by about 8%. Bigger price increases and a further weakening of the Rand will cause further serious damage.

What does this mean for the consumer?

Manufacturers and importers have already started the year with several price increases, and more is to be expected in the coming months. If you were planning to buy a new car during 2016, then keep in mind that you may no longer be able to buy exactly the same model/specification that you had in mind. Several other economic factors are impacting household spend, and the interest rate is likely to move by several percentage points this year, according to motor industry insiders and economists. Consumers are cautioned to not over-extend themselves debt-wise.

So, shop carefully and consider buying trusted, more affordable products that will be cheaper to fuel, insure and maintain. The used car route is another consideration. Already used-car dealers are in a scramble for good-quality used vehicle stock, and judging by the growth in leads on Cars.co.za, demand is certainly on the up.

As always, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us for advice. It’s what we’re here for…

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BMW Z5 Roadster Spied Testing

While not much is known about the replacement for the BMW Z4, its mooted successor has been spotted undergoing winter testing in the snow.

The BMW Z5 Roadster is believed to be a collaboration between BMW and Toyota, and both car makers will be sharing this platform for an all-new mid-sized sportscar. BMW appears first out of the gate with a prototype as Toyota's example still lurking in the depths of the brand's Research and Development centre.

From these photos we can see that it'll have a soft top, which will keep the weight down. Expect it to have typical Z4-like design cues such as a long bonnet and you can bet it'll have a mixed assortment of engines such as the rather good 2.0-litre turbocharged four cylinder seen in the Mini Cooper S JCW as well as the mighty 3.0-litre straight six turbo unit which is used in multiple applications. You can't rule out hybrid technology (as seen in the i8 hybrid sportscar) either.

If you look at BMW's Five Year plan here, it's safe to say that the earliest we'll get to see this vehicle in production trim will be 2018. 

Fuel prices at mercy of sliding Rand

The sliding Rand and weak international oil price has dampened the fuel price forecast in South Africa.

The opening weeks of 2016 have been tough for the Rand, which has lost as much as 30% of its value against the US Dollar. Had the Rand remained stable, the current weakness in the international oil price would have translated into significant reductions in fuel prices. The significant weakening of the Rand, however, is having the opposite effect.

Based on unaudited mid-month data released by the Central Energy Fund, the Automobile Association (AA) said: "Had the exchange rate remained flat in 2015, South Africans would currently have been paying, on average, 45 cents a litre less at the pumps. This deficit has widened by another 32 to 40 cents in the first two weeks of January 2016, turning what would have been a 24 cents-a-litre drop in petrol at the end of the month into a potential rise of up to 16 cents."

The situation is much the same for the price of diesel, which should have refelected an oil-price benefit of 90 cents per litre, but instead, the effect has been reduced to only around 58 cents per litre thanks to the weak Rand.

"The exchange rate's ongoing weakness might mean trouble for the fuel price if oil prices begin to rise again," warns the AA. "At the current Rand/US dollar exchange rate, a return to oil's highs of 2013 and 2014 would result in the fuel price approaching R20 a litre, putting yet more pressure on South Africa's already strained economy."

Want to save on fuel? Consider this…

Most Fuel Efficient Cars in SA 

Fuel Efficient Driving Tips

Cars.co.za Trophy Insight

 

The spectacular Cars.co.za Consumer Awards trophy is more than just a hunk of metal and glass thrown together in the shape of a key. A lot of time and thought went into designing something with meaning that was worth showing off in a display cabinet.

Meaning behind the key

The key itself signifies the concept of unlocking the motor industry and helping buyers sift through their new and used car-buying options. The base of the key is honed from a solid chunk of high-quality stainless steel representing the heart of the car industry, much like an engine block is the heart of a car. The stainless steel is of such a high quality that the tool that fashions the base has to be replaced after just two trophies.

The clear side of the key is made from A-grade acrylic instead of glass. Acrylic does not fade or discolour like glass when cut into this shape. It represents the consumer looking for transparency and clearer sight into the market. The other side of the key is made from aeronautic-grade aluminium with a carbonfibre-inspired wrap to represent the automotive industry and car manufacturers.

Straight through the middle of the key runs a red strip of anodised Titanium. This red strip represents Cars.co.za – the link between the consumer and the car industry.

The trophy weighs in at a hefty 3.5kg and stands around 45cm tall. They have been painstakingly built by David Bolam, who has been creating and designing jewellery and trophies for decades. Each one is individually acid-etched with the winner and category details. Each trophy is also individually numbered, much like a special edition vehicle. The CarsAwards trophy is not of the floating variety, meaning that the winners can keep and display their achievements forever.

To see the CarsAwards winners in each category click here

Ford Focus 1.0T Trend – Best Compact Car

 

The Ford Focus 1.0T Trend emerged victorious in the Compact Car Category in the first annual Cars.co.za Consumer Awards, announced on 14 January in Johannesburg.

Eligibility to compete in the Compact Car category is guided by several factors, including price, which in this case could not exceed R250 000 at the time of semi-finalist voting (June 22, 2015) and includes the cost of the following items (if they were optional): ABS, electronic stability control, dual front airbags, air-conditioning, USB/auxiliary audio support, Bluetooth compatibility and a service plan.

Numerous Pillars of Success also guided the judging process and these included the following: balance of fuel economy and performance, value for money, brand strength, design and quality appeal, ride/handling and safety features.

 

Why did the Ford Focus 1.0T Trend win?

The Ford Focus 1.0T Trend offers exceptional value for buyers, making it a worthy winner in the Compact Car category. In the recent Cars.co.za Consumer Awards, the Ford Focus 1.0T came up against some stiff competition in the form of the Opel Corsa 1.0T Enjoy and Honda Jazz 1.5 Elegance. After a rigorous judging process, the Focus clearly established itself as the best Compact Car available in South Africa.  

In terms of fuel economy, Ford’s 1,0-litre EcoBoost engine has received considerable acclaim since it was first introduced. With 92 kW of power and a wide torque spread, it is one of the most powerful engines of its type. In the Focus, however, it needs to pull along a fairly large and heavy body, so performance is acceptable rather than brisk. Ford claims an excellent combined cycle fuel consumption figure of 5,0 L/100 km.

Value for money is where the Focus 1.0T Trend excels and given the fact that the Focus is a large hatch offered for compact car money, it’s off to a very good start in this department. But ultimately it’s not only its size that translates into value for money. It still offers a spread of comfort, info-tainment and safety features that compares well with the smaller, similarly priced cars it competes with here. Included is an excellent audio system, rake/reach-adjustable steering and cruise control. What’s more, by spending R11 940 extra for the Driver Assistance Pack you get a whole raft of desirable features, including Active Park Assist, rear view camera, Lane Departure Warning, Active City Stop, auto lights, auto wipers and a TFT colour screen for the audio system. And you’re still under the price barrier of R250 000 (at the time of judging)!

The Focus 1.0T Trend is also big on practicality and thanks to its bigger body, it holds an immediate practicality advantage. It offers considerably more rear legroom and boot space than the cars priced around it (barring the Honda Jazz). The rear seats are split 60/40 and fold down to make quite a large loading area available, too.

The Ford brand has been on the up for a few years now, and the Focus has been one of its most successful products – it’s a top seller worldwide. Locally it is seen as a very viable alternative to the likes of Volkswagen and Toyota. This model is backed with a four-years/120 000 km warranty and offers a four-years/80 000 km service plan.


Minesh Bhagaloo from Ford receives the Compact Car of the Year trophy from Cars.co.za's co-founder, Alastair MacMurray.

Following its recent facelift, the Focus has matured into a stylish offering that sits on the conservative side of the design spectrum. This gives it broad appeal. Available for R14 810 is a Styling Pack that, through different wheels and a tailgate spoiler, adds some sporty style to the package.

The Focus 1.0T Trend offers excellent ride and handling, something Ford has excelled in for some time already. At this price level the Focus’s combination of ride suppleness and dynamic sharpness is very, very hard to beat. It’s also quite a practical long-distance cruiser, which is not something that can be said of all its rivals, especially at this price.

Lastly, the Focus’s combination of space and features may lead you to expect that Ford must have compromised on specification elsewhere, but it’s certainly not done so on the safety side. The Focus features six airbags, ESP, Isofix child seat mountings and more. As mentioned before, the Driver Assistance Pack (R11 940) is a really good option as it brings safety focused features such as Active City Stop, Active Park Assist, Lane Departure Warning and smaller items such an auto-dimming rear-view mirrors and auto lights/wipers to the party, too.

Opinion From The Judges

“Ford must have sharpened its pencils an awful lot to offer this much car at this low a price. The Focus offers a very strong spread of talents. I’m not sure this price can last very long!” ­Hannes Oosthuizen

“Right now the Focus is an outright steal. It’s amazing that so much car is available at the same price as smaller cars in the segment below.” Ashley Oldfield

“The Focus has snuck in here purely on its price. It blasts the others out the water in terms of pricing as you’re getting a big car for small car money. That engine is just lovely too.” David Taylor

Compare the Ford Focus 1.0T Trend with the Opel Corsa 1.0T Enjoy and Honda Jazz 1.5 Elegance

GWM M4 Upgraded in South Africa

GWM has introduced an upgraded version of its M4 light crossover in South Africa.

The GWM M4 was introduced to the South African market in 2014 and this latest version adds daytime running lights, rear park assist and a car-finding remote key fob function to the specification list.

“Our customer base knows what they want from a car. The tighter economy has also forced customers to shop around and get the best value for their hard-earned cash. The GWM M4 provides exactly that – it's a good-looking vehicle that ticks the affordability, style and safety boxes, and suits a more adventurous lifestyle”, says Hans Greyling, GWM Sales.

Technical and safety spec

The GWM M4 is fitted with a 1.5-litre petrol engine that delivers 71 kW and 138 Nm of torque to the front wheels via a five-speed manual transmission. The model has a ground clearance of 185 mm and rides on 16-inch alloy wheels.

In terms of safety, the GWM M4 features ABS with EBD, dual front airbags, a seatbelt warning function and child seat anchor mounts. Other features include a rear-window defogger, height-adjustable headlamps as well as front and rear foglights.

Interior features

The GWM M4's interior features include a trip computer and a multi-function steering wheel that can operate the audio, Bluetooth and cruise control functions. The M4 is also equipped with automatic air conditioning and electric windows. In terms of storage, cup holders are provided and the luggage bay features a retractable cover. The rear bench can split 60:40 for added practicality.

GWM M4 price in South Africa

The GWM M4 retails for R189 900, which includes a five-year/100 000 km warranty and two-year AA Roadside Assistance. A 5-year/60 000 km service plan is offered as an option.

Buy the GWM M4 here!

 

 

 

Hyundai H1 (2016) First Drive

Hyundai SA lent Cars.co.za an upgraded H1 so that we could transport the team to and from the Cars Consumer Awards function. Here's a summary of the updates to the Korean bus:  

Hyundai’s H1 bus is a perennially popular people mover, particularly in the tourism industry, where many operators choose the H1 over pricier German alternatives. While the Hyundai badge doesn’t quite hold as much prestige as those of its Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz rivals, it easily matches them in terms of features and practicality.

The market has been particularly receptive to the Hyundai H1 bus; 10 493 units were sold since its local launch in January 2009. The range also includes the van (2 017 units sold) and H1 Multicab, of which 802 examples have been sold since January 2012. The H1 is evidently a segment leader — a position Hyundai will be keen to maintain…

What's new for Hyundai H1?

The Hyundai H1 has undergone a mild facelift for 2016. While we were invited to the local launch, it clashed with our Cars Awards event in Johannesburg (read all about the Cars.co.za Consumer Awards). However, Hyundai South Africa graciously made the H1 bus available to us and it was immediately put to work as a logistics and transport vehicle.

For a start, the exterior's been updated. It sports a new-look grille and redesigned alloy wheels, while the interior benefits from changes such as refreshed centre facia as well as a modern-looking dashboard. There are new convenience features too, such as a new leather steering wheel, chilled glove box, fully automatic air conditioning system, electric folding mirrors and cruise control. The safety features have been upgraded too — the Hyundai H1 receives side airbags as well as ESP on top of its driver/passenger airbags and ABS-equipped brakes with EBD.

The engine line-up has remained the same. For the H1 bus, there’s a 2.5-litre turbodiesel automatic and a 2.4-litre petrol manual to choose from. With 126kW and 224Nm on tap, the petrol engine is claimed to return 10.2L/100km, but on specs alone, it seems wiser to opt for a turbodiesel model. It has 1kW less at 125kW, but 441Nm more torque, which will be more useful when hauling a heavy load. The turbodiesel Hyundai H1 is claimed to be lighter on fuel (9.0L/100km) and has loads more features, which goes some way to explain its R100k premium over its petrol sibling.

We evaluated a turbodiesel unit with a full complement of passengers on board and the convenience of an automatic transmission in peak hour highway traffic was hard to ignore. The added torque from the diesel motor was especially apparent during overtaking overtaking manuoevres. With seven adults on board, all had ample legroom, something that most full-sized SUV can’t really offer due to their rather small third rows. Also noticeable was the large boot, but sadly that third row of seats can’t fold flat. The ride quality was pleasant too and we got the impression that the Hyundai H1 was designed to be comfortable even on the longest of road trips. One of the best things about the Hyundai H1 is that each row gets its own air conditioning vents, which is very handy given the current summer weather.

2016 Hyundai H1 price in South Africa

The refreshed Hyundai H1 comes with a five-year/150 000km warranty, five-year/90 000km service plan and five-years' or 150 000km worth of roadside assistance.

H1 2.5 Diesel 9 Seater Bus Automatic R579 900

H1 2.4 Petrol 9 Seater Bus Manual R482 900

H1 2.5 Diesel 6 Seater Multicab R492 900

H1 2.5 Diesel 3 Seater Panel Van R441 900

Special-edition Volkswagen Amarok Ultimate in SA

Volkswagen has introduced the special-edition Amarok Ultimate in South Africa.

If you are looking for a double-cab bakkie with a bit more road presence over standard offerings, then you may be interested in the special edition Volkswagen Amarok Ultimate. The Amarok Ultimate is based on the top-spec 4Motion Highline derivative and comes fitted with LED-integrated bi-xenon headlights and LED daytime running lights.

The appearance of the Amarok Ultimate is further enhanced with silver side mirror-covers, darkened rear light lenses, LED number plate illumination, ‘Ultimate’ lettering and a silver-coloured underbody guard. The bakkie is further enhanced by a styling bar as well as side-sill bars finished in silver. The Ultimate rides on 19-inch Cantera alloy wheels.

Other standard features include park distance control with a rear-assist camera and the side mirrors are heated and electrically adjustable. The front seats are heated and upholstery options include either Vienna or Alcantara leather. The Amarok Ultimate is also fitted with a radio/CD player with mobile phone integration and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and velour floor mats are also included. An integrated navigation system with six speakers is optional.

Engine power

The Volkswagen Amarok Ultimate is powered by a 2.0-litre BiTDI engine that delivers 132 kW and 420 Nm of torque through an 8-speed automatic transmission. Fuel consumption is claimed at 8.3L/100km.

Volkswagen Amarok Ultimate price in South Africa

The VW Amarok Ultimate 4Motion retails for R600 200. The price includes a three-year/100 000 km warranty and five-year/90 000 km service plan with service intervals at every 15 000 km.  

Buy the Volkswagen Amarok Ultimate here!

Mercedes-AMG E63 Spied Cold Weather Testing

Image credit: S.B. Medien/S. Baldauf

Following the unveiling of the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class, focus has shifted to the arrival of the Affalterbach-tuned Mercedes-AMG E63 and E63 S versions. The awe-inspiring AMG performance models are reportedly in the final stages of testing and we believe our spy photographers spotted a pre-production unit while it was undergoing an evaluation.

Power hungry

The performance outputs of the Mercedes-AMG version of the E-Class has not officially been confirmed yet but, AMG has been hinting at a minimum power delivery "near the 450 kW mark". If this figure comes to fruition, it would make the AMG E63 more powerful than an AMG GT-S (375 kW) by some margin. The AMG E63s will be powered by the same 4.0-litre biturbo V8 that serves in the GT-S, but Mercedes-AMG says this version will represent the “next step” in terms of development.

New transmission

In the recent past, most AMG models have utilised seven-speed automatic gearboxes, but the Mercedes-AMG E63 will be the first AMG model to use the new, more efficient, nine-speed automatic transmission.

All-wheel drive

The Mercedes-AMG E63 will be produced as an all-wheel drive model around the world. This will mark a departure for South African aficionados, who are accustomed to AMG sedans (apart from the CLA45 AMG) being rear-wheel driven — but in the majority of markets, an all-wheel drive configuration is the norm. AMG representatives are however promising that the fastest E-Class models will be no less exciting to drive and just as raw-edged as previous E63s.

Coming soon

Rumours are that the AMG E63 could be launched before June this year (2016), at least in overseas markets. The regular E-Class is set to be launched globally at the end of February 2016. Spin-offs from the E-Class are set to continue with a station wagon, CLS Coupe and Shooting Brake set to be added to the range in time.