As a motoring journalist, I consider myself fortunate to be situated in Grahamstown. Though it is not home to anything remotely interesting when it comes to the automobiles, Grahamstown is located right between two major centers of the respective industry. Travel East and you will find Mercedes-Benz, chugging out the C-Class sedan in East London. Travel West to Port Elizabeth and you will find Chevrolet (though soon to be replaced by Isuzu), and the Chinese brands, BAIC and FAW, operating out of the Coega development zone. However, turn a little to the right before Port Elizabeth, and you end up…
Author: Sam Spiller
By Sam Spiller Following the launch of the Coupe’ variant in the South African market earlier this year, Mercedes-Benz has widened its E-Class range with the launch of the Cabriolet. Joining the sedan and coupe in the luxury lineup, the E-Class Cabriolet will initially be available with a choice of three engines, one diesel and two petrol, with the more-powerful petrol engine coming equipped with the German automaker’s 4Matic all-wheel-drive system. The E 220d makes use of a 4-cylinder 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine to produce 143 kW and 400 Nm of torque, while the E 300 utilises a 4-cylinder 2.0-litre turbo-petrol,…
Last week’s test car, an X-Rider series double cab, was originally meant to just be a limited-edition run. However, thanks to a warm and reception and high demand, Isuzu have decided that it will remain a permanent addition to the KB lineup in this brand renaissance era. So, can this pickup stand up to the stiffest of competition? First things first, some clarity must be provided. The KB is the only passenger vehicle that Isuzu currently offers to the South African market, which comes available in single, extended, or double cab. This is the case for the major players in…
New Sprinter van for Mercedes Running up to the North American Commercial Vehicle show, Mercedes-Benz Vans has released details of the new Sprinter. The new commercial van include multiple driver assist systems and greater connectivity for fleet vehicle management. “We want to offer the most suitable mobility solution for every sector and for every transport assignment,” said, Volker Mornhinweg, Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans. “It also goes without saying that the new edition of iconic van possesses the classical attributes of reliability, safety and cost-effectiveness. The new Sprinter launches in Europe during the first half of 2018. Ford, Orlando Pirates tie-up …
Hyundai i30 N revealed This week at the Frankfurt Motor Show saw the unveiling of Hyundai’s much-anticipated i30 N hatchback, the first of Hyundai N performance cars. Built on the newest generation of the i30 hatchback, the i30 N is expected to reach South African shores at the beginning of next year, with the model aimed to compete with performance hatchbacks such as the Volkswagen Golf GTi. The i30 N is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, developing 184 kW and 353 Nm of torque. Nissan refreshes Micra Nissan South Africa has announced that the Micra hatchback has undergone…
One can comprehend my surprise and shock upon returning home to Cape Town for the September holidays to discover that the old man had gone car shopping in my absence. How dare he! How dare he exclude me, the self-proclaimed motoring guru of the family, from the process of finding and selection of a new set of appropriate wheels. I should be appalled. Except I am not. Not really, owing to the fact that it was a case of trading up rather than the migration from one brand to another. Just last week, enticed by the discounted price owing to…
Many of you dear readers may not recall this, but in my review of the Hyundai Creta a few months back, I took a few shots at how the preferred type of car for the commuting city soccer mom was a either a mini- or regular-sized SUV, even though most favoured by this demographic have no business being in an urban environment. However, this assertion merely served as an afterthought to the review, and it did not stop me from concluding that the Creta is a fairly decent run-around family car (though I still have problems with that gearbox). Fast…
Thanks to the internet, we have had a few leaked images and data of what the next iteration of one of the greatest performance sedans would look and feel like. Well, BMW has officially revealed the sixth-generation M5, and there are some major headlines. The biggest of which probably being that, for the first time, the F90 M5 is available with BMW’s M-specific xDrive system, the all-wheel-drive drivretrain usually found in the German automakers’ 4x4s. M5 drivers of the purist position do have the option to switch to rear-wheel-drive, with a cherry on top of this system being a supposed…
Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) has announced that it will now be offering a free three-year/60 000 km service plan for all new Ses’fikile taxis, as of 1 August 2017. The move comes in the wake of fresh protests by taxi operators and the industry overall against the Japanese automaker, with pressure being mounted due to rising costs and of the Ses’Fikile, and the deteriorating value of the Rand. “The complimentary service plan will give all taxi owners and operators the opportunity to keep their vehicles in perfect running condition for longer and will support their efforts to operate profitable…
Having been unveiled all the way back in 2011, the third generation of the Fiat Panda has made a comeback in South Africa, with 4×4 and Cross derivatives now available to local drivers. The arrival of the Panda Cross has prompted Fiat South Africa to refresh the model and its lineup. In regards to pre-existing qualities, the physical dimensions of the mini-SUV have remained unchanged, with the Italian carmaker continuing to offer the Easy and Lounge trim levels. Starting at R184 900, all Panda models come equipped with Fiat’s 0.9-liter TwinAir turbopetrol engine, the same engine used in the 500…