Snippets:
- Evoque gets top marks for safety
- Mercedes-AMG GT63 S is coming to SA with 544kW and 1030Nm!
- Suzuki Ciaz sedan gets a new engine and facelift
- The Toyota Prius gets a style update
- BMW South Africa is restoring an ultra-rare 530MLE
Nissan Navara goes into local production courtesy of a R3bn investment
We’re going to start the news with our favourite story, one confirming that the Nissan Navara will indeed be produced in Mzansi and that means a great boost to the economy and our workforce too.
This further fortifies the Roslyn Plant as the marque’s LCV (light commercial vehicle) manufacturing hub with the NP200 and NP300 continuing to be churned out to our market plus 45 other African countries. Production begins next year (2020) much to the delight of our president, Cyril Ramaphosa who had this to say;
“Automotive is already the largest part of South Africa’s manufacturing sector, contributing around 7,0% GDP annually and accounting for a third of manufacturing output. I am delighted Nissan will produce Navara here and congratulate the employees for their efforts in securing this important model.”
In related news, Nissan have encouraged the likes of (sister marque) Renault to produce their Alaskan double cab in the Roslyn plant.
The Opel Corsa GSi returns
But if you think that badge is synonymous with OPC, well you’re somewhat wrong. See, this is a warmed-up hatch rather than a hot one, and that means 110kW and 220Nm from its 1.4-litre turbo’d mill. This equates to an 8.9 second sprint from 0 to 100kph and a top speed of 207kph.
More importantly, it burns fuel to the meagre value of 6 litres per 100kms and that’s quite nice. Visually it certainly enjoys all the hot Opel embellishments including spoilers, intakes and a sculpted 3-door bodyshell with the odd garnishing of carbon fibre. The cabin gets the sporty treatment too, most notably with Recaro front leather seats and a racy helm. But it costs R367,000.
What do you think? Would you pay that much for a warm B-Segment hatchback?
The Haval F7 is coming to SA and it’s a looker!
We’ve enjoyed every Haval product we’ve driven this year, and the upcoming F7 looks to be no different. It plays that coupe-profile SUV game à la BMW X6, and while we have no pricing as yet, we assume you’d be able to pick one up for below R600k, the price of their current flagship, the massive H9 seven-seater.
Meet the Volkswagen ID Roomzz Concept
Wow, what a name – but at least it has looks to match.
"This SUV is a monolith, appearing to be seamlessly machined from one solid block. The battery-powered ID. ROOMZZ moves effortlessly - silently and without emissions".
These are the words of Klaus Bischoff, Volkswagen’s chief designer and sure we can see what he means. We just reckon it looks funky as all hell and are digging VW’s usage of crazy surfaces and materials to render out what has the potential to be the a really fun EV-SUV.
What the heck is an Audi AI-ME Concept?
We answer the question on everyone’s lips. What would an adorable Audi even look like? Like so.
The AI:ME, which I pronounce very dramatically this way; “Ai, me” is a miniscule mobility concept from Ingolstadt with the combined electric might of 125kW. We don’t care if it runs on the tears of butterflies. We want one.
The Infiniti Qs Inspiration Concept is more than words
And like the band who came up with song of that same name, it is fairly extreme.
Chairman of Infiniti, Christian Meunier had this to say about it;
"For 30 years Infiniti has built a reputation for introducing new technology that delights and gives confidence to drivers. The age of electrification presents us with an opportunity to renew our credentials as an innovative challenger brand, ready to move quickly and decisively in this growing and exciting area of the market."
We can’t wait to learn more about it when revealed at the Auto Shangai 2019 car show later this year.
Behold the brazen BMW X7
If the marketing blurb is to be believed, then this is BMW’s interpretation of ‘pure excellence.’ Which based on the pictures we’ve come to understand as bloody big grille.
All jokes aside, the flagship BMW SUV is a stunner, representing the Bavarian’s technological might and ditto their upper echelons of luxury. As such, it will command a sticker price circa R1.6m for the xDrive30d, while the M50d will command a retail tag of R1.9m. Mo car. Mo money!
Let's talk about the Koenigsegg Jesko
It surprises nobody more than us to admit that even we’re suffering somewhat from Supercar fatigue.
Well brace yourself for Jesko, named after the dad of founder Christian Von Koenigsegg and so promises to be special. That translates to the sharpest, raciest car the marque produces – a twin-turbo V8 powered dart making 955kW (on regular petrol - but it can yield 1194kW on E85 fuel) and 1500Nm. This then is mated to a 9-speed multiclutch transmission for out of this world performance, nothing less.
WATCH THIS: 125 years of Mercedes-Benz in Motorsport
No, really. Just do it.
