These are the officially announced cars that we’ve singled out as being quite important to the South African market. And some deeply exciting ones too. Here they are sorted by manufacturer and in alphabetical order.
Alfa Romeo
It looks like we’re getting a Stelvio Facelift as well as a similarly nipped and tucked Giulia. The latter car will also be receiving a limited-edition model, so that’s nice.
Aston Martin
Just one on the cards, I’m afraid – and it’s an SUV. Oh, put your pitchforks away because the DBX is a stunning looking off-roader, with the profile of a supercar and the heart of, well a German super-saloon thanks to the 404kW AMG twin-turbo V8.
Audi
From Ingolstadt with love, I present you an absolute flock of Audis including the spirited gravel grinders such as the RSQ3 and SQ8. Their slippery executive saloon, the new A6 drops this year as does the refreshed Audi TT RS, which we’re particularly hyped about. Then there’s the S7, A5, S8 and ultimately, the e-tron.
Bentley
The Bentley Flying Spur is the ‘bite the back of your hand’ kind of attractive saloon, blessed with 467kW so not a slouch either. We’ll take one in an urbane grey, thanks.
BMW
2020 is the year of the M8 Gran Coupe Competition, a 460kW monster with the soundtrack of the gods themselves. Soon after its first quarter release we’ll get an equally vociferous droptop rendition. Also coming from Bavaria, the X5 and X6 also in Competition trim, as well as the new X5 xDrive45e derivative. Then there’s the 2 Series Gran Coupe which should be a niche busting marvel.
Datsun
The Datsun Go is one prolific little hatch – and here it is once again being stretched to a new model, the Cross. So that’s a tiny, budget crossover then with seven seats and a 58kW/105Nm engine combined with a 5-speed manual box. Technically Datsun haven’t given us a date for its release, but the configuration is certainly right on the money for the SA market.
Ferrari
Please make way for the absolutely breathtaking, SA bound F8 Spider. With its blown 3.9-litre V8, good for 530kW/770Nm, this folding soft-top Tributo can’t get here soon enough. Expect to see one haunting your local hotspots in the fourth quarter. And so will the Ferrari 812 GTS.
Fiat
There’s one new car from the other Italian brand this year, and that’s the facelifted 500X. Which is news to us, because we forgot it existed. Think of it as an Italian Jeep Renegade and you get the picture. Only now it gets a more frugal 3-cylinder engine lineup.
Ford
Much like Datsun has done with the Go Cross, the Figo gets a new off road bent dubbed Freestyle. We like the look of it and reckon its 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine – good for 74kW and 215Nm, will be up to the task. Look it hasn’t been confirmed for SA, but since Ford has no other products line up, we reckon they should.
GWM
Look, the P Series double-cab needs to be taken seriously. It has the good looks and the performance required to compete in South Africa’s bakkie market plus should be affordable to boot. Them’s all the hallmarks of a Mzansi success story, so let’s see what the 140kW/310Nm GWM can do when it arrives in the second half of 2020.
Haval
Still in China, the H2 is due for a 2020 facelift and refresh this year. It will now come in 1.5T City and Luxury flavours, with the same 105kW/202Nm heart between them.
Honda
Elsewhere known as the Honda City, a new Ballade is set to land with a turbocharged 1-litre 3-cylinder good for 90kW and 173Nm. The small sedan segment is indeed experiencing a resurgence at the moment and the Thai-produced Honda looks as likely a champ as any with its CVT ‘box and a frugal 4.2l/100km fuel economy. A facelifted Civic and CR-V is also potentially on the cards.
Hyundai
It’s coming, it’s imminent – the i30N, that’s Hyundai’s very own hot hatch. And we mean very hot, thanks to 202kW and 353Nm from its blown 2-litre 4-cyl heart. In other Hyundai news, an updated Grand i10 and Creta are also due for 2020.
Isuzu
It’s time for the new generation D-Max, a modern double-cab that can take on its contemporaries with bold confidence thanks to organic surfacing and a 140kW/450Nm drivetrain. Apparently, they’ll roll out of Port Elizabeth. Now that’s great news.
Jaguar
The sleeker than ever 2020 F-Type drops this year in four, six and eight-cylinder derivatives. They’re all mated to the same 8-speed Quickshift auto which has its work cut out as it must transfer anything from 221kW/400Nm to 423kW/700Nm depending on which engine it has under its bonnet. Yours in coupe and convertible flavours, enjoy.
Jeep
The Yank tank brand (with Italian blood in its veins) will do a facelifted Renegade for Mzansi this year. Good, the gravelly little tyke deserves it. It gets the same 3-cylinder treatment as its Mediterranean cousin, the Fiat 500X. They all come with 6-speed manual and DCT boxes, as well as a posh 9-speed auto.
KIA
The other South Korean brand has just released its latest gravel traveller; a compact SUV dubbed the Seltos. Is it a funny name? Yes, I think it is. Will it sell well? Yes, I guarantee it will thanks to the marque’s huge fanbase and the demand for fresh compact SUVs. A facelifted Picanto and Rio plus all-new Sorento are also due in 2020.
Land Rover
This one’s important. It’s the new Defender, due sometime before June and oh man, we’re excited. We’ll get the 110 (long wheelbase) and 90 (short wheelbase) with a range of engines – two at launch. That’s a four-pot 177kW/430Nm diesel and a 294kW/550Nm straight-six turbo-petrol. And both of these outputs are frankly mental in once-humble Defender.
Lexus
We’re champing at the bits for the new LS 500h luxury saloon. But it won’t be lonely in the Lexus showrooms, as its joined by the facelifted IS sedan. Then there’s the LC500 convertible - although still under consideration. The Japanese luxury carmaker will also be adding Android Auto and Apple Carplay to its lineup.
Mahindra
We’ve just driven their new Scorpio Pik Up in S11 auto trim and its good. Then, there are murmurings of a new Thar - which is pretty much an Indian Jeep Wrangler. And we’re always excited about an affordable alternative to a Jeep. This one just happens to come with pedigree too. We’ll also see the #DARE, a special edition of the KUV100.
Mazda
This is the year the Mazda CX-30 compact SUV arrives. It’s larger than a CX-3 and smaller than a CX-5 so its name makes no sense. It looks great and is powered by a 88kW/153Nm 1.5 litre or 121kW/213Nm 2 litre. Both are naturally aspirated, which is the Mazda way.
Mercedes-Benz
The most interesting arrow in the Mercedes-Benz 2020 quiver has to be the GLB, a bus-like SUV with premium space for seven. Beyond this, Merc have the GLE Coupe, GLE 63, GLA and GLS plus a new E-Class. Flexing its gratuitous luxury muscle means we should see the Maybach GLS this year too.
Mini
There is only one, but it’s a 225kW/450Nm doozie; the Mini JCW GP. The John Cooper Works Grand Prix is the hottest of the hot superminis, good for 0-100kph in just 5.2 seconds and a top speed of 265kph. See you in the third quarter.
Mitsubishi
It’s not an illusion, there is a new Mitso Mirage on its way bust sadly it retains the previous car’s naturally aspirated 1.2-litre good for 57kW and 100Nm. At least it gets a fresh face.
That’s it for now. Don’t forget to come back for part two; the wrap-up from Nissan to Volkswagen!
