Indholdsfortegnelse for June 2022 i CAR

Microbus, Kombi, Bulli, Camper and Hippie-van are just some of the names the famous Volkswagen bus was lovingly called. The Kombi, like the Beetle, became an icon, a cultural symbol of independence and freedom for families, intrepid explorers and flower children alike. Now the Kombi is back in the guise of the ID. Buzz MPV and its commercial-vehicle Cargo stablemate as poster children for Volkswagen’s sustainable and electrified future under the ID. range. BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL The retro-inspired contemporary design pays homage to the original Kombi’s V-shaped front panel and overall rounded shape, though the ID. Buzz still has a unique visual identity that should make it both timeless and functional. It is infused with a sense of fun, especially considering the lounge-like interior and exterior colours like Candy White,…

You might have caught a glimpse of the breathtaking Lexus BEV (battery electric vehicle) Sport in December 2021 when Toyota president and Lexus brand holder Akio Toyoda announced the brands’ collective 2030 Lexus Electrified vision and we were left yearning for more. Lexus has now obliged with a gallery of images and animations that includes photos of the sub-two-second zero to 100 km/h electric beast concept let loose in its natural habitat, the race track. The Lexus BEV Sport will be the halo offering of the BEV sedan and SUV lines that marks the firm’s foray into solid-state batteries that will offer 700 km on a full charge. This ushers in an exciting new era for the brand that envisions an electric offering in each segment by 2030 and becoming…

BraamPeens1 WHERE WE DROVE IT Price: R1 062 420 Engine: 3,0-litre, 6-cyl, turbopetrol Transmission: 8-speed automatic Power: 285 kW @5 800-6 500 r/min Torque: 500 N.m @1 800-5 000 r/min 0-100 km/h: 4,30 seconds* Top speed: 250 km/h* Fuel consumption: 9,6 L/100km* CO² : 185 g/km* Rivals: Audi TT, Ford Mustang, Porsche Cayman, Toyota Supra M240i has serious pace and the handling to match divisive design quirks will appeal to some and annoy others Although BMW doesn’t consciously dabble in the business of psychology (unless you’re genuinely after the therapeutic effect of a proper M car), the new M240i xDrive is reminiscent of a chapter in the book on middle-child syndrome. With “proper” being the operative word, and by implication denoting behavioural characteristics the M240i inherently lacks – where does that…

mattysdebeer WHERE WE DROVE IT Price: R539 900 Engine: 2,0-litre, 4-cyl, petrol Transmission: 6-speed, automatic Power: 117 kW @6 500 r/min Torque: 191 N.m @4 500 r/min 0-100 km/h: 10,5 seconds* Top speed: 190 km/h* Fuel consumption: 8,9 l/100 km* CO² emissions: 170 g/km* Rivals: Chery Tiggo 8 Pro, Haval H6, Mitsubishi Outlander Practically packaged for a compact SUV some interior plastics feel a bit cheap The Hyundai Grand Creta, known as the Creta Grand or Alcazar in markets like India, has just made its local debut. There are two trim levels currently available: the lower-specced Executive and the range-topping Elite. Three naturally aspirated 2,0-litre petrol models developing 117 kW and 191 N.m torque and two 1,5-litre diesel models good for 85 kW and 250 N.m are on offer. Both derivatives…

It’s been some time since we last ventured into the realm of group-testing a batch of small hatchbacks. Despite selling in vast volumes and accounting for much of the entry-level motoring market, the local small hatchback segment has seen few major developments in recent years. Maybe it’s an upshot of the pandemic and all of the chaos that’s come riding on its coattails. But the offshoot of those unsettled times – rising living costs and the tightening of financial belts in many households – means wallet-friendly motoring remains as important as ever. Thankfully, the past few months have revealed interesting movement in this segment. The fifth generation of the stalwart Volkswagen Polo has undergone a mid-cycle refresh. It’s also been joined by all-new versions of stylish alternatives from France in…

IamDamianAdams 1 918 km | 8,37 L/100 km smooth 8-speed transmission, frugal yet torque-rich 2,0-litre turbodiesel, ample space has just one USB port among a host of 12V sockets, polyurethane steering wheel Growing up, I was fascinated by the first-generation Opel Zafira and specifically remember the fuss around the “Flex7” seating arrangement. Let’s not forget the potent 177 kW OPC version that caused a scene, too. My parents owned two Gamma Opel Corsa sedans, so it was a full-circle moment when the Zafira Life Edition was assigned to me. The Life suffix has now been added to the Zafira name and is the replacement for the van we remember as the Opel Vivaro. As a Stellantis group product, the Zafira Life is a close relative to both the Peugeot Expert…

PeterPalm12 3 895 km | 9,60 L/100 km A colleague with a heavy right foot used the bakkie for a few days and elevated the fuel consumption from 9,5 to 9,7 litres/100 km. On a recent chilled trip to Pringle bay and back to Cape Town, it dropped to 9,6 litres. There is also a short-term consumption readout and this showed the usage was only 8,8 litres/100 km over the weekend. The long-term figure may still come down to around 9,0 litres, but it may take longer than our six-month test period. I’m sure we all lament the (lack of) driving skills on our roads. Potentially lethal overtaking on blind rises and corners is one, but there are many others. Just a few minutes before writing, a white single cab…

The quantum of racing platitudes is as bountiful as days are long, but one truism trumps them all: how do you make a small fortune in racing? Start with a big fortune. The sun has set on February’s Kyalami 9 Hour event and the clock has begun counting down towards possibly the most anticipated gathering on the GT3 calendar, the Nürburgring 24 Hours from 26 to 29 May. For the benefit of new converts, it’s prudent to take a closer look at the category, from its roots and reach to the downright devastating potential to impoverish aspiring competitors. GT3 racing arose in 2005 as a pared-back derivative of GT1 and GT2 categories in the then-FIA GT Championship. Manufacturers sold racecars to customers, but it was rendered unsustainable owing to their…

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WHERE WE DROVE IT Price: R869 900 Engine: 2,0-litre, 4 cyl, turbodiesel Transmission: 8-speed, automatic Power: 110 kW @4 000 r/min Torque: 370 N.m @2 000 r/min 0-100 km/h: n/a Top speed: n/a Fuel consumption: 6,3 L/100 km* CO² : 165 g/km* Rivals: Ford Torneo Connect, Hyundai Staria, Mercedes-Benz V-Class, Volkswagen Caravelle high level of standard equipment, has a usable boot despite three rows of seating some turbo lag on pullaway Although it may be late to the multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) party on local soil, the fourth-generation Opel Zafira Life hopes to ruffle some feathers and possibly entice some mid-size SUV buyers away from the overly embellished off-roaders for school runs or shuttle services. Instead of spending the day trundling about, running errands through clogged city streets, we journalists were able…

PeterPalm12 WHERE WE DROVE IT Price: R644 000 Engine: 2,5-litre, 4-cyl, petrol Transmission: CVT, automatic Power: 163 kW Torque: 221 + e N.m 0-100 km/h: n/a Top speed: 180 km/h* Fuel consumption: 4,8 L/100 km* CO² : 110 g/km* Rivals: Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-5, Volkswagen Tiguan extremely fuel efficient added complexity may deter more conservative buyers It’s not easy to think of the RAV4 as old, but it’s already 28 and that’s in the shade. Toyota has added two hybrids to the RAV4 lineup, adding a bit of green-minded pizzazz to the popular model’s range. The latest addition reminds us just how much this popular SUV has grown. The first model, perhaps fortunately, was a compact three-door. This allowed lots of room for expansion, of which there has been…

I’ve recently been driving the Toyota Corolla Cross. It’s a great car. Toyota has hit the nail on the head in terms of delivering a consumer product that recognises where the market is going and speaks to what people need and want. A community of motoring “purists” will likely be appalled; you’d have to pull them away from their petrol engines by force. However, the reality is electric motors and hybrid cars are the way forward in terms of sustainability and fuel economy. Fantastic technology is emerging across all brands and it is this technology that is slowly being acknowledged, investigated and accepted by the everyday consumer. Not so much in South Africa as yet, but most definitely in China, Europe and the United States. Inevitably, the whole world will…

CAR tested the original South African-bound Tiggo in October 2009. At that stage, the imports from China included Chana, Chery, Foton, GoNow and GWM. That model offered attractive styling and a naturally aspirated 1,6-litre engine with a five-speed manual transmission. A 2,0-litre version provided some added power. Fast forward over a decade and the latest venture is under the direct control of the parent company in China. With Chinese quality improving, arguably headed by Haval at present, we now have even more motoring choices. The Tiggo range offers five models, with this top-spec SE model merely adding a dash of colour to the Elite turbo range, sporting red brake callipers and variable ambient interior lighting. Notably, all turbo models have a sunroof fitted as standard, which is usually an optional…

GarethD_CARmag 1 567 km | 8,21 L/100 km accomplished all-round road manners, tastefully executed styling extras infotainment system feels dated, 2,0-litre engine boomy under hard acceleration The CX-5 is no stranger to CAR’s short- and long-term test fleets. The range-topping 2,2DE Akera AWD model gave an impressive account of itself, scoring 81 out of 100 in a 2017 road test, and its service as my six-month test car in 2019 further cemented our positive view of this stylish SUV. So, welcome as its return may be, why is the CX-5 again featuring in CAR’s long-term test fleet? The answer is interesting. Where previously we’ve tended to focus on individual models as part of our long-term review process, the arrival of this Carbon Edition variant marks a different approach. We will…

PeterPalm12 Visit car Magazine at carmag.co.za/cars-for-sale To find the latest New & used cars for sale Model: VW Scirocco GLi 0-100 km/h: 9,80 seconds Top speed: 181 km/h Fuel cons: 7,00 L/100 km (at 100 km/h) Price: R17 750 CAR test: November 1980 The South African Government in the 1970s did not take too kindly to cars being imported instead of locally assembled, so hefty duties were imposed on those who wanted to buy something exclusive. It did its intended job of severely limiting the choice of driving more individualistic models unless you had some money to burn. PACKAGING The name Scirocco comes from a North African desert wind, in a similar fashion to Passat (trade wind) and Golf (Gulf stream). As with the Golf, the Scirocco was designed by Giugiaro…

Matthysdebeer Lotus has reinvented the iconic brand by entering the premium SUV segment with its first “hyper-SUV”. Dubbed Eletre, which means “coming to life” in Hungarian, Lotus claims the bold newcomer incorporates elements of its latest performance car, the Emira, and the aerodynamics of the all-electric Evija hypercar. Lotus’ foray into the lucrative SUV landscape makes strategic sense if the success of SUVs offered by Porsche, Bentley and the like is anything to go by. So, if you can’t beat them, join them, leveraging the brand’s 74 years of sportscar expertise by launching a 560 kW AWD hyper-SUV capable of cracking 0–100 km/h in less than three seconds. It runs out of steam only after a claimed 600 km and offers the driver engagement expected from a Lotus. Core to…

@BraamPeens1 WHERE WE DROVE IT Price: R699 900 Engine: 2,0-litre, 4 cyl, turbodiesel Transmission: 8-speed, automatic Power: 137 kW @4 000 r/min Torque: 416 N.m @2 000-2 750 r/min 0-100 km/h: 9,20 seconds* Top speed: 201 km/h* Fuel consumption: 7,9 L/100 km* CO2 : 169 g/km* Rivals: Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-5, Peugeot 3008 Toyota RAV4, Volkswagen Tiguan bold new design demands attention, strong and efficient engine the low-speed ride quality is busier than expected on poor surfaces If the skyrocketing fuel and electricity prices are already disconcerting, the evolutionary shifts in new-car shopping trends make for an analysis that feels similarly frightening. In 2021, the humble sedan – once the mobility mainstay of the four-member nuclear family – shrank to a mere nine percent of the South African automotive landscape. No…

WHERE WE DROVE IT Price: R194 900 Engine: 1,0-litre, 3-cyl, petrol Transmission: 5-speed, manual Power: 49 kW @5 500 r/min Torque: 89 N.m @3 500 r/min 0-100 km/h: n/a Top speed: n/a Fuel consumption: 4,4 L/100 km* CO² : 92 g/km* Rivals: Hyundai Grand i10, Kia Picanto, Toyota Agya practical interior despite compact dimensions meagre performance at altitude By some stroke of luck, Suzuki South Africa has managed to introduce one of the most frugal cars into our local market amid unprecedented fuel hikes. The new Suzuki Celerio boasts incredible fuel economy, cute aesthetics and surprising spaciousness despite its compact exterior dimensions. We got to grips with the city slicker in the hustling and bustling metropolis of Johannesburg. The new Celerio retains a sub-four-metre total length while improving on outgoing interior…

WLutjeharms Petridish_Mooks WHERE WE DROVE IT 1976 CMC A11 CHECKER TAXI Engine: 5,7-litre, V8 petrol Transmission: 3-speed automatic, RWD Power: 223 kW @4 800 r/min Torque: 515 N.m @3 200 r/min Top speed: 165 km/h Compression ratio: 10.2:1 Fuel consumption: >18 L/100 km Fuel tank: 87 litres Weight: >1 740 kg Manufactured: 1958-1982 It is huge. In pictures, with no-one standing next to the typical Checker Taxi, you may think it is the size of a standard four-door sedan, but it is much longer, wider and taller. Its sole purpose was to offer passengers comfort with an abundance of space, for themselves and their luggage. This piece of East Coast American history is deceptively large. The vehicle is owned by Dieter Losskarn, a motoring enthusiast, motor and travel writer and…

Email: car@ramsaymedia.co.za Mail: CAR, PO Box 180, Howard Place, 7450 OVER TO YOU… Please include your physical address and telephone number. Diverse ideas and opinions are welcome but publication of your letter doesn’t necessarily mean we agree. Please stick to a maximum of 300 words. CAR reserves the right to edit and shorten letters owing to space constraints. MISSING THE ORDINARY I have been a CAR reader and, now and then, a subscriber for the past 30 years. However, in the past two years, the magazine has changed its focus, and you guys have lost me as a reader. Recently, 90% of the focus at CAR magazine has been on expensive and exotic cars and 10% or so on budget cars. It used to be the other way around. Make no…

South African automotive showrooms have become increasingly reflective of the country’s hyper-skewed Gini coefficient. Through the grandest selection of sports cars, luxury SUVs and limousines, upper-income earners are handsomely catered for. Then, signifying the slow death of the middle class, the exchange rate, inflation and evolving consumer habits have decimated demand for C-segment hatches and sedans. At the bottom end of the scale, the entry-level segment is now every bit as flooded as its premium polar opposite, comprising a raft of compact-engined Second World-style offerings tailored to struggling household budgets. Few of these, however, cater for large families. For Toyota, which had been selling the rear-driven Daihatsubased Avanza for nearly two decades in South Africa, the discontinuation of the latter (along with the silent offing of the poor-selling Rush) at…

2 133 km | 9,6 L/100 km indestructable old-school feel … but comes at the cost of refinement In the constantly evolving world of corporate takeovers, mergers and divestments, there is seldom a good story with a happy full-circle ending. Isuzu’s MU moniker was first used with the birth of a three-door mid-size SUV in 1989, the five-door successor of which made it to South African markets as the Frontier in 1998. Unbeknown to Isuzu, the Frontier would, over time, lay the foundations for one of the country’s most explosively expanding automotive market segments: bakkie-based, bodyon-frame SUVs. Yet, as the pioneering Frontier was discontinued in 2004 – its vacuum filled by the subsequent but immediate market leader that Toyota’s Fortuner rose to – locally, it was one of which Isuzu…

Notes • The PRICES shown are the latest available at the time of going to press. Our deadline occurred on 12 April 2022. Readers should check with a dealer before making a decision. • The HP payment calculations are based on a 10% deposit, current prime interest rate and a 60-month repayment period with no residual at the end. • Under ENGINE we list the number of cylinders and the cubic capacity in cm3. Here, V = V-shaped engine layout; H = horizontally-opposed engine layout; The absence of an initial symbol implies an in-line engine layout. • FUEL SUPPLY abbreviations are P = petrol-engined; D = diesel-engined; T = turbocharged, a compressor driven by exhaust gases; S = supercharged, a compressor driven by the engine; P/H = petrol-hybrid and E…