PEUGEOT UPDATES 308 HATCH FOR 2010

Peugeot South Africa has announced a series of updates and revisions to its award-winning 308 five-door hatchback range. The latest line-up features new nomenclature and upgraded features, as well as minor aesthetic tweaks in some instances. 

A five-year/90 000 km service plan has also been introduced across the range to ensure motoring peace of mind.

Launched early in 2008, the Peugeot 308 range has received several notable awards internationally, including the Golden Steering Wheel in Germany. The 1.6 HDi derivative holds a world record for fuel economy in the Guinness Book of Records, while the 308 XT won the Engine of the Year award in Europe. 

OPEL CONFIRMS NEW 2010 ASTRA FOR MZANSI

Opel’s 2010 Astra hatchback will definitely be sold in South Africa from the first quarter of 2011. This is according to General Motors South Africa which has confirmed retention of the brand, a good sign in these greatly uncertain times.

“The certainty around the future of Opel is great news for South Africa and allows us to build on the fine history of the Opel brand and the Corsa and Astra ranges,” says GMSA Vice President of Planning, Ian Nicholls.

The Astra will of course, take on its old traditional rivals, the Volkswagen Golf and upcoming Ford Focus, as well as the likes of Mazda3, Toyota Auris X, Honda Civic hatch, Hyundai i30, Peugeot 308 and Renault Megane.

GM is confident that the materials used to build the Astra, its styling and engines will help it take centre stage among those other competitors. It also hopes to reclaim the buying public’s imagination in the same way that the old Kadetts used to.

These engines they are talking about include a 1.4 petrol turbo worth 103kW, a 132kW 1.6 turbo and some diesels. At the moment we don’t know which of these engines will make its way down to Mzansi yet.

TOYOTA HILUX VS ICELAND VOLCANO

A new chapter has been written in the world-conquering history of Toyota’s mighty Hilux as it took on the ice and fire of Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull volcano, just hours before its eruption brought chaos to the skies of Europe.

The legendary pick-up that Top Gear simply could not destroy and which was the first car to be driven across the Arctic to the Magnetic North Pole proved the perfect transport for scientists racing to set up monitoring equipment before the long-dormant  mountain blew its top and sent a vast cloud of ash 9 000 m into the sky.

LEWIS HAMILTON BEATEN BY BYTES IN VODACOM KAYALAMI RACE

In a nail-biting race over three laps on Tuesday, 20 April, Vodacom Business’ Metro Ethernet Fibre network (Metro E) barely beat Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton in a neck-on-neck race between man against data.

Blue-chip captains of industry; members of the media and other guests stood in common awe as they watched the amazing performance of skill, speed and control displayed with such easy grace by Lewis Hamilton. Adrenalin bursting, famous radio personality Sasha Martiningo gave the countdown, tyres burned and they were off – a once-in-a-lifetime race against time, and a certain showstopper as Lewis showed what makes him a World Number One.

INTRODUCING GM'S "NEW" CHEVROLET CORSA BAKKIE

The next array of South Africa’s most popular half ton bakkie to grace showroom floors across the country will be branded Chevrolet.

Produced at the same GM factory in Struandale, Port Elizabeth, the Opel Corsa Utility, will be branded Chevrolet Corsa Utility. The only difference to the vehicle will be the gold bowtie logo which replaces the chrome Opel logo, said Malcolm Gauld, General Motors South Africa (GMSA) vice president of sales and marketing. “This change is in line with the global positioning of the brand. South Africa is the only market where the vehicle is branded Opel, in all other markets it is branded Chevrolet,” Gauld explained.