NINE MILLION MAZDAS IN 28 YEARS FOR HOFU PLANT

Mazda Motor Corporation’s Hofu Plant in Yamaguchi prefecture has reached a cumulative production volume of nine million units. This milestone was achieved in the 28 years and two months since vehicle production commenced in September 1982. The cumulative volume rose from 8 to 9 million units in just 29 months due to high volumes of the Mazda3, which commenced production in November 2008. 

CONFIRMED: BMW TO BUILD HYBRID SPORTS CAR "EFFICIENTDYNAMICS"

It was the star of the Frankfurt international motor show IAA in 2009: a four-seater sports car with charismatic design, fascinating performance figures and unsurpassed efficiency, powered by BMW ActiveHybrid technology and presented under the title BMW Vision EfficientDynamics. With its wide range of completely or virtually production ready components, this concept study met with an overwhelming response.

AUTOMATIC RENAULT KOLEOS UNVEILED

Renault South Africa has added a fourth model to its Koleos range of sports utility vehicles. The Koleos 2.0 dCi Dynamique Premium Automatic 4x4 combines the proven urge and frugal consumption of the marque’s dCi turbodiesel powertrain with the convenience of a latest-generation six-speed automatic gearbox.

GOOD PROFITS FOR NISSAN

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., today announced financial results for the first half of fiscal year 2010, ending March 31, 2011, as well as second-quarter performance. In the six months through September, net income after taxes totalled 208.4 billion yen (US$2.34 billion, €1.83 billion), an increase of 199.4 billion yen compared with the same period last year.

GULLWING FLIES OFF WITH TOP DESIGN AWARD

The super sports car from Mercedes-Benz, of which the stunning lines and distinctive gullwing doors recall the legendary 300 SL of the 1950s, faced some stiff competition. More than 1500 products were entered for the design competition, to which entries were invited this year for the 41st time by Germany's Federal Minister of Economics and Technology – a record number.

HYUNDAI PROFITS ALMOST DOUBLE

Hyundai Motor Company, South Korea’s largest automaker, sold 2 668 699 units (domestic plants: 1 275 644 units, overseas plants: 1 393 055 units) worldwide year-to-date, a 21% increase from a year earlier, helped by strong demand in overseas markets.

Net profit through September almost doubled to R24.5 billion (US$3.55 billion) compared to the same period last year, boosted by a surge in earnings from overseas subsidiaries such as the US and China. Operating profit rose 66% to R14.5 billion, while sales increased 21%, to R168 billion.

AUDI E-TRON TO MAKE OWN SOUNDS

Audi says its e-tron electric car will get itself some artificial sounds. The reason? Well electric cars don’t make a sound, or don’t make enough of a sound as to be audible to outsiders. Such a fact has raised concern in some quarters about blind people for instance, who rely heavily on their hearing senses to stay safe when out walking in public roads.

GM'S LAST HURRAH FOR 2010

It’s only when I see a fleet of Chevrolet cars lined up military style in the parkade of Port Elizabeth’s main airport that I’m reminded that GM is among a few manufacturers with a very wide portfolio of models it sells to the local market. All the Chevy cars are here. There’s a pair of Luminas, a Captiva, Aveo sedan, plenty Cruze and the new Spark. Mind you, all these are in various trim. Yet this illustrious gathering is missing a few family members in the Aveo hatchback and the Spark Lite (and nothing at all from Opel - Ed).

NEW IDOL ELVIS GOES BLUE OVAL

Ford saw off ecstatic South African Idol winner, Elvis, as he took to the road in his brand new Ford Figo after winning the sixth season of the show. 

Elvis received a 1.4 Trend model in the Figo’s signature colour, Colorado Red, as part of his prize package, courtesy of Ford, one of the sponsors of this year’s Idols. The car comes with one year insurance, a full maintenance plan, a navigation system and, most importantly for the singing sensation, an iPod.

RENAULT MEGANE CC LETS TOP GO

Renault’s latest Megane is now being sold as a Coupe Convertible or CC. The previous-generation Megane also came with a CC, which was pretty, if not a little clunky to drive. Without having a chance to drive the new car I cannot say much about that. But I was able to get up close and take a sincere look. And from where I stood, the new Megane CC is as pretty as they come.

OCTOBER SALES SHOW SIGNS OF RECOVERY

According to figures released by the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Arica, or NAAMSA for short, sales of new passenger cars increased by 2.5% over September’s figures. An even healthier increase of 25.1% over October 2009 was recorded, signalling positive signs of a recovery in the industry. Total passenger sales were 30 752 for last month.

TOYOTA YARIS BRINGS ZEN TO MARKET

There’s a new Toyota Yaris Zen advert that debuted on mass TV this past weekend. It’s the familiar plot of Buddy the dog and this time around a feline going by the name of Mr Miao-gi stars besides the middle-class reared Boxer. The scheme here is that Buddy, constantly the excitable and hyper-active, is taught how to obtain Zen by this long-moustached cat. Sounds familiar?

BONAFEDE HITS SWEET SPOT IN EAST LONDON

A convincing class win from pole position by Gennaro Bonafede in the opening Bridgestone production car race was the highlight for Team Ferodo of the penultimate round of the WesBank Super Series at the East London grand prix circuit on Saturday.

The 20-year-old Pretoria University student and his Ferodo Volkswagen Golf GTi were in fine form right from the first practice session on

IT'S HERE, ALL NEW 2010 VOLVO S60

If there’s one model range of car that defines what Volvo stands for it’s the S60. Two generations ago the car went by the 850 moniker and spawned such legends as the 850 R with its signature yellow hue and black rims. Since then the S60 name has largely been associated with ageing nameless people whose life revolves around dropping children off at school, wearing grey suits, eating vegetables and picking up the kids from school.