TOYOTA TO BUILD TAXIS IN MZANSI

Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) today formally announces its intention to assemble the Quantum and Ses’fikile at its Prospecton plant in Durban.

GENEVA 2012: OPEL ASTRA OPC MAKES A MARK

The 2012 Geneva Motor Show is coming to an end soon. But not before mesmerising the crowd with this two-door Astra OPC which is set to arrive in South Africa within the next 12 months. It will replace the old 177kW model that could torque steer all the way past the 120km/h mark! Seems Opel has worked on this “problem” though, tamed the shrew a little bit.

GENEVA 2012: CHEVROLET RELEASES CRUZE WAGON

The Chevrolet Cruze station wagon that was unveiled at the 2012 Geneva International Motor Show, joins a Cruze lineup that now consists of the original successful sedan, and the new hatchback. Whether or not it will be the last body style remains to be seen. Who knows, there may be a Cruze Coupe or Convertible lurking around.

GENEVA 2012: VOLKSWAGEN SHOWS US POLO BLUEGT

The Volkswagen Polo BlueGT which was revealed at the 2012 Geneva International Motor Show is positioned as a stylish, powerful, yet frugal mini hatch. It certainly has the makings to live up to this billing. Hopefully Volkswagen South Africa will strongly consider it as a replacement for the previous-generation Polo TDI which quietly slipped off the market when it began experiencing turbo breakages.

BOARD RESHUFFLES AT BMW AG

Ian Robertson is a former BMW South Africa MD

Dr Norbert Reithofer

The BMW Group will undertake a strategic realignment of its Board of Management structure, effective 1 April 2012. “The rigorous implementation and refinement of our successful Strategy Number ONE will place even further demands on our company in the future. We need an organisation that can handle the increasing complexity of the tasks involved to ensure that the BMW Group maintains its successful course in the future,” said Dr.-Ing. Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, in Munich on Thursday.

EX VW DESIGNER JOINS VOLVO

Thomas Ingenlath, 48, has been appointed Vice President Design at Volvo Car Corporation, arriving from a position as head of the Volkswagen Design Centre in Potsdam, Germany.
 

GENEVA 2012: LAND ROVER DC100 GOES HI-TECH

It seems the Land Rover Defender has been around for as long as some of us have been alive! But it hasn’t. This impression is of course given by the fact that in its entire life, the vehicle seems to have kept to exactly the same look. Again, it hasn’t, but it just looks the same to the untrained eye. With the DC100 Concept, LR wants to break off from that old image and create a new-generation 4x4.

GENEVA 2012: RENAULT ZOE IS HERE

Renault unveiled the ZOE production model at the 82nd International Geneva Motor Show. ZOE is an electric car designed for everyday use, and joins others from the brand such as the Twizy, Fluence Z.E. and Kangoo van Z.E. Renault says it’s ready to sell the ZOE here in Mzansi, just as soon as some of the infrastructure issues have been sorted. We assume this means guaranteed Eskom power for instance, and countrywide recharging stations.

VIDEO : BLOEMFONTEIN TAXI DRIVER KNOCKS OVER, KICKS MAN!

A taxi driver has been arrested for running over a pedestrian and subsequently kicking him while he was down. The incident happened at a fuelling station forecourt in Bloemfontein over the weekend. The driver was later arrested and is facing charges over the incident. Some of the footage was taken by CCTV security cameras mounted at the fuel garage.

FORD ROCKS ZWARTKOPS RACEWAY

Team Ford Racing had a great start to their 2012 Bridgestone Production Car campaign taking a race win and three podiums at Zwartkops Raceway (Pretoria West) on Saturday 3 March 2012.

5FM DJ GARETH CLIFF ARRESTED FOR SPEEDING

Five FM radio jock Gareth Cliff was caught doing 182km/h on the freeway last night. The breakfast show host was rushing home from Durban after a long day in which he was participating in the preliminary judging process of the Idols music talent search programme. Cliff was arrested and taken to a holding cell, where he spent a few minutes before posting bail.

GENEVA 2012: BENTLEY RELEASES EXP 9 F SUV

For the first time in its history, Bentley is seriously considering producing an SUV 4x4 vehicle, one that will look quite similar to these pictures. The Volkswagen brand has unveiled this thing called EXP 9 F at the 2012 Geneva International Motor Show. But frankly to us it looks like a Range Rover Sport, especially at the back. Bentley designers should really have thought this one through.

GENEVA 2012: ROLLS-ROYCE REVEALS FACELIFT PHANTOM

Rolls-Royce has unveiled the first facelift version of its Phantom sedan which was launched in 2003. That’s nine years of selling a car that looks the same! I suppose it’s better than Jaguar’s old XJ which went on for 42 years, and of course the Porsche 911…

GENEVA 2012: TOYOTA YARIS HYBRID IS FOR MZANSI!

The Yaris Hybrid makes its world debut today at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. It combines the ingenious packaging and urban agility of the Yaris model range with the unique driving experience and efficiency of Toyota’s full hybrid powertrain, Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD). The new Yaris Hybrid launch marks a new, major step in the company’s full hybrid roll-out strategy to Toyota core models in Europe and certain key markets including South Africa.

CHEVROLET VOLT AND OPEL AMPERA ARE 2012 EUROPEAN CAR OF THE YEAR

The Opel Ampera and the Chevrolet Volt electric cars with extended-range capability today won the European “Car of the Year 2012” award voted by a panel of 59 judges from 23 European nations. The Ampera/Volt 330 points against the Volkswagen Up with 281 and Ford Focus with 256.

GENEVA 2012: 2013 FORD FIESTA ST BREAKS OFF!

Ford has unveiled the most powerful Fiesta it has ever created, the Fiesta ST, at the 2012 Geneva International Motor Show. The car begins production later this year and will launch in Europe and South Africa in early 2013. Which cars are blocking its way? The Opel Corsa OPC, Volkswagen GTI and upcoming Peugeot 208 GTI of course.

2013 MERCEDES-BENZ A-CLASS PICTURES LEAKED!

Some press and brochure pictures of the upcoming Mercedes-Benz A-Class have been leaked on the internet! The car will be unveiled tomorrow at the 2012 Geneva International Motor Show, but it seems someone just couldn’t wait for that day. Lucky for us.