VOLKSWAGEN COMPLETES PORSCHE TAKE-OVER

Can you believe it! The tables have turned once again as Volkswagen announces that it’s buying the remaining 50.1% of Porsche SE that it does not already own for €4.46 billion (R45 billion). This effectively means Porsche will, from 01 August 2012, become a fully-owned subsidiary of Volkswagen. It will join other VW brands Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Seat, Skoda, MAN trucks, Scania trucks and Ducati bikes. Of course VW brand itself is also owned by VW.

BENTLEY POSTS IMPRESSIVE SALES

Bentley Mulsanne. Lounge away from home

Bentley’s half year results for 2012 show continued strong growth. Sales are up in every region leading to a global increase of 32% (3 929 cars delivered to customers). The US has re-emerged as Bentley’s number one market with deliveries up by 25.7% (1 140 cars delivered to customers). Sales in China also remain extremely strong with results up 55.7% (1 059 cars delivered to customers). 

LOTUS TEAMS UP WITH BATMAN

Lotus F1 team is delighted to announce that it will join forces with The Dark Knight Rises, the epic conclusion to Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight motion picture trilogy, this weekend at Silverstone for the 2012 British Grand Prix (06 - 08 July). 

BMW ACTIVEHYBRID 5 NOW SOLD IN MZANSI

Launched in Mzansi just recently, the new BMW ActiveHybrid 5 represents the company’s first foray into hybrids in this country. Yes there are two other BMW hybrid models running around elsewhere in the world, but never before has South Africa enjoyed the blue and white flag powered by this mix of petrol and electric technology. And it’s not the last time either.

ISUZU CHALLENGE GETS BIGGER AND BIGGER

Driver Antonie Swart (2nd from left), together with his wife and co-driver Heidi, was named overall winner of the 11th Isuzu 4x4 Challenge held at the Lookout in Kirkwood over the weekend.  He scored 603 points and completed his time trial in an incredible 37 seconds. With them on the far left is Mlungisi Nonkonyana, Isuzu Brand Manager and on the far right, Francois Schellingerhout of the EC 4x4 Club.

This year marked the 11th anniversary of the Isuzu 4x4 Challenge sponsored by General Motors South Africa (GMSA), and its Isuzu brand, at the Lookout in Kirkwood on Saturday, 30 June 2012.

MERCEDES-BENZ CLS SHOOTING BRAKE: DETAILS OUT!

Niche after niche the three German titans keep on creating every segment possible in order to keep increasing sales. Now enter the brand new Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake, essentially a wagon-style version of the CLS four-door Coupé. CLS itself created the niche four-door segment in 2004.

BRAND NEW RENAULT CLIO 4 REVEALED

The new Renault Clio 4 arrives in South Africa some time in 2013. Meanwhile, have a look at some of the car’s details, as revealed by Renault in Europe. The design is inspired by the DeZir Concept car of 2010, with a wing-like front grille, big headlights, LED daytime running lights and piano black applications on the grille.

JAGUAR XF 2.2 DIESEL GOES GAUTENG TO DURBAN AND BACK IN ONE TANK!

Jaguar’s XF 2.2 has used just 4,9 l/100km to get from Pretoria to the Durban Beachfront and back. Jaguar South Africa set out from the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Sunday to attempt to do the round trip on a single tank of diesel. 

MCLAREN 12C SPIDER BREAKS OUT!

McLaren, less than a week after sending us a teaser image of the drop-top slahla, a nice flurry of pictures has landed on our desk. The 12C Spider is of course a topless version of the MP4-12C which made its debut last year, and pretty much features the same types of mechanics as the Spider. Except this one will most probably drop more panties (or undies as the case may be).

FORD FOCUS ST ON TRACK FOR MZANSI LAUNCH

The new Focus ST will deliver a unique balance of outstanding performance, handling, refinement and style  when it goes on sale in the fourth quarter of this year as Ford’s first global performance car.

JUNE 2012 CAR SALES: NEW LEADER TAKES OVER!

Car sales are still steaming ahead, as evidenced by the 10.5% rise in the first half of the year, compared to 2011. So far this year 301 499 vehicles have been sold in the Mzansi market, including passenger cars and light commercial vehicles (LCVs). Passenger car sales were 35 918 in June, up 14.3%, while the total market was 51 891 units.