SPECIAL TOYOTA HILUX DAKAR EDITION RELEASED

Toyota South Africa is celebrating its amazing successes at the Dakar race (two podium finishes in the past two races) by launching a Hilux Dakar Edition. Before you get too excited, this car is really nothing like the Hilux that Toyota prepares for the race. Nevertheless it has a strong spiritual link at least, if not a heritage one.

BMW I3 ELECTRIC CAR OFFICIALLY DETAILED. COMING TO MZANSI

The finer details of the new BMW i3 electric car have been released at its simultaneous launch global in London, New York and Beijing. The i3 is BMW’s first electric car to go on sale in the market, and marks the first time a premium brand actually does this. BMW South Africa has promised to bring the i3 to Mzansi in the first quarter of 2014.

GENERAL MOTORS TEAMS UP WITH THE AA

General Motors South Africa (GMSA) has joined forces with South Africa’s largest roadside assistance organisation; the Automobile Association (AA) to provide roadside assistance and related services for owners and drivers of Chevrolet, Opel and Isuzu vehicles.

BENTLEY CONFIRMS SUPER LUXURY SUV FOR 2016

EXP 9F Concept

Bentley has confirmed that it will be building an SUV of sizeable proportions, both in actual physical dimensions as well as in luxury and price. We expect the vehicle, largely based in looks to the EXP 9F Concept (pictures). The car will go on sale in Europe sometime in 2016.

POWERFUL RANGE ROVER EVOQUE RS TOUTED

Normal Range Rover Evoque

Apparently, allegedly, there is a performance Range Rover Evoque coming your way soon. The Evoque appears more suited to the female buyer because its lines and design are more feminine. At the moment the most powerful Evoque kicks out 177kW from its 2.0-litre turbo unit. We hear there is an Evoque RS on its way.

JAGUAR NOW TARGETING BMW 3 SERIES AND CO.

Current Jaguar XF sedan

Some reports coming out of New Delhi suggest that Tata bosses are keen to see Jaguar leap ahead of its Land Rover sibling in terms of sales, and they want certain new models to attract new clients. Land Rover is currently about twice the size of Jaguar. Among them will be a new sedan in the mould of the BMW 3 Series/ Audi A4/ Mercedes-Benz C-Class/ Volvo S60.

VOLKSWAGEN TAIGUN SMALL SUV CONFIRMED FOR 2016

Volkswagen is extending its SUV/ crossover offerings, starting in 2016. In addition to the existing Touareg and Tiguan, the German brand is now working on something called the Taigun. Taigun will be the smallest of the three and target rivals like the Ford EcoSport (launching in Mzansi this Wednesday) and Opel Mokka (not available in Mzansi).

MERCEDES-BENZ ANNOUNCES NEW 9-SPEED AUTO GEARBOX

The gear wars don’t appear to have changed down. In fact they are doing quite the opposite, especially when it comes to the German carmakers. Why just the other day Porsche announced a 7-speed manual for the 911. Now Mercedes-Benz has introduced its new 9-speed automatic gearbox. Another world first we believe.

VOLKSWAGEN SEES SUBSTANTIAL SALES INCREASE IN H1

The Volkswagen Group is gaining momentum, as it has been over the past few years. Sales for the period January to June 2013 have increased by 5.5% globally (including Porsche), to end the 6-month period at 4.7 million units. At this rate VW AG will sell over 10 million vehicles by the end of the year. Their ambition is of course, to overtake Toyota to become the world’s biggest carmaker.