July motoring report - South Africa

Cars.co.za has released their July motoring report infographic.

Headlined by the release of the Jaguar F-Type, which apparently has an exhaust which mimics the sounds of a warzone, the infographic takes a look at the major players in the South African new and used car markets.

Full motoring report infographic

New car specials - February 2012

Cars.co.za have launched their South African new car specials for February 2012. This month there are a few interesting specials, including a few from Renault which include free items with the purchase of the vehicle.

Here is the complete list of new car specials available:

Ford specials
2012 Ford Figo 1.4 Ambiente from R115 000
Includes a 3 year / 60 000 KM Service plan.

Lexus specials
2012 Lexus CT200h from R355 400
Includes an IPad or Galaxy tab of your choice

Nissan Specials
2012 Nissan NP200 Base model from R106 000
Excludes Service and delivery

Renault Specials
2012 Renault Sandero from R129 000
Includes 3 in 1 safely pack and shopping spree to the value of R2000

2012 Renault Clio S from R179 000
Includes 32" Plasma screen and DSTV installation

2012 Renault Megane Shake It
Includes free SPA day

Suzuki Specials
2012 Suzuki Swift from R148 900
Save up to R7000

Volkswagen Specials
2012 Volkswagen Polo 1.4 Sedan Comfortline from R2 459.62 per month 


2012 Volkswagen Golf 6 1.4 TSi from R254 500
Includes 5 years / 90 000km maintenance plan


To view more information about these specials or to enquire with the relevant South African car dealerships, visit the Cars.co.za new car specials page.
  

The Volkswagen Cross Coupe concept

German car manufacturing giant Volkswagen has debuted  its new concept car the  VW Cross Coupe, which is a compact hybrid crossover SUV, at the Tokyo Motor Show.

The electric car is said to be able to cover 40km on electricity alone, powered by 2 electric motors. Typical of hybrid cars, there is also a 148hp / 110 kW petrol engine.

From the images, the car looks very unique, and I am unsure as to whether I love it or hate it. The dimensions seem all wrong, and at times I am not sure if I am looking at a SUV or a compact car, which I assume is the point. The car almost looks squashed at times. Though I must say, the longer I have looked at the pictures, the more the VW Cross Coupe has grown on me. It certainly looks sleek and powerful. Personally, though  unlikely that you will see this Volkswagen for sale any time soon, I think that by blending many different styles of cars together, both aesthetically and functionally, VW have stumbled onto what may in the future be a winner.

To read the full article, including images, of this new concept car, visit the following link: Volkswagen Cross Coupe Concept

4 Top car brands achieve their Millenium!

With the recent injection of used car stock onto Cars.co.za, many milestones have been achieved. Cars.co.za now has four brands with over 1000 vehicles listed for sale.

Without further ado, I give you our Millenium brands:

1. used Volkswagen (2108)
2. used Toyota (1183)
3. used Chevrolet (1110)
4. used BMW (1077)

Whilst VW, Toyota and BMW are generally recognised as top car brands in South Africa, it was somewhat of a surprise to see Chevrolet pipping BMW for the third spot. Chevrolet, a huge brand overseas, has been underrepresented in the South African market for sometime. The introduction of the Chevrolet spark coupled with an aggressive marketing campaign has done wonders to further the Chevrolet brand in South Africa.

The new 2011 Volkswagen Jetta model released

VW have released their new 2011 Jetta and have made a strong focus on keeping the price affordable. The starting price is around $16 000, which is very cheap but obviously the price will change quite a bit once the vehicle is for sale in South Africa. The 2011 Jetta will be available in America this October, there is no date set for a South African release though.

Under the hood the US version of the Jetta will be released with 4 different engines, each available in automatic and manual, including a 2.0 turbo diesel. This engine will reach 0-100km/h in just 8.7s which is not too bad considering the price of the car. There will also be a 6 speed DSG transmission available on the 2.0 TDI and 2.0 TSI.

The exterior has been completely redesigned, including the wheelbase and car length which are now both bigger. The look has been sharpened to make the Jetta look more stylish and elegant. Regarding the interior, with the extended vehicle length, the new Jetta has a massive amount of legroom, and best-in-class rear legroom. The center drivers console is aligned towards the driver and controls car climate, radio and navigation.

Lastly safety has not been ignored with the new 2011 VW Jetta and features various crash safety improvements.

Source: Volkswagen

Massive sales increases in March for major car brands.

With the world-wide recession now clearly a thing of the past, three of the top car manufacturers have once again shown strong sales figures and growth for the month of March. These figures are somewhat deceptive as they are generally compared to March of 2009, which was obviously an atrocious year for the automotive market as global car sales dropped dramatically. However these figures are still impressive in their own right as they clearly show the full recovery the automotive market is marking and a positive future for these major brands.

Volkswagen


Volkswagen of America reported that their March sales included 22,148 car units which resulted in a 40.9% increase compared to the same month in 2009. The Volkswagen Jetta, Golf and Touareg proved to be very popular during this time with their economic pricing and clean diesel engines.

Ford



The Ford brand in America, which includes Lincoln and Mercury vehicles, also posted very strong sales figures for March 2010. The sales figures were up 37% for the quarter compared to the 2009 year. Ken Czubay, Ford vice president US Marketing Sales and Service, reported that it was due to Fords lineup of new vehicles that carried sales figures and that cars, utilities and trucks were all on the up.

Among the top achievers for Ford cars include: The Ford Fusion, the Ford Taurus and the Ford Focus. As for the utility market, the Ford Escape is up 52% in sales.

Audi



Following in the trend and not to be out-done, Audi posted their US sales stats that included a 33.5% increase from the same month in 2009. This increase also gave Audi a personal milestone of its best first-quarter sales since they began selling cars in the US. At the top of the list is the

Audi A5 which set an Audi single month sales record with an increase of 59.8% compared to March 2009. The Audi A3 also saw impressive increases with a jump of 100% sales compared to 2009 which was increased by the new A3 being named 2010 Green car of the year. Also among the top contenders were the: Audi Q5 and Audi Q7 which also saw big gains in sales.

What about used cars?

The used car market, like the new car market, has seen an increase in sales compared to 2009. The market is once again thriving with renewed confidence from used car buyers and generally more money available. As always find a range of used cars on Cars.co.za.

Source: VW, Ford, Audi

Volkswagen Showcases Second Generation Touareg Featuring Hybrid Powertrain

Showcased at the 2010 New York International Auto Show, the new Volkswagen Touareg boasts some impressive new stats. The focus is largely on fuel consumption and low co2 emissions across the 3 available engines.

V6 FSI Gasoline

V6 TDI Clean Diesel engine

V6 TSI Gasoline Hybrid engine



The focus point for the new Touareg falls in line with the 'green' movement that is happening world-wide. The 8 speed automatic gear box runs at 21 mpg during inner city driving. Added to this is the clutch which can disengage the transmission from the engine when the engine is not powering the Touareg, further reducing emissions and fuel consumption.

The styling of the Touareg has also been updated, with a narrower grille and a muscular appearance. Like many new cars these days, the Touareg has a chrome finish and LED illuminated lights. Compared to the previous Touareg, the 2011 Touareg is wider and shorter and has a longer wheelbase for a strong sturdy feel. Also the space inside the cabin has increased and the overall weight of the car has decreased, thanks largely to use of new materials

Source: Volkswagen

Volkswagen Amarok – New competition in the South African bakkie market

Bakkies in South Africa

1-tonne trucks or bakkies are extremely popular in South Africa and it doesn’t look they will be going away any time soon. Whether it’s off-road’ing on a farm in the Free State, to sitting in traffic in town or picking up the kids in Sandton, these cars fit the bill and are perfectly suited to the job. This is largely due to the fact that they are so reliable and tough and are adept at maneuvering past potholes and having masses of space to carry a whole family or a herd of sheep on the back.

The other option, for people looking for something a little smaller, and cheaper, are a number of single cab trucks or bakkies. These have similarly proven to be popular among South Africans, especially in the used car market. The prime example is the Opel Corsa Utility, which for its limited size, still packs a big punch. The biggest selling point for these Corsa’s is their cost, you can pick up a used Corsa Utility for around R70 000 – R90 000 with a decent year and mileage.

The current double cab bakkie contenders

The Toyota Hilux double cab bakkie



The Toyota bakkie has been a firm favourite in South Africa, especially in the used car market and has undergone quite a few facelifts over the years. As previously mentioned the bakkie is almost indestructible, a point which was proven by TopGear, a popular BBC car program that attempted a number of tasks to destroy the Toyota which ended with the car being placed atop a building that got demolished. And yet the car still started and could drive, paying testament to the reliability and hardiness that is the Toyota bakkie.

Nissan Hardbody / Navara



The Nissan Hardboy is another equally popular bakkie which, like the Toyota, relies on an image of indestructibility and toughness that will last many years and a number of kilometers on the clock. This is shown by the fact that there are many used Nissan bakkies with a few hundred kilometers on the clock that are still doing the rounds in the used car market.

Mitsubishi Triton



While not as popular as the previous models, the Mitsubishi Triton still provides all the space, reliability and performance that South Africans have come to expect in their bakkies. The price range of used Mitsubishi Bakkies is very similar to the other two brands, and remains competitive within the industry.

The new Volkswagen Amarok



As one of the biggest car manufacturers in the world it was surprising that Volkswagen was not a competitor in the double cab, truck and bakkie market in South Africa for so long. This however has all changed now with the introduction of the Volkswagen Amarok, Volkswagen’s venture into the Bakkie market.

The Amarok will come with 2 diesel engine options, a 120kw 2.0 TDI and a 4 cylinder 90kw TDI. The turbo charged engines boast low fuel consumption stats with the 90kw TDI consuming just 7.6 liters per 100km. There will be 2 variants available, the Trendline and the Highline, with the Highline including far more features and comforts. Another selling point of the Amarok is its space, especially in the interior. It also boasts the widest load space in its class which should be a strong selling point for buyers looking for a load-bearing vehicle.

The Amarok has great looks, and matches the VW front end styling and curves. The Amarok will be available in South Africa later in 2010 and I’m sure it will be a hit. South Africans love pretty much love all the Volkswagen models and the Amarok should be no exception, even in later years when it is doing the rounds in the used car market.

What does this mean for the South African bakkie market?

Plainly put; more competition and more variation, which for all parties involved is a good thing as it keeps prices down and gives buyers more options when looking for a bakkie that suits their exact needs. The Amarok will probably be popular among a younger crowd who still need the space and utility of a large double cab along with good looks, however those buyers who are looking for straight-up quality, reliability and toughness will probably still favour the Toyota.

Volkswagen of South Africa leads tough passenger car market in 2009

“Volkswagen of South Africa lead the passenger market in 2009 with total sales of 49 902 units, thereby securing 19.3% of the total passenger market,” said Mike Glendinning, VW of SA Director of Sales and Marketing.

“Volkswagen of South Africa lead the passenger market in 2009 with total sales of 49 902 units, thereby securing 19.3% of the total passenger market,” said Mike Glendinning, VW of SA Director of Sales and Marketing.

“The Polo range proved to be South Africa’s favourite passenger Brand with sales of 18 288 units in 2009”.

“The Audi Brand recorded sales of 9 234 units in the premium segment, securing a very satisfactory 3.6% share of the total 2009 passenger market. Audi sales in December exceeded 1 000 units for the first time in 2009 which was a very positive end to 2009 for the Brand”.

During December 2009 a total of 19 161 new passenger cars were sold in South Africa.

Total new passenger car sales in December, including sales not reported in detail to NAAMSA, decreased by -16.4 percent when compared to November 2009, and by -8.8 percent when compared to December 2008.

The full year 2009 new passenger car market recorded sales of -21.6 percent below the market achieved in 2008.

Source: Volkswagen