In 2002, Nissan’s X-Trail entered the market right when the craze for small SUVs started, subsequently becoming one of the most popular examples of these vehicles that, at the peak of its lifespan, owned a third of the local market. Sporting attractive, purposeful looks, good engines, outstanding practicality and sufficiently credible off-road capabilities, it appealed [...]

Continue reading " Quick Test: Nissan X-Trail 2.5 SE 4X4 "

In the past year I have had to make peace with the fact that the Chinese are coming to SA with even more vehicles. Not just Nissan/Isuzu rip-off bakkie combinations, but passenger cars as well. Some are blatant design rip-offs, which the Chinese are famous for, but then there are others that actually show a [...]

Continue reading " Quick Test: Chery J1 "

Renault’s performance models have been immensely popular in South Africa over the past few years, with the RenaultSport sub-brand especially showing a very loyal following. The RS models are not always within everyone’s reach, though, and as Renault desires to sell cars that deliver sporty appeal at affordable prices has led to the return of [...]

Continue reading " Clio range expands with an ‘S’ model "

With their eyes set firmly on 2012, Audi is introducing a whole new dimension to the premium compact class with the new A1, a car the company says condenses all of the virtues of the brand down to less than four metres – “a design full of character, uncompromising quality and pioneering efficiency technologies”. And [...]

Continue reading " Audi A1 (officially) revealed "

A mere six months after Lexus revealed the gorgeous LF-Ch concept, the company will now unveil the new CT200h at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show.
“Created for those who wish to lower their emissions but not their standards, the CT200h will be the first, and only, full hybrid vehicle in the premium compact segment”, says Lexus. [...]

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A few weeks ago when Steve tested Volvo’s S80 2.5, he made reference to the fact that South Africans seem to have an eerie loyalty towards products of German origin. Sure, the Germans make some excellent cars, but so do the Japanese, the Swedes and the Koreans. For some reason, you’ve not arrived if your [...]

Continue reading " Quick Test: Volvo S80 D5 "

If ever there was a car I really did not want to like, it was the Porsche Panamera. Firstly, you only have to look at it to see that something went horribly wrong with the design of the rear. Secondly, who needs a four-seater, four-door, limo-like Porsche in the first place? Isn’t that what the [...]

Continue reading " Local launch: Porsche Panamera Part 2 "

I love movies that feature cars, especially when they drive the specific car in a way you would rarely – if ever – see in reality. Think what Jason Statham and Liam Neeson did with Audi’s S8 in Transporter 2 and Taken respectively. Or that one Bruce Willis movie in which he drove a 7-series [...]

Continue reading " Quick Test: Volvo C30 T5 "

Mercedes-Benz officially launched its new E-Class cabriolet, set to go on sale in Europe in May 2010. It’s essentially identical in size to the E-Class Coupe and will be available with the same engine options as the coupe, a 3.5-liter V6 and 5.5-liter V8.
Mercedes has elected to use a 0.9-inch-thick fabric roof for the E-Class [...]

Continue reading " E blows its top "

With the global motoring industry slowly but surely beginning to show signs of recovery, it’s no surprise that there are a number of deals going on between the world’s major players. 2009 has already seem some interesting changes in ownership within the motoring industry, and this trend looks set to continue in 2010.
One deal that [...]

Continue reading " You win some, you lose some "