MOTORING - The African Mirror

Sep

2022

Audi’s new high performance stars: the Audi RS Sportsback and Sedan

WITH the third generation of the Audi RS 3 Sportback and the second generation of the RS 3 Sedan, Audi is relaunching the sporty top-of-the-line pair in the compact high-performance segment. The award-winning five-cylinder engine now has more torque, making it even more powerful. In combination with the RS torque splitter installed for the first time in an Audi, the A3 series’ emotional flagship model offers performance and lateral dynamics on a whole new level. Local market introduction of the RS 3 model range takes place today with prices starting at R1,215,000 for the RS 3 Sportback and R1,245,000 for…

Aug

2022

By The African Mirror

Built for the adventurous, the new Everest provides amazing capability when the road runs out

MOTORING

WHETHER you’re scrambling up the side of a mountain or towing a trailer, next-generation Everest is filled with cutting-edge technologies to get you there and back again. From Everest’s Selectable Drive Modes which optimise vehicle performance to suit a range of different conditions - to its sophisticated surround view cameras and rear differential lock, off-road adventures are even more achievable. “The Everest has always been very good off the beaten track, and we wanted to build on the confidence customers have when travelling off-road,” said Ian Foston, chief platform engineer, Ford Everest. “So we focused on giving customers a vehicle…

Aug

2022

By The African Mirror

African auto manufacturers support Ghana

MOTORING

THE African Association of Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM) has come out in full support of the government of Ghana, as it moves ahead in implementing the balance of the provisions of its progressive Automotive Development Policy, which since its initial inception has seen three new assembly plants commence production of OEM models from VW, Toyota, Nissan and Peugeot. The new assembly plants are in addition to Ghana’s own assembler, Kantanka. This means that before the end of 2022 three more OEMs will commence the assembling of Hyundai, Kia and Isuzu vehicles. Working in partnership with the Ghana Ministry of Trade and…

Aug

2022

By The African Mirror

The next-generation Ford Raptor: From mild to wild

MOTORING

THE next-generation Ranger Raptor is not only built to dominate the deserts and master the mountains, but thanks to the 3.0L twin-turbo V6 model’s new active valve twin exhaust system and four drive modes – including Quiet mode for early morning starts – it’s designed to keep the peace around town, too. The system is designed to control the noise emitted from the next-gen Ranger Raptor’s powerful 292kW 3.0L twin-turbo V6 via an active exhaust system that opens valves – much like a saxophone or a large pipe organ – to change the sound of the car based on the…

Jul

2022

By The African Mirror

Peugeot’s global hero in SA to check out the brand

MOTORING

AHEAD of Women’s Month in South Africa during August, PEUGEOT’s own global woman hero, CEO Linda Jackson, is in the country checking on the progress of the brand. The high-level executive delegation from PEUGEOT, including Head of PEUGEOT Marketing and Communications, Phillip York, arrives in the country at a time when PEUGEOT is making major inroads into this key strategic market. Off the back of the brand’s merger into Stellantis, PEUGEOT has gained significant traction and appeal in South Africa with strong sales growth and consequent accolades. Whilst global PEUGEOT sales increased 22% to 1,215,000 units in 2021, local volumes…

Jul

2022

By The African Mirror

Electric vehicles in South Africa: how to avoid making them the privilege of the few

MOTORING

IN the early 1900s, automobiles took the streets of industrialised cities by storm, rapidly displacing horse-drawn vehicles. Fiercely contested at first, the internal combustion engine won the technological battle against electric vehicles which accounted for up to a third of vehicles on the road before declining. After more than a century of domination, the internal combustion engine age is soon to be over. The tide is turning to electric vehicles. Pushed by environmental regulations, support programmes and improving economics, electric vehicles are set to become dominant in the coming decades. As the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has been reminding…

Jul

2022

By The African Mirror

Ford celebrates Mandela’s legacy with a donation of shoes, bags to 1 150 learners

MOTORING

FORMER South African president Nelson Mandela dedicated his life to fighting for freedom, and was committed to using education as a tool to empower and uplift people. Madiba’s legacy continues to inspire others around the world, across South Africa, as well as in and around his home village of Qunu in the Eastern Cape. Accordingly, it’s fitting that, on Mandela Day on 18 July – and as part of the wider Mandela Month celebrations – his grand daughter Ndileka Mandela and her Thembekile Mandela Foundation partnered with Ford South Africa by donating school shoes and bags to 1 150 learners at…

Jun

2022

By The African Mirror

Audi conducts electric vehicle train for SA first responders

MOTORING

AUDI South Africa has concluded the facilitation of a training programme with 70 South African First Responders hosted at their Dealer Training Academy in Pretoria.The safety and education initiative is the first for the local automotive industry and is part of Audi’s e-tron launch an electric vehicle rollout in the country.“As part of our planning towards the introduction of our fully electric Audi e-tron model range, we consulted with the Department of Cooperative Governance and the National Disaster Management Centre in South Africa and identified a need to progress the education and information of electric vehicles (EV) to First Responders."These…

Jun

2022

By The African Mirror

Ford trials new technology that could automatically reduce speed

MOTORING

Many cities and towns limit speeds around schools, hospitals and shopping areas. Seeing the signs, however, can depend on how visible they are, whether they are concealed by branches, or maybe surrounded by a cluster of other signs.Now, Ford is trialling connected vehicle technology using geofencing – a virtual geographical boundary – that could one day do away with the need for speed limit signs completely. As well as potentially making streets safer for other road users and pedestrians, Ford’s Geofencing Speed Limit Control system could help drivers avoid inadvertently incurring speeding fines and improve roadside appearances. “Connected vehicle technology has the…

May

2022

By The African Mirror

40 years of Opel Corsa: A Success Story in Six Acts

MOTORING

2022 is an anniversary year for Opel: the company has been making innovations affordable for everyone for 160 years, and at the same time one of its biggest bestsellers is celebrating its 40th birthday. The Opel Corsa revolutionised the small car class with its premiere in 1982 and today, in its sixth generation, is more in demand than ever. Last year, the current Corsa was the most popular small car in Germany and the best-selling car in the UK. The battery-electric Opel Corsa-e won the “Golden Steering Wheel 2020”1, now already accounts for around one-quarter of Corsa sales and is successfully competing in motorsport…