MOTORING NEWS - The African Mirror

Jun

2023

Ford Castrol Team scores a double victory in the Botswana

THE Neil Woolridge Motorsport (NWM) Ford Castrol Team scored an emphatic one-two finish in the EcoBoost V6-powered T1+ Ford Rangers at Round 3 of the South African Rally Raid Championship (SARRC), which was held in Jwaneng, Botswana, from 23-25 June 2023. As the longest and toughest event of the year, the Toyota Gazoo Racing Kalahari Botswana 1000 Desert Race is a three-day marathon event which covers almost 1 000km of racing through semi-arid terrain, characterised by unforgiving thorn bushes and lots of soft sand. Despite the punishing conditions destroying bodywork on all the competitor cars and pushing the crews to…

Jun

2023

By The African Mirror

Audi driving experience returns to South Africa with exciting pop-up events

MOTORING NEWS

THE Audi driving experience is returning to South Africa with a series of pop-up events. These events will run between July and November covering Gauteng, the Western Cape and Kwa-Zulu Natal at some of the most exciting racing tracks in South Africa: the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit (Gauteng), Plaaspad Racetrack (Western Cape), and Dezzi South Coast Raceway (Kwa-Zulu Natal). Sascha Sauer, Head of Audi South Africa said: “We are thrilled to announce the re-launch of the Audi driving experience in South Africa. This is an incredibly exciting opportunity for South Africans to experience the very best of Audi’s performance models,…

Jun

2023

By The African Mirror

Ford SA’s double victory: Ranger makes history, Everest a good second

MOTORING NEWS

FORDSA has made history and achieved a rare double at the podium of the prestigious South African Car of the Year competition.In a ground-breaking achievement, the Ranger has become the first bakkie - pick-up - to secure an overall win in the prestigious South African Car of the Year competition.Ford further asserted itself in the awards by taking second place overall with the Everest.The Ford Ranger's triumph marks a historic moment as no other bakkie has ever managed to beat all finalists to the top spot since the competition began in 1986. Fortuitously, this award coincides with Ford South Africa’s…

Mar

2023

By The African Mirror

Car of the year “Motor Enthusiast” public competition encourages motorists to stay safe on SA roads

MOTORING NEWS

OLD Mutual Insure has launched the exciting new ‘Motor Enthusiast’ public competition as part of the Car of the Year (COTY) competition, giving motor enthusiasts across the country the opportunity to win one of five defensive driving vouchers, with the training offered by leading driver training organisation, MasterDrive. All hopeful entrants have to do is vote for their favourite Old Mutual Insure SA Car of the Year (COTY) competition finalist to stand a chance to win one of the vouchers, by voting on the competition microsite, www.ominsurecoty.co.za, before midnight on Monday, 22 May 2023. The competition is open to South African…

Feb

2023

By The African Mirror

Fords’ 11th Trends Report finds growing consumer optimism

MOTORING NEWS

Ford Motor Company has released its 11th annual Trends Report. The major insight from the survey reveals that the global population has a positive ‘Every cloud has a silver lining’ sentiment, even amidst national and global instability. The findings from the Ford Trends 2023 survey are generated from 16 120 online interviews in 16 countries across the world. The survey is open to diverse opinions and curious about the consumers’ thought process. It analyses consumer preferences and behaviours influenced by external factors across a range of themes. The survey attempts to look into the future through an analysis of the findings. A…

Feb

2023

By The African Mirror

Audi South Africa reveals 43 additional EV charging stations

MOTORING NEWS

AUDI South Africa, in partnership with Rubicon, has brought 43 additional electric vehicle (EV) charging stations online across the country. These chargers can accommodate a total of 57 EV cars simultaneously, at varying capacities, regardless of model or brand ownership. This is in addition to the brand’s contribution of 70 EV charging connection points nationwide a year ago, when Audi was the first to bring ultra-fast chargers to South Africa.The latest rollout includes the very first DC 200kW ultra-fast charger in South Africa, which is installed at the largest shopping mall ever built in a single phase – Mall of Africa…

Dec

2022

By The African Mirror

Stay Safe in Torrential Downpours with Ford’s Driving Tips and Comprehensive Safety Technology

MOTORING NEWS

UNPREDICTABLE and sudden downpours can cause havoc on the roads, with many motorists forced to face difficult driving conditions when heavy rains hit. Research shows that from a driver’s perspective, when rainwater levels rise above road markings, even reflective markings can disappear under the glare of headlampsi. Driving in bad weather not only requires common sense, but it also calls upon driving techniques and experience seldom tested in good conditions. “While many drivers will take great precautions when heading off-road, or driving in snow or sleet, they don’t often give rain the same amount of respect,” said Kain Hepburn, Driver…

Nov

2022

By The African Mirror

Ford executive says South Africa needs EV policy within six months

MOTORING NEWS

PROMIT MUKHERJEE THE Africa head of Ford Motor Co said the South African government must deliver policy certainty on electric vehicles (EVs) within six months to save its automotive industry. Three-quarters of cars produced by South Africa's auto industry, which accounts for 5% of the gross domestic product and more than 100,000 jobs, are exported, mostly to Europe. But with Britain planning to ban sales of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030 and the European Union in 2035, the local industry risks losing thousands of jobs and billions in revenue in the absence of a government plan for EVs. "We…

Nov

2022

By The African Mirror

First Mitsubishi Triton Heritage Edition handed to Phosa

MOTORING NEWS

The very first production version of the Mitsubishi Triton Heritage Edition has been handed over to its new owner, Dr Mathews Phosa, an avid game breeder from the Nelspruit area. “It is an honour to hand over the keys of the first Mitsubishi Triton Heritage Edition to a person that has played such a big part in South Africa’s heritage and who will use the vehicle to protect our heritage with his successful game breeding operation,” says Thato Magasa, Managing Director: Mitsubishi Motors South Africa (MMSA). The physical hand over took place at Mitsubishi Sandton where Dr Phosa also received…

Sep

2022

By The African Mirror

Jeffrey Oppong Peprah is the new AAAM Vice President for West Africa

MOTORING NEWS

ONE of Ghana's leaders in the automobile industry has a new bigger role in West Africa. The African Association of Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM) has appointed the President of the Automotive Assemblers Association of Ghana (AAAG), Jeffrey Oppong Peprah as Vice President representing West Africa. Oppong Peprah will serve together with other vice presidents representing north and southern Africa. The President of AAAM is Mike Whitfield who is also the Managing Director of Nissan Africa. Oppong Peprah is currently the CEO of Volkswagen Ghana has entrepreneurship and strategic Leadership competencies, with experience in the automotive industry, supply chain management & logistics,…