These were the eight biggest stories in South Africa’s automotive scene this week.
Ford responds to new Ranger issues
The new Ford Ranger has been experiencing problems following its launch at the end of last year, both locally and abroad.
The first prominent cases were reported in Australia, which sources its bakkies from Thailand, but South African customers have started to report similar issues.
The issues in question are usually of a software nature, with the car’s driver and infotainment screens becoming unresponsive, though certain customers have also reported larger faults leading to their new purchase being sent back to the shop to be fixed.
This week, Ford South Africa invited TopAuto to a one-on-one meeting to discuss what it is doing to address the situation.
Petrol price increase for May
The latest data from the Central Energy Fund indicates that South Africa may be in for its biggest petrol price increase so far this year in May.
“The expected increases will add further pressure on embattled consumers grappling with food inflation which hit record highs in the first quarter of 2023,” said the Automobile Association (AA).
One silver lining is that diesel is expected to see a significant drop, which has ramifications for consumers as well as the agriculture, mining and manufacturing industries.
Opel Corsa Lite launched in South Africa
Opel has re-introduced the Lite specification to the fan-favourite Corsa, which now slots in as the entry-level model in the range.
The hatchback has a starting price of R349,900, and is powered by the same engine found in the mid-spec Edition.
It also boasts a generous amount of equipment for a base model, with a few of the highlights being a 7-inch touchscreen, LED headlights, alloy wheels, and cruise control.
Ford Everest XLT and Wildtrak launched in South Africa
Ford has expanded the Everest line-up in South Africa with four new models, bringing the total up to six units.
The latest entries are the XLT – now perched as the most affordable entry in the SUV family – and an all-new Wildtrak – a specification that was previously reserved for the Ranger bakkie.
The blue oval has also introduced 4×2 versions of the XLT and Sport, and prices for the Everest now start at R832,400.
First look inside Ford’s next-gen Ranger and Amarok factory in South Africa
Ford provided TopAuto with an exclusive look inside its revamped Silverton production facility in Pretoria, where the next-gen Ford Ranger and VW Amarok are produced.
The company invested an incredible R15.8 billion into the factory, bringing up to the same level of capability as the blue oval’s facility in Thailand where the Everest and Raptor are produced.
It can create hundreds of cars per day, with the vast majority of these being transported to the coast for export to international markets.
Honda Civic Type R launched in South Africa
The new Honda Civic Type R has gone on sale in South Africa at a starting price of R979,000.
Thanks to a high-performance VTEC engine and numerous sporty enhancements, the hot hatch can sprint to 100km/h in 5.5 second, before reaching a max of 272km/h.
It also comes with four seats and luxury fittings like a 9-inch media display, 12-speaker Bose stereo, digital driver screen, and dual-zone climate control.
New JAC T9 electric bakkie details revealed
JAC recently unveiled new information about the T9 bakkie that’s coming to South Africa at the end of the year.
The T9 will be made available with five different powertrains by the end of its staggered rollout, including two diesels, one petrol, one plug-in hybrid, and one battery-electric unit.
This means the Chinese 4×4 is shaping up to be South Africa’s very first electric bakkie – capable of doing 400km on a single charge
New Mercedes-Benz E-Class revealed
Mercedes-Benz is continuing its string of big announcements this year with the reveal of the new E-Class.
The upmarket sedan is expected to go on sale in 2024, bringing with it a host of new features and mild hybrid drivetrains.
The sixth-generation Mercedes will be available in Avantgarde, AMG Line, and Exclusive trim, with local pricing to be announced closer to the launch date.
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