These were the eight biggest stories in South Africa’s automotive scene this week.
Petrol price changes for May
The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy published the official fuel price changes for May this week.
With the latest increases, petrol is now sitting at its highest point so far this year, though thankfully the price hike was not as steep as initially predicted.
Diesel users, on the other hand, can look forward to additional savings this month as the fuel price dropped for the second consecutive time.
Force Motors South African launch date confirmed
Indian automaker Force Motors has confirmed that it will be making its official debut on the South African market in the next few months.
So far, the brand has announced five vehicles that it intends to bring to the country – the Urbania mini-van, Traveller mini-bus, Traveller midi-bus, Traveller panel van, and Gurkha SUV.
The cars are currently undergoing homologation tests, and will be showcased at the Nampo expo in the Free State at the end of the month.
More affordable Nissan Magnite on sale in South Africa
Nissan has launched a more affordable version of the popular Magnite, featuring a naturally-aspirated petrol engine.
The crossover has a new starting price of R227,900 and is available in three specifications – Visia, Acenta, and Acenta Plus.
It also boasts a generous amount of equipment for its bracket, with a few of the highlights being a 360-degree camera, an 8-inch infotainment screen, a leather steering wheel, and keyless entry and start – depending on the model.
Isuzu mu-X updated for South Africa
The Isuzu mu-X received an update this week, adding improved features as well as a new model to the line-up.
The model in question is the LSE 4×4, which was previously only available in 4×2 guise.
The update also brought a host of visual changes to the seven-seater as well as a handful of new standard fitments that narrow the gap between the base model and the range-topping Onyx.
Suzuki raises prices across the board
Suzuki raised the prices on most of its vehicles this week, with the only exceptions being the Grand Vitara, normal Vitara, and Eeco panel van.
The price increases are not uniform across all the models, with units like the Jimny seeing a steeper hike than something like the Celerio.
VW Golf R launched in South Africa
The VW Golf R has officially gone on sale in South Africa at a starting price of R912,800.
After significant delays, the high-performance Golf has finally arrived in the country to take its place as the flagship of the brand’s hatchback line-up.
It features a beastly 2.0-litre, turbocharged engine and several luxurious fittings such as Nappa leather seats, two 10.25-inch screens, and a panoramic sunroof.
2023 Simola Hillclimb happening this weekend
The 13th annual installment of the Simola Hillclimb is taking place in Knysna in the Western Cape this weekend from the 4th to the 7th of May.
Enthusiasts who are unable to attend in person can catch the event online from the Simola Hillclimb livestream, or via the SABC sports channel.
Kia Sportage turbo-diesel launched in South Africa
Kia has launched three new turbo-diesel versions of its Sportage SUV in South Africa.
The diesel powertrains produce less power but more torque than their petrol counterparts, while also boasting a considerably lower fuel consumption.
The gearbox and wheel layout remains the same across the range, and the diesel engine can be had on the LX, EX, and GT-Line Plus grades.
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