Another week has passed us by and of course there is always something to talk about in the motoring world. A battle is soon to commence in our sub-compact class, with the introduction of Volkswagen’s new Polo Vivo this week and the imminent arrival of the new Ford Figo. Internationally, Audi stole the limelight recently with the announcement of their A1, but this week BMW has confirmed they will be building a 0-Series car to compete in the premium sub-compact class.
On the local front, I jetted off to P.E. on Wednesday morning for the launch of the new Volkswagen Polo Vivo. Essentially a budget version of the previous generation Polo, the Polo Vivo is now the entry-level car for the Volkswagen brand and arrives a couple of months after the legendary Citi Golf was retired in January. Not surprising is the way the new Polo Vivo drives – exactly like the Mk4 Polo it’s based on. This is not a bad thing and in terms of a Citi Golf replacement, the Polo Vivo is leaps and bounds ahead in safety and build quality, whilst still offering value for money (prices start from R101 500). The Polo Vivo’s story is as much about the car itself, as it is about the steps VWSA have taken to source parts and produce the car locally. Polo Vivo is a proudly South African product, with a R1.1 billion investment in a new supplier park and 700 jobs having been created as a result of the new car.
Ford’s answer to the Polo Vivo is their Figo, that was recently launched to the world’s media in India. In a similar story to VW, Ford have used the previous generation Fiesta as the base upon which to build the new Figo. 85 percent of parts are reportedly new for the Figo, but the Fiesta was a good car to begin with so the Ford Figo comes with a solid reputation regardless. The Figo will be launched here in SA within the next month or two, with pricing expected to be in the R100k to R130k range.
As mentioned, BMW Chairman, Norbert Reithofe, has confirmed this week that a rival to the Audi A1 is in the works – dubbed the BMW 0-Series at this point. Perhaps most surprising though is the announcement that it will be based on a front-wheel-drive platform, in contrast to BMW’s rear-wheel drive tradition. Reithofer said “For these new vehicles, we are developing a common architecture for both front and four-wheel-drive”. With an all-new MINI Cooper expected to arrive in 2014, the new models would likely utilise the same front-wheel-drive layout. Worrying for BMW purists is the fact that the use of the same platform for a new BMW 1-Series can’t be ruled out. Hopefully BMW is not about to make a u-turn on their rear-wheel-drive philosophy. There is no news on when the 0-Series is expected to make an appearance, but with the A1 heading to showrooms, expect to hear a lot more in the near future.
A small car of a different kind, is Honda’s recently launched CR-Z hybrid hatchback. Hybrid cars are still in their infancy relative to the age of the motor industry. The Toyota Prius was the first model to bring hybrid technology to the mass market but other manufacturers are beginning to joining the party. Running alongside the motor industry is the business of tuning or modifying. As one can imagine, tuning and modifying of electric and hybrid vehicles is something very new. Brabus has done it with the Tesla Roadster and with the launch of the Honda CR-Z a few weeks back, Honda’s in-house tuning division, Mugen, released a few cosmetic updates for the new hybrid. However, tuning legend Spoon Racing hit the headlines this week with news of the beginnings of their tuning package for the new CR-Z. Among the parts being tested are new coilover suspension components (lowering the car by 50 mm), N1 exhaust, ECU, ‘twin-block’ calliper and slit rotor brake upgrade. There’s no information on the ECU at this stage, but the N1 exhaust has reportedly given the CR-Z a more sportscar-like note, in contrast to the near-silent stock exhaust system. A set of blue Spoon CR93 alloys finish off the car and compliment the new ride height.
I’ve also had the Nissan Qashqai n-tec on test for the week. In short, one of the best looking cars in its class, with 18-inch wheels and chrome accents setting it apart from the rest of the range. It’s comfortable, rides well and the 2,0-litre engine provides enough oomph for running around town and cruising on the open road. An optional accessories package adds leather seats and an infotainment system, which we had an argument with. You can read the full report here.
Next week Toyota will be launching a facelifted version of their Toyota Auris and Hyundai will be introducing a new model. If you’re in Cape Town this weekend, why not head down to Killarney for some serious excitement with the Wesbank Super Series on Saturday. In contrast to all the speed, don’t forget it’s the Argus Cycle Tour on Sunday in the Cape, so choose your Sunday drive route wisely.
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