PEUGEOT 208 LEADS PACK IN EUROPE

In February 2013, the Peugeot 208 confirmed its position as leader for the 3rd consecutive month in the European B segment (hatchback).
 

A few weeks before the much anticipated launch of its distinctive 208 GTi and 208 XY versions, in February the Peugeot 208 confirmed its position as leader in the hotly contested European (29 countries) B segment hatchback category, which it had conquered in December 2012.

With 20 700 registrations, it was ahead of the VW Polo and the Renault Clio IV on the podium.

The growing strength of the 208, linked partly to the now complete availability of the 3-cylinder 1.0 litre and 1.2 litre petrol engines, is set to continue. In February, the heir to the Peugeot 2-series saga recorded a new monthly high for orders in Europe (26 000).

The growing sales of the 208 are accompanied by a particularly high end model mix: cumulatively since launch, and even before sales of the 208 GTi and 208 XY start, nearly 40 % of customers has chosen the upper versions (level 3 and 4).

“Our teams of engineers have created an outstanding car. The level of satisfaction of our numerous customers is testimony to this. Despite these difficult times, the results are there, on track with our objectives and we are on the offensive more than ever” declared Maxime Picat, Peugeot Brand CEO.

STORY BY PEUGEOT

TOYOTA STILL TOP CAR BRAND

Toyota remains on top of the international automotive world in terms of total brand value, with the company coming in at US$26* billion. New research by leading brand valuation and marketing consultancy Brand Finance says Toyota's brand value rose six per cent last year from US$24.5 billion.

Brand Finance founder and CEO David Haigh said factors behind the improvement included the introduction of stylish new designs (models such as the 86 and Auris have elevated Toyota’s aesthetic appeal). A 23-per-cent increase in sales to a record of 9.8 million vehicles and higher than expected net profits contributed to the increase.

Toyota is followed by three German automakers - Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes-Benz - with American carmaker Ford rounding out the top five. Toyota's market capitalisation was calculated at US$209.6 billion - more than twice as much as any other carmaker.

The Brand Finance research aligns with another study that has rated Toyota as the world's most valuable automotive brand for the past nine years. The 2012 Best Global Brands Report, compiled by international consultancy Interbrand, said Toyota is reinventing its brand with more stylish and better-looking vehicles.

Interbrand said hybrid cars were a "clear differentiator" for Toyota, with the Prius line-up creating an influx of new customers to the Toyota brand. Toyota also emerged as the Best Global Green Brand in 2012 for the second year running. In addition, the influential Forbes group named four Toyota vehicles - Camry, Corolla, Prius and RAV4 - among the most successful cars of 2012.

The cars were chosen for their sales, consumer satisfaction and performance, reliability, safety and value. Brand Finance benchmarks the strength, risk and potential of a brand, relative to its competitors. It is conceptually similar to a credit rating.

The data used to calculate the ratings comes from various sources including Bloomberg annual reports and Brand Finance research.

Interbrand uses a methodology that takes into account a multitude of factors that affect how a brand connects with the consumer and adds value to the organisation.

In South Africa, Toyota has been the top-selling automotive brand for the past 33 years. 

STORY BY TOYOTA

AUDI A3 AND S3 SEDAN OFFICIALLY REVEALED

Audi has finally brokenthe covers off the brand new A3 and S3 sedans, at the same time. The A3 sedan is the first in its class and will competewith the upcoming Mercedes-Benz A-Classsedan and maybe even the rumoured BMW 1 Series sedan. The car will be shown at the 2013 Johannesburg International Motor Show (JIMS) in October this year.

The car is obviously a sedan because it has a boot. It is based on the new A3 platform but is 4.45 metres long, 1.78m wide, 1.4m high and has a wheelbase of 2.6m. It is quite a large “baby” car. In fact, it is about the same size as the first Audi A4 which was launched in 1994.

Some of the advanced features include Bluetooth connectivity, MMI infotainment system, an optional Bang & Olufsen sound system and 4G/ LTE connectivity. Another is the implementation of the new NVIDIA graphics processing unit (GPU). The NVIDIA GPU generates complex 3D images used in all online, voice control, media navigation and telephone functions. Another industry first includes the Audi phone box. The Audi phone box is a compartment located under the centre armrest that boosts a mobile phone’s cellular coverage by wirelesslycoupling to a specialised antenna in the rear windscreen.

Engines mimic those in the A3 hatch and Sportback, meaning a 1.4 TFSI with 103kW and 250Nm, 1.8 TFSI doing 132kW and a 2.0 TDI worth 110kW and 320Nm of torque. Top of the pops is the S3 sedan whose 2.0-litre TFSI turbo is banging at 221kW and 380Nm of torque. Audi says this model will move from 0 – 100km/h in just 4.9 seconds when using the S Tronic gearbox, and 5.3 seconds using the 6-speedmanual option.

MERCEDES-BENZ CLA 45 AMG BREAKS COVER

Mercedes-Benz revealed the CLA 45 AMG today. CLA is like a smaller version of the CLS and shows how serious Merc is about taking back its second spot from Audi and eventually replacing BMW the top of the premium luxury car sales charts.

This particular model is powered by a 4-cylinder 2.0-litre turbo engine making 265kW and 450Nm of torque, the same as the A 45 AMG which shares the same platform. The car has all-wheel-drive (AWD) in the form of the patented 4MATIC system and is run by a 7-speed automatic. Merc says it will scatter off from 0 – 100km/h in just 4.6 seconds, topping off at 250km/h.

The CLA will definitely be at the 2013 Johannesburg International Motor Show (JIMS) in October, whether in “pedestrian” or AMG guise. We are hoping for both.

NEW 2014 RANGE ROVER SPORT UNVEILED!

It’s out! The brand new Range Rover Sport has been revealed. This is the second-generation car aimed at the likes of Audi Q7, BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz ML-Class and Volvo XC 90. For the Mzansi crowd it means more BEE and moneyed musician types will be seen driving it. We think it will be here around Septemberor October, so get your bling chequebook out.

In terms of what is on the engine equipment list at launch, we can see the 3.0-litre SDV6 turbo diesel with 215kW and the 375kW 5.0-litre V8 supercharged for the performance model. In 2014 there will be added engines, including a super 4.4 diesel worth 249kW, a milder 190kW V6 diesel, petrol as well as a hybrid. The gearbox is an 8-speed automatic system. Land Rover says 0 – 100km/h acceleration times start at 5.2 seconds across the range (pun intended), meaning the V8 will dip below this. We’ll ascertain these claims when we drive it.

The new Range Rover Sport is at least 420kg lighter than the current model, depending on which one. It is 62mm longer, and has a wheelbase that’s 178mmlonger that the predecessor. While it is based on the bigger Range Rover, which itself is now about 100kg lighter than its own predecessor, the Range Sport is 45kg off the Range and shares up to 25% of its parts. And as you can see from the pics, it also has the option of a 5+2 seating configuration, much like the Discovery 4.

As far as other features go, there are things like WiFi connectivity which will benefit passengers’ devices like tablets and smart phones, Lane Departure Assist technology, Head-up Display as an option, and the new Wade Sensing feature that provides “depth” information when driving through water. Very nifty this because often we take these creatures into waters that have not been measured for depth, only to find that even this one’s 850mm wading depth is not enough.