Category: Motoring

Jaguar Land Rover South Africa and sub-Sahara Africa has announced Richard Gouverneur as the new Managing Director.

Gouverneur takes over the reins of the iconic British brands in Africa from Kevin Flynn.

A statement by the company’s Marketing/Public Relations Manager Sub-Sahara Africa Willem Schoeman, said Gouverneur will report the South African and sub-Sahara African business to Dmitry Kolchanov, Director Overseas at Jaguar Land Rover.

“Richard is no stranger to the Jaguar Land Rover business and we wish him well in his new appointment to continue building on the success of the brands in sub-Saharan Africa,” Kolchanov said.

Flynn, who joined Jaguar Land Rover in 2011, has left the company to explore his own interests.

“We are grateful for Kevin’s valuable contribution to the company in Africa and we wish him every success in his future endeavours,” Kolchanov stated.

Gouverneur joins the South Africa and sub-Sahara markets from his post as Network Development Director for Jaguar Land Rover in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). He had previously been Acting Managing Director for the region.

He has previously worked in finance roles for both Ford and Jaguar Land Rover in South Africa. He also spent time developing automotive supply businesses in South Africa and the Middle East prior to joining Jaguar Land Rover in 2010.

According to consumer credit reporting agency Equifax, Americans now owe a staggering $902.2 billion in auto loans — a 10 percent increase from this time last year and an all-time high.

That might seem like terrifying news to folks wary of debt or those who fear another lending bubble like the one that helped launch the Great Recession. But Equifax says that there is no need to worry — at least not yet.

Equifax’s confidence stems largely from the fact that the number of delinquencies on auto loans is also hovering in record territory — record low, that is. For the third straight month, borrowers have proven diligent, with seriously delinquent accounts making up less than 1 percent of America’s total outstanding loan balance.

According to Dennis Carlson, Equifax’s Deputy Chief Economist, “Lenders are responding to record low delinquencies by offering great rates and terms, while consumers are responding to the improving economic conditions by making the decision to purchase newer vehicles.”

Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA) has introduced a rugged new version of its popular Ranger to the Sub Saharan Africa region. The new variant – the Ranger XL-Plus – will go on general sale early next year. It brings a new dimension of toughness to the line-up, making it of particular interest to mining companies, farmers and other business owners with very specific requirements.

“The Ranger XL-Plus was born out of particular requirements from the mining industry, as well as other business owners whose main concerns were rugged capability and impeccable safety standards,” Ford Sub Saharan Africa Marketing, Sales and Service Vice President, Mark Kaufman said.

“The vehicle is already extremely capable, and big mining companies have committed to using only vehicles that have five-star ENCAP and ANCAP ratings, which Ranger XL-Plus derivative boasts,” Kaufman noted.

Built at the Silverton Assembly Plant in Pretoria, following a $1.8 million investment, Ranger XL-Plus will be sold in South Africa and other markets with similar requirements. It will be available in hand drive.

With airbags for both the driver and passenger, as well as side impact, curtain, and a driver-side knee airbag, Ranger XL-Plus complies with the safety requirements determined by international mine operators. In addition to that, it has a steel bulbar as standard that is designed to work in conjunction with the veh’s existing safety systems, thus not compromising airbag deployment.

An extensive list of modifications have also been tested to ensure  the Ranger XL-Plus will stand up to the harsh environments seen in mining operations such as those in Australia, New Zealand and Africa.

External modifications and enhancements include a frame tested for an increased towing load of 3 500kg, extruded aluminium side steps, front mud flaps, and a lockable fuel filler cap.

Inside and under the skin, the Ranger XL-Plus gains a crew chief mounting bracket paired to an expanded wiring harness for accommodating more switches and circuits, a heavy duty second battery, vinyl floor covering, and heavy duty seat covers.

“Modifications developed for the Ranger XL-Plus came from extensive testing in real-world scenarios. We took feedback from our customers on what more they need from the Ranger in applications such as mining, and built a version of Ranger that will take a lot more punishment, as well as offer integration with technical equipment used on sites,” Kaufman said.

By January next year, Ranger XL-Plus will be available to customers in Sub Saharan Africa in three body styles with two chassis cab models in single and double-cab variations, and a double cab model with a loadbox. Drive comes from the Duratorq 2.2-litre TDCi engine mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. All models have four-wheel drive and are fitted with an Electronic Locking Rear Differential.

“We are building the Ranger XL-Plus in South Africa, meaning we can give our customers on the continent a factory-ready version of a vehicle that meets their demands. Modifications for this version of the Ranger can be rolled out during production, so customers do not have to wait for aftermarket customisations,” he said.

The Infiniti QX70 may sound like a new offering from Infiniti, but it is really just the familiar FX by another name. As ever, this distinctive sport-luxury crossover is an appealing choice for drivers who value style, performance and technology over cargo capacity, rear seat space or a cushy ride, writes TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO with agency addition.

Calling the QX70 a sport sedan on stilts would not be far from the truth. Underneath, the QX70 shares its platform with the athletic-handling Infiniti Q50 sedan (the formerly named G37), yielding a nimble character that few crossovers can match. Inside, the well-appointed cabin is presented in rich, modern materials and showcases an easy-to-use electronics interface. For a price, one can also add worthwhile upgrades like adaptive cruise control, a very useful 360-degree parking camera system and a rear entertainment system with twin displays.

The catch is that the QX70 gives up some utility in its quest for performance. Modest luggage space and tight rear seat dimensions conspire to make this Infiniti more of a muscle-bound hatchback than a true utility vehicle. Plus, the sport-biased suspension can feel stiff on rugged urban streets, and it limits the QX70’s appeal as a light-duty off-roader for outdoorsy types.

With those limitations in mind, shoppers who do not require the QX70’s sporty edge would do well to consider the plush, capacious 2014 Lexus RX 350 or 2014 Mercedes-Benz M-Class, while the Volkswagen Touareg strikes a compelling balance between on-road performance and off-road capability. If it is the performance theme that gets you going, the similarly conceived BMW X6 and Porsche Cayenne are worth a look. But the Infiniti is cheaper than the BMW and Porsche, and it is more entertaining than the others. For crossover shoppers with a non-traditional bent, the 2014 QX70 has a lot to offer.

Body styles

The five-passenger Infiniti QX70 sport-luxury crossover SUV is offered in two main trim levels: V6-powered QX70 3.7 and V8-powered QX70 5.0. All-wheel drive is optional on the 3.7 and standard on the 5.0.

The QX70 3.7 comes standard with 18-inch alloy wheels, automatic xenon headlights, foglights, a sunroof, power-folding heated outside mirrors, a power liftgate, keyless ignition and entry, leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated eight-way power front seats with driver lumbar adjustments, an auto-dimming rearview mirror and a manual tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel. Standard electronics includes a back-up camera, Bluetooth phone connectivity, a seven-inch colour information display and an 11-speaker Bose surround-sound audio system with satellite radio, a CD player, an iPod/USB input, an auxiliary audio jack and satellite radio.

Options for the QX70 3.7 start with the Premium package, which offers aluminum roof rails, front-seat memory settings with a driver-side easy-exit function, a power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a 360-degree parking camera system, front and rear parking sensors, auto-tilt parking mirrors, a navigation system with real-time traffic, an 8-inch touchscreen, voice controls and Bluetooth streaming audio.

The 3.7’s Deluxe Touring package (Premium package required) adds 20-inch wheels, quilted leather seating, ventilated front seats, aluminum pedals, maple wood trim and a cargo cover. The Technology package (Premium and Deluxe Touring packages required) throws in automatic wipers, adaptive cruise control, adaptive headlamps, a forward-collision mitigation system and a lane-departure warning and prevention system.

The QX70 5.0 generally includes all of the above except the technology package, and it also boasts 21-inch wheels, bigger brakes and more advanced climate control with an air purification system. Available exclusively on the 5.0 is the Sport Technology package, which starts with the 3.7’s technology package and adds dark-tinted exterior trim, active rear steering, adaptive two-mode suspension dampers, paddle shifters and sport front seats with power bolsters and adjustable thigh support.

A twin-screen rear-seat entertainment system is a stand-alone option for all QX70 models. A tow package is offered on AWD models only.

Performance

The QX70 3.7 models are powered by a 3.7-liter V6 that produces 325 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque. A 5.0-litre V8 producing 390 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque powers the QX70 5.0. A seven-speed automatic with manual shift control is the only transmission available. Rear-wheel drive is standard for the QX70 3.7, while all-wheel drive is optional. The QX70 5.0 is only offered with AWD.

In Edmunds testing, a QX70 3.7 sprinted from zero to 60 mph in just 6.2 seconds, while the 5.0 model hit 60 in an impressive 5.5 seconds.

EPA-estimated combined fuel economy for the rear-wheel-drive QX70 3.7 is 19 mpg (17 city/24 highway). All-wheel-drive models are rated slightly less at 18 mpg combined (16 city/22 highway). The QX70 5.0 trails at 16 mpg combined (14 city/20 highway).

With the Tow package, the QX70 3.7 AWD has a 2,000-pound towing capacity, while the QX70 5.0 tops out at 3,500 pounds. Many competing crossovers have notably higher tow ratings.

Safety

Standard safety features for the Infiniti QX70 3.7 and QX70 5.0 include antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, front seat side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags. Lane-departure warning and lane-keeping systems are optional, as is a forward collision mitigation system with automatic braking.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the 2014 Infiniti QX70 its highest score of “Good” in the moderate-overlap frontal-offset test. The QX70’s seat/head restraint design was also rated “Good” for whiplash protection in rear impacts. In Edmunds brake testing, a 5.0 model stopped from 60 mph in 124 feet, while the 3.7 model did a little better at 120 feet – that is about average for a luxury crossover.

Interior design and special features

With supple leathers, rich wood trim, brushed metal accents, cool ambient lighting and soft-touch materials covering nearly every surface, the QX70’s interior is about as luxurious as it gets in the segment. The audio and navigation systems use the same impressively simple and intuitive interface found in a variety of Infiniti products. We also like the optional 360-degree camera that provides a top-down view of the QX70 in relation to its surroundings – it is a boon when negotiating tight spaces.

The standard front seats are quite comfortable and offer ample head- and legroom. Upgrading to the 5.0 model’s optional sport front seats brings power-adjustable side bolsters, a rare treat in a crossover SUV. The rear seats can be a tight fit for taller passengers, however, on account of the FX’s sloping roof line. That sleek profile also compromises cargo space – while the 25 cubic feet behind the rear seats isn’t bad, folding the rear seatbacks down reveals just 62 cubes of total volume, well short of what most two-row luxury crossovers provide.

The title of European Car of the Year is one all manufacturers selling in Europe want to win, and there is sure to be hot debate over 2015’s victor now the nominations list has been revealed in full.

To be eligible, a vehicle has to be a new vehicle in the year of voting or available before the end of that year, in at least five or more European markets. That explains some of the more unusual choices on the list, like the next-gen Audi TT and the new Smart ForTwo, which are not actually on sale now but will be in 2015. It is an eclectic list, covering everything from city cars to luxury vehicles, and traditionally it is been humbler, more practical choices that have taken the title.

Last year’s victor, for instance, was the Peugeot 308—a Ford Focus-sized compact car that drew praise for its handsome design and focus on light weight. VW’s seventh-generation Golf won in 2013, and the previous two years’ winners were the Opel Ampera/Chevrolet Volt, and the Nissan Leaf. BMW will be hoping to overcome its disappointment from 2014 where its i3 electric vehicle lost out to the Peugeot—its i8 sports car is eligible this year.

A short-list of seven nominees will be announced on December 15, while the winner will be revealed on March 2, 2015—the day before the 2015 Geneva Motor Show opens its doors.