Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid melds macho looks with frugal performance
Hyundai has officially launched its new fifth-generation seven-seat Santa Fe model in SA.
Powered by a petrol engine, it has been launched as a single Santa Fe Hybrid Elite AWD model, the first in the country.
Hyundai's engineers certainly had time to get the large seven-seat formula right after the Palisade model, which continues to be sold alongside the new model, though not for long as its retirement is planned before year-end.
The largest Santa Fe model yet wears a dramatically different, boxier, corporate suit characterised by plenty of H-motifs as LED DRLs and rear light clusters, prominent roof rails, mud guards and 20-inch alloys. It's more macho than the softer previous generations, and the new American SUV looks should be everyone's cup of tea.
The 4,830mm length, 1,900mm width, 1,770mm height and a 2,815mm wheel base leaves it marginally smaller than its Palisade and Staria cousins as large size people carriers in the harem, but inside it's a different story. You enter the cabin easily through large doors, into an atmosphere that's more luxury shuttle than Mom's taxi.
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TimesLIVE
7 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid melds macho looks with frugal performance
Hyundai has officially launched its new fifth-generation seven-seat Santa Fe model in SA. Powered by a petrol engine, it has been launched as a single Santa Fe Hybrid Elite AWD model, the first in the country. Hyundai's engineers certainly had time to get the large seven-seat formula right after the Palisade model, which continues to be sold alongside the new model, though not for long as its retirement is planned before year-end. The largest Santa Fe model yet wears a dramatically different, boxier, corporate suit characterised by plenty of H-motifs as LED DRLs and rear light clusters, prominent roof rails, mud guards and 20-inch alloys. It's more macho than the softer previous generations, and the new American SUV looks should be everyone's cup of tea. The 4,830mm length, 1,900mm width, 1,770mm height and a 2,815mm wheel base leaves it marginally smaller than its Palisade and Staria cousins as large size people carriers in the harem, but inside it's a different story. You enter the cabin easily through large doors, into an atmosphere that's more luxury shuttle than Mom's taxi.
The Star
7 hours ago
- The Star
Goodyear South Africa's restructuring puts over 900 jobs at risk
Yogashen Pillay | Published 2 hours ago Goodyear South Africa's announcement on Friday to discontinue its manufacturing operations in Uitenhage, Eastern Cape, has sent shockwaves through the region, with over 900 jobs at risk due to a Section 189 notice served to the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa). The decision, communicated by Goodyear's Managing Director Paul Gerrard, has raised alarm among unions, and economic analysts, who fear the closure could devastate the local economy amid high unemployment. Mziyanda Twani, Numsa Eastern Cape Regional Secretary, said on Friday that the union is dismayed by Goodyear South Africa's announcement to discontinue its manufacturing operations in South Africa. 'The union has been served with a Section 189 notice from Paul Gerrard, the Managing Director of Goodyear Tyres in South Africa. The manufacturing plant is located in Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape, and the company envisages that at least 907 employees will be affected by the plant closure,' Twani said. Twani added that as a region, Numsa was deeply worried about the impact on workers and their families in Uitenhage. 'It is becoming a ghost town given that ContiTech, which is part of Continental, closed down and it is also in the same tyre and rubber industry. At the same time, it may not be easy to replace these jobs. The Eastern Cape has a very high unemployment rate at 41.9% according to StatsSA.' Twani said that while the outlook is bleak, as Numsa, "we stand ready to do everything we can to defend the jobs of our members and to negotiate fair severance packages. The dates of the first consultation will be communicated in due course". Chris Harmse, consulting economist of Sequoia Capital Management, said he is concerned about the move. 'One of the issues could well be that the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) could be ending due to the strain on South African and American relations. This could well have led to Goodyear South Africa wanting to scale down operations at its Uitenhage plant. The Agoa most major part is made up of 60% of the motor industry, with the next largest part being the agriculture industry. We hope that if Agoa does end, other major companies don't look to scale down business,' he said. Goodyear South Africa is the heart of business in Uitenhage. 'Another issue is that the cost of doing business in South Africa is becoming too high, including issues with electricity, water, and failing infrastructure. We could see businesses looking to move their operations to other parts of Africa and to countries like Botswana and showing a preference to use Walvis Bay in Namibia for doing business South Africa already faces steep economic challenges. We are seeing that South Africa's GDP is being revised downwards, and this does raise concern about doing business in South Africa,' he said. Nduduzo Chala, the managing executive at South African Tyre Manufacturers (SATMC), said that he is concerned about Section 189 at Goodyear South Africa. 'However, we must remember that Goodyear South Africa has entered a consultative process, and there will be an opportunity for the government, trade unions, and other stakeholders to voice their concerns. It is not set that they would retrench over 900 workers and end operations at the manufacturing plant in Eastern Cape. We just have to wait and see how the process unfolds.' SATMC is concerned about the possibility of the plant closing. 'It's not a great situation for us as SATMC, workers, and the Eastern Cape community, but we have to see what happens during the consultative process,' Chala said. Dr Eliphas Ndou, an economist and author at Unisa's Department of Economics, said the manufacturing sector's contribution to GDP has become smaller over time. 'The sector faces many challenges, including low-cost imports and a decline in local manufacturing competitiveness. The decline in the latest BER business confidence index shows that most businesses are not satisfied with prevailing business conditions. Hence, the development in the tyre manufacturing sector is a clear message to the government that wants to grow the economy, create, and keep employment to fast-track the implementation of structural reforms that will improve the local manufacturing sector's competitiveness, including tyre producers.' Ndou added that the structural reforms may help to significantly improve the tyre manufacturers' competitiveness by ensuring the availability of reliable power and water supplies, and not an above-inflation increase in administered prices. 'These factors are crucial for the local industry's competitiveness.' BUSINESS REPORT Visit:
TimesLIVE
9 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Ogier edges Tanak to win in Sardinia, Evans stays top
Sebastien Ogier clinched a record fifth Rally Italy victory on Sunday, fending off Hyundai's Ott Tanak by 7.9 seconds after a tense final stage in Sardinia, while Toyota teammate Elfyn Evans stayed top of the championship standings. Ogier, with co-driver Vincent Landais, completed the sixth round of the season in three hours 34 minutes and 24.5 seconds to secure the Frenchman's third win in four starts in a part-time campaign. The eight-times world champion was beaten by Tanak on the island last year by 0.2 seconds after a final-stage puncture, but this time Ogier stayed composed and took the win despite a late wobble. Ogier had built a 17.1-second cushion heading into the Wolf Power Stage, but the 41-year-old overshot a tight, rutted corner in the final kilometres. This forced him to stop and reverse after his car refused to turn, cutting his advantage by more than half in a tense finale. "In the ruts I couldn't turn the car," Ogier explained. "There was no speed at all, so I didn't try to force it and hit it. I preferred to stop and reverse. But yeah, not ideal. It was enough to win." The victory follows hot on the heels of his Rally Portugal triumph and sent Ogier ro second in the championship with 114 points to Evans' 133. Toyota, who have won every rally so far this year, also tightened their grip on the manufacturers' race with 312 points to Hyundai's 243. "There are many places I've won several times," said Ogier. "It's a type of rally I like, where precise driving is needed, but also smoothness for tyre management. Thanks to the team, great turnaround after Portugal in terms of speed and set-up, so good job." Tanak pushed hard in the final stage but fell short, while Kalle Rovanpera, clawing his way up from fifth during Saturday's stages, completed a double podium for Toyota in third, 50.5 seconds behind Ogier. The Finn dropped to third overall, one point behind Ogier, with Tanak fourth on 108. Evans and Takamoto Katsuta rounded out a strong showing for Toyota, taking fourth and fifth respectively. Hyundai's reigning champion Thierry Neuville, fifth in the championship on 83 points, took four points from the Power Stage and one from the "Super Sunday" format after returning after Friday's retirement. The next round is in Greece from June 26 to 29.
