Latest news with #MaciejKlenkiewicz
The Citizen
18 hours ago
- Automotive
- The Citizen
New Nissan Magnite scores five stars in Global NCAP crash test
Popular crossover SUV proves it worth in a time when cheap cars often skimp on safety. The ever-popular and best-selling model in its own stable, the Nissan Magnite, is officially one of the safest cars in its segment. An achievement quite noteworthy In the South African context. If you consider the danger on our roads and the number of budget friendly cars that skimp on safety in favour of price. Five-star Nissan Magnite shines Made in India, and exported around the world, the South African Nissan Magnite was awarded a five-star overall safety rating by the Global New Car Assessment Programme (GNCAP). This compact crossover SUV received a perfect five-star rating in adult safety, a three-star rating in child safety, and an overall five-star safety rating for the passengers. Global NCAP's crash test protocols assess frontal and side impact protection for all models, as well as ESC. Vehicles scoring the highest star ratings require pedestrian protection and side pole impact protection assessments . ALSO READ: Lofty price tag not doing top-end Nissan Magnite any favours Richard Woods, Chief Executive Officer, Global NCAP said: 'It's very welcome to see Nissan's focus on improving the Magnite's safety performance. The five-star rating is relevant to consumers in South Africa and India. It demonstrates what can be achieved in a relatively short period of time when a manufacturer is fully committed to engage in the NCAP process.' Rigorous testing The Nissan Magnite underwent rigorous testing, including assessments of adult occupant protection, child safety, and safety assist features. The vehicle demonstrated exceptional performance across all categories, showcasing its robust build quality, advanced safety features, and innovative design aimed at safeguarding drivers and passengers alike. ALSO READ: PODCAST: Why updated Nissan Magnite carries a heavy burden The new Nissan Magnite, launched locally in October 2024, comes with a comprehensive suite of safety features. These include multiple airbags, anti-lock braking systems (ABS), electronic brake-force distribution (EBD) and vehicle dynamic control ensuring protection on every journey. The car also offers enhanced safety with a reinforced body structure, over 40 standard safety features including electronic stability control, traction control system, and hydraulic brake assist. Additional safety features such as three-point seatbelts for all seats, seatbelt reminders, child lock, ISOFIX child seat anchorages, and rear parking sensors now come as standard across all variants, ensuring every journey is not just comfortable but more secure than ever. From two to five stars 'This significant milestone further cements the Magnite as a safety and engineering leader within the sub-R400K compact SUV space,' says Maciej Klenkiewicz, Managing Director of Nissan South Africa and Independent Markets. 'Our engineers achieved an incredible feat, raising the Magnite from a two-star to five-star safety rating in a remarkably short timeframe. It shows how committed everyone at Nissan is in protecting lives and providing greater value to our customers.'
The Citizen
6 days ago
- Automotive
- The Citizen
2025 Nissan Magnite scores upgraded safety rating
Introduced to the South African market in June 2021, the pre-facelifted current-generation Nissan Magnite only managed to score two stars at the Global New Car Assessment Programme (GNCAP). However, the updated model, which made local landfall in October 2024, has now improved on the original safety rating; upgrading to a GNCAP safety rating of five stars overall. The India-built crossover was awarded five stars for Adult Occupant Protection and three stars for Child Occupant Protection; accumulating in the overall five-star score. 'This significant milestone further cements the Magnite as a safety and engineering leader within the sub-R400k compact-SUV space. Our engineers achieved an incredible feat, raising the Magnite from a two-star to five-star safety rating in a remarkably short timeframe,' said Maciej Klenkiewicz, the managing director of Nissan South Africa and independent markets. Richard Woods, the CEO of GNCAP, added: 'It's very welcome to see Nissan's focus on improving the Magnite's safety performance. The five-star rating is relevant to consumers in South Africa and India, and it demonstrates what can be achieved in a relatively short period of time when a manufacturer is fully committed to engage in the NCAP process.' The most affordable compact SUV in South Africa, the Magnite is equipped with such safety items as six airbags, ABS, electronic brake-force distribution, electronic stability control, traction control and hill start assist, among others. As a reminder, locally, the Magnite is available with the choice of two 1l, three-cylinder engines – one naturally aspirated and the other, turbocharged. The former and latter units produce 53kW/96Nm and 74kW/152Nm, respectively, and have respective claimed average fuel consumption figures of 5.9l/100km and 6.0l/100km. Browse thousands of new and used vehicles here with CARmag! The post 2025 Nissan Magnite Scores Upgraded Safety Rating appeared first on CAR Magazine. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal.
The Citizen
30-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Making sense of Nissan-Renault's SUVs heading to South Africa
Devised as Dacias and badged as Renaults in certain markets, the latest generation Duster and Boreal will be sold as Nissans built at the Chennai plant in India from 2026. Its product plans for South Africa revised at the beginning of the year, the reported confirmation by sister brand Renault on its new Boreal being under investigation for the local market, has provided the clearest hint yet of Nissan's incoming, still unnamed, new SUV. Approved for the local market in September last year after being teased in India five months before, the Nissan-badged Boreal will form part of a two-model roll-out, with the second set to be based on the all-new Renault Duster. '[These] products will be Nissan's answer to the Chinese competition in South Africa. We believe [India] is a good source to bring competitive and technologically advanced to market,' Nissan Managing Director for South Africa and Independent African Markets, Maciej Klenkiewicz, told the media on the sidelines of the facelift Magnite's launch in Cape Town in November. 'If you look at other products made in India [for South Africa], they are becoming more and more competitive and we, as Nissan, believe this is our future'. Set to be produced alongside the Boreal and Duster at the Chennai plant that currently builds the Magnite, Kwid, Kiger, Triber, the Nissan pair will differ visually and subtly inside, but retain the same mechanicals and, in the case of the Boreal version, offer seven seats. Back in May, Nissan Managing Director for India, Saurabh Vatsa, confirmed that while the facility now falls solely under Renault ownership, Nissan has no plans on leaving the Indian market. This stands in confirmation with Nissan Africa boss Jordi Vilas, who told local media at the launch of the Navara Stealth earlier this year month that the brand's remains committed to Africa and South Africa despite ongoing rumours around its Rosslyn plant outside Pretoria. 'We have a wonderful partnership and agreement with Renault, and when we were in charge of the plant, there were no production-supply problems for either partner, so why should there be any now?' Vatsa told Autocar India. 'Reports of our exit are all untrue, and there is no reason for us to exit.' In the same report, Vasta added that pre-production of the first Nissan-badged Renault had already started, which speculation has alleged could be the Duster Nissan will either rebadge once again as the Terrano, or under a different moniker. While a Nissan-badged version of the Renault Triber has also been approved for India from early next year, this model has not been approved for South Africa. At the other end of the scale, the Boreal-based Nissan, itself a restyled and adapted version of the Dacia Bigster, will be revised further to seat seven and not five as the latter. In a surprise though, it will be positioned below the X-Trail instead of replacing it outright. For its part, the Duster-underpinned model will indirectly succeed the Qashqai discontinued last year. 'In terms of the positioning of the vehicle and pricing, and technology, it won't cannibalise sales [of the X-Trail],' Vila said when asked about the possibility of the newcomer stealing sales of the X-Trail that will undergo in a refresh within the coming months. An effective five model SUV range that will be topped by the new Y63 Patrol next year, with the Magnite remaining the line-up's entry-point, more details will only be disclosed. For its part, the announcement to IOL about the Boreal for South Africa could result in the Symbioz being pulled, possibly as a result of price. This, after Renault revealed at its product plans conference for 2025 at the end of last year, that it is investigating the Symbioz for introduction in 2026 as the replacement for the long since discontinued Kadjar. As it stands though, this is purely speculative and will only be confirmed or dismissed next year. NOW READ: New products coming as Nissan approves two new SUVs for Africa
