Latest news with #OpelGrandland
The Citizen
13-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
New Mazda CX-5 confirmed for SA: What to expect in 2026
Derived from the CX-60 positioned above it, the rear facia does incorporate elements from the latter, as well as the BMW X1 when viewed from certain angles. A further new addition is the removal of the corporate Mazda logo on the boot lid replaced by a block letter MAZDA badge similar to the new Opel Grandland. 'Uncluttered' new interior Described at the time of the teaser campaign as 'human-centric' and 'uncluttered', the interior represents the biggest change from the previous CX-5 with a minimalist design modelled on that of the all-electric 6e. Besides a new steering wheel, still with albeit new physical buttons and Mazda name scripting, the infotainment display now becomes a freestanding setup in sizes of 12.9-inches or 15.6-inches. In a contradiction of previous statements, both displays are touchscreen only as the previous rotary selector dial has fallen by the wayside. Flanked by a new 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, the now renamed 'simplified' layout has resulted in the cabin doing away with conventional buttons for touch icons related to functions such as the climate control and audio system accessed at the base of the infotainment display. Kept, though, the traditional gear lever and 'single-piece' centre console. Upgraded materials and the first-time availability of ambient lighting rounds the interior off. Petrol and hybrid but no diesel Up front, and despite previous rumours alluding to the CX-5 following its arch rival, the new Toyota RAV4 in being powered solely by hybrid power units, the initial line-up still includes a conventional petrol engines, but only in select markets. Omitting any form of plug-in hybrid assistance, the range starts off with the existing 2.5 SkyActiv-G, now without the turbocharger offered in certain markets, and as the base engine now that the 2.0-litre has been dropped. Set to be offered in Australia and North America, the unit develops 132kW/242Nm and is mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox. All-wheel-drive is standard from the start. For Europe, the same engine gains a 24-volt mild-hybrid system, but with reduced outputs of 104kW/238Nm. The same transmission remains, however, buyers will the option of front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive. Having been dropped towards the end of the current CX-5's lifecycle, the 2.2-litre SkyActiv-D turbodiesel engine won't be renewed and instead, will be replaced by the still under-development SkyActiv-Z hybrid in 2027. Here in 2026 On-sale in Europe, Australia and North America at the beginning of next year, the CX-5, as mentioned, has been given approval for South Africa as part of four new models the brand will debut in 2026. 'The new CX-5 will debut in the third quarter of this year and probably hit our shores in early 2026. It is the first product we are really, really excited about,' Mazda South Africa CEO Craig Roberts said in a podcast with Moneyweb earlier this year. Expect more details regarding price and specification to emerge next year.
TimesLIVE
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
Stellantis SA CEO reveals 2026 model and expansion plans
Stellantis SA, the Midrand-based, local subsidiary of the megacorp headquartered in Hoofddorp, Netherlands, used its Media Connect week at Monte Casino, Fourways, to launch the new Opel Grandland and announce a raft of brand-specific future plans. The world's fifth-largest automaker by global sales volumes looks after a substantial portfolio of 14 iconic brands including Chrysler, Ram, Dodge, DS, Lancia, Maserati and Vauxhall. The local company, headed by former Nissan SA boss Mike Whitfield, is the merchant of the Opel, Peugeot, Fiat, Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Citroën and Jeep brands exclusively. Whitfield took to the podium ahead of his team of brand managers to deliver the health status and future plans of the firm. Stellantis SA The CEO confirmed healthy growth for the company in tough trading conditions and commitment to a R3bn project to construct an assembly plant in the Coega special economic zone in Gqeberha. The plant will be used to build the Peugeot Landtrek bakkie by 2027. Whitfield says industrialising South Africa is key to the group's leadership plans in the Middle East & Africa (MEA) region, but he concedes that prevailing market conditions, including the Chinese car onslaught, have shifted trends, expectations and initial production targets. With the objectives changed, this put into jeopardy the minimum volumes of 50,000 units per annum needed to qualify for benefits under South Africa's Automotive Production and Development Programme (APDP) — an incentive programme in place to stimulate local production. Solutions and complexities The experienced CEO says agility is needed, and now there's consideration for adding two other models to build alongside the bakkie at the nascent factory; one being a new energy vehicle and a so-far unidentified nameplate. Additionally, the company has set up a new department focusing on micro-mobility solutions for electric and conventional two, three and four-wheelers. The new subsidiary exploring the last-mile travels is headed by former Nissan SA country manager Kabelo Rabotho. Reducing range complexity forms part of 2026 efficiencies, this while introducing fresher ranges and adding more brands to an already wide scope of products as per Whitfield's confirmation that new energy subsidiary Leapmotor will enter the South African market in 2025. Leapmotor Leapmotor is a Chinese electric car start-up founded in 2015. Stellantis, with aims to bolster its fortunes in the global EV arena, formed a joint venture with Leapmotor International, holding a 51% controlling stake, and its Chinese partners 49%. The majority of Leapmotor products have electric propulsion but some of the models, such as the C10 REEV, are range-extender hybrids fitted with a conventional engine that charges the battery on the move, and promising a driving range of up to 1,150km on a full tank and battery. Pro One Whitfield also announced the establishment of the new Pro One brand in 2026. In a nutshell, globally, Stellantis is leveraging its commercial ranges into single units, and where South Africa is concerned French brand Peugeot will lead this charge with the Landtrek bakkie that recently gained updates of a bolder grille and other touches. Commercial offerings from Fiat and Opel will cease to exist, making way for Peugeot-badged bakkies and panel vans, but how French brand Citroën will be affected by the launch of the new Pro One brand is not yet known. Citroën The Stellantis SA entry marque finally revealed the new Hola, a panel van based on the C3 crossover and competing in the flourishing new sector created after the demise of the half-ton bakkie market. Powered by a 1.2 l engine, it's priced at R250,000. The rest of the C3 and C3 Aircross passenger ranges continue to offer value, with pricing targeted below the R400,000 mark. Opel With the launch of the smarter-looking and new Opel Grandland GS at a price of R789,900, the German brand that recently added the sportier Opel Corsa Irmsher Edition will bolster 2026 offerings with the new Frontera, a slightly shorter, more value-orientated SUV positioned below the Grandland range-topper. Alfa Romeo The sporting Italian brand that celebrated its 115-year anniversary recently is readying to launch the new Alfa Romeo Junior crossover this quarter. The sexy new number debuts with a pair of Elettrica (electric) models ranging from 115kW to 206kW. The larger and more established Tonale will gain a new plug-in-hybrid derivative while the Giulia sedan and Stelvio ranges continue as normal. Jeep Iconic lifestyle brand Jeep, which launched the rugged Wrangler with a downsized and turbocharged 2.0 l four-cylinder engine early in the year, gains a new, special, South African-made Gladiator bakkie derivative. The company doesn't share much information on the prospects, but adds that a hairier-chested, V6-powered Wrangler will also join the range, and that the Wrangler Rubicon 392 — the only model that comes fitted with a 6.4 l Hemi V8 engine — is also being considered for introduction to South Africa.
The Citizen
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Opel Grandland puts on a new suit with a point to prove
Rüsselsheim's flagship new SUV adopts a new look and a dramatically improved power, along with a more powerful turbo-petrol engine minus any electrical hardware. Grandland has adopted the same Bold and Pure styling language as the Mokka. Images: Charl Bosch Announced for South Africa last month just over a year after its global unveiling, Stellantis South Africa debuted the all-new second generation Opel Grandland on Wednesday (9 July) as not only the Blitz's flagship model, but also what it describes as a milestone vehicle for the local market. Second of three A ground-up new model which has become the first to premiere the STLA Medium platform locally, the second modern Opel SUV after the Mokka additionally incorporates the latest version of Rüsselsheim's Bold and Pure styling language, though with subtle difference from its smaller sibling. ALSO READ: Approved: All-new Opel Grandland on its way to South Africa Available initially as a single model unlike the outgoing's Grandland's three, the launch around Montecasino involved a comparatively short drive of less than 50 km to as far as Kyalami in what will become the effective third model in Opel's SUV range. Improved looks Aside from its design involving the newest take on the Opel Vizor grille and Compass in which the Blitz badge becomes the central 'directional' focus, the Grandland's switch in platform not only involves a more distinctive appearance, but gains on every dimensional front compared to its predecessor. At 4 650 mm long, 1 655 mm tall and 1 905 mm wide, the second generation measures 173 mm longer, 19 mm taller and 64 mm wider, though its wheelbase is unchanged at 2 784 mm. The knock-on effect is an increase in boot space from 514-litres to 550-litres, however, with the second row down, space decreases slightly from 1 652-litres to 1 641-litres. Rear design is more substantial and omits the Opel Blitz logo for an illuminated block letter badge. Slimmed down to the previous mid-range GS Line trim grade with more derivatives to follow, the Grandland's redesign also introduces Opel's latest Matrix LED IntelliLux headlights in addition to an illuminated LED light bar. The setup, officially called Pixel Matrix, involves each light cluster comprising 25 600 micro LEDs to avoid dazzling oncoming traffic, helped by the forward facing camera system. In another first, the Blitz badge has been dropped on the tailgate and replaced by an illuminated block letter OPEL logo. Boot space with the rear seats up as improved from 514-litres to 550-litres. As part of the GS Line exterior, the Grandland comes standard with sportier bumpers and door sills, as well as 19-inch alloy wheels and a spoiler integrated into the bootlid. Also streamlined are the choice of colours with five now being available; Grafik Grey, Copper Coin, Ice Floe White, Perla Nera Black and Deep Sea Green. Transformation inside Inside, the dated looking interior of the previous Grandland makes for Opel's so-called detox layout in which most of the most physical switchgear has been integrated into the new 16-inch infotainment display. Excluded are the major functions for the dual-zone climate control located separately in the form of touch-sensitive icons, plus three toggle switches to adjust the temperature. Interior has been radically uprated as per Opel's detox philosophy. Retained are a physical dial for the sound system, buttons for the hazard lights and door locks, and haptic switches on the new multi-function steering wheel. Aside from the infotainment being the biggest size-wise in any Opel production, the 10-inch instrument cluster has been recessed into the dashboard instead of being placed on top or on the steering column in a freestanding design. One of the biggest curiosities of the interior is the so-called Pixel Box integrated into the centre console. Down the centre, the floating console continues, now with the same toggle switch gear selector as the Mokka, but additionally with what Opel calls the Pixel Box. In essence, this involves a lidded cubby for the wireless smartphone charger and USB ports being fitted with an illuminated translucid glass 'face' supposed to safeguard one's phone from sliding off a conventional 'open' pad and around the cabin. Another addition is the lack of leather upholstery replaced by fabric made entirely out of recycled materials. Spec sheet In terms of specifications and beside the features already mentioned, the Grandland comes equipped with ambient lighting, an electric tailgate, push-button start and keyless entry, an eight-speaker sound system, Head-Up Display and rain sense wipers. Seats are trimmed in fabrics made from recycled materials. Included further are: heated and electrically folding mirrors; heated steering wheel; ventilated, heated and massaging electric front seats; refrigerated central storage area and armrest; heated rear seats; memory function for the driver's chair; integrated satellite navigation; Apple CarPlay and Android Auto On the safety and driver assistance side, the GS Line features a tyre pressure monitor, Interior Alert, Adaptive Cruise Control, Traffic Sign Recognition, Blind Spot Monitoring, Hill Start Assist, front and rear parking sensors, and a 360-degree surround-view camera system. More punch for stalwart engine Up front, and despite its platform having been developed to accommodate electric powerplants, the Grandland continues to derive motivation from a turbocharged petrol engine, albeit not the hybrid units offered in Europe. Instead, the South African offering soldiers on with the long-serving 1.6-litre PureTech unit, but revised to now produce 134kW/300Nm instead of the previous 121kW/240Nm. Sending the amount of twist to the front wheels once again falls to a six-speed automatic gearbox augmented, finally, by paddle shifters. The drive Out on the drive, the Grandland felt comfortable and composed as, in addition to its new underpinnings, it also gets frequency selective dampers that adjusts depending on the scanned road surface. Along with roll bars and springs tuned specifically for it and not shared with its fellow STLA Medium siblings, the Peugeot 3008, 5008, Citroën C5 Aircross and Jeep Compass, the electric power steering offers more feedback than before, while three driving modes are still offered; Eco, Normal and Sport. Slim 10-inch instrument cluster has been recessed into the dashboard. Tipping the scales at a fraction over 1.8-tonnes, the updates to the Grandland's engine only becomes apparent higher-up the rev range. Feeling somewhat lethargic low-down, the engine starts to come on song at the revs climb, to the point of pulling strong with an almost relentless pull. The 'box itself, though, is largely slick and didn't require intervention of the paddle shifters sorely missed on the previous generation. Conclusion While an in-depth review will only emerge once on test, the initial impression of the new Opel Grandland is impressive considering what it offers. At R789 900, it is placed squarely at legacy rivals from Volkswagen, Toyota, Ford, Kia, Mazda and Hyundai, but unsurprisingly well up on the Chinese alternatives from Great Wall Motors (GWM) and Chery. A price that still comes with significant value, plus a five-year/100 000 km warranty and five-year/90 000 km service plan, it remains to be seen though whether it would resonate the same with buyers who come signing on the dotted line, never mind the stigma of being labelled as nothing but 'a rebadged Peugeot'. NOW READ: Early debut: Electrically assisted all-new Opel Grandland revealed
TimesLIVE
09-07-2025
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
New Opel Grandland arrives in SA: pricing and specs
The new Opel Grandland has touched down in Mzansi. Built on the Stellantis STLA platform, this striking mid-size family crossover is 173mm longer, 64mm wider and 19mm taller than the model it replaces. We think it's also better looking, adopting the carmaker's latest two-tone floating roof design, protective contrast side cladding and 3D 'Vizor' front grille fitted with an illuminated Opel Blitz logo in the centre. The latter is flanked by ultra-bright 'Intelli-Lux Pixel HD' headlamp clusters featuring more than 50,000 individual elements offering new welcome/goodbye animations with other graphical projections in front of the vehicle. The Grandland's silhouette is characterised by 19" alloy wheels shod with 225/55 tyres, while its rear quarters stand out with distinctive tail lamps featuring Opel's new 'compass lighting' signatures. There's also an illuminated 'Opel' wordmark in the centre of the tailgate and full-width horizontal light bar that illuminates when the driver applies the brakes. Inside, the redesigned cabin adopts a minimalist theme with fewer buttons and switches than the outgoing model. Fortunately though, Opel still has dedicated physical switchgear for controlling things such as the HVAC system. Tech levels are high and include a heated multifunction steering wheel, 10" digital instrument cluster, an electronic head-up display and a huge 16" touchscreen infotainment system canted towards the driver. Image: Supplied Customers can also look forward to a generous cache of standard niceties including leather upholstery, heated/ventilated/massaging front seats, heated rear seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, advanced cruise control with speed limiter, folding heated side mirrors, four USB ports, three 12V power outlets, rain-sensing wipers, wireless charging, a powered tailgate, interior ambient lighting, front/rear parking sensors and 360° camera. Driver assistance systems include traffic sign recognition, ultrasonic side blind spot alert, hill start assist, ABS brakes with EBD, ESP and a full complement of airbags. Opel's Intelli-Drive 2.0 system offers semi-automatic lane-change assist and recommended speed adaptation. The Grandland offers a load volume of up to 1,641l. Image: Supplied From launch the new Opel Grandland is offered solely in flagship GS Line specification and comes powered by a 1.6 l four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine making 134kW and 240Nm of torque. This is sent to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission. First drive impressions reveal a notable upgrade in driving refinement and easier and lighter inputs from the four-sided steering wheel. The ambience is jacked up by new material choices and better ergonomics while the engine feels punchy under urban conditions, though audible with a droning effect as it picks up speed. The transmission upshifts are smooth and intuitive, while bump absorption didn't feel top-tier, just average. The upgrade from old is evident.
The Citizen
13-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Opel unleashes its most powerful production model ever made
With 239kW/509Nm on tap, the Grandland Electric AWD will get from 0-100 km/h in a smidgen above six seconds. Grandland Electric AWD comes with unique styling to set it apart from the normal Electric variant. Image: Opel Previously only offered with front-wheel-drive, regardless of whether its powertrain is hybrid or electric, Opel has detailed its most powerful production SUV ever, the Grandland Electric AWD. Extensively shocked Going on-sale in Europe later this year, and as a Vauxhall in the United Kingdom, the Blitz's first-ever EV with all-wheel-drive sees the existing front mounted 157 kW electric motor being supplemented with an 82 kW module on the rear axle. Powered by the smallest battery pack available, the 73-kWh module, the total system output comes to 239kW/509Nm, which also makes the Grandland Electric AWD the most powerful production Opel model ever. ALSO READ: Early debut: Electrically assisted all-new Opel Grandland revealed Able to get from 0-100 km/h in 6.1 seconds, the Grandland Electric AWD has a claimed all-electric range of 501 km – the most of any EV Grandland – and comes with four driving modes: Eco : restricts power to 157kW/343Nm while also dumbing down the air-conditioning and throttle response; : restricts power to 157kW/343Nm while also dumbing down the air-conditioning and throttle response; Normal : most of the driving comes via the front motor that makes 230kW/450Nm; : most of the driving comes via the front motor that makes 230kW/450Nm; 4WD : both motors operate to provide an even spread of power and grip between the two axles; : both motors operate to provide an even spread of power and grip between the two axles; Sport: sharpens the steering and throttle mapping while providing the full 239kW/509Nm in a 60/40 front/rear split. Changes underneath and inside Aside from the mentioned modes, Opel has made additional alterations to the STLA Medium platform, namely improved frequency selective dampers, revised springs and anti-roll bars, retuned electric power steering and recalibration of the Electronic Stability Control system. Bespoke to the Electric AWD are 20-inch aero alloy wheels. Image: Opel Not stopping there, the Grandland Electric AWD's exterior has also been restyled to include an illuminated Blitz logo, redesigned front and rear bumpers, 20-inch aero alloy wheels designed specifically for it, and carbon instead of chrome detailing on the front bumper. It is a no for South Africa Still to be priced, the Grandland Electric AWD is an unlikely entrant for South Africa, where sales of the newcomer are officially set to commence next month. NOW READ: Approved: All-new Opel Grandland on its way to South Africa
