Latest news with #ShanghaiInternationalMotorShow
The Citizen
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Riddara RD6 electric bakkie penned-in for Nampo showing
South Africa's first-ever fully electric bakkie will be a double cab-only with either rear-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive. Announced last month as being lined-up for introduction in May, Enviro Automotive has confirmed that the all-electric Riddara RD6 bakkie will make its first public showing at the Nampo Agricultural Expo in Bothaville in the Free State from this coming Tuesday (13 May). 'The Riddara 4×4 electric bakkie is not merely an addition to our lineup; it's a declaration of intent. It unequivocally demonstrates the power and versatility of electric vehicles in tackling even the most demanding tasks,' Enviro Automotive Head of Sales, Francois Malan, said in a statement. Announcing well-known plant and agricultural firm Turner Morris as its distribution partner, Enviro Automotive further stated that it has 'implemented significant price reductions' across the RD6 range, which it adds makes it a 'compelling and economically sound alternative to [its] internal combustion engine counterparts'. South Africa's first EV bakkie While shown with a plug-in hybrid powertrain at the Shanghai International Motor Show last month, the RD6, known as the Radar Horizon in China, will be an EV-only offering in South Africa a choice of two-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive. On-sale in its home market since 2022, the Geely-owned brand's newcomer rides on the unibody Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) platform developed by fellow brand Zeekr, and first introduced to South Africa last year as the underpinning for the Volvo EX30. ALSO READ: Riddara RD6 plugged-in as South Africa's first electric bakkie Seemingly not affiliated to Geely's imminent return to the local market, the double cab-only RD6 has a claimed payload of 1 030 kg, a tow rating of 3 000 kg, wading depth of 815 mm and ground clearance of 225 mm. Capable of accommodating 1 200-litres in its loadbin, the lack of an engine translates to an additional 70-litres of storage underneath it bonnet. Spec Known specification items on both variants will include the following: dual-zone climate control; keyless entry; push-button start; LED head and taillights; six-speaker sound system; 10.25-inch instrument cluster; leather upholstery; tyre pressure monitor; electric driver's seat; reverse camera; rear parking sensors drive mode selector (Eco, Comfort and Sport) Pictured four-wheel-drive will be fitted from the off with a 14.6-inch infotainment display. Image: Enviro Automotive Building on the two-wheel-drive, the four-wheel-drive will feature four additional off-road driving modes; Sand, Mud, Wading and Off-Road, Matrix LED headlights, an eight-speaker sound system, and the following safety and driver assistance systems: Automatic Emergency Braking; Adaptive Cruise Control; Rear Cross Traffic Alert with Reverse Automatic Braking; Lane Keep Assist Front Collision Warning; Lane Departure Warning Blind Sport Monitoring; Lane Change Assist As standard, the two-wheel-drive comes equipped with a 12.3-inch infotainment system and the four-wheel-drive with a 14.6-inch display, neither with Android Auto that is substituted by the Carbit Link mirroring app. Apple CarPlay integration is, however, standard. One or two motors On the power front, the initial range will consist of two powertrains; the single-motor powered by a 73-kWh lithium phosphate battery pack, and the dual-motor that adds a secondary electric motor to the front axle. In the two-wheel-drive, the RD6 will produce 200kW/384Nm and get from 0-100 km/h in 7.3 seconds. The claimed top speed is 185 km/h and the all-electric range 424 km. With the added electric motor, the four-wheel-drive develops 315kW/595Nm, which will allow it to get from 0-100 km/h in 4.5 seconds. The claimed all-electric range mirrors that of the two-wheel-drive, while the top speed is pegged at 190 km/h. Supporting DC charging up to 110 kW, the RD6's battery will require 30 minutes waiting from 30-80%. In addition, the setup's vehicle-to-load capability allows for as much as six kilowatts to be fed back into the grid. More soon Set to be sold with a five-year/150 000 km warranty and an eight-year/200 000 km battery warranty, expect details about the RD6's price tag to be announced soon. ALSO READ: Welcome back: Geely returning to South Africa before year-end
The Citizen
24-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Surprise: GWM debuts new PHEV V8 alongside hardcore Tank 300
New V8 won't be exclusive to China and reportedly, not to left-hand-drive-only markets either. GWM's new 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 will be limited to certain Tank brand models initially, and have at least one electric motor and battery pack for a plug-in hybrid configuration. Image: GWM In one of the biggest surprises of the Shanghai International Motor Show, Great Wall Motors (GWM) showcased its first-ever V8 engine destined for certain Tank models only. New engine not just for China Unveiled alongside an ultra hardcore off-road version of the Tank 300, called the Hooke Trail after a well-known off-road track in the western region of the People's Republic, the twin-turbo bent-eight displaces 4.0-litres, and will be augmented by an electric motor and battery pack for a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) configuration. ALSO READ: WATCH: Battle-hardened GWM Tank 300 shows its softer side While no further details were divulged, the powertrain has been mentioned as possibly making its way into export markets regardless of where the respective Tank model is steered from. This, according to GWM executive James Yang, who told Australia's on the sidelines of the engines' unveiling, 'this [V8] is something that is definitely under consideration, and for right-hand-drive markets, it's definitely something we are still considering'. V8 vs Hi4-T and Hi4-Z Once in production, the V8 will complete GWM's augmenting of electric hardware with various cylinder count combustion engines currently consisting of four and six under the Hi4-T and Hi4-Z plug-in hybrid banners. At present, the former consists of two units; the 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol combined with a 37.1-kWh battery pack for a total system out if 300kW/750Nm in the Tank 400, and the V6, which pairs a 3.0-litre turbo-petrol with the same size battery pack for a total of 385kW/800Nm in the Tank 700. GWM/Haval 4.0l Twin-turbo V8 – details to follow😭 — Setshaba Mashigo (@SetshabaMashigo) April 23, 2025 Introduced towards the end of last year in the Chinese-market Tank 500, the Hi4-Z, which has been confirmed for South Africa, uses a dual electric motor setup in combination with the 2.0-litre turbo-petrol and a 59-kWh battery pack for a final output of 654kW/1 195Nm. As it stands, speculation has alleged that while the V8 will produce more power and torque than any of the Hi4-T units, its stacking up against the Hi4-Z could yield even more grunt depending on the number of electric motors used. Tank 300 Hooke Trail Equally shrouded in mystery, the exhibited Tank 300 Hooke Trail, which reportedly sported the engine despite no confirmation by GWM, featured a longer bonnet and a series of chassis changes the Baoding-based brand also didn't elaborate on. Tank 300 Hooke Trail will go on-sale later this year in China as the reported first GWM brand product to offer the new plug-in hybrid V8 powertrain. Image: GWM Noticeable though is the live front axle in place of the standard model's independent setup, chunkier alloy wheels wrapped in Cooper all-terrain tyres, different wheel arch extensions, redesigned front and rear bumpers, and reportedly, a significantly strengthened chassis. Set to go on-sale in China within the coming months, expect more details about the Hooke Trail to be known, as well as of the new engine. Additional information from and NOW READ: Petrol GWM Tank 300 even heavier on the juice than hybrid sibling
The Citizen
24-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Nissan's new BYD Shark 6 rival makes dramatic debut in Shanghai
More powerful than its domestically conceived rival, the Frontier Pro Plug-In Hybrid has been approved for export markets, but seemingly not right-hooking ones. Frontier Pro Plug-In Hybrid is the result of Nissan's partnership with Dongfeng. Image: Nissan Announced earlier this year as part of its product restructuring process, Nissan has unveiled its first-ever plug-in hybrid bakkie at the Shanghai International Motor Show. What is it? Wearing the Frontier name, the fully titled Frontier Pro Plug-In Hybrid shares only its moniker with the models sold in North America and Latin America, the latter being identical to the Navara but assembled in Argentina rather than in Thailand or South Africa. ALSO READ: Current Nissan Navara will remain alongside next generation Modelled on the Z9, a joint development model between Nissan and long-time Chinese partner Dongfeng, the Frontier Pro forms part of a wider roll-out of seven new energy vehicles planned for the People's Republic from now till 2027. Futuristic Differentiating itself from the Z9 by way of a different grille, a five-diode LED headlight arrangement and a light bar running below the bonnet lip, the Frontier Pro sports model specific 18-inch alloy wheels and an upper LED bar with Nissan scripting connecting the taillights. Based on the same body-on-frame platform as the Z9, the Frontier Pro has measurements of 5 520 mm in overall length, a wheelbase of 3 300 mm, height of 1 950 mm and width of 1 960 mm, the same as its sibling. Based on the combustion engine Z9, the Frontier Pro's rear facia differences are, however, minor. Image: Nissan Rated to tow 2 540 kg, the newcomer has a claimed ground clearance of 231 mm and comes standard with an electromechanically locking rear differential, plus a terrain on-demand transfer case with high and low range four-wheel-drive. Its suspension layout comprising a double wishbone independent design at the front and five-link at the rear, the Frontier Pro's final off-road centrepiece is a mode selector with four settings; hybrid, EV, Performance and Snow. Compared to Shark up front Tipped as the most direct rival for the BYD Shark 6 based on its powertrain being similar, the Frontier Pro's setup combines a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with a single motor and battery pack, the former integrated into the housing of the transmission. While no details about the battery's size or capacity of the electric unit emerged, Nissan has claimed a combined output of 300kW/800Nm and an electric-only range of 135 km based on China's CLTC measurements. Dominating the interior is a 14.6-inch infotainment system and a 10-inch digital instrument cluster. Image: Nissan As a comparison, the dual-motor Shark 6 develops 320kW/650Nm and will travel 85 km on a single charge, based on the NEDC scale. Similar to its countryman, the Nissan supports vehicle-to-load (V2L) of up to six kilowatts. Exports, yes. But…. Still to be priced, Nissan has stated that exports of the Frontier Pro outside China will commence, though it didn't say when or to which markets. Speculation has, however, alleged that these will be left-hand-drive countries, making the Frontier Pro a no-no for South Africa as well as other right-hand-drive nations such as Australia where sales of the Shark 6 have been increasing since its arrival earlier this year. NOW READ: Sub-R1m BYD Shark becomes South Africa's most powerful bakkie
The Citizen
23-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Coming to South Africa: Dramatically new Lexus ES revealed
Eighth generation ES will have a pair of hybrid powerunits and, for the first time, a similar choice of electric units. Resembling the Crown, the ES appears sharper than before, in addition to debuting Lexus' new Clean Tech x Elegance styling language. Image: Lexus Having flown underneath the radar with little of its next generation being revealed, Lexus officially debuted the all-new ES at the Shanghai International Motor Show on Wednesday (23 April) ahead of its arrival in South Africa next year. The replacement for the internally named XZ10 that went on-sale five years ago, the eighth generation ES adopts a radically different appearance heavily derived from parent company Toyota's Crown, and with the first-time availability of a fully electric drivetrain. Underneath While still mounted on the TNGA-K platform, the architecture itself has undergone significant changes to accommodate the electric motors and battery pack. This includes the structure being more ridged than that of the XZ10, while dynamically, Lexus has retuned the steering and fitted a new rear-wheel steering system called Dynamic Rear Steer as part of the rear suspension now featuring a multi-link design. ALSO READ: Lexus hybrid sedan the attractive option amid rising petrol price Said to be quieter than before, the ES gains on all dimensional fronts by measuring 165 mm longer at 5 140 mm, 55 mm wider at 1 920 mm and 80 mm longer at 2 950 mm on the wheelbase front. As a result of the EV drivetrain, the fully electric ES has a height of 1 560 mm and the hybrid 1 555 mm, the latter representing an uptake of 110 mm over the outgoing model. Debuting a new look Mounted on new alloy wheel designs ranging from 18 to a first-time 21-inches, the ES' styling, which Lexus calls Clean Tech x Elegance, replaces the long standing Spindle Grille motif and accordingly, will debut on other models over the coming years. Coupe-like exterior and sloping roof have been refined with the new ES. Image: Lexus Derived from the LF-ZL that bowed at the Tokyo Mobility Show two years ago, the coupe-like lowered roofline and sloping rear prevails, but refined and further bolstered by thin LED light clusters connected by a full width light bar containing a Lexus script, and L-shaped side vents on the flanks of the bumper. At the front, the slimmer LED headlights, still with L-motif diodes, sit above new vents on either side of the bumper, and a new lower positioned grille that disappears completely on the EV version. Radically new inside Perhaps even more dramatic is the ES' interior, which sports a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14-inch infotainment system supplemented by secondary display directly alongside it as an option. Adhering to the Clean Tech x Elegance design, the interior is largely devoid of physical buttons, though some remain at the base of the dash on the centre console as touch-sensitive items. Along with a new steering wheel, which drops the Lexus L logo for the 'Lexus' script, the ES' panoramic sunroof sports an automatic dimming function instead of a blind, while the selection of materials include imitation leather and a so-called Bamboo layering. Redesigned interior features a freestanding 14-inch infotainment system that will be supplemented by an optional display of the same size right next to it. Image: Lexus Depending on the trim grade, confirmed specification items include a wireless smartphone charger, ottoman reclining front passenger's seat, ambient lighting, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a Mark Levinson sound system and a fragrance dispenser with five scents: Tenko, Seiyo, Keifu, Hanya and Shinmei. On the safety and driver assistance side, new and revised systems consist of Blind Spot Monitoring, a panoramic view monitor, Driver Attention Alert, Radar Cruise Control, Automatic Emergency Braking, Lane Departure Warning, Emergency Driver Response, Lane Change Assist and Pre-Collision Braking. Hybrid or EV Up front, the split between hybrid and electric powertrains consists of four models, the former made-up of the ES 300h and ES 350h, and the latter of the ES 350e and ES 500e. For the ES 300h, motivation comes from a normally aspirated 2.0-litre petrol engine combined with an electric motor and battery pack of unspecified specification for a total system output of 145 kW. The claimed 0-100 km/h sprint time is 9.4 seconds. In the ES 350h, the combination of the bigger 2.5-litre petrol and electric hardware develops a combined 182 kW, or in some markets, 148 kW. Respective 0-100 km/h sprint times is 7.8 seconds and 8.3 seconds. Regardless of the outputs, the sole transmission option is a CVT, with front-wheel-drive being standard across both and all-wheel-drive optional. On the EV side, the single motor ES 350e produces 165 kW and will get from 0-100 km/h in 8.9 seconds. The claimed all-electric range is 685 km. No details surrounding the battery's size or outputs was disclosed. With a secondary electric motor fitted to the rear axle, the dual-motor ES 500e produces 252 kW, enough for 0-100 km/h to be dispatched with in 5.9 seconds. The single charge range is 610 km. Arriving in 2026 On-sale from 2026 as mentioned, Lexus South Africa has indicated that market specification will only be announced closer to the eventual launch date. ALSO READ: Updated Lexus ES still an enticing German alternative
