LDV GROWING LOCALLY
LDV D90 SUV
LDV Automotive, part of the global SAIC automotive group, recently introduced the LDV T60 double cab bakkie as the first model range in its local line-up.
The T60 range, a global best-seller for LDV, has already proven itself in markets with very similar climates to South Africa, such as Australia. Now, the company is gearing up for the D90 SUV, the second model expected on local soil. This seven-seater SUV is another best-seller for the LDV brand in Australia, thanks in no small part to its range of powerful diesel engines, its choice of 4×4 and 4×2 drive trains and its five-star ANCAP safety rating.
The D90 will be equipped with a 160kW bi-turbo diesel engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and an intelligent all-terrain response system for the South African market. The latest generation D90 has LDV’s most modern infotainment technology, and amenities in the body-on-frame SUV include multi-zone climate control, a JBL-tuned sound system and as many as three differential locks for 4×4 models.
Another model on the menu for South Africa is the G90 MPV. This model range offers a new level of luxury in the MPV segment, including independently adjustable rear seats, quilted leather upholstery, an oversized panoramic sunroof, a multi-screen infotainment system that stretches across the breadth of the front dashboard, as well as next-generation assisted driving technology.
The G90 MPV will arrive in South Africa with the choice of seven or eight seats, with the former offering a unique and highly adjustable captain seat configuration. In terms of commercial vehicles, LDV South Africa plans to bring the G10+ medium-sized panel van first – yet another top-seller in Australia, thanks to its 5.2 square metres of securable cargo space, its 2-litre diesel engine, its automatic transmission, and dual sliding doors.
LDV South Africa will offer all these models with a full five-year/200,000 km factory warranty and a service plan for five years/100,000 km. For more information on LDV products, visit www.ldvauto.co.za.
MOVING FRONTIERS
Opel Frontera
As part of Opel’s celebration of 125 years of automobile production, the German manufacturer, now part of the Stellantis Group, has unveiled two new SUV models in the last month – the new Opel Frontera, set to replace the Crossland compact SUV in due course, and the latest iteration of the Opel Grandland.
While stylish and dynamic new Grandland carries over the styling of its predecessor but has many design features seen for the first time on an Opel production model, including a 3D Vizor with illuminated Blitz logo at the front, permanently illuminated Opel lettering at the rear, the Intelli-Lux Pixel HD lighting system, the BEV-native STLA Medium platform and a new flat 98 kWh battery enabling the electric version to cover up to 700 km on a single charge.
The highly flexible, spacious, and electrified Frontera was revealed in Istanbul with a fresh-faced design and seating for up to seven passengers. Prominent wheel arches and sills, as well as an eye-catching C-pillar, underline the robust character. Sharing its platform with the next-generation European Citroen C3 Aircross model, it will initially be available as a five-seater, with a seven-seat version following later, and it has been confirmed for introduction in South Africa in the first half of next year.
While the Grandland may be offered locally only in PHEV form, the Frontera will most likely be made available only as a mild hybrid model, powered by a 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine delivering either 74 kW or 100 kW coupled with a 21kW electric motor and a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. According to Opel, the Frontera Electric BEV (which probably will not make it here) will have a more than 300 km range. An extended-range derivative of the Frontera Electric can travel up to around 400 km (WLTP-cycle) on a single charge.
The modern looks with a focus on the essentials continue seamlessly in the interior. Available in Frontera or Frontera GS trim lines initially, the GS will feature a pair of 10″ displays, including the infotainment system touchscreen with integrated satellite navigation, plus a cooled wireless smartphone charger and two USB ports up front, with another two USB ports in the second row.
Newly patented Intelli-Seats, with a slot in the middle that relieves pressure on the tailbone, can be ordered for the front passengers. More than 450 litres of luggage can be stored in the boot; and with the seats folded down, even up to 1,600 litres. Additional versatility is provided by the 60:40 split of the rear bench, while a second load floor is standard. Optional roof rails and a roof tent with a ladder specially designed for the SUV, can also be ordered.
CITROËN’S FUTURE VISION
Basalt Vision Concept
Citroën has unveiled the first images of its new compact SUV Coupé concept, the Basalt Vision, set to join the range of the French manufacturer in India and South America in the second half of the year, and this opens the possibility that it may be considered for South Africa as well.
Following the latest trend, the new model blends several automotive codes by combining the fluidity and dynamism of a coupé, the advantages and robustness of an elevated SUV, and the balance and space onboard a five-door sedan.
Developed with the direct involvement of teams at headquarters and in each region, and benefiting from strong local integration, Basalt Vision will support the brand’s international growth alongside C3 and C3 Aircross in significant markets. All three models are part of the same programme, which aims to bring to market models with a strong character and a distinctive onboard comfort experience.
The Basalt Vision is a near-production rendering of the model that will be offered to customers in the second half of 2024. It represents a daring concept that brings together several customer expectations. Its SUV character is aspirational, and it has a confident, solid stance on the road, thanks to its high ground clearance, high bonnet, upright front end, widened wings, and wheel arch cladding with distinctive geometric shapes.
The coupé-like rear trailing edge adds changeability and dynamism, and the whole is both athletic and elegant, with balanced proportions and a sleek silhouette. Its unique positioning justifies a dedicated name, Basalt, which will be retained when it goes on sale. According to Citroën, Basalt shares with this volcanic rock, born of the earth’s energy, the promise of robustness and serenity represented by this resistant and timeless material.
The Citroën Basalt Vision is the third model of the C-Cubed programme based on the same Smart Car platforms with the ambition to develop a strong and distinctive product offering, illustrating the modularity and efficiency of the platform. More details will be released closer to the launch date of the production model later this year.
SHARK ALERT!
BYD Shark Bakkie
Chinese auto giant BYD has recently launched the BYD Shark, its first bakkie, in Mexico, marking the first global product launch for the manufacturer outside of China. Based on the DMO Super Hybrid Off-Road Platform, the Shark was developed for the global market, making it possible to offer it in South Africa as well.
According to BYD, the Shark is positioned as a new energy-intelligent luxury bakkie, set to redefine the global plug-in hybrid bakkie market with advanced technology and diverse user-centric features. With a wheelbase of 3,260 mm, the Shark will compete against established contenders in the mid-size bakkie market, including the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger.
The design, guided by BYD design director Wolfgang Egger, draws inspiration from sharks with full-length LED lights at the front, reminiscent of a shark’s open mouth (and the Ford F150) at the rear, a through-type taillight, inspired by a shark’s tail fin, fuses natural and technological aesthetics.
The interior design, created by Michele Jauch-Paganetti, BYD interior design director, draws inspiration from spaceship consoles with a 10.25″ LCD instrument panel and a 12.8″ adaptive rotating screen. Moreover, the rear row seats feature a 27-degree recline angle.
The DMO Super Hybrid Off-road Platform is a core technology of the BYD Shark and innovatively integrates a non-load-bearing frame designed for hybrids with the world’s first longitudinal EHS drive assembly, Cell to Chassis (CTC) technology, rear-wheel drive assembly designed for bakkie trucks, and double-wishbone independent suspension at the front and rear end.
In terms of power, the Shark, with its dedicated rear-drive powertrain, combines an electric hybrid system (EHS) with a 1.5-litre high-power turbo engine to deliver a massive, Raptor-chasing 320 kW, making a zero to 100 km/h acceleration time of only 5.7 seconds possible.
Harnessing this power is an intelligent electric AWD system, precisely adjusting the torque distribution between its front and rear wheels in milliseconds, aligning with the optimal adhesion coefficient across diverse road surfaces, delivering a heightened level of reliability and ease of use to bakkie users seeking off-road adventure.
According to BYD, the Shark also achieves a 40% reduction in fuel consumption compared to other fuel-powered bakkies, even when operating at low battery levels. Additionally, as a plug-in hybrid, the Shark can attain a cruising range of up to 840 km (NEDC conditions), alongside a pure EV endurance of 100 km. According to BYD, the Shark will land in more countries and regions “in the upcoming future” – and our bakkie-mad country will most likely feature on the BYD shortlist.
