Ford has launched a new high-performance version of its excellent Fiesta in South Africa. This two-litre Ford Fiesta ST completes Ford’s performance ST (Sports Technologies) range, alongside the Mondeo ST220 and the Focus ST170. The factory claims that no other car in this price range can match the Fiesta in terms of outright performance.
Toyota South Africa has revealed full details of the Japanese manufacturer’s IMV (internationally manufactured vehicle) programme. This will see the South African Prospecton factory churning out 10 000 Hilux bakkies every month by the end of 2007. The plant will be one of five making the vehicles for worldwide distribution.
The all new Land Rover Discovery is without doubt the most important new product from Solihull in decades. It’s also a genuine class leader, with a solid mix of hi-tech electronics complementing tried and tested 4X4 mechanicals to give it superb on and off-road performance. <i>Wheels & Deals</i> went to Namibia for the launch.
It’s been 36 years since Jaguar brought out their first XJ6, and a number of my good friends have bought them over the years. This was not because they were great cars, but because they were so — well, crap. But that was then and now is now. Since Ford absorbed Jaguar into their Premier Group stable, the British products have improved in leaps and bounds.
Last month, an English soccer referee made headline news when he sent himself off during a match, bringing the game to a premature end. ”If a player did that”, he said, ”I’d send him off, so I had to go.” Toyota South Africa did much the same thing by quietly suspending their hot-hatch RSi from the RunX lineup when they gave the model a face-lift late last year.
Daihatsu’s Sirion has always been a serious contender. It’s long been one of the best built and best equipped in its sector of the market, providing excellent value for money. Now it’s even better. Astylish little car with a funky interior, it takes a couple of cues from the new Mini and a few more from Daimler-Chrysler’s smart.
Triumph’s long-awaited all-new Sprint ST sports tourer has arrived, loaded with testosterone while retaining the user-friendliness that made its predecessor a hit. Gavin Foster rode it at the world launch in Cape Town.
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/ 16 February 2005
For really serious off-road use there are a few basics that you simply can’t do without, no matter what the manufacturers tell you. Nissan’s Patrol has got the lot. It’s fully equipped, great value for money and is superbly comfortable to boot.
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/ 25 January 2005
Eight cars, one winner. Choosing a Car of the Year from the eight finalists has never been tougher. Gavin Foster spent three days with the cars, helping give the bean counters the data they needed to pick a winner.
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/ 11 January 2005
So what does a motoring journalist buy with his money? Does he go for German technology, Italian style or Japanese reliability? Gavin Foster takes a trip down memory lane, recalling how many rands he has spent in his 32 years of motoring and the kinds of wheels he got for them.