Mail & Guardian
Mail & Guardian

Nick Bates

latest news & developments

New way to buy fuel

Thanks to prices that are starting to look like telephone numbers, petrol is becoming a grudge purchase, like tyres. With that in mind, fuel companies and their allied filling…

Focus on diesel

It seems Ford isn’t prepared to see the competition run away with the lion’s share of the rapidly growing turbo-diesel market. Among the recently launched new Focus models is a…

Top Territory from down under

"Okay, so they lost the Ashes and were thumped in the Tri-Nations by their next-door neighbours, but the Aussies can build a good SUV. That was my impression after spending a…

A hot, new hatchback

Built in Tanjung Malim, the Proton Gen.2 is an attractive piece of machinery, and my "vigour red" 1,6 GLX unit drew admiring glances, especially with its rather aerodynamic boot…

Fiat’s little beast

"As SUVs and MPVs (sport utility/multi-purpose vehicles) become more popular, so the choice available to the buyer increases. And instead of just big, ungainly SUVs to choose…

Forester will go almost anywhere

Subaru’s popular Forester SUV range has been upgraded in all departments. For starters, it gets a new front grille with sharper lines and sleeker headlights, which give it a more…

New diesel Alfa is a winner

Alfa has launched its upgraded 147 1,9 JTD model, and if the brief time we spent with the Italian is anything to go by, Alfa has a winner on its hands. Styling wise, the new 147…

BMW’s latest weapon

There’s an angry crackle from the 10 cylinders up front as I push down on the accelerator. In just 66 milliseconds, the Sequential M gearbox (SMG) hooks fourth gear. BMW’s…

Hilux hit parade

The introduction of Toyota’s new Hilux range is a significant move by the country’s largest vehicle manufacturer. Not only has this legendary LCV/SUV shattered sales and…

Funky little 4×4 from Fiat

There’s a new animal prowling the streets, but it doesn’t have a menacing gait, long claws, fierce growl or those trademark black eyes. It’s Fiat’s new Panda, a small 4×4 that…

Project became legend

The first Volkswagen Golf GTI was conceptualised over sandwiches and beer by some rather recalcitrant Germans back in March 1973. The first GTI, weighing just 820kg, made its…

Svelte Swedes

Not content with winning the recent Car of the Year competition with its S40, Volvo SA has added another couple of strings to its bow in the form of the V40 2,0 turbo diesel…

Pocket rocket

There’s that addictive pop-pop-pop as you lift your foot off the loud pedal and the engine goes into over-run. There’s no waste gate to speak of, and that excess pressure created…

Travelling in style

The Mégane CC should feature high on your shopping list if you enjoy the wind in your hair. Chic and classy is how I’d describe it. At R270 000 this coupé-cabriolet is sensibly…

Covering all the bases

Ingolstadt carmaker Audi has launched its new A4 range, comprising 11 models with three engine derivatives. At the media launch in Mpumulanga, Audi pointed out that these are not…