The top 10 finalists in the increasingly important World Car of the Year awards programme were announced yesterday. Now, the jury of 66 international motoring journalists, including the only South African, CAR’s Hannes Oosthuizen, will cast votes again before the top three in each of the categories are announced at the Geneva Motor Show in March.
THE BMW 3 Series has it in spades, and that’s why you’ve already decided to buy one, even though you’re yet to go for a test drive. Similarly, the Range Rover Evoque puts it financially within reach of more people than any other Range Rover before, and has consequently sold to more than 20 000 people before reaching showrooms. And the Toyota GT 86 aims to inject some excitement into it. This factor, of course, is brand strength. And, in these exceedingly brand-conscious times, the strength or weakness of a brand can mean the difference between success and failure.
THE BMW 3 Series has it in spades, and that’s why you’ve already decided to buy one, even though you’re yet to go for a test drive. Similarly, the Range Rover Evoque puts it financially within reach of more people than any other Range Rover before
It’s time for you to choose your favourite vehicles of 2011 for CAR’s Top 12, brought to you in association with FNB Vehicle Finance.
BMW’s vice president of brand communication, Andreas-Christoph Hoffman introduces the latest, and perhaps the most important, addition to the company’s product line-up – the F30 BMW 3 Series.
On the eve of the sixth-generation BMW 3 Series on-line unveiling, it’s difficult to believe that the 3 Series, the staple of BMW’s product line-up, has been with us for almost 36 years. We take a look back at some of the highlights of its tenure as what many consider the defining compact executive car.
The newcomer shares much of its styling with the larger 5 Series. Production starts in Germany in November.
There are many seemingly bargain-
priced vehicles on used car
forecourts. But which of those
actually make good buys?
It was a very good year for the industry in 2010, with growth of 24,7 per cent in total volume when the non-reporters are included. This lifted the total to 492 956 units, compared to the 395 186 vehicles sold in 2009. The value of total vehicle sales for 2010 is estimated at R130 billion – up 20 per cent over 2009.
Exports of built-up vehicles and automotive components from South Africa boomed in 2010, with vehicle exports up an encouraging 36,9 per cent from 174 947… Read more →