As cute and round as its lovable namesake, this larger and sportier variant had a few surprises in store for us…
Fiat
Tested: 2021 Fiat 500 Dolce Vita
Are you comfortable in your own skin and/or don’t give a hoot about the opinions of others? Oh good, because I just tested an amazing little car.
Padtoets: 2018 Fiat Panda 0.9 Twinair 4×4 Cross
Sakpas pret
875cm³ en 4×4… Hierdie is die kombinasie van Fiat se nuwe klein 4×4. Met ‘n turbo-petrol 0.9 liter twee silinder enjin, is die nuwe Panda Cross meer as net ‘n oulike “karretjie”. Eerder is dit ‘n sakpas 4×4 met baie karakter. Ons het vir ‘n week in die stad rondgerits om te sien hoe dit is om hiermee te leef.
Tested: 2017 Fiat Panda TwinAir Lounge
The growly deal
Prepare yourself for a shock. Most motoring journalists, yours truly included, are huge fans of small and affordable cars. I base this statement on my powers of observation at gatherings of car scribes who suddenly become bright-eyed when someone mentions a cool little car. Like the new Fiat Panda.
Bekendstelling: Honda BR-V
Nutsvoertuig vir jonk – en oud!
Honda het vanaf die intrapslag in Suid-Afrika in die 1980’s ‘n reputasie opgebou as een van die mees betroubare en soliede vervaardigers van motors op die mark. Die feit dat Mercedes-Benz die nuwe Japannese motors onder hulle vleuels geneem het kon moontlik daartoe bygedra het. Feit is dat Honda en Mercedes se paaie geskei het maar die Japannees het sy goeie reputasie behou en bou steeds daarop voort. Die nuwe BR-V nutsvoertuig bou voort op hierdie tradisie.
Tested: Jeep Renegade
The recoiling joy
Remember that nasty recession in 2009? Car makers certainly do; especially the big American trio of General Motors, Ford and Chrysler. Despite budget cuts and government bailouts, the automotive ménage à trois could not save all their brands and GM had to cull Oldsmobile, Hummer, Pontiac and others.
Launched: Opel Adam
The new jam
The Opel Adam is an important little car. With the German manufacturer reeling from internal struggles and slumping sales, Adam represents the spearhead of their new market onslaught. Named after Opel’s founder Adam Opel, it’s akin to Ford calling their new car “Henry”. It’s a big deal.
Five-cylinder engines
The fantastic five
A gruff, off-beat sound usually accompanied by a whistling turbo charger can only mean one thing: five cylinders. With even numbers being the preferred stencil for engine manufacturing, the five-pot is just as quirky and potentially unbalanced as those little three-cylinders.
Padtoets: Chrysler 300C CRD
Amerikaanse Boere Aristokrasie
Alles verander, elke dag. Oor dekades heen word die verandering soms dramaties en amper onherkenbaar, dit woel en werskaf en niks bly dieselfde nie. Wat wel behoue gebly het is simbole en handelsmerke waarmee ‘n mens groot geword het en goed vertroud geraak het.