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The Volkswagen Beetle is undoubtedly one of the world’s most successful vehicles, racking up millions of sales in its original, basic shape. But much like its fellow sales record holders, on top of being rather common, the Beetle always left me completely cold and disinterested.
When last have you been to the dentist or spent some time with your mother-in-law? I’ll avoid answering both questions but can report that this past weekend, I did something I tend to avoid like the plague: drive a double-cab. Which one? A bi-turbo Volkswagen Amarok 4×2.
Time for a quick course in German. Volk means Nation and Wagen means Vehicle; more or less. Combine the two with the obligatory “s” in between and you get Nation’s Vehicle or, if you like, People’s Car. Despite a faint whiff of socialism, that’s what Volkswagen stands for – the nation’s vehicle.
Die nuwe Opel Meriva is seker een van die motors wat mense twee keer laat kyk as die agterste sydeure oopgemaak word; dit is of ‘n mens verplaas word na die 1940’s toe motordeure vorentoe oopgemaak het. Dit was eers in die na-oorlogse jare vanaf 1949 wat die Amerikaners die nuwe en moderne rigting ingeslaan het om motordeure se skarniere aan die voorste pilare te anker en die deure na agter oopgemaak het.
Sedert die bekendstelling van die Volkswagen CC in Suid-Afrika en Namibië, ongeveer vier jaar gelede, was hierdie vierdeur koepee reg van die begin af ‘n treffer en was dit veral die opvallende en sportiewe ontwerp van die motor wat heel eerstens die oog getref het. Dit is dus ook geen wonder dat die Volkswagen CC in Europa en ook in Australië verskeie pryse vir sy ontwerp gewen het nie.
Peugeot het wyslik besluit om die 508-reeks in te voer. Daar is hoeveel Suid-Afrikaners wat lang en ver reise in hulle 504s oor die lengte en breedte van ons land onderneem het en net goeie herinneringe oorhou.
Monday, 23 January 2012, Kuils River. The glamorous honours of our first launch report for 2012 go to the decidedly unglamorous Hyundai H1 Multicab. Still, I encourage you to read on as this vehicle is big on space, big on versatility and big on value for money.
Previous, current and prospective Citi Golf owners should pay extra attention today as I’ve just tested the modern equivalent of their favourite urban runabout. That’s right; if you had/have/want that nippy little number from three decades ago, there’s now a fresher alternative.
A few weeks ago I tested the Volkswagen Passat and described it as agreeable but misunderstood, mostly because it was too close to a Jetta in size and execution. And wouldn’t you know it, last week a new gen-six Jetta 1.6 TDI Comfortline knocked on my door.
Suzuki is in Suid-Afrika bekend vir hulle klein 4×4 voertuie, die Jimny en Vitara asook klein luikrug modelle, die Alto en Swift en dan hulle natuurlik ‘n lang geskiedenis as vervaardigers van motorfietse.