We’re beginning the year with a preview of the 50 best cars coming to S.A. in 2014, so scroll down to see what there is to look forward to…
40. Bentley Continental V8 S: 3rd Quarter
Offering uprated performance that doesn’t impact fuel consumption and emissions, Bentley is upping the ante in 2014 with the Continental V8 S. It still makes use of the Volkswagen Group’s twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8; except now it sports an extra 16 kW and that ensures a 0 – 100 km/h time in the sprightly 4.5 second range.
39. Land Rover Discovery Facelift: 2nd Quarter
While the Land Rover portfolio has been bolstered of late with the new Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and Evoque; the alterations to the 2014 Discovery are very subtle. We doubt you’ll even spot the difference aside from the headlights, but there are a few. There’s likely to be little done under the skin either – which is no bad thing when you’re the king of seven-seat, 4×4 SUVs.
38. Honda Accord: 2nd Quarter
The current Honda Accord sold in South Africa is a European specification car, but from the middle of 2014 we’ll start getting the U.S. specification version. It does look pretty different, but don’t forget this front-driven sedan won our local Car of the Year in 2009 and is one of the best selling cars in the U.S.
37. Audi RSQ3: 1st Quarter
The oddly proportioned Audi RSQ3 is what Audi are calling their first-ever SUV-based RS model. It’ll be powered by a detuned 228 kW and 420 Nm 2.5-litre direct-injection turbocharged five-cylinder TFSI engine. An RS3 on stilts, sure, but who on earth would want such a thing? If it’s as gutsy as the RS3 Sportback that underpins it, however, it may just be worth a look.
36. Honda Civic Tourer: 2nd Quarter
It may be a humble station wagon version of the Civic, but Honda is on the up, engineering wise anyway, and soon V-Tec turbo direct-injection engines will be propelling Hondas of the future. Maybe not in this Civic Tourer, but we could see such engines feature in the more well known Civic, with capacities ranging from a 1.0-litre 3-cylinder to 1.5- and 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engines. This wagon will get some British touring car racing pedigree too in 2014.
35. Range Rover 3.0 TDV6 / LWB: 2nd Quarter
The new 2013 Range Rover benefited from massive weight saving. To build upon that 400-plus kg advantage, you don’t need as large an engine to propel you along; so for the first time in the company’s history, the 3.0-litre TDV6 is a viable option in the Luxo-SUV. A LWB version is also coming to S.A. too in 2014.
34. Maserati GT MC Stradale: 4th Quarter
Under that long bonnet, Maserati delivers a normally aspirated 4.7-litre V8 with 343 kW and 520 Nm of torque, which combines with an MC Race Shift 6-speed electro-actuated gearbox. The sonorous engine ensures a top speed of 303 km/h and a 0 – 100 km/h sprint in the 4 second region. ‘Bene, Bene…’
33. Ford Fusion: 3rd Quarter
Speculatively, the newest Ford sedan should arrive in the middle of 2014. You could possibly think of it as Ford Mondeo for S.A. but the powertrains for South Africa are yet to be announced, and so is the pricing. Expect Econetic CO2-cutting technologies, Ford’s PowerShift double wet-clutch transmission with some EcoBoost petrol engines to slake the new sedan’s thirst for fuel.
32. Jeep Cherokee: 2nd Quarter
The new Cherokee undoubtedly borrows styling cues from the larger Grand Cherokee but it also has the two-tier look to its iconic seven-slot grille and aggressive, crossover styling. It rides on the modular platform that underpins the Alfa Romeo Giulietta (and Dodge Dart in the U.S.) and will most likely favour front-wheel drive as standard with four-wheel drive as optional.
31. Nissan Qashqai: 3rd Quarter
A car it will need to compete against is the new Nissan Qashqai. Based on the new CMF (Common Module Family) Renault-Nissan Alliance platform, it’s 20 mm wider, 49 mm longer and 15 mm lower than the current Qashqai. It will deploy Nissan’s new ‘Safety Shield’ technologies and an enhanced aerodynamic profile of just 0.32 Cd with an Active Grille Shutter system to make it more economical than ever. The daddy of crossovers is back.
Back track to The 50 Best Cars in 2014: Part 1, in case you missed no. 50 – 41.
