Andrew Leopold

  • Jaguar I-Pace SA

    Drive Review: Jaguar I-Pace puts an end to range anxiety

    The Jaguar I-Pace is TopGear’s EV of the Year True, but that was in 2018. 2019 promises a spate of highly credible challengers from the luxury petrol-preaching world who are ready to uproot, swing the needle of their compasses and resettle their brand right in the murky corner of...
  • Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross

    Test Drive: New (2019) Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross isn’t fast or furious

    Since Mitsubishi’s halcyon days with countless Dakar victories annexed by their Pajero, the brand has been somewhat eclipsed in South Africa by the market heavyweights and by a product line-up that hasn’t set the market alight. Sure, the latest iteration of the Pajero Sport righted the ship to a...
  • Volvo XC40

    Double Test: Brains or Brawn with new BMW X2 or Volvo XC40

    Before we go any further, let me start with this one clear summarisation; you’re looking at two of the finest examples of downsizing. Cars that despite their shrunken mass, hold several decisive advantages over their clumsier counterparts. I could stop there, but that would leave loads of white space...
  • First Drive: MINI Cooper S (2018) becomes more British-BMW

    Mini-ature changes Still with the well-known formula of go-kart chassis sandwiched with BMW bells, whistles and drivetrain. Now more than ever the new MINI Cooper bridges kitsch with efficient. But with the latest facelift, the kitsch factor has been dialled up to emphasise its British-ness over its German-ness. How...
  • Hilux GR-Sport

    News: Limited edition GR-Sport Hilux coming to SA

    We expected a limited edition Hilux to follow in the sand tracks of Toyota’s first win at Dakar and our speculative predictions were half correct. Now we’re at the exciting point where we can confirm that the GR-Sport Hilux , which we first saw at the Brazilian Motor Show...
  • Lexus UX

    Test Drive: Look for the USP in the new (2019) Lexus UX

    Enter the Lexus brand here. People are no longer clambering for sedans so while the Lexus IS 300 EX was the brand’s erstwhile capture point, that critical acquisition junction is now on the shoulders of the UX. Who’s it up against? Not a small number of foes by any...
  • Mercedes X250d South Africa

    Test Drive: Mercedes X250d 4MATIC has a lot to learn

    The QnA session turned from smoke to fire as the unmentionable question disregarded all political correctness and went directly to what has become the standard retort to all X-Class articles. “What percentage of the X250d is a Navara?” Journalists around the room chuckled into their smartphones as those on...
  • New Ford Ranger Silverton South Africa

    News: Ford’s (2019) Ranger sees daylight at Silverton plant

    A passenger-car bottleneck at Ford South Africa has developed. Some of 2018’s stock (Focus, Fiesta ST, Mustang) hasn’t been disgorged on our shores because Ford is busy satisfying their main markets ahead of our little daub on the spreadsheet.  Not that those will affect the outcome in the bigger...
  • BMW X2 South Africa

    Drive Test: BMW X2 will be known as the stylish one

    Remember the automotive controversy BMW stirred with the Active Tourer? A car that didn’t fit into X or -Series mould was one thing, but worse was to come…it was front-wheel drive. All told, Active Tourer wasn’t awful; a posh, civilised Mini Countryman. But BMW was already selling large numbers...