Weekly SA Motoring News wrap-up
Mitsubishi Motors South Africa restarts at full throttle
Mitsubishi Motors South Africa (MMSA) enjoyed the loyalty of scores of returning customers as soon as the retail automotive industry restarted in June. Sales took off again after nearly three months after the start of the national lockdown in March, with new and loyal customers patiently lining up for MMSA's successful Zero Deposit deals. One of the great success stories for MMSA last month was the launch of the Triton Xtreme aimed at owners with an extreme lifestyle, and with no deposit the small premium over the existing 4x4 Auto flagship was a massive success.
Mahindra #RISEforGood!
The #RISE ethos is at the heart of everything the company does, across the globe, including South Africa. The ethos has three pillars, namely 'Accepting no limits', 'Alternative thinking' and 'Driving positive change'. These remain the key driving principles behind all the company's endeavours. The campaign kicks off in July with a series of road trips by Mahindra's staff to support a worthy cause. Each of the company's various departments has received money towards a #RiseForGood initiative, with staff adding their own contributions and each department left free to decide on what it wants to do.
New Land Rover Defender to hit South African airwaves on 16 July
Land Rover will celebrate the arrival of the New Defender in South Africa with a 110-minute special online streaming event promising informative discussions, interesting news and in depth looks at an icon reimagined for the 21st century. Xola Ntshinga has been enlisted to lead the show and the well-known sports presenter will take viewers on a journey through various segments exploring the Defender’s historical importance and its rebirth as an adventure vehicle for the digital generation.
Mitsubishi Motors South Africa celebrates its first Top 10 Globally Certified Training Instructor
A young Mitsubishi Motors technician who cut his technical teeth in the automotive industry for the South African market, recently became the first Mitsubishi Top 10 Globally Certified Training Instructor in South Africa. Cedric Page from Boksburg on the Gauteng East Rand returned from Dubai at the end of last year after six weeks of intensive training under the watchful eye of Mitsubishi instructors mainly from the parent company in Japan.
Audi launches an affordable service plan for older vehicles
Audi has launched the AudiSmart Service plan, an affordable new service offering which is applicable to all Audi vehicles that are 6 to 13 years old (or within a maximum mileage threshold of 270 000 KM), and which fall out of the standard Audi Freeway Plan or Freeway Plan Extension. This progressive new plan includes cover for two years and/or 30 000 KM (whichever occurs first) and includes two minor oil change services at a significantly discounted price.
Ford Tourneo Custom Range Expanded with New Engine, Automatic Gearbox and Enhanced Technologies
Ford's versatile range of Tourneo Custom Bus models has been expanded with the addition of two six-speed automatic derivatives for the first time, which are powered by the latest-generation 2.0-litre Single Turbo engine. Available in both mid-level Trend and range-topping Limited series, the two new models also feature a completely new interior. On the Limited model, this incorporates Ford's SYNC®3 with an integrated eight-inch touchscreen, which provides significantly improved features and ease of use for the infotainment system and smartphone functionality.
Nissan introduces new Shop@Home services in South Africa
In response to the unique challenges posed by the COVID 19 pandemic, Nissan is rapidly transforming the customer experience to effectively bring the showroom directly into potential buyers’ homes. All the most popular services, queries and bookings associated with a trip to your local dealer can now be done virtually from the safety of your living room. This includes an interactive video call with our dealers nationwide linking digital solutions to the physical dealer environment, enabling our customers to virtually connect with our highly skilled sales executives for a real-time virtual demonstration of the vehicle.
In addition to South Africa, Nissan has grouped its digital and remote services under a new Shop@Home tab on its websites across the Middle East, Turkey and India. Services include ordering online, get a quotation or request a call back. The buying process can also be completed online with the help of a finance calculator and soon a pre-finance assessment will be introduced, as well as comprehensive service and warranty information.
Lexus premieres its brand new LS Advanced Evolution
Three decades after the debut of the first-generation Lexus LS in 1989, Lexus is still on its mission of setting a new standard for luxury vehicles, a goal that has brought levels of luxury, comfort and serenity that to this day redefines luxury vehicle refinement.
The new LS will feature Lexus Teammate, the latest in advanced driving assist technologies. Lexus not only thoroughly honed essential fundamental vehicle performance to achieve levels of driving assist that provide occupants with an even higher sense of security, but also incorporated AI technologies centred on deep learning for predicting and responding to various driving situations. The new LS will be available in Gin-ei Luster, a new exterior panel colour that achieves deep shadows and robust highlights, enabled by new paint technology. On the inside, in addition to the use of a touchscreen for improved operability, Lexus paid uncompromising attention-to-detail through a collaboration involving traditional Japanese crafts such as Nishijin brocade and metal leaf decoration, creating a high-quality interior atmosphere only suitable for the Lexus flagship.
There will also be a few subtle aesthetic changes made to the new LS, both inside and out. The new Lexus LS, to be unveiled in Japan late this year, is expected to arrive in South Africa early in 2021.
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