WeeklySA_AdminAARTO DELAYED
The Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (Aarto) system, which streamlines traffic offences and introduces a demerit points system that could lead to suspended or cancelled licences, was expected to be rolled out across South Africa from July 1, 2024.
This deadline was set after Aarto was declared constitutional and lawful by South Africa’s Constitutional Court and Chief Justice Raymond Zondo in July 2023.
However, according to Brandon Cohen, chair of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) and regulatory and compliance expert, the implementation of the Aarto Act and the Aarto Amendment Act has been pushed to mid-2025.
Cohen noted that, according to the Department of Transport (DoT) chief director of road regulation, Advocate Johannes Makgatho, the onboarding of municipalities and authorities (phases 2 and 3) would only be completed by December 2024.
Additionally, the demerits system is now expected to be implemented between April and mid-2025 (phase 4), which is a notable delay as this was supposed to come into effect by September 2024 at the latest.
FREELANDER REVIVED
The Land Rover Freelander brand is being revived as a range of electric models built in China in partnership with Chery.
It’s getting on for a decade since the Land Rover Freelander was replaced by the Land Rover Discovery Sport, since when Jaguar Land Rover has split itself into ‘Brands’ with Range Rover, Discovery and Defender aimed at different markets.
But now the Freelander brand is to be revived as JLR and China’s Chery partnership plans to build a range of electric cars in China badged with the Freelander brand, initially for sale in China but with plans to export globally.
The new Freelander models will use Chery architecture and Land Rover designs to build a range of electric SUVs, with the expectation the new models will go into production in China by 2026, especially as the underpinnings are likely to be taken from existing Chery models.
NEW BMW X3 ON ICE
The 2024 BMW X3 is revealed with new looks and a choice of petrol, diesel and PHEV powertrains, but no EV option.
You might expect that a new BMW X3 would mean the arrival of the first of BMW’s Neue Klasse models. But it doesn’t, because this new X3 is all about ICE, with diesel, petrol and PHEV models on offer and no EV to be seen.
So if you want a new electric BMW iX3 you’ll have to wait for the arrival of the production version of the BMW Vision Neue Klasse X concept in 2025, but BMW is showing its future commitment to ICE with a fourth generation of the X3.
A bit longer and wider than the current X3 – although 25mm lower – there’s a clear design influence for BMW’s EV models with a big grille, higher bonnet, new lights and smooth surfacing.
HELLO BUGATTI TOURBILLON
The new Bugatti Tourbillon is revealed with a 1,775bhp V16 N/A engine, good for 0-62mph in 2.0 seconds and costing £3.8 million.
When Matte Rimac effectively took control at Bugatti, everyone expected he’d head down the road of making the Chiron’s successor a Bugatti take on his own Rimac Nevera.
What no one expected was that the EV Hypercar Wunderkind would eschew the EV route and instead build a new Bugatti with a naturally aspirated V16 engine. Say hello to the new Bugatti Tourbillon.
The Tourbillon comes with a Cosworth-developed naturally aspirated V16 and a trio of electric motors, with half its power coming from the V16 and the remainder from the pair of motors at the front and one at the back powered by a 25kWh battery.
That setup means completely bonkers performance figures, with 62mph reached in 2.0 seconds, 124mph in under 5.0 seconds and 248mph in under 25 seconds. Slow it’s not.
