WeeklySA_AdminVOLUPTOUS: Toyota Hilux GR Sport III gains a wider track, increased by 140 mm fore (to 1 675 mm) and 155 mm aft (to 1 705 mm) compared with the standard Hilux
By Ali Mphaki
Chicken or beef?
Well done or raw?
Slender or Mapakisha?
Coalitions or …..?
These are choices facing us daily as we navigate our humdrum lives, trying to make sense of it all..
It gets more intriguing when it comes to choice of mobility, especially when you hail from the kassie. As a start, you need to get acquainted with the lingo. We all familiar with the Vrrpha! (VW GTi).
There is Ingubo for the Toyota Raider, iBhujwa for the Honda Ballade hatchback etc. names that you either know or dont..
Take the name AmaHips, as the Toyota Hilux is commonly referred to in the Kassie. Whoever coined the name AmaHips, when referring to the Toyota Hilux those many years ago looks like their linguistic ingenuity has come full circle with the launch of the new Toyota Hilux GR Sport 111.
The prophesy has come true. It will only be proper for Toyota with all their multi-million dollar resources go find the guy and “give that man a Bells”.
Launched in South Africa early May – the Toyota Hilux GR Sport III – immediately conjures up images of the Kyalami-like curves of SABC TV sports anchor Vuyi Ngcobo.
Rightfully called a widebody configuration, the Toyota Hilux GR Sport III gains a wider track, increased by 140 mm fore (to 1 675 mm) and 155 mm aft (to 1 705 mm) compared with the standard Hilux, boosting the double-cab bakkie’s overall width to 2 020 mm.
Ride height grows by 20 mm. Powertrain is retained with the uprated 2.8-litre, 4-cylinder turbodiesel engine – not to mention 6-speed automatic transmission, driving all 4 wheels – of its predecessor, which means peak outputs will again come in at 165 kW and 550 Nm.
For better performance the newcomer comes with new monotube dampers which replaces previous twin-tube items.
It wears 17-inch shoes. Dubbed as the “best-driving Hilux yet, on and off-road” by Toyota’s UK division, the suspension and brakes have been revised resulting in less noise and vibration.
A reduced roll angle gives a “more precise” steering response. Its no secret that cars are expensive and for all this and more be prepared to part with close to a million R999 000 a R51 400 premium over the outgoing version, which is currently pegged at R947 600.
As observed by CARS.com., the GR Sport model interestingly isn’t the most expensive Hilux in the range, with that title instead going to the mild-hybrid 2.8GD-6 Legend RS 6AT 4×4 48V (which will cost you R1 023 400. The non-electrified 2.8GD-6 Legend RS 6AT 4×4 (currently sitting at R 1 005 000) is also more expensive than the new GR Sport.
For all its marketing gimmicks, Toyota seldom takes “the wrong turn” which is perhaps believable when the Japanese firm bills the newcomer as the “ultimate off-roader”.
With its widebody configuration, the new Toyota Hilux GR-Sport 111 finds itself in perfect sync with its AmaHips monicker.
If the name fits, ala Ojay Simpson’s glove, acquit.
Motoring: Briefs
PUMP RELIEF
South Africans can finally look forward to some fuel price relief from next week, with petrol and diesel prices set to decrease on Wednesday, June 5.
Late-month unaudited data from the Central Energy Fund (CEF) shows that petrol prices are likely to come down by around R1.06 per litre, while diesel is looking set to decrease by between 90 cents, for 50ppm, and R1 for the dirtier 500ppm.
These strong over-recoveries could see the price of 95 Unleaded petrol falling to around R23.64 at the coast and R24.43 in Gauteng, where 93 Unleaded will decrease to around R24.09.
FOUR-DOOR MUSTANG?
A four-door Ford Mustang could join the legendary coupe and convertible for the first time in its 60-year history, the company’s boss has told a UK media outlet.
Ford CEO Jim Farley told Britain’s Autocar in an exclusive interview that the Mustang’s huge global following meant there was potential to expand the range of body styles.
“We will never build a Mustang that isn’t a Mustang,” Farley told Autocar. “For instance, there will never be room for a small, two-row Ford SUV with a Mustang badge stuck on it. But could we do other Mustang body forms – a four-door or whatever? I believe we could, as long as these models have all the performance and attitude of the original.”
TESLA “CANT SELL ITS CARS”
The cost of buying a Tesla, the world’s most popular electric vehicle, has plunged in recent times, pointing to trouble at the auto giant.
A slump in demand for Teslas and a backlog of supply of new vehicles have seen prices slashed in Australia, sparking concern and anger among owners of the iconic electric vehicles.
“Basically, Tesla can’t sell its cars due to Elon’s behaviour,” finance giant Ross Gerber declared on X, formerly Twitter, last month.
Mr Gerber is the chief executive of investment firm Gerber Kawasaki and an investor in Tesla itself and lays the blame for the automaker’s underwhelming performance at the feet of Mr Musk.
STELLANTIS R3-BILLION PLANT
Stellantis recently announced a R3 billion investment into a new plant in the Coega Special Economic Zone in the Eastern Cape with the first soil set to be turned in a few weeks time, and the start of assembly scheduled for 2026.
The company will be building the full range of Landtrek Peugeot bakkies for local consumption and export into Africa and the Middle East. They have already started the process of hiring for key positions and according to Whitfield more than 1 000 new jobs are to be created at the plant.
Alfa Romeo, Citroen, Fiat (Abarth), Jeep, Opel and Peugeot are all under their wing in South Africa and globally they also include Chrysler, Dodge
STOP TO SAVOUR THAT SANDWICH!
Research has found that while texting and driving is very distracting, trying to fill your gob with goodness can be just as distracting. Indeed, there’s a chance that the umbrella term “distracted driving” could expand to include eating and driving in some jurisdictions.
A Facebook post by Queensland’s Transport and Main Roads department in late 2022 got a bit of attention, suggesting the road rule around “having proper control of a vehicle” could be interpreted in a way that, if you were driving, eating, and deemed not to be in control, or “driving without care and attention”, you could cop a bit fat fine.
The post alluded to the notion of only having one hand on the steering wheel, or looking away from the road ahead, as being the dangerous parts of that situation. “It’s best to pull over in a safe spot to savour that sandwich!”, the post concluded.
