WeeklySA_Admin2024 Lexus LM: The new model will expand globally to more than 60 countries where rivals are largely limited to the Mercedes-Benz V-Class
By Ali Mphaki
When it comes to luxury people movers it would look like the battle has been narrowed to a two horse race – the newly-launched 2024 Lexus LM and the Mercedes-Benz V-Class. Put bluntly, it’s Germany versus Japan, if you don’t mind. Interestingly is that there is a reversal of names here..
Mercedes-Benz had its ML, otherwise known in Mzansi as the Tony Yengeni, one politician the least said about him the better.
Now Lexus has flipped the script, playing around with letters, putting the L before ther M, and unleashed their LM, what they call Luxury Mover. Blame it on Geography that the Lexus LM is an unknown quantity in SA. What you see in the picture is the second generation of the nameplate, following the original version based on the outgoing Alphard/Vellfire (both also unknown in Mzansi) which has been sold in China and South-East Asia since 2020.
Initially aimed at China – where we told luxury people movers remain popular for the likes of the well-heeled Communist Party head honchos like billionare Jack Ma, Deng Xi-Ping etc. – word is out that the new model will expand globally to more than 60 countries.
Of the 60 countries where the LM will be introduced, its a fait accompli that SA wont miss out…even though there has not been any confirmation from Toyota SA. Whereas the Merc V-Class may be easy on the eye, the 2024 Lexus LM has a polarizing look.
You either like it or not. One thing certain, however, is that its not going to come cheap. To see where most of the money goes, take a step inside the vehicle through the electric sliding doors. There is no shortage of space, with enough room to take a nap, and enough options to customize the experience.
For those who require ample seating for a large family or group, Lexus will offer a six or seven-passenger variant of the LM. For executives and business personnel who prefer an alternative to an SUV, there will be an opulent four-seat model with a retractable partition. By folding the partitions, the cabin frees up extra private space for rear passengers.
The four-seat model will also come equipped with a massive 48-inch display screen positioned ahead of the rear seats. That’s a bigger built-in TV than the all-electric BMW i7, which only has a 31-inch screen. We await its arrival in Mzansi with bated breath.
motoring:
Briefs
LIMITED GOLF R 333
Volkswagen has previewed its latest limited edition Golf R, combining the uprated 328bhp engine fitted to the Golf R 20 Years model with a selection of unique styling elements. The new model will only be available in Germany, though, with UK sales rules out entirely. The bold yellow hue previewed is not a fully bespoke colour, but the ‘Lime Yellow’ metallic option available on standard and GTI Golf models.
To this, the R 333 adds blue ‘R’ badging, plus some bespoke 333 decals running down the side and the larger rear wing as previously fitted to the Performance Pack and R 20 Years models. An Akrapovic exhaust, black ‘Estoril’ 19-inch alloy wheels and the usual blue brake calipers also appear to be fitted. As a reminder, the mildly uprated 329bhp variant of the Golf R’s turbocharged 2-litre four-cylinder engine, as first seen in the R 20 Years, features a variety of small, but impactful upgrades to create the most powerful Golf yet.
ISUZU MU-X EXPANDS RANGE
Up to this week, the Isuzu MU-X was in real danger of being overshadowed in 2023. Following the launch of the new (and recently expanded) Ford Everest and some tweaks being made to the Toyota Fortuner, Isuzu’s bakkie-based SUV needed a fillip to help it keep pace with the segment leaders. Well, here it is! What has changed?
As a reminder, the Isuzu MU-X is a ladder-frame-based 7-seater that is produced in Thailand. The big news is that Isuzu South Africa has confirmed the introduction of a pocket-friendly 1.9 LS derivative that will be hitting showrooms in the 3rd quarter of 2023. Its engine has peak outputs of 110 kW and 350 Nm.
For now, however, the Isuzu MU-X range gains another 4×4 derivative (in the shape of the 3.0 LSE), which brings the entire range count to 5, but what’s actually changed in this model-year update? Visually, the MY23 Isuzu MU-X features colour changes to its frontal elements (such as the darker hue of the grille), plus tweaks to the headlights, fog- and taillamps. There are new (and larger) alloy wheels too: LS derivatives are fitted with 18-inch items, while the flagship Onyx version sports new 20-inch rims. There’s a new colour option: Norwegian Blue, which replaces the brown exterior finish. Privacy glass is standard across the range, as are leather seats, which Isuzu says have been tweaked for added comfort.
MIXED 2022 STELLANTIS RESULTS
Stellantis had mixed results in 2022. On the one hand, it managed to increase its operating margin by 1.2 percentage points between 2021 and 2022, becoming one of the most profitable automakers in the world. On the other hand, the company is selling fewer cars. Stellantis sold 5.84 million vehicles worldwide last year. It was the fourth largest automaker behind Toyota, Volkswagen, and Hyundai Group with Kia. In addition to its strong position in Europe and North America, it has consolidated itself as the leading manufacturer in Latin America. However, it continues to play a marginal role in Asia, the world’s most important automotive market.
The 2022 volume is at odds with what these groups were selling separately years ago, pre-Stellantis. In fact, it represents only 58 percent of the peak sales recorded in 2007, when the groups together sold 10.04 million units. In other words, sales have dropped a whopping 42 percent in 15 years. Conversely, Volkswagen Group’s volume increased from 6.2 million units in 2007 to 8.3 million units last year.
NEW X-RAY SPEED CAMERAS
New speed camera installed alongside a busy UK road is using artificial intelligence to look inside driver’s cars – detecting offences such as using a mobile phone or not wearing a seatblet. The camera deploys 4D cameras, radar and high-resolution imaging to detect drivers breaking the rules. The Redspeed Sentio camera is being trialled on one route ahead of potential roll-out across the country, reports The Sun. The camera can monitor traffic across six lanes both day and night, using solar power to ensure it is never off. Redspeed International said: “Sentio is designed to be whatever camera you want it to be. In combining several key enforcement applications and having AI at its heart, Redspeed Sentio has the built-in modular flexibility, capability and scalability to meet virtually any future challenge.”
