FUEL EFFICIENCY:  The new range has been extensively tested in South Africa to ensure it delivers to customer expectations

By Ali Mphaki

March 7,2024, was a day well-spent sampling the recently launched Tata range of multipurpose heavy-duty trucks, namely the Ultra T.9 and Ultra T.14, at the Gerotek facility in Pretoria.

The Indian manufacturer with a footprint of more than 30 dealers in South Africa, had invited a group of journos to put pedal to metal on their new offerings punted as a showcase of Tata’s capabilities in commercial vehicles, but also their commitment to the South African market.

Having been fed and pampered with PR talk about the virtues of both newcomers – they are most fuel efficient,  they are designed to fulfil the rising need for safer, smarter and greener cargo mobility etc. – the proof of the pudding, as the saying goes, had to be in the eating.

From the exterior, both the Ultra T.9 and Ultra T.14 look the part –  modern, robust and well suited for a wide variety of conventional and specialist logistics applications including bakery, fast-moving consumer goods, white goods, agriculture and construction.

From a height perspective, even for a six-foot hunk like myself, getting into both trucks required a bit of arm and leg stretching to reach the lower side step and the side handle mounted high-up the side door.

A portable step would be ideal for short-limbed drivers to ingress the trucks. The Ultra T.9 wears tyre size 215/75R 17.5 while the Ultra T.14 comes shodded in 275/BOR22 5 size. Both models boast a 2x4x1 number of tyres.

Once inside, however, the wide windscreen and high seating position immediately makes you feel like a master of all you survey. Ground clearance for the T.9 is 185.5mm.

The interior of both the Ultra T.9 and Ultra T.14 boast a walk-through cabin, dashboard-mounted gear lever, and power steering. Did I mention both models come with mechanically suspended seats for safe and fatigue-free driving?

The range also has power and economy driving modes. First lets check out the Ultra T.9 in some detail: Under the hood is a 3.3-litre engine which delivers maximum torque output of 450Nm at 1500 -2200 revs per minute.

There was enough power from the motor as we raced round the Gerotek track, with yours truly clocking a top speed of 100km/h from the Ultra T.9  – brisk enough for you to make those deliveries on time. Top speed for the Ultra T.9 is 105km/h.

What further impressed was its booster assisted clutch which comes in handy when you decline especially when the vehicle is loaded. At a tap of the foot the vehicle automatically adjusts and reduces its speed allowing for safer and fuel efficient driving.

With a gross vehicle mass rating of 8890 and a minimum turning circle of 12.9, the Ultra T.9 at times felt sedan-like and held a promise of thousands and thousands of fatigue-free driving.

The Ultra T.14:

With a wheelbase of 5300 mm and maximum power output of 132kW@2400 revs per minute, the Ultra T.14 makes for a strong value proposition for those long heavy loaded hauls.

Boasting a 5.0 ℓ engine with six-speed transmission and antilock braking system, this model is sure to provide a reliable solution to comfortably carry heavy loads over long distances and rough terrains.

Even without a load, the Ultra T.14 carried on with its business seamlessly and effortlessly, its parabolic suspension in tow for rugged and uninterrupted operations.

The maximum permissable rear axle weight is 9000kg.

SUMMARY:

Over the past three decades, Tata commercial vehicles have steadily earned a reputation with their  functionality, high productivity,  comfort, advanced connectivity and performance.

Both the Ultra T.9 and Ultra T.14 are smart and  future-ready products engineered to cater to a diverse set of applications, deliver higher performance and vehicle utilisation, and more uptime and revenue.

The two newcomers have been designed keeping in mind the specific requirements of the discerning South African fleet operators who seek power and fuel efficiency. The new range has been extensively tested in South Africa to ensure it delivers.

Was I sold?

You bet it yes.

Tata is indeed on the move.

Both models come with a five-year or 500 000 km warranty.

MOTORING:

Briefs

PUMP RELIEF

Motorists can expect a “drop of relief” in petrol prices come April and the Easter holidays, with the latest data showing somewhat of smaller increase than the start of the month’s hefty hike. Diesel users will – hopefully – see a marginal price cut at the pumps.

According to mid-month data from the Central Energy Fund (CEF), petrol prices are currently showing an increase of about nine to 10 cents a litre, while diesel is slated to come down by 34 and 38 cents for both grades in April. This is down significantly from the over R1/ litre under-recovery at the start of the month. Illuminated paraffin is expected to drop by about 47 cents a litre.

BENTLEY GOES ELECTRIC

Popular manufacturer Bentley is gearing up to launch, in 2025, the first of five electric models that will make up its model range by 2030. The iconic brand will offer only electric cars from 2026.

Bentley’s design director Robin Page told Autocar: “You have to be honest about the fact that an EV doesn’t need a full, open grille so there’s an opportunity for a new kind of front feature, a chance to play with lights perhaps.

“Then, of course, your car has to be distinctive from a distance: you want people to recognise the new full-electric Bentley for what it is.”

AUDI’S TECH LEAP

The new Audi Q6 E-tron represents a “technological leap”, the brand’s boss Gernot Döllner has claimed, as its first model built on a high-tech new platform.

The BMW iX3 and Jaguar I-Pace rival will be launched with a choice of dual-motor all-wheel-drive powertrains, including a range-topping SQ6 E-tron with up to 510bhp.

It will sit between the Q4 E-tron and Q8 E-tron in Audi’s bespoke electric SUV line-up. But while the new SUV’s exterior styling is a relatively conservative development of those existing models, the technology it features promises a significant step forward from the firm’s previous EVs.

TRUMP SCREWS CHINESE

FORMER US president Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 100 per cent tariff on Chinese vehicles built in Mexico if re-elected.

Addressing Chinese president Xi Jinping directly during a rally speech in Ohio this weekend, Trump said he would double the vehicle levy he had previously proposed on vehicles built in Mexico, while also threatening a 50 per cent tariff on Chinese cars produced elsewhere, a 60 per cent tariff on “all other Chinese-made goods” and a 10 per cent tariff on goods produced outside of the United States.

“Those big monster car manufacturing plants you are building in Mexico right now and you think you are going to get that – not hire Americans and you’re going to sell the car to us, no,” said Trump.

THIEVES LOVE MY CAR

Car thieves have different preferences depending on the region – in the US they usually go for full-size trucks or Hyundai/Kia models and in the UK they are obsessed with Range Rovers, but what about Japan? The obvious answer is Toyota / Lexus, as the automaker occupies 9 out of 10 spots in Japan’s top 10 list of most stolen vehicles for 2023.

The Toyota Land Cruiser retains the number-one spot for a third consecutive year, showing that thieves appreciate spacious, reliable, and off-road capable SUVs. Next up is the Toyota Alphard minivan followed by the Toyota Prius.

BOKSIE SHAY’ iMOTO

Cape Town spinning fans finally got a slice of the Red Bull Shay’ iMoto action, when the 2024 national championship event hit the Mother City on Saturday, March 16.

Performing in front of a home crowd of almost 4,000 fans at a specially created venue in Canal Walk, Chadwin ‘Boksie’ Hadjie emerged as the latest star of this fascinating motorsport genre.

The Capetonian finished runner up in the 2021 event and this year’s finale saw him defeat two-time defending champion Samkeliso ‘Sam Sam’ Thubane.