If you think that Mercedes-Benz will never stoop to down-sizing its potent AMG cars you are in for a huge surprise because they have done just that and in the process created a two-litre engine that is the hottest four-pot engine in general production.
It's as graceful and as fast as any member of the cat family, gentle and adorable when in purring mood and quick to show its claws when provoked -- all of which makes the new XF Jaguar the classy cat it is.
To plug an important price and size gap between its i20 and i30 models Hyundai has launched another attack on the highly competitive B-segment with the introduction of a neat and practical five-door Accent hatchback.
Suzuki's charming but average looking previous SX4 has matured into a bigger and more ruggedly handsome player in the extremely competitive crossover segment, attractively priced and with enough on-board goodies for it to go eyeball to eyeball with the well-entrenched veterans who do daily battle for the hearts and wallets of South African buyers.
Attracted by the sweet sounds of rustling paper money and the jingle of cash registers Peugeot has taken its first brave steps into the lucrative and growing crossover market with a new 2008 based on the same platform as its cheeky 208 hatchback.
Korean carmaker Hyundai has dollied up its popular ix35 SUV range with a couple of neat cosmetic touches and an injection of mid-life rejuvenation to give a further boost to its steady sales flow out of showrooms.
Kia has updated its popular Sportage range and smartened it up with bits of fancy make-up, exterior and inside enhancements, engine and transmission upgrades and glossy cabin comforts.
Suzuki has extended its popular Swift range with two new youthful, fresh-faced and affordable models that are as much fun to drive as toasting a Chapman’s Peak summer sunset with a bottle of chilled sparkling wine.
Probably the toughest competition in the local car market is the ongoing battle between the Germans Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz and just as Merc and BMW were happily watching their sales figures grow in the A segment of the market, Audi muscles in on the scene with its cute new A3 sedan.
