Jaguar F-Pace
Jag says that its new crossover is the “ultimate practical sportscar,” so there’s no need to worry that it might steal sales away from the Land Rover department. The F-Pace has not been built with off-road performance in mind, but rather a nice ribbon of smooth tarmac, like the Franschoek Pass.
The F-Pace uses the same aluminium platform as the XE and XF sedans and measures in at 4731mm long and 2874mm wide. Jag claims the boot can swallow 650 litres.
A multitude of drivetrain options will be available. The range kicks off with a 2,0-litre turbocharged diesel with rear- or all-wheel drive. A 2,0-litre turbocharged petrol engine with rear-wheel drive and a 3,0-litre turbodiesel all-wheel drive are also included.
The main act, and the one we’re most interested in, is the 3,0-litre supercharged petrol. With this engine the F-Pace can hustle to 100km/h in 5,1 seconds and on to a top speed of 250km/h.
The F-Pace will also come with a Jaguar Activity Key, which is a waterproof mix between a wristband and a key.
Land Rover Discovery Sport Dynamic
While the F-Pace will serve the customer in need of something sporty, the Discovery Sport Dynamic will cater for the needs of someone who wants something more dual purpose.
The Dynamic model comes with a number of unique, model-specific details, including 19- or 20-inch alloy wheels in a satin grey or gloss black finish, Narvik Black inserts and a few additional exterior trimmings.
Land Rover also revealed that the Discovery will soon be available with the new All Terrain Progress Control, which allows the driver to set and maintain a constant speed in off-road conditions.
Volkswagen Tiguan
Volkswagen’s all-new Tiguan finally made its debut, and as we suspected, the new model is basically a toned-down version of the stylish Cross Coupe GTE.
The new Tiguan weighs 50kg lighter, despite being 60mm longer and 30mm wider than the outgoing model. Luggage capacity has also been boosted to an impressive 615 litres.
It will be launched with four turbocharged petrol engines, with power outputs ranging from 92kW to 162kW. Four turbodiesel will also join the line-up and will offer options ranging from 85kW all the way to 176kW.
Base engines will be available in front-wheel drive only, but VW’s 4Motion will be offered as standard on some models and an optional extra on others. A claimed ground-clearance of 200mm should make it rather useful off-road as well.
The 4Motion system comes with an Active Control switch on the centre console, which gives the driver the option of choosing between four selectable driving modes, including on-road, snow, off-road and off-road individual.
Bentley Bentayga
If you have an unlimited supply of cash and are looking for the most exclusive SUV money can buy, this is the car for you.
The Bentayga is equipped with a twin-turbo, 6,0-litre W12 engine, which produces 423kW and 700Nm of torque. This allows the Bentayga to reach a claimed top-speed of 301km/h, making it the fastest standard production SUV ever.
The interior will be crafted by hand in Britain and will be as luxurious as anything else that has rolled off Bentley’s factory floor in the past.
“The Bentayga is truly the Bentley of SUVs. It redefines luxury in the SUV sector and offers a genuine Bentley experience in any environment, thanks to a combination of unparalleled attention to detail, go-anywhere ability and cutting-edge technology. With this extraordinary car we are looking forward to an exciting period of strong growth and sales success for Bentley. The Bentayga is the next step in our brand’s bold future,” said Wolfgang Dürheimer, chairman and chief executive of Bentley Motors.
Nissan Navara
The Euro-spec Navara made its debut, and while it looks no different than the NP300 made for other parts of the world, it does have a new 2,3-litre turbocharged diesel engine.
This powertrain is claimed to be 24% more efficient than the powertrain it replaces. It develops 118kW with one turbocharger and 140kW with a twin-turbo setup.
The new Navara will be available with two- or four-wheel drive with a six-speed manual as standard and a seven-speed automatic as an optional extra.
Kia Sportage
The fourth-generation Sportage stole the show with its new look.
Kia claims that it features a host of advanced new technology and greater overall quality.
Though we haven’t seen images of it yet, the new interior is claimed to be more practical and it will house a range of standard features that will improve comfort, convenience, connectivity and safety.
The engine line-up will consist of a few well-known and updates powertrains, as well as all-new engines and transmissions.
It will arrive in SA in the first quarter of 2016.