RUMOUR HAS IT...
RECALLING THE RECALLS
With the focus this week on new models being revealed in Geneva, we decided to start with the latest news on the safety recall front.
The biggest piece of recall news comes from Daimler. The company is recalling 1-million vehicles worldwide because of a risk of fire. So far 51 models have caught fire with no injuries reported.
Jeanette Clark, manager of corporate affairs at MercedesBenz SA, has advised Motor News that 5,100 vehicles are affected in SA. The company is still trying to ascertain exactly which models are included locally but globally the recall affects quite a few models.
“Daimler AG has discovered that on certain A-/B-/C-/EClass as well as CLA, GLA and GLC vehicles the starting current limiter could overload under unique conditions during the starting procedure,” Clark told us.
“As our top priority is the safety of our customers, all affected vehicles will be installed, as a precautionary measure, with an additional fuse in the electric line to the starter. This is being done free of charge wherever vehicles are affected.”
Daimler has said it has to wait for the production of sufficient parts and that the recall will begin around the middle of 2017.
Mercedes-Benz has been keeping us in the loop since the global recall campaign was announced last Friday, so as soon as we have more news we will bring it to you.
Audi is recalling even more cars — 1.1-million — because of a risk that coolant pumps could overheat. Audi SA has confirmed that only 62 models, including the A4, A6 and A8, are part of the South African recall. A company spokesperson told us owners are being contacted to bring in their cars to be fixed.
Even these big numbers pale in comparison to the global Takata airbag saga, which has so far seen as many as 70-million vehicles recalled. The latest model to hit the recall list is the Mitsubishi Pajero. Mitsubishi Motors SA has confirmed that 7,449 Pajero models are included in the recall campaign.
Owners are being contacted or are advised to take their car to their dealership where the airbag will be replaced free of charge. You can check the Mitsubishi Motors SA website to see if your Pajero is included.
TESTING, TESTING…
Last October we reported that Jaguar had trademarked the name E-Pace. More news emerged about it early this year but Jaguar refused to comment on the possibility of such a model.
Then test vehicles were spotted at last week’s international launch of the Alfa Romeo Stelvio in Switzerland. We did think it might have been a surprise reveal at Geneva but the company clearly did not want to steal any thunder from the new Range Rover Velar. Instead, Autocar is reporting that the EPace will be revealed in May before it goes on sale, probably at the end of 2017.
Staying with SUVs, BMW has released pictures of the next-generation X3 testing north of the Arctic Circle. The company has not revealed any information on the new model.
The X3 is a big deal for SA because it will replace 3 Series production when BMW begins manufacturing the new SUV at its plant in Rosslyn, near Pretoria. The new X3 is likely to debut in 2018.
BMW has not released pictures of the replacement for the 6 Series testing, leaving it up to the professional spies. The rumour is that BMW will kill off the 6 Series and replace it with a revival of the 8 Series nameplate, expected to make its debut towards the end of the year.