From the editor’s desk
Within the adulation and fanfare that greeted the recent unveiling of a purportedly production-ready example of Elon Musk’s vision for the future of mobility – dubbed the Cybertruck – one of the comments that stuck with me is the idea that its design and packaging has rescued the motoring world from the unbearable boredom of what’s currently on offer elsewhere. Have we simply been going through the motions and accepting mediocrity when it comes to the shape of our chosen chariots? And does the arrival of a vehicle like the Cybertruck, with its sharp pro le chiselled from sheets of stainless steel,
nally signal relief from safe and predictable new car purchasing decisions?
It seems unlikely Mr Musk has the appetite to set up shop in the country of his birth. Even then, a vehicle the size and shape of the Cybertruck falls into the category of pick-up truck that simply does not resonate with a South African audience. Until the nevertheless impressive, future-focused underthe-skin technology of Elon’s bakkie makes its way into more commercially viable (read volume) applications, I predict a fair number of local doublecab buyers will not be devastated at the news we remain beholden to the likes of the modern Ford Ranger, forthcoming new Mitsubishi Triton, ruggedly reliable Isuzu D-max (including in AT35 form) or the current Toyota Hilux package.
With sand from wins at the famous Dakar rally ltered through the vacuum cleaners at its Durbanbased workshop – and the Gazoo Racing badge reputation at an all-time high – the arrival of a new Hilux Gr-sport, complete with a wide-body stance and uprated underpinnings, looks set to be our humble Cybertruck moment in terms of excitement and anticipation.
We bring you a more affordable all-electric prospect in the form of Volvo’s EX30 and, in the absence of a bulletproof exoskeleton, our consumer feature offers advice on how to armour your vehicle.
Ahead of the 67th year of CAR magazine, we look forward to bringing you the best possible buying advice, based on, well, the altogether boring and predictable selection of vehicles available to our market. And we are going to make the most of it, too.