CHANGAN RETURNS
Under The Jameel Motors Umbrella
Images © JAMEEL MOTORS
Remember the Chana Star bakkie and the small Chana Benni hatchback? Well, they represent Chinese auto giant Changan’s first foray into the South African market (under the Autohaus Göbel banner), back in 2006.
Of dubious quality and with limited dealer support, the Star soon faded, and the Benni (called the Changan BenBen in China) did not last long either…and the Chinese company left the country in 2018. Now, Changan is back, under the auspices of the Saudi Arabia-based company Jameel Motors.
Jameel Motors, founded 80 years ago, is a leading mobility solutions provider and partner to automotive brands such as Changan Automobile. The company has now signed an agreement to distribute Changan-manufactured sports utility vehicles (SUVs), sedans, pickups and new energy vehicles (NEVs) in South Africa.
FIVE CHANGAN BRANDS
Changan produces and sells vehicles primarily under five brands names: Changan Auto (SUVs, passenger cars), Changan Nevo (entry level premium extended range EVs), Deepal (NEVs), Avatr (premium EVs) and Kaicene (commercial vehicles, light trucks and MPVs), as well as under joint ventures such as Changan Ford and Changan Mazda.
Jameel Motors will initially focus on locally distributing Changan and Deepal products, and here the company will be headed by Marinus Venter, an accomplished professional with 18 years of experience leading automotive brands. Vehicles are planned to be available for purchase by the fourth quarter of 2025.
Although Jameel Motors did not share detailed information on possible models for South Africa, the Changan Hunter one-ton pickup will most likely be part of the mix. Also known as the Kaicene F70, the Hunter may look familiar, as it is essentially the same vehicle as the Peugeot Landtrek, available with a 2.4-litre turbodiesel engine or a range-extended electric vehicle (REEV) powertrain.
The Deepal S07 compact crossover SUV was jointly developed with Huawei and Chinese battery company CATL and first introduced in 2023. It is offered in EV and EREV (extended range EV) versions, with a 70 kW 1.5-litre engine paired with a 175 kW electric motor and 39.05 kWh battery pack for the EREV, and a 160 kW electric motor for the EV variant.
A third possible model is the Changan X7 Plus, previously called Oshan X7, a five and seven-seat mid-size SUV. It was renamed Changan after the Oshan brand was discontinued last year. The X7 Plus is powered by a 1.5-litre turbo engine producing 131 kW and 265 Nm of torque mated to a seven-speed DCT.
There is also an electric version with a range of about 400 km.
COLLECTOR’S ITEM
Mercedes-Benz G-Class Edition
Image © MERCEDES-BENZ SOUTH AFRICA
The Mercedes-Benz G-Class Edition STRONGER THAN THE 1980s fulfils the unprecedented demand created by the 500,000th version of the G-Class when it rolled off the production line in 2023. With a blend of historic colours, exclusive design elements and equipment details from the legendary 280 GE, it captures the magic of the off-road legend’s origins.
It is a tribute to the first G-Class model series W460, which captured people’s hearts in the 1980s with its unique combination of superior on- and off-road capability, and laid the foundations for the success story and cult status of the “Geländewagen” icon. It is limited to 460 units, making it a highly desirable collector’s item for G-Class enthusiasts.
Available as a G450d, it combines state-of-the-art technology and comfort with the charm of the 1980s. Customers can choose between two nostalgic colours, namely agave green solid and Colorado beige solid, among the first paint options for the G-Class, and are inextricably linked with its cult status. In keeping with the historic paint colours, the turn signal indicators are orange.
Rounding off the retro the front, grille, bumpers, wheel arches and exterior mirror housings are finished in black, the Mercedes star on the bonnet takes the design of the historic emblem and the rear door is adorned with an original 1980s part – a silver brand badge with black “Mercedes‑Benz” lettering – and an edition-specific spare wheel cover.
Selected equipment from the Professional Line Exterior, such as mud flaps, head lamp protection grilles, and darkened head lamps, ensures a striking off-road look. The interior pays homage to the early days with dove grey fabric centres for the black leather seats, special trim moulding and front door sill panels featuring the topography of the Schöckl mountain near Graz, the test track where the G-Class has proven its off-road capabilities since 1979.
The traditional “Schöckl Proved” badge at the base of the B-pillar is designed in a classic 1980s style. Each vehicle also features a “1 of 460” lettering on the centre console, further underlining its exclusivity. The Mercedes-Benz G-Class Edition STRONGER THAN THE 1980s is now available for order at a starting price of around R3.8 million.
GRAND CRETA FORTIFIED
Hyundai Alcazar
Image © HYUNDAI SOUTH AFRICA
Launched here in March 2022 as the Grand Creta, the long-wheelbase, three-row version of the Creta is now set to return to South Africa in facelifted form as the Hyundai Alcazar.
The facelifted version of the compact crossover SUV – available with a seven-seat or six-seat (with captain seats) configuration – was unveiled in India last year, showcasing a refreshed design and upgraded features. Exterior updates include a redesigned front grille, a new front and rear fascia, full-width LED headlights and taillights, and 18″ wheels on top derivatives.
In the interior, the cabin now has a larger 10.25″ touchscreen infotainment system, similar to the one found in the Creta, and a 10.25″ digital instrument cluster. Additional updates include premium upholstery options, ambient lighting, safety systems including ABS, EBD, and VSM, and advanced Level 2 ADAS features.
Besides styling changes, the most significant difference between the facelifted and current version in India is a new, slightly more powerful 1.5-litre T-GDi turbo-petrol engine set to replace the existing 2.0-litre Nu naturally-aspirated petrol engine.
However, indications are that the 2.0-litre engine (117 kW and 191 Nm) will remain in the local Alcazar range, together with a 1.5-litre turbodiesel engine (84 kW and 250 Nm). Both engines will be paired with a six-speed automatic transmission.
The Alcazar range will be made up of three variants, available in a choice of six exterior colours (Starry Night, Titan Grey Metallic, Titan Grey Matte, Fiery Red, Atlas White and Abyss Black), kicking off with the petrol-fed 2.0 Executive AT, offered at a highly competitive R499,900, the diesel-driven Alcazar 1.5D Executive AT, priced at R599,900, and the 1.5D Elite AT for R669,900.
