Tata Aria
Let’s move some people
Two years ago, Tata lumped its cars with its trucks at JIMS.
For 2013, the passenger vehicles were separate and more numerous, suggesting
that the company has big plans. The new Aria MPV is said to provide up to 7 seats
in a substantial crossover bodyshell. Mechanically it's well up to current
standards, with safety features that include crumple zones, side impact beams,
six airbags, Electronic Stability Control, Traction Control, ABS and park
distance control.
Tata Aria
Wörthersee VW Amarok
Sarel’s kind of bakkie
SA Motorsport Legend Sarel van der Merwe got up close and
personal with a rather potent bakkie, the Wörthersee VW Amarok.
This particular Amarok's only other appearance to date has
been at the GTI Festival in Wörthersee, Austria. Those dismissive types who
reckon the Amarok could do with more oomph will be taken aback at the VW V6
turbodiesel's 200 kW and 600 N.m output. That's capable of slingshotting the VW
from standstill to 100 km/h in less than 8 seconds. Van der Merwe is, of
course, a longtime VW motorsport associate and is currently linked with the
annual Spirit of Africa Off-Road competition.
Wörthersee VW
Amarok
Mazda3 and Mazda6
Now striking out on its own and no longer directly linked
with Ford, Mazda displayed its striking new 3 and 6. Having driven the new 3,
our US colleague Michael Austin is impressed by the car's high-tech features,
but reckons that what really matters is that even the cheapest 3 makes us wish
all cars were this fun to drive. Hit a bump while screaming around a corner and
the car stays settled, he says. And if you need to make a correction, the
steering is incredibly precise and accurate. Even the automatic transmission
gets with the program, holding gears through bends and downshifting during
braking. If you're looking for a big back seat, the back of the Mazda3 might be
too cramped for you. But, otherwise, there's a lot to love about this car.
Mazda3 and Mazda6
