Mad Manny's Meandering Motoring Musings

[PsyPhin]

Had Dinner with KurtG & Andreas last night.
Andreas mentioned that they are looking & launching a TANK 300 SFA with a V6.
I thought he was becoming delusional, so I did a fact check...

Read here...

https://www.drive.com.au/news/2025-gwm- ... -revealed/

GWM has revealed what may be its most hardcore off-roader yet, a GWM Tank 300 with live front and rear axles and taller tyres to take on the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon.

And there is a chance it could use a new V8 – a 4.0-litre twin-turbo, plug-in hybrid-assisted unit currently in development – based on suggestions by GWM in a presentation at the Shanghai motor show.

It is named after the Hooke Trail, an off-road track through a mountain range in western China.

If they launch this, even with only the 2.4 Diesel, Wrangler sales will drop by 3 or 4 a month to Zero...

4L V8 Hybrid*
SFA
https://www.drive.com.au/news/2025-gwm- ... -revealed/

This is going to confuse the hardcore offroad crowd

[Mad Manny]

Nissan is on deep trouble, obviously, they've been in trouble since before the Carlos Ghosn days.
They may close their SA plant.
Other than the Cash cow they haven't really sold a competitive vehicle in decades.
So no loss in my opinion....

[Mad Manny]

With the Rand below R18.00 to the Yankee Dolla & oil still below USD67/bbl, we should get another fuel price decrease in June.
Obviously, two events happening today:
how Spineless Cyril handles his meeting with The Donald and what the Budget holds
may affect things, bit if both go well diesel (the nectar of the God's) may drop below R18 per litre.
This means is will be less than double what it cost in 2010.
Very few things cost as little as double their 2010 prices, which means fuel has become, relatively, cheap....

[jakeslouw]

This is going to confuse the hardcore offroad crowd

Why? We all know SFA is best. The hybrid issue is just a marketing thing. The V8 is a nice idea.

[Trolly Fan]

Nissan is on deep trouble, obviously, they've been in trouble since before the Carlos Ghosn days.
They may close their SA plant.
Other than the Cash cow they haven't really sold a competitive vehicle in decades.
So no loss in my opinion....

Nissan made two great products
The GTR and, you know the other one.
The GTR edition that was launched in 2007 put them back on the map in a way few other products in automotive history ever did.
Also, the latest Y63 Patrol, admittedly a softroader (like the LC 300) but still pretty awesome car.

Yes, they are sadly on their way out, but I would not describe it as decades without competitive vehicles.

[BushWacker]

... I've always been weary of car salesmen
but ones that that travel around IN suitcases & boxes
should not be trusted ... IMO ...

[Redman]

Nissan is on deep trouble, obviously, they've been in trouble since before the Carlos Ghosn days.
They may close their SA plant.
Other than the Cash cow they haven't really sold a competitive vehicle in decades.
So no loss in my opinion....

Although they seem to be struggling globally, I do think that Nissan South Africa hasn't done them any favours. Those bunch in Rosslyn are as useful as Hellen Keller's alarm clock.

[Mad Manny]

I see LGBTQI Jaguar has stopped selling new vehicles in SA & the UK.
Apparently they will become an EV only brand like Tesla & BYD, but targeting the Woke market. They don't seem to have Dovettailed transition well.

But as far as I'm concerned, JLR can follow Nissan out the door.

[jakeslouw]

JLR almost exclusively targets the Woke. That New Defender is probably the most bling Sandton mommy taxi I've ever seen.

[PsyPhin]

This is going to confuse the hardcore offroad crowd

Why? We all know SFA is best. The hybrid issue is just a marketing thing. The V8 is a nice idea.

Was a poke at he guys who say SFA V8 triple locked 4x4s are the real deal.

Now a Chinese (half proven) company is doing it and probably for the 1/3 of the price as any other matching car, and it is a hybrid. Interesting times.

Seems more of a pipe dream from GWM right now as I dont see any in actual PRD.

[Mad Manny]

I agree Kevin.
One thing I will say for the Chinese.
Surprisingly no recalls I've heard of.
Also, they tend to grab the headlines.

But the most impressive is the development turn around times.

Toyota take years to bring a new vehicle to market.
They took years to do the R&D and testing of the 2.8 Cruiser.
This is a engine they had for over 10 years in a 40 year old body.
Yet they took years to bring it to market.
The Chinese go from concept to launch in a matter of months.

[Mad Manny]

TOKYO - Shares in Hino Motors, the truck-making unit of Japanese auto giant Toyota, plunged on Wednesday after it announced a merger with a subsidiary of Germany's Daimler Truck.


The move is seen as an attempt to stay competitive at a time when global automakers are faced with US trade tariff uncertainty and new Chinese rivals.

The companies had said Tuesday that the integration of Hino and Daimler's subsidiary Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus would "establish a new strong Japanese truck powerhouse".

They said they aimed to complete the merger, on an equal footing under a listed holding company, by April 2026.


Sumnary: Hino is merging with Mitsubishi Fuso....

[jakeslouw]

Tata and FAW are kicking serious ass in ZA when it comes to heavy trucks

[Mad Manny]

https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/f ... jero-takes

Forget the mini Toyota LandCruiser FJ and 2026 Suzuki Jimny: Mini Mitsubishi Pajero takes shape as tough little 4WD with production firming for next year

Interesting....

[grips]

News to me. I did not know that Mitsubishi are still able to build something new.