In this week's motoring news you need to know: Honda could be targeting the Toyota Fortuner (or just replacing the BR-V), Nissan South Africa builds a better Navara, the Subaru Outback is likely going to be the best car you'll never buy and Ferrari continues the hold the flame aloft for the mighty V12.
Honda N7X – your uber has arrived
Is the N7X concept merely a precursor to a vehicle that will be popular with Uber XL operators… or is there more to it? Honda will have to provide more, um, clarity and purpose if it wants to step out of the shadow, sharpen up that katana, down the saki and take the fight to its fellow Japanese brand Toyota and its omnipotent Fortuner, which is as much of a household brand as Sunlight Liquid and Q20.
Read more: New Honda N7X Shown with 7-Seats
Honda’s latest would-be offering in the people-carrying sector looks like a bit of a non-event so far, but bear in mind the newcomer is but in the introductory phase at this point – anything can happen in between now and when the model actually goes into production. Let’s hope that it will emerge as a legitimate Fortuner rival which will help to keep Toyota's mainstay honest. If there aren’t any distinguishing factors between the N7X and the current, Uber-spec BR-V, another disappointment is on the cards. It’s about time that Honda steps things up, though. It'd be the honourable thing to do.
Nissan Navara – Time to shine
Stop me if I've said this before, but the standards of the South African leisure bakkie market have evolved a lot through the years. Toyota, Ford and, to a lesser extent, Isuzu have led that charge in (what can only be) a frantic bid to please the market at all costs. More luxury, more premium features, more of the stuff a premium sedan has… but in a bakkie. It sounds a bit silly to say it, but we've made a monster.
Read more: Nissan Navara (2021) Prototype Drive
One manufacturer that has, however, been a little slow on the uptake is Nissan, which hasn't developed its Navara with the same kind of urgency or intensity that Toyota and Ford have devoted to their hyper-evolved Hilux and Ranger respectively. However, that could all be changing – if we peel away the layers of fanfare around the release of the new Navara, we can see that, by and large, there are some solid underpinnings that the manufacturer has honed/improved to give the people the kind of bakkie they demand. Who knows? It might even have the ability to go off-road (forgive my sarcasm).
Subaru Outback – The identity crisis
Subaru is a brand that has been kind of lurking for the past decade (or so). The champion of symmetrical all-wheel-drive (AWD) passenger cars doesn't dominate in any segment, nor does it have the sheer clout of its ally Toyota, but that’s okay because it's a brand that serves its purpose. Reborn (quite literally) in the rally world, Subaru followed in the footsteps of Lancia (with the Integrale), attracted a cult-like following with the Impreza WRX STi and amassed loyal customers across the globe, especially in the US. In fact, the boxer-engine-and-AWD combo has been intrinsic to the brand’s lasting success.
Read more: New Subaru Outback (2021) Specs & Price
Since the heady days of its involvement in the WRC (that's where the firm's Rally Blue paint finish comes from), Suburu has dropped its boy-racer image and eased into a more mature, people-carrying role. That's “adulting” (we all have to go through it). Subaru’s latest Outback looks to continue in that unflappable all-purpose role even though it's not entirely clear whether the model's an SUV or an estate!
I also can't help but wonder if someone who owned a WRX STI (GC8-generation) in the '90s would stroll into a Subaru dealer today (while pushing a pram and with a spouse and couple more kids in tow) to test the new Outback. Do you know what? The Outback's not inexpensive, but they just might; yes, indeed, Subaru fans are that loyal.
Ferrari 812 Competizione – ‘sustainable’ V12 motoring
What if I told you that V12s will be around for the next 30 years – there isn’t anything to worry about, they're not being killed off? It's a comforting thought and well, looky here. Despite the motoring world finding itself in the convoluted transition between ICE age retirement and the EV revolution, if you’re able to see the wood for the trees you’ll know that V12 engines and cars like the 812 Competizione will be around for some time. Why? Because as long as rich customers want V12s, boutique brands like Ferrari will happily produce them and charge you (very dearly) for the privilege of owning a vehicle with a full dozen cylinders wedged under its bonnet. Believe me, the mighty buck will invariably find a way to circumvent emissions laws and defy those myriad impassioned rants made at environmental forums.
Read more: Ferrari 812 Competizione Goes Official
The V12 engine has been at the epicentre of nostalgic motoring provocation and no brand has captured that raw emotion quite like Ferrari, which has embedded the 12-pot into its DNA ever since old man Enzo threw his first tantrum. The V12 will remain after its maker ceases production and disappears. The British Motor Corporation might be no more, but its body panel jigs for the original MINI have since been acquired and used to prepare completely new cars. There are other "restomod" success stories and the same will happen if people still want V12-powered cars in future (provided they can afford 'em).
