Bucket Seat: Toyota SA Prospection Plant officially re-opens

Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) has announced that its Prospecton Plant in Durban has resumed operations after production was halted due to damages caused by floods in the facility. The announcement was made at a “reopening ceremony” attended by members of the media, TSAM top brass as well as the newly elected Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Nomusa Dube-Ncube, and Siboniso Duma, MEC of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs.

TSAM was enjoying a healthy market share of 30% – on average – before its production plant in Durban was submerged in water following the devastating floods that engulfed parts of KwaZulu-Natal in April. This immediately put TSAM on the backfoot, with its market share shrinking to 17%, 18,1% and 16,3% in the months of May, June and July – respectively. Despite this, Toyota held on to it’s number-one position in sales.

TSAM’s Prospecton Plant produces Corolla Cross and Quest as well as segment leaders Hilux, Hiace Ses’fikile and Fortuner – while also assembling a variety of Hino commercial vehicles. All the other production lines have resumed production with the exception of Corolla Quest, which is due to commence on 17 August.  

While the organisation had genuine concerns about witnessing the trail of destruction at the plant, its first priority was the safety and welfare of its employers, contractors as well as their families. This was followed by support to dealers, suppliers, affected communities, and then the recovery of plant operations. 

“We communicated with Japan (Toyota Motor Corporation) on the night of the 12th April; I very quickly got a message back of support and an offer from them to do whatever they could to help. They dispatched a lot of experts to support us, helping us to repair, identify, diagnose and replace and then communicating with suppliers all over the world to source replacement parts,” says President and CEO of TSAM, Andrew Kirby.  

The process towards the plant’s full recovery has been long, with pre-floods level forecasted to be achieved in December. Prior to the floods, operations at the Prospecton Plant were halted due to COVID-19 induced lockdowns in 2020 as well as the civil unrest that brought most businesses to their knees in 2021.    

“Despite these challenges, there was no impact at all to Toyota’s long-term future in South Africa. The commitment to rebuild this site has been incredible. We know that our recovery will not be smooth, but by next year we plan to be stronger and better than we were before.

“TSAM’s operations at Prospecton will actually be better and we plan to use this crisis to try and improve our equipment and upgrade where we can. In fact, we’ve created an internal slogan for our recovery called Rebuilding Better Together. This talks to how we all work together as one team to find a way of renewing and improving our site at the same time,” says Kirby.

The internal slogan also came through during the tour of the plant tour, where various presenters recalled the extent of the damage in their areas and how recovery processes were carried out to ensure that the plant will not susceptible to similar devastation in future. It also became clear that while there were more 4 000 vehicles damaged on site during the floods, the costliest damage was to the plant infrastructure itself – including robots and other machines.

In fact, as Kirby referenced one of his colleagues: “There was not a single square metre of the entire 87 hectares facility that was not affected. In fact, it would be easier to just build a new plant.”

Before introducing KZN Premier Dube-Ncube to the podium, MEC Duma said: “The reopening of the plant is not only good news to Toyota South Africa, but also to the economy of the province. This also shows Toyota’s commitment to investing in the province of KZN as well as the local automotive industry.”

Kirby agreed that there was a scope for TSAM to further bolster the already strong collaborations with the government of KZN. This was also echoed by Premier Dube-Ncube who commented that she would encourage her provincial colleagues to make Toyota the vehicle of choice for her government.   

“On behalf of the government of KZN, the people of KZN, we wish to pay a tribute to Toyota South Africa for the enormous strides that they took in resuscitating operations here at the plant. To all the stakeholders who participated in the clean-up operations, we would really like to thank you as the government of KZN. We know that through your hard work and agility, you were able to save people’s jobs,” says Dube-Ncube.

Bucket Seat: Toyota Corolla Cross Xs Hybrid

It's probably the most important car that Toyota SA has produced in a long time at it's plant in Prospecton, Durban. If you're a local to the city you would know that the area is basically now a mini Toyota City with the motor manufacturing giant occupying majority of the industrial area in Durban's famous south basin. While the plant was famous for producing the Corolla and Hilux over the decades, it's now got a new golden child coming off the production line and that is the all-new Corolla Cross. Toyota, very clever with their thinking opted to make a cross-over version of the much loved Corolla making it the 3rd variant in the offering from the Corolla badge, with the Hatch and Sedan being the other two. What makes the Cross so special is that it also comes with a Hybrid engine option and it's produced locally as well, making it the first model to be locally produced with a Hybrid engine. Exciting times for the plant as they will gain major brownie points in terms of produced low emission vehicles and could pave the way for other Hybrid or EV cars to be produced in South Africa. I recently got to spend some time with the entry level Corolla Cross Hybrid, the Xs and here are my thoughts on the car. 

DESIGN

I'm a massive fan of what Toyota have done with the new Corolla, the sharp edges, sweeping design, futuristic head lights and well rounded off rear end is very attractive, so when I heard about the Cross, I thought it would be much of the same but I was wrong. The design of the Cross seems to be very conservative when compared to the corolla. No sweeping lines, not sharp edges just a no thrills, no fuss design and while it might not jump at you in the pictures, in the metal is does look a big better. I can understand the thinking behind this decision by the design team seeing that it is a brand new model and one they expect to get a lot of sales from, but personally I would have liked a bit more flair to it, I wasn't that wrong in my thinking because shortly after its introduction, Toyota released a list of styling enhancements for the Corolla Cross, to give it that certain something extra to make it stand out. The interior remains exactly the same as the rest of the Corolla range and for me that is perfect because the interior is one of the best on the market given the pricing, its stylish and form functional which is most important in a car like this. 

PERFORMANCE

So the first question I got when people saw me driving this car was, "how's the fuel economy"? And it's quite a valid question in the greater scheme of Hybrid engines. Given the ever rising fuel price, the cost of fully electric vehicles, these Hybrid vehicles are the best option for many to counter the high prices at the pump. When it came to the Corolla Cross Hybrid, from the time I got the car, the average was sitting at 5.0L per 100km, the highest it went up to was 5.5L per 100km, which for my style of driving is unheard off, I tend to be a bit heavy on the foot and even though the car was fitted with that infamous CVT gearbox that groans more than an angry mother-in-law, the car seemed composed at every opportunity and delivered the right amount of power the wheels when needed. The great thing about the Hybrid engine is the silence on start-up, you'd have to check your instrument cluster to realise the car is running, the car uses electric power until it feels that the electric motor can't deliver adequate power required and then the petrol engine kicks in. While many say it can do a max of 50km/h before the engine starts, at times I managed to get up to 80km/h on electric power. A great feature is also the coasting mode where you'd be doing a constant speed on the high-way, like 120km/h and the combustion engine switches off and the pace is maintained by the electric motor. This all aids that great average economy and saves you on your pocket without having you at the pump as you would with a normal car. 

COMFORT

Another thing people asked if the batteries had any negative impact on the car, given that they weigh a lot, people might think this would hamper the balance and even take up space. The answer to both those questions are no, you don't even know the batteries are there thanks to a great design from Toyota. Remember they've been producing Hybrid cars longer than any other manufacturer so they know all the tricks to this technology, in fact they're the brand I trust the most when it comes to Hybrids. Many tried and have failed with the power re-generation, hence they had to swap over to plug-in hybrid models but with Toyota and Lexus, this has never been the case. Coming back to the comfort factor of the Corolla Cross, it rides just as well as the hatch and sedan, its honestly one of the best in its class, being a cross-over you'd expect the ride height to be increased, I mean I did but it remains the same as the others, it might be slightly higher but its definitely not noticeable when you're behind the wheel. In saying that, you'd not going to be venturing up Sani Pass in this thing but rather around town and picking up the kids from school, and for that its perfect. There's no compromise on creature comforts in the cabin with you still getting dual-zone climate control, a big fancy touch screen infotainment center that has built in mobile applications for ease of use. A full multi-control steering wheel and premium feel leather seats, loads of safety stuff including an array of airbags. The cabin space is more than adequate for a family of five, the luggage capacity is huge as well. 

VERDICT

At the beginning of this review I said this car was going to be very important for the brand and its already proving to be, with sales hitting new highs for the brand in this segment. It's over-took the Corolla sedan sales which was a tough act to beat but with such an attractive price tag versus what you getting, its a no brainer for many to opt for this. As mentioned, with the various styling packs available now, it gives customers a chance to individualize there Corolla Cross,  I played around quite a bit on the online configurator and think I've settled on my ideal styling for it, now I got to make some money to buy one. This particular entry level model will set you back about R413,000 and truth be told its perfect for your everyday needs but then you look and see the top of the range Xr model is R440,000 so if its in your budget, it might be worthwhile paying that little extra to get the car fully loaded with everything on offer. 

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	1.8L  Hybrid Electric
Gear Box	Automatic CVT
Torque	142Nm
Power	72kW
Top Speed	170km
Price	R413,000

 

Bucket Seat: 20201 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado VX.L

A month back I found myself in the mystic Cape Winelands, it was my first trip back to the Cape since the pandemic and while I normally choose the hustle and bustle of the vibrant city, this time round I opted for the peaceful and majestic Franschhoek to spend some much needed time off. I was fortunate enough to have the new Toyota Landcruiser Prado VX-L to help navigate through the mountainous regions that give harvest to the finest wines produced worldwide. It was the perfect vehicle for this as it gave me the opportunity to do a little exploring while in the area as well.

The new Toyota Landcruiser Prado VX-L is the range topping model, previously was fitted with the 4.0L V6 engine but now has adopted the new Hilux 2.8L Diesel motor that churns out 150kW and 500Nm of torque. While the engine downgrade might be a head scratcher for some, if you've drive the previous 4.0L variant you'd know that while have an extra 52kW output, it wasn't the most logical option and proved to be uneconomical. This new motor however shines from the time you switch it on, the ride is smooth, with plenty of torque on tap available for take off and while the kW output might not win any battle of the SUV's you must remember that this is a premium SUV with 7-seats. It's meant to be climbing dunes, scaling escarpments not drag racing on a flat runway and with the full 4x4 capabilities all neatly packaged on the driver's center console, it makes navigating even the trickiest terrains a breeze. 

Seeing that I was in Franschhoek, and living at the bottom of the world famous Franschhoek Pass, you bet I drove the pass a few times, most memorable was chasing the sunset from the valley, up the pass and watching it from the Threewaterskloof Dam. It was good to see the dam levels full as previously when I was in that part of the country it was close to bone dry. I wasn't expecting much in terms of performance from the Prado on the Pass but it did surprise me being able to take some of the bends faster than I thought it could handle. The nimbleness of a big a bulky vehicle like that which won't win any type of aerodynamic wind tunnel contests just blasted its way though. The large tyres  held the car in the lane and Toyota's Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) that adjusts the shock absorbers' damping levels kept the vehicle calm and composed while maneuvering thought the twistys and the engine was also on-hand to deliver that torque boost of acceleration when needed.

The Prado comes equipped with High-Beam adaptive LED's which light up more than your road, the lights extend out onto the sides so you can see for any objects should you go off-roading in the dark. There is also the multi-camera system to ensure you have clear visibility on screen of what's going on around your car. The car also has front and rear PDC's and self-parking which helps when needing to parallel park this behemoth in town. It has a 14-speaker sound system which includes a subwoofer that was well tested, with the sounds of Kanye West and Drake reverberating through the mountains during my time there. 

Comfort wise, you can't really fault anything in the Prado, while some might say the interior is dated, there is a new model due in the next 2 years so it wouldn't make sense for Toyota to make a major overhaul of this one's. The seats are large and comfy, the leather is of a good quality and extended onto the dash and doors. Some of the materials used do feel a bit plasticky but at the same time you need something robust and easy to clean if you are going to be going off-road quite often. Technology wise, its still pretty practical with a large touchscreen infotainment screen, the car now comes with mobile apps preloaded so you can make use of Apple Car-Play of Android Auto, there is the option of using Bluetooth as well. Driver and front passenger have separate zone climate control aircon with seat heating and cooling. The second row seats also receive this luxury along with seat heating, while the 3rd row just get single zone. The 3rd row seating is neatly folded away and operated via a switch in the luggage space or the second row which unfolds or folds the seats quickly and easily. 

Luggage capacity in the Prado VX-L is, how the former Orange president of the United States would say is "HUGE". With the 3rd row seats folded down you can get your whole house in there along with the kitchen sink. The lateral opening tailgate helps to load and unload with easy, also saves short people the embarrassment from trying to jump and reach for buttons or pull to close. The center glove box doubles as a fridge for you to store four full size wine bottles to keep chilled while you head out for picnics or scenic drives.  I mean, when in wine country, might as well!

Overall my time with the new Prado was sublime, yes there are certain aspects that seem dated with the car but at the end of the day, people who buying this car aren't going for the fancy stuff, they want to know they have a well capable off-roading machine that can double as a comfortable town car and this fits the mold to perfection. Its comfortable, luxurious, practical and in all fairness still looks darn good to me. It fitted in well in its environment and managed to turn a few heads on our escapades. With its dual fuel tank that has a combined total of 150L, the range of the Prado could give you well over 1200km if driven properly. I can assure you that the reduced size in engine has no major performance impact on the overall performance of this vehicle, if anything it's a bit better if you ask me!

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	2.8L GD Turbo diesel
Gear Box	6-Speed Automatic
Torque	500Nm
Power	150kW
Economy	7.9L per 100km
Price	R1,127,900

Bucket Seat: New Toyota Corolla Sedan

Toyota's Corolla has for the past few decades been a very important car for the local market, apart from it being assembled in their plant just outside Durban, it has been a key vehicle for the company as it was one of the models to drive their sales. With the recent adaptations of the out going models taking on the Quest badge, offering a similar vehicle but with less of the luxury additions, it's seen managed to core in another market for sales for the Japanese motor manufacturer, leaving the Corolla to take on a more luxurious appeal to consumers. With that, the all-new Corolla which was launched last year February to the local market saw a much more refined model hitting the market, built on the latest TNGA platform and being fully imported, it the first time in a long time the local consumer was getting a mid ranged vehicle from the brand that was not assembled locally. There definitely is a lot of Euro influence in the styling and the quality in build and materials was noticeable instantly. It was also the first time South Africa was introduced to the "Corolla Hatch" as previously the naming convention was always different for the Corolla with no boot, Conquest, RunX Auris, Auris X but Toyota chose to ditch that idea and simply call it for what it was. 

A year on now, and finally South Africans are getting to see the all-new Corolla Sedan, from what I can see so far, it was definitely worth the weight. With the hatchback variant already receiving rave reviews from all over, the sedan will surely get the same sort of views, with the car boasting enhanced driving dynamics and ride comfort, as well as a comprehensive suite of driver assistance safety features, a first for a Corolla. The car also comes with all the latest technological additions like other models on the market with built-in Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, making it a very attractive offering in the C segment. 

Pricing for the new Corolla is also very attractive with it being offered in 2 engine variants with a manual option as well as a new 10-speed continuously variable transmission, not how I negated to abbreviate that one as CVT is seen like a curse word in the industry but I take my hat off to Toyota, when it was first introduced, it was a terrible but they've stuck to their guns and persisted with the system, fine tuning it to the product they have today and after sampling it in the CH-R, I cannot fault it. The gearbox assists not only the engine but manages your fuel consumption so well, it will leave your bank balance with a big smile. 

The range topping model will be the Corolla XR which comes with the new TNGA 2.0L petrol engine which produces 125kW and 200Nm or torque will be offered in a 6-speed manual or the 10 speed auto box, the mid-range XS will be equipped with the 104kW 1.8L petrol engine which only comes with the CVT gearbox. Other noticeable features for the new Corolla sedan are Smart Entry, Bi-LED headlights with auto high beam assist, 19-inch laser cut rims, electrochromatic rear-view mirror, Toyota's Safety System which includes Pre-Crash activation, Blind Spot Monitor, Adaptive All-Speed Cruise Control and Lane Departue Alert. The Corolla brand has really come a long way and Toyota are really proud of these 3 models that are making their entry to the country and with good reason. It's been a firm favourite with the locals for a long time and with the arrival of this new one, I cannot see anything changing. The cars are well priced, well equipped and they look stunning.  

Prices and Specs

• Corolla 1.8 XS CVT - R372,700
• Corolla 2.0 XR manual - R412,300
• Corolla 2.0 XR CVT - R425,200

Bucket Seat: Toyota Hilux GR-Sport

In a bakkie obsessed nation, it was only a matter of time before manufacturers decided to take advantage of this segment by introducing enhanced performance variants to the market. While it still may be relatively new to South Africa, across the globe, especially in the US markets, this has been a much loved segment for over a decade now. Step in Toyota, fresh off celebrating their victory at this years Dakar with South African built Hilux models, it made sense for them to introduce their sporty variant of the Hilux to the country. The Hilux Gazoo Racing Sport first broke cover a few months ago, with Toyota SA later confirming that a limited number of models will be heading to our shores. While the engine still remained the same, there were mechanical upgrades done to the GR-Sport in the form up suspension upgrades, revised dampers and a change in wheels to make this a proper off-road menacing machine. 

DESIGN

While the overall design of the Hilux GR-Sport is pretty much the same as any other Hilux Double Cab, there are subtle changes to make you aware of this particular model. Those with a keen eye will notice that the Toyota sign on the front grille is spelled out and not just the emblem as on the other models, the bonnet on the GR-Sport is black, there are plenty of GR badges around the car as well as a bigger aluminium side step. The GR Sport also has graphic stickers on the side extending from the front door all way to the bin at the back. The wheels are different to other models as well, with it have blacked out 17" six spoke alloy wheels on all-terrain tyres which have a thicker profile, The car seems to be raised a bit more than normal, could be due to the revised front suspension, giving it that more sportier look. The wheel arches are blacked out and there are hints of carbon on the grille. Moving onto the inside, very much like a normal Hilux but colours and trims that make this one stand out a bit more. The dash made up of a combination of soft and hard touch leathers as well as high gloss finishes in black and red. There's red stitching to the seats and since this being a limited number production unit, a plate with the model number sits just below the gear selector. 

PERFORMANCE

While nothing much has changed under the hood, doesn't mean its not worth mentioning, the GR Sport comes with Toyota's bulletproof 2.8 GD-6 turbo diesel engine which features on popular Hilux models as well the Fortuner range. This engine produces 130kW and 450Nm of torque. While this particular GR Sport model did come with an automatic transmission, the car does have paddle shifts for manual mode. The automatic gearbox does produce 30Nm or torque more than the manual version, this is purely down to the smooth and easy self shifting box. On the road, the GR Sport feels and drives like a normal Hilux, it does feel a bit racy on take off but that could be down to the torque and gearbox. On the dirt, its loads of fun, with it sliding around corners and making dust. This is where you get a real good feel of that revised front suspension setup which consists of a monotube design and revised dampers in action. The GR Sport is a fully fledged 4x4 with all the bells and whistles, it even has a power mode which you can use to up the anti when driving. 

COMFORT

While this may be a bakkie and a performance one, it did feel a hell of a lot more luxurious than other bakkies I've been in. The quality of materials used in the interior are of a high standard, the same as what you'd find in the top of the range Fortuner. Leather dash, high gloss plastic finishes and soft touch leather coverings and steering make the cabin of the GR Sport a very comfortable place to be. The dials of the GR Sport are different to the other Hilux variants, more sportier and finished in white. The large screen infotainment system is easy to use and to sync with your device. The system is compatible with most mobile apps and recently Toyota SA launch an app of their own which is available in the app store of most devices. 

VERDICT

While the price might be a major talking point with the Toyota Hilux GR Sport, it still remains the second most expensive bakkie in the line-up. Also in terms of pricing in its segment, and the exclusivity of the bakkie with only 600 being made, you can see why it is priced that much. The product you getting from Toyota in general is always unquestionably good so this is none the different. Also in terms of the Gazoo Racing models, this is the first model being sold in South Africa, as we were not lucky enough to get any of the GRNM Yaris, but a few months later did get the new Supra. It's a bakkie for the enthusiasts or the thrill seeker, or maybe you just want a collectors edition bakkie, whomever it is, they sure are going to get a great product. 

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	2.8 Turbo Diesel
Gear Box	6 Speed Automatic
Torque	450Nm
Power	130kW
Consumption	8.5L/100km
Price	R 714 500

Pictures by @DBN_Spotter