In this week’s automotive news you need to know: VW teases more of the next Amarok to leverage some of the new Ranger’s hype, Toyota tries to counter the Raptor with an on-the-side aftermarket Hilux, the Mazda2 looks identical to a Yaris – because it is – and the BMW i3 Sedan is a 3 Series that should have been an i3.

New Amarok teased – Treading carefully

The dust hasn’t quitesettled after the announcement that the next Ranger and new Amarok would share platforms and components (as part of a wider co-operationagreement between Ford and VW), because many Ford fans feel aggrieved that the German marquewill ultimately benefit more from the marriage of convenience than its American partner. Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa’s engine and assembly plantswill be quiteeager toproduceextra volume to churnout TWObakkie models in Silverton.Plus,South African bakkie buyers should be rejoicing… Ideally, you would get the best of both worlds– the Amarok’s build quality and refinement,in addition to theFord’s off-road abilities and interior tech. The days of OEMs doing it all themselves are long gone. Best we come to terms with it.

> Read more:2023 Volkswagen Amarok: More Details

The 3rd-generation Amarok (many people would say it’s the 2nd all-new iteration of the bakkie since 2011, but Volkswagen obviously disagrees) has the perfect opportunity to silence the naysayers and shake the reputationof “just being the fastest bakkie”. The Wolfsburg-based brand needs toreposition its bakkie as a proper off-road vehicle, not just a fast, fancy one. It’s what the Amarokneeds more than anything and, judging by VW’s decision to cosy up to Ford, its management knows that. It is an exciting time to bea bakkie enthusiast; from my vantage point, all I see are benefits for the consumer.

Toyota Hilux – It’s Fox versus Old Man Emu

Apart from the odd month or two once in a proverbial blue moon, Toyota has dominated SA bakkie sales with various iterations of its Hilux, oh, for as long as I can remember.However, in terms of bragging rights for ultimate off-road ability, the Ford Ranger Raptor has hadits Japanese rival’s number. The Ford’sparty trick is itsFox shocks, whichhighlightjust how important it is to keepthose patches of rubber on the ground,especially in low-grip terrain. One can’t help but think of the atmosphere in Toyota boardrooms whenever Ranger Raptor is mentioned during competitor reviews. “Awkward”comes to mind.

> Read more:Toyota Hilux Gets GDV Racing Treatment

The fact that theGDV Racing project, which ropesin Dakar legendGiniel De Villiers, is sanctioned by Toyota SA (TSAM)comes asno surprise. The package does not transform a Hilux into a Raptor rival; think of it as a flirtation with the performance bakkie concepttoenhancethe Hilux’s capabilities.The silver bullet is the Old Man Emu BP51 suspension, which is immensely capable and on par with Fox. Consumer interest in this venture will be closely monitored. If it fizzles out, it wouldn’t have cost Toyota much;if it’s a success, TSAMwill probablybring this in-house and produce a pukka Raptorfighter.

Mazda2 – Stop staring… it’s rude

Yes, folks, whether you’vecarefully observed, stared intensely, tilted your head at various anglesor squinted, you’ve probably arrived at the same conclusion. Yes, this new, makeshift Mazda2 petrol-hybrid derivative is a rebadged European-spec Yaris, which is why it reminds youof itsGR Yaris brother, which has created such a stirin Mzansi.Badge engineeringis nothing new…Heck, it hasenabledToyota to launch 3products in SA that it didn’t developitself (the Suzuki-based Starlet, Urban Cruiser and Rumion);it’s very cost-effective andshortens the timeframe in which products can be brought tomarket.

> Read more:Latest Mazda2 is a Toyota Yaris

But let’s not get too complacent, folks. Manufacturers have to walk a fineline between allowing “just enough”and “too much”resemblancebetween similar – but differently-branded – products. I am much more in favour of platform and component sharing if themodels that havemuch in commonwith each other are styled and packaged to be distinctly differentproducts. Even legendary machines such as the mighty Mercedes-AMG CLK DTM shared head and taillights with garden variety C-Classesand Lamborghini has been sharing parts with Audi for years. It’s perfectly okay – as long as it is donetastefully.

i3 lives on as a BMW 3 Series. Pity.

The Chinese EV market is the biggest there is, globally. It is, therefore, no surprise that BMW AGhas doubledits efforts to increasemarket share on the Mainland. In the South African context, the 3 Series plays a unique role in successful people’s lives. It’s an aspirational vehicle – a mark of success. If you do well, you buy a Golf GTI and, if you do even better, well, you want a 3 Series. That’s how it’s been.

> Read more:BMW’s new i3 has 590 km of range

Isn’t odd that the technology incorporated in the i3 Sedan– a 3 Series BEV that is unique to China– is precisely what the original i3 would needto take the next step in its product evolution? Why doesn’t BMW ploughit back into the i3 instead of binning the model (in 2022)?The i3 has its drawbacks:carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic features extensively in the BEV’s body, which raisesthe little car’s price tag and, yes, early versions had paltry battery ranges. But the i3did somuch to help establish BMW’s i sub-brand around the globe… it deserves more than to be relegated to a badge on a 3 Series’ boot lid.