• Don’t expect to see a Tesla Motors showroom in SA anytime soon. Picture: NEWSPRESS UK

  • German newspapers are reporting that former VW Group boss Martin Winterkorn was aware of the Dieselgate cheat in 2014. Picture: NEWSPRESS UK

  • Maserati has revealed the production version of its new Levante SUV. Picture: NEWSPRESS UK

  • The current Bentley Continental GT is set to be replaced in 2018. Picture: NEWSPRESS UK

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Hyped up

Some media houses as well as social media went into overdrive this week over the announcement that Tesla Motors is opening an Africa office in Cape Town. The rumour quickly spread that Tesla will be bringing its electric vehicles here and everyone got excited. Sadly, their excitement is misplaced as the company has no current plans to have a presence in SA for its electric vehicles. A spokesperson for Tesla based at its head office in California, US confirmed to Motor News that "Tesla is building a small presence in SA regarding Tesla Energy". Essentially the company is bringing its Powerwall products to SA and Africa.

Did VW boss know?

Investigative newspapers in Germany have cited internal memos and e-mails to suggest former Volkswagen Group CEO Martin Winterkorn knew about the company’s diesel emissions cheat. The Bild am Sonntag newspaper suggested Winterkorn was told about the Dieselgate problems far earlier than September 2015. Documents also suggest senior VW Group officials developed a strategy to delay and confuse US regulators after they were given clear evidence of the diesel emissions cheat in early 2014. While VW’s internal investigation is due to reveal its final report in April, it is not believed to be focusing on Winterkorn, who resigned last September. In other Dieselgate news, rival German newspaper Welt am Sonntag has reported the company is being pressured to build electric cars in the US to mitigate its penalties over the diesel emissions cheat.

What’s in a name?

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles boss Sergio Marchionne has finally christened the long-awaited Alfa Romeo SUV, a year after it was due in production. Marchionne said the company will christen its crossover the "Stelvio", and it is scheduled to start production in the final quarter of 2016, slated for sale in 2017. Marchionne also confirmed the much-delayed Giulia would finally start production there on March 14. Alfa has been insistent throughout the SUV’s development that while it would be a competent SUV, it would focus on being best-in-class in on-road ability, and the Stelvio name is a strong hint that Alfa is pleased with what it’s finishing up with. Designed for both rear-and all-wheel drive powertrains, the architecture gives Alfa the ability to fit the Stelvio with a range of four-cylinder and V6 petrol and diesel engines. There will also be a Quadrifoglio Verde version, boasting the same twin-turbocharged 2.9l V6 petrol engine as the Giulia flagship.

Hybrid on the cards

Bentley boss Wolfgang Durheimer has told Autocar that the next generation Continental GT will feature a plug-in hybrid model. The new GT is due in 2018 and will share a platform with the next generation Porsche Panamera. While there will be traditional V8 and W12 models, we expect there to also be a version of hybrid drivetrain used in the current Porsche Cayenne. The new GT will also be lighter, in part because the engineers will ditch the current all-steel body in favour of lighter materials such as aluminium.

Levante for Geneva

Maserati has released final pictures of its new Levante SUV which will be officially unveiled at next month’s Geneva Motor Show. The company has decided to keep the Levante name, after it was revealed that the name is an old word for Syria. Maser’s SUV will carry a number of styling traits from other models such as the Quattroporte and Ghibli, particularly up front, while the rear could easily have been influenced by the design of the Porsche Cayenne, at least in pictures that is. Powertrains will include petrol and diesel and it will have the Fiat Chrysler Q4 all-wheel drive drivetrain that will be adapted for the new SUV.