One would do a double-take on Jaguar Land Rover’s decision to launch their first-ever Jaguar SUV on the volcanic island nation of Mauritius. The island’s claim to fame is its perfect white sand beaches, colorful coral reefs, luxury resorts and vast expanses of sugarcane. With about 1.3 million people, this picture-perfect getaway has everything going for it except market size. So what did Jaguar Land Rover see that other car makers are missing?
Mauritius sits in the middle of the triangle that connects Asia, Africa, and Australia. The small player has been selling this convergence point to position itself as the main conduit of trade between the three regions. At the backend, government reforms over the last three decades have ushered in economic policies that are increasingly friendly to investors. Political stability has supported growth, which surged to 3.7% in 2015 and is projected by the African Development Bank to touch 3.8% this year, at a time when many bigger economies are shrinking. The island has moved into lead position in Africa with its 46th ranking out of 140 economies in the latest edition of the World Economic Forum’s Competitiveness Report. This stellar economic performance has earned Mauritius the title of “Africa’s first tiger”. With strong economic fundamentals, Mauritius is the perfect cocktail of business and lifestyle. But can the Mauritians afford the luxurious life that the island has on offer?
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The 2016 Wealth Report is annual appreciation of the size and growth prospects of high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) in Africa. Mauritius tops the rankings of the report as home to the richest population in Africa, with the average wealth of $21,700 per person. The island’s people are significantly wealthier than the average South African, with a per capita average wealth of $10,300, and Zimbabwe on the last rung with an average of $200 per person. According to the report, the wealth is supported by secure property rights, a vibrant financial sector, and the migration of a large number of wealthy individuals to the sun and sand of Port Louis and other emerging cities in Mauritius. So the fit of a launching a new luxury vehicle into a market already growing in the luxury market and teaming with HNWIs makes perfect sense. The big question was whether going into untrodden SUV territory was the right move for Jaguar?
Throughout the history of Jaguar, the idea of an SUV has either never crossed the minds of all the teams in the company since 1922 or the idea has been crushed every time it reared its head. But, with SUVs expected to account for every five new car sales by 2020, even Jaguar realized that it was time to venture into unknown territory.
The F-Pace was launched in Port Louis in an all-white-clad gaggle of top celebrities; the most influential, and affluent of Mauritius. The mid-size SUV is heating up the competition and looking to steal market share from dominant SUV players, like BMW and Porsche, while also not upsetting sister company Land Rover. The F-Pace will be going head-to-head with the Range Rover Evoque, Audi Q5, Mercedes GLC and Porsche Macan.
The F-Pace is taking a bite at the market at an aggressive entry level price of $50,000, which will get you a 2.0-liter diesel engine, rear-wheel-drive and a manual gearbox. An eight-speed automatic will burn a $55,390-hole in your pocket. The R-Sport package has sportier design elements and 19-inch alloy wheels. For bigger engines, 3.0 liters start at around $75,000. Several of the guests at the glittery launch mentioned that they had been on the waiting list for the F-Pace for serval months and found the price competitive.
On the inside, the F-Pace has drawn inspiration from the XF and XJ family members. The screens and console are easy to navigate. Every F-Pace gets a standard eight-inch touchscreen in the center console, with further infotainment options available. My favorite functionality was the Wi-Fi connectivity that can connect up to eight devices.
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The spaciousness of the F-Pace cannot go unnoticed. With well-thought-out hidden nooks for your handbag, cellphone, and sunglasses, it’s every woman’s dream. The cabin space is more than generous, with an almost flat roofline allowing passengers at the back to be as comfortable as those in the front. The F-Pace has built in practicality with sizeable boot space at 605-liter carrying capacity which, with folded seats, can extend to 1,740 liters. The panoramic sunroof allowed us to take in the light, sounds and splashes of color as we drove through Port Louis.
The F-Pace shows the evolution that the Jaguar Land Rover brand is undergoing. The car is young, sexy, and attractive. Jaguar’s iconic big cat emblem has also been overhauled for a younger look and feel. With Africa’s richest increasingly getting younger, increasingly open-minded, and daring, it makes perfect sense why Jaguar has taken on Africa’s Tiger in the Indian Ocean.

The Big Cat  At Ease With Africa’s Tiger

It’s no secret that Porsche remains one of the most profitable car companies and when you understand the DNA of the company, it makes sense. Ironic as it may appear, I’ve chosen to demonstrate this by using the most unlikely candidate of the range: the new Porsche Cayenne S V8 Diesel.
The new generation of Porsche Cayenne differs greatly from the inaugural SUV. The car has adopted a safer design and is more at home within the wider Porsche family range. It is one of the better looking SUVs on the road, but perhaps not from a macho viewpoint, like a Land Rover Discovery or Toyota Prado. In true Porsche spirit, form follows function. The sharp bonnet, slimmed flanks and flowing mirror design hint at the fact that  it was designed to be a sports car, and the rear spoiler pays homage to the iconic and jaw-dropping Carrera GT—all this for an SUV.
Although you would never guess it judging from the outside, the Porsche Cayenne is larger than its predecessor. From the inside, your guess would change, as the airy cabin provides ample space, especially for rear seat passengers. The rear seats can be moved forward or dropped to reveal a cavernous 1,336dm3 of load space. The cabin is typical of Porsche, with solid metal pieces and inserts for door handles, seat controls and air vent surrounds. The control panel rises to meet your hand, very much like the Panamera models. As beautiful as the design is, the ergonomics are spot-on with everything simply laid out and easy to use.
What must be stressed with the Porsche Cayenne S and other Porsche models, is the extent to which the owner can tailor the car to suit their taste. This so-called Porsche Exclusive experience allows for the personalization of each car. Most brands provide a list of exterior and interior appointments from which to choose, but Porsche allows you to craft your own unique Cayenne with options not commonly found on brochures. Think embossed seats and armrests in your own name; backlit doorsills or outrageous paint schemes, such as painting the inside lining of the wheels. Imagine it and Porsche will do it. Of course, this exclusivity comes at a cost because vanity has a price tag.
The jewel of the Cayenne S Diesel is the 4.2 liter twin-turbo V8 engine. With a whopping 850Nm and 281kW torque, it is the most powerful diesel engine in its class and is superb. It will outperform and outgun most cars. The time it takes to accelerate from 0-100km/h (5.7 seconds) shouldn’t be relevant in this type of car, but it is because it’s a Porsche after all. It is a beast to drive especially when you have the optional PASM (Porsche Active Suspension Management) system in Sport mode. This electronic damping control system makes the car run like a sports car. It is planted, surefooted and composed, even in the most dire of circumstances. Another option is the Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) system that enhances the overall dynamics of the car by varying the torque to the engine and chassis to optimize handling. It’s brilliant when you consider that this is still an SUV that weighs more than two tons.
In Normal mode the car is everything you would expect in the way of comfort and road manners. I found the ride a little harder than the likes of a Mercedes-Benz ML, but not uncomfortably so. The model I test drove was fitted with 20-inch wheels, which would affect the ride to some degree. It’s a car that is as at home in comfortable driving situations as it is when driven with a bit of gusto.
That being said, the off-road capabilities would come into question when considering its sporty dynamics and impeccable road holding. While less than 10% of Porsche Cayenne owners use their cars in serious off-road conditions, that hasn’t stopped Porsche from producing a car that is as capable off the road as it is on.
This car is packed with off-road ability and Porsche has made it as easy to use as all the car’s other features. You can raise the ride height; engage Off-Road mode and Hill Descent Control (HDC) with just a few clicks of the rocker switch on the console. The immense torque will do all the heavy lifting and the system distributes the most power to the wheels with the most traction. I’ve tested all of the Porsche Cayenne models in serious off-road situations and I was genuinely impressed with its prowess.
The Porsche Cayenne S V8 Diesel costs around $96,000 and is good value for money. This particular car is the pick of the entire range but it must also be a consideration across all other SUV brands. It is Porsche South Africa’s best-selling model with more than 110 sold every month.
The car remains true to the traditional sports car enthusiasts but also lures many of the non-traditionalists. It’s flanked by a classy and personal ownership experience and is backed by an impressive piece of engineering.

Tag: SUV

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