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VW Amarok Dark Label: price and specs

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The VW Amarok Dark Label has arrived in South Africa. Here’s how much you can expect to pay for this special-edition bakkie in SA… Image: Volkswagen In our Every bakkie confirmed for SA in 2026 feature, we noted the Volkswagen Amarok Dark Label is scheduled to arrive on South African shores this year. Now, we can confirm pricing for this special-edition VW bakkie (see pricing below). The Amarok Dark Label can be had with the choice of two powertrain options: 2.0TDI and 3.0TDI. The former, four-cylinder 2.0-litre turbodiesel unit produces 125 kW and 405 N.m of torque, while the latter, 3.0-litre V6 turbocharged oil-burner churns out 184 kW and 600 N.m. Both engines are paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and a four-wheel drivetrain. But what does Dark Label spec include? Well, for starters, Dark Label grade gains black trim finishes for several exterior items – the latter including the front bumper, wing mirror housings and the door handles. The package further includes...

BYD Shark 6 Performance announced with 350 kW

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BYD has upped the ante with its Shark 6 plug-in hybrid bakkie, with the Chinese automaker announcing the more powerful Shark 6 Performance model. Image: BYD BYD has injected the Shark 6 with a boost in power and torque, with the Chinese automaker announcing the Shark 6 Performance. The Shark 6 Performance draws its power from twin electric motors and – as opposed to the standard derivative, which is equipped with a 1.5-litre internal combustion engine (ICE) – a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged petrol ICE. The battery capacity remains unchanged, at 29.58 kWh. The Shark 6 Performance’s 2.0-litre plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain produces 350 kW and 700 N.m of torque – increases of 29 kW and 50 N.m over the standard model, which we evaluated for a road test in 2025. Compared to its 321 kW/650 N.m sibling, the Shark 6 Performance completes the obligatory 0-100 km/h sprint in a claimed 5.5 seconds; making it two-tenths of a second quicker than the standard variant. In addition, BY...

VW Polo Vivo is the best-selling passenger car in SA in Q1 2026

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The best-selling passenger car in SA in the first-quarter of 2026 was the locally-built VW Polo Vivo.   Image: Volkswagen The Volkswagen Polo Vivo has retained the top position as the best-selling passenger car in South Africa in the first quarter of 2026. The German marque’s local arm shifted 6 344 units of the SA-built hatchback in the first three months of the year. In March 2026, VW placed second among the best-selling car brands in SA – the Polo Vivo leading the Wolfsburg automaker’s local sales charge with 2 258 units sold. The latter figure accounted for 40.5% of VW Group Africa’s overall March 2026 sales figure. The Polo Vivo claimed first place among the 10 best-selling passenger cars in SA in March 2026 , followed by the Chery Tiggo 4/Cross – the best-selling Chinese passenger car in SA – and Toyota Corolla Cross. Built at VW’s Plant Kariega in the Eastern Cape, the three-millionth car to roll off the latter production line was a Polo Vivo, in October 2025. ...

Buying Used: Toyota RAV4 (2019-2025)

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The Toyota RAV4 is about to enter an all-new generation. Here’s what you should know if you want a used fifth-generation model… Image: CAR The impending 2026 debut of the new Toyota RAV4 in South Africa casts a retrospective spotlight on the outgoing, fifth-generation model. When the latter iteration landed in South Africa in mid-2019, it was not merely a small update, it was a fundamental architectural reset for the world’s best-selling SUV. Toyota recognised that the RAV4 had grown soft, risking its dominant market share to increasingly sophisticated Korean and German rivals. And how did Toyota respond? With a hard pivot towards mechanical rigidity, aggressive geometric styling, and ultimately, a powertrain revolution that redefined the segment’s efficiency metrics. A rundown on the Toyota RAV4 At the core of the fifth generation’s transformation is Toyota’s New Global Architecture (TNGA-K) platform. Transitioning to this modular underpinnings afforded the RAV4 a 57% increase ...

Breaking! Kia Tasman bakkie – SA price revealed

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The Kia Tasman has officially launched in South Africa, with the South Korean automaker’s local arm announcing pricing and specs for the brand’s first-ever bakkie. See pricing below… Image: Peet Mocke As we highlighted in Every Bakkie Confirmed for SA in 2026 , the Kia Tasman will finally make local landfall this year. Well, now, the South Korean automaker’s first-ever bakkie has officially arrived in South Africa. Locally, the Tasman is exclusively available with a specifically tuned version of Hyundai-Kia’s 2.2-litre, four-cylinder turbodiesel engine. The Smartstream unit produces 154 kW and 440 N.m of torque, and is coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Two drivetrains are on offer: 4×2 and 4×4. Also read: Why the Kia Tasman looks the way it does Underpinned by a ladder-frame chassis, the Tasman measures 5 410 mm in length; making it 60 and 85 mm longer than the Ford Ranger and outgoing, eighth-generation Toyota Hilux, respectively. However, the Kia’s 1 930 ...

Mercedes-Benz A200 Night Edition: price and specs

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Mercedes-Benz South Africa has introduced the Night Edition package to its local A-Class model lineup. See full pricing below… Image: Mercedes-Benz South Africa Mercedes-Benz South Africa has introduced a new derivative to its A-Class model portfolio. The Night Edition model features several cosmetic enhancements, which includes the fitment of the German automaker’s Night Package – the latter featuring gloss black wing mirror housings and window surrounds, and a front grille featuring three-pointed star elements. The A-Class Night Edition follows the CLA Night Edition and GLA Night Edition , both of which were released in January 2026. Similar to the aforementioned models, the A-Class Night Edition’s bodywork is finished in MANUFAKTUR Alpine Grey. However, Polar White exterior paintwork is also available. The A-Class Night Edition is based on the A200 AMG Line. Further included with the Night Edition kit are AMG Line styling and the same 19-inch AMG alloy wheels found on the Merc...

Omoda C5 SHS hybrid launches in SA: price and specs

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Omoda has introduced a hybrid variant to its best-selling C5 model lineup, with the Chinese automaker announcing local pricing and specs for the C5 SHS. See pricing below… Image: Omoda & Jaecoo The C5 SHS’s (Super Hybrid System) hybrid powertrain pairs a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor – the latter fed by a 1.83 kWh lithium-iron phosphate battery pack. The new-energy C5 produces a combined system output of 165 kW and 295 N.m of torque, delivered to the front wheels via a dedicated hybrid transmission (DHT). According to the brand, the C5 SHS completes the 0-100 km/h sprint in 7.9 seconds, before topping out at 175 km/h. Omoda says the C5 SHS’s hybrid powertrain returns an average fuel consumption figure of 4.9 L/100 km (WLTP). Matching the carmaker’s claim translates to a driving range of 1 041 km from a single, 51-litre tank of fuel. Omoda C5 SHS hybrid price in SA Available from 8 April 2026, the Omoda C5 SHS hybrid is priced from R479 900 ; m...