The Car Guide

Toyota South Africa Motors reported a strong month for new-car sales in October 2026, with the Hilux leading the pack… Image: Peet Mocke In October 2026, Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) maintained its lead on the local sales charts, with the Japanese automaker’s South African arm retaining first place among the top 10 best-selling car brands in South Africa . Last month, TSAM recorded 14 495 new vehicles sales. Despite a marginal drop in sales (1.5%) compared to the company’s record September 2026 sales figure , this still translates to an impressive 23.4% market share of the 61 890 new vehicles sold in South Africa in the 10th month of the year. In the passenger-car segment, the Corolla Cross was the firm’s best-seller again, with 1 723 units sold, followed by the Starlet Cross (1 611), Vitz (1 091), and Starlet (1 081). In October, 939 new Urban Cruisers found homes, with 894 customers putting pen to paper for Fortuners. Toyota’s luxury arm, Lexus, shifted 8...

Ford has confirmed its yet-to-be-revealed affordable new bakkie will launch in global markets in 2027. Here’s what we know… Image: Ford In February 2026, Ford confirmed its plans for the introduction of an “affordable” new bakkie, likely to be positioned below the Ranger, before the end of the decade. Well, the Blue Oval brand has now revealed this model will make its debut in global markets in 2027. The US automaker has yet to announce whether the latter includes South Africa. “Next year, we will be launching our affordable midsize pickup for international markets,” Ford CEO Jim Farley confirmed at the company’s third-quarter 2026 earnings call. Focused on affordability, the carmaker expects the vehicle’s base material cost will be 20% lower than the current Ranger’s. Also read: Could the Chinese-built Ford Bronco come to SA? Noteworthy, Farley mentioned the vehicle’s cost structure will allow the company to compete against more affordable Chinese rivals. “Just as Maverick h...

Inspired by Egypt’s North Coast and craft tradition, Rolls-Royce has whipped the wraps off its latest bespoke commission, the Cullinan Spirit of Marassi. Image: Rolls-Royce Developed in part by Private Office Dubai, Rolls-Royce has announced its latest one-of-one Cullian commission. Dubbed the ‘Spirit of Marassi’, the bespoke luxury SUV’s design draws inspiration from Egypt’s North Coast, and represents the country’s geological surroundings while paying homage to its craft tradition. Said Michelle Lusby, Lead Designer at Rolls-Royce Private Office Dubai, “We wanted to create a motor car that captures both the tranquillity of the sea and the vibrancy of Egyptian artistry. From the hand-painted fascia inspired by the movement of the Mediterranean, to the Khayamiya embroidery that celebrates a centuries-old craft tradition, every detail was carefully considered to create a deeply personal tribute to place.” Also read: Rolls-Royce reveals ultra-limited Cullinan Yachting The Cu...

Unveiled at SEMA 2026, the Toyota RAV4 Woodland Plug-in Hybrid Concept features retro-inspired paintwork, raised suspension, and trail-ready accessories. Image: Toyota At the 2026 SEMA Show, Toyota revealed a broader vision of everyday adventure through a new family of Woodland concept models. The showcase reimagines how electrified and family-focused vehicles can be modified for life beyond urban environments. Included in the catalogue is the Toyota RAV4 Woodland Plug-in Hybrid Concept. The Japanese brand’s US arm designed this model for people who view exploration as a lifestyle. Based on the brand’s PHEV system , the latest RAV4 Woodland concept highlights Toyota’s utility, efficiency, and capability that caters to urban and long-distance usage. The Toyota RAV4 Woodland embraces a retro visual identity Across the new showcase, CALTY Design Research established a unified visual identity that balances exploration with practical usability. The RAV4 Woodland Concept...

Volkswagen temporarily pauses ID.Golf EV development amid financial headwinds and cost-cutting measures outlined in the German brand’s latest performance report. Image: Volkswagen Germany’s largest automotive group has temporarily halted development work on the upcoming Volkswagen ID.Golf EV. Brand executives confirmed this financial update during a recent evaluation of company operations. Management stated that current economic pressures require strict spending discipline across all major vehicle projects. The decision affects early engineering tasks at the primary manufacturing site in Wolfsburg. Company leaders maintain that the project is paused rather than permanently cancelled. Financial headwinds and lower profit margins necessitate an immediate freeze on select capital allocations. Why Volkswagen has paused ID.Golf EV development Internal reports indicate that the Wolfsburg facility missed specific internal cost-reduction targets. Brand chief Thomas Schäfer note...

The Deepal S05 REEV has arrived in South Africa at an ‘incredible’ price, Changan says. We highlight the new model. See pricing and specs below… Image: Changan Changan has bolstered its local Deepal portfolio with the introduction of the S05 REEV (range-extended electric vehicle). The Chinese automaker says the new model “brings together the appeal of electric driving and the reassurance of a petrol-powered range extender” to make it a “practical proposition” in the South African market. Changan Deepal S05 REEV powertrain, performance and range While the S05 can be had in battery-electric flavour in overseas markets, it’s exclusively available in REEV guise in South Africa. The S05 REEV features a single, rear-mounted electric motor producing 160 kW and 320 N.m of torque. A 72 kW/125 N.m 1.5-litre petrol engine serves as a generator for the car’s 27.28 kWh lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack. The powertrain features Standard/Comfort, Eco, Sport, and Custom driving modes. Cha...