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Striking Mahindra BE 6 all-electric compact SUV under consideration for SA

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Mahindra South Africa has revealed the BE 6 all-electric compact SUV is under consideration for the SA market. Image: Mahindra Sporting a design that wouldn’t look out of place in a sci-fi movie, the BE 6 is under consideration for South Africa, Mahindra’s local arm revealed at the global debut of the SA-bound Lifestyler double-cab bakkie . The BE 6 (‘BE’ for ‘Born Electric’) is available with the choice of eight equipment packages: One, Two, Three, Three+, Four, FE, FE Four, and Launch Edition. All models feature a single, rear-mounted electric motor. The One and Two are exclusively available with a 59 kWh battery offering a claimed operating range of 548 km on a single, full charge. The Three can be had with either the latter or a larger, 70 kWh item serving up a claimed operating range of up to 651 km. The Three+ is available with either a 70 or 79 kWh battery. The Four, FE, FE Four, and Launch Edition are exclusively available with the 79 kWh battery pack. Mahindra says the lar...
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Mahindra Lifestyler double-cab bakkie revealed and confirmed for SA

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Confirmed for South Africa, Mahindra has whipped the wraps off the Lifestyler, the Indian automaker’s new global pickup. Image: Mahindra Announced in 2023, the Lifestyler – or Scorpio Lifestyler, as it is known in its home market – is Mahindra making good on its promise of developing a truly global pickup. Positioned as a lifestyle-oriented bakkie, the Indian automaker officially revealed this new double-cab on 14 August in Mumbai, India. Designed at the Mahindra India Design Studio in Mumbai and developed at the Mahindra Research Valley in Chennai, the Lifestyler was conceived to redefine the midsize bakkie segment, the company says. “From the outset, our vision was to create a world-class global pickup that raises the bar for the segment while remaining true to Mahindra’s strengths in authentic capability and value,” said Dr Velusamy R, President of Automotive Business at Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. Mahindra Lifestyler SA launch date Mahindra has confirmed the...
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Manual transmission McLaren McL 6GT breaks cover at Monterey

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McLaren lifted the wraps on the McL 6GT at the 2026 Monterey Car Week, the first manual McLaren since the legendary F1 debuted in 1992. Image: McLaren Against the backdrop of California’s premier automotive gathering, McLaren unveiled the McL 6GT concept, previewing a production version set to arrive in 2028. The Woking-based automaker’s latest supercar pays homage to Bruce McLaren’s unfulfilled one-off 1969 M6GT, which, at the time, was slated to become the first mass-produced McLaren supercar. The McL 6GT will be positioned as a “highly-exclusive” model in the brand’s contemporary portfolio. The McL 6GT features full carbon-fibre bodywork tightly hugging the a super-lightweight carbon-fibre monocoque. While McLaren is yet to announce powertrain specifications, the McL 6GT will employ a pure internal-combustion V8 bereft of any hybrid assistance, coupled with a manual transmission, sending power to the rear wheels. Exterior details that reference the M6GT include a ‘Racing L...
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CAR magazine September 2026 issue – what to expect

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Hot off the press, the September 2026 issue of CAR magazine has hit the shelves. We highlight what you can expect in the latest issue… Image: Peet Mocke The cover star of the September 2026 issue, we evaluate the new Toyota Hilux for a comprehensive first road test on local shores; taking the ninth generation of SA’s best-selling bakkie on-road and off the beaten track. In addition to the Hilux, in the September 2026 issue, we strapped our equipment to a trio of other vehicles. The latter includes the new Audi Q3 , GAC’s entry-level Emzoom, the Nova, and the characterful iCaur V23 in 2WD format. The iCaur isn’t the only electric vehicle (EV) featured in the September 2026 issue, however. Indeed, we also get behind the wheel of Toyota’s first-ever EV, the bZ4X , and the Geely E2 , which places first among the most affordable EVs in South Africa , before heading to Germany to sample the Porsche 911 GT3 S/C , the first Porsche cabriolet to don the Stuttgart automaker’s vaunted ‘GT3’...
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Weight watchers – understanding your vehicle’s load capacity

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The larger load space and superior versatility of SUVs and double-cabs make them ideally suited to many families’ lifestyles, but do they all offer the required load carrying capacity for your needs? Image: Jetour One of the key drivers of the move from sedans to both SUVs and LCVs as family vehicles has been their practicality – large volume load space and flexible seating in the case of SUVs, and the combination of five seats with a versatile load box in the case of double-cabs. For owners, this additional load volume comes with the assumption that the reasonable utilisation of that space will not see them exceeding their vehicle’s maximum permitted load capacity. A recent check of the usable load capacities of some SUVs and LCVs has revealed this isn’t always the case and that some of these vehicles might fall short of the expectations, and requirements, of some users. Unfortunately, this usable load capacity is typically not specified in passenger-vehicle brochu...
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Updated (India-built) Renault Duster: price and specs

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Renault South Africa has launched the updated, Indian-built Duster in our market. See pricing below… Image: Renault Renault South Africa has introduced the updated Duster to our market. The revised model is built at Renault’s Chennai Plant in India and is underpinned by the firm’s new CMF-B modular platform. The Duster’s bodywork measures 4 343 mm in length, 1 813 mm in width, 1 656 mm in height, and 2 657 mm between front and rear axles. The refreshed Duster has a ground clearance of 212 mm. The new model is 3 mm longer, 35 mm narrower and 3 mm shorter than the outgoing variant. Buyers can choose between two powertrain options. The first is a 1.3-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol developing 116 kW and 260 N.m – the latter delivered to the front wheels via either a six-speed manual or six-speed dual-clutch transmission (EDC). The second is a 1.0-litre turbo-triple petrol engine producing 74kW and 160 N.m. The less powerful unit is exclusively coupled with a six-speed ma...
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New Mazda CX-5: price and specs

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The all-new, third-generation Mazda CX-5 has finally landed in South Africa. CAR attended a gala where the new range and pricing were confirmed. Image: Mazda Since its introduction in 2012, Mazda’s best-selling global nameplate, the CX-5, has established itself as a key contender in the midsize-SUV segment, and in doing so, reinforcing this Japanese brand’s long-standing relationship with the South African market. Developed using a Japanese philosophy known as Jinba-Itta, which focuses on the harmony between horse and rider, the new CX-5 has grown in every meaningful dimension, yet its maker claims it is more intimate, driver-focused, and comfortable than before. A key new measurement is the third-generation car’s 115 mm longer wheelbase, which translates to improved cabin space and comfort, as well as a 61-litre increase in luggage space. A lower loading height reduces the effort required to lift heavier items, while a flat cargo floor makes larger belongings easier to organise. Sh...
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