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New JAC T8 model launched as most affordable double-cab bakkie in SA

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JAC South Africa has introduced a new entry-level derivative to its T8 double-cab bakkie portfolio. See pricing below… Image: JAC The newly introduced T8 double-cab employs a 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine, which produces 104 kW and 320 N.m of torque – the former and latter available from 3 600 and a low 1 600 r/min, respectively. The four-cylinder unit is exclusively coupled with a six-speed manual transmission. Power is delivered to the road via the rear wheels. In the press material, JAC claims a fuel consumption of 6.5 L/100 km. Matching the firm’s claim translates to a range of over 1 000 km from a full, 76-litre tank of fuel. The T8 double-cab measures 5 325 mm in length and 1 880 mm in width – dimensions comparable to that of the Toyota Hilux . The T8’s wheelbase spans 3 090 mm. The ground clearance is rated at 210 mm. The T8’s load bed measures 1 520 mm long, 1 520 mm wide, and 470 mm deep. The T8 offers a payload capacity of 900 kg and a braked towing capacity of 2 ...

Riddara RD6 all-electric bakkie SA launch date confirmed

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Geely has announced when its new-energy bakkie sub-brand, Riddara, will launch in SA. Image: Geely The Riddara RD6 measures 5 260 mm in length, 1 900 mm in width, and 1 880 mm in height. The wheelbase spans 3 120 mm. The Riddara’s load bed is 1 525 mm long, 1 450 mm wide, and 540 mm deep. The RD6 sports a 225 mm ground clearance. The local lineup will initially comprise two models, 4WD Air and 4WD Pro – both of which offering a braked towing capacity of 3 000 kg and payload capacity of 1 030 kg. The maximum water-fording depth is rated at 815 mm. The 4WD Air and 4WD Pro’s dual electric-motor powertrain produces combined system outputs of 315 kW and 595 N.m of torque. According to the firm, these figures allow the all-paw all-electric double-cab to complete the 0-100 km/h sprint in 4.5 seconds, before topping out at 190 km/h. 4WD models feature seven driving modes: Comfort, Economy, Sport, Off-road, Mud, Snow, and Wading. Also read: 9 most powerful bakkies in SA in 2026 Ridda...

Every Bakkie Confirmed for SA in 2026 [Updated]

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From new models to updated lineups, we highlight every bakkie that’s been confirmed to launch in South Africa in 2026. New Toyota Hilux Image: Toyota In February 2026, the ninth-generation Hilux was spotted in SA . However, despite being spotted on our shores, at the time, an official launch date for the new Hilux, which we detail in our Come the Hour: New Toyota Hilux feature, had yet to be announced. Well, fast forward to April 2026, and the local launch date for the ninth iteration of SA’s best-selling bakkie has been confirmed – June 2026. Based on an updated version of the Japanese automaker’s IMV (Innovative International Multi-purpose Vehicle) platform – the latter also underpinning the SA-bound new Land Cruiser FJ , which will cost less than the top-of-the-range Hilux – the box-fresh Hilux retains the outgoing, eighth-generation model’s trusted GD-6 powertrain, available in “standard” and 48 V mild-hybrid format. The 2.8-litre, four-cylinder turbodiesel engine will be a...

Ferrari Amalfi Spider: price and specs

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We’ve unearthed pricing for the Ferrari Amalfi Spider. See pricing below… Image: Ferrari Replacing the Roma in Ferrari’s model lineup, in July 2025, the Italian marque whipped the wraps off the Amalfi . As we noted upon the reveal of the latter model, a Spider (convertible) version of this new Ferrari could follow in due course…and it did, with the Maranello manufacturer revealing the Amalfi Spider in March 2026. We can now confirm how much the Amalfi Spider costs in South Africa. As a reminder, the drop-top version of Ferrari’s “entry-level” offering employs a 3.9-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine producing 470 kW and 760 N.m of torque – the latter available in a broad 3 000-5 750 r/min swathe of the rev band. Peak power output is available from 7 500 r/min. The front-mounted petrol unit delivers drive to the rear wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. Despite weighing 86 kg more than its (1 470 kg, claimed) fixed-roof sibling, the Amalfi Spider dispatches the obli...

Chery Tiggo V: fresh details of SA-bound ‘transformable’ SUV revealed

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Scheduled to launch in SA in 2026, Chery has revealed fresh details of its Tiggo V ‘transformable’ SUV/bakkie. Image: Chery In 2025, Chery unveiled a prototype version (codenamed ‘T1TP’) of its then-upcoming “transformable” (to a bakkie!) SUV at its International User Summit in Wuhu, China. However, at the time, the Chinese automaker remained tight-lipped as to whether the production version of this convertible SUV/bakkie will make its way to South Africa in the future. Well, Chery has now confirmed that we can expect this model to arrive on our shores towards the end of 2026. Revealed as the Tiggo V at the 2026 Beijing Auto Show, the production model is touted as “one vehicle for all scenarios”; taking the shape of a seven-seater SUV or double-cab bakkie to meet “evolving” family and lifestyle needs. Indeed, according to the firm, the Tiggo V “delivers a flexible, multipurpose design that adapts effortlessly to different use cases, whether for everyday driving, family road trip...

Updated Isuzu D-Max ‘coming soon’ to SA

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Isuzu South Africa has revealed the updated D-Max bakkie is ‘coming soon’ to our market. Image: Isuzu Unveiled in 2023, the facelifted current-generation Isuzu D-Max is scheduled to arrive in South Africa “soon”, as revealed by the Japanese automaker on its local website. However, on a dedicated page, where customers can enter their details to remain updated on the fresh-faced model’s official launch, the firm states that the revised third generation “is not just a facelift”, with the updates signifying “more than a new look”. Indeed, the company says the upcoming variant is “a smarter, tougher drive that stays true to its roots, while moving forward where it counts” – an “evolution of proven capability”. As a reminder, in September 2025, Isuzu announced the introduction of a 120 kW/400 N.m 2.2-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine option – the latter replacing the 110 kW/350 N.m 1.9-litre turbodiesel unit in select overseas markets – to its D-Max and MU-X portfolios. ...

Chery ‘pushing hard’ to launch KP31 bakkie in SA in 2026

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Chery SA has revealed to CAR magazine that the brand is ‘pushing hard’ to launch its new double-cab bakkie, codenamed ‘KP31’, in our market in 2026. Image: Chery In February 2026, Chery officially unveiled a prototype version of its upcoming new bakkie, codenamed ‘KP31’, and along with the reveal, the Chinese automaker’s South African arm announced the production version of this box-fresh double-cab has been confirmed for SA – the local launch penned in for the fourth quarter of 2026, or first quarter of 2027. However, a local representative of Chery has now told CAR magazine that the brand is “pushing hard” to launch the yet-to-be-named production model, which employs a “world-first” plug-in hybrid (PHEV) diesel powertrain, in our market in 2026. Also read: SA-bound Chery KP31 bakkie interior revealed So, if the ‘KP31’ does arrive in our market in 2026, it will form part of the several new bakkies that’s still penned in to launch in our country this year – the latter includ...