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2026 Suzuki Jimny Heritage revealed: Retro-inspired limited edition gets automatic transmission

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Now offered with an automatic transmission, Suzuki has officially taken the covers off the latest three-door Jimny Heritage edition. Image: Suzuki Unveiled in Australia, the new Suzuki Jimny Heritage builds on the three-door variant of the fourth-generation Jimny. Following its initial Australian-exclusive release in 2023, Suzuki sold 300 units with the five-speed manual transmission. The continuation of this special edition now makes the automatic transmission exclusive, also limited to 300 units. On the exterior front, the special-edition Jimny features Heritage graphics, including bespoke decals, red mudflaps, front and rear, and a Jimny Heritage cargo tray. Buyers can select Superior White, Jungle Green, or Medium Grey paint. The green and grey options cost an additional AUD 745 (approximately R8 645). Standard equipment includes 15-inch alloy wheels and a 9.0-inch infotainment touchscreen, replete with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto screen mirroring. Each Heritage model featur...
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2027 Volkswagen ID. Tiguan revealed

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The Volkswagen ID. Tiguan has made its debut. We take a closer look at the Tiguan-badged EV’s powertrains, electric range, dimensions, and features. Image: Volkswagen Billed as one of Volkswagen’s most important electric models for the years ahead, the ID. Tiguan replaces the ID.4 and ID.5 in the German marque’s ID. portfolio. The ID. Tiguan joins the ID. Polo and ID. Cross as the latest battery-electric VW product to don a familiar moniker. The ID. Tiguan will be sold alongside the internal combustion engine (ICE), eTSI (mild hybrid), and eHybrid (plug-in hybrid) models when it launches in the beginning of 2027. Powertrains, performance and electric range Based on VW’s MEB+ platform, the ID. Tiguan is available with the choice of three powertrain options. Kicking off the lineup, the entry-level powertrain comprises a single electric motor producing 140 kW and 350 N.m of torque — good for a claimed 0-100 km/h sprint time of 8.5 seconds and 160 km/h top speed. The rear-mounted uni...
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Used Lexus ES (2013-2017): Reliability, common problems and buying guide

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Few brands do luxury as well as Lexus, but is that a good enough reason to consider the decade-old sixth-generation ES sedan as a used buy? Image: Lexus The luxury sedan segment is often dominated by a relentless, and sometimes misguided, pursuit of Nürburgring lap times. But when the sixth-generation Lexus ES (codenamed XV60) arrived in South Africa in late 2013, it completely rejected this European obsession with dynamic aggression. Built on a stretched platform shared with the North American Toyota Avalon, the ES was an unapologetic, front-wheel-drive isolation chamber. It offered E-Class interior dimensions for C-Class money, and it prioritised trans-continental cruising comfort and vault-like silence over apex-hunting agility. Lexus ES (2013-2017): Interior, engines and specifications The architectural shift to the longer platform unlocked massive internal volume. The wheelbase was stretched, providing an additional 60 mm of rear kneeroom, which transformed the rear seats into...
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Nissan NP300 Hardbody and NP200 get new out-of-warranty service kits in SA

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Nissan NP300 Hardbody and NP200 owners will now have access to crucial out-of-warranty servicing kits designed to keep their bakkies running years after dealer-backed support… Image: Nissan SA Nissan South Africa has introduced a new service campaign to support out-of-warranty workhorse bakkies. The initiative focuses on the Nissan NP300 Hardbody and NP200 ranges, both of which were discontinued in South Africa in recent years. It also expands access to affordable, factory-validated Nissan Value Advantage Parts and dedicated servicing kits nationwide. The Japanese brand’s local arm has partnered with the Motor Industry Workshop Association to widen this operational footprint. Doing so enables independent motor repair centres to supply and fit these components alongside official dealerships. Nissan NP300 Hardbody and NP200 out-of-warranty service kits Image: Nissan The campaign provides tailored major and minor servicing kits, as well as standalone filters, specifically ...
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2026 BMW M2 M xDrive: Price and specs in South Africa

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The all-paw BMW M2 M xDrive has landed in South Africa, with the the German marque revealing pricing and specs. See pricing below… Image: BMW The first-ever M2 featuring BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system, the M2 M xDrive has arrived in South Africa. The all-paw M2 employs the same 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged inline-six employed by its rear-wheel-drive siblings. The S58 unit produces 353 kW. Models, including the M xDrive, equipped with the Bavarian brand’s M Steptronic eight-speed automatic transmission develop 600 N.m of torque – available in a broad 2 700-5 620 r/min swathe of the rev band – while the six-speed manual derivative churns out 550 N.m. Despite a 60 kg weight penalty, the (1 790 kg, claimed) M2 M xDrive completes the 0-100 km/h sprint three-tenths of a second quicker than the M Steptronic-equipped rear-wheel-drive model, at 3.7 vs 4.0 seconds. The top speed remains unchanged, at 285 km/h. The M2 M xDrive has a claimed average fuel consumption ...
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Alfa Romeo Junior and Tonale gain key upgrades for 2027

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Alfa Romeo has applied some key refinements to its volume-selling SUVs, the Junior and Tonale. Updates have been made to the features list and interior quality… Image: Alfa Romeo Alfa Romeo has announced key refinements and specification updates for the 2027 Junior and Tonale models. These two vehicles act as the Italian marque’s core global volume sellers, as the manufacturer re-strategises towards a balanced lineup that offers consumers more specification and drivetrain choices. The Junior serves as the brand’s primary volume driver globally. The firm’s newcomer secured the majority of registrations in 2026, accounting for over 75% of sales in core European markets. Conversely, demand for the Tonale has declined since its initial launch phase, with Stellantis confirming lower registration figures, despite this model remaining the second best-selling vehicle in the Alfa Romeo portfolio. Alfa Romeo adds more flair to the 2027 Junior range Image: Alfa Romeo A...
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5 tips to save fuel and improve fuel economy

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There’s not much we can do about the volatility of the local fuel price, yet we can try to prolong our next trip to the forecourt. We highlight five ways you can save fuel and improve your car’s fuel economy. Image: Peet Mocke Among the many financial challenges facing the average South African consumer, that unavoidable visit to the fuel station has quickly risen in the rankings for associated anguish. Whether driven by events in markets far from ours or by any number of local taxes, the price of a litre of fuel has become increasingly volatile, rising more often than it falls.  We as consumers can do very little to affect the listed price of fuel, yet small adjustments to our driving habits can hopefully delay our next visit to the petrol station forecourt. Here are the top five tips to save fuel: 1. A well-oiled machine As impressively complex as the workings of a modern motor vehicle’s powertrain are, its efficient operation relies on myriad small processes combining seam...
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