The Car Guide

Scheduled to arrive here in 2027, the Omoda C4 compact SUV will become the first Chery Group product to be built in South Africa. Image: Omoda In our 2026 Beijing Auto Show with Omoda & Jaecoo – What’s coming to SA report, we saw the series-production Omoda C4 make its official debut. Now, the Chinese automaker has confirmed this striking compact SUV will be the first model under the Chery umbrella to be manufactured in South Africa. Omoda C4 local production in South Africa The Omoda C4 will be produced at the Chery Group’s Rosslyn Plant, near Pretoria, where the first units are expected to roll off the assembly line by mid-2027. The production roster also includes the SA-bound Chery Grootman , Tiggo Cross , Jeacoo J5, and Jetour T1 and T2 . Previously owned by Nissan, the assembly line was acquired by the Wuhu carmaker earlier in 2026, with the official opening ceremony having took place in July. The marque aims to produce 15 000 units in total, or 2 500 vehicles per month,...

Chery’s Australian arm has announced a partnership with Ironman 4×4 to offer the Grootman double-cab bakkie with a raft of off-road-focused accessories. Image: Chery Penned in to launch in South Africa in the first quarter of 2027 and confirmed for local production , the Chery Grootman has been handed a selection of off-road-focused kit Down Under, where it is named the Stockman, through Chery Australia’s partnership with Ironman 4×4. These accessories will be available directly from dealerships. Through this collaboration, Chery’s Australian arm offers the Grootman with Ironman 4×4’s Apex Bull Bar – a full-width triple hoop-style aluminium item incorporating a winch cradle, a duo of recovery points, and a 4 mm thick skid plate – premium side rails and steps, a Raid roof rack featuring the option of mounting points for the fitment of additional lighting, and a Raid canopy. Further accessories include roller drawers and a rear-step t...

The iCaur V25 has been unveiled at the 2026 Chery International User Summit in Wuhu, China. This SUV completes the brand’s V-Series family alongside the V23 and larger V27 .   Image: iCaur The iCaur V25 continues the Chinese brand’s Future Classic design direction that we’ve already seen across the V-Series. The Chery sub-brand p ositions it directly between the compact V23 and the larger V27, targeting consumers who want distinct styling alongside functional everyday flexibility. Sourcing design inspiration from the V23, this model retains an upright stance, round headlamps, and a squared-off profile. A height-to-width ratio of 0. 96:1 gives the vehicle an almost square proportion. Key external details include a flat front end, clamshell bonnet, upright windscreen, side-opening tailgate, and full-size spare wheel. Space efficiency remains a priority inside the vehicle. The design delivers a claimed 66.4% longitudinal space efficiency, maximising room for ...

The new Haval H7 has arrived in South Africa, with GWM revealing local pricing and specs for the six-strong model lineup. See pricing below… Image: Peet Mocke Haval H7 powertrain lineup The new Haval H7 is offered with the choice of three powertrain options: 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol internal combustion (ICE), 1.5-litre hybrid (HEV), and 1.5-litre plug-in hybrid (PHEV). Coupled with a nine-speed dual-clutch transmission, the ICE produces 170 kW and 380 N.m of torque, the latter delivered to the road via either 2WD or 4WD.   The HEV variant, which incorporates a 1.53 kWh battery, is endowed with 182 kW and 540 N.m. The HEV and PHEV are equipped with a dedicated hybrid transmission (DHT). The PHEV setup produces combined system outputs of 240 kW/540 N.m in 2WD and 280 kW/670 N.m in 4WD derivative. Both drivetrains are coupled with a 23.7 kWh battery pack, which serves up a claimed 130 and 115 km operating range in the 2WD and 4WD, respectively. All PHEV models feature vehicle...

Toyota has come out to ask European legislators to have a more realisitic approach to global decarbonisation, indicating that the targeted requirements are impossible to meet without considerable compromises… Image: Toyota Toyota has called on European and United Kingdom policymakers to adopt a pragmatic, partnership-driven regulatory approach to safeguard the competitiveness of the region’s automotive sector. As European Union legislators draft the Industrial Accelerator Act and Automotive Package, and the UK Government reviews its Zero Emission Vehicle mandate, the Japanese brand urges authorities to balance ambitious climate targets with market realities. Operating in Europe for over 60 years, the historic Japanese marque designs, builds, and develops vehicles, engines, and hybrid systems locally. Yoshihiro Nakata, President and CEO of Toyota Motor Europe, emphasised that Toyota is a European manufacturer deeply invested in the success of the local automotive industry....

Reports from Europe have suggested Jeep may be reviving the iconic ‘Willys’ nameplate for an electric compact SUV in 2030. Here’s what we know… Image: Jeep Noted by Xavier Peugeot, CEO of Jeep Europe, at the 2026 Paris Motor Show, the US marque’s leadership has recognised the importance of the Willys’ heritage as a “key attention” for the brand’s future. One of several new ideas the firm is considering, Peugeot maintains the Willys’ revival could be a key card to play in the fightback against vehicles coming from China. He continued to suggest that many European-based automakers face the imminent offensive from Chinese competition and that legacy automakers  like Jeep should remain as strong and connected to its original values as possible. The Willys project itself forms part of Jeep’s ‘Road to 2030’ strategy, which encapsulates a range of models that are capable, compact and electrified to meet tomorrow’s mobility needs. Spearheading this lineup is th...