The Car Guide

The Toyota Hilux is consistently South Africa’s best selling vehicle, averaging over 3,000 units per month nationally. Some have tinkered with their own bakkies making weird and wonderful creations but a latest rendering of a lowered 6×6 Toyota Lo-Lux is oddly appealing. If this is the most repulsive image that detracts from the utilitarian nature of bakkies, fear not, since this is purely a digital CGI by 19 year old Vishnu Suresh, better known on instagram as Zephyr Designz . In some of the self taught concept artist’s most recent work, a Toyota Hilux double cab bakkie was taken and converted into a lowered, widebody 6×6 Toyota Lo-Lux.  The project includes a custom widebody kit, fully redesigned front and rear bumpers with an adjustable front splitter and bespoke side skirts. The digital creation is sitting on 6 deep-dish Vossen ERA 2 rims wrapped in Toyo R888R rubber. Of course the load bin would have had to virtually go under the knife to accommodate the extra axle and set of w

The inaugural Atlantis dunes fun day sponsored by RAW 4×4 suspension equipment was held on the 23 rd April. The event was a resounding success with an overflowing Atlantis dunes car park due to the presence of 94 4x4s plus many others not actually taking part. A 06h30 start ensured sufficient time for around ten groups of vehicles to make their way into the dunes where eight obstacle courses had been set up to test drivers and their machines. The variety of vehicles was impressive and very varied from a Lexus V8-engined Lada Niva, modified Jeep Cherokees, Discovery V8s and heavily tuned TD5s to more conventional FJ cruisers, double cabs and of course the capable Suzuki Jimnys. Points were allocated according to a mix of sprint times (for the drag race) set times (for the figure of eight) and the ability or not of reaching a set flags half way up a steep dune (the dune bash). Points were subtracted for touching flag course markers. Paramedics and recovery were on hand but with

Overland vehicle manufacturers EarthCruiser have switched to the Isuzu NPR Series Class 4 platform on some of their latest creations, replacing the previous Fuso based models from before. The latest Isuzu based EarthCruiser 4×4 will also boast a GM sourced V8 which should give it the power to go anywhere. EarthCruiser have stated that the latest creation is “the most agile and capable vehicle in its class” with significant upgrades to the platform and a proprietary 4×4 drivetrain. The seasoned overlanding vehicle manufacturers further state that the Isuzu platform is the ideal size for an adventure vehicle of its class while still providing respectable performance and reliability.  The cab-over concept also offers “unmatched” visibility which is a great advantage in harrowing off road situations where precision is key. The configuration also allows the largest possible living space with the smallest footprint  Moving onto the 6.6-litre V8 powertrain which is produced by General Mot

Two of the most powerful and heaviest SUVs currently in BMW’s portfolio have gone head-to-head, or rather tail-to-tail in a latest BMW SUV tug of war. If this lineup is insufficient, a Mercedes-AMG G63 is thrown into the mix for good measure!  Carwow has two of the most expensive, luxurious and premium models in BMW’s SUV arsenal pitted against each other. In the corner of future, electric mobility is the twin-motor iX xDrive50 which achieves 385 kw and 765 N.m from its 2,510 kg stature. On the opposite end of the ring is its petrol powered alternative, the all-wheel-drive X7 M50i which is equally rated at 390 kW and 750 N.m albeit down on weight tipping the scales at 2,490 kg.  See the new, controversially styled BMW X7 here.  The two German behemoths of the BMW SUV tug of war find themselves battling it out on a grassy English field which has damp grass providing limited traction to their standard tyres. Spoiler alert, 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 power reigned supreme agains

If you’re a sucker for ‘ain’t no replacement for displacement’ the latest Brabus 900 should tickle your fancy. The latest GLS based SUV now pushes out 662 kW from a larger displaced V8 while exterior and interior upgrades give it as much bark as its bite. The latest Brabus creation isn’t another high end German model with a new ECU paired with to an intake/exhaust upgrade with some bits of exterior carbon. This goes far beyond what most aftermarket tuning companies are willing to tinker with since the Brabus 900 has had its engine displacement increased from 4-litres to 4.5-litres while a pair of custom-made turbochargers increase boost pressure allowing the behemoth to crank out 900 hp (662 kW) – hence the name. The mechanicals further include a modified intake and exhaust while the fuel system has been reworked too. The exhaust pipes allude to this modification neatly protruding from the diffuser with large rectangular tips. All of the sonorous V8 burbles are adjustable by the driv

Petrol powered sedans are a dying breed, even for brands like Alfa Romeo who are steeped in the visceral experiences they provide. A latest Giulia Render has been created based on CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato’s latest words hinting that the next generation model will not feature combustion propulsion at all. Alfa Romeo have outlined their roadmap for the next few years and intend on being all-electric by 2027 as with many other brands scrambling to meet regulation changes imposed by governments all around the world by the end of the decade. What this means is that any, if not all, future models in the fabled Italian brand’s portfolio will be powered quietly by batteries and electric motors unlike anything from before . The first model from the Turinese manufacturer to dabble in electrification is the fresh faced Tonale SUV. While it may not be offered as a pure EV, the model is ushering a new era for the brand with a selection of powertrains including PHEV derivatives . The first pure

South Africa’s locally built and premier performance bakkie has its highly anticipated replacement on the way but that doesn’t mean the outgoing model is any less capable than it was before. Here are some of the standout features of the Ford Ranger Raptor that make it such an appealing lifestyle bakkie.  Paying in the region of a million Rand for a bakkie isn’t something commonplace in our market yet. The outgoing Ranger Raptor is in that ballpark and the newly revealed iteration is expected to be well over the milestone price. Looking into the details reveals why the esteemed model has seen such success despite its price tag. It is no secret that South Africans love their bakkies, with the perennial favourite Toyota Hilux topping sales charts month in and month out according to Naamsa . That being said, a bakkie will naturally do well in our local market so why not combine its versatility with luxury and performance for a niche market? That is what we have here with the Ford Rang

Some might argue that Toyota missed the mark the first time around, but that doesn’t change the fact that the A90 already has a cult following. It would seem as though Toyota have done what they can to give automotive enthusiasts the “perfect” Toyota  Supra . #SAVETHEMANUAL. The mere mention of the Toyota Supra will send many enthusiasts into a frenzy. Conversely, others will be foaming at the mouth, arguing that the BMW-sourced powerplant means that the A90 doesn’t deserve the esteemed Supra nameplate – is the ‘new’ Supra a marmite car? Maybe… The distinctive A90 Supra will receive few exterior visual changes Although we won’t see a new engine in the new Supra, Toyota has a few special changes lined up to appease the unhappy minorities,  a group of people which we could argue that the new Supra isn’t actually intended for… A press release has confirmed that the 2023 GR A90 and limited edition A91 models will receive a six-speed manual transmission and a few other enhancements. T

Sim racing, as with gaming, is fast becoming a serious frontier for individuals/gamers to breach into industries as full time professionals. This is the case with local Jordan Sherratt who has been announced to compete for the Lamborghini Esports team.  The 22-year-old sim racer will join Gianfranco Giglioli and Simonini Giorgio in the SRO Esports championships after an impressive driving record behind the virtual wheel. Having dominated the local sim racing scene and claiming the wild card spot for the 2021 Logitech G Challenge for South Africa and winning the Solidarity eRace, Sherratt went on to compete globally over the last few years including claiming titles for The Sim Grid World Cup Season 1 Championship, multiple Raceface Pro Championships and being named the the Lamborghini Real Race 2021 Champion .  Follow his continuing journey on Instagram .  Don’t be fooled though, the prowess that has enabled Sherratt to get to this point is also partly due to real life racing exper

Everything about the widebody Porsche 911 Sport Classic is an ode to models from the past. With 405 kW and a manual transmission powering the rear wheels exclusively, it is also set to be a true driver’s car for the fortunate 1,250 buyers of the latest Stuttgart creation.  It’s tough to find a place to start with the latest Porsche 911 Sport Classic. So much has changed yet it still looks undeniably like the exemplary 911 Turbo S on which it is based. Aside from the retro inspired livery, door mounted number and racing stripes, the exterior has had some extensive work done to it.  Watch the promotional video for the Porsche 911 Sport Classic here .  A ducktail spoiler, inspired by the 70’s 911 Carrera RS, adds to this classicism while the fenders required re-tooling to accommodate the smooth surface it beholds, devoid of air vents. This widebody design will be exclusive to the 1,250 units built by Porsche for the 911 Sport Classic. The bonnet and roof both make use of carbon fibr

Mercedes tried and saw limited success with the X-Class bakkie but now the Stuttgart manufacturer is trying their hand at a light commercial vehicle that can be used by both business and families with active lifestyles. Say hello to the new T-Class.  The Stuttgart model will offer all of the niceties expected of a Mercedes-Benz. These light commercial vehicles have seen growing success over the past few years, offering utility and practicality that SUV’s can’t seem to rival. Mercedes are now joining Ford, Volkswagen, Fiat, Peugeot, Citroen and Renault in their latest endeavour to try and win some of the niche market with a fancier offering than any of the aforementioned.  Like Mercedes did with the X-Class using an existing Nissan platform, so too will the new T-Class. This time around, the Germans will not be pairing up with their Japanese counterparts but rather their French neighbours since it is based on the Renault Kangoo – a model which debuted in 2020 and hasn’t been offere

If you haven’t already heard, the next sedan from the German automaker has traded in two of its cylinders for more power. The 4-cylinder Mercedes-AMG C43 has been spotted in camouflage strutting its stuff around the Ring and it looks rapid, albeit without that characteristic V8 growl. The latest AMG sedan has all the normal aesthetic characteristics on the outside but offers a different sound from its predecessors. This day has been a long time coming for the automotive world. Downsizing has been least kind to the V8 behemoths from yesteryear with manufacturers from all over the globe now punting flagship models with much smaller displacements and cylinder-counts.  That doesn’t mean they are any less capable in serving their purpose however, the latest 4-cylinder Mercedes-AMG C43 is claimed to be capable of a whopping 300 kW and 500 N.m – more than its 3-litre twin-turbocharged V6 W205 predecessor. This is compliments in no small part of Formula 1 derived technology taken from th

Volkswagen has a new bakkie on the way which will replace their ageing but steadfast model which was first released in 2010 and has sold over 830,000 units globally. Here are some facts on the 2023 VW Amarok which will most notably be based on Ford’s updated T6 platform. The Amarok will be produced alongside the new Ford Ranger. Starting with the exterior, we have only seen a lengthy teaser campaign and the latest shots of a heavily camouflaged bakkie shown here. Albert Kirzinger, Head of Design at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has stated: “For the new generation we have significantly modified the Amarok’s archetypal design. It is now unambiguously more expressive and once again appreciably more impressive.” Aside from the design description, what we do know is that the newcomer will be stretched in all fronts save for its width meaning that the interior will be more commodious than before. The 2023 VW Amarok now boasts a 5,350 mm length with a double cab wheelbase of 3,270 mm.

Say goodbye to Mercedes-AMG’s 3,0-litre V6 screamer and hello to the C43 AMG’s new 2,0-litre mild-hybrid powertrain with 300 kW and 500 N.m. The W205 Mercedes-AMG C43 AMG offered AMG thrills, albeit with a different character to the full fat C63 brute. With its 287 kW and 520 N.m 3,0-litre twin-turbocharged V6, the C43 AMG combines everyday comfort with a fruity engine note and AWD surefootedness. Its replacement has just been announced as the W206 C43 AMG, but gone is the yelping V6 of its predecessor , making way for a somewhat more subdued , albeit slightly more powerful, mild-hybrid setup. Touted as the world’s most powerful four-cylinder production engine, the astonishing M139 2,0-litre unit with turbocharger outputs 300 kW and 500 N.m in the new C43. The turbocharger features a 1,6-inch thin electric motor on the turbocharger shaft, F1 technology which allows the turbocharger compressor to spool up before the exhaust gasses take over, thus reducing lag. Claimed performance fi

Local Suzuki dealerships now feature the updated Jimny GL – the mid-range specification level of the inimitable little off-roader. With the intention of bringing many of the range topping GLX ’s must-have luxuries to a wider audience, the GL slots into the Jimny range just above the rough-and-ready GA model and brings with it the option of an automatic transmission. Brendon Carpenter, Brand Marketing Manager at Suzuki Auto South Africa said, “No one, our team included, could have predicted the success of the Jimny in South Africa and across the globe. “As a fully off-road capable SUV, it is as comfortable in the inner city as it is on the dunes of the Namib. And at a starting price of only R336 900 for the GL manual and R357 900 for the GL auto, it will the dreams of adventure a reality for thousands of people,” Carpenter has further noted that despite sales of both GA and GLX models having far exceeded initial supply, many customers have expressed that they would appreciate a few

South African Freedom Day, celebrated on the 27th of April each year since 1994, honours the anniversary of our country’s first true democratic elections. While it would be difficult to single out one car to summarise such a momentous day, we decided to step into the past and look at what cars were hot in the same year instead.  The Kadett/Astra F range which included a hatchback, sedan and wagon. This was a vastly different era; true democracy loomed for millions of South Africans for the first time, Gen Z’s weren’t yet a thing, cell phones were in their infancy and limited to a few businessmen and cars were arguably in a golden age where technology was advanced enough to produce marvels yet driving was still analog and engaging.  This is immediately evident when looking at the 1994 Car of the Year as voted by the South African Guild of Mobility Journalists; the Opel Kadett 140. Other international markets had already adopted the Astra nameplate for the German hatchback but the