The Car Guide

Toyota GR has collaborated with TRD to offer a range of hardware goodies to elevate the appeal and performance of the GR Yaris. Looking for your next new or used Toyota? Find it here with CARmag! Image: TRD Toyota Gazoo Racing unveiled the updated and evolved version of their hot-blooded GR Yaris model earlier this year. The new hot hatch has stood out from the model in that it superseded with its redesigned front fascia, a revised interior arrangement, more power and a handful of technological bits to further the appeal of the no-nonsense offering. A GR Yaris, bearing all of the new TRD hardware is visually distinguished from a standard GR Yaris by way of a GR front spoiler, GR side skirts, a GR rear bumper spoiler, a GR roof spoiler, 18-inch GR Forged alloy wheels, GR sport side window visors, and punctuated by a GR body stripe. Related: Toyota Unveils Evolved GR Yaris With More Power And Anti-Lag Image: TRD Below the metal, the GR Yaris can be equipped with three functio...

In a matter of weeks, the final NP200 will roll off of the production line as the final half-tonne bakkie to be sold new in South Africa. How does it stack up to the cheapest Nissan Navara though? We find out what makes the ladder-framed bakkie R135 800 more expensive than the unibody model below. Looking for a new or used Nissan? Find it here with CARmag. Nissan NP200 Fast Facts Price:  R234 000 or R253 800 (with aircon) Engine : 1.6-litre four-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine  Transmission:  5-speed manual Power : 64 kW Torque:  128 N.m Driven Wheels:  Front Fuel Consumption:  8.1 L/100 km Rivals: Mahindra Bolero Maxitruck, Suzuki Super Carry Taking the reigns from the locally venerated Nissan 1400, production of the NP200 began in earnest during 2008 at the Rosslyn facility just outside of Pretoria. The overall recipe has remained largely unchanged serving as a popular and sole option in the half-tonne unibody bakkie segment...

Looking for something fun to do this long weekend? Some four-wheeled, open-top off-roading may do the trick! Have a look at these quadbike excursions around Cape Town here. Looking for your next new or used Mitsubishi? Find it here with CARmag! Between March and May, South Africa is blessed with several public holidays, may of which create long weekends for time away. We have compiled some epic four-wheeled outings for petrolheads in the Cape Town area. Have a look at these Daddy’s Deals below! Several packages, at various locations in the Mother City are available for one or two people – click on the headings below for more details. Thrill Seekers 45-minute guided tour for 1 person Atlantis Dunes R599 Valid until 31 May 2024 Related: Ultimate Petrolhead Gift? Cape Town Drifting Experience Quadzilla Adventures 1-hour guided tour for 2 people Atlantis Dunes R999 Valid until 30 April 2024 Wild X Adventures 40-minute guided tour for 1 person Atlantis Dunes R499 Val...

Virtual racing is meant to be a smidge cheaper than the real thing but Pagani’s new Huayra R racing simulator may be the most expensive and opulent racing simulator to debut in the last decade. Looking for your next new or used car? Find it here with CARmag.  The Pagani Huayra R simulator is the spawn of the collaborative effort between two of Pagani’s departments, namely the Pagani Arte team and Pagani’s vehicle dynamics team. Additionally, Pagani’s two departments approached Racing Unleashed , which specialises in the production of high-quality sim racing rigs. The Huayra R simulator has been in development since 2020, with the firm’s design team dedicated to transferring the look and feel of the innards of the actual road-going model into a sim racing configuration. “At Racing Unleashed we aim to provide the most engaging experiences to motorsport fans around the world. Today, we are delighted to announce this partnership with Pagani to showcase our advanced technology with ...

Ahead of one of the most destructive and dangerous weekends on South African roads, Ford’s Driving Skills for Life programme reaffirms key criteria to arrive alive.  Image: Ford Looking for your next new or used Ford? Find it here with CARmag! Ensuring motorists are equipped with necessary and potentially life-saving skills over the long weekend period, Ford’s Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) programme mentions some key skills to remember when hitting the road. Image: Ford Stay alert and rested: Avoid driving if you’re feeling drowsy. While leaving early to beat traffic is tempting, driving without enough sleep can be dangerous. Ensure your passengers stay engaged to help keep you awake. Maintain a safe distance: Keep at least a three-second gap between you and the car in front. If someone cuts in, take a deep breath and increase your following distance. Increase this gap to six seconds in rain or darkness. Anticipate other drivers: Be prepared for erratic driving from...

Team Mitsubishi Ralliart will be competing in the Asia Cross Country Rally (also referred to as the AXCR) with a T1 prototype Triton double cab bakkie. Looking for your next new or used Mitsubishi? Find it here with CARmag! Image: Team Mitsubishi Ralliart “Last year, we confirmed the toughness and durability of the all-new Triton in the gruelling conditions of AXCR 2023. The rally also reaffirmed that the Triton’s strengths lie in its sporty handling and its excellent road handling on rough terrain. This year will be our second year competing with the new-gen Triton, and we have made the Triton rally car more powerful and enhanced its driving performance by widening the tread further so that we can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with competitors’ vehicles with high-displacement engines.” – Hiroshi Masuoka, team director of Team Mitsubishi Ralliart. The AXCR 2024 is the region’s largest cross-country rally and spans approximately 2 000 km, 1 000 km comprising special stages. This y...

It is only a patent, but Ferrari has either lost the plot or is onto something with an upside-down hydrogen inline-six motor that could be a step in the right direction to save the beloved internal combustion engine. Here is what we can decipher from the patent so far. Image: Ferrari Looking for a new or used Ferrari? Find it here with CARmag! Automakers occasionally patent singular, far-reaching technologies to safeguard concepts. However, outlining an unconventional vehicle system with multiple unique characteristics is highly unusual and may warrant some raised eyebrows. Ferrari’s latest endeavour titled “CAR PROVIDED WITH A HYDROGEN-POWERED INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE” is a document detailing one of several various unconventional systems for a potential future sports car. All these patents are currently applications in both the EU and US, with a single credited inventor, Fabrizio Favaretto . Favaretto, with 24 years of experience at Ferrari, currently holds the position of “Ve...

Citroën has unveiled the Basalt Vision, an SUV Coupe exclusive to the Indian and South American markets and positioned as the follow-up act to the C3 and C3 Aircross models. Looking for your next new or used Citroën? Find it here with CARmag.  “We are delighted to unveil the third opus of the programme designed to drive Citroën’s international growth. Our teams are strongly committed to deliver in the coming months this innovative vision of SUV Coupé that exudes bold design, space inside and unique onboard comfort. Developed and produced locally, we are confident that Basalt Vision will appeal to a large number of customers and strengthen our position in major markets. We can’t wait to tell you more about it in the middle of the year.” Thierry Koskas – Citroën CEO. Image: Citroën Related: Citroën Unveil Higher-Grade C3 Model Dubbed C3 Max Citroën states that the Basalt Vision, a name derived from the volcanic rock meant to embody robustness and timeless serenity, blends s...

EVs dominated the 2024 World Car of the Year competition with Kia’s EV9 taking overall honours in a sea of competition from Chinese brands. Here are the other victors from the annual competition. Looking for your next new or used Volvo? Find it here with CARmag! Hosted annually, with a jury comprising impartial automotive professionals from around the world (including South Africa), the 2024 World Car of the Year competition has concluded with a lineup of electrified vehicles taking the majority of trophies home. As a recap, vehicles eligible for World Car of the Year must be produced in volumes of at least 10 000 units/year, must be priced below the luxury-car level in their primary markets, and must be “on-sale” in at least two major markets (China, Europe, India, Japan, Korea, Latin America, USA) on at least two separate continents within the period January 1, 2023 and March 30, 2024. All vehicles eligible for other World Car award categories are automatically eligible for World ...

Volvo’s diesel days are behind them, as the XC90 will be the final diesel-powered vehicle produced by the Swedish firm’s fleet. Looking for your next new or used Volvo? Find it here with CARmag.  Volvo has promised to realise its goal of having a rolling fleet with net-zero emissions by 2050. Before then, however, the Swedish marque intends to only offer all-electric vehicles by 2030, and have net-zero value chain emissions by 2040. As a means towards that end, the Swedish automaker will cease production of its diesel vehicles, with the XC90 being Volvo’s diesel powertrain pallbearer that will be placed in a museum. Volvo’s diesel department has, over time, been phased out. In 2017, Volvo announced that it would end the development of its diesel engines, and now production of all vehicles powered by diesel powertrains has ceased. Related: Volvo Reveals More About EX30 Line-up Before Local Launch As stated in Volvo’s climate plan, the next step toward achieving its climate goal...

Mercedes has unveiled the latest version of its venerable G63, which retains its V8 powerplant assisted by Mercedes 48-volt tech. Looking for your next new or used Mercedes? Find it here with CARmag.  Image: Mercedes-AMG “The G-Class is an automotive icon and the Mercedes-AMG G 63 has been the most popular model for many years. This is both an obligation and an incentive for us. Our aim was therefore to make the enhanced performance even more tangible – both on and off-road.” – Michael Schiebe, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-AMG GmbH and Head of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class & Mercedes-Maybach business units. First impressions are everything and the new G63 immediately distinguishes itself by way of its model-exclusive MANUFAKTUR hyper blue mango exterior colour adorning the SUV’s revised physique. Changes to the G63’s exterior are mild but include a new AMG-specific front bumper, three vertical louvres in front of the air intake, stainless steel inserts o...

The Mercedes CLE Coupé and E-Class Sedan are on their way to South Africa but before they arrive, we have managed to unearth local pricing. Here is how much consumers will have to fork out for the 2.0-litre models. Image: Mercedes-Benz Looking for a new or used Mercedes-Benz? Search here with CARmag. Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupé Pricing CLE 200 – R1 355 350 CLE 300 4Matic – R1 430 650 Available exclusively in AMG Line trim, the CLE Coupé will be offered in two trims which are both equipped with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder motor. For the CLE 200, maximum outputs are 150 kW and 320 N.m while the more potent CLE 300 4Matic is equipped with 190 kW and 400 N.m. This price includes a 5-year/100 000 km service plan and maintenance plan. Related: Road Test: Mercedes-Benz GLC300d Coupé 4Matic With dimensions of 4 850 mm in length, 1 860 mm in width, and 1 428 mm in height, the CLE stands out as one of the larger coupes in the mid-size segment which translates to a roomy interior. A promi...

With the launch of the Daring Africa 2024 expedition from Rosslyn, South Africa to Cairo in Egypt, Nissan hopes to invigorate the Navara moniker with increased continental production once the final NP200 is manufactured at the local plant. Image: Nissan Looking for a new or used Nissan? Find it here with CARmag. Both key models in Nissan’s lineup locally, the diminutive NP200 and its larger Navara sibling serve as sales stalwarts for the Japanese automaker. Rather strange it is then to start an article speaking about a Navara expedition with information on the NP200. Look at the sales figures from February and you will see why – the Navara managed 449 local sales while the NP200 almost tripled that with 1 276 units. The NP200 serves as the bread and butter for Nissan between LCV and passenger sales with the Magnite trailing far behind with 847 units in the same month. Over and above its importance in serving as a key vehicle for small businesses, fleets and couriers, the NP200 is ...

Isuzu Motors South Africa has expanded its D-Max Single Cab LS range, as well as bolstering the safety and comfort features in the Extended Cab and Double Cab models.  Looking for your next new or used Isuzu? Find it here with CARmag.  Pricing:  1.9 Ddi S/Cab HR LS – R516 500 1.9 Ddi S/Cab HR LS AT – R538 400 1.9 Ddi S/Cab 4×4 LS AT – R618 800 3.0 Ddi S/Cab HR LS AT – R590 800 3.0 Ddi S/Cab 4×4 LS AT – R665 400 All new Isuzu D-MAX models are sold as standard with a 5-year/120 000 km warranty and roadside assistance, as well as a 5-year unlimited distance anti-corrosion warranty. “While the L series fulfils the need for a trusted, hard-working vehicle without too many frills, the LS steps things up by giving our customers additional styling, comfort and convenience features. This makes it ideal for owner-operators who spend long hours behind the wheel and are looking for something a bit more upmarket and comfortable to suit their everyday needs.” – Kevin ...

Spanning multiple generations over almost 20 years, the production of Audi’s venerable and hallowed R8 supercar has officially come to an end. Looking for your next new or used Audi? Find it here with CARmag.  The first vestige of what we know as the Audi R8 debuted as a concept model way back in 2003, bearing the Audi Le Mans quattro moniker and envisioning a high-performance sports car that inherited the characteristics of the three-time winning Le Mans 24-Hours race car. The official first-generation model was unveiled at the 2006 Paris Motor Show, which was the Le Mans quattro concept’s physique powered by a 4.2-litre naturally aspirated V8 and, depending on configuration, mated to a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. Image: Audi At the tail-end of 2008, Audi would birth the V10-powered derivative of the R8, which employed a 5.2-litre naturally aspirated V10 that was developed in collaboration with Lamborghini. It distinguished itself from its eight-cylinder cou...