The Car Guide

Another Chery sub-brand, another boxy off-roader? The Jetour T2 was teased alongside the Jaecoo J6 at the New Energy and Aftermarket Expo at the Chery Global User Summit in Wuhu, China. Would these retro-styled off-roaders find favour in Msanzi? On a few occasions during our week in Wuhu, I thought I had seen a well-kitted Land Rover Defender drive past. However, at the New Energy and Aftermarket Expo we finally got a close-up of the two new Chinese off-roaders, evidently inspired in design by the British brand’s revered 4×4, that had been playing tricks on me. While a few of the models we saw were labelled “iCar 03”, Jaecoo’s all-electric take on a classic-contemporary off-roader will be known in the South African Market as the J6. Jaecoo’s J7 is currently enjoying a healthy uptake in South Africa, and the family is set to grow, with the J6 joining the company’s local line-up, alongside the J8 and J9, in 2025. We got to spend some time behind the wheel of the J6 at an off-road tes

BYD has partnered with Australian off-road accessories brand Ironman 4×4 to launch the Shark 6 bakkie, a plug-in hybrid double cab aimed at adventurers and 4×4 enthusiasts alike. Image: BYD Looking for a new or used BYD? Find it here with CARmag! Under the bonnet, the Shark 6 boasts a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine delivering 135 kW and 260 N.m of torque. While this engine powers the front wheels, its primary role is to recharge BYD’s ‘Blade’ battery system, a feature central to the Shark 6’s plug-in hybrid design. Alongside this, the bakkie houses a pair of electric motors: one at the front producing 170 kW and 310 N.m and another at the rear, which generates 150 kW and 340 N.m. In total, the PHEV setup produces a whopping 321 kW and 650 N.m of torque. According to BYD, the Shark PHEV’s outputs allow the double cab to dispatch the 0-100 km/h sprint in 5.7 seconds, before topping out at 160 km/h. Image: BYD Related:  BYD’s (320 kW!) Shark PHEV Bakkie Con

Kia recently lifted the veils of the controversial Tasman bakkie. Senior Writer Marius Boonzaier travelled with Kia South Africa to the Jeddah International Motor Show, Saudi Arabia to attend the official reveal and get up close with the South Korean carmaker’s first-ever bakkie. X-Pro. Image: Kia Looking for a new or used Kia? Find it here with CARmag! Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. With the mercury steadily rising to 35 degrees Celsius, not to mention the humidity level at an almost unbearable 74% (for my constitution, at least), I, dressed in the crispest white button-down shirt, neatly tucked into my suit trousers, I own. I was eager to make my way out of the heat of the Middle East and into the Jeddah Super Dome, not only for the air conditioning but, more so, for what could be considered the main event of the 2024 Jeddah International Motor Show. Following an extensive teaser campaign, which highlighted the development process of Kia’s first-ever bakkie (then dressed in camouflage w

Xiaomi Auto’s SU7 Ultra prototype recently recorded a stunning 6:46.874-minute lap at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, positioning itself as the fastest four-door car to tackle the iconic track. Image: Xiaomi This time places the electric sedan firmly at the forefront of high-performance electric vehicles, surpassing previous records for production-based four-door and electric models. A video released by Nürburgring officials showcases the Xiaomi prototype’s exceptional lap, which featured an unexpected twist: onboard footage reveals that the car appeared to lose some power around the 4:15 mark. Nevertheless, the SU7 Ultra maintained its pace, ultimately completing the lap in a record-setting time. According to Xiaomi, Nürburgring’s team scheduled a testing window for the 28th of October, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. After final track inspections and tyre preparations were completed, the SU7 Ultra prototype took to the track at 11:50 a.m., crossing the finish line just before noon.