The Car Guide

Neither are adored by the masses and both are polarising but now Mansory has got its hands on Elon’s Cybertruck and imbued its craft onto the futuristic-looking bakkie. The results to what is now called the Elongation are as you’d expect… Image: Mansorynd Dub Looking for a new or used vehicle? Find it here with CARmag! Known for its extravagant and high-performance vehicle customizations, Mansory has set its sights on one of the most anticipated and controversial electric vehicles of all time—the Tesla Cybertruck. The German luxury tuner, known for its bold designs and copious carbon-fibre craftsmanship, has reimagined Elon Musk’s futuristic bakkie with an even more aggressive and opulent aesthetic. The results speak for themselves. Related: Mansory’s Ostentatious Purosangue Appeals to the Inner 5 Year Old Mansory’s Cybertruck makeover includes a series of aerodynamic enhancements, with a full carbon-fibre body kit designed to give the already imposing bakkie a sharper, sportie...

Special editions are prevalent in the passenger and light commercial segments to entice buyers with special features, but Isuzu has revealed two trucks that celebrate a milestone in its history.  Image: Isuzu Looking for a new or used vehicle? Find it here with CARmag! Isuzu South Africa plans on continuing its endeavours with its D-Max bakkie and mu-X SUV for the South African market as predicted by CAR Magazine, but the Japanese automaker also previewed its model of more sustainable mobility. Related: Coming to SA in 2025 – Isuzu Earlier this week in Johannesburg, the Isuzu team hosted members of the media for a recap of 2024 and a glimpse into their future plans. Nothing on the LCV and passenger vehicle front was too out of the ordinary from what we already know was revealed but Isuzu CEO and President of naamsa Billy Tom divulged that the automaker’s global aspirations were to endeavour into the BEV segment in multiple global markets. No specific details on the models w...

Heavy deindustrialisation seems to be a key topic on the agenda of South Africa’s leading car manufacturers and during the annual Isuzu luncheon with media, Isuzu CEO Billy Tom alluded to an ambitious collaborative production facility that could be the solution to increasing uptake of locally produced vehicles.  Looking for a new or used vehicle? Find it here with CARmag! Earlier this week in Johannesburg, the Isuzu team hosted members of the media for a recap of 2024 and a glimpse into their future plans. Nothing on the LCV and passenger vehicle front was too out of the ordinary from what we already know but Isuzu CEO and President of naamsa Billy Tom presented an idea that could potentially counter the current deindustrialization faced by the auto industry. Related: Coming to SA in 2025 – Isuzu To put this all into context, Tom’s presentation demonstrated a local sales overview between 2018 and 2024. Six years ago, 46% of vehicles sold locally were built in South Africa but...

Scheduled to make its global debut on 5 March, 2025, Volvo has released teaser images of its next all-electric offering, the ES90. Here’s what we know so far… Image: Volvo Looking for a new or used Volvo? Find it here with CARmag! Volvo has announced it is expanding its electric-vehicle (EV) product portfolio with the debut of a brand-new EV, the ES90. Scheduled to make its global debut on 5 March, 2025, in addition to releasing a teaser images of ES90, the Swedish marque has revealed a few details of the upcoming model. From what we can make out from the teaser images, the ES90 takes the shape of a coupé-styled SUV, which, bar its sloping roofline, incorporates similar styling as the EX90, which we sampled on the international launch in Los Angeles in 2024. (As a reminder, the latter emissions-free SUV will arrive in South Africa in the first half of 2025.) Related:  Review: Volvo EX90 Twin Motor Performance Although the Gothenburg-based automaker has yet to reveal such p...

The Cyberster shines as the leading light in MG’s South African revival… Image: MG Motor Looking for a new or used vehicle? Find it here with CARmag! Conceived as the sportscar division of Morris Cars in 1924, MG (established as Morris Garages) would become synonymous with producing stylish, fun-to-drive sportscars that were accessible to people from all walks of life. Browsing through the automaker’s archives, it’s the models produced in the first five decades of the British marque’s existence, along with the motorsport pedigree gained from the K3 Magnette’s 1933 Mille Miglia victory, that have contributed to the company securing its place in the annals of sportscar history. Many MGs manufactured throughout that period have become classics. These include the 1955 MGA and its 1962 MGB successor, which, at the time, was billed as the firm’s first modern sportscar. However, following the release of the latter and subsequent iterations thereof, including the MGC, 33 years would pa...

The GWM P300 has launched in South Africa. Here’s what you can expect, including pricing and specs… Image: GWM Looking for a new or used GWM? Find it here with CARmag! Available with 4×2 and 4×4 drivetrains, the GWM P300 range is equipped with a 2.4-litre, four-cylinder turbodiesel motor, exclusively coupled with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The oil-burner churns out 135 kW and 480 N.m of torque, the latter of which available from a mere 1 500 r/min. Compared to the 2.0-litre turbodiesel employed by its P-Series siblings, that’s increases of 15 kW and 80 N.m. GWM claims average fuel consumption figures of 7.4 L/100 km and 8.0 L/100 km, and 8.2 L/100 km for the 2.4D-equipped 4×2 and 4×4 LT variants, and 4×4 LTD derivative, respectively. Related: Road Test: GWM P500 2.0T HEV 4×4 Ultra Luxury AT As standard, all models feature such items as 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment, replete with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto screen mirroring; digital instrumentation; w...

Mercedes-Benz took a daring step by consolidating two products into one – the C- and E-Class cabriolet and coupé are now the CLE. We delve into why this strategic decision makes sense. Looking for a new or used Mercedes-Benz? Find it here with CARmag! If you’ve kept an eye on Mercedes-Benz’s line-up , whether globally or locally, you would have noticed that the C-Class and E-Class coupé and cabriolet models have been discontinued. Although, they do exist but in a different form because the CLE-Class has arrived as a single replacement for both. It then begs the question: why would Mercedes-Benz go about merging two models? Especially when they have such a rich history in luxury coupés and convertibles. The simplest reason for this change is that the market has shifted. Coupés and cabriolets used to be the cars dreams were made of, but these days they have become just that for many: a dream. Over the past decade or two, SUVs and crossovers became the go-to vehicles as consumers opte...

Scheduled to arrive on South African shores in limited numbers in the third quarter of 2025, BMW has unveiled the M4 CS Edition VR46, a special edition built to celebrate Valentino Rossi’s birthday. Image: BMW Looking for a new or used BMW? Find it here with CARmag!  To celebrate the birthday of nine-time world motorcycle champion and current BMW M works driver Valentino Rossi, BMW has whipped the wraps off a new limited-edition M4 CS, the Edition VR46. Based on the CS-badged M4, the Edition VR46 (‘VR’ for ‘Valentino Rossi’ ‘and ‘46’ indicating Rossi’s 46th birthday) is available in Sport and Style trim. Another nod to Rossi’s 46th, only 46 examples of each variant will be built … and only 10 will make their way to South Africa in the third quarter of 2025. Related: BMW Unveils First M3 CS Touring Ever! Distinguishing the Edition VR46 Sport and Style derivatives apart from their Competition siblings is the adoption of such model-specific trim elements as bright-yellow accen...

Designed in celebration of the Texas-based firm’s 91st anniversary, Hennessey has unveiled the Super Venom Mustang, a 633 kW limited edition based on the Mustang Dark Horse. Image: Hennessey Looking for a new or used Ford? Find it here with CARmag.  Touted to offer supercar levels of performance, Hennessey has unleashed the Super Venom Mustang. Only 91 examples — to commemorate the Texas-based company’s 91st anniversary — will be made. Based on the Ford Mustang Dark Horse, the Super Venom Mustang employs a reworked version of Ford’s familiar Coyote motor. For the limited edition, the 5.0-litre naturally aspirated V8 has been equipped with a high-performance supercharger, a high-flow air induction system and Hennessey’s engine management system. Related: Road Test: Ford Mustang 5.0 GT Fastback AT The result is peak power and torque outputs of 633 kW and 881 N.m, the latter of which available from 4 900 r/min. According to the US firm, these figures allow for a 0-96.5 km/h (0...

Indian automaker Mahindra has signed a memorandum of understanding with key players in South African infrastructure development which will further assess a CKD vehicle assembly facility in the country… Looking for a new or used Mahindra? Find it here with CARmag! During a press conference hosted at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannebsurg, Mahindra signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Indian Auto manufacturing giant and South Africa’s Industrial Development Corporation (IDC). While this doesn’t confirm another production facility for Mahindra just yet, it does show a commitment to the local market since it will serve as a feasibility study on the potential establishment of a Completely Knocked Down (CKD) vehicle assembly facility in the country. Related:  Road Test: Volkswagen Tiguan 1.4 TSI R-Line DSG Considering Mahindra is already a vehicle manufacturer of SKD (Semi Knocked Down) vehicles in Durban, the same plant that celebrated its 25 000th locally assemble...

Volvo South Africa is upping the ante for EV ownership with a compelling new package aimed at simplifying the transition to zero-emissions driving. Image: Volvo Looking for a new or used Volvo? Find it here with CARmag! Recognising the growing appetite for EVs in South Africa, Volvo is offering a comprehensive bundle that addresses some of the key concerns of potential buyers. The headline offer is two years of free public charging valued at R12 000. This voucher, linked to the GridCars charging network, provides a substantial boost for drivers looking to utilise the expanding public charging infrastructure. Volvo Car South Africa’s Head of Commercial, Markus Cromwell, highlighted the strong sales of EVs in 2024 and expressed confidence that this offer will further fuel demand. Beyond public charging, Volvo is also smoothing the transition to home charging. The company is providing an installation allowance of R7 500 towards a GridCars wall box. This is a crucial element, as hom...

Volkswagen has expanded its new Tiguan line-up with the addition of two new engine options, giving buyers more choice in the popular SUV. Here’s all you need to know… Image: Volkswagen Looking for a new or used Tiguan? Find it here with CARmag! Volkswagen has now expanded the Tiguan range with two new engine options: a 2.0-litre TDI producing 110 kW and a 2.0-litre TSI delivering 140 kW. Both powertrains are paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and 4Motion all-wheel drive.  The 2.0-litre TDI engine generates 340 N.m of torque between 1 750 and 3 000 r/min, and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 9.4 seconds, before reaching a top speed of 207 km/h. The 2.0-litre TSI engine delivers 350 N.m of torque from 1 500 to 4 400 r/min, allowing it to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.5 seconds and hit a top speed of 225 km/h. Related:  Road Test: Volkswagen Tiguan 1.4 TSI R-Line DSG The new engines are available with Life and R-Line levels of specification. The Tigu...

Peugeot has unveiled some radical reinterpretations of its classic 504, reimagining the 1970 midsize model as a high-performance concept for the gruelling Pikes Peak hill climb. Image: Peugeot Looking for a new or used Peugeot? Find it here with CARmag! Developed by Peugeot Design Lab, the 504 Pikes Peak Concept merges aggressive motorsport styling with cultural influences, paying tribute to the French rap group 113. The concept takes the elegant lines of the original 504 and transforms them into something far more extreme. It features exaggerated ultra-wide fender flares, a massive dual-wing aerodynamic setup, and a stripped-down interior with vibrant pink plaid upholstery. The number 113 is prominently displayed on the wheels, roof, and other areas, a reference to the rap group, which famously drove a 504 onto the stage at the 2000 Victoires de la Musique awards. Image: Peugeot Related:  Peugeot Doubles Down on EVs with 2025 Strategy Unveiling Alongside the extreme Pi...

Maserati took to the cool The I.C.E. St. Moritz to debut the GranCabrio and an exclusive one-off creation designed specifically for the event.  Image: Maserati Looking for a new or used Maserati? Find it here with Carmag! Continuing the opentop grand tourer tradition of its forebar’s, the GranCabrio has arrived with multiple powertrain options. The standard version features a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre Nettuno V6 producing 360 kW and 600 N.m of torque, while the Trofeo variant offers 405 kW and 650 N.m. Maserati also introduced a fully electric Folgore model. At The I.C.E., the spotlight was on the 360 kW all-wheel-drive model, which comes equipped with air suspension as standard. Maserati claims a 0-100 km/h time of just 4.0 seconds and a top speed of 300 km/h. Image: Maserati However, the real standout was the GranCabrio Trofeo One of One – THE I.C.E., a custom-built model from Maserati’s Fuoriserie personalisation programme. Finished in “Ice Liquid tri-coat” paint to ...

The year 2024 is well behind us, but we’ve been delving into the data to determine South Africa’s best-selling car brand. Here are the Top 10! We revisited Naamsa ’s vehicle sales data to analyse the top 10 best-selling brands for 2024. Our deep dive not only highlights the leading automakers but also reveals how their sales figures have shifted over time. By comparing trends from 2023 through to December 2024, we can see which brands have gained momentum and which have faced declines in an ever-changing market. The year-to-date data taken at the end of December 2024 looks like this. Top 10 Best-Selling car brands for 2024 Toyota – 124 435 Volkswagen – 60 975 Suzuki Auto – 59 574 Ford – 32 766 Hyundai – 30 797 Isuzu – 23 290 Nissan – 22 288 Chery – 19 912 Renault – 15 822 Kia – 14 778 While some manufacturers experienced growth, others saw a decline in numbers. Toyota remained the best-selling brand in South Africa, though its sales dropped from 138 357 in 2023...

Boasting more power, the 992.2 Carrera S is the most dynamic of its namesake to date. Image: Porsche Looking for a new or used vehicle? Find it here with CARmag! For the 992.2 iteration, Porsche says it has fundamentally upgraded the horizontally-opposed six-cylinder sited behind the 911 Carrera S’s aft axle, with notable revisions including the fitment of new turbochargers. The 3.0-litre unit now produces 353 kW, an increase of 22 kW over the 992.1 model. Peak torque has remained untouched, however, with a still-healthy 530 N.m sent to the rear axle via an 8-speed PDK transmission. Related: The F1 Debutants Who Must Swim In 2025 According to Porsche, the updates to the S-badged Carrera models allow the Coupé and Cabriolet versions to complete the 0-100 km/h sprint in 3.5 and 3.7 seconds, respectively. However, specifying the firm’s Sport Chrono pack shaves 0.2 seconds off the former and latter figures…and three-tenths of a second off their original 0-200 km/h times, to 11.6 (...

Billed as a new species of SUV, Kia aims to elevate its compact crossover portfolio with the Syros. Image: Kia Looking for a new or used vehicle? Find it here with CARmag! Set to slot into Kia’s line-up between the Sonet and Seltos, the Syros is underpinned by a reinforced version of the Hyundai-Kia K1 platform that currently features in Hyundai’s Exter and Grand i10 models. The Syros’ boxy bodywork 115 mm shorter than the Sonet’s, front to rear. However, the newcomer’s sub-four-metre frame is 10 mm wider and 55 mm taller, contributing to a purposeful stance, while the wheelbase is 50 mm longer than that of its compact SUV sibling. Related: The F1 Debutants Who Must Swim In 2025 The Syros was revealed with a (88 kW/172 N.m) 1.0-litre, three-cylinder turbopetrol and a (85 kW/250 N.m) 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbodiesel. While both powertrains are available with a six-speed manual gearbox, a seven-speed dual-clutch unit and six-speed automatic are on offer with the former and l...