The Car Guide

Upright proportions and monolithic styling mean that MG’s all-new Cyber X will remind some of their Tonka toy days… Image: MG Looking for a new or used set of wheels? Find it here with CARmag! ​Along with dozens of other concepts and experimental cars, MG took to the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show to unveil one of its latest entrants to the SUV market. It is called the Cyber X and it is a bold entry into the compact electric SUV segment for the Chinese automaker. MG has added that this will be the second model in MG’s “Cyber” series, following the Cyberster roadster, but unlike its compact coupe counterpart, this borrows retro design cues. Related:  Road Test Figures: BMW M3 Touring Penned by Veyron designer Jozef Kaban, the Cyber X has been imbued with a boxy silhouette reminiscent of classic off-roaders like the Land Rover Defender. A nod to the past, one of the most standout features are the pop-up headlights which include a full-width LED light bar. The SUV measures approxi...

Local bakkie seller LDV took to the Shanghai Auto Show to unveil its future roadmap, which includes a lineup brimmed with SUVs and bakkies, but it was the all-electric eTerron 9 that was central to the expo display.  Image: LDV Looking for a new or used set of wheels? Find it here with CARmag! Better known as Maxus in its home market of China, LDV’s attendance at the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show provided a glimpse into the future with the Chinese automaker readying a new fleet of bakkies, SUVs and ‘advanced vehicles’ under the SAIC Motor umbrella. Related:  Road Test Figures: BMW M3 Touring At the moment, LDV offers the T60 in multiple levels of trim for the South African market, but another bakkie in its arsenal is the Terron. Expectedly, a tricked-out version of the all-electric Maxus eTerron 9 bakkie was central to the display in Shanghai. This production model which has been derived from the GST concept, features dual electric motors delivering a combined output of 354...

Volvo’s EX90 flagship can now be tricked out at the dealership with some official accessories from the Swedish automaker.  Image: Volvo Looking for a new or used set of wheels? Find it here with CARmag! Volvo Car South Africa has launched a specifically curated range of accessories for its new flagship electric SUV, the EX90. The new add-ons for the Scandinavian model are touted to take the EX90’s premium appeal to the next step of functionality and convenience. The lineup includes integrated Running Boards and a Foldable Towbar (which can pull a rated 2 200 kg towing capacity). Other additions include Volvo’s Digital Interior Rearview Mirror, Rear Camera Washer, Kick Guards, and All-Weather Floor Mats. Related: GWM Unveils New Logo During Future Roadmap Unveiling at Shanghai Auto Show Volvo has added that it intends to keep true to the brand’s family-first ethos by rolling out a series of child-focused accessories, including a Booster Seat, Wool Booster Cushion, and a Rear...

Following camouflaged spy shots of the next-generation Stelvio, Kolesa.ru has now revealed what the Italian SUV could potentially look like in full production trim.  Image: Kolesa.ru Looking for a new or used set of wheels? Find it here with CARmag! Alfa Romeo’s next-generation Stelvio is beginning to take shape. Teasers, spy shots and now renderings paint give a good idea of what the SUV will eventually look like when it hits showroom floors towards the end of the decade. In terms of styling, the renderings published on Kolesa.ru demonstrate a far more contemporary, svelte SUV. They allude to a sleeker, coupe-like silhouette with a sloping roofline and a short, upright tail. A distinctive triangular LED light signature spans the rear, integrated into a darkened fascia that gives the SUV a modern edge. Up front, Alfa Romeo’s familiar trilobo grille is expected to be reinterpreted, flanked by slim LED headlights and a likely closed-off grille, typical of EVs. The overa...

BMW has whipped the wraps off the M2 Racing, a track-ready version of the Bavarian brand’s venerable performance-focused compact coupé designed for private racing teams. Image: BMW Looking for a new or used BMW? Find it here with CARmag!  Positioned as an “entry-level” racer for customer racing outfits, BMW M’s latest M2 Racing is based on the current M2. Yet, as opposed to employing the latter M car’s (353 kW/600 N.m) S58 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six, the track-focused model is equipped with the Bavarian brand’s 2.0-litre turbocharged four-pot. The B48 unit produces 230 kW and 420 N.m of torque, sent to the road via a seven-speed, ZF-sourced transmission. (As a reminder, the M2’s six-pot is coupled with BMW’s eight-speed M Steptronic unit.) The German marque’s motorsport department claims these figures are good to allow for a top speed exceeding 270 km/h. Related: Road Test Figures: BMW M3 Touring While down on power compared to the M Steptronic-equipped M2, it is wor...

Not to be confused with Citroën’s popular C3 derivatives, Chery spin-off brand Omoda has now confirmed that its own C3 moniker will serve as the most compact and affordable offering in its ever-growing portfolio.  Image: Omoda Looking for a new or used set of wheels? Find it here with CARmag! It looks compellingly youthful and contemporary so it may not appeal to older audiences because Omoda says it isn’t supposed to. Its young design team conceptualised and brought this car to life for young, urban buyers, and its global debut at the Shanghai Auto Show echoed that. Looking like biomimicry from the Alien vs Predator franchise, its sci-fi blockbuster looks will soon grace South African roads. Omoda has confirmed it will arrive in 2026 and reportedly represents the Chinese automaker’s next leap into the future of design and technology. Related: Chery SA Poised For Newfound Success With Himla Bakkie? Described as a showcase of “advanced mechanical aesthetics,” the Omoda C3 un...

Ferrari’s V6-powered coupe has followed the footsteps of models like the 458 with the arrival of the all-new 296 Speciale which gets some racey bits of aero and a jaw-dropping power output of 648 kW! Image: Ferrari Looking for a new or used set of wheels? Find it here with CARmag! Ferrari has taken the wraps off the most hardcore iteration of its hybrid V6 supercar yet, revealing the 296 Speciale and its open-top sibling, the 296 Speciale Aperta. Both models serve as spiritual successors to icons like the 458 Speciale and 488 Pista, delivering heightened performance and sharper driver engagement while tipping the scales significantly less than the standard models. Image: Ferrari At the heart of both lies the now-familiar 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbo engine arranged in a 120° configuration with a dry sump, producing a hefty 515 kW at a sonorous 8 000 r/min. Peak torque of 755 N.m comes in slightly lower at 6 000 r/min, but the turbo setup surprises with a redline at 8 500 r/min. Th...

The Shanghai Auto Show is coming to a close for 2025, and with it was a glimpse into the incredibly high-paced Chinese automotive world. Two of Chery Group’s subsidiaries (Omoda & Jaecoo) demonstrated their complete line-up of New-Energy vehicles (NEVs) that are touted to arrive in South Africa in the near future. Image: Chery Group Looking for a new or used set of wheels? Find it here with CARmag! Omoda and Jaecoo’s stand at the Shanghai International Automobile Exhibition focused on a complete line-up of New Energy Vehicles (NEVs), which align with the Chinese automakers’ intentions on becoming more carbon-friendly. This impressive growth comes just two years after their joint debut at the 2023 show. Becoming a force in South Africa, there is also a high likelihood that these models will all make an arrival on South African shores in the coming years, but more on that shortly. Related: Chery SA Poised For Newfound Success With Himla Bakkie? Headlining the stand were three...

There are few cars that need an introduction in South Africa and one of those is the revered BMW 325iS. A barn find example has now popped up, cleaned to its road-going glory and gone up for sale. How much do you think it will sell for?!  Image: Gordon’s Auto Looking for a new or used set of wheels? Find it here with CARmag! Undeniably a South African motoring legend, the E30 325iS took motorsport performance and offered it in a car ready for public consumption. The story would be incomplete without mention of Opel’s impressively potent Kadett GSI Superboss, which ruled the roost on South African racetracks in the early 90s. The 325iS was thus born out of necessity as a motorsport-inspired response to the global M3 (which was never sold locally at the time). The model was built in Rosslyn, exclusively in South Africa, by BMW SA. Setting it apart from its four-cylinder Opel rival and four-cylinder global M3 counterpart, it featured a naturally aspirated 2.7-litre straight-six e...

Renault will soon have a new SUV on the block for emerging markets. Fresh from its teasers, little is known about the Boreal, but it is almost certain to arrive in South Africa by 2027. Image: Renault Looking for a new or used set of wheels? Find it here with CARmag! Renault has confirmed the name of its all-new C-segment SUV. It will henceforth be referred to as the Boreal, and the French automaker hopes it will accelerate its international expansion under the brand’s International Game Plan 2027. The SUV has been designed specifically for markets outside of Europe and will officially debut in Brazil in the coming months, marking a major step in the brand’s upscale product strategy. Related: GWM Unveils New Logo During Future Roadmap Unveiling at Shanghai Auto Show This Latin America arrival will precede the arrival of 70 global markets—including regions across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Ironically, the Renault Boreal will not be coming to Europe or its native France. T...

Chery will launch its new Himla in South Africa. Could the new bakkie elevate the Chinese automaker’s market presence further?   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by CAR Magazine (@carmagazinesa) Looking for a new or used Chery? Find it here with CARmag! Anyone who’s kept an eye on Chery over the last few years would have noticed the Chinese automaker’s upward journey in South Africa. Since its re-entry into the local market in 2021, the Chinese brand has managed to shake off its old reputation and establish itself as a serious player, thanks to a fresh product line-up , vehicles that offer good value at their respective price-points, and a dealer network that’s grown rapidly. Related: Chery Confirms Hilux Rivaling Himla Bakkie for SA Models like the Tiggo 4 Pro and Tiggo 7 Pro have found favour with thousands of South Africans, and now, Chery is gearing up for what might be its boldest move yet – stepping into the bakkie...

BMW has concluded the first quarter in South Africa on a high, claiming 40.6% market share of the premium segment.  Image: BMW Looking for a new or used set of wheels? Find it here with CARmag! According to the latest figures released by the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa ( naamsa ), the BMW brand claimed a dominant 40.6% share of the local premium segment in the first quarter of the year. Staying with the BMW Group, its Mini subsidiary, bolstered by the recent arrival of the new Aceman and Mini John Cooper Works, contributed a 6.2% market share, while BMW Motorrad continued its two-wheeled success story with an impressive 43.9% share in the motorcycle market. BMW credits this success to the popularity of the locally built X3. The fourth-generation model, built at BMW Group Plant Rosslyn in Tshwane, began production in October 2024 and quickly attracted significant pre-order volumes both locally and abroad. In response, the plant reinsta...

Electrified, configurable and born from a startup, American automaker Slate Truck has now unveiled its first product, which can shapeshift into any number of bodystyles. Image: Slate Auto Looking for a new or used set of wheels? Find it here with CARmag! ​ Slate Auto is a the new kid on the block but it comes with some serious firepower since the American EV startup is backed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Its first vehicle has arrived and is called the Slate Truck. It is a minimalist, compact electric bakkie designed to be affordable and highly customizable. With a base price of $25 000 (R500 000)—potentially dropping below $20 000 after federal incentives—the Slate Truck aims to make electric mobility accessible to a broader audience. ​ Under the so-called bonnet, the Slate Truck features a single rear-mounted electric motor producing 148 kW and 400 N.m of torque. Buyers can choose between a 52.7 kWh battery offering a 242 km range or an optional 84.3 kWh pack extending the r...

Alfa Romeo’s Giulietta moniker has turned 70 years old in 2025. Here is how the model came to being!  Image: Alfa Romeo Looking for a new or used set of wheels? Find it here with CARmag! Just over 70 years ago on the 20th of April 1955, Alfa Romeo took the wraps off a car that would become a cornerstone of both the brand’s history and Italy’s post-war economic renaissance. Revealed at the Turin Motor Show, the Giulietta Berlina represented a renaissance for the Italian automaker, encompassing elegance, affordability, and brimming with advanced engineering. The compact saloon also played a crucial role in Alfa Romeo’s leap into an era of industrial-scale production and mass-market success. Related:  Road Test Figures: BMW M3 Touring While Alfa’s post-war comeback began with the 1900, it was the Giulietta that truly democratised the brand’s sporty DNA, bringing it to middle-class driveways across Italy. As Roberto Giolito, Head of Heritage at Stellantis, puts it, the Giu...

This two-door, two-seat Defender 90 V8 Soft Top costs nearly as much as Ferrari’s own two-door, two-seat Roma, but this is touted to go anywhere, better than anything that has ever worn its moniker before it.  Image: Land Rover Looking for a new or used set of wheels? Find it here with CARmag! Land Rover Classic has pulled the canvas back on one of its most iconic configurations, announcing the return of the Defender V8 Soft Top—an open-air tribute to the legendary NAS 90 and other classic soft-tops that helped cement the Defender’s cult status. This reimagined legend arrives as part of the brand’s Works Bespoke programme and brings with it the sort of charm, grunt, and go-anywhere attitude Land Rover claims only a V8-powered Defender can deliver. Each Classic Defender V8 Soft Top starts life as an original short-wheelbase Defender 90, produced between 2012 and 2016, and is then lovingly reengineered at Land Rover Classic’s facilities in Coventry or Essen. At its core, the S...

China and its key automotive players boast dozens of sub-brands, and another one from Chery called Lepas will be joining the local market within the next year.  Image: Lepas Looking for a new or used set of wheels? Find it here with CARmag! Like many Chinese brands, powerhouse Chery offers sub-brands like Omoda and Jaecoo in addition to their operations in South Africa. Now, the firm’s latest international brand, dubbed Lepas, has been confirmed for the local market too. It is novel, and has only recently reached the milestone of producing its first model, dubbed the L8 at its Wuhu (China) facility, but will also include the smaller L6 and L4 in the future. Powertrain choices across the full portfolio include combustion-powered SUVs, a choice of two sedans and in the name of eco mobility, the entry-level L2 EV. Related:  Road Test Figures: BMW M3 Touring All of these will be destined for global markets (including South Africa) but not in its native China, as Che...

For the first time, SVI has armoured the Jeep Grand Cherokee in five-seater guise. The treatment the South African armourer has imbued onto the SUV allows it to withstand AK-47 rounds!  Image: SVI Looking for a new or used set of wheels? Find it here with CARmag! SVI has given the Jeep Grand Cherokee a B4+ armouring package which is done discreetly and favours new car buyers who will retain the factory 5-year/100 000 km warranty and maintenance plan remain intact for all standard Jeep components. Alongside the full backing by Jeep South Africa, SVI’s bespoke armouring components are separately covered by a 1-year/50 000 km warranty. Janus Janse van Rensburg, head of the Jeep brand in South Africa, said the upgraded model adds another layer to the Grand Cherokee’s already impressive CV. “As our global flagship model and the most technologically advanced, luxurious and 4×4-capable Grand Cherokee yet, the fifth-generation version now stands apart for yet another reason: the lo...

To celebrate Earth Day earlier this week on the 22nd of April, Ford South Africa detailed how its Silverton facility is at the forefront of the automaker’s global push to being carbon neutral. Image: Ford Looking for a new or used set of wheels? Find it here with CARmag! At Ford South Africa’s Silverton Manufacturing Plant in Pretoria, the company is rolling out a series of eco-conscious upgrades aimed at reducing its environmental impact, starting with water. With all of the rain experienced in many parts of South Africa recently, this has highlighted the importance of being self-sufficient in a closed-loop water recycling system. Effluent water is now cleaned and reused in the plant’s Paint Shop, removing the need to bring in fresh water for that part of the process. According to Ford SA Operations Director Rhys Davies, the move will save around 15 million litres of water annually. “There’s a perception that when it rains like this, water scarcity isn’t a problem,” says Davie...