Top 12 Best Buys 2025 – CAR’s Favourites

Included in the Top 12 Best Buys feature are some of the cool technology, designs and achievements the CAR team believes are worthy of praise. Find the full feature in the April 2025 issue of CAR Magazine!Top 12

Click here and browse thousands of new and used vehicles with CARmag!

Drivetrain: Ferrari 296 GTB

While a regulations-enforced pivot to all-electric propulsion may seem inevitable, for brands with Ferrari’s performance and motorsport heritage, immediate plans to lower overall emissions have focused on advancing hybrid drivetrain technology. The first Maranello-built product since the hallowed Dino to feature a V6 engine, the allure of the 296’s powertrain is its ability to self-charge its 7.45 kWh battery while on the move, allowing for a seamless transmission between high-revving internal combustion and stealth-like all-electric go-forward.

Related: CAR Rookie Places Second Overall at GR Cup Round 1

Design: Renault 5 E-Tech

The recent global focus on new energy propulsion has forced many mainstream brands to re-evaluate how best to entice both new and existing customers. Showcased by the likes of Volkswagen with the ID.Buzz and Toyota, with its forthcoming all-electric Compact (FJ) Cruiser, one trend is to default to so-called retro-inspired creations. Unveiled at the 2024 Geneva Motor Show, the Renault 5 E-Tech harks back to when this French brand enjoyed significant success in the European compact hatchback segment.

Motorsport: Kelvin and Sheldon van der Linde

As members of a notably successful South African motor racing family, 2025 sees a full-circle moment for Kelvin and his younger brother, Sheldon, as they are set to compete at the most famous racing events in the world as teammates. Kelvin, the 2012 South African Polo Cup champion at the age of 16, and Sheldon, the 2014 Polo Cup at the age of 15, kicked off their recent dream partnership – together with Brazilian teammate Augusto Farfus – with a convincing win for their BMW M Motorsport team at the treacherous Bathurst 12 Hour race.

Related: BMW Unveils Epic 80-Year Digital Model Encyclopedia

Tech: Donut Lab in-wheel electric motor

As showcased by the Mercedes-Benz G580 driven in the March issue, the benefits of having electric motors powering individual wheels on a vehicle are potentially far-reaching. Finnish company Donut Lab is taking this concept further by developing in-wheel electric motors. With a fully functional example already powering a motorcycle from this company’s partner brand, Donut Lab claims its 21-inch project designed for use in a motor vehicle can deliver up to 630 kW per wheel while weighing only 40 kg. The company claims its solution could be up to 50% cheaper to produce than a conventional electric motor and is looking into diverse applications, including commercial vehicles and motorcycles.

Find the full feature in the April 2025 issue of CAR Magazine.

Click here and browse thousands of new and used vehicles with CARmag!

The post Top 12 Best Buys 2025 – CAR’s Favourites appeared first on CAR Magazine.


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