The Car Guide

We’ve rounded up all the manual performance cars you can still buy in South Africa in 2025…and for good measure, added a little hot hatch to the mix. Despite that modern automatic or dual-clutch transmissions offer quicker shift times, and are arguably preferred by the majority, many still find it alluring to row cogs themselves. Fortunately, there are still automakers that understand the charm and, noteworthy, driving experience associated with a manual performance car. As such, these manufacturers continue to offer three-pedal models for purist drivers. Here’s all the manual performance cars, including a little hot hatch, you can buy in South Africa in 2025. 1. Suzuki Swift Sport Image: Suzuki For good measure, we’ve added Suzuki’s pocket-rocket hatchback to this list. Although based on the previous-generation Swift , the Sport is still available in our market…with no confirmation whether a new iteration will be introduced. The Sport is powered by a 1.4-litre, four-cylinder tu...

Prodrive has whipped the wraps off its updated racing simulator, and it’s a thing of beauty. It comes at a price, though. Image: Prodrive Billed as the most beautiful of its kind, Prodrive says its updated racing simulator not only brings an immersive racing experience right to your sitting room, but also serves as a piece of art in your living area. According to the UK brand, this “ultimate simulator centrepiece” blends Prodrive’s four decades of motorsport success with the design flair of one of the world’s most renowned vehicle designers – Ian Callum, who penned the designs of such cars as the 1994 Aston Martin DB7 and 2001 Vanquish, and Jaguar F-Type, to name but a few. “Every precision-engineered detail has been refined, from the carbon-fibre monocoque to the pedal feel. And of course, it is not just a simulator. Wrapped in Ian Callum’s sculptural design, this is a centre piece that sparks conversation, as well as a truly immersive experience.” said Prodrive Chairman David...

The Denza B5 has been confirmed for South Africa. Here’s when the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado’s Chinese rival will arrive on our shores. Image: Denza Denza, essentially the luxury arm of BYD, is en route to South Africa. However, when we reported that this Chinese brand is heading to our shores, the local lineup was still unconfirmed. Yet, with our market’s appetite for adventure SUVs, and reports suggesting the firm’s B5 is set to launch in Australia, a market that largely mirrors ours, we recently questioned: will the Denza B5 come to South Africa? We can now confirm that the Shenzhen-based automaker’s Toyota Land Cruiser Prado and Land Rover Defender rival is, indeed, on its way to South Africa. Denza B5 SA Launch Date The Denza B5 will launch in South Africa early in 2026 . Local pricing and specifications remain unconfirmed, though we expect the former and latter to be announced closer to its arrival in our market. The B5 is mechanically related to BYD’s (321 kW/650 N.m) ...

The BYD Atto 1 is heading to South Africa. We’ve rounded up everything we know, including when it will arrive on our shores. Image: BYD In the December 2024 issue of CAR magazine, we detailed all the cars confirmed for South Africa in 2025. Among the BYD (Build Your Dreams) models announced for our market were the Shark 6 and Sealion 6 plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), both of which we’ve sampled on local shores. However, in addition to these two models, the Chinese automaker told us that it will introduce “two new EVs (electric vehicles), one of which will be affordable” to South Africa. Though, at the time, the company remained tight-lipped as to which shape the more attainable model will take. Now, thanks to our friend and automotive journalist Juliet Mcguire , who is currently with BYD in China, we can confirm which model this is – the Atto 1 – and when it will arrive in our market. When will the BYD Atto 1 launch in South Africa? The Atto 1 will launch in South Africa in Septembe...

Following requests by residents, the Western Cape Government has announced a reduction in the speed limit on the R44 through Betty’s Bay. Image: Overstrand Municipality/Facebook In 2024, the Western Cape Government  received requests from Betty’s Bay residents to decrease the speed limit on a section of the R44 roadway leading through this coastal town in the Overberg region. Following the calls from concerned citizens, the Government has taken notice; announcing the original speed limit (of 80 km/h) will be reduced to 60 km/h “in due course”. Said Western Cape Minister of Infrastructure Tertuis Simmers, “The investigation by my department has shown that a decrease of the speed limit on this section of the road is viable, and I am pleased that my department and the Department of Mobility can work together to respond to the concerns of our communities. The new speed limit sign boards will be installed in due course.” Western Cape Minister of Mobility Isaac Sileku added, “...

Little Talladega isn’t your average Airbnb. Based in Pomona, Missouri in the US, this Airbnb might just be a petrolhead’s dream stay.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Dakota rubal (@mtnx.ind) Billed as the ultimate Airbnb experience, Little Talladega comprises an 808 m 2 mansion, replete with eight automotive-themed rooms, ranging from the ‘Bugatti’ room to the ‘Ricky Bobby’ room, and the ‘Drive-In’ theatre room, which features truck beds and a movie projector. However, the most notable feature of this Airbnb is what’s surrounding the house – a drift track. Don’t own a drift car? Well, all-electric drift karts are included in the package, as are go-karts. And guests also have the opportunity to go for a shotgun ride in a real drift car. But what if you do own a drift car? Well, you’ll first have to get approval from the Airbnb prior to booking. In addition to these activities, the Airbnb also offers a selection of of...

Initially penned in to make local landfall in July 2025, Toyota South Africa has now announced the new launch date for the Hilux Legend 55. Image: Toyota Preceded by the Legend 35, 40, 45 and 50, the 55 is the fifth heritage-inspired Hilux to come from Toyota South Africa’s stable since this nameplate was introduced to the South African market in 1969. Sporting a bespoke body hue, the Legend 55 was unveiled at Toyota South Africa Motors’ (TSAM) 2025 State of the Motoring Industry ( SOMI ) event. The upcoming model features several model-specific exterior design items, including a unique styling package and newly designed sports bar. In addition to these elements, the 55-badged model also features a bash plate, roller shutter and a tow bar. However, perhaps the most notable addition to the 55 package is the fitment of a widebody kit, which sits atop an uprated Wide Tread suspension setup. When will the Toyota Hilux Legend 55 launch in South Africa? TSAM has confirmed the Hilux L...

Will the local Land Cruiser Prado lineup gain the Hilux’s 48 V mild-hybrid turbodiesel powertrain?  We reached out to Toyota South Africa to find out… Image: Toyota In June 2025, Toyota Europe announced the Land Cruiser Prado is “powering into a new era”, with the 250 series adopting the Hilux’s 2.8-litre mild-hybrid turbodiesel engine in this market. However, perhaps of even more significance is that this 48 V setup is already available in Australia, a market that largely mirrors ours. So, this made us wonder: could Toyota introduce this powertrain to the local Land Cruiser Prado lineup? We reached out to the Japanese automaker’s South African arm to find out. As a reminder, the 150 kW/500 N.m mild-hybrid mill incorporates a 48 V, 4.3 Ah lithium-ion battery pack and a permanent magnet synchronous electric motor-generator, which operates with a two-arm belt tensioner that’s been specifically designed for diesel powertrains. As mentioned, this unit is currently available wit...

GWM has teased its Ferrari-rivalling mid-engined supercar. Here’s what we know so far… Image: GWM A Chinese supercar to rival established brands such as Ferrari? Indeed, a high-performance GWM is on its way, with the Baoding automaker teasing its upcoming halo model on its 35th anniversary. While the name that will adorn this GWM remains unconfirmed at this point in time, the company is looking to put their name on the supercar map with this new derivative. Teased by the brand on a Chinese social media platform, the mystery machine could only be “seen” underneath a cover. Though, despite very little information has been revealed to the public, the car is expected to be powered the firm’s 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain, which was unveiled at the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show. The automaker’s supercar project was confirmed in April 2025 by Chief Technology Officer Wu Huixiao, who highlighted that the vehicle had been under development for five years, as...

Hyundai South Africa has announced its support for the Springbok Women’s #PlusOne campaign ahead of the 2025 Rugby World Cup in England, which kicks off in August. Image: Hyundai Hyundai South Africa, the official vehicle partner of the Junior Springboks men’s rugby outfit, who claimed victory at the U20 World Championship in July 2025, is rallying behind the Springbok Women’s #PlusOne initiative, which calls on South Africans to bring one more fan to their games as they gear up for the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup in England, which takes place from 22 August to 27 September. The local arm of the Japanese automaker’s involvement in this campaign aims at underscoring the company’s commitment to community upliftment and alignment with the values of South Africa’s national women’s rugby team. Said Thembeka Ngubane, Finance Executive at Hyundai South Africa , “At Hyundai Automotive South Africa, we are more than just about cars – we are about moving people: their ambitions and dreams....

According to reports, the next-generation GR Supra won’t share a drivetrain or chassis with a BMW, and instead be developed in-house by Toyota. Here’s what we know so far… Image: Toyota Introduced in 2019, the current, fifth-generation GR Supra is the product of a collaboration between Toyota and BMW – the Japanese sports coupé sharing its drivetrain and underpinnings with the German marque’s Z4 roadster. (It is worth noting that the GR Supra is the only one of the two available with a manual transmission, and is exclusively rear-wheel drive.) However, according to a report by Best Car , Toyota’s Gazoo Racing division has parted ways with BMW for the next-generation GR Supra, which will reportedly be developed in-house by the Aichi-based automaker. In addition, according to Japanese motoring publication, the sixth-generation GR Supra will be powered by a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder hybrid powertrain with a peak power output in the region of 300 kW. As a reminder, the current iterati...

Volvo South Africa has announced the local launch date for the facelifted XC60 and XC90. We’ve rounded up everything you need to know about the updated models. Image: Volvo In July 2025, Volvo South Africa confirmed to CAR when the ES90 will arrive on on our shores. Now, the Gothenburg brand has revealed when the updated XC60 and XC90 to arrive here. The revised versions of the firm’s best-selling midsize SUV and XC90 feature redesigned front and rear ends, a new front grille, and updated alloy wheels. The interior plays host to Volvo’s latest, free-standing, 11.2-inch, touch-enabled infotainment system, upgraded comfort features, and new materials. Facelifted Volvo XC60 and XC90 South Africa Launch Date Volvo South Africa has announced the updated XC60 and XC90 will make local landfall in the third quarter of 2025. Local pricing will likely be revealed closer to the launch date. (The outgoing XC60 and XC90 ranges are currently priced from R1 031 400 and R1 532 500, respective...

Maserati has expanded its partnership with Sparco; revealing a new line of apparel for enthusiasts of this proud Italian marque. Image: Maserati Maserati and Sparco have collaborated to launch the ‘Sparco X Maserati fan collection’, a line of apparel aimed at capturing the Italian automaker’s rich racing heritage and craftsmanship, and allow enthusiasts to wear their passion for this proud Modena manufacturer on their sleeves. Marking a move from more driver-focused, or racing, gear to lifestyle items for fans, the launch of Maserati’s ‘fan collection’ coincides with the 2025 GT2 European Series round at Misano, the symbolic “home race” for the Trident brand. The company’s new lifestyle-oriented line of apparel was designed to reflect its racing DNA, while offering functional, high-quality garments and accessories to enthusiasts. This includes blue and white T-shirts, blue and yellow sweatshirts, a technical soft-shell jacket, branded baseball caps, and an ultra-resistant backpa...

The already outlandish Tesla Cybertruck has received an even more extreme transformation at the hands of Mansory. Image: Mansory Mansory’s Elongation Evo adds even more drama to Tesla’s all-electric pickup. While it retains much of the standard Cybertruck’s form, the one-off features an extensive forged carbon-fibre makeover…and it’s anything but subtle. In addition to the latter, several other exterior revisions, including the fitment of a body kit and new wheels, were added to turn the already bold Cybertruck into an unapologetically flashy showpiece. Carbon trim has been applied to the pillars, window surrounds, door sills, and the sides of the load bay; giving the Cybertruck a striking new exterior finish. The body kit includes wider wheel arches, a new bonnet and front bumper, and a set of massive, 26-inch wheels. A duo of winglets, mounted at the rear, on the side of the load bay, are also present. However, while such items are usually fitted to supercars to enhance aerodyn...

Following receiving fresh paintwork from RUF in Germany, a CTR Yellowbird fell off a car transporter when delivered back to its owner in the US. Watch the footage below… Image: johnclaywolfeshow In what can only be described as a major “oops”, an extremely rare Porsche 911-based RUF fell off a car carrier when delivered back to its owner in San Francisco, California, following its return from RUF’s headquarters in Germany, where it was freshly painted in black. So, how exactly did this accident happen? Well, this RUF Yellowbird’s rear wheels weren’t correctly fixed to the transporter. So, upon delivery, it rolled off the 2.4-metre-tall ramp and hit the ground. According to footage circulating online (watch the footage shared by Spike Feresten on Instagram below), only the rear bumper and exhaust touched the ground. However, the car was wedged between the ramp and the ground. Wrote John Clay Wolf on Instagram: “Sitting with a friend when he gets the call that his customer’s RUF Y...

Suzuki South Africa has announced a two-year partnership with Orlando Pirates Football Club as this iconic South African football outfit’s official vehicle partner. Image: Suzuki In April 2024, Suzuki South Africa was announced as the official vehicle partner of the Proteas Men’s and Proteas Women’s ODI cricket teams. Now, the local arm of the Japanese automaker has joined forces with Orlando Pirates Football Club as the official vehicle partner for this iconic South African football outfit,  The partnership also positions Suzuki South Africa as Official Premium Sleeve Partner of the Johannesburg-based team, which, as the former suggests, will sport Suzuki branding on the sleeves of their jerseys. Seen here, the Grand Vitara, Swift and Jimny are all dressed in Orlando Pirates branding, too. The firm hopes to engage with local fans and support local sporting talent through the partnership with the Pirates. Suzuki South Africa’s General Manager of Auto Sales and Marketing, Hen...