The Car Guide

The iCAUR V23 has launched in South Africa, with the Chinese automaker’s local arm revealing pricing and specs for the retro-styled all-electric SUV. See pricing below… Image: iCAUR The iCAUR V23 is available in two flavours: 2WD and AWD – the latter of which we had an exclusive first look ahead of its official SA launch. Starting with the former, the 2WD is powered by a single electric motor producing 100 kW and 180 N.m of torque. Power is delivered to the road via the rear wheels. The 2WD is equipped with a 59.93 kWh lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack, serving up a claimed 360 km (NEDC) operating range. iCAUR says the 59.93 kWh LFP item can receive up to 85 kW at a DC fast-charging station; allowing for a 30-80% recharge in less than 30 minutes, the Chery sub-brand says. The 2WD completes the 0-100 km/h sprint in a claimed 11 seconds. The more powerful, AWD model features a dual electric-motor powertrain, coupled with an 81.8 kWh battery, which produces combined power...

Ranging from compact crossovers to SUVs and bakkies, we’ve rounded up all the Chinese cars that’s still to make their way to South Africa in 2026. BYD Image: BYD Including the expansion of this Chinese manufacturer’s local dealership footprint and the introduction of its luxury sub-brand, Denza, BYD is set to broaden the appeal of its SA product portfolio with the Atto 2 (pictured here), while strengthening its current Sealion model offering – which includes the Sealion 5 and Sealion 6 , and the Sealion 7 – with the Sealion 8 plug-in hybrid (PHEV). BYD Atto 2 BYD Sealion 8 Chery Image: Chery Chery will enter the local bakkie segment with the Himla, which we sampled for a first drive in China. However, the Wuhu automaker has confirmed to CAR that it is pushing hard to launch the KP31 , scheduled to arrive here in early 2027, before the end of 2026. The Tiggo V “transformable” SUV/bakkie (pictured here) will also arrive here this year. There is ...

We travelled to Rome to attend the global reveal of the Ferrari Luce, the Maranello brand’s highly anticipated first all-electric vehicle. Destined to be divisive, here’s how Ferrari explained the car’s exterior styling. Image: Ferrari Overseen by Ferrari Design Studio, led by Flavio Manzoni, both the interior and exterior of the Luce were finalised in conjunction with LoveFrom, the powerhouse design studio owned by ex-Apple man Sir Jony Ive and Marc Newson. Including a mandate to be the Maranello-based marque’s first four-door, five-seater product, Newson confirmed that the decision to make the Luce all-electric was made after the project began. “The Ferrari Luce has acquired such a specific identity precisely because the designers were given the freedom to conceive a disruptive yet coherent form. In tackling the development of the car, LoveFrom was, in fact, granted the philosophical and design autonomy needed to present a complete, global proposal, whose research would extend int...

Citroën has confirmed the ‘2CV’ nameplate will make its return; this time adorning an ‘affordable’ new EV. Here’s what we know… Image: Citroën Instagram Built from necessity after WW2, the Citroën 2CV served as its maker’s “car for the people”, and became a staple of French culture. Now, in an age of increasingly expensive personal transport, the French marque aims to revive the nameplate that brought affordable transport to the masses…with a modernised, all-electric 2CV, or “2EV”, if you will. Though there were rumours floating around about this moniker’s return, Xavier Chardon, Citroën’s CEO, confirmed its return during Stellantis’ investor presentation in Michigan. The EV 2CV will make its official global debut at the 2026 Paris Motor Show, which takes place from 12 to 18 October, and is scheduled to go on sale in 2028. We can see from the brief announcement reel posted on Citroën’s social media accounts the unmistakabl...

GAC has confirmed to CAR magazine that the Yue 7 SUV will launch in South Africa in 2026. Here’s what we know so far… Image: GAC Following the global debut of the Yue 7 at Auto China 2026 in Beijing, the local arm of GAC has announced that it will launch the Yue 7 in South Africa later this year. The Yue 7, which is sold in its home market under the firm’s Trumpchi sub-brand, measures 4 999 mm in length, 2 004 mm in width, and 1 933 mm in height – dimensions comparable to the current-generation Land Rover Defender 110 and Toyota Land Cruiser 300. The GAC’s wheelbase spans 2 900 mm. The large SUV offers approach and departure angles of 30 and 33 degrees, respectively. Also read:   Toyota Prado-rivalling Denza B5 confirmed for SA – Here’s when it’s coming Underpinned by the Chinese automaker’s GMC Thunder 3.0 platform, the Yue 7 is available with the choice of two- or four-wheel drivetrains in overseas markets, and employs a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain ...

Sporting an all-electric powertrain producing up to 860 kW, Mercedes-AMG has unveiled the new GT 4-Door Coupé.  Image: Mercedes-Benz In June 2025, Mercedes-AMG whipped the wraps off the Concept AMG GT XX , a design study with which the German marque previewed a future high-performance four-door model…likely the next AMG GT 4-Door Coupé. Essentially the series-production version of the “pioneering” concept, the Affalterbach automaker has officially unveiled the new AMG GT 4-Door Coupé. The AMG GT 4-Door Coupé was revealed in two guises: GT 55 and GT 63. Both models are equipped with three of the firm’s so-called axial flux motors, which produce combined system outputs of 600 kW/1 800 N.m in the GT 55 and 860 kW/2 000 N.m in the GT 63. Power is delivered to the road via an all-wheel drivetrain. In AMGFORCE S+ driver’s setting, the powertrain produces an augmented V8 soundtrack and features simulated gear shifts. Mercedes-AMG says these figures allow the GT 55 to complete the 0-100 km...

Toyota SA has revealed pricing for the bZ4X, the Japanese automaker’s first all-electric model in SA. See pricing and specs below… Image: Toyota Following revealing local pricing for the highly-anticipated new Land Cruiser FJ , which we’ve sampled for an exclusive first SA drive, and sixth-generation RAV4 – the former and latter scheduled to launch in SA soon – Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) has confirmed pricing for the bZ4X all-electric crossover/SUV. The first Toyota-badged battery-electric vehicle (BEV) offered in SA, the bZ4X is exclusively available with a dual electric-motor powertrain – producing combined power and torque outputs of 255 kW and 439 N.m – in our market. According to the Japanese automaker, these figures allow the 2 110 kg (claimed) all-wheel-drive BEV to complete the 0-100 km/h sprint in 5.1 seconds. The top speed is rated at 160 km/h. The bZ4X’s e-motors are fed by a 73.1 kWh battery pack, which serves up a claimed 480 km operatin...

Few vehicles get the tongues wagging like the Suzuki Jimny, and while not perfect, it excels at what it does – perfectly! We explore Suzuki’s characterful 4×4 as a used buy… Image: CAR magazine The current-generation Suzuki Jimny is a fascinating automotive paradox. When the JB74 generation arrived in South Africa in 2018, it triggered a manic waitlist, transforming overnight from a niche rough-‘n-tough compact SUV into a boutique fashion statement. However, buying a Jimny based solely on its retro-chic styling is a mistake, because beneath the charming, boxy facade lies an uncompromising, old-school ladder-frame chassis with rigid live axles designed to conquer the toughest terrain. While the subsequent introduction of the much-anticipated five-door variant in 2023 addressed practicality shortfalls, the Jimny remains a highly specific tool. Also Read:  Suzuki Jimny 1.5 GLX AllGrip Road Test A rundown on the Suzuki Jimny The Jimny’s exterior design is...

Citroën has announced its entry into the local light commercial vehicle segment, with the automaker introducing the C3 Hola panel van to our market. See pricing and specs below… Image: Citroën Citroën’s local arm has entered the South African light commercial vehicle (LCV) segment with the introduction of the C3 Hola panel van, which is based on its entry-level C3 hatchback that was introduced to the SA market in May 2023. According to Stellantis, this comes as a response to a “fast-growing” need for sub-half-tonne vehicles. The C3 Hola panel van replaces the second row of seats with a fully enclosed payload bay – the latter offering a 386 kg capacity – integrated bulkhead and secure load tie-down points. The interior is fitted with a 10-inch infotainment touchscreen, replete with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 7.0-inch digital instrumentation cluster, air conditioning, and a multifunction steering wheel. Safety features include six airbags, as well as ABS with ...

BMW Group has whipped the wraps off the Vision BMW Alpina concept, a one-of-one design study showcasing the architectural language that will define future BMW Alpina models. Image: BMW Alpina Following the acquisition of the Alpina brand by BMW Group in January 2026, the Bavarian brand has revealed the Vision BMW Alpina concept at the 2026 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. Inspired by the German automaker’s heritage, and centred around the principles of speed and comfort, the one-off concept previews BMW Alpina’s design language for future models. The Vision BMW Alpina concept’s fastback profile measures 5 200 mm in length. The shark nose front facia is characterised by a new interpretation of the firm’s signature kidney grille, replete with illuminated surround. The latter item is flanked by slim LED headlamps with daytime-running lights and clear-cut illuminated crystals  The lower front apron features polished metal ‘Alpina’ lettering. At the rear, ‘Alpina’ let...

Ferrari has revealed the latest model from its One-Off programme. Based on the F8 Spider, meet the HC25… Image: Ferrari Ferrari has whipped the wraps off the HC25, a specially built model from the Italian automaker’s One-Off series – the latter forming part of the Maranello manufacturer’s Special Projects programme. Based on the F8 Spider, the HC25 employs a 3.9-litre twin-turbocharged V8 producing 529 kW and 770 N.m of torque, available from 7 000 and 3 250 r/min, respectively. The mid-rear-mounted powertrain revs up to an 8 000 r/min redline. Power is exclusively delivered to the rear wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. According to Ferrari, the HC25’s outputs allow for a 0-100 km/h sprint time of 2.9 seconds, before breaching the 200 km/h marker 5.3 seconds later, at 8.2 seconds. The top speed is rated at 340 km/h. Bringing this one-of-a-kind Ferrari to a standstill is a set of 398 mm front/360 mm rear brake discs. The HC25 is finished in Moo...

Geely has expanded its E5 lineup with the introduction of the Apex Plus spec. See pricing below… Image: Geely Following the launch of the Geely E2 , which tops the list of most affordable EVs in SA , in April 2026, the Chinese automaker has expanded its E5 portfolio with the introduction of a new flagship variant, the Apex Plus. The Apex Plus is equipped with the same electric motor as its E5 stablemates. The front-mounted unit produces 160 kW and 320 N.m of torque. However, compared to its Aspire and Apex siblings, the new range-topper pairs the e-motor with a larger lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery – 68.4 vs 60.8 kWh. The E5 Apex Plus’ 68.4 kWh LFP unit serves up a claimed operating range of 450 km; in increase of 20 km over the Aspire and 40 km over the Apex. Geely claims a 10-100% 11 kW AC charge takes seven hours, while a 30-80% 100 kW DC fast charge takes 20 minutes. The E5 Apex Plus completes the 0-100 km/h sprint in 7.6 seconds; 0.7 seconds slower than t...

The first of its kind, VW has officially whipped the wraps off the ID. Polo GTI. We detail the all-electric performance-focused compact hot hatch… Image: Volkswagen In April 2026, VW’s ‘Polo’ nameplate entered a new chapter, with the Wolfsburg brand officially unveiling the first all-electric version of its popular compact hatchback. As we reported with the reveal of the ID. Polo , a GTI variant of the latter will be introduced to the lineup this year. Well, this performance-focused model has finally made its debut, with VW revealing the ID. Polo GTI. The ID. Polo GTI is equipped with a single electric motor, which produces 166 kW and 290 N.m of torque – the latter delivered to the road via the front wheels. Compared to the internal combustion engine (ICE) Polo GTI , which is exclusively built at the German marque’s Plant Kariega facility in South Africa, the emissions-free model is 19 kW more powerful. The ICE model is torquier, though, with its 2.0-litre turbocharged fo...

Hot off the press, the June 2026 issue of CAR magazine has hit the shelves. We highlight what you can expect in the latest issue… Image: Peet Mocke The cover star of the June 2026 issue, we got behind the wheel of the highly anticipated new Toyota Land Cruiser FJ for an exclusive first SA drive ahead of its official local launch. In the June 2026 issue, we also sample the Volvo ES90 , the Changan Uni-S , and the Land Rover Discovery Tempest. In the latest issue of CAR magazine, we put a quartet of vehicles – ranging from a hot hatch to crossovers and SUVs – through our stringent road-test regimen. The latter includes the Mitsubishi Destinator , Suzuki Across , all-wheel-drive BAIC B30 hybrid, and the Toyota GR Corolla automatic. In Insight , we detail the Porsche 911 GT3 S/C , the first 911 Cabriolet to don the vaunted ‘GT3’ moniker, the Mini-Vagabund co-developed duo of one-off Countryman S models, the Rolls-Royce Project Nightingale, Hyundai Boulder Concept, and Honda...

Confirmed for Australia, a market that largely mirrors ours, could the Chinese-built Ford Bronco make its way to SA? Image: Ford Developed by JMC Ford, the joint venture between Ford and Jiangling Motors Corporation (JMC), the Ford Bronco New Energy is heading to Australia, a market that largely mirrors ours. So, could the Chinese-built Bronco make its way here? Available in all-electric (EV) and REEV (range-extended EV) – the latter featuring an internal combustion engine (ICE) to recharge the battery pack – formats in China, the Bronco New Energy is based on a monocoque chassis…as opposed to the ladder-frame platform underpinning the US-built Bronco. The Bronco New Energy measures 5 025 mm in length and 1 960 mm in width; making it 84 mm longer and 55 mm narrower than the Everest . The Bronco New Energy’s wheelbase is longer, too – 2 950 vs 2 900 mm. The Bronco New Energy sports a ground clearance of up to 220 mm. The water-wading depth is rated at 600 mm. The E...

Unveiled in December 2025, the new Kia Seltos is heading to South Africa…and it will retain the South Korean automaker’s frugal 1.5-litre turbodiesel engine option. Image: Kia The second-generation Seltos was revealed with a selection of powertrain options: 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol producing 110 kW/179 N.m, 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol (T-GDI) available in 132 kW and 142 kW states of tune, and hybrid – the latter setup pairing a 1.6-litre atmospheric four-pot with either a single or dual electric motors for combined power outputs of 113 and 131 kW, respectively. At the time, there was no word on whether the frugal 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbodiesel unit that’s available with the outgoing model, which claimed top honours in the ‘Compact crossover’ category at CAR magazine’s Top 12 Best Buys awards, will be offered with the box-fresh Seltos. However, at the May 2026 launch of the Carens seven-seater in Johannesburg, Kia’s local arm tol...