The Car Guide

The first modern Neue Klasse model in BMW’s portfolio, the iX3 has claimed top honours at the 2026 World Car of the Year awards… Image: BMW The BMW iX3, which we sampled for a first drive at its international launch event in Spain in 2025, has claimed top honours at the 2026 World Car of the Year awards. Indeed, among 58 competitors and a shortlist comprising the Hyundai Palisade and Nissan Leaf, the first modern Neue Klasse model in BMW’s portfolio was chosen, by a jury comprising 98 motoring journalists from 33 countries, as the Car of the Year. Said Mike Reichelt, Head of Neue Klasse at BMW, “We are happy with this fantastic accolade for the BMW iX3, the first representative of our Neue Klasse. The BMW iX3 marks the beginning of a new era at BMW – in terms of design language, range, charging capacity as well as driver assistance – and BMW Panoramic iDrive. Above all, the BMW iX3 represents the next generation of Sheer Driving Pleasure powered by the Heart of Joy. The innovatio...

Ford South Africa has announced the updated Territory will go on sale in the coming weeks, and thanks to a source, we can confirm pricing for the revised model range. Image: Ford As highlighted in our December 2025-issue Cars for 2026 feature, along with confirming the updated Ranger bakkie range for our market, Ford South Africa confirmed the updated Territory will make its way to our shores in 2026. Now, the Blue Oval brand’s local arm has announced the revised Territory lineup will go on sale in the “coming weeks”. In addition, thanks to a source, we can confirm pricing for the updated model. “Territory has always been about empowering young, dynamic families to get the most out of every day,” said Sunil Sewmohan, Director of Product Marketing at Ford South Africa. “With the new Territory, comfort and smart technology come to the fore. It’s everything our customers have asked for, and more.” Updated Ford Territory price in SA According to our source, pricing for the updated...

The Changan Uni-S has landed in South Africa, with the Chinese automaker’s local arm announcing pricing and specs for the three-strong model lineup. See pricing below… Image: Changan Changan, distributed in South Africa by Jameel Motors, entered the SA market towards the end of 2025, with the Chinese automaker’s initial vehicle portfolio comprising the Alsvin budget-friendly sedan, CS75 Pro midsize SUV, and a duo of double-cab bakkies – the turbodiesel Hunter and the Hunter REEV (range-extended electric vehicle), which is one of the most powerful bakkies in SA . The Chongqing-based also introduced the Deepal S07 all-electric crossover/SUV to our shores. Now, the company has expanded its local model lineup with the introduction of the Uni-S. The local Uni-S range comprises three derivatives, with the entry-level, CS variant priced from below R400 000 (see full pricing below). The remaining models are the CL and CE – the former and latter serving as the mid-tier and flagship model...

Ford South Africa has officially announced pricing for the updated Ranger bakkie lineup. See full pricing below… Image: Ford In November 2025, Ford South Africa announced “major changes” for its Ranger bakkie lineup in 2026. Now, the Blue Oval brand’s local arm has announced pricing for the revised Ranger portfolio, which comprises 23 models across three body styles single-cab, Super Cab and double-cab. The revised powertrain lineup includes Ford’s 222 kW/452 N.m 2.3-litre EcoBoost four-cylinder turbopetrol engine for the first time. In addition, the 2.0-litre single-turbo (SiT) four-cylinder diesel has received a new timing chain and is now available with a 10-speed automatic transmission. With the discontinuation of the 2.0-litre bi-turbo (BiT) diesel engine, more derivatives have gained the firm’s 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel unit. Positioned between the XLT and Wildtrak, a new Ranger Sport variant, available in Super Cab and double-cab body styles, has joined the lineup. The Ra...

Through its agreement with Toyota, the next-generation Suzuki Swift Sport will be based on the GR Yaris. When the fourth-generation Swift was unveiled in 2024, Suzuki remained tight-lipped as to whether the latest iteration of its characterful hatchback will spawn a plucky Sport variant. Well, the Japanese automaker has now confirmed a new Swift Sport is in the works. However, perhaps the biggest news is that it will be based on the Toyota GR Yaris. It shouldn’t come as a surprise, however, as both manufacturers offer products based on existing models from each other’s portfolios. This includes the Suzuki Fronx-based Toyota Starlet Cross and the  European-based Toyota RAV4-based Suzuki Across. (the local Across is based on the Grand Vitara). As part of this agreement, the next Suzuki Swift Sport is now destined to based on a rather exciting Toyota product. Although the Swift has been viewed as “off-limits” to Toyota, it seems the GR Yaris is at full disposal to Suzuki. As suc...

Mercedes-AMG has confirmed it is developing a brand-new – and ‘most extreme’ of its kind – Black Series model. Here’s what we know so far. Image: Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-AMG has announced it is developing a brand-new Black Series, with the German automaker saying the upcoming model will be the “most extreme” to don the ‘Black Series’ moniker yet. Developed alongside the Affalterbach brand’s next GT3 race car, although details surrounding the second-generation GT Black Series remain thin, reports have suggested it could employ Mercedes-Benz’s new flat-plane crank V8 engine. “We are developing the most extreme Black Series ever,” said Michael Schiebe, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-AMG GmbH. Schiebe added that, at AMG, they develop vehicles to exceed expectations and that the latter is exactly what the future Black Series will do. Set to spearhead the GT lineup – of which we’ve sampled the GT 63 Pro and the GT 63 S E Performance – despite being wrapped in camoufla...