The Car Guide

GWM’s Tank range is growing, and with the Tank 300 recently debuting on local soil, the much larger Tank 800 has been sighted overseas in full test car guise. Looking for your next new or used Chinese SUV? Find it here with CARmag.  Image: Auto Home The concept model of the Herculean Great Wall Motor SUV debuted in 2021 at the Shanghai Auto Show, adorned in an eye-catching purple and cream colour scheme. The test car spotted in the wild doesn’t appear to deviate far from the concept model’s design. A large front grille with vertical slots flanked by round headlights encased in square frames is the main distinguishing element of the boxy giant. Photos of the interior, provided by AutoHome , showcase a well-appointed cabin featuring key elements, such as a large digital driver display, a larger central touchscreen, a rotating drive mode selector dial, and a pronounced shifter. Image: Auto Home Related: Review: GWM Tank 300 2.0T 9HAT 4×4 Super Luxury HEV Below the muscular ...

Volkswagen will add a new engine and two new derivatives to its Polo sedan range for South Africa. Here’s all you need to know.  Looking for your next new or used Volkswagen Polo? Find it here with CARmag.  The current Polo sedan range consists of four derivatives, each motivated by a 1.6-litre four-cylinder producing 81 kW/ 152 N.m. The naturally aspirated four-pot is mated to a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. Volkswagen intends to introduce a 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol three-cylinder engine that will cater to a need of consumers seeking more power and torque without compromising fuel efficiency. A six-speed Tiptronic transmission will be employed in the two new arrivals. The 85 kW/ 178 N.m three-cylinder powerplant was introduced in 2015 and has been employed in various VW monikers, such as the MK7 Golf and Mk6 Polo. VW claims that the EA211 platform offers a fuel consumption figure of 6.3 L/100 km, while the 1.6-litre equipped Polo models featur...

A remarkable discovery has been made in South Africa’s Eastern Cape, unveiling one of the country’s most extensive collections of classic cars. Lead Auctioneer Joff van Reenen of Creative Rides described the find as both “surreal and staggering.” Looking for a classic? Find it here with CARmag. The late Louis Coetzer, the former owner of the farm, had amassed an impressive collection of over 200 classic and rare vehicles spanning iconic brands like Mercedes Benz, Chevrolet, Ford, Cadillac, Porsche, and BMW. Coetzer’s 50-year passion for automobiles culminated in this extraordinary assemblage. According to reports, Louis and his wife Hermien were tragically killed in a car accident on a remote mountain pass in early 2020. In the aftermath, hundreds of their cars were auctioned off, and in 2021, their children reluctantly released a significant portion of the collection due to the daunting task of preservation. However, a recent exploration of barns on the family’s property reveale...

In a significant move to clamp down on vehicle-related crime in South Africa, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi recently revealed plans for the introduction of new, more secure vehicle number plates across the nation.  This announcement came during the State of the Province Address, highlighting a unified approach spearheaded by the National Department of Transport . The initiative aims to address the rampant issue of car thefts and hijackings facilitated by the use of fake or duplicated number plates. The core problem, as outlined by Lesufi, is the current system’s limitations, primarily its nearing exhaustion of available alphanumeric combinations. This limitation not only poses a logistical issue but also weakens the fight against crime. The new number plates are seen as a critical step in bolstering security measures, making it harder for criminals to misuse them. Related:  Department of Transport introduces new car registration and ownership fee changes The draft legisl...

Dacia ‘s unveiling of the updated 2024 Spring electric vehicle brings an intriguing proposition to the table, especially for markets like South Africa, where small-sized electric vehicles are not yet prevalent. Image: Dacia Looking for a new or used Renault? Find it here with CARmag. With its estimated price of R429 662 and practical urban design, the Spring could potentially fill a gap in our automotive market. However, it also raises questions about its suitability for local conditions and consumer preferences, not to mention prohibitive taxes on EVs being sold to local consumers. The Dacia Spring’s compact dimensions and electric powertrain make it well-suited for navigating crowded city streets and short daily commutes, which align with typical urban driving patterns in South Africa’s major cities. Its relatively modest range of over 220 km may raise concerns for drivers accustomed to longer distances, but for many urban dwellers, this could be more than sufficient for their ...

Presenting stories of hope and happiness in a continent seemingly dominated by danger and despair, the Kingsley Holgate Foundation set off on the latest leg of the Afrika Odyssey Expedition today, which has already seen two Defender 130s traverse over 51 000 km. Looking for a new or used Land Rover? Find it here with CARmag. Gathering at the Jaguar Land Rover experience centre in Johannesburg, this off-roading haven, only a stone’s throw away from the hustle and bustle of the rat race provided us with an opportunity to take a glimpse into a humanitarian organisation that ventures across the African continent. A first for me, Nomaswazi Nkosi, PR specialist at Jaguar Land Rover greeted the small contingent of media ahead of the short introduction by Kingsley Holgate. In her hand, a wooden stick, with its end fashioned to resemble a head. Once the formalities in the atrium were concluded, she passed the stick onto Kingsley, who epitomises every possible meaning of the word adventurer. ...

Porsche has introduced two new E-Hybrid models to its Panamera range, boasting a turbocharged six-cylinder and a new electric motor. Looking for your next new or used Porsche? Find it here with CARmag. Image: Porsche Entering the fold are the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid and 4S E-Hybrid models, which are being introduced in response to growing demand and interest in efficiency and e-Hybird powertrains. Porsche has sought to develop a model that offers a more electric driving range, faster charging, and better driving performance when compared to the previous generation model. The new E-Hybid powertrain consists of a 2.9-litre biturbo V6 petrol engine mated to a new 140 kW/ 450 N.m electric motor. In the 4 E-Hybrid configuration, the cumulative efforts of the ICE and motor generate 346 kW and 650 N.m, allowing the sports saloon to sprint from 0 km/h to 100 km/h in 4.1 seconds. Sourcing power from a new high-voltage battery, the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid is capable of driving up to 96 kilometres ...