The Car Guide

Celebrating two decades of the iconic W12, Bentley has released the final W12-powered models to don the Bentley badge… Image: Bentley Looking for your next new or used Bentley? Find it here with CARmag!  With the introduction of its Ultra Performance Hybrid powertrain, which debuted with the new Continental GT Speed and GTC, Bentley is retiring its W12 to the annals of its illustrious history. Now, celebrating two decades of this iconic engine, the British luxury marque is giving it a proper send-off, with the Crew-based carmaker producing the final W12-powered (previous-generation) Continental GT, Flying Spur, which, with the upcoming model, will be endowed with the Ultra Performance Hybrid setup, and Bentayga. Related:  New Bentley Continental GT Speed Unwrapped with 575 kW “The W12 has played such an important role in the history of Bentley that it was only right for us to celebrate the engine’s retirement with those linked to this powerplant. The engine’s introduct...

The Toyota Starlet Cross has finally launched in South Africa, with the latest edition to Toyota South Africa Motors’ (TSAM) crossover/SUV stable becoming the most affordable crossover/SUV in the local arm of the Japanese automaker’s line-up. We’ve unearthed official pricing before; however, we can now report on the four-strong range’s specifications. Here’s what you can expect… Image: Toyota Looking for a new or used Toyota? Find it here with CARmag! Priced from a hair below R300 000, the local Toyota Starlet Cross portfolio comprises four variants, available with the option of two trim levels, a duo of transmission options, while a single engine option is employed across the range. Toyota Starlet Cross SA Model Line-up Kicking things off, the Japanese carmaker’s in-vogue compact crossover/SUV can be had in Xs and XR levels of specification. Xs trim grade ships with convenience features such as an Apple CarPlay/Android Auto-enabled 7.0-inch, touch-enabled infotainment display,...

Not only is this likely the sole V12-powered Ferrari F40 out there, but it comes with racing pedigree too! It will be up for auction with Iconic Auctioneers and it is currently road-legal for any potential buyers… Looking for a new or used Volkswagen? Find it here with CARmag!  Born out of the strong relationship between UK-based Simpson Motorsport and the Ferrari factory in the 1990s and early 2000s. Featured in Keith Bluemel’s well-researched tome ‘Ferrari F40: A Comprehensive Look at One of Ferrari’s Greatest and Most Revered Cars,’ this V12-swapped F40’s story is one for the ages. In 2001, Simpson Motorsport radically modified a chassis tub in the UK for a client, Stefano Sebastiani. The project’s roots trace back to when Simpson Motorsport managed Sebastiani’s Ferrari 348 LM, chassis 95450, in endurance races between 1993 and 1995, including two Le Mans 24 Hours entries in 1993 and 1994. This collaboration fostered a strong relationship with Mr. Felisa of the Ferrari Facto...

Emerging in the 1960s and quickly coming to prominence as South Africa’s definitive premier motoring playground, the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit has continued to etch into the history of local motorsport. Little more than 10 years ago, an uncertain fate was snatched away from residential developers to continue its long-lasting legacy. Looking for a new or used supercar? Find it here with CARmag!  Kyalami, now an eclectic mix of office parks, light industry, small holdings, residential estates, and shopping malls, is strategically positioned between Johannesburg and Pretoria. Its growth and development have transformed it into a vibrant community, but the area’s true significance lies in its legendary racetrack, the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit. The journey of Kyalami began with the purchase of portion 169 of the farm Bothasfontein in the 1960s. This unassuming piece of land was transformed into a racetrack, christened Kyalami, meaning “my home” in Zulu. Since its inception, Kyalam...

With its #VanLife campaign, Suzuki South Africa has transformed its affordable and modest Eeco panel van into a compact camper. Image: Dieter Pey Looking for a new or used Suzuki? Find it here with CARmag! In 2023, we sampled the Suzuki  on a drive in the Drakensberg. Indeed, although the Japanese automaker’s compact panel van seemed like an odd choice for such a trip, it provided several smiles on the journey. However, were you wanting to extend the drive to spots off the grid, you can, always, convert this small-size panel van into a compact camper van. That’s just what Suzuki SA did! Related: Epic Drakensberg drive, in a Suzuki Eeco! Indeed, in a bid to prove the value and versatility of the Eeco, Suzuki Auto South Africa recently embarked on a concept the firm bills #VanLife, a campaign with which the company challenged creative spirits and leisure-equipment designers to transform a standard Eeco to a camper van. The result? A Suzuki Eeco sporting additional pews; a “sma...

The all-new BMW X3 will continue to be produced at the Rosslyn facility but there will likely be the omission of the potent X3M from the SUV lineup going forward. Looking for a new or used GWM? Find it here with CARmag! Set to hit the market later this year, the new X3 will come with two updated engine options. However, it seems that there won’t be a high-performance M model in this generation. According to BMWBlog , BMW has decided not to offer an M version of the new X3. Instead, the sportiest variant available will be the X3 M50, which boasts a slightly upgraded version of BMW’s turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-six engine. The focus on an M model is shifting towards a performance version of the upcoming iX3 electric crossover. This move aligns with earlier reports from 2022, suggesting that BMW’s high-performance SUV lineup might transition to electric-only models likely utilising the Neue Klasse architecture. This platform promises substantial power, with capabilities reaching som...

Enviro Automotive, importer and distributor of electric vehicles, has announced the local introduction of the Dayun Yuehu S5, a sub-R400 000 all-electric compact crossover/SUV.  Image: Enviro Automotive Looking for your next new or used vehicle? Find it here with CARmag!  Billed as a “zippy” SUV for the city environment, the Dayun Yuehu S5 has launched in South Africa, with the newcomer, which is priced from below R400 000, aiming to “redefine” the local electric-vehicle (EV) segment. Here’s what you can expect, including pricing and spec, from SA’s least expensive EV. Related: Road Test: GWM Ora 300 Super Luxury Dayun Yuehu S5 price in South Africa Dayun Yuehu S5 Standard — R399 900 Dayun Yuehu S5 VIP — R449 900 As standard, both variants ship with a three-year/60 000 km service plan and warranty, and a battery warranty spanning five years or 120 000 km. Image: Enviro Automotive The Dayun Yuehu S5 employs a 35 kW/105 N.m electric motor. According to the comp...