The Car Guide

Set in the Western Cape, the annual Cape 1000 is fast becoming a go-to event on the international motoring calendar. We borrowed an appropriate set of wheels and tagged along on the 2025 event. Looking for a new or used vehicle? Find it here with CARmag! “Welcome to the thousand” were the first words my navigator, Sam, and I heard upon entering the parking lot of the Cape Town Hotel School Restaurant. The registration point for the annual Cape1000 rally, Sunday’s “Show & Shine” gathering, represents one of the most spectacular collections of rare automotive machinery in South Africa. Although this Western Cape-based rally may still be in its infancy, it has grown in popularity and proudly claims to be “South Africa’s Most Beautiful Drive. ” “My husband, Ross, started the Round Table Cannonball Run Africa in 2003, which brought about the establishment of the Super Car Lifestyle events company,” says Cape 1000 co-founder Vanessa Crighton. “He conceptualised the Concours South Afr...

Nissan is planning on downsizing its global production force by a significant margin, and there is the possibility that its Pretoria-based Rosslyn plant may be on the chopping block.  Image: Nissan Looking for a new or used vehicle? Find it here with CARmag! It has been a difficult few years for Japanese automaker Nissan, on both the global and international front. The latest to emerge from Yokohama is that the storied automaker  was under the process of a significant global restructuring to address financial challenges and adapt to shifting market dynamics. The company plans to reduce its global production capacity by 20%, from 5 million to 4 million vehicles annually by fiscal year 2026. Of its multiple global production plants, South Africa is rumoured to be on a short list for cessation . Within its home market , the Oppama and Shonan plants which have been operational since 1961, are also among those considered for closure. All of these market shifts means 20 00...

At Supercar Fest The Runway 2025, British engineering firm RML Group formally introduced its P39 hypercar prototype. This event served as the limited-run vehicle’s public debut, showcasing its dynamic capabilities and celebrating RML’s 40th anniversary. Image: RML Group Looking for a new or used Porsche? Find it here with CARmag! At its core, the P39 is based on the Porsche 992.1 Turbo S, but RML has taken that solid foundation and transformed it into something far more aggressive without losing everyday usability. A fully carbon-fibre body, complete with active aerodynamic elements, allows the P39 to adapt between road and track duties. An electronically controlled rear wing adjusts to boost downforce by 24 percent  in Track mode, while a DRS system reduces drag by 23 percent  on straights. Up front, an active splitter extends by 75 mm for sharper turn-in. Combined with detailed airflow management and vented arches, these ...

From today, the June 2025 issue of CAR Magazine will hit shelves around the country. Here is a preview of what to expect. Looking for a new or used vehicle? Find it here with CARmag! The news that Great Wall Motors had used the occasion of the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show to unveil a new twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine, which it describes as its “secret weapon in luxury markets”, would no doubt have ruined the taste of many early-morning cups of coffee in automotive company boardrooms across Europe. The extraordinary growth of the Chinese auto industry over the past decade had, until this moment, appeared to have left a few stones unturned in terms of plans for global dominance, including targeting the highly evolved, if somewhat endangered, realm of large-capacity internal combustion powertrains. While GWM is keeping its cards close to its chest with regards to outputs, potential hybridisation and applications for its new V8 engine, its mere existence adds more pressure on ...

Toyota has a broad global presence with market-specific products, and now rumours have emerged of a potential compact bakkie. The caveat is that it could only be for the US market.  Image: Theottle Looking for a new or used Toyota? Find it here with CARmag! Mark Templin, Toyota’s Chief Operating Officer in the U.S., confirmed this initiative, indicating a potential new offering positioned below the established Tacoma. This exploration is driven by a notable market shift where new vehicle acquisition costs, including those of ‘pickup trucks’, have steadily increased. The demonstrable success of vehicles like the Ford Maverick, which offers a lower entry price point and substantial sales volumes, underscores the significant demand for more accessible and physically smaller utility vehicles in the U.S. This contrasts with the comparatively lower sales performance of competitors such as the Hyundai Santa Cruz, providing valuable insights for Toyota’s strategic planning. Cooper ...

Jaecoo has confirmed that the plug-in hybrid version of its J7 SUV, known as the J7 SHS, will arrive in South Africa in June.  Click here and browse thousands of new and used vehicles here with CARmag! CAR Magazine has already had a go in the all-new model, lauding it as a welcome new energy alternative to the Chinese automaker’s growing fleet. Going forward, this will also see the catalyst of a broader range of hybrid and electric vehicles coming under the Omoda and Jaecoo umbrella. Related:  Review: Jaecoo J7 SHS (PHEV) The J7 SHS—short for Super Hybrid System—combines a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor, using a Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT) to deliver power to the front wheels. The 18.3 kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery allows for an all-electric range of around 90 km, enough to cover most daily commutes without using any petrol. On longer trips, the hybrid system seamlessly takes over, offering a claimed total range of up to 1 ...

While most electric utility vehicles are growing in size, weight, and price,  Fiat has opted to try something different and channel its inner Piaggio.  Welcome the TRIS, a new three-wheeled, fully electric commercial vehicle aimed squarely at last-mile delivery work in busy urban environments. Image: Fiat Looking for a new or used Fiat? Find it here with CARmag! Developed by Stellantis and designed at Fiat’s Centro Stile in Turin, the TRIS has been developed as a cheap-to-run commercial vehicle aimed specifically designed for cities where tight spaces and quick stops are the norm, like Italy. At just 3.17 metres long, it slots into the ultra-light category and will first launch in the Middle East and Africa, with a potential expansion into Europe on the table. Built on a modular chassis, the TRIS comes in three body styles: chassis-cab, flatbed, and pickup. All versions share the same snub-nosed front end with angular LED headlight...