The Car Guide

Providing protection against assault rifles, SVI Engineering has developed an upgraded armouring package for the Ford Ranger Raptor. Image: SVI Engineering In September 2024, SVI Engineering announced a (Ford-backed) B4 armouring package for the Ranger Raptor, which provides occupants protection from handgun rounds. Now, the South African armoured-vehicle company has upped the ante, with SVI announcing the pinnacle model in the Blue Oval’s local Ranger portfolio can be had with B6 protection. The first Ford-approved assault-rifle protection package for the Ranger Raptor in South Africa, SVI says this B6 armouring solution is the result of a rigorous development process, which included measures to increase the Ranger Raptor’s gross vehicle mass (GVM). Said SVI Business Development Director Nicol Louw, “Since the Raptor’s special Fox suspension system results in a lower payload compared to other Ranger derivatives, this model was initially deemed unsuitable to handle the extra mas...

Following the release of teaser images showcasing the upcoming all-electric GLC’s front facia and interior, Mercedes-Benz has officially unveiled the GLC with EQ Technology.  Image: Mercedes-Benz As one of the marque’s most popular models, Mercedes-Benz have taken its next step in zero-emissions propulsion with the addition of the all-electric GLC. The GLC with EQ Technology (to use its full name) will be the first model powered by the German marque’s AI-driven MB.OS ‘superbrain’. Spearheading the emissions-free GLC model range will be the 400 4Matic model, which features 800 V electric architecture with a 94 kWh lithium-ion battery and twin electric-motor setup, which produces a combined peak power output of 360 kW. The Stuttgart automaker claims an operating range if up to 713 km. A quartet of additional derivatives, including a GLC 300+, which will employ a single electric-motor setup, will be introduced at a later stage. The GLC with EQ Technology introduces fresh exterio...

Porsche has whipped the wraps off the updated, 992.2-generation 911 Turbo S, with the German marque’s local arm announcing pricing for the most powerful 911 to date. See pricing below. Image: Porsche The revised 992-generation 911 Turbo S adopts the Stuttgart manufacturer’s T-Hybrid powertrain, which made its debut on the 992.2 GTS . However, whereas the latter features a single electric exhaust gas turbocharger (eTurbo), the Turbo S’s 3.6-litre flat-six is equipped with an additional eTurbo. The GTS’s 1.9 kWh battery has been carried over to the flagship 911. The updated 911 Turbo S’s electrified powertrain produces a peak power output of 523 kW, an increase of 45 kW over the 992.1 911 Turbo S’s 478 kW. Torque has remained untouched, with 800 N.m delivered to Porsche’s Traction Management (PTM) all-wheel-drive system via an eight-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission with integrated electric motor. However, it is worth noting that, compared to its 992.1 predecessor, the 992.2 iterat...

VW Group used the 2025 Munich IAA to expand on its plans for a refreshed and easily identifiable new product range.  Image: Volkswagen It hasn’t taken long for the head of Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Thomas Schäfer, to stamp his mark on this famous German brand. The former CEO of Volkswagen South Africa, Schäfer has stated since the beginning of his term at the helm of VW in 2022, that he wants its product portfolio to once more feel light, easily recognisable and, significantly, affordable, returning to the “people’s cars” values that made this Wolfsburg-based brand famous. In a move that places increased pressure on Volkswagen Group Africa’s plans for expansion into the African market via predominantly locally assembled internal combustion engines, Schäfer used the occasion of the 2025 Munich Mobility Show to confirm the brand’s plans for an EV future, including a completely new product lineup in the coming years. Led by head of design Andy Mindt, Volkswagen has followed up...

Aston Martin has partnered with Amalgam Collection to create a limited-edition 1:8-scale replica of the Valkyrie hypercar.  Image: Aston Martin In partnership with Aston Martin, Amalgam Collection has unveiled a 1:8-scale Valkyrie. Available in coupé and Spider forms, each limited to just 199 examples, the UK company’s latest collectable model car was created in close collaboration with Aston Martin’s design and engineering departments. According to the firm, it took over 3 000 hours to develop this scale model. In addition, it takes over 300 hours to assemble each example. As standard, each model’s exterior is dressed in Podium Green, while the interior is finished in black. However, for collectors seeking even more exclusivity, a Bespoke Edition will also be available. With the latter, owners can specify the 1:8-scale replica to resemble their real-life Valkyrie, or tailor it to their taste. The models are built using the original computer-aided designs (CAD), paint codes ...

Porsche is set to become the first automotive manufacturer to introduce wireless EV charging. Image: Porsche Not unlike inductive smartphone charging pads, Porsche is set to introduce similar technology for charging electric vehicles (EVs). The German marque’s wireless EV charger uses a 11 kW system with a one-box base plate through which the car is recharged wirelessly. Specifically designed for home use, the wireless system is said to be as capable as wired AC charging and allows for energy transfer of up to 90% from the power grid to the vehicle’s battery. The upcoming Cayenne Electric will be the first model to feature the necessary hardware, including a receiver mounted between the front wheels, to accommodate wireless EV charging. Once the car is parked over the floor plate, which features motion detection, charging commences and can be tracked via the My Porsche app. The all-electric Cayenne also features a surround-view parking function to ensure the SUV is positioned in ...

We have rounded up the best-selling Chinese brands in South Africa for August 2025. View the list below. Local new-car sales in August 2025 continued to see an upward trend, with 51 880 units sold – an increase of 497 units compared to July 2025. Of the former figure, the passenger-car segment accounted for 71% of sales in the eighth month of 2025. We’ve reported on the best-selling car brands in SA in August 2025. Now, we take a closer look at how the Chinese automakers fared. So, we have rounded up the best-selling Chinese car brands in South Africa for August 2025. (It is worth noting that, for this list, we’ve listed the subsidiaries of each company individually. For example, GWM and Haval, and Chery and Omoda.) 5. Jetour – 773 Image: Jetour In August 2025, Jetour’s total sales increased by 56 units, with the Dashing remaining the Wuhu-based brand’s most popular model locally. The X70 Plus , by contrast, recorded only a modest increase of two units. 4. GWM – 821 Image: GW...