Indice dei contenuti per March 2025 in CAR

First showcased in 2019 as the AM-RB 003 prototype, after a development process spanning six years, the Valkyrie’s successor will finally grace the road as the first-ever production Aston Martin employing a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain. The internal combustion (ICE) component of Aston Martin’s 400 V PHEV arrangement comes in the shape of a 4.0-litre V8. Mounted midships, the twin-turbocharged unit produces 609 kW and 857 N.m, sent to all four corners via a bespoke 8-speed dual-clutch transmission. A trio of electric motors – two sited on the front axle, with a single unit incorporated into the transmission housing – supplements the ICE for combined outputs of 793 kW and 1 100 N.m. According to Aston Martin, this unit is capable of propelling the Valhalla from standstill to 100 km/h…

This year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES), held in Las Vegas, showcased key innovations in EVs, next-generation infotainment systems and sustainable materials, emphasising the automotive industry’s push for smarter, greener and more connected technologies. We look at some of the most noteworthy reveals shaping the future of mobility. BMW’S PANORAMIC IDRIVE SYSTEM BMW introduced a suite of infotainment technologies under the ‘Panoramic iDrive System’ banner. Designed for its next-generation vehicles, this latest take on iDrive is powered by the newly developed BMW Operating System X. A standout feature is the BMW Panoramic Vision; a windshield-spanning display that keeps critical information within the driver’s line of sight while minimising distractions. To enhance functionality, the system includes a matrix backlight central display located near the steering wheel, ensuring clear visibility under various lighting…

Conceived as the sports car division of Morris Cars in 1924, MG (established as Morris Garages) would become synonymous with producing stylish, fun-to-drive performance cars that were accessible to people from all walks of life. Browsing through the automaker’s archives, it’s the models produced in the first five decades of the British marque’s existence – along with the motorsport pedigree gained from the K3 Magnette’s 1933 Mille Miglia victory – that have contributed to the company securing its place in sports car folklore. Many MGs manufactured throughout that period have become classics. These include the 1955 MGA and its 1962 MGB successor, which, at the time, was billed as the firm’s first modern sports car. However, following the release of the latter and subsequent iterations, including the MGC, 33 years…

*Claimed figures Price: R671 950 Powertrain: 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, turbopetrol Transmission: 9-speed dual-clutch Power: 170 kW @6 000 r/min Torque: 380 N.m @1 700–4 000 r/min 0–100 km/h: n/a Top speed: n/a Fuel consumption: 9.1 L/100 km* CO2 emissions: 209 g/km* Rivals: Ford Territory; Nissan X-Trail; Subaru Forester; Toyota RAV4; Volkswagen Tiguan Well-appointed cabin; refined powertrain Occasional firm ride The halo model in Haval’s South African line-up (until the second-generation H9’s arrival), the new H7 enters the highly contested midsize-SUV segment as something of an underdog. With much to prove against a field of established, lifestyle-oriented family SUVs, on paper, the H7’s bold styling and powerful engine lend it both presence and promise. But if this Big Dog (as the model is marketed in China) wants to stay ahead of the pack,…

Price: R1 070 000 0–100 km/h: 15.56 seconds Top speed: 180 km/h Power: 100 kW Torque: 360 N.m CAR fuel index: 8.88 L/100 km CO2 : 194 g/km Tourneo hits most buttons and presents itself as the sensible option in the R1 million MPV segment Charlen Raymond A very impressive and practical package, but more grunt would be welcome in a vehicle this heavy Kyle Kock The MPV segment has never been more compelling. Although Volkswagen still leads the category, by way of a range that includes the likes of the legendary Kombi, Caravelle and Transporter, there has also been a tremendous shift as the Koreans stake their claim in the form of the Hyundai Staria and Kia Carnival, the latter of which is a more traditionally styled MPV. However, the new,…

NEW ARRIVAL 1 170 km 8.1 L/100 km Impressive standard specification; crisp parking camera Powertrain niggles; fuel consumption Last year, GWM released the Jolion Pro as a more polished follow-up to the standard model. Not doing away with the antecedent completely (they are mechanically identical), the automaker now offers the previous car – badged the Jolion City – as an entry-level model alongside the Pro as part of a two-pronged strategy to win buyers across income levels. Having spent three months with the second most expensive Jolion Pro, the R495 950 S Ultra Luxury, we took the opportunity to sample the more affordable – albeit less powerful – 1.5T Ultra Luxury. This sitsinthemiddleofa five-model local line-up that’s bookended by the entry-level Premium (R391 150), up to the R516 950 HEV…

For the first time since 2009, a South African competitor in the Car category was in true contention of winning the gruelling Dakar Rally. Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa’s (TGRSA) Henk Lategan and navigator Brett Cummings led for nine of the 12 stages but had to settle for second place, behind Saudi Arabian Yazeed Al-Rajhi and his co-driver, Timo Gottschalk (Germany), competing for Overdrive Racing in a Toyota Hilux. Lategan and Cummings took control early on and made steady progress over the two-week duration. Though things looked good and their pace was steady, navigational errors on Stage 9, compounded by a tyre puncture, cost them nearly five minutes in the process. Although they managed to resume their race, this stage proved decisive, as the duo lost out on P1 by…

Email: car@habarimedia.com Mail: CAR, PO Box 180, Howard Place, 7450 OVER TO YOU… Please include your physical address and telephone number. Diverse ideas and opinions are welcome, but publication of your letter doesn’t necessarily mean we agree. Please stick to a maximum of 300 words. CAR reserves the right to edit and shorten letters owing to space constraints. WINNING LETTER PROBLEMATIC POLO GTI I have been a CAR reader for more than 55 years and, as a previous owner of a Polo GTI – and in response to the article by Charlen Raymond (Used Case Study, December 2024) – I would like to share my terrible experiences with your readers. I purchased the vehicle brand new in June 2019. I had added an extended maintenance plan to the purchase: a…

Set to slot into Kia’s line-up between the Sonet and Seltos, the Syros is underpinned by a reinforced version of the Hyundai-Kia K1 platform that currently features in Hyundai’s Exter and Grand i10 models. The Syros’ boxy frame is 115 mm shorter than the Sonet’s, front to rear. However, the newcomer’s sub-four-metre overall length is 10 mm wider and 55 mm taller, contributing to a purposeful stance, while the wheelbase is 50 mm longer than that of its compact-SUV sibling. The Syros was revealed with a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder turbopetrol that develops 88 kW and 172 N.m, as well as a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbodiesel that’s good for 85 kW and 250 N.m. While both units are available with a 6-speed manual gearbox, a 7-speed dual-clutch unit and 6-speed automatic are on…

Let’s be honest. Unless you have been living under a rock for the past four decades, you’re familiar with the 46-year history of Mercedes’ most rugged off-road vehicle this side of the Unimog. From a lightweight all-terrain military vehicle, it would grow from an uncompromisingly spartan friend of foresters and farmers into an ultra-luxurious, but still eminently capable, status symbol. There were some highlights in between: a 1983 Dakar win at the hands of Jacky Ickx, the 2002 arrival of the first AMG G-Class with a supercharged V8 engine, and 2006 saw a stock G500 reaching the coldest place on Earth in Siberia (-53 °C for your pub trivia) following a 19 000 km, breakdown-free journey, as well as the introduction of the, frankly bonkers, G63 6x6. In essence, little…

Hot on the tracks of its regular GT-badged sibling, the Mustang Dark Horse has entered the fray of what can only be described as a dwindling RWD sports coupé segment of the motor industry. Although its natural rivals are slowly disappearing – with Chevrolet discontinuing the Camaro and Dodge’s new Charger available as a full EV or with a turbopetrol V6 – Ford has doggedly decided to soldier on with one of its most iconic products … while still using a naturally aspirated V8, at that! Price: R1 500 000 0–100 km/h: 4.49 seconds Top speed: 267 km/h Power: 334 kW Torque: 540 N.m CAR Fuel index: 15.36 L/100 km CO2 : 293 g/km More poised than any Mustang before, the Dark Horse also has the presence to back up that pace…

Price: R1 929 476 0–100 km/h: 4.95 seconds Top speed: 250 km/h Power: 280 kW Torque: 540 N.m CAR fuel index: 11.16 L/100 km CO2 : 211 g/km So capable and close to the M60i that it further blurs the lines between BMW’s ‘standard’ models and its performance offerings. Gareth Dean Solid, well balanced and effortlessly pleasing to drive but price proximity to the V8 could be a blessing and a curse. Ian McLaren When we tested the X6 M60i in our April 2024 issue, we touched upon two interesting facets of BMW product positioning: that the firm’s M Performance-badged models formed a very capable bridge between workday models and the fire-breathing Ms, and just how little seems to separate said models. The latter was especially evident in the M60i’s straightline sprint…

7 seats, 144/472–1 544 L 6 airbags, ABS, EBD, ESC R21 796 May 2019 (Santa Fe 2.2D Premium) Power: 148 kW Torque: 440 N.m 0–100 km/h: 9.19 seconds Top speed: 203 km/h Fuel consumption index: 9.36 L/100 km The Hyundai Santa Fe debuted globally in 2001 but would not arrive in South Africa until 2005, just two short years before the SA launch of the second-generation model. Its entry into the local market was a significant step for Hyundai as it aimed to expand its ambitions from a more budget-conscious brand, to establish itself as a serious contender in the SUV market. At that time, the Santa Fe entered a segment dominated by more established brands such as Toyota, Nissan, Honda and Volvo; but its affordability, practicality and styling contributed…

When compiling our December 2024 Cars for 2025 feature, Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) remained tight-lipped when we asked what we can expect from the local arm of the Japanese automaker in the new year; instead reserving the announcements for the annual State of the Motoring Industry (SOMI) event. Among the reveals were the Fortuner GR-S and revised GR Yaris. As we reported in the February 2025 issue, the GR-tuned Fortuner is powered by an uprated (165 kW/550 N.m) version of Toyota’s 2.8-litre turbodiesel, and plays host to several mechanical upgrades, including a revised suspension setup with monotube shock absorbers, as well as an array of model-specific design elements. Serving up 210 kW and 400 N.m from its 1.6-litre, three-cylinder turbopetrol engine, the fresh-faced GR Yaris is not only more…

*Claimed figures Price: R1 987 900 Powertrain: 3.0-litre, V6, turbopetrol Transmission: 8-speed automatic Power: 250 kW @5 000 r/min Torque: 500 N.m @1 370 r/min 0–100 km/h: 5.6 seconds* Top speed: 250 km/h* Fuel consumption: 9.10 L/100 km* CO2 emissions: 210 g/km* Rivals: Jeep Grand Cherokee; Volvo XC90 Build quality; impressive ride courtesy of standard air suspension Lack of storage options for front occupants Introduced in 2015 and ushering in the Volkswagen Group’s box-fresh (at the time) MLB Evo platform, the second-generation Audi Q7 distinguished itself from an extended family that included everything from an ‘entry-level’ VW Touareg to the high-performance Lamborghini Urus via a suitably sophisticated interior and generously proportioned cabin capable of seating seven. A decade later – with little chance of an all-new generation being developed on a…

Price: R759 900 0–100 km/h: 10.25 seconds Top speed: 175 km/h Power: 135 kW Torque: 430 N.m CAR Fuel index: 10.08 L/100km CO2 : 220 g/km One of the most underrated double cabs on the market is now bigger and better Ian McLaren Triton continues to tick a lot of boxes, including impressive off-road credentials Kyle Kock The long-awaited introduction of the sixth-generation Triton marks an important time for Mitsubishi South Africa (considering its potential global merger with Nissan) as this proud Japanese brand looks to refresh both its broad product portfolio and standing within the local market. In addition to a larger, more resolved frame compared to the outgoing package, the mandate of the new Triton is to build on the many positives of the underrated fifth-generation bakkie to try to…

Price: R264 900 0–100 km/h: 12.05 seconds Top speed: 170 km/h Power: 60 kW Torque: 112 N.m CAR Fuel index: 5.28 L/100 km CO2 : 102 g/km Capable, charming and great value; it looks as though Suzuki has another winner on its hands Gareth Dean Phenomenal value for money - possibly the best new car sitting under the R300 000 mark Kyle Kock One of the most popular vehicles in South Africa in recent years, the Suzuki Swift has strongly appealed to motorists thanks to its blend of value for money, fuel efficiency and a vast network of dealerships and service centres; attributes that have seen the three generations of the Swift account for 85 660 of the 255 000 vehicles sold by the company’s South African arm since 2008. With a…

Vehicle safety has become an increasingly important consideration for motorists. Is sufficient vehicle safety information easily available for buyers to make informed purchasing decisions? With another festive season of carnage on South African roads behind us, many car buyers are factoring in safety considerations when making purchase decisions. The knowledge that all vehicles sold in SA need to conform to regulations controlled by the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) provides buyers with a level of assurance that minimum safety standards have been met. However, there is no way of comparing how well vehicles perform in these tests. While the safety features can be compared by manually checking specifications, this does not provide any details regarding how different vehicles perform in crash situations. NEW CAR ASSESSMENT PROGRAMMES The local situation…