Category: Industry News

Lexus LS460: The Ultimate Luxury Barge on a Budget?

Michael Chiffey Jnr
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A very brief overview and ownership of a 2007 Lexus LS460 When the LS460 launched in 2007, it was praised for its modern design and incredible comfort. Being Lexus’s flagship model, the LS had some impressive engine tech. The engine itself is a technical marvel, and I could write an article just on the engine, but that would be incredibly boring. The very sophisticated powerplant was paired to a Lexus first — an 8-speed automatic, which at the time had never before been seen in a passenger car. The LS…

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Got R300k? These are the used cars I’d buy instead of going new

Car and Bike SA
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Got R300k? These are the used cars I’d buy instead of going new If you’ve got around R300,000 to spend on a car, buying new isn’t necessarily the smartest thing you can do with your money. We’ve already looked at the best new cars available for under R300,000, but the used market tells a rather different story. Instead of a small hatchback with an entry-level specification, R300,000 gets you into proper compact SUVs, larger family cars, automatic transmissions, better equipment and, in some cases, cars that originally cost considerably more…

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Toyota Starlet jumps from zero to four stars after six-airbag safety upgrade

Car and Bike SA
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Toyota Starlet Safety Rating Jumps From Zero to Four Stars The Toyota Starlet has gone from a concerning zero-star safety rating to four stars for adult occupant protection in the latest Global NCAP #SaferCarsForAfrica crash tests, following a significant safety upgrade that makes six airbags standard. The result is a major turnaround for one of South Africa’s most popular entry-level cars. When Global NCAP tested the two-airbag version of the Starlet in May, it awarded the hatchback zero stars for adult occupant protection and three stars for child occupant protection.…

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Jetour Confirms 475 kg Payload Capacity for T1 and T2

Car and Bike SA
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Jetour South Africa has confirmed that the approved payload capacity for applicable T1 and T2 models is 475 kg, including the driver. The revised rating also applies to qualifying existing vehicles already on South African roads.

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Polo GTI Edition 20 debuts in South Africa with 147kW

Car and Bike SA
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The Polo GTI Edition 20 has been introduced in South Africa as a limited-run derivative, with just 400 units allocated locally. The special edition marks 20 years since the first Polo GTI arrived in the market, while also aligning with broader milestones for Volkswagen, including the Polo’s global 50-year anniversary. At R605,700, the Polo GTI Edition 20 positions itself against compact performance hatchbacks such as the BMW M135i xDrive and Mercedes-AMG A35, although at a notably lower price point. While not directly comparable in outright performance, the Polo GTI continues…

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Yangwang U9 Xtreme dominates World Top-Speed Record for Production Cars

Car and Bike SA
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On 14 September 2025, automotive history was rewritten when the Yangwang U9 Xtreme (also called U9X) set a new global top-speed record for production cars, reaching a blistering 496.22 km/h (308.4 mph) at the ATP Papenburg high-speed oval test track in Germany. This feat not only crowns the U9 Xtreme the fastest production car ever, but also marks a major milestone for electric vehicles. What Makes the U9 Xtreme Special Here are the key technical upgrades and features that enabled this hypercar to break prior records: Feature Detail Powertrain Four…

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Review 80 Series Land Cruiser, does it really live up to the hype?

Michael Chiffey Jnr
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We all know that fashion trends always come around full circle, one day skinny jeans are cool, the next day everybody is wearing baggy jeans two sizes too big. Same with sunglasses, nobody could pull off Aviators 10 years ago. Now they’re back in fashion and we can all look like Maverick again. Watches follow the same trend too, Casio sells more 90’s designed watches today than they ever did in the 1990’s. So, are 90’s trends making a come back? Does that mean that 90’s cars are cool again?…

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FORD MOTOR COMPANY OF SOUTHERN AFRICA – SAFETY RECALL NOTICE

Car and Bike SA
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Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA) has initiated a safety recall affecting certain 2025 and 2026 Ford Ranger vehicles. Reason for RecallFMCSA has identified a potential issue in which the brake boost feature may be lost. In affected vehicles, customers could experience: A change in brake pedal feel or travel Increased effort required to brake Extended stopping distances, which may raise the risk of an accident If this occurs, the vehicle will alert the driver by activating the ABS, ESC, and brake warning lights, displaying messages on the instrument…

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Ford Drops Bold New Accessory Packs for Everest Sport & Ranger XLT

Car and Bike SA
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Because sometimes stock just isn’t enough. South African car culture is all about making it yours — and Ford knows it. That’s why the brand is rolling out head-turning dealer-fitted accessory packs for two fan favourites: the Everest Sport and Ranger XLT. Think OEM quality meets custom street style. These kits are built from Genuine Ford Accessories and official Ford Licensed Accessories, tested to the same brutal standards as Ford’s factory gear. Buy them with your new ride and they’re covered by the full 4-year / 120,000 km warranty. And…

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South Africa’s Used Car Scene is Heating Up – Practical Rides Take the Spotlight

Car and Bike SA
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South Africa’s used car market just had its best month of 2025 – and it’s not all bakkies and Beemers anymore. July saw buyers leaning harder into practical, affordable, and fuel-efficient models, with a few surprising shake-ups in the top 10. Record-Breaking Month AutoTrader’s July 2025 stats paint a bullish picture: 33,919 cars sold – up +7% year-on-year and +9.4% month-on-month. Total value? A whopping R14.1 billion in used car sales. Average price: R415,983. Average mileage: 73,579 km (down from 75,227 km last year – newer cars are hitting the…

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Refreshed and Ready: The New Defender Line-up Levels Up in Style, Tech and Toughness

Car and Bike SA
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The legendary Land Rover Defender just got a serious glow-up across the entire range – and it’s now bolder, smarter, and more capable than ever. Whether you’re eyeing the compact 90, the versatile 110, the spacious 130, or the beastly new Defender OCTA, there’s something here to get every adventurer’s pulse racing. South Africans have always had a soft spot for rugged, go-anywhere vehicles – and the updated Defender range continues to deliver that off-road heritage with a healthy dose of premium refinement. Here’s what you can expect from the…

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South Africa’s Automotive Industry: A Look Back at 2024 and What Lies Ahead in 2025

Car and Bike SA
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2024 in Review: A Year of Challenges and Shifting Trends The new vehicle market in South Africa has remained intricately tied to the country’s broader economic conditions. Despite some promising signs in late 2024, the industry faced another tough year. While the last quarter showed signs of recovery, the year’s overall performance lagged behind 2023, with total new vehicle sales declining by 3% to 515,712 units. This is still below the pre-pandemic benchmark of 536,612 units achieved in 2019, highlighting the ongoing struggles of the sector. December 2024 Sales Performance…

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The Chinese Invasion on South Africas car market!

Ray Stewart
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Maybe about +/- ten years ago, I read a quote in a newspaper article that said in the next 30 years China would produce 90% of the cars built in the world. Now that is not just for Chinese brands as some of the European car manufactures such as Volkswagen and Volvo have factories in China which must be included in the total. Now that is an incredible prediction, so let us just have a look at where we are today and let us take South Africa as an example.…

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Tanya and her blue Fiat 500 are a formidable and passionate representation of FIAT’s iconic success

Car and Bike SA
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As FIAT celebrates its 125th anniversary globally, one passionate South African fan is celebrating her own life – changed courtesy of a Fiat 500. Tanya O’Connor, a core member of the Fiat Society of Cape Town, loves cars. She worked in the automotive sector for 25 years and raced Opel vehicles that she had modified at some of South Africa’s most legendary racetracks, including Tarlton, Zwartkops, and Kyalami – but nothing can beat her Fiat 500. It was love at first sight, not once but twice, two years ago. She…

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Suzuki Jimny 5-Door (2023) Review

Car and Bike SA
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The Jimny is Suzuki’s iconic model, as is the 500 for fiat. What’s not to like? It’s a refreshingly simple easy to live with city off-roader with formidable capability and adorable Japanese K-car styling; it tugs on the heartstrings – that’s why Suzuki has sold thousands of units across 4 generations. However, the Jimny’s biggest critics will be quick to say that its failed to be practical; even in its latest (4th) iteration, the Jimny’s 85-litre load bay and 3-door configuration are big drawbacks considering the versatility offered by equivalently…

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The Future of Car Industry in South Africa: Will Electric Cars Triumph Over Combustion Engines?

Car and Bike SA
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The current car industry in South Africa is dominated by petrol and diesel engines. But a new future is on the horizon as electric vehicles (EVs) are starting to gain traction in the country. According to an analysis by a researcher at the University of Cape Town (UCT), EVs and plug-in hybrids could potentially make up 20% of new cars sold in South Africa by 2030. However, there are still some major roadblocks to overcome for this transition to occur. For starters, the vastness of South Africa’s cities and the…

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Range Rover Personalised Luxury.

Ray Stewart
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The Range Rover is arguably the world’s most desirable luxury SUV, having led the field in status for more than 50 years. Now the company is setting a new benchmark in personalisation by offering its clients the facility to choose from a wide range of options to create a unique and individual vehicle built to the owners wishes, blending enhanced personilastion with peerless refinement. Bespoke commissioning service is the name given to this capability and allows the client access to a vast range of materials and exterior and interior finishes.…

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Maserati, another Auto manufacturer goes electric!

Ray Stewart
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At the 2023 Shanghai Auto Show Maserati introduced its first full-electric SUV the Grecale Folgore its new GranTurismo to the Asian market. A historic moment for this iconic brand being the first Italian luxury car maker to produce 100% electric vehicles. Folgore is the name of the trident’s electric range and represents luxury, functional beauty and a vision which unites the past with the future. Maserati has committed to produce electric versions of all its models by 2025 and full-electric vehicles alone by 2030. 

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VW Golf 8R ready to go end April 2023

Ray Stewart
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At last, following many delays in the official launch, the new VW Golf 8R is ready for sale in South Africa at the end of April 2023. Production constraints and parts shortages have severely derailed the heavily anticipated launch plans, but buyers can now purchase from your local dealer from 25th April 2023. The most powerful production series Golf R hatch (and maybe even the last) develops 235kW of power and 400Nm of torque.  First introduced to SA in 2007, the Golf R has sold 6 000 units and is considered…

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Suzuki Eeco bound for South Africa

Ray Stewart
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The Suzuki Auto company has made massive gains into the South African passenger market since opening a head office in Johannesburg in 2007. Every year the business consistently increases its vehicle sales and in February 2023 the Suzuki brand held 14% of the passenger vehicle sales in the country. As the  company continues to expand through dealer network and introducing new models to its line-up, it has now spotted an opportunity to fill a gap in the commercial vehicle sector. The more on-line shopping grows in South Africa the more…

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