MOTORING - The African Mirror

Jul

01

2026

BMW unveils five-way power play with all-new X5 – electric, hydrogen and the ‘Heart of Joy’

MOTORING

THE car that has long been BMW's calling card in the luxury SUV wars is about to get louder, cleaner and considerably smarter. The fifth-generation BMW X5 is in the final stretch of its development programme, tearing through calibration drives around the carmaker's production heartland at Plant Spartanburg in the United States - and when it lands, it will do something no BMW production model has ever done before: arrive with a choice of five distinct drive systems under one badge. Petrol. Diesel. Plug-in hybrid. Fully electric. And, from 2028, hydrogen. It is less a model launch than a statement…

Apr

17

2026

By The African Mirror

SA Bakkie Brawl Heats Up: JMC Vigus crashes the party, Hilux, Ranger, Navara tremble!

MOTORING

HOLD onto your load-luggin' hats, South Africa's bakkie battlefield just got a feisty new gladiator. Fresh off the Salvador Caetano Group's blockbuster brand relaunch, JMC South Africa unleashes the All-New Vigus - a "Built for More" beast that's equal parts Transformer tough and penthouse plush. While the old guard like Toyota and Ford polish their crowns, this Chinese challenger rolls in swinging, daring them to keep up in the rugged ring of workhorses. Forget shrinking violets - the Vigus struts at 5335mm long, 1882mm wide, and 1834mm tall, with a front grille screaming "cyberpunk road warrior." It's got best-in-class cargo…

Mar

11

2026

By The African Mirror

Volvo’s 755km electric giant lands in South Africa – and it wants to rewrite the rules

MOTORING

SWEDEN has drawn a long line in the sand. Volvo Car South Africa has officially launched the ES90 - its most technologically formidable electric vehicle to date - into a local market still wrestling with charging infrastructure, range anxiety and the stubborn allure of German diesel estates. If the numbers hold up in the real world, those anxieties may be about to look very last decade. Priced from R1,590,000 and available in South African dealerships from today, the ES90 enters the premium electric sedan fray with a claimed WLTP range of 755 kilometres on a single charge - a figure…

Feb

09

2026

By JOVIAL RANTAO

Volkswagen T-Roc gets major upgrade for 2026 South African launch

MOTORING

VOLKSWAGEN has confirmed its redesigned T-Roc compact SUV will arrive in South Africa during the second half of 2026, bringing SIGNIFICANT improvements in size, technology and interior space. The second-generation model represents a substantial evolution of one of the German manufacturer's best-selling vehicles globally, with over two million first-generation units sold worldwide since 2020. The new T-Roc has grown considerably, measuring 4,373mm in length – 122mm longer than its predecessor. The wheelbase has also been extended by 28mm to 2,631mm, creating noticeably more interior room for passengers and cargo. Boot space has increased by 30 litres to 475 litres, whilst…

Jan

10

2026

By STAFF REPORTER

SA auto industry defies global headwinds with strong March performance

MOTORING

SOUTH Africa's automotive industry delivered a striking performance in March 2025, posting its strongest export growth in nearly a year while domestic sales surged by double digits, signalling the sector's capacity to weather mounting global economic pressures and geopolitical turbulence. The industry sold 49,493 new vehicles domestically in March, a 12.5% increase from the same month last year, while exports jumped 31.1% to 39,477 units—the first export growth in ten months. The figures arrive as the sector confronts fresh uncertainty following recent US presidential announcements threatening South African exports, underscoring both the industry's vulnerability to external shocks and its demonstrated…

Nov

27

2025

By The African Mirror

Luxury Redefined: The GWM Tank 500 Black Edition arrives

MOTORING

THERE are SUVs that transport you, and then there are SUVs that transform you. The GWM Tank 500 has always belonged to the latter category, and now, with its striking new Black Edition styling, this seven-seat luxury powerhouse has raised the bar once again. Already a commanding presence in South Africa's flagship SUV segment, the Tank 500 now emerges with an aesthetic that's as bold as it is refined. Think gloss-black mesh grille. Dark-chrome roof rails. Blacked-out mirror caps. Imposing 18-inch black alloy wheels. Every detail has been meticulously crafted to deliver a stealthier, more sophisticated stance - one that…

Nov

12

2025

By JOVIAL RANTAO

BMW throws petrol purists a lifeline with the X3 20 Pure Design

MOTORING

IN a move that proves internal combustion still has a pulse in 2025, BMW South Africa has rolled out the X3 20 Pure Design, a fresh entry-level gateway drug for those craving that kidney-grille swagger without the diesel clatter or plug-in complications. Landing at a cool R1.1 million (yes, that's entry-level now – welcome to premium motoring in the 2020s), this Rosslyn-born bruiser slots neatly beneath the diesel-slurping 20d, the electrified 30e, and the frankly unhinged M50 xDrive. It's BMW's way of saying: "Hey, we see you, petrol lovers. We haven't forgotten about you." Under that sculpted bonnet lurks a…

Oct

31

2025

By JOVIAL RANTAO

The Gusheshe returns: BMW’s love letter to South Africa’s ultimate driving legend

MOTORING

IN the townships of South Africa, there was no greater symbol of having "made it" than the unmistakable silhouette of a BMW 325iS sliding around a corner, rear wheels spinning, engine howling. We called it the "Gusheshe" – a name that captured the sound of rubber meeting tarmac, the visceral roar of aspiration made of metal. This wasn't just a car. It was a statement. A philosophy. A dream wrapped in German engineering and South African swagger. Now, decades after it first captured the nation's imagination, BMW Group South Africa is bringing that magic back with the BMW 325iS Homage…

Oct

24

2025

By Jovial Rantao

When the Black Knight meets the ultimate driving machine: A Fairway-to-Freeway love story

MOTORING

IN a collision of chrome and championship glory that could only happen in South Africa, BMW has just served up automotive alchemy that makes a hole-in-one look pedestrian. Ladies and gentlemen, meet the Gary Player Signature BMW 7 Series - where Germanic engineering precision tangos with the swagger of our most decorated son of the fairways. This isn't just another executive barge with a fancy badge. This is BMW Individual Manufaktur flexing its considerable muscles, proving that when you give the world's most meticulous carmaker carte blanche to honour a man who turned black into power dressing before Johnny Cash…

Oct

17

2025

By MOTORING REPORTER

Jetour to launch T-Series SUVs as brand hits 800-unit monthly sales milestone

MOTORING

CHINESE automaker Jetour will officially unveil its T1 and T2 SUV models at a launch event on 24 October, capitalizing on momentum that saw the brand crack South Africa's top 12 passenger vehicle sales rankings just one year after local market entry. The company recorded over 800 unit sales in September 2025, securing 12th position nationally and marking consistent month-on-month growth since its South African debut. The upcoming T-Series launch represents Jetour's expansion beyond its current lineup as it targets the country's expanding SUV segment. "With the launch of our T-Series, we're bringing a new level of rugged sophistication and…