BMW iX3 crowned World Car of the Year 2026 as EVs lead the way
The BMW iX3 has been named World Car of the Year 2026, with the announcement made at the New York International Auto Show on 1 April.
- Industry News
- 2 April 2026
Another plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) is on its way to South Africa; this time in the form of JAC Motors’ T9 2.0L TGDI PHEV double-cab bakkie.
JAC Motors currently has over 50 battery-electric trucks operating in major fleets like Takealot, Eskom, DSV, Interwaste, DP World, Adcock Ingram and Blue-Ribbon Bakery, and the addition of the T9 2.0L TGDI PHEV will add to its green credentials.
What is it?
The new T9 PHEV is the brand’s first green-energy lifestyle bakkie, with the battery-electric T9 also nearing readiness for local market introduction.
What is different?
The new T9 2.0L TGDI PHEV is powered by a 2.0L turbo-petrol engine producing 160kW and 370Nm torque. Its performance is further enhanced by two Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors (PMSMs) – one at the front and one at the rear.
Power:
The front electric motor delivers 60kW (peak 130kW) and 150Nm (peak 300Nm), while the rear motor produces 70kW (peak 150kW) and 150Nm (peak 340Nm).
The combined power of the 2.0L turbo-petrol engine and the two electric motors is 290kW and 670Nm of peak torque.
The T9 2.0L TGDI PHEV features a 31.2kWh lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery with 87Ah capacity. Charging is convenient as it supports both CCS2 AC- and DC-charging standards. A full charge takes one hour and 25 minutes at a DC fast charger, while charging at home with an AC charger will take four and a half hours.
Safety features:
The T9 2.0L TGDI PHEV enhances its safety features with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), adding key technologies such as Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR), and Driver Monitor System (DMS), among others.
Suspension:
The multi-link rigid axle rear suspension and Electronic Differential Locks on both axles enhance the off-road capability of the T9 2.0L TGDI PHEV. It has a braked towing mass of 3 500kg.
When is it arriving?
Further details about the T9 2.0L TGDI PHEV will be shared closer to its launch, scheduled for the second quarter of 2025.
The BMW iX3 has been named World Car of the Year 2026, with the announcement made at the New York International Auto Show on 1 April.
Retail new vehicle sales continue to surge in South Africa despite global and regional conflicts, local floods and droughts.
South Africa’s new vehicle market delivered a standout performance in March 2026, extending its domestic growth trajectory to the strongest level seen in nearly two decades.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?
George Carlin
While rising fuel prices often trigger spikes in interest around electric vehicles, Volvo Car South Africa believes the real reasons South Africans are starting to consider EVs go far beyond the petrol pump.
MG has opened a new engineering centre in Frankfurt as part of its “in Europe, for Europe” approach. The facility will focus on developing vehicles suited to European conditions, including climate, roads and driving habits. It will work alongside existing teams in the United Kingdom (UK) and London design hub.
Europe’s used electric vehicle (EV) market is experiencing a notable surge as the Iran conflict drives up global oil prices and pushes petrol costs sharply higher across the continent.