Just a few days after its official introduction to the South African market, the TopGear SA team, in a convoy of Nissan Navara Warriors, has embarked on a record-breaking expedition into South Africa’s most extreme hinterland.
The record? The Longest Off-Road Journey Ever. That is, to conquer over 1 000km or more of off-road driving. That means, no roads at all, but just a 1 000km of the brutal, harsh but magnificent landscape of the Northern Cape’s Namakwaland.
The record is an official Guinness World Record, fully approved and adjudicated by the UK-based organisation.
Based on the 600km Namaqualand Eco route, the intrepid team in their Warriors will spend the next week trundling through desolate desert conditions, barren mountains and rocky valleys, while hugging the raging Gariep River, Mzansi’s longest waterway, and back out into the desolate expanse as they make their way to the river’s end, the Atlantic Ocean at Alexander Bay.
“What better way to put a vehicle through its paces than take it to one of the hottest and toughest provinces in our country? This undertaking will push both the vehicles and the crew to the extreme,” adds Lerato Matebese, TopGear SA Publishing Editor.
The Warrior, which is a Nissan-approved conversion of the Nissan Pro4X conceived and perfected by Australian after-market specialists Premcar, has created a version of the Navara that is taller, wider and with greater ground clearance than the factory-built vehicle.
Shod with LT 275/65/R17 MAXXIS RAZR AT tyres instead of the factory-specced 255/65 R17 AT, the Navara Warrior has improved approach and ramp breakover angles and increased front and rear tracks, which are ideal for the conditions they’ll be subjected to through the Namaqualand Eco route.
Other additions include the distinctive Warrior styling externally and internally, and the installation of a sports bar at the back. Off-road capabilities are further boosted by off-road-focused shock absorbers and a 40mm higher ground clearance.
The record will culminate with an event on the 4th of April 2025 in Tshwane, where the Nissan Navara Warrior record-breaking vehicles, together with the TopGear SA crew, will be joined by media and other stakeholders to mark and celebrate this milestone.
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Volvo has confirmed that its vehicles will now integrate Google’s Gemini artificial intelligence system. This development builds on the company’s existing collaboration with Google, which already provides Android Automotive OS and Google services in Volvo models.
New vehicle sales in 2026 continued their positive trend in April, with the 47 979 units sold marking the best April figure since 2013. This represents a remarkable performance by local automotive retailers despite a host of economic headwinds and a challenging trading environment.
April 2026 marked a turning point in South Africa’s economic landscape, as global energy markets were jolted by escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, according to naamsa | The Automotive Business Council.
