Special guest speaker, Rory Reid from the UK, and the Dakar Press Conference featuring the rally stars of the world’s toughest race, added a touch of entertainment to the proceedings.

Leon teamed up with Reid to do a Top Gear-inspired vehicle reveal. Six models were unveiled:

• Corolla Cross Upgrade featuring its new face, extra kit and a raft of safety equipment.
• Fortuner GR-S (dramatic looks, power up to 165kW/550Nm).
• GR Yaris Upgrade (aesthetic refinements inside and out, power hike to 210kW/400Nm and an all-new 8-speed auto option).
• Hilux Legend 55 (wide body/wide tread, distinctive Legend 55 exterior and interior fettling, as well as the promise of some performance enhancements).
• Lexus LX upgrade and the announcement of an all-new 700th hybrid variant.
• And the biggest news, which was the reveal of the Lexus GX, a rugged yet sophisticated true on/off-roader in the mould of the LX yet playing in a size segment one down from the flagship. This model also sees the debut of a true off-roading Overtrail variant as an option.

The final SOMI segment was dedicated to the 2025 Dakar Press Conference, chaired by celebrity petrol head Rory Reid. While this year’s second-placed podium finisher – Henk Lategan and navigator Brett Cummings – commanded most of the attention, it was a fantastic result all around and Glenn Crompton, Vice President of Marketing and the Head of Gazoo Racing in SA along with Team Principal, Shameer Variawa, expressed great optimism for their chances in 2026.

It was, however, a bitter-sweet moment for Giniel de Villers, one of the undisputed legends of Dakar, when he made the announcement that this year’s Dakar was his last. De Villiers did indicate that while he’s not sure what lies in his future, consensus is that it will still be in the motorsport arena. The conference also afforded the ideal platform to reveal the next GR Cup Car, which will be the freshly minted GR Yaris. Watch this space for more details on which names will adorn the race cars for 2025.