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
The quickest (and most expensive) Toyota Corolla yet, has put tyre to the tar in South Africa with the arrival of the new GR Corolla. The very quick Corolla made its debut recently at the Simola Hillclimb in Knysna.
The new GR Corolla will slot into Toyota’s Gazoo Racing line-up currently consisting of the GR86, GR Supra and GR Yaris and three GR Sport models, the Corolla Cross GR-S, Hilux GR-S and the Land Cruiser 300 GR-S.
What’s is it?
This is no ordinary Corolla. It is a true sports car with the 221 kW-output from the three-cylinder 1600-turbo engine that basically tells the story of this super Toyota Corolla.
Mated exclusively to an intelligent six-speed manual transmission, the GR Corolla employs the GR-Four all-wheel-drive system developed through Toyota’s involvement in the World Rally Championship.
It is therefore not surprising that the GR Corolla delivers exceptional levels of traction and control with engineering designed to optimise drive power to each wheel, while remaining simple and lightweight.
The GR Corolla is offered in two grades in South Africa: GR Corolla 1.6T Core and GR Corolla 1.6T Circuit.
Both GR Corolla models are available in Glacier White, Raven Black and Fierce Red. The Circuit Edition will also be available in the distinctive Midnight Grey.
The GR Corolla has been eagerly awaited by sports car enthusiasts and Toyota customers alike, and there is now an opportunity for them to finally get their hands on it.
It is available in limited numbers, and customers are encouraged to register their interest with their nearest dealer as soon as they can.
Price:
The GR Corolla is offered in two grades in South Africa: GR Corolla 1.6T Core and GR Corolla 1.6T Circuit.
The latter comes with a Forged Carbon Fibre roof, Head-Up display, Suede GR Sports Seats and is competitively priced at R876 100, while the GR Corolla 1.6T Core is aggressively priced at R816 500.
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.
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The refreshed Ford Ranger line-up for 2026 strengthens its position as one of South Africa’s most popular bakkies. Built at Silverton, the range now spans 23 derivatives across Single Cab, Super Cab and Double Cab body styles.