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
MINI’s brand-new Countryman is now available in South Africa with the range consisting of four different models.
Exterior:
The new MINI Countryman is 13 centimetres longer and eight centimetres higher than its predecessor. The upright silhouette with clearly designed surfaces and the redesigned octagonal front grille contributes to the model's appearance. Typical of the brand, short overhangs underline the agile vehicle character with distinctive LED headlights and rear lights.
Interior:
Inside, there is more room for passengers and luggage with the back seat that can be moved up to 13 cm.
Still in typical Mini fashion, at the centre of the minimalistic interior design is the round OLED display with a diameter of 240 mm. The new central instrument with a high-quality glass surface allows all infotainment and assistance systems to be operated through touch or voice command. All driving functions can be controlled via the characteristic MINI toggle bar.
Range:
MINI Countryman C (R724 819.70):
This model covers the entry level in to the Countryman range. Equipped with a 3-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, it delivers 115 kW and 260 Nm of torque. Ground clearance is 202 mm.
MINI Countryman S ALL4 (R795 074.00):
The new and largest MINI model combines the flexible options of a crossover with intelligent all-wheel drive. It has a 2-litre turbo-petrol engine pumping out 150 kW and 320 Nm of torque.
MINI JCW Countryman (R965 767.80):
Although not confirmed, the 2-litre twin power turbo petrol engine, will in all probability come with a mild hybrid system that will see and extra few kilowatts added to the engine’s 150 kW output. This model also looks sportier to go with the JCW’s character.
MINI Countryman SE ALL4 (R1 086 000.00):
Two powerful electric motors with a total output of 230 kW and torque of 494 Nm guide the MINI Countryman SE ALL4 through any terrain. Together, they accelerate the vehicle from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.6 seconds and reach a top speed of 180 km/h. The powerful battery has an energy content of 66.45 kWh. With rapid DC charging at up to 130 kW in just under 30 minutes is enough to charge the battery from 10 percent to 80 percent.
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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