In the 1960s it was believed that Japanese cars did not offer the same level of quality, performance and reliability as their western counterparts. However, this was far from the truth as Japanese cars were becoming increasingly popular globally and often proving to be more reliable than many offerings from the United States and Europe. Japanese manufacturers had models that competed in almost every segment ranging from economical hatchbacks to rugged off-roaders and sedans, but what they were missing was a luxurious high-performance sports car… until the Toyota 2000GT turned up at the 1965 To ..read more

By Stuart Grant with photography by Mike Schmucker BMW turns 105 years old in February, but as with most motor manufacturers the journey wasn’t without the odd speed bump. For the Bavarian outfit the 1950s was a desperate time, but thankfully the launch of its Neue Klass (New Class) sedans in the 1960s saw the firm’s fortunes swinging around. While some credit for this recovery can be attributed to the four-door saloons, the real stand out in cementing the outfit as a global giant were the two-door sporting saloons. BMW stayed descriptive with its model-naming of the new cars, where numbers ma ..read more

Gordon Murray Automotive has unveiled its T.50s Niki Lauda track-focused supercar for the first time. Developed in parallel with the T.50, the most driver-centric supercar ever built, the T.50s Niki Lauda has been conceived, designed and engineered to offer the ultimate on-track driving experience. Like the T.50, the T.50s Niki Lauda has been designed and engineered without compromise, but with an even more extreme specification. It weighs just 852kg and will be powered by a substantially redesigned version of the T.50’s Cosworth-engineered 3.9-litre V12, producing 725bhp, revving to 12 100rpm ..read more

The exclusivity, unique design and 100% Italian DNA of earlier Maserati models is continued in the cars that mark the brand’s new era. It is in this spirit that Maserati celebrates the 70th anniversary of the A6G 2000. The first A6G 2000, a car representative of the A6 series built by Maserati from 1947 to 1956 and named in homage to Alfieri Maserati (hence the letter ‘A’) with a 6 indicating the engine type (straight 6), was delivered 70 years ago, in February 1951. The new model was the replacement for the A6 1500 series sports car, and its name referenced the cast iron (or ‘ghisa’) of its c ..read more

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the world-famous Renault 4L model – known simply as the Renault 4 but officially the ‘quatre-L’ (4L) in France – and its enormous sales success. With more than eight million units sold in over 100 countries over a period of three decades, the 4L is not just a car, but a cultural icon with a story to match. To mark the 4L’s 60th anniversary, numerous events and celebrations will take place on the 4th and 14th of every month across all of Renault’s social media channels in 2021. At the heart of the celebrations will be exclusive content, made by fans and f ..read more

Burlen, the world’s sole manufacturer of genuine Skinners Union (SU), Amal, and Zenith Carburettor brands, celebrates 110 years since the first SU carburettor was fitted as original equipment to a production vehicle. The Rover Company Limited became the first motor manufacturer to fit an SU carburettor as original equipment to their Rover 12hp in 1911. Rover manufactured the carburettor in-house, under licence, to SU specifications and patents, fitting it to approximately 3 600 production cars. The carburettor design aroused enough interest to be featured in the 11October 1911 issue of The Aut ..read more

Land Rover Classic is continuing the formidable expedition legacy of the original Defender with a limited production run of adventure-ready Defender Works V8 Trophy vehicles for an exclusive competition at Eastnor Castle in 2021. Based on the re-engineered 2012-2016 Defender Works V8 specification developed by Land Rover Classic, including 298kW/515Nm 5.0-litre V8 petrol powertrain, eight-speed ZF automatic transmission and comprehensive uprated suspension, steering and braking packages, the Trophy vehicles feature a wide range of additional upgrades specifically tailored for off-road use. Twe ..read more

By Stuart Grant with photography by Douglas Abbot Clown shoe, clog and hearse… not exactly the complimentary nicknames you’d expect to be associated with a leading cult car, but these are what BMW’s Z3 M Coupé is often referred to by those in the know. We get to grips with one of the most controversial-looking cars to come out of Munich and discovers that South Africa added even more specialness with batch of AC Schnitzer units. Manufactured from 1998 through to 2002, the BMW Z3 M Coupé is a leading light in the world of car fan polarisation. Thanks to the shooting-brake look that earned the n ..read more

By Sivan Goren Gone are the days of solid, sturdy cars that, more than anything else, were made to get you from A to B rather than to conform to some almost unattainable combination of looks, safety and comfort. Modern cars are glossy, generic and disposable – like your typical women’s magazine – and one can pretty much be substituted for another of a similar class. In fact, even a so-called entry-level vehicle comes standard with pretty much every button, lever and Euro NCAP-endorsed, SABS-approved gadget a driver could possibly want or need. No coincidence then that car advertising has moved ..read more

Maserati South Africa will soon launch the Maserati Ghibli Hybrid in South Africa as the first model to kick-start the brand’s new era. The Ghibli Hybrid is the first new model from Maserati to be launched in South Africa. It combines petrol and electric power, and South Africa was host to the hybrid testing mules during the hot weather testing cycle. Following the introduction of the Hybrid, Maserati will shift its focus to high-performance cars, with the launch of a complete range of Trofeo models. The Ghibli Trofeo and the larger Quattroporte Trofeo are fitted with the same Ferrari-sourced ..read more