The car manufacturers that dominated this week’s local news headlines were Volkswagen and Toyota, with the German marque revealing the launch dates for its upcoming models and the local arm of the Japanese automaker unveiling a quartet of exterior styling packages for the locally-built Corolla Cross.

Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) also made the news with the firm announcing it has once again topped the local passenger and LCV sales charts. BMW meanwhile, made the news with its Concept XM, a high-performance, electrified SUV showcasing what’s to come from the Munich manufacturer’s performance division. We look back at the need-to-know motoring news of the past week…

1. Toyota unveils personalisation packs for Corolla Cross

Cross news
Corolla Cross fitted with Adventure package.

TSAM has announced it’s now offering customers the choice to customise their Corolla Cross to their tastes, with the local arm of the Japanese automaker revealing a series of personalisation packages for the locally-built crossover. Four exterior packages are on offer: the X-Over (pronounced “crossover”) package, Urban Sport, Hybrid and Adventure accessory pack. See pricing here.

2. Confirmed! These VW models are coming to SA in 2022 

news
The R-badged Tiguan will arrive here in the second quarter of 2022.

Volkswagen South Africa has announced the local launch dates for the array of new and facelifted VW products heading to our shores in 2022. These include the eighth-generation Golf R, the Tiguan R, refreshed Polo (and Polo GTI), and new Caddy.

3. High-performance BMW Concept XM officially debuts

news
The Concept XM’s electrified V8 produces a maximum of 550 kW and 1 000 Nm of torque.

Following a brief teaser campaign, BMW has officially unveiled the Concept XM, a “high-performance” SUV showcasing what’s to come from BMW M. Powered by an electrified V8, the XM will also be the first standalone M car since the M1. 

4. PRICING: Isuzu X-Rider Limited Edition unveiled

Only 210 units will be built.

Billed as “the best iteration of the D-Max bakkie to date”, Isuzu has whipped the covers of the X-Rider Limited Edition. Limited to only 210 units these units gain an array of model-specific exterior fitment to mark its exclusivity. See pricing here.

5. Facelifted VW Polo (and GTI) pricing revealed

Polo
R-Line model seen here.

Scheduled to arrive on South African shores during the first quarter of 2022, Volkswagen South Africa has announced pricing for the refreshed Polo line-up. Initially, the range will comprise only three models, the base-spec Polo, Polo Life and, spearheading the line-up, the Polo GTI.