Steve Smith

Steve is a CAR magazine contributor and a former CAR magazine editor, who was at the helm of this motoring title for five years and 61 issues.

Long-term test: VW Amarok DC 3,0 V6 TDI 4Motion Extreme AT

Long-term test (Introduction): VW Amarok DC 3,0 V6 TDI 4Motion Extreme AT Extreme… This latest addition to our fleet certainly lives up to the badge boldly chosen by its maker. A certain Mercedes-Benz may have just challenged some of its tenets but, at its launch here midway through 2017, VW’s ...

DRIVEN: Porsche Panamera 4 GTS PDK

MANAMA, Bahrain – We all know that guy. He’s just a little fitter, trimmer, faster and better looking than the rest of us. You may think him an ex-pro were it not for the fact he’s a self-made businessman who has both managed to make his fortune in commerce and become an impressively ...

DRIVEN: Lamborghini Aventador S Roadster

KYALAMI, Gauteng – We drive Lamborghini's apex predator, the Aventador S Roadster, in its natural environment … at the race track. So this is the latest version of the Aventador, is it? Indeed, it is. Along with a mild facelift last year, the Aventador gained 30 more kilowatts and ...

DRIVEN: Ford Focus hatch 1,5T ST-Line

NICE, France – Does the all-new, fourth-generation Ford Focus have the ammunition to outgun Volkswagen's Golf as the king of the C-segment hatchbacks? We travel to France in a bid to find out...All-new Focus? As in, new platform, styling and powertrains? That's a little unusual. These days, manufacturers ...

By the numbers: we take a closer look at the BMW i brand...

The stats and facts around the rise of the BMW i brand and how it’s reshaping the marque’s business...We recently attended the local launch of the updated BMW i range, which includes the mildest of facelifts to the i3, a tweak of the i8 coupé’s electric motor maximum output (the 1,5 turbopetrol ...

DRIVEN: Toyota Hilux Double Cab 2,8 GD-6 4x4 Dakar

GOEREPAN, Northern Cape – We travel to the edge of the Kalahari to sample the latest special edition of Toyota's Hilux bakkie... Hey, this Hilux looks a little different... Indeed it does. What you’re looking at here is the new Hilux Dakar, a limited edition model that not only has some ...

DRIVEN: Volkswagen Arteon 2,0 TSI R-Line 4Motion DSG

JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng – CAR editor Steve Smith samples the stylish new Volkswagen Arteon, which has been tasked with taking on some well-established premium players...So, what do we have here then? An executive sedan from VW? Bit of a tough sell, isn’t it?That’s true. As successful as these Germans ...

DRIVEN: Volvo XC40 T5 Geartronic Momentum

JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng – We head upcountry for the local launch of the smallest model in Volvo's burgeoning XC-badged crossover range. Meet the new XC40...Right, so the new Volvo XC40 has been launched in South Africa. I must say, I do like the look of this one...Both you and the Europeans. In March, ...

DRIVEN: Roush Ford Ranger 3,2 Double Cab RS3 auto

PRETORIA, Gauteng – We sample US tuner Roush’s take on the popular 3,2-litre turbodiesel Ford Ranger...So, another day, another Ford Ranger aftermarket body kit…Funny. But no. Well, yes, but also no.I’m all ears.Let’s start with Roush. You may have heard of these Americans, but if not, here’s ...

DRIVEN: Jaguar E-Pace P250 AWD First Edition

CAR magazine editor Steve Smith samples the new Jaguar E-Pace P250 AWD First Edition at its local launch around Johannesburg... A Jaguar E-pace driving impression. Hang on, haven’t you guys done one already? We have indeed – I see someone’s a CARmag.co.za fan, then. Yes, we were lucky ...