Motoring

The Sandton Times Top 5 Motoring Stories Of 2024

From thrilling test drives to awe-inspiring discoveries, 2024 has been a landmark year for motoring enthusiasts in Sandton and beyond.

 

  • 2024 brought Sandton thrilling motoring milestones, from rediscovered classics to cutting-edge EVs.
  • Iconic car launches and high-octane events made this year unforgettable for automotive enthusiasts.
  • The Sandton Times drove the conversation with stories from behind the steering wheel.
  • Visit www.sandtontimes.co.za for more stories.

 

The Sandton Times has been at the forefront, bringing you the most exciting automotive stories, each packed with innovation, nostalgia, and adrenaline.

 

This year’s highlights include a reinvention of an iconic compact car, a jaw-dropping barn find that made global headlines, and electrifying events that brought Formula 1 energy to our streets. Add to that the arrival of ground-breaking electric vehicles and bold new luxury SUVs, and it’s clear 2024 shifted gears in style.

 

Buckle up as we count down the Top 5 Motoring Stories that had Sandton talking, dreaming, and hitting the road this year!

 

The New Suzuki Swift – A Spirited Legend Reinvented

Motoring
With over 9-million units sold globally since its debut in 2004, the Swift has become a staple of compact car culture with a solid cult following, to greater or lesser extend like the Suzuki Jimny. Image: Suzui South Africa

The sprightly Suzuki Swift has landed in South Africa, unveiling its fourth-generation model to much fanfare in the Cape Winelands.

 

The Sandton Times had the pleasure of joining motoring media and content creators at the launch event, where Suzuki proved once again why it’s a front-runner in bringing fresh energy to its communication. Set against the picturesque backdrop of Stellenbosch, the day was a whirlwind of activities: Gymkhana challenges, spirited test drives, a graffiti-inspired live art installation featuring the Swift itself, and a flash mob that turned the atmosphere electric.

 

Read the full story: The New Suzuki Swift – A Spirited Legend Reinvented

 

Historic Automotive Discovery: The Lost Barn Find Collection

Motoring
The journey to unearth this automotive treasure began with a routine sale of land in a remote Eastern Cape settlement, where the Coetzer family stumbled upon an unexpected revelation. Image: Creative Rides

In a remote corner of South Africa, nestled between insignificance and obscurity, a nondescript piece of land has become the unlikely stage for a remarkable discovery: the Lost Barn Find Collection.

 

Kevin Derrick, CEO of Creative Rides Classic & Collectibles Auctions, has revealed the awe-inspiring Lost Barn Find Collection, boasting approximately 200 cars that span an array of iconic brands such as Mercedes Benz, Chevrolet, Ford, Cadillac, Porsche, and BMW.

 

Read the full story: Historic Automotive Discovery: The Lost Barn Find Collection

 

Red Bull Showrun: A High-Octane October Spectacle In Sandton

Motoring
With David Coulthard behind the wheel and the powerful RB7 on display, fans were in for a treat. Image: The Sandton Times

Prepare for a day of exhilarating speed and festive fun as the Oracle Red Bull Racing Team brings the Red Bull Showrun to Sandton on 6 October 2024.

 

However, this isn’t Sandton’s first brush with the world of Formula 1. Nearly two decades ago, the Renault F1 Team Johannesburg Roadshow brought the roar of F1 engines to the streets of Sandton. More recently, the Heineken F1 Joburg Festival was set to bring similar thrills in 2020, but the global pandemic put those plans on hold. Now, four years later, Red Bull Showrun Joburg is here to reignite that passion and excitement.

 

Read the full story: Red Bull Showrun: A High-Octane October Spectacle In Sandton

 

We Drove It: The Volvo EX30 Electric Experience

Motoring
The Sandton Times took the Volvo EX30 for a week long test-drive a few months after its chic urban reveal at Johannesburg’s trendy Victoria Yards. Image: Volvo

The new Volvo EX30 officially hit South African shores, and undeniably is turning heads for its good looks.

 

The Sandton Times took the Volvo EX30 for a week long test-drive a few months after its chic urban reveal at Johannesburg’s trendy Victoria Yards. Now, it’s clear that the EX30 isn’t just another electric car tossed onto the market to tick a sustainability box.

 

Read the full story: We Drove It: The Volvo EX30 Electric Experience

 

We Drove It: The BMW XM – The Beast From Bavaria

Motoring
Thanks to BMW’s M xDrive all-wheel-drive system, the XM sticks to the road like a racing car, even when you’re putting down all that power. Image: BMW South Africa

There are few cars on the road today that announce themselves with the same unbridled confidence as the BMW XM.

 

The Sandton Times took the BMW XM for a week long test-drive. And there could be no better stretch to put this release to the test than a weekend getaway to The Palace of the Lost City at Sun City.

 

At first glance, the BMW XM grabs you by the collar and demands attention. The front is a dramatic piece of work: a set of aggressively split headlights sits above the infamous kidney grilles, which are surrounded by an eye-catching gold trim – well, depending on what colour combination and design you go for. BMW’s gone all-in on the bold front end, and it works.

 

Read the full story: We Drove It: The BMW XM – The Beast From Bavaria

 

From rediscovered classics to futuristic electric marvels, each story has left its mark, igniting passions and sparking conversations across Sandton.

 

The Sandton Times remains committed to capturing the essence of these moments, keeping readers in the driver’s seat of motoring’s most exciting developments. Here’s to another year of roaring engines, bold designs, and the adventures that lie ahead. See you on the road in 2025!

 

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Curated content from The Sandton Times newsroom desks.

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