Gear up, Mzansi! The Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit in Midrand is shifting into high gear from August 29th to 31st for the continent's premier automotive showcase, the Festival of Motoring. Expect a petrol-head paradise where major brands are rolling out their latest metal for South Africans to see, touch, and even drive.
Suzuki: The Lifestyle Hub
Suzuki Auto South Africa is setting up camp in a big way, promising options from nippy city runabouts to sturdy off-road companions. You won't struggle to find them, with displays peppered across the venue. Their main action will be buzzing in the Main Pits. Here, the spotlight falls on favourites like the Fronx, Jimny, Grand Vitara, and Baleno. Need a caffeine kick while checking out the sharply styled fourth-generation Swift? Grab a coffee brewed up inside a cleverly converted Suzuki Eeco van parked right there.
This latest Swift, hitting our shores late last year, has quickly found favour, blending agile handling, competitive safety tech, and a thrifty 1.2-litre engine that doesn’t skimp on get-up-and-go. Feeling adventurous? Sign up right at the Main Pits for passenger hot laps with seasoned drivers behind the wheel of the punchy Swift Sport or the new Swift GLX – both having shown their mettle at this year’s Simola Hill Climb. For the first time, the Fronx and Baleno will also get their turn to stretch their legs on Kyalami's 4,529 km tarmac.
Just a short walk towards the Upper Pits, Suzuki will showcase how to personalise your ride. Look out for a Swift and a Fronx dressed up with a range of accessories, protective gear, and performance enhancements.
Nearby, Suzuki Motorcycles revs up the excitement, displaying everything from the zippy 125 cc Avenis scooter, perfect for city commuting, to the awe-inspiring power of the legendary 1 300 cc Hayabusa. Making its Festival debut is the new GSX-8R Cup race bike, fresh from its South African reveal at Simola. This single-make series features bikes closely mirroring their road-going versions, keeping costs in check – think around R190 000 for a new bike on the grid, with competitors limited to one set of tyres per race weekend. Racing kicks off in Gauteng, with eyes on expansion.
Adding to the buzz, Suzuki Marine joins the party next to the bikes, featuring their sought-after DF140 4-stroke outboard paired with a Suzumar inflatable boat package.
Want hands-on time? Head to the handling track where Suzuki invites you to take the wheel of a Baleno, Celerio, Fronx, Grand Vitara, Jimny 5-door, or the latest Swift. For those craving dirt under their wheels, the dedicated 4x4 track offers the chance to ride shotgun in a Jimny 5-door, tackling a challenging off-road course.
"The Festival of Motoring is always a big one for us," shares Brendon Carpenter, Brand Marketing Manager for Suzuki Auto SA. "It’s a fantastic, interactive way for people to connect with the Suzuki Lifestyle. We’ve been here since 2016, and this year we’re bringing a diverse lineup – from the Swift and the adventure-ready Jimny to exciting motorcycles and marine engines. We’re ready to share the Suzuki vibe and welcome everyone at Kyalami."
New Kid on the Block: iCAUR Arrives
All eyes will also be on newcomer iCAUR, making its first appearance on South African soil at Kyalami. This fresh-faced marque, unveiled globally at Auto Shanghai 2023, operates under the Chery umbrella alongside Omoda and Jaecoo. iCAUR aims to capture drivers who feel young at heart, valuing style, ambition, and a strong road presence. With Chery recently cracking the Fortune Global 500 list after strong global sales across its brands, iCAUR aims to build on that momentum ahead of its planned local market launch in early 2026.
Taking centre stage at their booth is the city-smart V23 display model. This vehicle embodies the energy and confidence iCAUR wants to bring to South Africa's growing electric SUV scene. Expect bold, adventurous lines designed to turn heads and hint at what the full lineup will offer when it lands in dealerships.
"We've poured countless hours into getting ready for this moment," says Shannon Gahagan, National Brand and Marketing Manager for iCAUR South Africa. "We’re thrilled to introduce iCAUR in such a dynamic space. The Festival of Motoring is the ideal place to share our vision with people passionate about cars, design, and new ideas." Gahagan emphasises that the display is more than just showing a car: "It’s about connecting, sharing the iCAUR energy, and letting visitors feel the sense of possibility that sparked this brand."
BAIC Steps into the Spotlight
BAIC South Africa is also gearing up for a significant showing. The festival provides the perfect stage for the public debut of the all-new BAIC B30, scheduled for a local launch later this year. Sharing the spotlight will be two established models: the tech-savvy X55 Plus SUV, making waves in the compact segment, and the rugged B40 Plus Honor Edition, built for South African terrain.
Festival-goers won’t just see BAIC in the pits; they can experience the brand dynamically. Look out for BAIC vehicles tackling the 4x4 track challenges and available for test drives in the self-driving area, offering hands-on engagement with their expanding range.
"Festival of Motoring 2025 is buzzing with energy and hands-on experiences," notes Ameena Hassan, BAIC SA's Brand & PR Manager. "For BAIC, it’s the right time to reveal the B30 for the first time and show what our brand stands for today." With the B30 premiere and strong showings from the X55 Plus and B40 Plus Honor Edition, BAIC is firmly planting itself in the heart of South Africa's motoring dialogue.
Get Ready to Explore
As the largest industry-backed motoring event on the continent, the Festival of Motoring at Kyalami promises an unmissable weekend. Whether you're drawn to Suzuki's established lifestyle appeal, curious about the fresh energy of iCAUR, keen to see BAIC's latest offering, or just love all things automotive, there’s something firing on all cylinders. See you at the track!
Colin Windell for Colin-on-Cars in association with
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