Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2018 i Leisure Wheels

What is it about Namibia? It is an arid land with 2.5 million people. Its sea is too cold to swim, the distance between towns is often hundreds of kilometres on mostly gravel roads and its infrastructure may be adequate, yet very much Third World. Visitors to Namibia visit the country over and over again. Namibia is one of the few countries in the world where tourism is responsible for the creation of one fifth of the country’s jobs. There is something special about the wide-open spaces in Namibia. Even though tourism contributes more than 15% of the country’s GDP, you often find yourself as the only person visiting a so-called tourist attraction. This, combined with the scenic beauty of the harsh and simple landscapes, are perhaps the key to…

Even though Lamborghini has built something similar before, we’d never have guessed it would be the first supercar manufacturer to introduce an SUV. Thanks to the LM002, it has some off-road heritage. That monster was produced solely for oil exploration purposes, which made sense. It was equipped with a rear-mounted 5.2-litre V12 from a Countach. The claimed fuel consumption was 42l/100km, so you’d need an oilrig and a refinery on hand to keep it going. The LM002 was so ridiculous, even the US Military said no thanks. And they said yes to the Hummer, remember? At the end of the day, that car was deeply flawed and yet we look at it nostalgically and wonder what it was like to drive. It was a poor 4×4 but it was an…

A new online auction will be launched in September, called auction.co.za. The platform will offer an alternative digital marketplace for South African consumers when buying and selling vehicles. As an ancillary of DealersOnline, auction.co.za has 11 years of experience in the online auction space, accumulating auto data and perfecting algorithms to drive this innovation. Big data, backed by technology, is good news for second-hand car sales, as consumers will ultimately reap the rewards. Currently, DealersOnline sells more than 5 000 vehicles per month from corporate fleets, rental companies, dealers, banks and OEMs, so it’s a natural progression to give consumers their own marketplace. “We are putting the buying and selling power back into the hands of the consumer, who will now be able to buy or sell their vehicle online.…

There has been a lot of pre-launch hype around the new Ford Ranger Raptor. The engine’s too small, some said. Was a 10-speed automatic gearbox really necessary, asked others. Some punters questioned whether Ford Performance’s engineers really did enough for this Ranger to earn that Raptor nameplate, a quite revered plate in the USA where the Ford F150 Raptor is sold to the tune of 30 000 units per year. We’ve finally driven the new Ranger Raptor. Let’s answer some of those questions. The two-litre bi-turbo engine is small in capacity, yes. The good news is it has plenty of punch, the low-end torque is particularly impressive. There is virtually no turbo lag in the game. Combined with 157kW of power, the smooth mill doesn’t provide blistering performance but is…

BEFORE we dig deep into the all-new Volkswagen Touareg, a short history lesson on how this famous marque came to be. The year was 1937 and the German leaders set out to create a car almost everyone could afford. A car for the people, or directly translated, a volkswagen. Obviously, VW doesn’t often touch on this part of its history, for obvious reasons. Luckily, the brand was claimed back by the people, who went out of their way to transform it from the creation of the biggest spanner who ever lived, into the chosen vehicle of those who’d rather make love and not war. Volkswagen is synonymous with families and freedom. Remember the Kombi’s famous marketing campaign, featuring the beloved David Kramer. If you’re too young for that, you might…

THERE we were, standing in the main street in Sutherland. It was cold. The wind was howling in angry bursts, sending small particles of dust slamming into exposed skin. We were hungry, and thirsty for a good cup of coffee. We had already driven 2 000km to get to the coldest place in South Africa. In a small little Chinese lorry. And we still had another 400km to go before we would reach our destination: L’Agulhas, the southern tip of the African continent. Right, so whose damn idea was this? Drive a 1.3-litre Chinese lorry across South Africa, over all kinds of terrain, as far as reasonable steering clear of nice and smooth main tar roads? Surely the person responsible for this madness should be lynched and shot? Oops. It…

EMIL Grimsson has a dream job. Not only is he the founder and director of Arctic Trucks, a company with a worldwide reputation for making amazingly capable 4×4s, he also gets to drive them in some of the most incredible places on Earth. The magnetic North Pole with the Top Gear television show was one of the most high-profile, but with nearly 300 000km in Antarctica under their massive tyres, from a grand total of 60 arrivals to the South Pole, Arctic Trucks are the only company in the world with the experience, technology and expertise to undertake the logistics and vehicle preparation for such unbelievably extreme destinations. Emil has just got back from a similarly extreme expedition; a three-week traverse of the interior glacier of Greenland, a place so…

The Americans are currently engaged in a power battle that started with a car called the Dodge Hellcat. For the record, Dodge is still in the lead with its new mental dragster, the Demon. Basically, Dodge took a standard 6.2-litre V8, as found in the Grand Cherokee SRT, and bolted a 2.1-litre supercharger to it. The result was 707bhp, or 530kW in South African. Oddly enough, that’s not the most staggering figure attached to this car. The torque is equally insane, rated at 875Nm. All of that power is fed to a permanent four-wheel-drive set-up, which catapults the entire car to 100km/h in 3.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 290km/h. The figure we love most is 11.6 seconds, which is how long it takes it to cover…

IT has been a few years since proper road safety research has been conducted in South Africa, so we simply don’t know what the percentage is locally. It must be a huge figure. We started observing this phenomenon actively a few months ago and at this point, we’re surprised when we see a person not using their phone while behind the wheel. Do yourself a favour and do the same. You’ll be shocked by how many people simply ignore the law and interact with their phone while driving. While we don’t have any up-to-date facts or figures for South Africa, we can give you the global standard for accidents and consentration. We know a human can’t concentrate on two things at one time, as our brains aren’t built for that.…

WE START this with a bit of a confession: in a short time we’ve really grown attached to this Everest. It’s just so comfortable around town, the 3.2-litre turbodiesel engine and six-speed automatic gearbox providing a really relaxing drive. When you need to overtake a slower vehicle or move into a gap on the highway, you simply squeeze the accelerator a bit harder and the Everest blasts forward. It sure helps to have a horde of ponies in the shed, waiting in reserve. The 147kW and 470Nm of torque is also handy when we were ticking some boxes on our aftermarket accessories list. Thing is, if you add extra weight and drag, fuel consumption and performance suffers to a certain degree. The five-cylinder engine’s torque peaks at a low 1…

Change gears and shift out of your comfort zone. One of these guided self-drive safaris could be that once-in-a-lifetime adventure you’ve always dreamt about. ZAMBIA WITH ZEST 4 – 20 SEPTEMBER 2018 Have you ever experienced a trip through the remote and unspoilt wilderness of Zambia, the road less travelled? If not, this one is for you. We visit South Luangwa, Luambe, North Luangwa and Kafue National Parks before turning south to Livingstone. Included in the price is all accommodation, camping, park entrance and vehicle entrance fees. ■ PRICE: R21 900 p/p (subject to change) ZAMBIA LIUWA PLAINS AND THE BAT MIGRATION 20 NOVEMBER – 1 DECEMBER 2018 We will visit Liuwa Plains NP in the western side of Zambia to experience the migration of the wildebeest. Weather permitting, the…

BEFORE WWII broke out, there was no light personnel carrier. The army only gave out a set of standards to manufacturers in 1940 and by 1945 the war was over. That means the Willys was designed, built and exported to a war that it helped win, in less than five years. That’s a staggering achievement. War is a great motivator, as is winning a war. Who can forget the massive, indulgent saloons the Americans built after winning said war? On the other side was Japan. In addition to a lack of space, the Japanese didn’t have a lot of material to work with. They’d never dare add three metres worth of fins to the rear of a car. Every bit of body was functional. Flamboyance would bring shame upon your…

The Aircooled VW SA Club’s ascent of Sani Pass in their two-wheel-drive old Volkswagens, as published in the July issue, on a pass where only 4×4s are allowed, refers: Your publication of this unlawfulness must be seen as a total disrespect for the national road traffic act (NRTA). Just because it is a club event does not allow for the disrespect of the law. Other users of the road were placed at risk for this madness. Well done for a VW Beetle doing it. But can the Mini club also try? What about the many capable 4×2 bakkies with rear differential locks? Can we create a club for them and then you can cover the story? What about a 240km/h club event on a twisty road… Will you cover any…

The Bentley Bentayga V8 diesel – the first diesel-powered Bentley ever – is available in South Africa. With Porsche having a hand in its development, the four-litre V8 diesel engine, borrowed from the Audi parts bin, features Triple Charging: two twin-scroll turbochargers, boosted by a 48V electrical compressor system. Essentially, the electrical system ensures that the two turbos are always ‘on boost’, virtually eliminating turbo lag. The result is one impressive diesel engine: it boasts 320kW and 900Nm, the latter peaking at an amazing 1 000r/min. Bentley says the diesel will sprint from 0–100km/h in 4.8 seconds, and reach a top speed of 270km/h. The power is sent to all four wheels via a ZF eight-speed automatic gearbox. The permanent four-wheel-drive system has a Torsen centre differential and the open…

Hyundai recently gave the H1 bus its most substantial upgrade since it was first launched in 2009. The most noticeable changes are at the front, where the H1 now has a rather square but modern appearance. From the side and rear it remains the same. Two engine options are available. The 2.4-litre petrol develops 126kW and 224Nm of torque and is mated to a manual gearbox. It offers buyers a more affordable option in the large passenger bus segment, retailing for R500 000. The model we’re interested in is the 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder diesel. Mated to an automatic gearbox, this unit develops 125kW and 441Nm of torque. Since the diesel is the big seller in the range, Hyundai equipped it with everything the modern family needs. In addition to copious…

In terms of design, the all-new Q3 is an aggressive step forward for Audi. The previous-generation car wasn’t ugly by any means but it never stood out in a parking lot. With sharper lines, LEDs and 11 colours to choose from, the new Q3 makes a bold statement. The interior seems to be a scaled-down version of what you’ll find in Audi’s larger and more expensive models. It’s bound to be made of high quality materials, as Audi is well known for producing some of the best interiors. Analogue instruments have been consigned to history in the new Q. Its operating and display concept has been overhauled from the ground up. In Sport and S line versions, the fully digital MMI touch display with 10.1-inch screen in the centre of…

Much has been written about LED lights these last few months but the Touareg is a prime example of how this technology can be used to improve road safety. The headlights look fairly aggressive but they do serve a function. It’s called IQ Light Matrix LED headlight. VW developed it in conjunction with Hella. Each headlamp consists of 128 LEDs, which can be activated individually. You’ve probably seen and experienced cornering lights before. The Touareg; however, takes lighting technology to a whole new level. It has an increased lighting range of more than 100 metres over the old model with xenon headlights. In basic terminology, the Touareg’s computer uses information from various sources, including the front camera, data from the GPS, steering wheel and speed to activate the LEDs for…

THIS year is turning out to be one of the most exciting we’ve ever experienced. No fewer than three iconic vehicles (Wrangler, G-Class and Jimny) will be replaced and the first off the starting block is the oldest, perhaps most iconic off them all, the Jeep Wrangler. The Wrangler name has been around only since the late ’80s, but the car it’s attached to has been around for quite some time. Its most profound contribution to our planet was ramming the Nazis into submission back in the day. Much has been written about the never-say-die original and its overall contribution to the war. The famous General Eisenhower wrote that his senior officers had nothing but respect for it, and that it was one of the six most important vehicles used…

WE remember the exact moment we fell in love with the F-Pace. It was on a smooth gravel road on the outskirts of Port Elizabeth, behind the wheel of the 3.0-litre turbocharged diesel. While exiting the corner, we gave it some stick which resulted in pleasurable oversteer. A glance down revealed that we were still in ‘normal’ driving mode, so surely the stability control should have reacted to our silly driving antics? Thinking we had found a flaw, we made a mental note to ask one of the chassis engineers who just happened to be on hand for the local launch. “No,” he said. “It’s not a flaw. The normal driving mode allows for a bit of sideways action before it intervenes.” How novel and fantastic is that? A car…

WITH styling that’s instantly recognisable and an off-road heritage that stretches all the way back to World War II, the Wrangler and CJ are motoring icons. Finding the right car for you starts with an important question that will determine what model you buy and how it will be used going forward: are you buying a piece of history you want to preserve, or will this be a weekend toy that’s going to express your personality to the world? If you answered yes to either part of the question, we’ve got you covered. We looked at hundreds of Jeeps on offer and found a few that will cater to the needs of not only distinguished collectors but also Oom Frikkie who simply wants to go play in the mud. FRANKENSTEIN’S…

THERE are various reasons why Hansie Coetzee’s bespoke 6×6 Cruiser may soon be deployed to conflict zones across the globe. First, there is the payload. Coetzee owns a machining shop, so he has the ability to create custom parts in-house, to his own exacting high standards and specifications. When he designed the Cruiser 6×6 template, he was always going to ensure it could handle anything a potential client threw at it. The single cab Cruiser 79 has a payload capacity of four tons. That’s just what a bunch of soldiers who have to lug boxes of ammunition and supplies require. Another reason, and one you won’t normally see on any sales brochure for military transporters, is this Cruiser can fit as is into a standard 20-foot container. This means it’s…

Two years ago you entered the Toyota Fortuner 4×4 Challenge… how did that come about? Seeing that I love an adventure, I could not resist entering the competition when I saw the advertisement on television. I am a firm believer that life is short and that you have to grasp every opportunity that comes your way. It will be much nicer to tell my grandchildren one day that I’ve tried and maybe failed, instead of telling them that I should have tried more often. And the day you arrived for the competition… what were your thoughts when you saw the other competitors? I learnt early in my sporting career that although you should be confident in your abilities and chances of winning if you’ve done the hard work, you should…

THE infamous blob-eye Subaru Impreza WRX STi (on sale 2000–2007) remains one of our favourite performance cars of all time With its rally-bred heritage, symmetrical all-wheel-drive system, the two-litre Boxer four-cylinder petrol engine with a turbocharger as big as a Hyundai Atoz, that massive rear wing… it was the stuff many boy racers’ dreams were made of. Back in the day we loved everything about it (okay, maybe not the blob eyes), and the performance was simply electrifying. Or wait, maybe we should just rephrase that: ‘blistering performance’ once that big turbocharger was properly plying its trade. As amazing as the Impreza STi was with all that power and even an intercooler with special water jets to cool things down (and produce more power), it suffered from an acute amount…

I am a teen who loves old 4×4s, especially Toyotas and Jeeps, and one day I want to restore an old 4×4. What really struck me as interesting was the article on the Super Cruiser (June issue): an old FJ45 put on an 80s series chassis. I was wondering: I know that they cut the body in various parts to fit properly but was the FJ a short wheelbase, or a standard one? How much did the whole restoration cost? And, if there are any more photos of the car could you please send them to me. I really like articles like that and Leisure Wheels is my favourite off-roading magazine. I hope you keep writing about vintage 4×4 restorations like this, and I think a lot of other readers…

Land Rover has made a few subtle design and interior updates to the Range Rover, which proved to be the perfect opportunity to introduce the all-new plug-in P400e hybrid derivative. The hybrid combines an advanced 221kW four-cylinder Ingenium petrol engine with a 85kw electric motor, resulting in a total available power output of 297kW/640Nm through the permanent all-wheel drive (AWD) system. Together they drive the Range Rover from 0-100km/h in 6.8 seconds and to a top speed of 220km/h. The P400e delivers CO2 emissions of 72g/km and fuel economy of up to 3.1l/100km on the NEDC combined cycle. The intelligent system can also capture and store the energy generated when braking to aid recharging of the battery. In EV mode, the P400e can be driven up to 51km with zero…

Mazda South Africa has begun accepting orders for the updated CX-3. Updates have been made to both the exterior and interior of this successful crossover. On the outside, you’ll notice front fog lamp bezel colour changes, up-styled 18-inch alloy wheels and the Mazda grille refined to consist of fewer, more pronounced lines. Representing the next level of Mazda’s premium colour palette, Soul Red Crystal is now available across the range. LED rear combination lamps are available for the Individual and Individual Plus derivatives. Inside, the front centre console armrest and electric parking brake (EPB) are introduced from the Active derivative for a more premium finish and enhanced comfort. The rear centre seat armrest with cup holders and automatic dimming rearview mirror are available from the Dynamic derivative. The Individual and…

The latest Outback 4WD interior roof consoles for most vehicles are now available through the Opposite Lock chain. Outback products have been in production since 1980. The company’s latest roof console design features a smart leather finish. There is also a front interior reading light, a DIN radio insert that can be used as a storage bay, a microphone cable holder, a lined storage locker box and Bluetooth speaker holes. Inserts for smaller radios are available as optional extras. The Outback 4WD roof console retails for R7 495. More information: Tel: 011 697 0001, oppositelock.co.za…

AS you walk in the door to the BMW plant in Spartanburg, you’re greeted by four massive flags depicting the four models produced there: X3, X4, X5 and X6. “Pretty soon they’ll be joined by an X7 flag,” our guide reveals, but she doesn’t say much more than that. And though we don’t know for sure, we’re guessing an X8 flag will be joining the already impressive line-up a few years from now. When asked whether the X count will ever go higher than 7, BMW South Africa’s communications manager simply smiled and said that the X7’s platform allows some room to play around. This plant is huge. At 557 418 square metres, it’s BMW biggest factory. It churns out an average of 1 400 cars per day and since…

OUR 106km test route has a little bit of everything the modern driver will encounter on their daily commute. As you all know, nothing spoils your morning quite like traffic, and the same applies here. We could render the traffic invalid by simply not driving during peak hour but that completely defeats the point. Few people have the luxury of choosing their own working hours, which is why we all inevitably end up on the road at the same time. Three vehicles had to endure the fuel consumption test this month, all three near, or in, peak hour traffic. The three vehicles have something in common, even though they don’t compete in the same segment: they’re prime examples of small capacity turbocharged engines, which is the hottest engineering trend at…

TO be honest, we had no idea what tractors and farming equipment retail for, but we were expecting it to be less than R500 000. After all, you only get one seat… Tractors are getting more luxurious, however. You can now buy a John Deere tractor with a leather seat, fridge and various LCD displays, including a reverse camera. Unfortunately, one of the most important tractor features is offered only on a handful of 4×4s. What a pity, because imagine how much easier life would be if every bakkie had a power take-off (PTO) as standard. In case you don’t know what a PTO is, allow us to explain. It’s basically a device used to transfer mechanical from one piece of equipment to another. A farmer would typically use a…

THE Nkasa Rupara National Park is located in the north-eastern corner of Namibia, otherwise known as the Caprivi. You know… that little sliver of Namibia, nestled between Botswana and Zambia. Just getting there from South Africa is an adventure. The Nkasa Rupara Park, formerly known as Mamili, is Namibia’s largest protected wetland area, and unlike any other region in this amazing country. We went there about a month ago, during the dry season. Large portions of the park are inaccessible during the wet season, which spans from November to March. Even though it’s nearly four months into the rainy season, we still had to complete two water crossings on the way to Liadura. There are no formal 4×4 routes in the park, but rather a series of unmarked trails. You…

THERE’S an old saying that ‘boys will be boys’. No matter if they are around 50 years old, there’s often that naughty boy-streak hiding just under the surface, waiting for the right moment to emerge in all its glory. This story describes such a ‘moment’. Some years ago, a group of lads were camped in Namibia, near the famous Brandberg Mountain, a 2 600m mountain towering above all else in Namibia. This is wild country. Wild animals – including ones that may consider you a meal – roam about without borders. This arid part of Namibia’s Kaokoveld is not particularly hospitable for human habitation, so if you camp wild under the stars here, the closest other humans are pretty far away. It’s also the perfect setting then, for a raucous…

AMERICAN Bob Fox started building suspension systems for motocross bikes in 1974. Since then, the company has branched out and split up to cater for various markets… and Bob’s original company became Fox Factory, catering for ATVs, motocross bikes, track cars and trucks (or bakkies, in SA speak). It even makes suspension products for snowmobiles. Now you stand a chance of winning a set of Fox Factory products for your vehicle, worth up to R28 000. All you have to do is the following: head to your nearest Fox Factory dealer (list on this page) with your vehicle, and register for the competition at the dealer (leave your name, vehicle and contact details). Please note, if your vehicle is not supported by the Fox Factory brand, you will unfortunately not…

LATE in July, Chinese automaker BAIC (Beijing Automobile International Corporation) rolled out its first vehicle to be assembled in South Africa, the X25 SUV. The launch, celebrated at its factory in Coega, Port Elizabeth, took place before hundreds of guests, politicians and business leaders. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, in Pretoria for a BRICS summit, had the honour of pushing the button to reveal the first vehicle to roll off the factory floor. The first of many hundreds of thousands, if the Chinese automaker is to get its wish. Using mostly imported components, BAIC plans to use semi-knocked-down production to reach its first manufacturing goal of 50 000 vehicles a year by 2022. The ultimate goal is 100 000 vehicles a year. The event…