Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2017 i Leisure Wheels

Automotive adventurer Rainer Zietlow recently drove his Volkswagen Amarok V6 TDI, fitted with Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure tyres, from Dakar to Moscow in three days, four hours and 54 minutes. With this achievement, Zietlow and his team set a world record for the fastest drive from Dakar to Moscow. After their start in Dakar on 22 April, Zietlow, Russian blogger Peter Bakanov and journalist Georgy Gloube, covered more than 8 000km and passed through 10 countries in a record pace, arriving in Moscow on 25 April at 9:55am local time. As he did with his previous challenges, Zietlow donated the funds he raised to the charity SOS Children’s Village in Senegal, which he visited just before the world record run. “We are thrilled that we managed to complete this drive…

Founded in April 1927, Volvo Cars celebrated its 90th birthday with the start of production of the all-new Volvo XC60 in Gothenburg, Sweden. The new XC60 left the factory 90 years to the month after the first-ever Volvo, the ÖV4, saw the light of day on 14 April 1927. This first Volvo sold a total of 275 vehicles, which was modest even in those days. The all-new XC60 replaces one of the bestselling models in Volvo’s 90-year history. Volvo’s original XC60 became a phenomenon, with sales figures that have increased every year since it was introduced in 2008. Seven years after it was revealed, it became the bestselling premium mid-sized SUV in Europe. The XC60 today represents around 30% of Volvo’s total global sales since the company was founded (966…

Living in a country like South Africa, which has a population of around 50 million, it can be hard to wrap your head around the scale of things in a country like China. The population of China is 1.3 billion. A city like Beijing alone has more than 21 million people. As mentioned in our Shanghai Auto Show report, more than 24 million vehicles are sold in China each year. By comparison, our market is microscopic. Take, for instance, the Haval brand. It's a dedicated SUV brand under Great Wall Motors, and last year it sold no less than 938 000 units in China. A NEW DAWN The brand has seen massive growth, with year-on-year sales improving by 42% from 2015 to 2016. Indeed, parent company GWM seems to have…

Ultimate road trip test : Jozi to Cape Town ULTIMATE road trip TEST A llen Toussaint’s On your way down fills the luxurious cabin like Marilyn Monroe used to fill up a low-cut evening dress. Fully, completely, beautifully, the Bang & Olufsen surround sound system creating the effect that we’re sitting in the front row of a live Toussaint performance. The leather-clad M Sport seats hug you in all the right places. The three-spoke steering wheel is perfectly weighted. The suspension, hinged on massive 21-inch wheels riding on ultra-low profile performance tyres, sticks to the road like a half-eaten lollipop sticks to the carpet of your car. And then there’s the engine. The 423kW and 750Nm twinturbo V8 engine. It can catapult this two-ton behemoth from 0–100km/h in just over…

U l t i m a t e r o a d t r i p t e s t : J o z i t o C a p e To w n First, we needed to define what makes for a good road trip car. For some drivers, it could be the vehicle that sips the least amount of fuel. Other drivers may prefer a more rugged vehicle so that they can take in more gravel roads along the route. Comfort plays another key role in long distance travelling. Safety plays a vital role, too, of course. There are also the sporty, performance options, too. The one that puts a smile on your face when you just start the engine. Traditionally such vehicles are not exactly fuel fairies,…

To y o t a H i l u x 2 . 4 G D - 6 4 x 4 d o u b l e c a b S R S R86 000. That’s how much you’ll save if you buy a 2.4 GD-6 SRX 4×4 instead of the 2.8GD-6 4×4 Raider. R86k. That’s no small change. Okay, the 2.4GD-6 is obviously not quite as powerful as its 2.8-litre sibling. Nor is it equipped with some of the Raider model’s equipment. For instance, the SRX gets the entry-level version of the stick-on-look tablet business in the cabin. So no colour LCD screen, just a basic analogue style display. But it certainly gets the job done. The latest SRX comes with the Raider’s wide-body design; styling-wise there are not many…

While petrol powerplants remain popular in the compact SUV segment, diesel tends to dominate in the full-size SUV and bakkie segments. The bakkie market in particular is almost exclusively diesel these days. But there is still a place for petrol. When it comes to the Land Cruiser 70-Series, for example, petrol remains popular. So, which engine should you opt for? Is an oilburner truly the obvious choice? Here are the pros and cons of both petrol and diesel. Consumption A major reason for the recent popularity of diesel is fuel efficiency. There is no denying that a modern turbodiesel can provide an impressive combination of economy and performance. A modern oilburner can provide decent power and excellent torque while sipping less than 10 litres of diesel per 100km. A burly…

VW AMAROK 2.0BiTDI 4MOTION AT Rough and tough Our poor VW Amarok has earned its keep the hard way since it arrived at our offices, just over 20 000km ago. First, it conquered mountains in Lesotho. Then it tackled several 4×4 trails, and conquered them, too. More recently, we took it to Botswana’s wild Central Kalahari Game Reserve. WHOSE idea was it anyway to come to the Central Kalahari Game Reserve? Dammit. It was raining cats and dogs. And we were camping virtually on a saltpan. After getting stuck for an entire day on a Botswana saltpan some years ago, we knew it was not a good place to be. We had to leave our campsite early the next morning via the muddy tracks. But lo and behold, despite the…

O f f - r o a d i n g w i t h a c a u s e “For Sparta!” bellow the Greek soldiers as they charge through the water on their, er, chariot. The ‘chariot’ happens to be a Toyota Land Cruiser game viewer, dressed up in Sparta regalia, the five crew members decked out in period garments, too. There seems to be confusion though, some bystanders reckon they’re Romans. But Romans or Greek warriors from Sparta, the crew is clearly intent on forging through the river – which didn’t happen to be there the previous day – and to ride their ‘chariot’ up and over the rather steep riverbank. With a cheer and another ‘Sparta!’ chant, the Land Cruiser – its four wheels momentarily spinning…

1 9 9 8 P A J E R O E V O L U T I O N There is a particular kind of production vehicle called a ‘homologation special’, and it exists for one reason: to allow a dedicated racing car to enter a production-class race. A great example is the Lancia Stratos. This was a vehicle designed expressly to allow Lancia to dominate rallying, but in order to enter it into the races the manufacturer had in mind, the company needed to put it into production. So, Lancia took a V6 engine out of the Ferrari Dino 246 and placed it in a small and light little body. The streetlegal Stratos had been born. The Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution is a similar creation. In order to enter a…

Hyundai made history late last year when a-2.2-litre diesel Santa Fe became the first passenger vehicle to be driven across the continent of Antarctica from Union Camp to McMurdo and back. The Santa Fe was driven by Patrick Bergel, the great-grandson of legendary polar explorer, Sir Ernest Shackleton. The journey, which took place in December, was timed to commemorate the centenary of Shackleton’s heroic Trans-Antarctic expedition of 1914 to 1916, and has been made into a short film by Hyundai which was shown for the first time at an event in April at the Hospital Club, London. The 30-day expedition saw the Santa Fe production vehicle, which was modified to fit giant low-pressure tyres, take on almost 5 800km of icy terrain in bitter conditions. It not only had to…

PRICING Ford Ranger Fx4 3.2 TDCi Double Cab 6MT 4x4: R593 900 Ford Ranger Fx4 3.2 TDCi Double Cab 6AT 4x4: R608 900 Ford South Africa has released a new derivative of the popular Ranger into the local market, known as the Fx4. The limited-edition Ranger Fx4 is based on 3.2-litre XLT double cab 4×4 variant (that delivers 147kW and 470Nm) and its name badge is derived from the bulky Ford F-Series pick-ups found in the United States. Ford SA sees the product as “communicating strength and toughness” through a series of styling modifications, which include black finishes for the radiator grille, fog lamp bezels, exterior mirrors, roof rails, as well as the door and tailgate handles. The Fx4 rides on 17-inch alloy wheels that are also treated with the…

Jeep unveiled the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk at the New York Auto Show, and according to the company, it is the fastest SUV ever created. Jeep says it’ll sprint from a standstill to 100km/h in about 3.6 seconds (by way of comparison, a standard Porsche 911 Turbo can hit 100km/h in three seconds flat), which is faster than the Bentley Bentayga SUV which takes 4.1 seconds. The Trackhawk is powered by a 6.2-litre supercharged Hellcat V8 engine that offers 527kW of power and 874Nm of torque. Visually, the Trackhawk is similar to the SRT8. Differences include new air inlets where the foglights traditionally sit, quad black exhaust pipes, a Trackhawk badge on the hatch and a Supercharged badge on both of the front doors. The Trackhawk derivative also comes with body-coloured…

We’ve got a VW Amarok 2.0BiTDI 4Motion AT parked in our long-term garage, so we know it pretty well. Around town it is brisk, and the eight-speed automatic gearbox is a gem. However, the two-litre’s performance around the 120km/h mark, especially with something heavy in tow, is not so great: you really have to build up a bit of momentum to overtake slower traffic. Then you drive the new V6 Amarok on the open road and overtake slower traffic at around 120km/h and you have great heaps of torque. That’s when you realise how powerful this new German lorry really is. Stand on the accelerator and it blasts out of the box, with up to 180kW and 580Nm of torque available for 10 seconds on the overboost function. If you…

C e n t r a l K a l a h a r i G a m e R e s e r v e , B o t s w a n a THE man at the filling station in Rakops shrugged his shoulders. “No fuel. Nothing.” Dammit! And only 30 minutes earlier we had driven past the town of Mopipi, where fuel was apparently available. The clock was ticking, and turning back to Mopipi meant we would be cutting it really fine reaching our Passarge campsite in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR) by last light. We still had about six hours of driving ahead of us. Just a month or so before our visit to CKGR, the Botswana army’s big 4×4 trucks had to be summoned…

A u d i Q 2 1 . 4 T F S I S p o r t S T r o n i c Let’s get straight to the point here: the Audi Q2 1.4T FSI Sport S tronic, fitted with a raft of optional extras like our test unit, will set you back just over R700 000. That’s R700 000 for a frontwheel- drive crossover (which is really just a hatch with less than 150mm of ground clearance), powered by a 1.4-litre turbopetrol engine that delivers 110kW of power and 250Nm of torque. To give you an idea about size: the Q2 is just 85mm higher than a standard Audi A3, and is marginally shorter than the A3. The TFSI engine is the same as used in the…

E l e c t r i c a d v e n t u r e t r a n s p o r t For better or worse, electric seems to be the way of the future. Just about every vehicle manufacturer is betting big on electric vehicles, with many prominent brands promising full-electric vehicles by 2020. But how long, we can’t help but wonder, will it take until the hardcore 4×4 market is dominated by electric vehicles? Building a zippy little electric city car is one thing; building a heavy overlander than can be powered by sunlight and do 1 000km on a single charge is quite another. That said, some fun and interesting electric transportation solutions are already available to adventure enthusiasts. True, these aren’t long-distance…

B o s v a r k S D i g g e r s H o l e 4 x 4 T r a i l Michael van Dyk, previously of Wolwekloof 4×4 trail fame, has created a brand new trail, just outside the town of Cullinan, a proverbial rock’s throw from Pretoria. The new trail is a work in progress but there are plenty of 4×4 obstacles to test one’s driving skills and machinery. Even the massive 4×4 Muscle Trucks Toyota Hilux had a major workout on some of the tests. Driving the trail was a true man versus nature affair. Since most obstacles around the trail are relatively untested, we took things as they came. We would arrive at an obstacle, determine our line, and use everything…

S u p e r c h a r g e d S u z u k i J i m n y “I bought the Suzuki Jimny in about 2009 as a little runabout,” says RFS Auto and 4×4 Mega World Zambesi owner Chris du Plooy. “Right from the start, I really liked it, but there was no doubt that it could do with a bit more power.” Sure, the Jimny is small and light, but still, its little 1.3-litre petrol engine delivers only 63kW and 110Nm of torque. That might be enough to get the job done, but it’s not going to blow your hair back. For a few years, Chris simply accepted the performance of the Jimny. He didn’t often drive the vehicle over long distances, but…

2 017 L I N E - U P Change gears and shift out of your comfort zone. One of these guided self-drive safaris could be that once-in-lifetime adventure you’ve always dreamt about. For more information on any of these tours, or to book your trip: Email: lwtravel@ramsaymedia.co.za Website: leisurewheels.co.za/travel-packages/or phone Inshaaf Amos @ Tel: 021 530 3380 NEW! PONDOLAND TRANSKEI WILD COAST (8–14 OCTOBER) Pondoland, on the Transkei Wild Coast, is one of the destinations so many people would like to visit, but know so little about, and do not want to go there on their own. It is a land of wild cattle and wilder beauty, of waterfalls plunging directly into the Indian Ocean, of colonies of vultures nesting above undisturbed forest gorges, and a beautiful rugged coastline,…

We always knew India was going to be different. There are many similarities between Africa and India, especially the African countries south of the equator. It is perhaps only the former Portuguese colonies of Mozambique and Angola that are really different in language, culture and architecture. Operating in Gaborone, Lusaka, Kampala or Nairobi is not foreign to us. But now we hit India. This first thing to get used to is that it is imprinted in every Indian to please. It is therefore exceptionally difficult to say “no”. To address this issue, the Indians developed what is referred to as a head wobble. It is by moving the head in a figure of eight when answering a question. You are therefore never sure if the answer is “yes” or “no”.…

It’s a year of celebration for Isuzu Motors Japan as it commemorates the establishment of the company in April 1937. Locally, Isuzu celebrated with customers at Isuzu dealers across the country on Saturday, 22 April. Isuzu National Dealer Day saw customers and fans of the brand descend on participating Isuzu dealerships all over South Africa. In addition to celebrating this key milestone, Isuzu revealed the new X-Rider KB model to customers. “Isuzu has a strong heritage and a firmly established reputation as a manufacturer of rugged and reliable commercial vehicles. This year while we are celebrating the brand’s long history, we are also focused on the future as we reveal the new X-Rider. Isuzu continues to charge ahead in pursuit of reliability, durability, and eco-friendliness. Engineered in South Africa, the…

The Isuzu KB X-Rider was launched as a limited edition in South Africa last year with 700 units. As it turns out, the X-Rider was popular enough for Isuzu to add it to the permanent line-up and badge it as the KB 250 X-Rider 4×2 Double Cab. Fitted with a 2.5-litre direct injection turbodiesel mill with an output of 100kW and 320Nm, the X-Rider stands out from the rest of the model range with its diamond-cut 18-inch alloys, black bumper guard, integrated fog lamps, tubular side steps, a black sports bar with X-Rider decals, and blacked-out B-pillars. The wheels are shod with low-profile 255/60 Grabber AT all-terrain rubber. The X-Rider comes with a plush interior that boasts full leather upholstery, highlighted by red stitching and the X-Rider insignia is embroidered…

In South Africa – and other parts of the world for that matter – there is a tendency to be quite snooty about Chinese vehicles. In reality, however, China is an automotive behemoth, both in terms of market size and in terms of the number of vehicles built. China has been the largest manufacturer of vehicles in the world since 2008 if measured by unit production. There is, of course, a great number of Chinese vehicle manufacturers, but plenty of global brands also build vehicles there. Volkswagen is a great example, which is a very popular and successful brand in China. With more than 1.3 billion people, China represents a market that no company can truly ignore. In 2016, the country had a record year, with more than 24 million…

Buying and selling vintage cars is a booming business in South Africa. In response to increased demand, online classifieds site Gumtree SA has introduced a special vintage car category that already boasts over 350 listings of classic and vintage cars. Gumtree SA’s head of Automotive, Jeff Osborne, is a vintage car restorer himself and says “The key is to find a sturdy vehicle – and if possible a rare model – that can be restored by giving it an aesthetic overhaul.” He likens the process to the property market where buyers often search for a fixer-upper house which they can turn at a profit through some clever work. The new category on the site means that consumers will be able to find vintage cars more easily from both dealers and…

B I G - T I C K E T S U V S : V E H I C L E S T H AT G O F O R M I L L I O N S If you’re going to spend a fortune on a vehicle, you need it to count. Vehicles are expensive and if you’re not careful, you could end up with an insanely priced model that attracts no more attention than a sane and sensible compact SUV. For the most part, we can thank the Germans for this. Just about every model they offer can be specced to the hilt. By the time you’re done, you’ve just about doubled the price of the vehicle, yet anyone inspecting it from the outside would struggle to…

To y o t a 4 x 4 J a m b o r e e The annual Toyota 4×4 Jamboree, held at the 4×4 ATV Club’s Rust de Winter venue and supported by General Tire South Africa, saw more than 150 competitors line up for both the gymkhana and mountain trail competitions. It was the 26th year the club has hosted the event and, as always, there were some brave drivers (and codrivers) and some cosmetic damage for a few teams. Some drivers’ ‘when in doubt, floor it’ approach proved quite popular with the spectators. But, instead of waffling on about Frikkie did this, Hennie did that and Sannie got quite muddy, we thought we’d provide you with a photo essay of the event, which is much more descriptive…

TECH H o w e l e c t r i c v e h i c l e s w o r k For all the awesomeness of a howling V8, it has to be admitted that an internal combustion engine isn’t the most elegant or efficient way to generate power. Although modern engines are far more sophisticated and efficient than powerplants from a few decades ago, they are still based on an old technology that has survived not necessarily because it’s the best solution possible, but because fossil fuels have (at least until now) been abundant and cheap. The fact of the matter is, engines that run on fossil fuels are inherently complicated, messy and inefficient, with a lot of generated energy going to waste through things like…

M a r k e t p l a c e I n d u s t r y o v e r v i ew FOLLOWING the inexplicable axing of former finance minister Pravin Gordhan, as well as the reshuffling of the cabinet, SA’s foreign credit rating was downgraded to junk status (or sub-investment grade). Although the long-term effects of this new rating are still to be experienced in full, April saw new passenger car sales decline by 27.6% over March. A bevy of public holidays in April also slowed down sales, of course, so things should be looking up in May. Here are some reactions from the industry: “The outlook for new vehicle sales in the rest of the year (suggests a contraction) compared with last year, largely…