Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2017 i Leisure Wheels

Hyundai South Africa has added an interesting model to the local Tucson line-up, the 1.6 TGDI Executive Sport. This is a locally created derivative that adds a bit more oomph and some sporty design flourishes to the Tucson Executive. The vehicle boasts some dark and aggressivelooking 19-inch rims shod with low-profile rubber, as well as a body kit consisting of front, side and rear skirts. The kit is imported from Korea and fitted locally with the help of Tiger Wheel & Tyre. Under the bonnet, the power on the standard four-cylinder 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol mill is upped from 130kW to 150kW. It is mated exclusively to a six-speed manual transmission. To give the vehicle a sportier sound, a throatier exhaust system has also been added to the mix. Standard features…

Following two victories on the epic Dakar Rally in 2016 and 2017, Peugeot Sport has revealed the successor to the Peugeot 3008DKR that conquered South America in January: the 3008DKR Maxi. The new Peugeot 3008DKR Maxi is, as the name suggests, bigger than its predecessor, with a wider track designed to help it conquer the gravel roads, dunes and mountains of the most famous endurance rallies in the world. The new car is 20cm wider than the Dakar version due to the suspension track on each side being increased by 10cm. To achieve this, the upper and lower wishbones were completely redesigned and replaced, with the front and rear track rod ends and driveshafts also swapped out. As a result, the stability and dynamics of the car have (apparently) been…

Calling the Suzkui Ignis a crossover is a bit of a stretch. Like the Renault Kwid, it has little in common with your typical SUV. But it’s really just a small hatch with a raised ride height and some black cladding. That being said, the Ignis is a tremendously fun vehicle to live with. The vehicle is powered by the well-known K12M 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine already familiar from current Suzuki models such as the Swift 1.2. It develops 61kW of power and 113Nm of torque, which might not seem like much, and indeed, it takes the vehicle a leisurely 11.6 seconds to accelerate from 0–100km/h, but it feels surprisingly fun and lively while driving it. It certainly feels faster than those figures would suggest. Not once did we wish that…

“Africa is blessed with an abundance of incredible places to visit... this is one of them” IF paradise is sharing your first cuppa of the day with fish eagles and their raucous cries and the happy snorting of hippos as the sun rises over Lake Kariba, then a trip on the houseboat Lady Jacqueline is right up your alley. The missus, our two grown sons, and some friends went on-board the 65-foot Lady Jacqueline, near the town of Binga on the shores of Kariba, after a four-hour drive from Victoria Falls. We were immediately impressed with the houseboat. Not only was it larger than it appeared on their website, but the finishings and furnishings were far better than our collective expectations. On the lower deck were two spacious and modern…

This GLE 500e is not the first premium hybrid SUV we’ve got our hands on. In the January 2017 issue (issue 153, page 78) we tested the impressive BMW xDrive40e. The performance of the Beemer was notable for the fact that it hid its complex hybrid componentry so well. Despite having a heavier and far more complicated drivetrain, it performed much like your standard X5. In short, the hybrid version didn’t feel like a compromise. You still got a similar driving experience you’d expect from a BMW. The same can be said of the GLE 500e. Despite the fact that the vehicle is constantly shifting power delivery between the 3.0-litre V6 petrol mill and the 85kW electric motor, the driving experience is seamless. You don’t notice anything unusual happening underneath…

South Africans adore bakkies, and we’re not alone in this. There are plenty of countries all over the world that are positively batty about the bakkie. Examples include Argentina, Australia and Thailand. But nowhere has the bakkie been elevated to the level of cultural icon quite in the same way as it has in the USA. In some parts of America, specifically the midwestern and southern states, the truck you drive defines you almost as much as the church you go to, the political party you support and the beer you drink. A quick Google search shows that there are no less than 40 modern country songs that prominently feature pick-up trucks. Particularly catchy hits include Kip Moore’s Somethin’ ‘Bout a Truck, Luke Bryan’s We Rode in Trucks, Toby Keith’s…

BT50 goes all safari WE really dig our Mazda BT50. It’s not that we particularly like the styling; although the latest version certainly upped its game in the looks department, it’s still not the best-looking lorry in the world. It’s rather the laid-back, luxurious nature of the drive that has been quite impressive over the 4 000km we’ve covered since taking custody of the stock double cab. The five-cylinder 3.2-litre turbodiesel engine is at its happiest at lower revolutions. That’s right where the 470Nm of torque lives (peaking at 1 750r/ min). Coupled to the five-speed automatic gearbox, the set-up allows for a very laid-back, relaxing drive in traffic. There’s no need to rev the engine and get all excited. Just let the torque and the automatic gearbox deal with…

If you’ve read the report on the Toyota Land Cruiser 6×6 on the cover of this magazine, you’d know that it promises to be the belle of the ball at The South African 4×4 & Outdoor Show at Zwartkops Raceway, on 26/27 August. But there will be much more to experience than just the Cruiser 6×6. In the outdoor and adventure accessories segment you’ll find, among other things, fishing rods, camping and hiking gear. There will be a plethora of food stalls, catering for a variety of tastes. New this year is a craft beer festival, with a select group of craft beer breweries in attendance. From an entertainment point of view, the show will be rocking, too. There will be rock crawler competition, a 4×4 driving experience, an air…

Let’s face it, everybody wants to arrive at their destination in one piece but nobody wants to arrive with a fused spinal cord from a rough ride. We know that suspension plays an important part in comfort, capability and safely keeping your wheels on the road. Foam cell shock absorbers help to reduce shock fade by keeping nitrogen gas and oil found inside the shock, separated. So what is a foam cell shock, and why is it so resilient? All shock absorbers contain oil, with some choosing to insert nitrogen gas, too. When the shock works hard, the oil heats up and expands, and the gas contracts to allow this to happen. In traditional nitro gas shocks, the gas is placed in the shock on top of the oil, with…

We welcome your views What a nice surprise when I browsed through my newest issue of Leisure Wheels to find a story about ‘my’ vehicle. You see, I am currently the proud owner of Kingsley Holgate’s Outside Edge Expedition Land Rover! (Kingsley circumnavigated Africa in this vehicle.) The Landy is still in excellent shape and is being used as my DKW (dans, kerk en werk) vehicle. I have made numerous trips with it to areas like the Tankwa Karoo, Wild Coast and the Eastern Cape Highlands, to name but a few. I experienced a few niggles in the beginning, as can be expected, but nothing serious, and it still runs like clockwork. I have added a bigger variable vane turbo to increase cruising speed and can now comfortably travel at…

Kia Motors Corporation has opened a new communityrun auto mechanic training centre in Ethiopia. The Kia-KOICA training centre is located in the Lideta area of Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa. Supported by a $1.8 million investment by Kia Motors and the Korea International Co-operation Agency (KOICA), the centre is jointly operated by World Vision. World Vision is a relief, development and advocacy non-governmental organisation dedicated to working with 100 million people in countries around the world. The facility employs residents from the local community, and plans to take on around 60 young trainees each year. The centre enables trainee mechanics to work towards a range of vocational qualifications, while providing a short-term training programme for drivers. In addition to raising employment levels, the Green Light Project-backed facility increases the number of…

The latest generation of Subaru’s XV was recently launched in South Africa. The new XV looks fairly similar to the outgoing model, but these similarities are only skin deep, since the updated vehicle rides on the new Subaru Global Platform, a platform that it shares with the all-new Impreza. Thanks to the new platform, the XV is apparently lighter and more dynamic. Its centre of gravity has been dropped (while still retaining 220mm of ground clearance) and body roll has been reduced by 50%. To improve its performance off-road, the new XV has received Subaru’s X-Mode, which you could already find in the Forester and Outback. X-Mode complements Subaru’s symmetrical fulltime AWD to allow drivers to tackle far tougher roads than you’d normally attempt in a crossover. With the push…

Ledlenser recently released a new series of flashlights and headlamps aimed specifically at the outdoor market. Ledlenser’s new outdoor range includes three headlamps and four torches. Functionality, design and use have been specially developed for experiencing nature at night. There are three powerful headlamps – the MH10, MH6 and MH2 – for everyone who needs to keep their hands free. All adventurers can keep a firm hold on light with the four torches (MT18, MT14, MT10 and MT6). A colour attachment can be easily fitted to the pocket torches (MT 10, MT14 and MT18) as well as the headlamp (MH10) to ensure consistent, optimum visibility while hunting and fishing, or even in fog. The top-spec MH10 headlamp is light and comfy, and offers a light output of up to 600…

IT’S a pity that we can’t have Alvin Lee’s intro to ‘I’d love to change the world’ as the opener to this piece. One of the great guitar intro riffs of all time, but probably only remembered by a few of us from that late ’60s/ early ’70s era (the group was called Ten Years After). It doesn’t really matter... all a bit esoteric anyway, but as it relates to what follows, I’ll simply let it rattle around in my head while I write and hopefully some of the gees will find its way into the body of the article. It was exactly 10 years to the day since we began our annual odysseys on 1 April 2007 through Southern Africa. Our 2.5 TDI 4×4 Ford Ranger was barely a…

1. ATLASWARE [TESTED] Atlasware’s stainless steel flasks come in a riot of trendy colours and are narrow enough to fit into a school bag’s bottle holder or a large cup holder in your car. We tested this flask and we’re impressed with the quality and effectiveness in keeping drinks either hot or cold. The manufacturer states that the vacuum bottle is guaranteed to keep liquid hot for 18 hours and cold for 24 hours. We filled it with boiling water and found that even after 36 hours the water was hot, although drinkable, and after 44 hours, still really warm. Price R370 (500ml) Price R550 (1 litre) Price R900 (2 litre) www.trappers.co.za More info: www.atlasware.co.za 2. GSI STAINLESS STEEL VACUUM BOTTLE [TESTED] GSI Outdoor produces premium quality gear and the brand’s…

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 THE WILD SIDE OF THE DRAKENSBERG (14–18 AUGUST) The Eastern Cape Highlands, also known as ‘The wild side of the Drakensberg’ is growing in popularity as a safe and non-commercialised mountain destination with spectacular scenery. The tour members meet in Lady Grey, and head to Lundin’s Nek and Wartrail area. Then up the Volunteers Hoek Pass with lunch at the Tiffindell Ski Resort before zigzagging down the most extreme section of the Carlisle’shoek Pass to Rhodes, where the group will spend…

When it comes to building an engine, turbochargers can offer an excellent return on investment. A good turbo can provide extra oomph, without the need to increase engine capacity, which means less fuel and fewer emissions. But, as with anything in life, there are compromises. Firstly, a turbocharger kicks in properly only once it reaches its boost threshold. As long as engine revs stay below this point, engine delivery feels flat and uninspiring. Secondly, once you’ve crossed the threshold, there’s still the issue of turbo lag to contend with. You’ll often find that there’s a hesitation between when you put your foot down, and when the engine responds. This happens because pressure is released from a turbo when not under full load so as to protect it and increase its…

AND MORE NUMBERS: VOLKSWAGEN SA Thanks in large part to the popularity of the Polo and Polo Vivo, Volkswagen SA leads the industry when it comes to passenger vehicles. VWSA sold a total of 6 906 vehicles in June, 1 897 of these were Polos and 2 516 were Polo Vivos. NISSAN SA While there’s a lot of focus on Nissan’s new Navara at the moment, its older bakkies account for the bulk of its commercial vehicle sales. Nissan sold 1 067 NP200s and 1 130 NP300s, while just 137 new Navaras found homes. IT’S not the sort of situation that’ll make you want to break out the champagne, but June did see a bit of an upswing in terms of vehicle sales. Overall, vehicle sales increased by 437 units…

The highest motorable mountain pass in the world: Khardung La. 5 603 metres above sea level. This was our aim as we headed for the Himalayas in northern India. There was a window of about three months of the year when it is possible to drive this pass in Jammu and Kashmir. By now our journey had taken us from Mumbai to Kanyakumari in the south. We travelled along the east coast past Chennai and Kolkata. We visited Darjeeling in the southern Himalayas and from there travelled to Bodh Gaya, Varanasi, Khajuraho, Agra and Delhi. Our biggest challenge was the heat of the Indian summer, and the driving skills of the local drivers. (No place on Earth, not even Cairo or Nairobi, challenged us as drivers as much as India)…

Sixty years after Magnum Photos co-founder George Rodger first drove a Land Rover nearly 13 000km through the Sahara Desert, the two brands have partnered on the second in a series of photographic works, titled ‘Ultimate Vistas’. Land Rover and acclaimed Magnum photographer Michael Christopher Brown have revealed a set of stunning landscape photos taken from unique vantage points in North America, reached using the refinement and capability of a Range Rover. In the second of the ‘Ultimate Vistas’ series, Land Rover worked closely with the world-renowned photos agency to showcase some of the most beautiful landscapes in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. From behind the wheel of the Range Rover, photographer Michael explored the urban and more remote parts, seeking the best spots from which to…

Nissan South Africa’s manufacturing director Joan Busquets is optimistic about the future of the automotive manufacturing industry in South Africa. Invited to take part in a panel discussion on ‘The Best of South African Manufacturing’ at a two-day manufacturing indaba that took place at Emperor’s Palace, Busquets said that it was important to remain cutting-edge and globally competitive. “We are investing in new plant infrastructure and innovative Nissan technologies at our Rosslyn plant to make sure our vehicles always meet global standards in terms of quality and cost,” said the Spanish-born Busquets. Key to success, he added, is adherence to global operating procedures, which at Nissan SA is the Alliance Production Way; a blueprint for manufacturing methods across the global family of Nissan and Renault plants. Best practice, is supported…

Mitsubishi South Africa has announced that the new Pajero Sport will hit South African dealerships in September. The Pajero Sport will boast a new-generation aluminium cylinder block turbo-diesel engine and a modern high-tech eightspeed automatic transmission (including transfer gearing with low range for the four-wheel-drive derivative). The four-wheeldrive derivative also boasts the latest edition of Mitsubishi's unique Super-Select II-4 4WD-system. The Sport makes use of Mitsubishi’s Dynamic Shield frontend design. Mitsubishi’s global design philosophy of ‘Form Follows Function’ was apparently pivotal in the design of its new-generation sport utility, but engineers kept an eye on the future, too, to ensure that the new Pajero Sport stands out in a market saturated with large family sport utility vehicles. According to Mitsubishi, the new high-performance turbodiesel engine delivers class-leading performance and is…

Designed to move with you in your environment, the signature Wolverine Contour Welt combines the flexibility and comfort of an athletic shoe with the support and durability of a work boot. The lightweight rubber outsole is slip-, oil- and abrasion-resistant. The Wolverine MultiShox Comfort System with individual compression pads absorbs shock and returns energy. The revolutionary welt is designed to allow the boots to bend and flex at essential points for maximum performance. The Wolverine Raider is a six-inch Contour Welt premium leather boot that is tough enough to survive even the roughest terrain. The Raider features a full-grain leather upper and CK Mesh Lining. The Wolverine MultiShox rubber lug outsole is also slip-, oiland abrasion-resistant. Recommended retail price is R2 099.…

WE’RE back in the Bushveld. Around the campfire. The assembled group, basking in the warm glow of the fire, is dead quiet. News has been delivered that a motocross bike was faster than the Isuzu KB in sand, on a cross-country dice, and in a 400m sprint. One patron is drawing circles in the sand with the right toe of his Crocs slip-on shoe. Another is sipping delicately on his Castle Lite beer, his face still bearing the bruises of the time he so realistically simulated the crash landing of a plane, and introduced his face to the gravel next to the campfire, during the previous get-together. The couple from Modimolle, who are such big fans of character Stringfellow Hawke and his Airwolf helicopter, was eerily quiet, too. It was,…

VW AMAROK 3.0TDI V6 4MOTION HIGHLINE Engine: 3,0-litre turbo V6 diesel Power: 165kW @ 3 000r/min Torque: 550Nm @ 1 400r/min Transmission: Eight-speed automatic 4WD system: 4Motion Fuel tank: 80 litres Fuel consumption: 11.2 litres per 100km Price (standard): R665 700 VW AMAROK 2.5T Engine: 2,5-litre turbo five-cylinder Power: 294 kW @ 5 300r/min Torque: 480Nm @ 1 600r/min Transmission: Six-speed sequential 4WD system: Permanent 4WD, Haldex centre differential Fuel tank: 300 litres Fuel consumption: A lot more than the V6! Price: R4 million If you’ve been following the release of the new Volkswagen Amarok 3.0TDI V6 4Motion bakkie, you’ve probably read about and/or heard of these numbers: 165kW and 550Nm; and the 180kW and 580Nm that is available for 10 seconds during ‘overboost’ situations. Those are the big numbers…

T: (012) 524 9700 W: rfsauto.co.za E: info@rfsauto.co.za here are plenty of large and luxurious SUVs out there that don’t hold their value incredibly well, which means that you can often buy an excellent vehicle for a fraction of the original purchase price. For instance, you can purchase a 2012 Range Rover Sport with a 5.0-litre supercharged engine and less than 100 000km on the clock for around R400 000. Similarly, you can buy a 2013 Lexus LX570 with a 5.7-litre engine and 100 000km on the clock for R700 000. Owning a superbly comfortable and very powerful vehicle for that kind of money is incredibly tempting. Take one of these 4×4s for a test drive, and you’ll fall in love immediately. Before you sign on the dotted line, however,…

SETTING THE PACE This year, Toyota Gazoo Racing entered three LMP1 TS050 Hybrid racing cars in the legendary 24 Hour Le Mans endurance race in France. This photo was taken after the first qualifying session, after driver Kamui Kobayashi smashed the overall Le Mans track record by a massive two seconds (previously held by Neel Jani’s Porsche 919 Hybrid in 2015). Although the TS050 Hybrid was certainly fast, two of the three Toyotas retired from the sharp end of the field, with the third running down the order. The race was won by Porsche’s 919 Hybrid for the third year running. Dean Treml (Red Bull Content Pool) JUMP… IN THE NAME OF SPEED What happens when you take a nine-ton Kamaz-4326 racing truck, powered by a 1 000 horsepower 16.2-litre…

Carnage Canyon isn’t your typical trail. You can’t find it on a map and it isn’t truly operated by anyone. Even its exact location is a secret. All that can be said is that it is in the Limpopo Province, less than 100km from Polokwane. What you’ll also quickly notice by studying some of the local 4×4 forums, is that Carnage Canyon is a phenomenally difficult trail. It is 6.2km of extreme off-roading in a riverbed that features massive rocks, thick sand and loads of water. To make matters even worse, it’s a ‘one way in, one way out’ sort of trail; once you’ve completed it, you need to find your way out via the same route that you just travelled. A service road runs next to the trail for…

What does a gameviewing vehicle look like? Chances are, you’re picturing a green or khaki-coloured Cruiser bakkie that’s been converted to carry around a dozen people. There’s a canvas roof, some canvas seats, and probably a little ladder to help people clamber on board. Or perhaps your mind is conjuring up images of a rugged Land Rover Defender that’s been similarly converted. The fact of the matter is, Cruiser bakkies and Defenders are the quintessential game-viewing vehicles, they dominate the scene. But why? “Game-viewing vehicles live a very tough life,” says Northern Offroad director Alan Young. “So, it makes sense to base them on robust models that can deal with harsh African conditions and spend all their time driving off-road. Cruiser bakkies remain incredibly popular especially, and a lot of…

When it comes to the annals of Western cinema, the 1999 remake of The Thomas Crown Affair is a footnote at best. It took a slick but forgettable Steve McQueen vehicle and turned it into a slick but forgettable Pierce Brosnan vehicle. The 1999 Thomas Crown Affair was, like the original, not a ‘car movie’. But, while sticking quite closely to the plot of the 1968 version, it did make two changes that are interesting within the context of this motoring magazine. Firstly, as mentioned, it replaced Steve McQueen – real-life racing driver and the embodiment of ‘60s American cool – with the rather stuffy (and very British) Pierce Brosnan. It was, to put it delicately, an ‘interesting’ choice. The second change that the movie made was far more palatable.…