Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2018 i Leisure Wheels

Toyota has launched its new Land Cruiser Prado in South Africa with a new trim level, new safety features and some exterior changes. The Prado range has traditionally consisted of two grades, the mid-level TX and high-grade VX. Toyota has now added a third grade, called VX-L to the model line-up. The VX-L model offers all the features of the VX, while also adding a power-operated tilt-and-slide moonroof and comprehensive active-safety assistance package. POWERPLANTS The diesel powered Prados retain the 3.0 D-4D engine offering 120kW and 400Nm, mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. The 4.0-litre petrol engine produces 220kW and 381Nm, and is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. OFF-ROAD FEATURES All Prado models get Toyota’s active traction control system (A-TRAC) and a low-range transmission with userselectable rear and centre…

Are your tired of the hassle of keeping a logbook for businessrelated travel? Do inaccurate logs mean that your company or clients aren’t reimbursing you for the full amount you’re owed, or that you can’t claim the proper tax deduction for all your business travel? Journey Organiser (JO) makes light work of tracking businessrelated travel. Simply download the JO app onto your Android or iOS smartphone, plug the JO into your vehicle’s cigarette lighter socket and pair it with your phone via Bluetooth to begin automatically logging your travel and time data so you can generate reports for your tax and business-related travel claims. Of course, not all travel is business related, so to distinguish between business and leisure trips, just push the JO button on the top of the…

CRETE is the biggest of the Greek islands, but this shouldn’t lead you to believe that it’s particularly large. Globally, it ranks 88th, with a length of around 260km from east to west, and a width of 60km at its longest point from north to south. This, then, is not the sort of environment that demands a kilometre-munching grand tourer. This is a place of Vespas and Fiat 500s. Crete is also the most populous of the Greek islands, with a population of roughly 625 000. The majority of islanders live in the port city of Heraklion (225 000), with the rest largely found in smallish towns that hug the rugged coastline. Venture inland, and you encounter a rugged and mountainous landscape that’s sparsely populated. The roads, both along the…

The facelifted Prado – launched locally late in 2017 – is facing some tough competition. The last few years have seen the launch of some impressive SUVs that have moved the Prado’s segment in a new, high-tech direction. Vehicles like the latest Land Rover Discovery and Volvo XC90, which are traditional rivals of the Prado, have changed so much that they feel as if they are now competing in a different segment altogether. Compared to these SUVs, the Prado can feel old-school and clunky. It simply doesn’t boast the same refinement, straight-line speed and agility. It would be a mistake to dismiss the Prado too quickly, however. With many manufacturers having vacated the Prado’s segment, it now offers something you can’t easily find anywhere else. OFF-ROAD READY Most buyers care…

SMARTPHONES have become an integral part of society and we rely on them for more than just voice calls and texts. These pocket computers feed us information and keep us in touch with a potential plethora of people though social media and the internet. There are times however, where cellphones don’t work, maybe because a network is overloaded or maybe you’re travelling in an area that doesn’t have coverage. That doesn’t mean that interaction with your regular global or local hub has to be cut off. There are various off-grid solutions for staying in touch, with a satellite phone, for example. Instead of relying on ground-based cell towers, these phones connect to satellites in one of three Earth orbits: high, medium and low. As NASA explains on its website: “Many…

GOOD: Fun in the city. Fun in the mud NOT SO GOOD: It’s not the best long-distance touring machine in the world Suzuki Jimny 1.3 Braveheart, part 4173 It was all action stations for the Suzuki Jimny this month, as the final round of the 2017 Bridgestone 4×4 Club Challenge arrived. ON the eve of the 2017 Bridgestone 4×4 Club Challenge, about 40mm of rain came belting down on the Malonjeni Guest Farm, near Vereeniging. This was great news for farmers, dams and so on. But for the 40 teams taking part in the 4×4 competition, it meant a day of much hardship and cussing lay ahead. The competition got underway, and our Jimny’s custodian for the day, Tumelo Maketekete, slipped his way to the first obstacle. There, another Jimny…

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 ISIMANGALISO TURTLE TOUR 24 FEBRUARY - 2 MARCH 2018 2 – 8 DECEMBER 2018 The turtle season stretches from the beginning of November and continues until mid-March when the nesting and hatching season comes to an end. Kosi Bay is the best place in South Africa for a turtle tour. We will overnight three nights in a B&B in Sodwana Bay before travelling via Lake Sibaya, Rocktail Bay and Lala Nek to Kosi Bay where we will stay in a self-catering tented camp for three nights. This route is completely off the beaten track and will take you on a sand track through some of…

1963 VW MICROBUS DELUXE Manufacturer: Volkswagen Model: Deluxe Bus Year: 1963 Engine: 1.5-litre petrol Power: 40kW @ 4 300r/min Original price: $2 665 (R37 500) Current price: Around $200 000 (R2.8 million) There’s a lot to like about the VW Microbus. First built in 1950, the little Volkswagen bus was quirky, spacious and practical. And when the era of flower power dawned in the early 1960s, the Microbus became a chief emblem of the movement. Even today, many people refer to the vehicle as the ‘Hippie Van’. But the VW bus outlived the hippie movement. Technically speaking, a new version of the van is being built today (Volkswagen launched the T6 in 2015). Also, early versions of the vehicle were still in production until relatively recently. In South Africa, the…

Opel has introduced its new B-segment SUV, the Crossland X, to South Africa. It sits below the Mokka X in the German automakers range of local vehicles. The Crossland X is offered in four derivatives, with three specification levels. The Crossland X measures just over 4.2 metres and has a wheelbase of 2.6 metres, making it one of the largest in its class. However, the Opel designers have successfully disguised this fact, giving it short overhangs, a steeply raked windscreen and sculptured flanks that elegantly break up the sheet metal. The floating roof – available in contrasting colours on the Cosmo -- also has the effect of reducing the height while the rear aerofoil extends the rear roofline for a flowing effect. The body perimeter is surrounded by tough, black…

Jeep has officially revealed the 2018 Wrangler, supplying a few photos and a short statement. Jeep says that there will be “dozens of different door, top, and windshield combinations,” and from the images released, we can see that the Wrangler will still be offered with two or four doors, and with the option of a hard- or soft-top. Jeep hasn’t specified what engines will be available, but the official press release says that there will be “advanced fuel-efficient powertrains”. According to JL Wrangler Forums, the Wrangler will be available with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder, and the engine will have a starter-generator, which probably means stopstart capability. The 3.6-litre V6 will still be available, as well as the 3.0-litre turbodiesel. There will be a choice of either a six-speed manual or…

THE police officer smiled from ear to ear. “Good morning gentlemen!” he beamed. He seemed genuinely happy to see us. “Morning sir. We’re just heading up the pass. We’ll be back in a couple of hours,” we said. We handed over our passports. “No problem. Our computer system is down, so please just fill in these forms for us. While you do that, I’ll go and unlock the border gate so long,” said the police officer. If the immigration computer system was down at Oliver Tambo International Airport, it could be quite annoying. You wouldn’t expect it to happen at such a major hub. But here, at this seemingly godforsaken border post, a working ‘system’ is probably a small miracle. The policeman was back after unlocking the gate. Our passports…

If you’re the cynical sort, you might question the point of a ‘limited edition’ vehicle model. Why, you might ask, does a ‘special’ paint job and a few stickers make a vehicle more desirable, or more expensive, for that matter? Logically speaking, it’s difficult to see the creation of a limited-edition vehicle as anything other than a sneaky marketing move. However, buying a vehicle isn’t all about reason and logic. Choosing a car – for most people, at least – is an emotional decision. The majority of us want something that’s ‘cool’ and ‘eye-catching’ and ‘different’. Hence the popularity of limited editions: they allow us to buy a popular vehicle, while standing out from the crowd. Here are six vehicles that marry popularity with exclusivity. PRICE: R149 900 (New) YEAR:…

LIST OF EXTRAS LIST OF EXTRAS Complete Tough Dog Suspension with nine-stage adjustable shocks Opposite Lock bull bar Safari snorkel VRS winch Lightforce XGT 70 Watt HID spotlights 30-inch single row Lightforce LED lightbar Land Cruiser 200 ARB rear bumper 2 x ARB wheel carriers Opposite Lock 4x4 shovel Spade mount bracket Axe Front Runner axe mount bracket Hi-Lift jack Front Runner hi-lift jack mount bracket ATS Grayston wheel spanner Front Runner roof rack Front Runner extended jack adaptor 5W Lumeno work light Front Runner jacking points Mickey Thompson MTZ P3 tyres x 6 Mickey Thompson M series mag wheels x 6 ATS Grayston wheel spanner Lenser LED torch with charging cradle Hi-Range fabricated rock sliders Melvill & Moon charcoal grey seat covers Takla bootliner Takla floor mats Even in…

THEY don’t call Team Peugeot Total the ‘Dream Team’ for nothing. The team’s driver line-up reads like the who’s who of rally and off-road racing. There’s reigning Dakar champion, the wily Stéphane Peterhansel. There’s Ninetime world rally champion Sébastien Loeb. There’s Threetime World Rally champion Carlos Sainz. And for good measure, former Dakar motorcycle winner Cyril Despres. That’s a whole lot of big names in revamped Peugeot buggies that stand between the other teams and a victory in the 2018 edition of the Dakar. Peugeot Sport has made some upgrades to the V6, twin-turbo diesel-powered buggy, too. This includes a 200mm wider track for increased high-speed stability, an enhanced suspension set-up and also much focus on ensuring maximum reliability over the 10 000km test. Says the legendary Peterhansel, who has…

The introduction of active cameras to vehicles has changed the nature of on-road safety dramatically. Thanks to these cameras, the driver is no longer solely responsible for checking surroundings. Cameras can now monitor things like lane markings, blind spots and traffic conditions directly in front of a vehicle. This, in turn, has led to systems that can greatly reduce accidents. It’s now possible, for example, for a vehicle to detect that traffic in front of it has come to a sudden standstill and vigorously apply the brakes. It can also tell you when a vehicle is cruising in your blind spot and warn you from moving to that lane when there is danger. Lane-departure warning One of the most popular of these new technologies is the lane-departure warning/lane-keep assist system.…

Alfa Romeo’s first SUV, the Stelvio has launched in South Africa, with a starting price of a cool R810 000 for the Super Stelvio, while the limited First Edition will set you back by R946 000. The Italian brand’s flagship, high-performance Stelvio Quadrifoglio (now officially the fastest SUV around the Nurburgring) is set to be launched here in South Africa in the third quarter of 2018. ENGINE AND GEARBOX The Stelvio derivatives currently available are powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine with an output of 206kW of power and 400Nm of torque. The entirely aluminium four-cylinder engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, driving a carbon drive shaft. The Stelvio is also fitted with Alfa Romeo’s Q4 all-wheel-drive system. According to Alfa, the eight-speed automatic transmission fitted to…

NISSAN PATROL Engine: V8 petrol, direct injection, VVEL Displacement: 5 552cc Power: 298kW @ 5 800r/min Torque: 560Nm @ 4 000r/min Transmission: Seven-speed automatic Fuel tank: 140 litres Suspension: Independent, double wishbone coil sprung (front & back) Brakes: Ventilated discs (front & back) Ground clearance: 287mm 4WD system: All Mode 4x4 with electronic selection between ‘Auto’, 4H & 4LOW Traction aids: Traction and stability control, rear differential lock, rear helical limited slip differential (LSD), electronic off-road driving ‘modes’ Weight (standard): 2 715kg Towing capacity (braked trailer): 3 500kg Price: R1.3-million IT’S been 20 years. That’s how long the legendary Nissan Patrol Y61 has been around. It made its international debut in 1997 and, despite a major facelift (in 2005), some different engine offerings and trim updates, it has remained, under…

I sit quietly in an airconditioned office in Rosebank, listening to Chris Anagnostellis (CEO of An African Anthology) brief me on Elephant Valley Lodge. He talks about the unique location in the Kasane Forest Reserve, 7km from the confluence of the Zambezi and the Chobe rivers, in the Lesomo Valley. The valley runs in a north-south direction, and perpendicular to that valley is another that runs from west to east, towards Victoria Falls. The lodge is on a natural migratory route for all the game that migrates between Zimbabwe and Botswana, and because the water hole directly in front of the lodge is probably the only water source in the valley, it is incredibly active. My heart skips a beat: my tent will overlook that waterhole. I feel that familiar…

ONCE upon a time, the concept of an electric 4×4 seemed fantastical. Early electric vehicles were so heavy, prone to technical issues and limited in terms of range that it was hard to believe that a practical 4×4 powered by electricity would ever be feasible. How could companies ever manage to build a large electric SUV if they couldn’t even manage a small electric city runabout that made sense? How quickly things have changed. While it’ll undoubtedly still be a while before we see an overlander capable of travelling more than a thousand kilometres on a single charge, electric SUVs are here. In the next few years, a whole host of electric SUVs will be hitting the streets. Here are the five most interesting upcoming electric 4×4s. 1 TESLA MODEL…

4x4 MUSCLE TRUCKS This 4x4 trail review is brought to you by 4x4 Muscle Trucks, who specialise in creating off-road leviathans. 4x4 Muscle Trucks is owned by Hansie Coetzee, who also owns TJM Pretoria-East. More information: Tel: 012 809 0090; tjmptaeast.co.za It’s a bit of a sand trap, the Mabuasehube Wilderness trail. Sticky Kalahari sand, a very hot climate and the remoteness of the tracks have apparently caused some ruckus over the years as tourists on this self-drive trail, about 155km in length, have fallen prey to the conditions. Getting stuck in the sand or smaller dunes is not particularly difficult, especially when it is boiling hot and the sand turns into some alien liquid, sucking in 4×4s and their unwary drivers. So it is highly recommended to tackle this…

AUTOMATIC transmissions are not only becoming increasingly complex, they are becoming increasingly popular. With this in mind, Leisure Wheels decided to speak to gearbox experts from ZF Services South Africa about how you can protect your transmission and identify potential issues. As with just about every aspect of a vehicle these days, gearboxes are becoming incredibly complex. This complexity brings with it excellent performance and refinement, but it also means that vehicle owners should take care of their gearboxes and be on the lookout for niggles that could potentially become larger problems. As the saying goes: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. To find out about the maintenance of modern gearboxes, Leisure Wheels spoke to Reynier Snyman (manager: passenger car division) and Nico Eksteen (supervisor: passenger…

ELECTRIC vehicles (EV) – at least when it comes to passenger cars – have been a reality for a while now. In some parts of the world, electric vehicles like the Tesla Model S and Nissan Leaf are a common sight. However, electric vehicles haven’t truly been able to put a dent in overall global vehicle sales for a simple reason: they cost too much. Until now, the cost of an EV has been much higher than that of a comparable car with an internal-combustion engine. In order for EVs to really take off, they need be cheaper, otherwise there isn’t enough of an incentive to switch over, even in regions like Europe where the transition can be relatively painless. Well, it seems as if 2018 might be the year…