Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2018 i Leisure Wheels

I’VE completed the 1 500km trip between Johannesburg and Cape Town on more than 50 occasions. I always prefer to use the N12, driving via Kimberley, and then linking up to the N1 at Three Sisters. I like to drive alone. It gives me plenty of time to ponder things, listen to my music as loudly as I want, eat unhealthy roadie food, and just relax. So, when our long-term Mitsubishi had to return to Gauteng in the beginning of December, and I had some meetings to attend in Cape Town, the modus operandi was clear cut: I’d drive the Pajero back to JHB. But even when navigating out of Cape Town’s outskirts, it was clear that roadworks and a never-ending line of long-haul trucks were going to make the…

I was worried that I may have missed a potentially powerful ‘shoot-out’ between the premium midrange 4×4 SUVs available in Southern African when my annual subscription to Leisure Wheels was delayed in renewal over the August and September issues. Not so. This letter is primarily to ask when that will happen. Your February issue featured a ‘dust-up’ covering the lighter Fortuner, Everest and Trailblazer models. It’s a pity that the limited model range of Pajero Sports didn’t fit in there, so we wait for the battle of the bigger guns. I am the proud owner of a 2014 2.5 Pajero Sport. My experience is that it is not far off the current model. It is notable that a comparative off-road 4×4 test was conducted circa 2013, featuring the Fortuner, Pajero…

Getting to the continent’s most easterly point on the Horn of Africa was tough for all of us. We felt emotionally drained after 12 000km through eight countries, and then the race through Somalia with our own band of security – 25 armed men with AKs and light machine guns – always with the threat of possible kidnap and ransom hanging over our heads. But we made it. Back in the fishing village of Xaafun, it was time to use this adventure to do some great humanitarian work. We got to meet elderly villagers through Rite to Sight, conducting eye tests and providing the correct strength of spectacles. As always, the gratitude was quite humbling: how a simple pair of reading glasses instantly improves someone’s quality of life. With the…

The old Lamborghini LM002 might seem like an absurd and pointless creation, especially when compared to the company’s new Urus, but Lambo’s original SUV has become quite the collector’s item. The fact of the matter is, an LM002 is now much pricier than even the most expensive Urus. A superb example was recently auctioned off in New York for $467 000 (R6.3million). RM Sotheby’s says the luxury sports utility vehicle, which has 19 153 miles (30 824km) on the clock, underwent a comprehensive mechanical and cosmetic restoration prior to the sale. It originally cost $158 000 (about R2.1million) when it arrived in the US through a Floridaport of entry. The LM002 was based on a rear-engine-mounted 4×4 called the Cheetah, which Lamborghini built in 1977. The Cheetah was created in…

Ford’s Fx4 limited-edition derivative, introduced in April last year, has proven popular with South African customers, and as a result, Ford has expanded the Fx4 range. Previously, it was only available on the Ranger 3.2 Double Cab XLT 4×4, but now the range has been expanded to include (in limited quantities) all XLT double cab derivatives, including the 2.2 and 3.2-litre models, in both manual and automatic transmissions. The Ranger Fx4 gets unique decals and comes with black finishes for the radiator grille, fog lamp bezels, exterior mirrors, roof rails, as well as the door and tailgate handles. The 17-inch alloy wheels are also finished in black, as are the side steps, rear bumper and special Fx4 tubular sports bar located in the load bay which features a fitted bed…

Kingsley, they call you the Greybeard of African adventure and say that you and your team are the most travelled adventurers in Africa. Is it true that you’ve explored every single country on the African continent? Yes, we feel hugely privileged to have undertaken geographic and humanitarian adventures to all 54 countries in Africa, including all the island states. More than 30 crazy expeditions over several decades that include a 33-country, 449-day odyssey to track the outline of Africa; a journey in open boats from the Cape of Good Hope to Cairo and the mouth of the Nile near Alexandria; taking Landies around the world along 23’27° (the Tropic of Capricorn) and in open boats; an east-to-west journey across Africa from the mouth of the Zambezi to the mouth of…

WOULD I mind going on a 4×4 expedition through the southern parts of Lesotho? Yes please! Southern Lesotho and its surrounding area has been on my bucket list for some time, and names like Ongeluksnek Pass (2 555m) and Matebeng Pass (2 955m) lured me in like a moth to a flame. DAY ZERO Arrived in Ballito, collected 10xVW Amarok double cab bakkies, and departed in convoy for the border town of Matatiele and our overnight stop at Resthaven Guesthouse. We were met by Philip Rawlins, our local guide for the upcoming adventure and owner of the guest house, but more importantly, a walking encyclopaedia on everything and anything in the region. DAY ONE Early morning departure from the picturesque town of Matatiele (Mata to the locals, and they really…

When it comes to the SUV market, Alfa Romeo is somewhat late to the party. Interestingly though, the company has been toying with the idea of building an SUV for a long time. As early as 2003, Alfa unveiled an SUV (called the Kamal) but nothing came of it. Now, 14 years later, we have the Alfa Romeo Stelvio (named after a famous mountain pass in the eastern Alps). The question is: has the Stelvio been worth the wait? Is Alfa’s first ever production SUV, well… still an Alfa? Or is it a cynical cash grab that sacrifices Alfa DNA in an attempt to create a vehicle with mass appeal? That, indeed, is the tough task that Alfa Romeo – and Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche and Maserati, for that matter –…

BIKES This is arguably the toughest class in which to compete. The bikes are always first on the road in the morning, which means they sometimes hit the road to get to the start of the special stage as early as 1am. And that’s often after they stumbled into the bivouac the previous night at 10pm, or later. Factory riders have it reasonably okay. They obviously start first, so finish relatively early, too (if nothing untoward happens on the stage, of course). When the factory riders arrive at the bivouac, there is a team of mechanics and support staff waiting for them. And a warm meal, a massage and a cosy bed. Privateer riders don’t have it quite as good. Their tents, sleeping gear and a box full of spares…

IN a tough year for the economy, the strength of the used car market has been the most significant story in the local automotive industry in 2017. New car sales are showing some budding signs of picking up but they have been trading below inflation for the first time in many years while there has been a marked increase in the price of used cars for sale. The used car market has maintained a volume of more than twice the size of the new vehicle market this year. At Gumtree, with approximately 75 000 listings of cars for sale at any given time, we continue to see this trend. Interestingly, “Toyota Tazz” was the single most searched for Gumtree item of the year – another signal that demand for cheap…

Why were these items not included by the manufacturer? Many of these are not optional extras. They are essentials. Best example is probably the rubberising of a pick up. This is always the first port of call when we prepare our Voetspore vehicles for an expedition. Whether you use a pick up as a workhorse or as a leisure vehicle, it needs to be rubberised. Over the years we realised that there are a variety of rubberising products available. This may be the reason why vehicle manufacturers don’t include it as standard on a pick up. It is something like fitting a radio of your choice in your car during the period when few vehicles had factory-fitted music systems. Like radios, there is a huge difference in the quality of…

Is a city-oriented softroader just not tough enough for your adventure lifestyle? Well, Toyota has unveiled the FT-AC, a more robust and off-road-ready interpretation of your typical modern crossover According to Toyota, the FT-AC has been conceived as a thoroughly capable all-wheel-drive petrol (or hybrid-powered) vehicle catering to various lifestyles, preferences and even generations. It represents the latest iteration of Toyota’s adventure-loving line-up of concept vehicles, providing an ideal vehicle for a wide mix of on-and off-road excursions. Don’t get too excited, though, the FT-AC is just a ‘design experiment’ for now, but Toyota representatives were certainly talking about the crossover as if it was a production car when it was unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show. “FT-AC is perfect for those outdoor enthusiasts who want to dial up…

Thinking of buying a Lamborghini Urus? Ownership of such an astonishing and eye-catching vehicle brings with it an obvious question: what is the appropriate footwear to don when piloting the vehicle? Needless to say, a North Star takkie or Hi-Tec hiking boot simply will not do. The solution to this quandary has thankfully been provided by Lamborghini itself, which recently announced a range of Enzo Bonafè moccasins created specifically to accompany the Urus. The price of these moccasins have not been revealed, but if you can afford an Urus, you should be able to pay for the shoes as well.…

Mitsubishi Motors South Africa has launched what it calls a “very limited edition” of the popular Mitsubishi Triton, available in both 4×4 and 4×2 double-cab body styles. The Triton Xtreme limited edition – fitted with the all-new 2.4-litre MIVEC turbo diesel engine (133kW and 430Nm) – gets a unique body-styling kit and black-and-chrome alloy wheels fitted with Cooper Adventurer all-terrain tyres. In addition to the new wheels and tyres, the body kit comprises a tonneau cover, style bar, tailgate and fuel flap cover, bonnet guards, grille, fog lamp and wheel arch covers, front and rear light guards, and door handle covers. It also comes with Triton-branded scuff plates and heavy-duty rubber mats. The factory-fitted body kit (and all other Xtreme accessories) are covered by the original manufacturer’s factory warranty. According…

The new Volvo XC40, the Swedish car maker’s answer to the popular premium compact SUV segment, is on its way to South Africa. Due for local launch in April 2018, the new SUV is set to create yet another stir for the Volvo brand in South Africa where the XC90, S90 and V90 Cross Country have paved the way for new-era Volvo cars. The new SUV will arrive in South Africa with the choice of two trim levels (R-Design and Momentum), two engines (D4 diesel or T5 petrol), and all-wheel drive on all models. Inscription derivatives arrive later this year, along with a broader engine line-up which includes a D3 diesel and T3 and T4 petrols, including a selection of all-and front-wheel drive. The XC40 also introduces the new Care…

I had narrowed my search down to three vehicle types and eventually opted for a 2000 Pajero iO 1.8l 5-door. It was in seemingly good condition with 171 000km on the clock and came for the fair price of R69 000. As with any second-hand car, particularly when you are a pedantic purchaser like me, I had things to do to it before it was in the desired condition. In the end, with all the servicing and replacement of tyres, shocks, steering bushes and so on, I spent nearly R82 000. With one back roads trip to Sutherland already under my belt, including a mild-mannered Grade 2 4×4 track, I was starting to feel good about my purchase; but I still needed to see how it would handle being an…

WITH a starting price of R630 000, the outgoing Lexus NX range faced an uphill sales battle in a tough South African market. Besides the obviously tough economic times, local buyers are a bit obsessed with double cab bakkies. Considering that you can pick up a high-end double cab bakkie for less than R600 000... well, a cool and compact SUV has a bit of a tough gig. So the Lexus NX has been selling in relatively low numbers, at around 30 units per month. At the end of 2017, Toyota Motors South Africa updated the NX range. Most significant though, was the introduction of an entry-level, front-wheel-drive derivative. Badged the 300e, this model sells for R600 000. We spent a week with the Lexus NX300e entry-level model. THE UPDATES…

A luxury caravan or large boat requires a vehicle with some serious horses. Sure, you can use a smaller, less powerful vehicle, but that tends to result in a whole lot of frustration. No, to ensure that your caravan or seaside holiday is a pleasant and relaxing affair, you need a vehicle that can tow without hassle. Of course, this means that you need something with loads of power and torque, which tends to result in an eye-watering purchase price. But there is some good news. A lot of powerful and luxurious SUVs don’t hold their value terribly well. They are extremely expensive when new, but once they hit the second-hand market, they become a lot more affordable. There are some tradeoffs: fuel consumption tends to be high and maintenance…

This month, we’re not going to go too deep with our monthly photographer quote. Instead, we’ll keep it simple, and to the point, courtesy of late American photographer and environmentalist, Ansel Adams who said: “The single most important component of a camera is the 12 inches behind it.” I BELIEVE I CAN FLY! Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa was more determined than ever to take victory in the 2018 Dakar Rally. With a strong driver line-up including Nasser Al-Atiyah and Giniel de Villiers, the team spent some quality time in the Northern Cape in November 2017, testing the new Toyota Hilux with its mid-mounted V8 engine and updated suspension. HIGH FLIER Spanish X-Fighter motorcycle rider Maikel Melero was just 10 years old when he started competing in the Spanish Motocross…

CAPS. Toppers. Or camper shells. That’s what the Americans erroneously call a canopy. Just imagine telling your young lad: “Please go fetch my toolbox in the cap?” Or, when you stop at that roadside restaurant and you ask: “Hey lad, have you locked the topper?” It just doesn’t sound right, does it? Anyway, you get canopies and then you get canopies. From basic fibreglass units to lah-di-dah aluminium and steel versions that feature accessories like built-in kitchens. Which reminds us of a story of a campsite in Moremi, where some adventurers of different walks of life had conglomerated one evening, under a dark, moonless sky. There was a couple from the Netherlands in a Land Rover Defender impressively rigged for overlanding. There were the four young students from Stellenbosch in…

ABUTCH little military Jeep is not the sort of thing that you tend to associate with the Alfa Romeo brand, but the Italian manufacturer did indeed built a military 4×4 in the 1950s. The vehicle, officially called the 1900 M, but quickly nicknamed the Matta (which means ‘mad’ or ‘crazy’), was developed and built for the Italian Defence Force from 1952 to 1954. In that time, Alfa produced around 2 000 of these vehicles for military use (designated as the AR 51), and 150 for civilian use (the AR 52). The project was abandoned in ’54 because the Matta was too mechanically complex for a vehicle of its kind, which also made it pricey to produce. The Italian military instead opted for the simpler Fiat Campagnola. The 4×4 was powered…

Can anyone help? I am going to skip all the clichés (that you deserve) about how magnificent, great, wonderful and so on your magazine is and cut to the chase. My wife is a proud owner of a 2016 Mazda Akera CX5 Automatic with 33 000km on the clock and she loves the car. I agree it is a wonderful vehicle and no doubt worthy of the praise; however, things are starting to turn a bit sour. When the vehicle returned from its 30 000km service, it developed a problem with the gearbox. When travelling at about 80km/h and then accelerating to overtake, especially on an incline, the gearbox freezes, not changing down with the result that the vehicle does not accelerate. Instead, it slows down. You can imagine that…

After years of development and a lengthy teaser campaign, the Lamborghini Urus SUV has finally been revealed. According to Lamborghini: “The Urus is undoubtedly a Lamborghini, taking cues from the LM002, as well as the super-sportscars that are fundamental to Lamborghini heritage. The Urus has outstanding proportions, adopting the two-thirds body, one-third window ratio of Lamborghini super-sports cars.” Despite what Lamborghini says, the Urus has little in common with the LM002 (which is a good thing), but the company has managed to create an SUV that still looks like a Lambo. With its sharp nose, strong lines and large rims, the Urus manages to bring that signature look-at-me Lambo design to the SUV segment. According to Lamborghini, the Urus also has the raw speed and performance expected from a vehicle…

Subaru’s XV and Impreza models have won the highest five-star overall rating in the 2017 European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) safety performance test. This follows the April 2017 announcement that the XV and Impreza had won the JNCAP 2016-2017 Grand Prix Award for earning the highest safety score, setting a new score record. The Euro NCAP evaluates Adult Occupant Protection, Child Occupant Protection, Pedestrian Protection and Safety Assist. A new test has been added to the safety testing process, namely the 2016 safety performance assessment; a test that checks how well vehicles autonomously detect and prevent collisions with pedestrians. The Subaru XV and Impreza models are both equipped with the brand’s EyeSight, which is capable of detecting pedestrians. This feature performed well in the new test. This is…

The luxury SUV has a new benchmark thanks to the introduction of the Range Rover SVAutobiography, says Land Rover. This flagship (and most expensive) Range Rover was unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Created by JLR’s Special Vehicle Operations unit, the long-wheelbase Range Rover SVAutobiography is the priciest Range Rover model to date, with a tag of over R3.2 million for the 5.0-litre supercharged V8 model, which delivers 422kW. Other powertrain options include is a 4.4-litre V8 turbodiesel (250kW) and a new plug-in hybrid electric-petrol unit. This version boasts a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and a small electric motor that delivers a combined output of 295kW and 640Nm of torque, with an pure electric range of 50km According to Land Rover, the Range Rover’s Executive Class rear seats…

Volvo Cars has started developing its autonomous-drive cars with help of Swedish families who will test its cars on the public roads of Gothenburg and feed back their impressions to Volvo Cars engineers. The first two families, the Hains and the Simonovskis from the Gothenburg area, have now received the Volvo XC90 premium SUVs with which they will support the Drive Me project. Three more families will follow this year, and over the next four years, up to 100 people will be involved in Drive Me. Drive Me will involve real customers testing the different stages of driver assisted and eventually fully autonomous technology. Both families will contribute to Drive Me with invaluable data by allowing engineers at the company to monitor their everyday use and interaction with the car,…

SAFE AS HOUSES The Tesla X became the first SUV to score the maximum five-star rating in every test conducted by the USA’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), making it the safest SUV ever tested by the organisation. The legendary McLaren F1, long considered to be the fastest car in the world, completes the 0–100km/h sprint in just 3.4 seconds. A race-ready Ferrari 430 Scuderia needs 3.1 seconds to do the same. A BMW M4 DTM Champion Edition 3.8 seconds. And here I am, sitting in the cockpit – because ‘cabin’ doesn’t quite cut it – of a Tesla Model X. It’s a massive SUV with six seats and acres of space. It weighs a hefty 2.5 tons. This machine is said to be able to complete the same…

ALTHOUGH we don’t really experience it in South Africa, emissions are becoming a critical issue when it comes to vehicle design. In places like the United States, Europe, and even China, manufacturers are increasingly being forced to conform to tough emissions regulations. While most carmakers appear to be betting on electric technology in the long term, this tech is still in its infancy, with only the earliest of early adopters queuing Teslas and Jaguar I-Paces. While electric technology is still being refined, a stopgap is required that will allow car companies to drive down emissions without requiring a complete manufacturing overhaul. The answer: hybrid technology. To be sure, a modern hybrid drivetrain almost invariably makes use of electric tech, but by combining it with internal combustion engines that can do…

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. 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 the…

CAN YOU GIVE US A QUICK BREAKDOWN OF AUTOVEST AND ITS BRANDS? Autovest consists of four brands: Rhino Linings, Kilber, SA Canopy and Auto Armor. Rhino Linings is probably the best-known and widely used rubberising product in SA. Rhino Linings provides protection against rust, abrasion, impact damage and the corrosive effects of chemicals. It’s also used in marine and industrial applications. Kilber offers a full range of precision-manufactured, polished mild steel and powder-coated full-face bull bars, nudge bars, roll bars, side steps, tow bars and more for passenger vehicles, bakkies, commercial vehicles and SUVs. SA Canopy is a subsidiary of Autovest that manufactures a wide range of fibreglass bakkie canopies, ranging from workhorse-style units to more leisure-oriented items for double cabs. Auto Armor is a trusted name in vehicle protection…