Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2019 i Leisure Wheels

ACCORDING to the Automobile Association (AA), the South African Government is adding a ‘stealth tax’ to the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) Act, as it is set to introduce a so-called Infringement Penalty Levy. This levy is basically a fee payable for every infringement notice issued to motorists. According to the AA, this could mean an extra R100 is added to each fine issued, regardless of the value of the fine or its associated demerit points. Whether a motorist receives a fine of R200 or R2 000 , an extra R100 is added, which amounts to a tax for actually receiving the fine. The AA says that assuming 20 million infringement notices are issued each year, this would amount to a R2 billion windfall for the Road Traffic…

Keep up to date with news, videos, photos and articles, with Leisure Wheels online Like our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/LeisureWheels | Follow us on Twitter: @LeisureWheelsZA | Web: www.leisurewheels.co.za SHARED ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE Here’s the all-new Isuzu D-Max and, as we expected, the 3.0-litre engine is still part of the package, albeit with more power and torque. Daniel Steyn: Tried and tested design and look. Will not upset the regular Isuzu customers but may be a bit too safe. Will be as good as any other Isuzu product. Now for the Mazda version. DukeVincent ThebornLegend: Impressive! The entire interior revamped! Piet Viljoen: I always thought that good looks on that dependable platform will be a winner. I like it. Kudakwashe Tapiwa Masaka: The new #ISUZDA. Lifalakhe Xabe: If a Hilux…

If there’s a road on a Slingsby map, Peter Slingsby has driven it. If there’s a hiking trail on his maps, he’s walked it. Today the Slingsby map collection numbers more than a dozen, with a few books thrown into the mix, too. This is a chap who has got around. We caught up with Peter at his home in Cape Town. What car do you drive? We’ve recently acquired a Honda BR-V which we like a lot. We don’t like to have something that can handle roads that are too rough because then we tend to research areas that people in ordinary cars can’t get to. What is the favourite car you’ve owned or driven? A long wheelbase Daihatsu Terios. It could do anything: it was 4×4, no complications, light.…

Mercedes-Benz SA recently introduced the revamped GLC and GLC Coupé in South Africa. The exterior changes include some subtle tweaks but for the most part it’s the same as before, just packaged more handsomely. The most significant changes are to be found under the skin. As standard, both versions of the GLC feature the modern, learn-capable infotainment system, MBUX (Mercedes-Benz user experience). Its strengths include intuitive control using a variety of inputs such as touch control and gesture control as standard. In addition to the infotainment overhaul, Mercedes is including a number of new driving assistance features as well as active distance assist and active steer assist. Also new is trailer manoeuvring assist, which aids when manoeuvring in reverse. As standard, the GLC and Coupé have agility control suspension while…

Local South African-based tuner, RGMotorsport, recently introduced a new stage four tuning kit for the Ford Ranger 2.2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder diesel. The stage four kit includes a Unichip, enlarged turbocharger, Techniflow downpipe, performance air-filter, stainless steel exhaust system and a bigger intercooler. The standard 2.2-litre produces 118kW and 385Nm while this stage four kit takes it all the way to 185kW and 520Nm of torque. That’s more power than any other Ranger in Ford’s current line-up, including the Raptor. This conversion will render any warranty null and void but it’s worth investigating if you already own said Ranger with no warranty left. More info can be found at www.rgmotorsport.com.…

The M badge used to be reserved for BMW’s most track-focused motorsport models. As customer demands have changed, however, BMW was forced to sprinkle this magic across the product line-up, including its SUV models. SUVs now make up about half of all M cars sold so it is no surprise BMW is continually expanding this barrage of high-riding performance models. BMW used the recent M Festival at Kyalami to launch the first X3M and X4M models and these high performance models will be available only in Competition specification in South Africa. Under the bonnet is a newly developed six-cylinder in-line engine that features M TwinPower Turbo technology with two turbochargers, allowing it to produce 375kW and 600Nm. Power is delivered via an eight-speed M Steptronic transmission and modelspecific M xDrive…

More information: www.ledlenser.co.za The new Ledlenser i-series provides perfect lighting for professional use in construction, trade and industry. Dark moments in the workplace are a thing of the past with these innovative lamps. All lamps are extremely powerful and powered by a permanently installed rechargeable battery. The two construction floodlights, iF8R and iF4R, are the right choice when it comes to illuminating large rooms or areas. They are extremely robust, flexible and can be easily transported with the generous handle. The output can be regulated in five dimming levels. They also boast water and dust protection, which means they can be operated without problems in humid and dusty environments. The built-in cooling technology ensures long endurance without overheating. The iW7R work lamp provides a maximum of 600 lumens of light…

There’ll be suffering, but great views to go with it. Which is one of the reasons why, when he runs, Adrian Burford prefers to hear the crunch of gravel underfoot. GETTING there, they say, is half the fun. And with midday Saturday approaching, ‘getting there’ the day before seemed to be the only fun of the Heritage Day long weekend so far. While the drinkers of the Rainbow Nation were no doubt eagerly anticipating the sun and the yardarm making each other’s acquaintance, I had nothing to look forward to but more pain. My knees were throbbing, sending signals shooting to my brain express delivery with each step down the Pyramid. To add to it, my throat was parched, my shoulders ached, I could feel a hot spot on the…

THIS Land Cruiser 79 4.0-litre (with a full free-flow exhaust) is a marketing car, meant to showcase what the folks at Onca Off-Road are capable of. In essence, Onca takes an already capable 4×4 and elevates it to a level where almost nothing can stand in its way. Hours before the Land Cruiser’s arrival, we were scouting Hobby Park in search of the fiercest obstacle. We found two such obstacles, perfect to test the abilities of such a highly modified machine. Unfortunately, the Onca Land Cruiser made parking a Renault Kwid look harder. “Oh, we forgot to lower the tyre pressures,” quipped Len Nel, part owner of Onca. While going up provided no drama, on the descent there was one intense moment, which had little to do with the car…

ON paper, especially if you are a Subaru fan who remembers the famed World Rally Championship days when the brand’s Impreza was a dominant force, the situation seems pretty dreary: a two-litre Boxer petrol engine, delivering a seemingly underwhelming 115kW of power and 196Nm of torque, peaking at 4 000r/min. This engine is linked to Subaru’s Lineartronic continiously variable transmission, purportedly adding further dark clouds to an already gloomy performance deal. Now, after spending several thousand kilometres behind the Subaru’s steering wheel, we can conclude: except if you are a boy (or girl) racer who likes to race Golf GTIs or Focus STs between traffic lights, the Subaru’s 115kW and 196Nm is more than equal to the Forester task. Never mind if you drive a rough-and-tough gravel mountain pass, or…

THERE are a few people who decried the continued use of Isuzu’s well-known 3.0-litre fourcylinder turbocharged diesel. Since the engine has been given a thorough once-over and now produces enough power to make it competitive in its segment, we don’t share that particular sentiment. Besides, there is a good argument to be made in favour of the pragmatic approach. The last time Isuzu ventured way out of its lane, things didn’t go all that well. This story takes us all the way back to 1967. The Kei car segment had been around for nearly 20 years, which meant the Japanese government had made some adjustments to the strict guidelines manufacturers had to follow. By 1955, the maximum allowed length had grown from 2.8 metres to three metres, while the maximum…

Voetspore in South Africa has always been a little bit of a selfish journey. There were, and still are, so many places in South Africa I have never had the opportunity to visit, most of them probably places that viewers and readers want to know more about as well. So, we embarked on the road less travelled. Recently I read in a newspaper in the letters column that a lady complained we did not stop at the grave of Louis Leipoldt and also not at the Graf van ’n Engelse Soldaat. She’d been there before and couldn’t understand why we would ignore it. Fact is, we didn’t. But most people who travel the Cederberg get to know about this. For us, it was more important to see the hidden rock…

Isuzu launched the X-Rider a few years ago with the idea that it would be a limited edition bakkie but it sold so well it became a permanent fixture within the line-up. Following that massive success, Isuzu introduced the X-Rider Crew Cab in 2017 and the X-Rider Black Edition in 2018. The latter really was a limited edition, as it was only available for a short time. It’s back now, completing what has been an epic year for Isuzu. First there was the successful switch from KB to D-Max, followed by the introduction of the Arctic Truck D-Max, built on the line at Isuzu’s plant in Port Elizabeth. The most recent addition is the reintroduction of the X-Rider Black Edition, this time wearing the D-Max badge. Since the all-new D-Max…

Slotting between the workhorse Base and XL models at the affordable end of the pricing spectrum, and the luxuriously appointed XLT and feature-rich Wildtrak on the premium end of the scale, the Ranger XLS line represents the ideal middle ground for all manner of applications. Ford is making it more appealing to the leisure market by adding a new chrome styling pack at no extra cost. This optional kit adds approximately R20 000 worth of styling and feature upgrades to the Ranger XLS line-up. In place of the matt grey finishes previously used for the XLS models, the front boasts a bright chrome trapezoidal grille with twin horizontal bars that take pride of place in the centre. A chrome finish adorns the exterior mirror housings, door handles, practical rear step…

Shortly after the all-new Q3 made its local debut, Audi introduced what will be the hottest model in its line-up: RSQ3. We loved the previous version of this car and we’re elated to see that the 2.5-litre turbocharged five-cylinder will be carried over. In the new model it produces 294kW and 480Nm. Audi claims a zero to 100km/h sprint time of 4.5 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 250km/h. To keep all that power in check, the RSQ3 sits 10mm lower than the standard car. It also features adaptive dampers and uprated brakes. As an added bonus, the RSQ3 will be available in two exclusive colours, one of them named after South Africa’s most famous racing circuit, Kyalami. In Kyalami Green the RSQ3 looks like a mini Lamborghini…

After pulling the plug in 2016, Citroën is back in South Africa with an all-new business model and some brandnew cars. At the lower-end of the SUV market it’s introducing the C3 Aircross, which shares a platform and engine with the Peugeot 2008 and Opel Crossland X. The quirky crossover is available only with one engine and gearbox combination. The 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol packs an 81kW/205Nm punch. This power is sent to the front wheels via a slick six-speed gearbox. Two derivatives are available: Feel and Shine. The entry-level Feel has all the good stuff you want while the Shine adds a number of niceties that’ll make any commute a joy, including climate control, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity and automatic headlamps as well as rain sensing wipers.…

Securi-Lid, a leading manufacturer of roller shutter products, displayed its prestigious 218 roll-top cover at the recent Automechanika Johannesburg. From its inception in 2007, Securi-Lid has prided itself on progressive design and manufacturing of roller shutter products. The Roll-Top cover for vehicles such as bakkies spearheads the stable of quality products on offer while the vertical solutions for the trucking market are just as remarkable. The latest 218 Roll-Top cover was showcased at the show, exhibiting how the new concept design not only incorporates a sleek design, but also provides practical access features such as mid-stop functions when opening the roll-top cover. This is the premium cover in the range specifically for vehicles with sports trims, while the 216 original Roll-Top cover remains available for all standard vehicles. Also on…

“I’ve always been passionate about motorcycles. My love for travel though, that came a bit later. My mom was the lone traveller as my dad had an intense fear of flying. When I realised I could combine my love for travel with my love for motorcycles, I knew I had inherited my mom’s wanderlust.” – Brian Cheyne I undertook many trips in South Africa on my bike. I rode in the rain and mud in Haenertsburg. I rode up Sani pass and down Gamkaskloof. I had many conversations with random strangers in the most unexpected places. Riding in South Africa is easy. I know where towns are, I know the language and the cultures. It was when I started contemplating a trip overseas that I found myself out of my…

The current Ford Kuga will never again be evaluated in isolation because there will always be a rather large elephant standing next to it. At this point, the firegate saga is well known in South Africa yet there’s nothing concrete we can state about it. Ford hasn’t been found guilty of anything and at the time of going to print, was in negotiations with the National Consumer Commission to see if a settlement could be reached with alleged victims. There’s no denying it did some serious damage to the Kuga’s reputation. Ford’s other products keep selling up a storm yet the Kuga struggles to gain the traction it once enjoyed. We understand the hesitation, however, especially with such a large competitor pool for customers to dive into. The Kuga is…

We struck camp at Umshanti, which is situated on the banks of the Buffeljags Dam. There are mostly self-catering units but there are also three campsites. This campsite is so popular you need to book months in advance and, most importantly, no day visitors are allowed. Umshanti is just 9km from the historic town of Swellendam and about 250km from Cape Town. If you reach the town of Buffeljagsrivier, via the N2 from Cape Town, take a left towards Infanta 4×4. Umshanti is surrounded by the picturesque Langeberg. The three campsites are on beautiful green lawns and are perfect for those who like to camp with tents, trailers or caravans. Each campsite has a braai area, 220V power and a great view of the mountains and dam. Each braai area…

CHEAPEST ONE Land Cruisers tend to hold their value extremely well. In addition, they’re not the kind of car that gets traded-in, or sold in the first place. Having said that, there are a few for sale. The cheapest we could find is a 2001 4.5-litre with 293 000km on the clock. It’s a one-owner car but with a partial service history. We wouldn’t worry too much about that, as these bakkies are easy to fix and parts are readily available. ALREADY MODIFIED Land Cruisers don’t tend to stay standard long so it’s worth finding a model that already has a number of prime upgrades. This 2016 low-mileage 4.5-litre V8 with 56 000km on the clock, is in the market for just R700 000. That’s a lot less than the…

Renault’s top-selling Kwid recently received its first major overhaul since it was launched in 2015. The major design changes are at the front. The Kwid now features split headlights; the top are LED daylight running lights while the bottom serve as the main headlamps. Other changes include a new grille and some new bumpers. On the inside, the Renault now features a few things carried over, as well as some things poached from the recently unveiled Triber. There’s an eight-inch touchscreen and a new digital instrument cluster. The infotainment system offers Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and a reverse parking camera. Additional upgrades include a new steering wheel, seat fabrics and trimmings for the doors. The gear selector in the AMT model has been moved from the dashboard to the centre…

The full details of the upcoming BMW X5 M and X6 M have finally been released. As is the case with the X3 M and X4 M, these SUVs will be available in two specifications: Standard and Competition. BMW has taken the decision to only launch the Competition models in SA from May 2020. Both models use the same 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8, with the power being sent to the wheels via xDrive all-wheel drive. The Standard vehicles already feature an increase in power over the previous generation models but the Competition models increase the power even further. You get 460kW and 750Nm of torque. Thanks to a slick eight-speed automatic, BMW claims the Competition models are capable of zero to 100km/h in less than four seconds. On top of the…

Nissan’s all-new 2020 Patrol is soon to go on sale in the Middle East, giving us a closer look at what we can expect to see in South Africa in 2020. In terms of design, the new Patrol is less controversial than the model it will replace. It’s basically a large, boxy luxury barge featuring a few Nissan design language touches, like the V-Motion grille and boomerang lights at the front and rear. On the inside, Nissan is ditching the complicated single-screen interface, opting to go with an all-new dual display that feature Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. As the top-of-the-line Nissan product, customers can expect quilted leather, hand stitching, every conceivable luxury as well as a full array of the latest safety gadgets. Two engines will be available: the…

Tork Craft has launched a range of adhesives for bearings, nuts, studs, bolts, screws and sleeves. Used in all industries; locking the various types of steel, brass and zinc, this new liquid anaerobic adhesive is applied to the item and is up to its full secure locking strength within 120 minutes. The various products come in low, medium and high strengths, depending on what they are applied to, they are easily identified by their product names and coloured packs. This new proven and tested Tork Craft Lock range makes the perfect maintenance repair, rebuilder kit for most industries covering all their needs in the workplace. Presented in a handy bottle with a strong nozzle for the fine application. More information: www.torkcraft.com…

WHAT’s in a name? A simple question that linguists have pondered ever since William Shakespeare wrote that famous monologue in 1595. For those of you who haven’t read the famous play, the above question was asked by Juliet, wondering whether her family’s dislike of Romeo’s family was a sign that their love wasn’t as starcrossed as they initially thought. Fret not, for this isn’t a recap of Will’s best monologues. We ask the question as genuinely and sincerely as possible. No hidden subtext, wrong answers or endless droning about the sweet smell of roses. What’s in a name? Do you know where yours comes from? We only ask because we recently spent some time with Dirk van Reenen. At first glance his appears to be just another South African name…

When Toyota offers to lend you a Prado for a weekend, you don’t really need to think twice, do you? Throw some 4×4 fun into the mix – and a trip to the Atlantis Dunes – and you have a no-brainer. And so it was that my family of five arrived at the Dunes to see what this 4×4ing on sand business was all about. Sidenote: I’m no 4×4 expert. Yet, here I was, about to face some seriously tough challenges, surrounded by some of the country’s most serious 4×4ers. Hell, some guys had even driven from Lesotho to take part in this event. With this in mind, I had two objectives for the day: do not embarrass myself and, second, do not sully the good name of this great…

RENAULT’S Duster compact SUV, also known as the Dacia Duster in some countries, first went on sale in 2009. It has proven a popular choice, offering more 4WD capability than most regular all-wheel-drive compact SUVs, often at a fraction of the price. No wonder it’s been a huge sales hit: more than 2.6 million units have been sold worldwide since 2009. The Renault’s surprisingly capable 4WD ability has ensured it has become an affordable off-roading prodigy in countries such as Russia, Morocco and even here in South Africa. The Duster Club of SA’s members regularly tackle grim 4×4 routes, normally the reserve of pukka 4×4s with a transfer case and locking differentials. And the same Duster 4WD that went off-roading over the weekend is back on duty on a Monday…

WITH Jaguar Design moving to a new studio at the Gaydon Design and Engineering Centre, it opened its doors to give a unique insight to the fascinating journey that will bring nextgeneration Jaguar vehicles to showrooms, from initial sketching and clay sculpting to final engineering. Across six-stages of design, exterior and interior teams collaborate throughout a well-defined process that can move from inspirational first sketch to finished car in around four years. SKETCHING Designers never stop sketching. Pen, pencil or tablet, the studio team is constantly generating new interior and exterior ideas for future products. The design process for a future Jaguar starts with an internal competition that sees designers from across the studio produce their best sketches before entries are whittled down to a shortlist. On each project, up…

THE fact that Citroën is back means there’s at least a handful of people who believe they are still relevant. First, the basics of how Citroën will operate in South Africa. It’s part of the PCSA Group, which means it once again falls under the Peugeot Citroën banner. There will be stand-alone dealerships but a large part of the operation will run from dedicated Peugeot dealerships. New customers will be able to both order and service their vehicles at any of the branches in South Africa. This means servicing won’t be a problem if you happen to live in any large South African city. That’s a concern out of the way but just one of many that Citroën’s Xavier Gobille, MD of Citroën South Africa, will have to face. If…