Tabla de contenidos para October 2017 en Leisure Wheels

PRICING JCW Countryman six-speed manual: R604 000 The latest Mini Countryman might be the largest vehicle the marque has ever produced, but it is also one of its most powerful. The Countryman has been given the John Cooper Works treatment, and is now available in South Africa in full JCW guise. As alluded to above, the vehicle’s 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine delivers a maximum of 170kW between 5 000 and 6 000r/min, and peak torque of 350Nm all the way from 1 450 to 4 500r/min, which means that the 2017 Countryman is one of the most powerful Minis ever produced. Indeed, the Countryman is one of three Mini vehicles available in JCW spec at present. Apart from this crossover model, you can buy a JCW Mini hatch and a…

Following the success of the Tucson 1.6 TGDI Executive Sport with its body skirts, black 19-inch wheels and bold exhaust pipes, Hyundai South Africa has decided to give the top-of-the-range all-wheel-drive Tucson 1.6 TGDI Elite the same treatment. The Tucson Sport with the Executive specification level was launched in June, with an eager uptake from customers and more than 50 units sold in July alone. “Some of our customers requested this same body kit and engine power upgrade to be applied to our top-of-range Tucson 1.6 TGDI Elite all-wheel-drive derivative with its dual clutch transmission. It convinced us to add another Tucson Sport derivative to our range,” says Stanley Anderson, sales and operations director of Hyundai Automotive South Africa. As a result Hyundai has introduced the Tucson 1.6 TGDI Elite…

THE Atlantis Dunes Nelson Mandela Children’s Fun Day is now in its seventh year and the only complaint ever heard from over the years has been that Nelson might have had his birthday at a more congenial time of the year. For the last six years, the great day has not so much dawned as simply stopped being night, the sun hidden behind heavy clouds. It has rained, it has sent the howling South Easter, it has frozen the participants, but never have the 4×4 enthusiasts failed to arrive to entertain the kids of the local schools. However, in a dramatic break with tradition, Mandela Day kicked off this year in glorious sunshine, not a breath of wind, the finest winter’s day the Cape has to offer. There is no…

At the official local launch of the latest Mazda CX-5 a few months ago, Mazda South Africa did something unusual: not only did the company present the new model to the press, but it also brought along a handful of outgoing CX- 5s, just to show how much the vehicle has evolved. The overall exterior design hadn’t changed much, but the new version had a lot more of a premium feel than the vehicle it replaced. One could hardly describe the interior of the old CX-5 as cheap or drab, but there’s no denying that the cabin of the new car is much better. This is the sort of interior you would expect from a Teutonic brand, not from an affordable Japanese brand. This is not an anomaly in terms…

Regardless of whether you’re buying new or used, the issue of drivetrain is an important consideration. Sure, it’s great to have a 4×4 system, but do you really need it? When it comes to buying used, it’s particularly important to think things over carefully first. Not only does a 4WD system add to the price of a vehicle, but it can impact its reliability. 4WD systems, transfer cases and diff locks are all complex components, and unless you truly have need for them, they are nothing but a liability. Here are a few things to keep in mind when deciding if you need an SUV or bakkie with a 4WD system. 4WD VS 2WD These days, many bakkies are 2WD only, although you can opt for 4WD versions, especially if…

AFTER decades of assembly at Solihull – first as the Series and later as the Defender – production of Land Rover’s iconic off-roader officially ceased on 29 January last year. It was the end of a (long and memorable) era. Having started in 1948, production continued for 68 years. By any standard, that is a good run, but it was becoming increasingly obvious that the Defender couldn’t continue the way it was indefinitely. The world had moved on. Things like emissions and safety standards had rendered the vehicle obsolete. Before ceasing all production, though, Land Rover released the Heritage Edition Defender in 2015. This was a thoroughly modern vehicle (by Defender standards), but it had been made to look like an old-school Series Land Rover, complete with steel wheels, Grasmere…

SUBARU sells more than 300 000 vehicles per year in America. That’s about on par with our market. Well, our entire new vehicle market, that is. In Trump land, around 1.5 million vehicles are sold. Per month! Ditto with China. Last year, nearly 30 million cars were sold there. Great Wall Motors (GWM), which is a relatively small player in South Africa, sold 1.1 million vehicles in 2016, just to give you an idea of the scale of that market. But both the Chinese and US markets are quite different to the South African playing field. In China, for instance, there is virtually no market for larger capacity engines. Even big sedans such as Audi’s A8 and BMW’s 7-Series are most often fitted with naturally aspirated two-litre engines; there’s just…

PRICING Fiat Panda 0.9 TwinAir Easy: R184 900 Fiat Panda 0.9 TwinAir Lounge: R199 900 Fiat Panda 0.9 TwinAir 4×4: R229 900 Fiat Panda 0.9 TwinAir 4×4 Cross: R249 900 The Fiat Panda range recently received a refresh. Most notably, the Cross and 4x4 were added to the range, the first time we’ve seen versions like this in more than a decade. In total, four models are available. All four Panda derivatives come with the same small and ecofriendly 0.9-litre TwinAir two-cylinder turbocharged petrol mill. Both the Easy and Lounge versions are frontwheel drive and produce 63kW of power and 145Nm of torque. Both are mated to a five-speed manual gearbox. The 4×4 derivative has the same power as the Panda Easy and Lounge, but gets a six-speed manual shifter…

PRICING New Renault Captur 66kW Blaze: R229 900 New Renault Captur 66kW Dynamique: R269 900 New Renault Captur 1.5 dCi Dynamique: R294 900 New Renault Captur 88kW Dynamique: R294 900 New Renault Captur 88kW EDC Dynamique: R309 900 The refreshed Renault Captur has arrived in South Africa. The range now includes a new base model, the Blaze, which is priced at R229 900. The updated Captur comes with a redesigned upper grille with some chrome edging, full LED lights and C-shaped daytime running lights. There is also a choice of new colours and the option of a glass roof and 17-inch alloy wheels standard on all models except the Blaze model that comes with 16-inch wheels. The facelifted interior comes with a new leather steering wheel and more supportive seats…

Let’s cut straight to the point here: the all-new Renault Alaskan, which has been on sale in South America since September last year, is a Nissan Navara. In effect then, it is also a Mercedes X-Class. Indeed, the Alaskan is yet another bakkie incarnation based on the Nissan’s innovative coil-sprung rear suspension (instead of traditional blades) platform. Although the Alaskan’s official press release may wax lyrical about “assertive dimensions and a visual impression of power and strength,” it’s all Nissan Navara under the skin. In fact, it’s only the cool front styling that is obviously different to the Nissan Navara… the side and rear profiles, if you take away the Renault badge, are all Navara. In Colombia, the Alaskan is available only in double cab guise. So no workhorses or…

VOLVO V90 CROSS COUNTRY T6 AWD Engine: Four-cylinder petrol, turbocharged and supercharged Displacement: 1 969cc Power: 235kW @ 5 700r/min Torque: 400Nm @ 2 200r/min Transmission: Eight-speed automatic 4WD system: Permanent AWD 4WD driving aids: Off-road mode, traction control Ground clearance (claimed): 220mm Consumption: 10.6 litres/100km Fuel tank capacity: 60 litres Maintenance plan: Five-year/100 000km Price (standard): R906 184 Price (as tested): R1.1 million FOR me, to truly say I’ve had an adventure, there needs to have been some sort of obstacle, one that many would say is insurmountable, but one that I overcome and return wiser and more equipped to deal with life. The brief that I received was simple: take a Volvo V90 Cross Country across some country, into Mozambique, until you reach a place called Machangulo. Sounded…

STARK landscapes and desert scenery came to mind as I recalled my previous visits to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (KTP) with fondness. The wide open space, with its boundless sense of freedom was calling again. I eagerly anticipated reliving my previous journeys, but more than that, I looked forward to seeing the scenic beauty anew through the eyes of my travel companion, yet to be initiated into wonders of this wild space. Little did I know that, despite this being my fourth visit to the Kgalagadi, it would be a first for me in so many ways. My buddy and I had only a week available, Saturday to Saturday, and so the plan was to spend as much time in the park as possible without having to move campsites too…

All-wheel-drive vehicles have come a long way. These days, 4×4s are large, technologically advanced and capable of both travelling over ugly terrain and barrelling along at 200km/h on tarmac. There is no doubt that modern 4×4s are infinitely better than their basic and boxy predecessors. By comparison, 4×4s from the mid-1900s were cramped, uncomfortable, slow and unsafe. But still... they had an undeniable charm. These were iconic vehicles that launched the trend towards off-road leisure vehicles designed for the public. With a brand-new Wrangler, Defender and G-Class on the horizon, here’s a look at five oldschool 4×4s that started it all. 1 VOLKSWAGEN KUBELWAGEN There was a lot of outrage among sportscar purists when Porsche started selling the Cayenne SUV in 2002, but the truth of the matter is, the nameplate…

THERE they were, one happy overland family. Driving a rigged Toyota Prado, the Kruger family* had been overlanding for only a few days when they landed up at a remote campsite in Zimbabwe. Not that this was a problem because this Prado was fitted with almost every overlanding gadget under the sun. From a fancy rooftop tent system, to a 270-degree awning and fancy suspension to big mud terrain tyres and a winch. There was even a high-end fridge/freezer system. Unfortunately, the budget had run a bit short towards the end of the build (one has to keep some dollars in the bank for beer, too, of course) so the planned dual-battery installation was postponed until sufficient funding was available. The fridge/freezer ran only when the Prado’s engine ran, using…

REIGNING rally and offroad champion Leeroy Poulter and co-driver Rob Howie were in prime form on the qualifying race of the Harrismith 400 event. The pair, in the works Toyota Gazoo Racing SA Toyota Hilux V8, set a blistering pace, starting the race proper ahead of teammates Giniel de Villiers and Dennis Murphy. Come race day and on the first of two racing loops, Poulter and Howie kept the hammer down, staying comfortably ahead of De Villiers and Murphy in the second FIAspecification Toyota Hilux V8. But then a gearbox problem sidelined the leading Hilux, forcing Poulter to park the Toyota. De Villiers took over the reins at the front of the field, with only a puncture and a stop to replace a wheel causing a slight sweat in their…

POLSKI FIAT 125SP KOMBI 4x4 Engine: 1 481cc four-cylinder petrol Power: 51kW 4WD system: Part-time (2H, 4H & 4Low) Gearbox: Four-speed manual (transfer, with centre diff lock) Suspension: Independent with coil springs front, multi-link with coil springs at back Top speed: About 100km/h 0–100km/h: Quite a while Price: Not for sale IN 1943, the IBM company’s president Thomas Watson said of a new innovation called a computer: “I think there is a world market for maybe... five computers.” Well, Mr Watson’s calculations were a little bit off, we reckon. Fast forward to 1977, and a Polish boardroom, filled with a bunch of Soviet suits who, like Mr Watson, maybe did not quite have the future vision of some of their peers. State-owned vehicle manufacturer Fabryka Samochodow Osobowych (FSO) had apparently…

Irecently received a gift of a 20-litre cooler box. Looking at the box, inspecting its features and weighing up its price, compared to standard cooler boxes on the one hand, and fridge/freezers that we use on our safaris on the other hand, made me think: what is the best way to stay cool in the great outdoors? Over the past six years, Voetspore has been closely associated with 4×4 Megaworld. We love and trust their products. We understand that purchasing the 4×4 is only the first step. Then comes journey planning and the fitment of the vehicle to tackle the intended route. Only then comes the expedition itself. Certain items are standard. We know vehicles need suspension, a bull bar, winch, rear bumper, extra spare wheel carrier, longrange fuel tank,…

Hyundai executives have purportedly given the green light to develop a production version of the Santa Cruz bakkie concept. This was confirmed by Hyundai Motor America’s vice president of corporate and product planning, Michael J O’Brien, in an interview with Reuters. He stated that the bakkie will be offered in the United States, but did not give a timeline as to when it will arrive. This will be the first time the company is venturing into the competitive bakkie market in the United States. This decision comes as part of broader plan to move away from sedans in one of the Korean automaker’s most important markets. The Santa Cruz concept was positioned as a lifestyle vehicle similar to the Honda Ridgeline (available in the US), but no more details have…

Volkswagen has confirmed that the ID Buzz concept vehicle, which was unveiled in January 2017 at the North American International Auto Show, will enter full-scale production and go on sale in 2022. VW has shown a lot of T2-inspired concepts over the years, but none of these clever little buses ever made it into production, so it’s great to hear that the ID Buzz will actually hit showroom floors. The Buzz will apparently be produced with a fully electric powertrain and will ride on Volkswagen’s scalable Modular Electric Drive (or MEB, for its German acronym) platform. The ID Buzz will also not only be a passenger vehicle, but there will be a cargo carrier version (known as the ID Buzz Cargo) that will be aimed at the commercial market for…

EARLY in 2017, we hosted the inaugural #fastbakkie challenge. Racing legend Hannes Grobler piloted eight double cabs against the stopwatch on a rally track to find out which bakkie really is the fastest of them all. That proved to be the Volkswagen Amarok 2.0BiTDI 4Motion, much to, well, just about everyone’s surprise. The twin-turbocharged two-litre diesel engine was well suited to this type of driving, not minding the higher engine revolutions as much as some of the other oilburners. Another arrow in the Amarok’s quiver is the Off-Road function, activated via a button next to the gear lever. This function allows for the ABS braking system to lock the wheels up more on a gravel road, effecting shorter stopping distances on that surface. The free-revving engine, the extra few metres…

Mazda BT-50 overlander Mountain shakedown With the conversion of our long-term Mazda BT-50 from standard double cab bakkie to serious overlander just about complete, we decided to take it to the Mountain Kingdom for a bit of a shakedown. ✓ Good: ■ Laid-back character, excellent overlander ✕ Not so good: ■ Fuel consumption is up, thanks to all the extras OVER the course of the year, our BT-50 has steadily been transformed into a vehicle built for overland travel. Major additions have included a ARB replacement bull bar with winch and spotlights, chunky BFGoodrich tyres, Old Man Emu suspension, Rhinoman aluminium canopy, Takla seat covers, Desert roof rack and Desert Armour drawer system and quite a few other items. However, our intention was to keep it as practical and reliable as…

For more information on any of these tours, or to book your trip: Email: lwtravel@ramsaymedia.co.za Website: leisurewheels.co.za/travel-packages/orphone Inshaaf Amos @ Tel: 021 530 3380 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, which boasts some of the most spectacular scenery in Southern Africa. We’ll meet in Kokstad and, over the next eight days, travel via Msikaba, Mbotyi and Port St Johns to Coffee Bay and Hole in the…

ACCORDING to legend, NASA spent a fortune during the early days of the space race to create a pen that could operate normally in the zerogravity of space. The Russians, meanwhile, simply used a pencil. This story, sadly, is apocryphal: while there is undoubtedly wisdom to be gleaned from the story’s message of simplicity and frugality, the tale itself is pure fiction. NASA’s rocket scientists didn’t overlook the existence of the pencil. In fact, early NASA astronauts did use pencils, but these were eventually deemed too unsafe. They flaked and broke (creating floating debris), and were flammable. So, NASA opted for a pen; a pen that already existed and didn’t need R&D funding. Now, like the space pen, an auto-dimming rearview mirror can seem like an answer to a question…