Tabla de contenidos para April 2020 en Leisure Wheels

LOYAL Leisure Wheels readers will know that here at the magazine, we do not stand back for a challenge and many of the revolutionary ideas and high standards we strive for were conceptualised by Danie Botha over the years. Deputy editor Gerhard Horn has had the privilege of working with Danie full-time for a number of years and recalls some of the highlights, several of which took place in the mountain kingdom. “On one trip we got stuck in Lesotho after taking a sign that said “bad road”. When we got to the hotel, it was closed, so we had to sleep in a Patrol. Danie was on the back seat, I was in the boot. Or how about that time we nearly flew a drone into what was then the…

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 The all-new D-Max to arrive locally in 2021 Cliffy Brown: I think it may be a little too late! Nice bakkie though. Zanoxolo Mbekela: Such a long wait, by the way I am saving to buy a Raptor. Marius Botha: Bakkie sure looks nice in the photos. How does it compare to the others in the countries where it is available? Batsosi Motsepeng: It will be worth it, I believe. Morne Coetzer: New Isuzu is going to kick some dust for sure. Johan Kriek: Good things come to those who wait. Meet the Electric Frog. It’s the smallest camper we’ve ever seen,…

Taye Perry has been racing professionally for over a decade in South Africa, where she has achieved multiple MSA off-road and cross country titles. Being the leading off-road racing motorcycle female for numerous years, with a 97% race finish rate, the next natural step was to seek out international competition. Taye gained much respect as she tackled the world’s toughest motorsport event and aimed to be the first woman from Africa to complete the rally. Was the Dakar all you expected? It certainly was tough but I was expecting much more dune riding and it turned out that dunes made up only a small part of this year’s event. For the majority, it was rough and rocky; the kind of conditions I love. The liaison sections early in the morning…

The Isuzu D-Max range has been expanded in South Africa with five new automatic models added to the line-up. The headline act in the new 250 automatic line-up is the D-Max X-Rider, which is available in a five-speed automatic transmission for the first time. The automatic model is only available as a 4×2. This complements the existing five-speed manual derivatives, available in two and four-wheel drive, that have been extremely popular in South Africa. Isuzu has introduced the five-speed automatic transmission to the mid-range D-Max 250 LE, as well as the popular workhorse-oriented D-Max 250 Hi-Ride model. Also new to the double cab Hi-Ride trim-level is the addition of a 3.0-litre automatic model matched with a six-speed automatic transmission. “Buying trends in the bakkie segment are changing rapidly, and we…

Honda SA has refreshed its compact BR-V SUV by introducing subtle changes to the interior and exterior design which are aimed at enhancing its styling and functionality. Improvements have been made to on-road drivability and comfort through the addition of new features and added noise insulation. Exterior wise, the BR-V has new LED lighting technology, including distinctive LED daytime running lights. On the practical side, the vehicles are now equipped with rear parking sensors on the mid-range Comfort and top-spec Elegance models to make parking manoeuvres significantly easier. The BR-V Elegance features a seven-inch display audio touchscreen system with an integrated reverse parking camera. To add an extra layer of luxury, Honda has added soundproofing insulation material. The 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine continues to power the range, delivering 88kW and…

If you’re a bakkie-driving cyclist, the sky is almost the limit when it comes to finding a Thule solution for transporting your favourite two-wheeler. When it comes to carrying bicycles in safety and in style, the Thule possibilities are many and varied. A number of Thule solutions are designed to clamp to the tow ball (the ever-popular, affordable Xpress, for example) and others – like the Velospace XT939 – can cradle up to three bikes (and be adapted to carry a fourth). Another option includes using the roof-mounted trio – ProRide, FreeRide or UpRide – which are designed to be secured to a pair of Thule roof racks. When it comes to making the ultimate statement though, the Thule Xporter Pro Truck Rack is hard to beat. It’s designed specifically…

THISwas not Ford’s first exploit at the iconic off-road race on the Baja Peninsula. The Bronco R race prototype arrived just in time to mark the 50th anniversary of the original truck winning the race at the hands of Rod Hall. During development of the F-150 Raptor, a fully street-legal model completed the 2017 edition of the race and placed third in the stock full class competition. The livery of this new prototype was inspired by that 1969 racer and Shelby Hall, granddaughter of Rod Hall, was responsible for driving a portion of the race. Ford used this event to demonstrate that the Bronco has legitimate go-anywhere credibility. This particular racer is a one-off that takes inspiration from the original Bronco and combines them with hints of the upcoming production…

BOUND by Hermanus in the west, Witsand in the east and Cape Agulhas in the south, this 5 000km2 region should interest those with a passion for wine, beaches, seafood and shipwrecks. Preparing for an adventure riding trip – poring over maps, getting the bikes prepped, packing essentials into a watertight bag – is the first bookend to a successful trip. Some like to wing it but I prefer order to chaos. Besides, there are enough challenges on the roads; especially unpaved roads where the pitted and potholed surfaces, as well as errant critters running across them, provide ample adventure. “Did you miss that Cape cobra crossing the road earlier?” I asked Annette when we stopped at Klein River Cheese outside Stanford. “I didn’t even see it, “she responded blithely, seemingly…

WHAT happens when you combine a commanding driving position, all-wheel drive and BMW’s most powerful straight-six petrol engine? You get a car that reels in the horizon like the best sports cars while still offering a dose of practicality, that’s what. POWER PLAY Under the bonnet is a newly developed high-revving 3.0 litre unit with M TwinPower Turbo technology that generates 375kW and 600Nm in the Competition variants. The latest incarnation of M TwinPower Turbo technology features two mono scroll turbochargers. High precision injection technology raises maximum injection pressure from 200 bar to 350 bar, enabling extremely efficient mixture preparation. The technology package is rounded off with Valvetronic fully variable valve timing and Double-Vanos variable camshaft timing. Naturally an advanced high performance engine like this generates plenty of heat. The track-tested…

THE 4×4 King prides itself on being a one-stop 4×4 fitment centre and customisation shop. The small, highly specialised, team has great relationships with most suppliers in the 4×4 industry, meaning they can source exactly the brand and type of products required without the prejudice of pushing the products in stock and on their shelves at that moment. About two years ago, a seriously damaged, ex-Botswana military Defender was delivered to their premises, the client requesting the vehicle be properly repaired and then transformed into the ultimate 4×4 for duty in rural Botswana. On the way to South Africa, the engine self-destructed so the 300TDI engine and transfer case were rebuilt to original specifications. The chassis was taken back to bare metal before extensive rust proofing was applied. The suspension…

AN ordinary car battery relies on a chemical reaction to provide a current, which is used by the starter to crank the engine. That’s what the battery means to the average car owner: it produces the voltage needed to start the engine and that’s about it. A battery has additional functions, though, like providing additional power when the supply from the charging system isn’t up to the task. It usually lasts for five years, but it can be as little as three. Replacing it requires nothing more than a quick trip to your local auto parts store and a spanner. Those are the fundamental basics of a car battery in a car with an internal combustion engine. But what happens when internal combustion is completely removed? We’re speeding towards a…

AFTER World War II, Japan had extremely limited resources and little access to raw materials. Add to that a large urban population where space was an equally rare commodity. The result was a country where the car as we knew it simply wouldn’t work. The result was a set of guidelines set by the government. A manufacturer was only allowed to build a car 2.8m long and 1m wide. Instead of throwing their hands in the air and proclaiming that it would be impossible to build a bakkie/MPV/SUV within those specifications, most manufacturers enthusiastically scooped up the gauntlet thrown at their feet. As motoring fanatics, we’re glad they did because the result was the kei car, of which there are many superb examples. One of these examples was the Daihatsu Midget,…

We have been fortunate to experience the developments in the industry firsthand. A lot of the products we use today are seriously tried and tested. Then again, there are many products we stopped using. Some companies closed down because of their inability to change with the times and introduce new products. But the one company that has grown, expanded and kept up with the latest and greatest, is the aluminium product developer and manufacturer from Ottery in Cape Town. Jeremy Bergh’s Alu-Cab this year, like Voetspore, celebrates its 20 year anniversary. There was a belief that, to go on safari, you had to pack everything, including the kitchen sink. We had three Land Rover Defenders and a Brakhah trailer, all packed to the brim. The Brakhah was big, offering lots…

Peugeot launched its all-new LandTrek bakkie, which will be available in chassis, single and double cab derivatives. It has been confirmed for South Africa in 2021. While the Peugeot has its own unique French design, it shares a lot of its components with the Changan Kaicheng F70. Peugeot and Changan are working partners in China, so it makes sense that they’d join forces to build a bakkie wearing the Peugeot badge for other parts of the world. The double cab is 5.39m long and 1.92m wide and comes with a claimed one ton load capacity. The design is basically bakkie but with the modern Peugeot design elements incorporated. This includes a vertical grille featuring the lion in the middle and vertical LED light signatures. The interior includes a number of…

RGMotorsport is offering an all-new performance upgrade for the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8. With Whipple’s third-generation blower bolted in place, RGMotorsport’s upgrade produces a Track-hawk-whipping 546kW and 928Nm, enough to propel the burly SUV to 100km/h in 3.6 seconds and to a top speed of 290km/h. The Whipple supercharger is nestled in the V of the eight cylinders, which means power is delivered in a more refined and effortless manner. There’s more outright grunt, too. Changing to the latest forced induction technology upped power from 520kW, with torque climbing by almost 60 units. Also included is the RGM-Techniflow dual 76mm stainless steel exhaust system, along with ceramic-coated headers to blast out the hot gases inside the pipes with minimal delay. An ECU software download comes straight from the Whipple factory…

Great Wall Motors (GWM) and General Motors (GM) announced an agreement for the sale of GM Thailand’s manufacturing facilities in Rayong, subject to government and regulatory approvals. Under a signed binding term sheet, GM Thailand and GM Powertrain Thailand legal entities, which include the Rayong vehicle assembly and powertrain facilities, will transfer to GWM. GM and GWM are targeting the end of 2020 to close the deal and hand over the site. GWM’s global strategy vice president Liu Xiangshang, says: “The global strategy of Great Wall Motors has begun to take shape after more than 10 years of development. In the past two years, through the export model transformation and upgrades, Great Wall Motors has accelerated the pace of its strategic global rollout. In 2019, Great Wall Motors’ Tula plant…

The Cars.co.za Consumer Awards celebrated its five-year landmark when the programme’s 13 category winners and the recipient of the Brand of the Year title were announced during a gala event held at the Kyalami Grand Prix circuit in February. #CarsAwards was conceived to be South Africa’s definitive automotive awards programme; the list of vehicles it recognises is meant to guide car buyers to make the best-informed purchasing decisions… cars are judged directly against their peers in specific categories, each of which has distinct requirements. What’s more, 50% of the final scores is based on brand-specific after-sales data that incorporate customer feedback from thousands of South African vehicle owners. Since its debut in 2015/16, the #CarsAwards has grown into the largest and most influential awards event on the South African motoring…

EVO Corse was born in 2002 from the passion of experts with an accurate knowledge in the field of high-quality wheels. The expertise of its workers and the superiority of the products has seen the company become the official supplier to the most prestigious teams in motorsport. In 2007, EVO Corse signed an important commercial and technical partnership agreement with Fondmetal, a company with a history in Formula One and DTM and a leader in the production of aluminium wheels for both the aftermarket and the OEM. The wheels are cast from AS7 aluminium with T6 heat treatment, cast under low pressure into steel moulds. The procedure is more expensive than that needed for a normal alloy wheel but ensures high performance without compromise. After success at the Dakar rally…

A literal graveyard of stock car parts, innovation in vehicle design came to the fore as far back as the late ‘60s… as seen in the famous Boot. Built by Vic Hinkey, who would go on to design both the Lunar Rover and the Humvee, it was a space-framed 4×4 with a mid-mounted V8 and all-round fully independent suspension. Well ahead of its time, it is considered the grandfather of today’s Trophy Trucks and Ultra4 rigs. Briefly owned and raced by Steve McQueen, it won the first running of the Baja 500 in 1969… the same year Rod Hall took victory in the longer Baja 1000 in a Ford Bronco. Long retired from active service, it was bought a few years ago for the Glickenhaus collection but although it hasn’t…

LAND ROVER has added plug-in hybrid models across its range, including the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport. But does this strategy detract from the driving experience for which these vehicles are known and loved? A 2.0-litre petrol engine powers the Range Rover Sport Plug-in Hybrid or PHEV. That might not sound very sporty but it produces 297kW and 640Nm. This engine is further bolstered by a 105kW electric motor housed within the ZF automatic gearbox. It’s located in the centre of the vehicle alongside a 7kW on-board charger. The result of this engineering trickery is that this Range Rover Sport emits only 64g/km on the NEDC combined cycle but is capable of accelerating from 0–100km/h in 6.7 seconds on its way to a top speed of 220km/h. Drivers have a…

GORGE COUNTRYEstate is situated in the heart of George on the Garden Route. When we arrived at the gates, we couldn’t imagine what a great time we were going to have. The receptionists were friendly and gave us a code to access the gate; security is a priority at this resort. The first impressions were of a resort that is neat and well maintained. Our site for the weekend had its own private ablutions. These are equipped with a basin, shower and toilet. Our level of expectation when it comes to ablutions has certainly been raised following our visit to George Country Resort. There are approximately 16 of these private sites and each includes paving where you can set up your caravan, off-road caravan or tent. Each site has a…

BARELY 12 hours after President Cyril Ramaphosa reassured both local and international investors during his State of the Nation Address that Government will continue to create conditions conducive to investment and growing the country’s ailing economy, the Competition Commission of South Africa has taken steps that may well have the opposite effect. The commission published policy guidelines that will compel the automotive industry to implement enforceable measures that could fundamentally change the current nature and structure of the automotive retail and aftermarket value chains in the country. The proposed guidelines bring about some profound structural changes which will intrinsically remould the existing business models of all automotive multinational companies that continue to invest emphatically in the country’s economy, its workforce and its overall future growth. The National Association of Automobile…

I have seen some photos of the new Land Rover Defender floating around the internet and social media, of the vehicles travelling in Namibia. Some were even fitted with a bunch of accessories. Do you have any more information and do you know when the vehicles will go on sale? Chipper Geraty Via Email You saw correctly. Land Rover is hosting select media in Namibia and they have been putting the new Defender through its paces on some of that country’s harshest terrain before the global test drive campaign begins. We are not sure what accessories were fitted but we do know that local 4×4 outfitter Front Runner has already developed a roof-rack system for both the 90 and 110 models. The Defender rack is designed with an aluminum tray, a 3CR12…

Mitsubishi has given its evergreen ASX a substantial facelift for 2020. The new model features a new front end, improved styling, as well as an enhanced interior and mechanics. The newly designed frontal exterior includes a new bonnet, LED headlights and LED daytime running lights as well as LED fog lamps with integrated turning signals, a redesigned radiator grille and a brand-new front bumper face. New 18-inch alloy wheels are included. The enhanced interior includes a variety of new features in the centre of the front console housing the cabin controls, including Mitsubishi’s improved new smartphone-link display audio (SDA) with a new 8-inch WVGA display and touch controls as well as USB power supply for your mobile phone. The SDA has both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The extended list…

Kia has revealed the first official images of the new Sorento, ahead of its first public appearance at the 2020 Geneva International Motor Show. More stylish than ever, the Sorento’s redefined design incorporates sharper lines and uninterrupted surfaces, making it noticeably more sculpted than its round-edged predecessor. With contemporary geometric details and swept-back, elongated proportions, the result is a more confident, mature and desirable design than ever. The assertive face of the Sorento evolves, too, with a new interpretation of Kia’s hallmark tiger nose grille. Wider and more expansive, it wraps organically around the integrated headlamps on each side. The headlamps themselves feature a new tiger eye LED daytime running light, adding extra focus to the design by depicting the intense impression of the lines around a tiger’s eyes. On…

The Mahindra KUV100 K6+ #DARE has joined its K2+ #DARE sibling and is now available at dealers across South Africa. Mahindra first announced in January that it was growing the #DARE range, following the success of the K2+ #DARE and the successful inauguration of its Special Fitment Centre in Gauteng. The range is created at this fitment centre, alongside models such as the newly introduced S11 Pik-Up Karoo AT. “The KUV100 NXT is one of our most popular model ranges, thanks to its combination of low fuel consumption, industry-leading safety and SUV styling,” says Rajesh Gupta, CEO of Mahindra South Africa. “With the #DARE, we have injected extra style and specification, while keeping the price as affordable as possible. It is no wonder then that our first consignment of K2+…

That’s exactly what the latest offering from Cat phones brings you: a smartphone that life won’t break, allowing you to love your phone and lose the fear. Combining the latest technology such as fingerprint scanning, this pocket-friendly, sleek and lightweight design boasts the best camera in its class with the toughness that Cat phones are renowned for. From Cat phones’ 10 years of expertise in producing rugged devices, the Cat S52 defies consumer expectations of what a rugged phone should look like. The S52 combines military-grade toughness with a sophisticated design that is as thin as a mainstream smartphone, especially if it’s wrapped up in a protective case. The high-grade aluminium frame not only provides unrivalled protection for your phone, it offers a sleek, classic look that is as comfortable…

THE TX4 is built by a Brazilian company called Troller, as in, named after a troll. We’re talking the traditional folklore definition of the word and not the modern hate-spewing variety you’ll find all over social media. Not that the traditional Scandinavian word is any better. Trolls have been represented differently across thousands of books, comics and movies but they always have one thing in common: ugliness. According to Troller, there are some upsides to being labelled a troll. The Norwegian folklore suggests that trolls are faithful, loyal, lucky but quick to lose patience when something threatens their habitat. The great thing about this car is that its name can also be used as a verb. Trolling is basically scanning a large area in search of something. That’s something the TX4…

HAVEyou ever seen the famous Discovery Channel show, How It’s Made? If not, you’re missing out on some of the best behind-the-scenes television on offer. The team visits both small and large industries to find out how stuff is made. In each episode, they pull back the curtains and look at the people and the machines that build the things we take for granted. I’ve been lucky enough to see car manufacturing up close many times. It’s hard not to be impressed by how a bunch of different things come together on one large patch of earth in order to create a fully functioning car or engine. There is a catch, however. Plants function according to a rigid schedule and outside interference is simply not allowed. As a tourist in…

IT’S fair to say Renault’s marketing team is tremendously skilful at naming cars. While most French manufacturers settle for a selection of numbers, or an odd assortment of vowels and consonants, Renault always gives its cars fun names. Current examples include Talisman, Clio, Captur, Kwid, Twizy, Zoe, Fluence and Kangoo. The latest car to join the stable is called Triber. A rather self-explanatory name pasted to the rear of a funky SUV-esque seven-seat people mover carrying an entry-level price tag of R165 000. Sounds like a smash hit, right? At that price, there’s nothing even remotely close to offering the same number of seats. The nearest competitor is R50 000 dearer. Obviously, there had to be a catch. In order to offer so much car at such a small price,…

THEteam, which is run by Neil Woolridge Motorsport (NWM), is set to debut a completely new FIA-class Ford Ranger during the season, powered by an advanced twin-turbocharged petrol engine – a ground-breaking, world-first for this category of motorsport. As the Class T champions in 2018 and 2019, the Ford Castrol NWM squad has dominated this segment of the SACCS Production Vehicle championship. But it is now taking aim at the top-tier cross-country category which caters for the latest and most sophisticated vehicles, as raced in the Dakar Rally and the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies. The current Ford Ranger has been raced successfully in South Africa and internationally since 2013, with a total of 24 full race-spec vehicles having been produced at the NWM facility in Pietermaritzburg. However,…

WITH the imminent arrival of the new D-Max model, we were expecting our Suzie to be called back to Port Elizabeth any day now. However, the launch of the new model has been delayed until 2021, so we get to spend a few more months with our faithful workhorse. Upgrades and modifications to the Isuzu Motors South Africa (IMSAf) production plant in Port Elizabeth are currently underway, gearing up for the production of the seventh-generation Isuzu D-Max bakkie. Late last year, Isuzu Motors Limited of Japan confirmed the company would be investing R1.2 billion in the next generation bakkie programme in South Africa. According to Dominic Rimmer, IMSAf senior vice president, Technical Operations, new programmes of this nature and magnitude have complex requirements which call for the localisation of a…