Colin-on-Cars - Feisty Fiat fully fitted

The quirky Fiat Abarth hatch has gained a special edition model while the rest of the 595 range features new interiors, new colours and new details for the Abarth 595 Turismo and Competizione hatch and cabriolet models.

The Abarth 595 offers as standard all the equipment needed, including a flat-bottomed steering wheel, updated instrument panel and the pressure gauge now lit in white to ensure better legibility, while polyelliptical headlights and LED daytime running lights are fitted as standard on the Competizione.

Competizione

‘Sport’ mode has been renamed ‘Scorpion’ mode throughout the new range aligning it with the Abarth logo and in recognition of the brand’s founder, Carlo Abarth.

Pressing the button on the dashboard alters peak torque delivery, power steering calibration and engine response to the accelerator pedal, making them sharper and increasing driver engagement. The 595 is also equipped with a high-performance braking system specific to Abarth, providing maximum safety courtesy of the 284 mm front ventilated discs and the 240 mm rear discs.

The Abarth 595 Turismo features refreshed interiors, including exclusive diamond-embossed leather seats available in a number of colour options, including the new heritage brown.

Turismo

As part of the upgrade an all new colour has been added to the exterior Competizione palette, rally blue, a matt colour inspired by the Fiat 131 Abarth Rally of the 1970s. New 17-inch alloy wheels are a nod to those of the 1990s Lancia Delta Rally Integrale, while a body colour body kit is specific to the Competizione in combination with the new rally blue or scorpione black exterior paint.

Inside, in addition to the ‘Scorpion’ mode selector with its new design, a new dashboard covered in Alcantara can be found, alongside new leather seats and gear lever in carbon fibre.

The new Abarth 595 range is equipped with the 1.4 T-jet engine, available in two output levels. The 595 Turismo features 121 kW, while the 595 Competizione enjoys a power rise to 132 kW.

All variants of the 1.4 T-jet engine are paired with a six-speed manual transmission and both the Turismo and Competizione can be fitted on request with an Abarth robotised sequential transmission with shift paddles.

The new 595 range is equipped as standard with the Uconnect system with 7-inch high-definition touchscreen radio and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.

The new Abarth 595 Monster Energy Yamaha special series is designed especially for young customers and motor sport fans and is limited to 2 000 units worldwide.

Aesthetically inspired by the livery of the 2020 Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s YZR-M1, the exterior of the new special series features a dual colour blue and black livery bearing the ‘Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’ logo on its lower side, just above the ‘595’ logo.

The special series is finished off with the Monster ‘claw’ on the bonnet.

On the inside, the model features the special new Abarth sports seats with blue finishes and the ‘Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’ logo on the head restraints. The blue lining stands out from the black dashboard. Thus mirroring the dual colour livery, while the numbered plate is placed on the central tunnel.

The Abarth 595 Monster Energy Yamaha is equipped with a 1.4 T-jet engine with Euro6B homologation, with manual transmission, but it can be fitted with an Abarth robotised sequential transmission with shift paddles on demand.

https://bit.ly/3AwzNys

Colin-on-Cars - Maisy gets petrolhead's dream

It is the kind of stuff petrolheads dream about but, for Maisy from Wales the dream came true as she took over as CEO of McClaren Automotive for a day.

Maisy – just Maisy – aged 17, became the Chief Executive Officer of luxury supercar maker McLaren Automotive for the day to celebrate International Day of the Girl and encourage young people, and particularly young women, into science and engineering careers.

Maisy took over the reins from McLaren Automotive CEO Mike Flewitt, as part of McLaren Automotive’s long-term partnership with global children’s rights charity Plan International. 

It comes as McLaren highlights Plan International’s new research showing 1 in 4 (25%) girls aged 11 to 18 have wanted to try out a science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) subject or job but have either been told it is for boys, were worried about being negatively judged, or were unsure since they only saw boys doing it in the media.

It also showed nearly half of girls (47%) have heard through media, friends, or family that ‘girls are not good at STEM’.

“My day as CEO of McLaren Automotive was full of incredible moments but being part of building a supercar was amazing, and that’s not something many people can say,” says Maisy.

“Plan International is about smashing stereotypes, changing attitudes, and unlearning lessons because a lot of girls think they should be playing with dolls and not cars, and that’s not right. This partnership between McLaren Automotive and Plan International is inspiring young women to consider STEM careers and achieve their full potential.”

The day included leading her executive team in strategic decisions as well as collaborating with many of the company’s female business leaders, engineers, scientists, and designers.

CEO Maisy gained an understanding of every aspect of the process of designing, engineering, building and marketing supercars and helped to hand-build a McLaren supercar, including putting on the all-important McLaren badge as the finishing touch to one of the company’s new hybrid supercars, the McLaren Artura.

Maisy also met brand ambassador Amanda McLaren, daughter of company founder Bruce McLaren, at a new ‘McLaren: Driven by Design’ exhibition at Brooklands Museum which features a full-scale LEGO 720S supercar, before having a CEO preview of some of McLaren’s top secret future supercar designs and a passenger test run in a McLaren GT.

“Having Maisy take over as CEO of McLaren for the day to celebrate International Day of the Girl has been both an enjoyable and valuable experience for me and the whole McLaren team. Her ideas, insights and intelligence – as well as clear passion – will help us move forwards even faster on our efforts to achieve even greater diversity and inclusion,” says Mike Flewitt, Chief Executive Officer, McLaren Automotive.

“Maisy also got to see the incredibly exciting and diverse range of talents we depend on to produce our supercars and I hope, in the process, she has helped to dispel stereotypes associated with the automotive industry from a gender and skills perspective. “Our work with Plan International is for the long-term and I’m delighted one of the key decisions Maisy led on as CEO was our pledge to work with Plan International on McLaren’s commitment to holding workshops with 100 girls over the next 12 months, scaling up to 1 000 globally by 2025 to encourage greater take-up of STEM careers. That is a legacy Maisy and everyone at McLaren can be very proud of.”

https://bit.ly/3Dv3MIY

Colin-on-Cars - New Ford Ranger on the road

It’s out and about and hiding in plain sight. It is the new Ford Ranger undergoing final testing processes before it is launched to the public.

Global connectivity took away much of the secrecy automakers used to enjoy with new models so many are now capitalising on that by creating their own teasers.

The designer of the Ranger’s Bronco R-inspired block-style camouflage, Lee Imrie, and his team used the science of optics to mask some of the pickup’s key visual secrets until it is unmasked later this year. And road users will be able to see this truck in action even at night thanks to its unique reflective patterns.

While Ford is not trying to hide the fact this is the #NextGenRanger thanks to the hashtag and QR code built into the pattern, it doesn’t want to fully reveal the final design just yet.

View the camo video here - https://youtu.be/cBYgrVpC1wc

“Inspiration for the camo originally came from the Baja livery Ford has been using. I’m a huge fan of motor sport and it’s hard not to be obsessed with machinery like that,” says Lee Imrie, Exterior Designer: Ranger.

“Because the Ranger is strong and rugged looking, I felt the scattered block design would be a natural fit to help break up the exterior surfaces.”

“When you stand back, the camo has a clear connection to a digitized military-style livery with a connection to nature that echoes the lifestyle orientation of the Ranger.”

The camouflage stickers are not available for purchase.

https://bit.ly/3uMe2JA

Colin-on-Cars: Road Review - Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross 2.0

You know that kid. The one leaping up and down in the crowd yelling “pick me! Pick me” but is always the last one to be selected for any team games.

That is kind of the situation for Mitsubishi in South Africa but yet, when picked, turns out to be a much better player than expected.

The latest version of the Eclipse Cross sporting the 2,0-litre powerplant logically comes up against the Mazda CX-3 2.0, Suzuki Vitara 1.6 GLX and the soon-to-be-launched Toyota Corolla Cross hybrid and, while pricier than all of them, does offer some standard features some, or all, do not.

If you add in the individual cost of each item to the opposition list, the price factor evens out quite significantly, making the value for money proposition on the Eclipse much better than a first glance at the price tag would suggest.

Now in its second generation, the latest version has vibrant styling that expresses a fresh sportiness and stylishness – a balance between the sporty wedge shape of a coupé and the practicality, space and comfort of a SUV.

With an increased length of 140 mm, the Eclipse Cross offers improved interior room and the rear has evolved from the previous shape and the split rear tailgate window has been replaced by a sculpted hexagonal design with a single piece of glass.

The rear lamps now have a distinctive three-dimensional Y-shaped design, and extend upward and inward to follow the shape of the outside of the tailgate glass.

Not only was the SUV redesigned but it gained features such as electrically adjustable foldaway mirrors with indicator light, projector LED headlights with levelling device, daytime running lights (DRL), dusk-sensing headlamps, front fog lamps, rain-sensing windscreen wipers, front and rear park distance control, rear spoiler with high-mounted stop lamp, front bumper skid plate, 18-inch alloy wheels and roof rails.

On the inside, the longer length of the body also means a larger boot capacity of 437 litres, increasing to 1 074 litres with the rear seats folded flat without compromising on the spare wheel tyre size.

Luxury and convenience interior fittings include smartphone Link Display Audio (SDA), new premium Mitsubishi power sound system, tilt and telescopic steering wheel, multi-function leather steering wheel with audio and cruise control, Bluetooth connectivity with hands-free voice control, paddle shifts, power windows front and rear, central locking with auto door lock, full automatic air-conditioning with rear passenger vent duct, leather seats, electric seat adjustment for driver and front passenger, heated seats up front, 60/40 split rear seats and accessory sockets and USB ports.

In short, pretty much everything any driver needs.

The 2,0-litre MIVEC DOHC 16-valve four-cylinder engine uses a multipoint fuel injection system and offers 110 kW of power at 6 000 r/min and peak torque of 198 Nm at 4 200 r/min.

Coupled to this engine is Mitsubishi’s six-step INVECS-III CVT. I still dislike CVT gearboxes but at least this one does a lot less whining as it searches for a suitable ratio. With the paddle shifts the driver regains control and can manually ‘select’ a gear, making the process of moving more briskly or overtaking more positive.

Of its peers, the Mitsubishi is not the most economical and my test average came in at 8,3 l/100 km (7,9 claimed by Mitsubishi). However, it is bigger than those peers so size and space need to be weighed up against the fuel figures and how the vehicle is going to be utilised.

Out on the road, though, the suitably high seating position provides a commanding view of the world at large and the power seat adjustment allows for fine-tuning of the seat position for maximum comfort on both long and short haul journeys.

Mitsubishi, for me, has always to build in a comforting sense of solidity to its vehicles and the Eclipse Cross sits firmly on the tarmac, yet is still nimble enough to pedal quickly when the occasion arises. It stays firmly fixed even through rapid directional changes and is more than happy to take on lesser travelled dirt roads without faltering.

In terms of safety, it comes fully kitted with Mitsubishi’s reinforced impact safety evolution (RISE) body construction, seven crash bags, side-impact protection bars, ISOFIX child seat anchors, anti-lock braking with brake assist (BAS), electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), active yaw control, hill start assist (HAS), active stability and traction control (ASCT) and a rear-view camera on the list.

Enhancing the value proposition is a 3-year/100 000 km warranty, a 5-year/90 000 km service plan and 5-year/unlimited mileage roadside assistance. Service intervals are set at 15 000 km.

https://bit.ly/3lcIWYm

Colin-on-Cars - Sporty addition to Sportage range

With a sizeable list of tech and comfort extras, the new limited edition Kia Sportage GT-Line variant eases into showrooms with a R649 995 price tag.

“Sportage has a nearly three decade-long heritage, and remains Kia’s best-selling model globally,” says Stephen Crosse, Sales and Marketing Director, Kia South Africa. “Now, with the addition of the GT-Line derivative at the peak of the range, the Sportage is at its most expressive, dynamic and luxurious, and offers a distinguished last hurrah before the fifth-generation model debuts next year.”

The fourth and current-generation Sportage, which debuted locally in 2016 and set a record for The World’s Longest Test Drive, is considered the most popular Sportage yet, recording more than five-million global sales in 28 years. 

The GT-Line gains LED combination lamps front and rear, dual exhaust outlets in chrome trim, model-specific skid plates and 19-inch alloy wheels. Inside is a two-tone, diamond-patterned and perforated artificial leather trim on the seats, a glossy finish on the centre console, a GT-Line-specific flat-bottomed steering wheel, and a 4,2-inch colour instrumentation cluster. 

Additionally it gets:

- Smart entry with push-button start

- Dual-zone automatic climate control

- Auto-folding mirrors

- 8-inch HD touchscreen infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

- Electrically adjustable front seats, including lumbar support

- Seat heating for front and rear passengers

- Bi-LED headlights with an auto-on/off function

- Height-adjustable powered tailgate

- Panoramic sunroof

- Wireless smartphone charging

- Electro-chromatic rear-view mirror

- Cruise control

The Sportage GT-Line offers as standard anti-lock braking with Electronic Brake-force Distribution and Downhill Brake Control, six crash bags, Electronic Stability Control, Hill-start Assist Control, ISOFIX child-seat anchor points and rear-view camera with front and rear parking-assist sensors.

It is powered by a 1,6-litre T-GDi turbo-charged petrol engine developing 130 kW of power at 5 500 r/min and 265 Nm of torque from 1 500 r/min to 4 500 r/min, driving through a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

“Whoever said family comfort and sporty performance don’t gel, clearly hadn’t driven the Sportage GT-Line yet,” says Crosse. “It’s a no-compromise SUV offering a fuel-efficient, turbocharged engine, a dynamic driving experience and a spacious cabin with class-leading technology that ensures the comfort and safety of your family.”

The pricing includes Kia’s Unlimited Kilometre / 5-year warranty (inclusive of Roadside Assistance), as well as a prepaid 5-year / 90 000 km service plan.

https://bit.ly/3Fgbp7H

Colin-on-Cars - Ford boosts title hopes

The Ford Castrol Cross Country Team’s challenge for the 2021 South African Cross Country Series title received a significant boost as Lance Woolridge and Elvéne Vonk (334) took a hard-fought victory at the second race of the 4x4 Mega World 400, held at NAMPO Park near Bothaville in the Free State, at the weekend.

The busy cross country weekend featured back-to-back races over the two days, covering approximately 370 km each – and it was in the Saturday event where Woolridge and Vonk secured their second win of the season in the new EcoBoost V6-powered Ford Ranger, designed and built by Neil Woolridge Motorsport (NWM).

The pair were on track to finish second overall in Friday’s race around the Free State farmlands, despite gusting winds, dramatic thunderstorms and heavy downpours playing havoc with the conditions.

Unfortunately, they were caught out by a tricky mine dump section on the second of the two loops, beaching the car and losing over six minutes in the process. They had to settle for a disappointing sixth place, but team-mates Gareth Woolridge and Boyd Dreyer (377) kept the Ford flag flying high, finishing on the podium in a well-deserved third place overall.

The scene was set for a thrilling, completely new race on Saturday, with dry and hot conditions replacing the miserable weather from the day before. The short 15 km sprint qualifying session placed Gareth and Boyd second, just three seconds ahead of Lance and Elvéne – and the top three covered by a mere nine seconds.

Gareth and Boyd soon picked up a cooling fan issue on their vehicle and were slowed as the engine power was reduced, resulting in Lance and Elvéne completing the first loop in second place, with their team-mates dropping to fifth on the timing sheets.

A last-minute decision to replace a driveshaft due to a damaged CV boot on Lance’s car during the 30-minute service break was completed in record time, and the two Ford Castrol NWM cars headed out together for the second loop very close together, although Lance was ahead on cumulative times. They matched each other’s pace throughout the second loop and trading fastest times with the other front-runners, but they switched positions to give Lance and Elvéne the best possible chance at taking the win – and it paid off as they claimed the top step of the FIA-class and overall Production Vehicle podium, beating the Toyotas of Chris Visser/Albertus Venter and Henk Lategan/Brett Cummings.

“It was a fantastic day for us today,” Woolridge said. “I woke up this morning feeling very positive after the disappointment of Friday’s result, and the moment we got out onto the route I really enjoyed it. The car was faultless and never missed a beat. Scoring maximum points this weekend was essential for us to keep our championship hopes alive, so we’re appreciative of Gareth and Boyd letting us past, as that made the difference between winning or losing today.”

After their first-lap cooling system troubles were sorted during the service stop, Gareth and Boyd produced a tenacious drive and made up considerable time on their rivals to cross the finish line fourth overall – a solid result to complement their podium in the first race.

“We had a very good qualifying on Saturday morning and were well placed in second just six seconds off Henk, but the cooling fan problem occurred just 20 km into the first loop, and we battled through to the service stop with the car almost in limp mode, so we lost about a minute and a half,” Gareth said. “We pushed very hard on the second lap to claw back time, and moved back up to fourth. It is disappointing missing out on the podium as we had hoped to do better, but third and fourth places for the weekend aren’t too bad, and hopefully we’ll improve at the next race.”

Class T

The Neil Woolridge Motorsport-supported Ford Ranger privateers proved the class of the field in Class T, giving the team a clean sweep of podiums in both of the 4x4 Mega World 400 races this weekend.

Championship leaders Malcolm and Frans Kock (T4) looked set to further consolidate their points advantage during Friday’s race in the blustery and unexpectedly wet conditions, but a broken suspension lower control arm just 5 km from the end of the race put a devastating halt to their charge. Wors Prinsloo and Andre Vermeulen (T41) took the win, ahead of Bernard Johnstone/Jan Harm Hugo (T22) and Christo Rose/Arno Olivier (T58). This success handed NWM the event’s Team Award.

The Ford NWM Development Team had a good outing too, as Bapi Rubuluza and Fanifani Meyiwa (T49) brought their Ford Ranger V8 home in fifth place.

Saturday’s race saw fortunes reversed for the recent Class T winners, as Malcolm and Frans Kock proved unassailable and claimed the victory, while Prinsloo/Vermeulen encountered gearbox trouble that saw them retire on the second loop.

In turn, Rubuluza and Meyiwa produced a confident drive to earn their first Class T podium in second place, with Rose/Olivier rounding out the top three once again – handing NWM another Team Award trophy.

“A podium on our third race finish is really great for Fanifani and I,” an elated Rubuluza said. “We’re still learning the ropes and getting used to the car and working with each other. Friday’s race was very difficult, especially in the wet conditions, but going into today’s race we set out to give it our best and we worked on a different strategy. It was a good race, and although the dust was challenging at times, we focused on getting to the finish and not risking anything.”

NWM team principal Neil Woolridge was very satisfied with results from the action-packed 4x4 Mega World 400 race weekend: “It has been a hectic weekend having two full races in two days, but I’m very happy that we got the win and third place overall, plus first, second and third in Class T in both races and the Team Awards.

“Gareth had a great run on Friday and finished third, while Lance was unlucky getting beached on the sand. Today the situation was reversed, as Lance had a great run and pushed very hard without any problems. He kept the Toyotas honest the entire day and taking the win is a fantastic result for him and the team,” Neil said.

“Gareth was unlucky with the fan not working properly and the temperatures ran a bit high on the first loop. On the second lap, he was fighting back hard, but unfortunately I had to ask him to play the team game as we had a chance of winning, and eventually it all worked out perfectly with Lance taking the victory. To come away with the win is very special, as our opposition is really strong, and they aren’t the world cross country champions for nothing. So to beat them twice in four events is a fantastic result.”

The next race is the Vryburg 400, round 6 of the SA Cross Country Series, which takes place on 29 and 30 October 2021.

Colin Mileman

https://bit.ly/3iwax51

Colin-on-Cars - Promising research to prevent aquaplaning

Rain, as every South African driver knows, brings with it a host of additional on-road dangers, not the least of which is aquaplaning when heavy rain outweighs the drainage capability of the road surface and leaves large stretches of water.

Coventry University researchers are hoping to save lives through a new device they have developed to prevent vehicles from aquaplaning and losing traction control due to adverse road conditions. 

Professor Mike Blundell and Ravi Ranjan from Coventry University’s Research Centre for Future Transport and Cities have produced the Run Dry Traction System (RDTS) following a two-year research project.  

The prototype product aims to prevent aquaplaning and loss of traction in a variety of road conditions. Aquaplaning, also referred to as hydroplaning, happens when a layer of surface water builds up between a vehicle’s tyres and the road surface, leading to a complete loss of grip. This can occur with as little as 2-3 mm of standing water on the road surface when vehicles are travelling at a variety of speeds and is a leading cause of road traffic accidents. 

The RDTS presents a novel potential solution to aquaplaning and the loss of traction by preventing water and other contaminants from reaching the tyre. The device works by firing a jet of compressed gas close to the front of the wheel, removing surface water in front of the tyre to ensure the vehicle has a dry patch of road ahead. This effectively ensures grip is not compromised by road contaminants such as water, sand and gravel. 

Professor Mike Blundell, Professor of Vehicle Dynamics and Impact at Coventry University, said: “Our tests demonstrate that RDTS has the potential to make a huge impact on vehicle safety in a whole host of conditions. The prospect of producing something that could even save lives on the road is extremely exciting and after some initial success with testing, we’re now eager to look into manufacturing potential and further research to take this concept to the next level.  

“A device like this really could be the difference between life and death if it can help vehicles to stop safely within certain distances and that’s why we’re so keen to continue developing this concept.” 

The RDTS has been designed to be fitted to a wide range of vehicles, including cars, buses, trucks and motorcycles and with further development, it could even have the potential to be used to improve aircraft ground operations and rail transport safety. 

https://videopress.com/v/Pkl5Pcmy?resizeToParent=true&preloadContent=metadata
https://bit.ly/2Y4xjJZ

Colin-on-Cars: Road Review - Toyota Prado 2.8 Diesel VX-L

As a young boy I had quite an extensive collection of Dinky toys (and I wish I had kept them) that made way for an extravagant Marklin train set that threatened to banish both my parent’s car from the garage (it too, would have been worth keeping) that made way for an eclectic collection of motorcycle parts acquired with the idea of resurrecting an old Garelli; the space shared with car parts to get cousin Cyril’s Renault Dauphine up and running.

Of those Dinky toys my favourite was a battered old Land Rover and that ignited my ongoing affair with life off the road.

However, interest only turned to adoration when Toyota first introduced the Prado to South Africa. I cannot properly explain why I fell so hopelessly in love with the Prado – perhaps it was the first less than conservative design from Toyota, perhaps it was its ability in the bush.

Who knows, who cares?

The fact is the Prado has been a bucket list car for me since then and, will almost certainly remain on that list until I kick the darn thing considering the more than R1-million price tag on the latest generation – the top-of-the-range 2.8 Diesel VX-L the subject of this test.

I had not had the opportunity to park my bum in a Prado for quite some time, so the arrival of the VX-L was awaited with much anticipation along with a touch of trepidation – would it measure up to my expectation; would it still be the car I would buy instantly if I won the Lotto.

Short answer. Yes.

Like pretty much all vehicles, the Prado has grown in size with each new iteration and the current model is undeniably big, although not disproportionately so. However, there are some Sandton socialites who tend to buy vehicles like this as pose-mobiles that will need some driving pointers to get in and out of silly little shopping centre parking bays.

Not that it is a problem with high-definition reverse camera and the wealth of driving aids packaged into the Prado.

For anyone intending to put the vehicle through its paces as an on/off-road tourer, the good news is the latest range offers an additional 30 kW of power and 100 Nm of torque derived from the switch to the 2,8-litre GD-6 turbo-diesel engine, that is now mated exclusively to a six-speed automatic transmission (previously five-speed).

Prado's overlanding and towing credentials benefit from the higher-performance engine that now delivers a maximum of 150 kW at 3 400 r/min and 500 Nm over a wider 1 600 r/min – 2 800 r/min band.

The latest generation 2.8 GD-6 engine (as debuted in the updated Hilux) has received a raft of upgrades including a new ball-bearing turbo-charger with a larger turbine and impeller and improved engine rigidity and cooling. Better fuel economy is realised through optimised pistons and piston rings, changes to the cylinder block and head, higher fuel-injection flow rate and the adoption of high-performance materials for the exhaust manifold and cylinder-head gasket.

A newly-fitted balance shaft helps smooth out engine vibrations, improving NVH performance and contributing to an even higher degree of refinement.

The new six-speed transmission has revised torque converter lock-up mapping, to provide smooth gearshifts and a newly-added paddle-shift function. A low-range transfer case makes off-roading a cinch, while user-selectable differential locks (centre and rear) keep the wheels ‘in sync’ when navigating slippery conditions.

While those aforementioned socialites may shudder at the thought of their ‘precious’ getting all dusty, it is precisely what the Prado is designed to do and, with little effort, it makes the likes of the mighty Sani Pass and Naude’s Nek seem like slightly bumpy flat surfaces.

Despite the stronger outputs, fuel consumption improves to 7,9 litres/100 km and CO2 emissions are down to 209 g/km. Fuel capacity is 150 litres with an 87-litre main tank and 63-litre sub tank.

More strenuous work off the beaten track obviously impacted the on-road consumption, pushing it up to around 10 l/100 km in some instances.

Along with the evolved body shape and lines, the Prado remains a luxuriously appointed carriage and there is now a new-generation multimedia system that incorporates a larger 9-inch touchscreen display, enhanced voice recognition and compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Users are able to utilise mobile-phone-services such as Google Maps, Waze, Spotify, SoundCloud etc.  and an embedded satellite navigation system backs up smartphone functionality – particularly useful when out of signal range.

All variants come with automatic dual-zone climate control, 6-speaker touch audio system, electrically adjustable driver’s seat (with memory on the VX-L), illuminated entry, cruise control, park distance control, keyless entry, auto door lock, three power outlets, Bluetooth connectivity, USB, 3rd row seating and reverse camera.

Seat heating and ventilation are provided for front row occupants while second row occupants also benefit from seat heating. The refrigerated centre console helps make light work of road trips or bushveld excursions.

VX-L models gain a 14-speaker Premium audio system with woofer, multi-information display, power tilt-and-telescopic steering adjustment, rain-sensing wipers and power-fold-down functionality for the third-row seats along with Toyota Safety Sense (TSS), which encompasses Pre-Collision System (PCS), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Blind-Spot Monitoring (BSM), Lane Departure Alert (LDA) and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA). In addition, the Automatic High Beam (AHB) function provides enhanced visibility via the LED headlamps when activated. A power-operated tilt-and-slide moonroof completes the VX-L package.

Its off-road ability lies embedded in Toyota’s Active Traction Control system (A-TRAC), which actively regulates wheel-slip, by directing torque to the wheel with the most traction. The system is capable of applying braking pressure to wheels individually to maximise traction. Hill Assist Control (HAC) forms part of the standard ensemble.

The Multi-Terrain Select (MTS) system, operated by a centrally mounted rotary knob, allows the driver to select the correct mode depending on the ‘road’ ahead. The system has five pre-configured modes (mud and sand, loose rock, mogul, rock and dirt and rock), to tailor the vehicle’s traction control, transmission characteristics, power delivery and suspension settings to the terrain at hand. Downhill Assist Control (DAC) and Crawl Control are included on VX and VX-L models.

Over and above that it has Drive Mode Select, which offers five modes; Comfort, Sport, Sport +, Normal and Eco; to adapt vehicle dynamics according to driver preference.

All Land Cruiser Prado’s have a body on frame construction with a double-wishbone front design and multi-link rear layout. The VX and VX-L versions have Toyota’s Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS).

KDSS employs a hydraulic system attached to the sway bars, to effectively link all four wheels reducing body roll and improving wheel articulation. In addition, there is Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) to allow adjustability of the shock absorber damping level. This is linked to the Drive Mode Select function.

All pretty on paper! So, does the Prado meet the bucket list requirement?

Indeed, it does. Those fortunate enough to own one should fully embrace its capabilities by pointing it at the wide-open spaces that make South Africa such a great country and go, see and experience all of the goodies not visible from motorways and highways.

The Prado is light and nimble, despite its size and responds quickly to driver commands whether on or off the road where, its sure-footed stance inspires confidence.

All Prado models are sold with a 9-services/90 000 km service plan – with 10 000 km service intervals. A 3-year/100 000 km warranty is also provided.

Well, back to the bucket then.

https://bit.ly/3urV2jz

Colin-on-Cars - The point of it all

It is all about points gained, points lost and points being sacrificed going into the sharp end of the South African Cross Country Series with a double-header event in the home of the Nampo Show, Bothaville this weekend.

The double-header will see crews complete a qualifying session and full race on Friday; with a new route, qualifying session and race following on Saturday.

“This is a big race for us,” says Toyota Gazoo Racing SA Team Principal, Glyn Hall. “We have many interesting factors that will play a role this weekend, but we still have our eyes firmly on the championship, despite also using the opportunity to further prepare for January’s Dakar Rally.”

The team narrowly lost out on victory at the Toyota 1 000 Desert Race, which took place near Upington in June this year. However, Giniel de Villiers still tops the standings in the Production Vehicle category, while navigator Dennis Murphy finds himself in second place in the standings.

“Despite leading the title chase, Giniel has decided to focus on the development of our new GR DKR Hilux T1+, which we’ll be running at Dakar,” continues Hall. “This means he will not be able to score points with the new car, as it will be racing under special permission from the organisers, rather than a regular entry.”

As such, the focus for the title chase shifts to Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings, who will again be fielding a turbo-charged V6-powered version of the team’s Class FIA Toyota Hilux, as he did at the Desert Race. The team has built a new car for the 4x4 Mega World 400, and though it is capable of running the new T1+ specifications, it will be set up to conform to the SACCS’ Class FIA regulations in order to allow Lategan/Cummings to score championship points.

“Henk is only four points behind Giniel in the overall standings, and a single point behind Ford’s Lance Woolridge, so he is very much in touch with the title chase,” says Hall.

The team’s third Toyota Hilux, running the V8 engine, will be in the hands of Shameer Variawa and navigator Danie Stassen, who will also be competing together at Dakar 2022. The pair showed good pace at the Desert Race, and will be aiming to cement their relationship in the car, and build experience together in preparation for the Dakar Rally.

Class T will see brothers Johan and Werner Horn attempt to close the gap to class leader Malcolm Kock (Ford), after the Malalane Toyota crew failed to score meaningful points in Upington. The brothers started the season with two victories on the trot, and even though they now find themselves in third place in the standings, more than half of the season remains, with four scoring opportunities in hand.

“This weekend is a big, tough race for all the crews,” concludes Hall. “We are recently back from a very tough Dakar test session in Namibia, but despite the hectic schedule, the lads are ready for the weekend, and we are hoping to not only make progress with our Dakar preparations, but also score maximum points in the championship fight.”

Following his win in the opening round of the championship at the Mpumalanga 400, Lance Woolridge (334) is the team’s top-placed driver in the Neil Woolridge Motorsport (NWM) prepared Ford Ranger, and is currently second in the overall Production Vehicle championship on 61 points, just three points behind Giniel de Villiers (Toyota).

Lance Woolridge

However, it’s a close-run affair, as Henk Lategan Toyota) and Brian Baragwanath (Century Racing) are tied in third place just a single point adrift. Woolridge’s co-driver, Elvéne Vonk, is placed third overall for navigators.

In the fight for the FIA-class title, Lance is third on 76 points behind Baragwanath (78) and De Villiers (81), while Elvéne holds third place for the FIA-class navigators.

Gareth Woolridge (377), in the second Ford Castrol NWM Ranger, is currently ninth in the overall Production Vehicle championship and eighth in the FIA-class, with co-driver Boyd Dreyer ranked seventh and sixth respectively.

“It has been a long three months since we last raced in Upington, and the team is very keen to get out there again,” says Ford Castrol NWM team principal, Neil Woolridge. “We have used the time productively to do extensive testing and development work on our new EcoBoost-powered Ford Rangers, focusing on refining its performance, cooling and suspension setup to ensure we are even more competitive for the second half of the championship.

“The 4x4 Mega World 400 will be an exciting challenge, as it comprises two full races over the two days and will cover almost 800 km in total,” Woolridge adds. “With the opportunity to score double points, this event will play a pivotal role in deciding this year’s championships, so it’s essential that we do well and score maximum points.”

The 4x4 Mega World 400 will be the third outing for the Ford NWM Development Team of Bapi Rubuluza and co-driver Fanifani Meyiwa in the V8-powered Class T Ford Ranger (T49).

Following a solid first race together at the Sugarbelt 400 in May, the pair unfortunately crashed out of the Desert Race in June, and are looking forward to a confidence-building performance in the Free State.

“Bapi and Fanifani were looking really good for a decent result in Upington, but they were caught out by the challenging terrain,” says Woolridge. “They are very keen to get back on the horse and gain more experience in the Class T Ranger. With two full-length races packaged into one weekend, it will be the perfect opportunity for them to get back into the groove. The priority will simply be for them to finish both races and get more seat time in the vehicle, and in the heat of cross country racing.”

It will also be an important race for the other NWM-supported Ford Ranger crews. Malcolm and Frans Kock (T4) currently lead the Class T drivers and navigators standings on 106 points, with Wors Prinsloo and Andre Vermeulen (T41) placed second in an identical Ranger V8 on 79 points – the latter four points ahead of the Toyota of Johan and Werner Horn. Christo Rose (T58) is fourth with 69 points on his debut season in Class T, with Bernard Johnstone (T22) fifth in another Ford Ranger.

The event will be based at Nampo Park, just outside Bothaville. The opening race on Friday will comprise a short 15 km sprint, starting at 07:30, followed by the first of two loops of a 180 km route to the east of Nampo Park. According to SACCS, the route will include fast open sections and a mix of technical areas around an old pan, an unused coal power station and old mine dumps now covered in grass, with the final section featuring bushy terrain along the Vaal River.

Saturday’s race follows the same format with a 15 km qualifying sprint, along with two 180 km loops of a different route that encompasses tight and technical terrain, a Super Special set in a field of irrigation pivots, along with soft sandy sections.

Although the event remains closed to spectators due to the COVID-19 restrictions, fans can follow all the action and track the position of the crews using the RallySafe app which can be downloaded free of charge for iOS and Android devices. Also, be sure to follow the Ford Performance SA social media channels, listed below, for regular race updates.

https://bit.ly/3kQBP83

Colin-on-Cars - Truck driver shortage remains a concern

Food shortages and other disruptions following the July looting served to highlight the importance of the logistics sector to the South African economy and, with more than 150-millions tons of freight being delivered by trucks, the shortage of drivers is a major problem.

Stellenbosch University and World Bank figures estimate South Africa’s logistics sector is responsible for as much as 11,8% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product.

However, road freight is increasingly surpassing rail as South Africa’s transport medium of choice, exacerbating the issues caused by the growing scarcity of qualified truck drivers. According to the C-track Freight Transport Index report for April, for example, more than 150-million tons of cargo was transported by road between January and March 2021, compared to just 40-million moved by rail over the same period.

“Our goods and supplies don’t just miraculously appear in supermarkets, and the trucks they come in don’t drive themselves either. The people responsible for driving those trucks are as vital as the goods they deliver because without drivers, our supply chains will come to a grinding halt,” says Arnoux Maré, Managing Director at Innovative Learning Solutions.

He warns the disruption to supply chains in Gauteng and KwaZulu Natal during July’s riots highlighted the need for a reliable, efficient transportation industry, most people glossed over the other part of that equation – having qualified, experienced drivers.

“As of 2021, there is a shortage of approximately 3 000 truck and bus drivers in the South African transport sector. As a result, many companies are recruiting unskilled and unqualified drivers, placing road users at risk.

“Most concerning, however, is the fact this shortage means employers simply cannot allow their pool of drivers any time off. Drivers are required to be behind the wheel every available moment, despite all the safety consequences that follow.”

The shortage of qualified truck drivers is not unique to South Africa, as countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom are also grappling with the same challenge. These nations have resorted to recruiting drivers from all over the globe, including South Africa. However, this appetite for expatriate drivers is furthering fuelling shortages in South Africa’s supply chain.

“Without skilled, committed truck drivers, much of the economy and life as we know it in South Africa, would come to a grinding halt. Trained and qualified drivers mitigate accidents, curb losses and ensure the country’s residents receive their essential supplies without delay, all while contributing to the economy,” concludes Maré.

https://bit.ly/2XXLYHr