Post on 24-Mar-2016
description
13 MAART
MARKET UNFREEZESAFTER FIVEYEARS
SummerClubheralds sunrise
fordevelopments
All 114 units in the first phase
were sold out within six weeks
sure confirmation, according to
the development consortium,
that theSummerClub lifestylees-
tate inSomersetWesthasentered
themarketwiththerightpackage
at the right time.
No other development of this size
has been launched in the past eight
years, and there is no more land of
thismagnitudeleft inthisarea,says
Dave Harris, a property develop-
ment and marketing veteran who is
overseeing the sales and marketing
of the Summer Club.
The Summer Club is situated on a
42 hectare site accessed via a link
road off Sir Lowrys Pass Road. Big
plansarebeingrolledouton this, the
last of the large land holdings in the
area running along the Sir Lowrys
Pass Road. Development will take
place over 19 phases and across a
broad spectrum of uses to meet the
vision of a multi-faceted lifestyle es-
tate. A total of 1 115 residential units
will be built, with the second phase
to be launched in April. Two school
sitesare included oneofwhichhas
already been snapped up by Curro
Holdings, the successful education
division of thePSGGroup, for aCur-
ro Castle pre-primary school.
Two dams on the estate will pro-
videsixhectaresofpristinewaterfor
fishing, swimming, sailing and row-
ing. A clubhouse and gymnasium
will be built on the waters edge and
will include a rim-flow swimming
pool. A mature forest area will form
partof15hectaresofopenspaceoffer-
ing mountainbiking and jogging
trails. All of this will be enclosed
within state-of-the-art security fea-
turingbiometricaccesscontrol,elec-
trical fencing set into anti-dig foun-
dations, andmonitored surveillance
cameras.
Twenty-four hectares of commer-
cial and retail landwill formabuffer
between the residential estate and
the N2. This land includes an option
for a 6 000m shopping centre.
The consortiumbehind this devel-
opmentismadeupofInvestec,Omni-
cron and Wiehahn Properties, a na-
tional property investment and de-
velopment company that locally
developed Schonenberg Estate in
Somerset West.
Thesell-outsuccessachievedwith-
in six weeks on the first phase of the
development returned proof-posi-
tive confirmation to the developers
that themarket isagainreadytotake
up new property developments.
Dave Harris, who has been in the
property development and market-
ingfieldfor32years,saysthatnonew
developmentshavebeenlaunchedin
the past five years in the Somerset
West area. Amajor constraint on ac-
tivity came from the sudden imple-
mentationoftheNationalCreditAct,
whichbanksrespondedtobycurtail-
ing 100%bondsand limiting the flow
of finance to developments. General
economic constraints kept the aver-
age household under pressure. But
pent-up investment and purchaser
demand for property, together with
banks easing up on their previously
stiflinglendingcriteria,haveopened
the door for money to return into
property development and invest-
ment. And the Summer Clubs re-
lease onto the market is timed just
right.
Substantial funds have already
been set into the ground at the Sum-
mer Club to prepare it for develop-
ment. Jan Bergman, representing
consortium partner Investec, says
thatinhismanyyearsinthedevelop-
ment world, he has never spent as
muchmoney prior to a development
aswas spent at theSummerClub. In-
frastructure already paid for in-
cludesalinkroadtothedevelopment
offSirLowrysPassRoad; completed
entrance buildings and security ele-
ments; 50%of the estates general in-
frastructure, and extensive land-
scaping fed by an on-site nursery.
ZanedeDeckerpointsout that this
investmentisasuresignof thedevel-
opment consortiums confidence in
the development.
Phase II, to be released in April,
will make 94 units of one-, two- and
three-bedroomapartmentsavailable
for purchase. Construction has com-
menced on Phase Is units and occu-
pationisset for theendofNovember.
. Go to www.thesummer-
club.co.za or phone 021 202 2200 for
further details on the Summer Club.
From the left are Dave Harris, a 32year veteran of the property development and marketing industry who is
overseeing sales and marketing at the Summer Club; Zane de Decker, representing Wiehahn Properties, a con
sortium partner; and Jan Bergman, representing Investec, also a consortium partner in the development.
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Whatdoyouwant from
yourestateagent?
Weposted the question What do youwant
from your estate agent? on our Harcourts
social media platforms over a one-month
period. The overwhelming response was
honesty.
The answer confirmedwhat we
have always assumed that
strong business relationships are
built on trust. Trust is built by a
series of interactions between
people that are honest and trans-
parent. If dishonesty or deceit are
suspected the trust is broken, and
thebusinessrelationshipis termi-
nated. Honesty supersedes skills
and results.
Its true in all business. But its
especially true in real estate,
where estate agents play a signifi-
cant role is assisting people with
thesaleorpurchaseofwhat isusu-
ally their most valuable asset.
The real estate industry has done much to
cleanupitsactover thepast five tosevenyears.
For the most part estate agents are ethical and
professional. But this is sadly not always the
case. So just howdoyouknowwhetheryoucan
trust an estate agent or not?
Not all estate agents are created equal. This
is the same in all professions: doctors, sports-
men, financial advisors, builders, etc. So ask
to see some credentials. Is the estate agent li-
censed? Do they have a Fidelity Fund Certifi-
cate?What is their track record, or that of their
company?
If the estate agent gives you an opinion on
the market value of your property then what
is it based on? Is it just a thumb-suck? Or can
they substantiate it with facts byway of a com-
parable market analysis? Be wary here. The
easiest way for an agent to buy your listing
is to deliberately overprice your property. In
reality this is dishonest business practice. The
market will only pay market value, or less. By
overpricing you will remain on
themarket longer than necessary
and the longer you are listed for
the less you will sell for.
This is a tacticwesee sellers fall
for all the time. Its dishonest and
unethical.
If your property has been listed
for more than four months then
have your agents sharedwith you
why it hasnt sold? In most cases
there will be a reason. Do you
know what it is? And its always
one of three things: your price is
wrong,yourmarketingisntwork-
ing, or both. So whats the truth?
Sadly, we dont live in the most
honest of worlds. We appreciate that trust
needs to be earned its not automatic. So al-
though it may be awkward at times, dont be
uncomfortable about establishing your agents
credentials at the outset.
If indoubtitmaybewisetoaskcomparemore
thanoneestateagentoragency.And if the level
of trust that you require isnt there, then keep
on looking until you find an agent you really
believeyoucantrust.Therearemanytrustwor-
thyagentsoutthereyoujustneedtofindthem.
Sometimes when selling property emotion
can get in the way of logic and reason. Taking
a step back and examining the facts from a dis-
tance canoftenhelp you see clearlywhat direc-
tion you should take. Its your right to work
with an estate agent you trust. Demand it. Its
the very least you deserve.
Talking Property, by
Steve CaradocDavies
From 1 April 2014, residents and develop-
ment professionals will no longer have to
haul heavy packs of documents to the
Citys Planning and Building Develop-
mentManagement Departmentwhen sub-
mitting development proposals. A new
managementprocess for thesubmissionof
development applications is coming into
effect,whichwillallowfor theuseofa flash
stick when submitting plans and for on-
line payments.
It is further expected that the turna-
round times for the development proposal
process will improve significantly.
Inorder to increase efficiency, theCitys
Planning andBuildingDevelopmentMan-
agementDepartment (PBDMD)will bemi-
grating data from the existing system to
the new Development Application Man-
agement System (DAMS).
Apart from improving turnaround
times, the new system will allow for pay-
ments tobemade throughelectronic funds
transfers (EFTs). From July 2014, it is ex-
pected that it will be possible to submit de-
velopment applications on-line, from the
comfortofyourhomeoroffice, to theCitys
planningportal. Althoughwearealready
proud of our high turnaround times and
efficiency, we are likely to shave off days
from the current submissions and rejec-
tions timeframes,said theCitysMayoral
Committee Member for Economic, Envi-
ronmental and Spatial Planning, Council-
lor Garreth Bloor.
From1April 2014, customerswillbeable
to enjoy the convenience of submitting
their land use and building plan applica-
tion forms in PDF format using amemory
stick and will no longer have to produce
multiple copies of the plans for submis-
sion. Inaddition, thenewsystemwillallow
for customers to receive their plans back
on their own memory stick with the com-
ments from the officials for amendment or
a copyof theapprovedplan. It is important
to note that paper submissionswill still be
possible. Customers will have both the
electronic/on-line and paper options.
Currently, development applications,
which include building plans of various
prescribed sizes, in accordance with the
NationalBuildingRegulations,canonlybe
physically submitted at thePBDMD.EFTs
are furthermore not possible on the cur-
rent system.
To this end, from the close of business
on 14March to 31March 2014 only the sub-
mission of new applications and/or trans-
actionsrequiringpaymentwillbeaffected.
Those whowould like to submit new ap-
plications or make payments must do so
before 14March 2014 or again from 1April
2014. In the interim, the PBDMD is still
available for consultations on develop-
ment proposals. Pre-consultation meet-
ings; enquiries on the status of applica-
tions already in the system; the collection
of approved/refused/amended and with-
drawn plans will be possible; zoning que-
ries can go ahead; inspection notices can
be issued; general planning and building
enquiriesandinformationwillbeattended
to and the business processes for all active
applications submitted before 14 March
2014 will continue as normal.
For more information, please visit
www.capetown.gov.za/en/Planningpor-
tal/Pages/default.aspx
Customers can also send an e-mail to
DAMS.system@capetown.gov.za tobe reg-
istered to receive updates.
City to improve turnaround times
of building plan applications
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Eikestadnuus
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STELLENBOSCH
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STELLENBOSCH
Paradyskloofboasts exquisitehomes in theBoland
The suburb of Paradyskloof lies
3 km from the centre of Stellen-
bosch,andishighlysought-after
by home-owners in search of a
secure, family-oriented life-
style. The community consists
mainly of family homes on good-
sized plots, many of them with
lovely mountain views. Prices
range from R2,5 million to R8,5
million. Pam Golding Proper-
ties (PGP) reports that its acces-
sible location and selection of
high quality schools are among
the key factors driving sales.
PGPs area manager for Stellen-
bosch, Louise Varga, says the sub-
urb was only developed in the
1980s, which means that most
homes are still in excellent condi-
tion. It lies just off theR44highway,
providing easy access to the N2,
Somerset West and the Techno
Park business hub. Major employ-
ers including Parmalat and Medi-
Clinic have their offices in the ar-
ea. Yet the setting is one of subur-
ban tranquillity, with the suburb
surrounded by the foothills of the
Stellenbosch mountains, leafy
vineyards and several smallhold-
ings. It is also particularly well-
protected from the prevailing
winds.
Paradyskloof has its own con-
venience shopping with a Wool-
worths Food outlet, as well as two
popular restaurants, adds PGP
agent Lizette Botha. Nearby shop-
pingcentres includeDieBoordcen-
tre and Stellenbosch Square, while
the new Eikestad Mall is also very
accessible, as are the Mediclinic
Stellenbosch and the university. A
new Superspar will be opening in
Paradyskloof soon,whichwill only
add to the convenience of living in
this area. Golfers can walk to the
Stellenbosch Golf Course, while
the course at De Zalze is also near-
by. There is also a wonderful net-
work of mountain paths which can
be enjoyed by cyclists, joggers and
hikers alike.
Schools are a major draw-card,
and parents in the area have a
range of options to choose from in
both English and Afrikaans medi-
um, pre-primary, primary and
high schools. Within a 3 km radius
lie three of the top 20 schools in the
Western Cape, based on the 2013
matric results Rhenish Girls
High, Paul Roos Gymnasium and
Bloemhof High. A cycle path along
the R44 means children can ride to
school in safety,while the suburbs
central greenbelthasaplayground
for younger children aswell as am-
ple space for teens to play touch-
rugby or soccer.
Within the suburb, one of the
most highly-rated addresses is Val-
lee Lustre, an exclusive security
complex consisting of just 14 prop-
erties. All of the erven except two
have been fully developed, with
work commencing on one of the fi-
nal homes in March 2014. The de-
velopment has a gated entrance
andperimeter electric fencing, and
is surrounded by farmland and
vineyards, ensuring a peaceful at-
mosphere.
PGP has the exclusive mandate
to market one of these upmarket
homes at R8,5 million. The home
occupies an erf of around 1000 sqm,
and offers around 500 sqm of living
space, including four bedrooms,
threeof themensuite, and four spa-
cious reception areas. There is ex-
cellent flow from the entertain-
ment areas onto an enclosed patio
with built-in braai and retractable
glass doors, overlooking the swim-
ming pool and immaculate garden.
This warm family home blends
English country charm with Euro-
pean style, says Botha. Its top-
quality finishes include American
walnut floors, Hansgrohe appli-
ances, cherry-wood cabinets in the
study and a modern kitchen fin-
ished with granite counter-tops
and whitewashed maple cup-
boards. Other features include a
wine cellar with capacity for 400
bottles,woodensashwindowswith
shutters, and twoMorso fireplaces.
The use of natural materials and
stone-cladding ensure a timeless,
wholesome appeal, and creates a
warm family home.
PGP has the exclusive mandate to market this upmarket home in Vallee
Lustre at R8,5 million.
Learn rights and obligations
around lease agreements
TheSouthAfricanPropertyOwnersAsso-
ciation (SAPOA) will host a Lease Agree-
ment workshop on 25 March at the The
DoubleTree by Hilton Cape Town from
08:30 to 16:00
The workshop is an intense full-day
workshop that looks into the rights and
obligations of the parties to a lease, new
legislation and case law affecting lease
agreements.
The workshop, which covers essentials
for a lease agreement, is aimed at profes-
sionals who have to implement lease
agreements and/or who are responsible
for negotiating, renewing, drafting, and
managing leases and lease agreements.
The lease agreement is one of the most
important documents in Commercial, In-
dustrial and Retail Property from the mo-
ment you start working in property until
you retire. Legislation and needs and
trends changeall the timeand thosework-
ing with lease agreements have to be
aware of these changes and legal require-
ments.
The Programme deals with the lease
agreement, the rights and obligations of
the parties to a lease, new legislation and
case law affecting lease agreements.
Tickets are R2 500 for members and
R3 200 for non-members
Formore informationonSAPOAeduca-
tion offerings, send an email to Melissa@
sapoa.org.za
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Paarl Post
13 Maart, 2014
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PAARL/WELLINGTON
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Paarl Post
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PAARL/WELLINGTON
Biggest and Best Property guide in the Boland
SOLD bied die grootste en maklikste
toegang tot die mark vir
eiendomkopers en -verkopers in die
Boland.
021 870 4600
021 841 4285
021 887 2840
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Paarl Post
13 Maart, 2014
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PAARL/WELLINGTON
LANDROVER: PLANETS ULTIMATE ALL-PURPOSE VEHICLE
Freshdesign for2014Discovery
QUICKPIC
The 2014 Model Year Land
Rover Discovery is now in
South African showrooms,
ready to excite those of an
adventurous disposition
with the most significant
round of changes to the
planets ultimate all-pur-
pose vehicle since its intro-
duction.
The 2014 Land Rover Dis-
covery receives a new look,
new badging, an all-new pet-
rol engine, improved audio
systems and a new range of
driver assistance, comfort
and safety features to further
broaden its appeal.
Land Rover has always
been aware of the importance
of delivering performance
with sustainability, and eve-
ry newdesign and each round
of improvements aim to meet
this challenge, says Kevin
Flynn, Managing Director of
Jaguar Land Rover South Af-
rica and sub-Sahara Africa.
The introduction of the su-
percharged V6, which super-
sedes the V8, is proof of this
and it is a more fuel-efficient
combination especially when
mated to our 8-speedautomat-
ic transmission. As one of the
worlds most stylish, capable
and versatile SUVs, the Dis-
coveryremainstheperfectve-
hicle for peoplewho enjoy living an
active lifestyle to the full.
For 2014, the Land Rover Discov-
ery has been given a new face and
numerous detail exterior changes.
The grille, front bumper and head-
lamps are all new while new day-
time running lights with a distinc-
tive LED signature and a more pre-
mium execution to the fog-lamp
surround further enhance the Dis-
coverys appearance.
There are three types of head-
lights, vehicle grade-dependent. XS
and S models use bi-halogen bulbs
with a single Daytime Running
Lamp (DRL) while the SE gets Xe-
non headlamps with Signature
DRLs and flagship HSE models get
the Adaptive Xenon version.
To complement the design chang-
es seen at the front of the vehicle,
the rear light units receive a black
mask for an especially clean look.
Two new alloy wheel designs
have been introduced and, to give
vehicles a heightened level of dis-
tinction, the optional BlackDesign
Pack remains available for 2014
models, featuring revised detailing
and a choice of 19-inch or 20-inch
black alloy wheels. New colours in-
clude Corris Grey, Loire Blue, Sco-
tia Grey, Chablis and Luxor, which
have also been added to the palette.
In a change driven by form and
function, the 2014 Discovery has re-
designed exterior mirrors. Theyre
more aerodynamic than before but
also support the introduction of
new technologies: they house the
cameras for the surround camera
system, and the sensors for the all-
new Wade Sensing system.
In recognition of the Discoverys
established identity, the refreshed
exterior design for 2014 also incor-
poratesachangeof identity.For the
first time ever, the Discovery
name replaces Land Rover on the
bonnet and the number 4 will be re-
movedfromthetailgate leaving just
the word Discovery. Engine badg-
ingmoves from the tailgate to an in-
got mounted on each of the front
doors.
The oval Land Rover logo is now
in a richer shade of green, enhanc-
ing its prominence.
Underlining Land Rovers com-
mitment to powerwith sustainabil-
ity, the 2014 Discovery will contin-
ue to be available with the class-
leading 183 kW/600 Nm 3.0 SDV6
with CO
2
emissions of 230 g/km.
The 155 kW/520 Nm 3.0 TDV6 will
also continue to be available.
The petrol newcomer (this is the
first time this engine has been of-
fered in the Discovery) is rated at
250 kW and 450 Nm with emissions
of 285 g/km versus headline num-
bers of 276 kW/510 Nm and emis-
sions of 328 g/km for the V8. Im-
provements in fuel consumption
are marked with figures of
12F/100km for the V6 compared to
14F/100 km for the V8.
All power plants are mated to an
eight-speedZFautomatic transmis-
sion, working in perfect harmony
with Terrain Response and High/
Low ratios to provide the perfect
combination of gear ratio and drive
train response for any situation.
A Discovery has always been the
perfect companion for a trip into
The Dark Continent, and it gets
even better in this regard thanks to
theExtendedNavigationsystemfit-
tedasstandard fromMY14. Ina first
for availability as a factory-fitted
integrated system, the Discovery
comes with the latest generation of
Tracks4Africa, a suite of 16maps of
rural areas, with impressive detail,
much of its content being user-
driven.Forexample, inAngola
itmaps nearly 20 000 roads and
tracks, and details more than
2 500 points of interest.
For the urban environment,
themapping softwareof choice
is Nokia HERE, which gives
comprehensive coverage of
over 100 cities in sub-Sahara
Africa.
The new range of driver as-
sistance, comfort and safety
features for the 2014 Discovery
include: Wade Sensing (a tech-
nology unique to Land Rover),
Blind Spot Monitoring, Clos-
ing Vehicle Sensing, Reverse
Traffic Detection and T-junc-
tion Cameras which give
drivers a 180 degree-plus view
at an intersection via the cen-
trally-positioned TFT (thin-
film transistor) screen.
Wade Sensingwill be offered
as an optional extra exclusive-
ly on the top-flight HSE grade,
enablingdrivers touse theTFT
screen tomonitor proximity to
the maximumwading depth of
700 mm. The system is activat-
ed when water hits the bottom
of the lowest Parking Aid sen-
sor, projecting a graphic of the
vehicle in profile onto the
screen,witha real-time indica-
tion of the water level relative
to themaximumwadingdepth,
with warning chimes that
sound as this figure approach-
es. Information to calculate
water depth is supplied by sonar-
based sensors in the mirror hous-
ings.
To align the 2014 Discovery with
Range Rover vehicles, the SE and
HSEmodels will now be fitted with
Meridian premium audio. The SE
will have a Meridian systemwhich
features 8 speakers and 380 Watts
of power, while the Meridian Sur-
round system, which produces an
impressive 825 Watts output and
features 17 speakers, will be fitted
to the HSE derivatives.
The Discoverys breadth of capa-
bility has never been in question
a fact confirmed by an impressive
average monthly sales figure of 185
(and a record figure of 398 inMarch
2013) since its introduction in 1989.
With the launch of the new and im-
proved MY14 range, Discovery
looksset tocontinuetogoaboveand
beyond.
The oval Land Rover logo is now in a richer shade of green, enhancing its prominence. PHOTO: QUICKPIC
22
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AUTO
Kia launchesupgradedSportage
QUICKPIC
Kias third generation Sportage
wasoriginallylaunchedtothelo-
calmotoringmedia on31August
2010 and has proven to be one of
Kia Motors South Africas most
popular models.
Todate, theSportagehasreceived
numerous design awards, includ-
ing an IF-design award, a Red Dot
design award, as well as an award
in the Automotive Brand Contest.
On the international front, the
Sportage has been awarded numer-
ous Car of the Year titles, while lo-
cally it was announced as a finalist
for the 2011Wesbank SouthAfrican
Car of the Year competition. Its
most recent accolade was awarded
in December 2013 where the
Sportage was crowned as the over-
all winner in the SUV and Cross-
over category in the Annual Stand-
ard Bank Peoples Wheels Awards.
The third generation Sportage
was very well received by both the
publicandtheSouthAfricanmotor-
ing media, comments David Sieff,
Marketing Director, Kia Motors
South Africa. The Sportage has
been one of our best selling vehicles
in therangeandthiscanbeattribut-
ed to its stylish looks, competitive
performance, state of the art fea-
tures and overall value proposi-
tion.
On 18 February, Kia Motors
South Africa launched the newly
enhanced and upgraded Kia
Sportage. The Sportage receives
small but significantupgrades to its
modern exterior as well as a re-
freshedinteriordesignandnewma-
terials throughout the cabin.
The upgraded Sportage will be
available in two engines: a smooth
2.0 D-CVVT petrol engine and a
more powerful 2.0 VGTCRDi diesel
engine. The petrol engine is more
refined than before and is now
pairedwith a six-speedmanual and
automatic transmission, resulting
in improved fuel consumption.
The steering on the diesel models
change from hydraulic assisted
steering to motor driven power
steering. The enhanced Sportage is
more refined than the currentmod-
el, with a number of changes de-
signed tominimise noise, vibration
and harshness. Sportage will be
available in three packages: the en-
try level Ignite model, only availa-
ble inpetrol,alongwitha2WDpack-
age and the top of the range, full
houseAWDpackage, bothavailable
in petrol and diesel.
Various changes have beenmade
to the exterior. The front grille has
been re-moulded resulting in a
high-tech and stylish appearance,
while changes to the front fog lamps
and lowerbumper amplify the vehi-
cles dynamic proportions. The
newly designed 17 and 18 alloy
wheels improve vehicle rigidity
and contribute to a refined driving
experience and enhanced N.V.H
levels. The re-designed rear combi-
nation lamps are striking and add
a touch of sportiness to the rear.
The newly upgraded Sportages
driver space is improved and fea-
tures many enhancements. The
door upper trim features soft pad-
dingwithnewly developed IMG (In-
Mould Graining) processed tex-
turesandoffersahigherquality fin-
ish.
Tweeter speakers are reposi-
tioned from the door upper trim to
the quadrant cover to offer better
sound reproduction.
The AWD models feature a new
supervision cluster, newly de-
signed centre fascia and a state-of-
the-art Infinity sound system. The
supervision instrument cluster fea-
tures a new 4.2-inch TFT LCD
screenwhichprovides digitally dis-
played vehicle information. The
dot-matrix centre fascia display on
the previous Sportage AWD model
is replacedwith a 4.3-inchTFTLCD
touch screen, which doubles up as
a rear-view camera display when
reverse mode is activated. The In-
finity sound system has a sub woof-
er, external amplifier and built-in
hard drive that has music storing
functionality.
The centre console storagebinna-
cle now features a detachable tray
which can accommodate small
items.
Engine line-up and transmis-
sions
TheNu 2.0 CVVT gasoline engine
offers a more refined driving expe-
rience. The engine generates power
of 116 kW@6200 rpmand 192 Nmof
torque at 4000 rpm. The old 5-speed
manual gearbox on thismodel is re-
placed by a smoother and more re-
fined 6-speed transmission, which
results in improved fuel consump-
tion.
The diesel 2.0 VGT CRDi engine
deliversmaximumpower of 130 kW
@4000 rpmand382 Nmof torquebe-
tween 1800-2500 rpm. Both engines
are available in 6-speedmanual and
automatic transmissions.
Improveddriving experienceand
NVH levels
ThenewSportage offers a quieter
and smoother driving experience
thanks to multiple improvements
on the core areas of the body struc-
ture.
The soundproof windshield glass
helps to reduce wind noise, while
improvements to the core areas of
the body structure, such as the
bush-mounted sub-frames reduce
the penetration noise caused by ac-
celeration.
The new transmission mounting
brackets enhance the rigidity of the
mounting system. Compared to the
previous model, road noise has
been improvedby 1.3 dBwhilewind
noise is improved between 1 and 4
dB.
Its always a challenge improv-
ingonavehicle thathassignificant-
ly raised the bar in the SUV space,
but theareasof focus for this facelift
have again pushed the Sportage in-
to the spotlight as a great car to live
with and enjoy, Sieff concludes.
At launch, theupgradedSportage
will be available in eight colours:
ClearWhite, Bright Silver,Mineral
Silver, Sand Track, Black Cherry,
Vintage Blue, Signal Red and Sage
Green. All models come standard
with a 5-year/150 000 km warranty
(up from 100 000 km), a 5-year/100
000 km service plan and a 3-year/
unlimited roadsideassistanceplan.
The diesel 2.0 VGT CRDi engine delivers maximum power of 130 kW @
4000 rpm and 382 Nm of torque between 18002500 rpm.
PHOTO: QUIKCPIC
23
Donderdag
13 Maart, 2014
BOLAND
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AUTO
Mercedes-BenzS350BlueTEC: thebestgoodies
HANJO STIER
Most successful people and businesses
will tell you that its harder to stay at the
top than it is getting there. Thats exactly
what I tried todeterminewhenanewMer-
cedes-Benz S-Class, this dark grey metal-
lic S350 BlueTEC, wafted into my life for
a week. Is the best still the best?
Having already made friends with the S-
Class conservative and understated new
looks inmy launch report, what followedwas
hours of fiddling with abundant buttons and
settings, scouring countless menus and toy-
ing with numerous interfaces to see what the
chaps from Stuttgart armed their new car
with.
The S350 (190 kW/700 Nm 3-litre turbo-die-
sel V6) with BlueTEC fluid is the baby of the
range at R1 214 000 and while its standard
equipment list is extremely impressive, this
press demonstrator was also fitted with an
AMGkit, additional driver aids, luxury seats,
lighting and rear entertainment systems.
Forgive me if I dont mention all the fitted
features, for itwouldtakeamonthofSundays.
Some noteworthy features and options in-
cludeactivecorneringandmassageseats, ion-
ised and perfumed climate control, all-LED
lighting, advanced adaptive cruise control
and two-stage air suspension.
I was a bit disappointed to discover that
Magic Body Control, the system which scans
the road ahead and adjusts the suspension ac-
cordingly, is not standard on every model.
And while the air ride in our S350 was very
good, those tasty low-profileAMGwheelspro-
duced quite a bit of noise and a few low-speed
jolts.
My advice: ignore the AMG option and use
the R57 500 towardsMagic Body Control with
the S-Class regular 18 or 19-inch wheels. If
you want hard damping and fast cornering,
buyaREALS-ClassAMG.The level of quality
and opulence in this car deserves a smooth
and silky ride.
Our test cars porcelain white with black
interiordroppedsomanyjawsthat Ieventual-
ly fitted it with another camera to record the
reactions. These came courtesy of the seven
interior lightingcolours, twinTFTfrontmon-
itors, power climate seats, 360 cameras and
rear screens; among many others.
Before I fall into the same trap as most of
mypassengersandfocusontoomanygoodies,
Ill quickly tell you what it feels like to drive
anS-Class.Obviously it has keyless entry and
ignition so you can just stroll up to any door
and touch the handle to open it. Gently stroke
it to reverse the process.
Shouldyourhandsbefullofgolfbagsorbou-
tique shopping, just wave your foot under the
rear bumper to pop the boot lid, then simply
press a button to have it close itself automati-
cally. You can also go into the vehicle settings
menu and adjust howhigh the boot lidblast
it, Ive just done it again!
Apologies. The S350 drives SO smoothly
that, for the first time in my career, a fuel at-
tendant corrected me when I told him to fill
it up with petrol. The start/stop function pro-
duces a small Diesel shake and the 7-speed au-
toreactsabitharshly tokick-downsbutonly
for S-Class standards, you understand.
Ouraverage fuel consumption fromthe78 F
tank hovered between 7 and 10F/100km de-
pending on driving styles and routes but I
cant see how an S-Class ownerwould bewor-
ried about consumption or range, especially
withthehighly-efficientV6Hybridandbi-tur-
bo V8 available. Id have one of those.
If someone insisted on giving me an S350
BlueTEC though, I wouldnt be upset at all.
Cornering, steering and brake feedback are
surprisingly fine for such a hefty car and the
only real-world trouble can be its enormous
sizewhendrivingorparkinginconfinedspac-
es. At least it has park assistants to help you.
An S-Class doesnt belong in the village
square or the airportsmulti-storey, it prefers
VIPparkingand themotorways outside lane.
Every journey in our S350, nomatter the road
or time of day, was a relaxing, quiet experi-
ence. Anyone in the back whose head landed
in the fluffy pillowwould either start giggling
or snoring.
Depending on specified options, the multi-
media system has multiple USB and input
slots, a hard drive, Bluetooth, voice control,
a six DVD changer, 3D navigation with live
traffic capability, twin-viewmain screen and
exquisite sound with extra boom from the
FrontBass low frequency response system.
I dont want to get tangled in specs again
so all you need to know is this: the Mercedes-
Benz S-Class has advanced even further and
while it has some very competent advisories,
youwouldnt be blamed for calling it the best.
Minus AMG kit plus magic carpet ride and
a petrol engine, I certainly think it is.
Galimoto Media
The S350 drives SO smoothly that, for the first time in my career, a fuel attendant corrected
me when I told him to fill it up with petrol. PHOTO: QUICKPIC
24
Donderdag
13 Maart, 2014
BOLAND
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AUTO
Renault ClioRSCup:Returnofa legend?
FRANS LE ROUX
It felt like just yesterday when
I had the most amazing experi-
ence in Renaults near perfect
Megane RS Red Bull edition.
The Megane is a proper hot
hatch which enticed my every
sense when driven hard.
A couple of months down the
line, and here we are again. Those
lunatic Frenchies released their
new, slightly smaller hot hatch in
the formof theClioRSEDC.Tocall
it dull is like referring to Dale
Steynas a slow right handoff-spin-
ner.ThisnewClioRShasbigshoes
to fill, because the car it replaces
was a true icon in every sense of
the word.
The previous Clio RS was a de-
light to drive. It featured a punchy
2.0 litre naturally aspirated 4-cyl-
inder engine which loved one
thing in particular- that was/is to
be revved like there is no tomor-
row. I drove one a while back and
remember how planted it felt and
how good it looked when parked.
In2014however,Renaultdecides
to throw us all a curve ball and to
tear up the rulebook they wrote
back in 2007. A whole host of im-
provements include a smaller 1.6
litre engine aided by the help of a
turbo. Two doors also found their
way to the back of the car to make
it more practical and gone is the
workman-like manual gearbox
whichhas been replacedbyamore
modern dual clutch automatic
transmission.
The vital statistics do not disap-
point either. The 1.6 turbo produc-
es a whopping 147 kW and gener-
ous 240 Nm of torque. Thanks to
Renualts brilliant Cup chassis,
limitedslipdiffandarevvyengine,
this little pocket rocketblasts from
0-100 km/h in just 6,7 seconds. The
topspeedisarespectable230km/h.
Renault claimed fuel consumption
is around 7/100 km, although the
RS never went below 8,5 /100 km.
Aesthetically theClio ispleasing
to the eye. A brand new front and
rear bumper is built around some
aerodynamic diffuser trickery.
For once these diffusers actually
provide significant downforce, un-
like competitors who purely fit
them as go-faster bits. Daytime
running LEDs are fitted to the
front while the RS logo is neatly
placed underneath the companys
emblem.At theback, twobeautiful
square exhaust tips are placed on
each corner of the bumper.
Open the door with the upmar-
ket keyless-entry system and you
are greeted by a minimalist yet
goal-orientated interior. When
seated in the wonderfully support-
ive sport bucket seats, you do real-
ize that this is not your typical
small city hatchback. Red stitch-
ing on all the seats combine well
with the red seat belts. Large shift
paddles are neatly placed behind
the leather-clad steering wheel.
The same dashboard layout you
find in the Clio Dynamique has
been shared in the new RS. A big
LCDtouchscreen is themain focus
point from where one can easily
navigate the Sat Nav, radio and
various multimedia settings. Rear
legroom is ample despite the large
front seats. The Clios boot can
swallow 300 F with ease, while the
rear park assist makes parking a
breeze.
The most important bit when
driving an RSmodel is how it feels
on the road. How it feels when
pushing hard around corners or
overtaking slow moving traffic. It
is that grin-inducing smile you
have when stomping on the accel-
erator orwalking away just before
you close the garage door.
Thankfully none of the charm,
courage or purpose have been lost
with the latest RS.
Whilst driving it for a couple of
dayswontmakeyou fully appreci-
ate what the car is about, you do
get some ideawhy theFrenchbuilt
it in the first place.
My normal testing route in-
cludes various mountain passes
like Franschhoek, Du Toitskloof
and even Helshoogte. If you are a
more enthusiastic driver, these
are the roads youneed to be on ear-
ly in themorning to get abetterun-
derstanding of your Clio RS.
Thanks to my test vehicles Cup
chassis and limited slip differen-
tial, this little hatchback almost
felt the same as the beloved Meg-
ane RS which I tested earlier. The
Clio leaves you breathless while
exiting a corner, you stare into
your rear view mirror in awe of
what youhave just completed. Flat
cornering, a lively back-end and a
beautiful exhaust note are all part
of the bombardment your senses
suddenly have to deal with. When
you select Sport or Race mode, be
prepared to clench your teeth and
fists as the Clio pushes you back
into its seats.
Thehothatchsegmentis fiercely
contested globally, and SouthAfri-
ca is no different. Two categories
of hot hatches are available, name-
ly the premium hot hatches with
the likes of Golf 7 GTi and Ford Fo-
cus ST. While the Compact hot
hatch segment features the Polo
GTi, Ford Fiesta ST and our very
own Clio RS.
Seeing that our Clio has four
doors, all but one competitor falls
away. The Polo GTi also features
a dual clutch gearboxwith similar
poweroutputs fromits1.4 turboen-
gine. The Polos styling is a bit
more subdued but it does have a
lovely interior. Its seven gears
make its fuel economy slightly bet-
ter than the Clio, but that is where
the Polos victory ends. The Clio is
muchmore exciting to drive, looks
morepurposeful andhasan intoxi-
cating exhaust note. If you are in
themarket, don't write the French
off, visit your nearest Renault
branch to sample this future leg-
end.
*Prices start at R 294 900 for the
Clio RS Lux and continue towards
R 314 900 for the RSCupmodel. Re-
nault offers a comprehensive 5
year/150 000 km warranty com-
binedwitha3year/30 000 kmserv-
ice plan.
The new Clio RS has big shoes to fill. Thanks to a punchy 1.6 turbo
and a slick six speed gearbox, the RS does not disappoint.
PHOTO: QUICKPIC
25
Donderdag
13 Maart, 2014
BOLAND
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AUTO
Toyota Land-Cruiser79: for the farmer
HANJO STIER
Themore cars I review, themore
obsessedIbecomewiththeirpur-
pose. What were they built for?
Aretheyanygoodatit?This inev-
itably leads to a few more ques-
tions. Who buys such a car? And
are they using it as intended?
This, as Ive explained before,
makes me appreciate cars like
the Toyota Land-Cruiser 79.
Onelookatthisbulkybeast leaves
not a shred of doubt in the observ-
ers mind that this is a rugged, ro-
bust, utilitarian farm implement.
Justakilometreofdrivingconfirms
all these qualities as the half leaf-
sprung ride is jittery, the steering
is ridiculous and the cabin has a
scent of permanence about it.
No, youmost certainly dontwant
to peddle this tank between Joburg
and Pretoria, so thats exactly what
I did. In my defence, I requested an-
other vehicle for my little sortie
around Gauteng but was happy
when this monster arrived instead.
At least no-one will cut me off in
traffic I thought, and boy was I
right.
Built like a brick you-know-what
with a softish but bulky front end
and square metal bent into the
shape of a load bed at the back, dont
people just get out of your way?
Chunky 7.5x16 tyres on steel rims
and 235 mmof ground clearance en-
sure that you tower above and prob-
ably scare most city commuters.
That frightened look on their face
may also be one of puzzlement
though. Why would someone bring
a 5,22 m long, 1,95 m high, 1,87 m
wide and 2,2 ton heavy beast into
civilisation? In all probability,
these cars and their noisy tyres
would only buzz over tarmac if the
farm / lodge ran low on supplies.
As much as I wouldve wanted to
try that, time andworkwouldnt al-
lowme to take the big Cruiser to its
natural habitat the veld. I can just
picture it lugging a few sheep
around, trekkingupamountain(33
approach angle), wading
through a river (700 mm and
snorkel) towing a trailer
(max 3 500 kg) or ploughing a
field.
Yup, sadly I did none of
those things. Instead, this
Land-Cruiser 79 Double-Cab
VX V8 was used as support
for supercar events. As you
can see from the photo(s),
even the owners of thorough-
bredautomobileswere so im-
pressed by it that they happi-
ly lined up a photo-shoot for
our thorn among the roses.
Next to the refreshing con-
trast of such a simple tool, I
suspect that this VX models
beefy engine had a lot to do
with the compliments and
flirts which were being
dished out in the general di-
rection of our double cab.
4 461 cc of raw DOHC V8 tur-
bo-diesel muscle provides
you with 151 kW (205hp) or
430 Nm.
Thatmaynotsound likemuchbut
that last figure, thetorque/twisting
power of this motor, is on full song
from an unbelievably low 1 200 rpm
onwards. And believe me, its true.
We often coasted around corners in
third or fourth gear, then simply
squeezedthe throttleatanindicated
800 or 900 rpm.
No fuss, no shudders, no unto-
ward noises. The big, lazy engine
just starts accelerating with a re-
laxed kick around 1 400 rpm. You
can change up at 2 000 rpm and it
will keep pulling like a train but if
you somehow have to, the diesel
lump will do around 4 000 rpmwith
a howling V8 undertone.
Should you find yourself in a spot
ofbotheroff-road,a low-rangetrans-
fer box and two differential locks
will try their utmost to get you un-
stuck. Apologies again that I never
tried it but I can report that our
Cruiser carried tons of supercar-re-
lated luggage and up to five people
without even breaking a sweat.
Other things I can tell you are
that, despite not being blessed with
themoststableride, ithappilycruis-
es at 120 km/h and picks up speed
with the slightest of provocations.
You may also want to be mindful of
parkingmanoeuvres as rearvisibil-
ity is atrocious thanks to a small
rear window and big spare tyre.
The instrument cluster has extra
dials like battery voltage and oil
pressure, something any farmer
will appreciate. They may also en-
joy the electrically adjustable aeri-
al, idle up button, double-layer
central cubby box, two-stage
folding rear bench, simple
air-conditioning and remote
central locking.
Im not too sure if theyll
warm to the clever touch-
screen Bluetooth DVD navi-
gation unit although I must
stress that it is intuitive.
Theres even a stern lady in-
side who tells you when
youre speeding. Way more
important are the 130F fuel
tank and 11,5F/100km aver-
age consumption, but it re-
quires 50 ppm diesel.
The Toyota Land-Cruiser
79 double-cab V8 VX costs
R568 300 and comes with 3-
year/100 000 km warranty.
This may sound expensive
but I think its worth every
cent considering its size, ca-
pabilities and sensed inde-
structability. Even if you
dont use it for its intended
purpose.
Galimoto Media
The instrument cluster has extra dials like battery voltage and oil pressure, something
any farmer will appreciate. PHOTO: QUICKPIC
26
Donderdag
13 Maart, 2014
BOLAND
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SubaruOutback
dieselwins tow-
carof theyear
led conditions.
The Outback Diesel CVT, which features
the worlds only Boxer turbocharged
diesel engine, Subarus famed
Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and Line-
artronic CVT automatic transmission,
overcame the odds after its on-paper
specifications seemed to be disadvantaged
against larger and more powerful
automatic 4x4 SUVs.
The Outback Diesel CVT took the hon-
ours a full eight points ahead of its nearest
competitor.
The Traffic Colleges massive skidpan,
where the tow vehicles traction and
stability systems could be tested to the
limits and beyond, as well as an enclosed
test track, proved to be an ideal and safe
base where the vehicles could be put
through all the paces.
The test day also included a 15 km road
section, with inclines and declines, topped
off with some fast and slow stretches, and
bumpy and smooth sections.
Eight judges decided the outcome of the
towing test. The panel included
professional vehicle dynamics testers, top
advanced-driving instructors who
specialise in towing, award-winning
motoring journalists and a professional
racing legend who is also a keen caravan-
ner.
The judges had to score each SUV in 10
categories. These included exterior,
interior, handling, stability, engine, trans-
mission, braking, parking, cruising ability
and value for money.
All the SUVs were driven over exactly
the same route, in exactly the same condi-
tions, performing exactly the same tests
along the way.
Says Jakes Jacobs, one of the judges and
a legend of vehicle testing and racing in
South Africa: We judged these vehicles
only as tow vehicles, towing a caravan
designed for tar roads.
The judges cited a number of the
Outbacks facets which impressed them
most, including excellent handling and
stability, as well as the collaboration
between the two-litre turbocharged Box-
er diesel engine (110 kW and 350 Nm) and
the Lineartronic transmission, with its
simulated gearing.
The engine had almost 40 kW of power
less on tap than some of the other SUVs,
but thanks to the brilliant transmission,
with its simulated gears and paddle shift-
ers behind the steeringwheel, the available
power was always immediately accessi-
ble, explains Jacobs.
Some of the other SUVs had almost
500 Nm of torque to play with, but thanks
to less effective auto transmissions and
drivetrains, much of the torque was lost
in translation, so to speak.
Combine that with the Outbacks excel-
lent handling and confidence-inspiring
ride, as well as the roomy interior, and you
end up with a very good, practical and safe
towing package.
Subaru Southern Africa marketing man-
ager, Ashley Lazarus, says: This accolade
is incredibly important, both to the Subaru
brand and our Outback range.
Having recently shifted our focus
towards lifestyle vehicles, winning a tow-
ing accolade like this reinforces our vehi-
cles suitability to lifestyle applications.
QUICKPIC
The Subaru Outback 2.0D Lineartron-
ic has won the 2014 TowCAR of the
Year competition, in association with
CAR and Leisure Wheels magazines,
Campworld and Forever Resorts.
The competition,which saw12 automatic
4x4 vehicles tested with 1,4-ton Jurgens
Penta caravans at the Boekenhoutkloof
TrafficCollege, seeks to find theSUVwhich
performs best in a host of towing-related
categories which are evaluated in control-
The test day also included a 15 km road section, with inclines and declines, topped off with
some fast and slow stretches, and bumpy and smooth sections. PHOTO: QUICKPIC
27
Donderdag
13 Maart, 2014
BOLAND
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NewSuzuki Swift:A streetcarnamedDZire
QUICKPIC
Suzuki Auto South Africa has
added a new sedan model to its
highly popular Swift hatchback
range.
The new, cheeky four-door sedan
will be marketed under the DZire
nameplate, and shares the proven
platform of the Swift hatch, while
adding thepracticality and security
of a boot andmore space for rear oc-
cupants.
The new Swift DZire is powered
by a latest-generation 1.2-litre en-
gine combining willing perform-
ance with excellent fuel economy.
The four-cylinder, 16-valve unit is
offered in conjunction with either a
five-speed manual or a four-speed
automatic gearbox.
Swift DZire buyers also get to
choose between GA and GL specifi-
cation levels, but even the GA ver-
sion offers an attractive array of
standard specifications, features
and finishes. Particular emphasis
has been placed on tactile quality,
aesthetic appeal and user friendli-
ness.
As a result, the cabin provides
comfortable seating for four or even
five occupants, while the 300 litre
boot ensures ample luggage space.
The combinationof thedashboards
dark upper surfaces, linked to the
contrasting, tan-hued lower tier is
a design trait unique to the DZire.
Under the skin, the DZire shares
the Swifts strong and rigid chassis,
with a suspension layout that com-
bines independent McPherson
struts up front with a rear torsion
beam. The front disc/rear drum
braking configuration is linked to
ABS anti-lock control on GL ver-
sions.
Dependingonmodel, furthersafe-
ty and security measures include
dual front airbags, remote central
locking, and inertia reel front seat-
belts with load limiters and pre-ten-
sioners.
The DZire recognises that road
conditions inSouthAfrica arent al-
ways optimal, and features a slight-
ly raised ground clearance and
high-profile tyres specifically for
this reason, thus allowing the new-
comer to cope with rutted tar, pot-
holes and gravel surfaces with
aplomb.
The new Swift DZire adds a fur-
ther, important string to the Suzuki
Auto bow, says Francois van Eed-
en, national marketing manager at
Suzuki Auto SA.
Our Swift range has already es-
tablished itself as a significant play-
er in thesubcompacthatchbackseg-
ment, andnowtheDZirewill extend
that success formula into the small
sedan sector.
Van Eeden points out that factors
such as spiralling fuel costs, rising
interest rates and the impact of e-
tolling are placing an ever increas-
ing emphasis on smaller, more af-
fordable andmore economical cars.
The DZire effectively takes the
Swifts exceptional attributes, and
presents them in a fresh and appeal-
ing subcompact sedan format, he
added. The keen pricing of the new
DZire is proof of SuzukiAutos com-
mitment to providing SA buyers
with affordable, high-value models
that also live up to expectations as
far as quality, specification and
economy are concerned.
The newSuzuki DZire is powered
by the auto makers latest-genera-
tion K12-series 1.2-litre engine. The
four-cylinder, 16-valve design fea-
tures electronic fuel injection and
VVT (variable valve timing) in the
interests of efficiency and perform-
ance.
The new 1 197 cc power unit is
credited with amaximum output of
63 kWat 6 000 r/min, combinedwith
a torque peak of 113 Nm at 4 500 r/
min.
Thanks to a minimum kerb mass
of just 960 kg in thecaseof themanu-
al version, and 990 kg for automatic
models, thenewDZireachieves a fa-
vourable power-to-weight ratio,
which in turn benefits straightline
performance, response and fuel effi-
ciency.
The DZire 1.2 Manual is credited
with a 0-100 km/h acceleration time
of 12,6 seconds, and achieves a top
speed of 160 km/h. Combined cycle
fuel consumption is a frugal 5,7 li-
tres/100km,withanassociatedCO2
emissions figure of 134 g/km.
The recommended retail prices of
the new Suzuki Dzire range include
a two-year/30 000 km service plan
andathree-year/100000kmwarran-
ty, while a three-year/unlimited
distance roadside assistance pack-
age is also provided as part of the
deal. Services are at 15 000 km inter-
vals.
In automatic trim, the DZire also
achieves a 160 km/h top speed. Fuel
consumptionremains favourableat
6,3 l/100 km, linked to a CO2 emis-
sions rating of 149 g/km.
The DZire 1.2 Manual is credited with a 0100 km/h acceleration time of 12,6 seconds, and achieves a top
speed of 160 km/h. PHOTO: QUICKPIC
28
Donderdag
13 Maart, 2014
BOLAND
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NissanNavarastill SAsmostpowerful
QUICKPIC
The Nissan Navara continues to
top the power and torque charts
in the South African bakkiemar-
ket, standing its ground against
fierce competition fromnewer ri-
vals in recent years.
Proving that Navara was way
ahead of its time when it was origi-
nally introduced in 2005, its range of
petrol and diesel-powered bakkies
still offer the best performance.
Product Marketing Manager at
Nissan South Africa, Marinus Ven-
ter, comments: The Nissan Navara
was launched as a new-age bakkie
with class-leading technology and
refinement and today it continues to
leadfromthefront inseveralaspects
of design, engineering, style, pur-
pose and technology. The fact that it
is still proving a popular choice in
2014 shows just how innovative and
engaging the Navara continues to
be. It is a great embodiment of our
Innovation that Excites ethos.
This excitement is provided
courtesy of the pickups petrol and
diesel V6 engines in particular, en-
suring Navara continues to be the
bakkie to beat in South Africa.
The smooth andmeaty 4.0-litreV6
petrol engine fitted to theNissanNa-
vara LE includes advanced design
features like Electronic Throttle
Control with secondary mapping in
4LOmode (in the4x4model),Contin-
uousValveTimingControl (C-VTC),
Nissan Variable Induction Control
System (NICS), a silent timing
chain, micro-finished camshaft and
crankshaft surfaces, molybdenum-
coated pistons, a resin intake mani-
fold, a digital knock control system,
high-capacity muffler and a light-
weight aluminium block.
Nissan produces more than one
million V6 engines each year mak-
ing it the largestmanufacturer ofV6
engines in the world. The VQ series
found in Navara has been ranked
among the ten best engines in the
world forthe last fourteenyears,and
is related to the earth-shattering
twin-turbochargedV6 enginewhich
powers the famous Nissan GT-R.
Developed to deliverhigh levels of
performance with outstanding fuel
efficiency, competitive emissions
and class-leading refinement, the
3.0-litre turbocharged common rail
diesel motor fitted to the range-top-
pingNavara 3.0 dCi 4x4LEastounds
with its 170 kWandclass-leading 550
Nm making the Navara the only
one-tonpickupvehicleinSouthAfri-
ca to feature a diesel V6 engine. The
torque is available from as low as
1 700 rpm and pulls consistently all
thewayto2500rpm,500Nmofwhich
is available fromas lowas 1 500 rpm.
Idle speed is low at 650 rpm,with the
usual NVH connotations associated
with diesel engines non-existent.
Theresultsarestronglow-endper-
formance with comfortably refined
power delivery and exceptional
throttle response. Flipping over the
coin, the strong diesel performance
bestows the Nissan Navara 3.0 dCi
4x4 LE with a towing capacity of
3 000 kg. Key to its smoothness and
responsiveness, a vee-angle of 65 de-
grees and construction from Com-
pacted Graphite Iron (CGI) ensures
the benefits of a cast iron block in-
cluding high levels of stiffness and
noise absorption are maintained,
but without the weight penalty.
AlthoughCGIisheavierthanpure
alloy construction, stiffening ribs
andextrasound-deadeningmaterial
are no longer necessary, contribut-
ing to a comparatively modest
weight gain.
Theclass-leadingtorqueandhigh-
ly competitive specific power out-
puts are delivered thanks to the
adoption of a comparatively large
singleturbochargerwhichismount-
ed within the vee of the engine, an
intercooler,andtheuseof latest-gen-
eration Bosch common-rail fuel in-
jection which incorporates piezo in-
jectors operating at 1 800 bar.
Thiscombinationofenginerefine-
ment, high-end packaging, excellent
specifications and a go-anywhere,
do-anything attitude to life is what
carries the Nissan Navara forward
still South Africas most powerful
bakkie.
Nissan produces more than one million V6 engines each year making it the largest manufacturer of V6 engines
in the world. PHOTO: QUICKPIC