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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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

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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

20

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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

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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

SOLD

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

SOLD

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

SOLD

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

SOLD

AUTO

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

SOLD

AUTO

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

SOLD

AUTO

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