The Land Cruiser name was coined in 1954 as the model expanded into the civilian market and went head-to-head with the British-built Land Rover.
The number 70 carries particular significance for Toyota’s Land Cruiser. It is 70 years ago that the first ‘Land Cruiser’ made its debut. Originally known as the Toyota BJ and intended for military use, this four-wheel drive juggernaut quickly went on to earn an enviable reputation for its go anywhere capability and rugged construction.
Secondly the number 70 refers to the long running 70-series of Land Cruiser. which comprises the 76 Station Wagon, 78 Wagon and 79 “bakkie” or LCV. In celebration of the 70-year milestone Toyota SA is pleased to announce the release of a 70th Anniversary edition. The special edition model will be applied to the 79-series single and double-cabvariants.
The Package
The special edition model builds upon the core Land Cruiser credentials and adds a host of utility-boosting parts and visual enhancements to deliver a bespoke model true to the needs of the ‘hardcore’ Land Cruiser enthusiast. A unique 70-year emblem has been affixed to the exterior and also included on the durable cotton canvas seat covers – making the 70th edition instantly recognisable.
The Toyota ellipse has been replaced by prominent TOYOTA lettering (similar to the Hilux GR-S and Land Cruiser GR-S) to create a signature look.
Another nostalgic touch is the bespoke Land Cruiser badge reminiscent of the iconic 40-series, which the celebration model wears proudly on its side doors.
The rest of the package focusses on equipping the model with features which not only play the visual part, but deliver when the going gets tough. Here, the heavy-duty front steel bumper, integrated winch and towbar equip the LC 70th anniversary model with the tools required for the job.
An overview of the unique specification enhancements are as follows:
Interior:
unique grey seat covers with 70th edition embroidery
Land Cruiser branded floor mats
Touchscreen audio system with Navigation & Bluetooth
Exterior:
Heritage-inspired mesh radiator grille with TOYOTA lettering
Heritage logo on side door
70th Anniversary emblem
Tubular rear step bumper with detachable towbar
Inner load-bed protector
Rubberised load bed (3mm)
Tubular front steel bumper
Integrated winch preparation
The Colours
The 70th Anniversary model will be offered exclusively in Ivory White and Sand Beige.
The Model line-up
Land Cruiser 79 S/C 4.5 Diesel V8 70th Edition – R 889,700
Land Cruiser 79 D/C 4.5 Diesel V8 70th Edition – R 943,100
A 3 year / 100 000 km warranty is included and customers can purchase various service plan packages from their nearest Toyota dealer (220 outlets nationwide). Service intervals are every 12 months/ 10 000 km.
Toyota Motor North America announced that North Carolina Greensboro-Randolph Megasite has been chosen as the location for Toyota’s new $1.29 billion automotive battery manufacturing plant, to be named, Toyota Battery Manufacturing, North Carolina (TBMNC).
When it comes online in 2025, TBMNC will have four production lines, each capable of delivering enough lithium-ion batteries for 200,000 vehicles―with the intention to expand to at least six production lines for a combined total of up to 1.2 million vehicles per year.
The $1.29 billion investment, including funds to develop land and facilities, made by Toyota and Toyota Tsusho will be partially funded from a total investment of approximately $3.4 billion previously announced on October 18, which did not include funds for developing land and facilities, and is expected to create 1,750 new American jobs.
“The future of mobility is electrification, and the Greensboro-Randolph Megasite is the ideal location to make that future a reality,” said Ted Ogawa, CEO of Toyota Motor North America. “North Carolina offers the right conditions for this investment, including the infrastructure, high-quality education system, access to a diverse and skilled workforce, and a welcoming environment for doing business. Today marks the beginning of a mutually beneficial partnership with the Tar Heel state as we embark on our journey to achieve carbon neutrality and provide mobility for all.”
In addition, as the company continues its efforts to reach carbon neutrality for its vehicles and operations by 2050, Toyota is committed to using 100% renewable energy at this new facility to produce the batteries.
Chery has lifted the veil off the production version of its much-anticipated OMODA 5 Crossover SUV – and it is destined for South Africa.
The new OMODA 5 was unveiled at Auto Guangzhou 2021. It introduces a new design language for Chery – Art in Motion. Art in Motion symbolises Chery’s ambition to create vehicles that successfully integrate stunning design, leading technology and a rewarding driving experience.
Art in Motion
“There are few other industries that have the opportunity to combine beautiful design and mechanical performance like the automotive industry,” says Tony Liu, Executive Deputy General Manager, Chery South Africa.
“Unfortunately, motorists who have been enticed by beautiful and futuristic designs from motor shows are left with very watered-down designs when these designs reach the showroom floor. We are changing that with models like the OMODA 5.”
As such, the OMODA 5 has extremely smooth lines that appear almost liquid, while also introducing a few design firsts to the crossover segment.
These design firsts include a smart play between light and shadow in the flowing and integrated diamond matrix grille that is seamlessly integrated into the front design and that flows almost imperceptibly to the split front LED headlamps and LED daytime running lights.
The same applies to the glasshouse, where the smooth integration between the front windscreen and glossy A-pillars creates a borderless design that is repeated on the side windows and at the rear.
The flowing lines continue unbroken across the side profile and terminate in two distinct rear wings, one at the edge of the roofline and another that integrates the arrow-shaped rear lights. These were designed to lead the eye beyond the vehicle itself and create a promise of movement and an invitation to the driver to get behind the wheel.
Colour blocking
In another page from Chery’s book on Art in Motion is the tasteful and unique use of colour blocking on the exterior design.
A contrasting or complementary second colour is used to highlight some of the most characterful lines to create a bit of visual tension with the otherwise flowing design. This can be seen in the strong line below the doors, in the highlights on the slim side mirrors, in the wheels and, depending on the model, in the flowing roofline and uppermost spoiler.
The OMODA 5’s platform also meets global 5-star safety ratings, proving that performance and adaptability do not have to come at the expense of safety or structural integrity.
“It is very heartening to know that the OMODA 5, like every other new Chery, will be future-proof and that we can support every type of customer requirement, whether that is for powerful and frugal petrol and diesel engines or for quiet and comfortable electric or other propulsion systems,” says Liu.The Chery
Wearing a helmet is one of the safest things motorcyclists can do; and they really don’t come much better than the GS Carbon helmet range.
I’ve spent the better part of 2021 riding off-road largely due to my participating in the GS Trophy 2022 qualifiers. During that time my head gear of choice has been my GS Trophy inspired helmet, from the GS Carbon helmet edition. Sleek and athletically designed, the GS Trophy helmet, looks ready for action both on tarmac as well as on gravel. Here are 5 things I like about the GS Trophy helmet.
Lightweight, Comfy & Safe
Apart from its design, the first thing I noticed about the GS Trophy helmet was that it is quite lightweight, thanks to its 100% carbon-fibre reinforced plastic shell. It weighs 1,450grams (with shield and dual visor) and is extremely comfy.
I didn’t put its ability to absorb impact to the test as that would mean I would have taken a nasty fall. Rather, I believed BMW Motorrad when they offered that the GS Trophy helmet’s inner layer is made of multi-segmented expanded polystyrene which makes the helmet’s ability to absorb impact quite outstanding.
Removeable Head And Cheek Pads
The GS Trophy helmet, (as with all the helmets in the GS Carbon collection), has removeable and washable head & cheek pads. These are easy to detach and reinstall making cleaning the shell a breeze. Plus, we live in an age where cleanliness is the key to good health so the removeable inner pads are quite reassuring.
Three Dimensionally Curved Visor
There are two visors fitted to the GS Trophy helmet. The inner visor has anti-fog material which many riders will appreciate, while the outer visor has anti-scratch coating on both sides. Best of all, the visor is very wide and helps immensely with peripheral vision. Unlike with my other adventure helmets, I found that I didn’t have to turn my head very much to see what has happening around me.
Removeable Chin Vent Flap
The GS Trophy helmet has an integrated dust filter and removeable chin vent flap both of which were handy in off-road and hot-weather riding. I also found that the flap worked as a highly effective ventilation system. Due to low-speeds used when riding off-road I often unfastened the flap so I could feel the welcome breeze on my parched face. Once on the tarmac, and because travelling speeds are much higher, I kept the flap in place to reduce the amount of wind from getting in and around my neck.
Removeable Peak
I’ve saved the best feature for last and you are probably surprised that the peak of the GS Trophy helmet gets special mention. The thing is, after years of riding I have had more than my fair share of damaged peaks. Some simply couldn’t be screwed back on well enough to be as effective while others were damaged riding on treacherously rocky and slippery gravel. As a result, I own more than one helmet and have learnt to use those without a peak for on-road riding and not to tamper with the peak on my adventure helmets. Fortunately, the removeable peak means it can be replaced without incurring the cost of replacing the entire helmet.
I later learned that the GS Trophy helmet is put through its paces in a wind tunnel to test how well it holds up in various riding scenarios such as wind and rain. Having worn it over long distance rides, I can attest that my GS Trophy helmet has been aerodynamically designed to increase rider safety. Even the integrated neck straps are scrutinised!
Without a doubt the GS carbon helmet edition offers maximum rider safety and I absolutely enjoy it. With all that riders have to contend with on the roads wearing the correct gear means one less thing to worry about.
I was curious how Bridgestone would entertain a group of motoring scribes while launching their latest tyre. I half expected the presentation to go over my head with all the technical jargon I was sure would be used.
Arriving at the launch venue as part of the second group of media attending the launch, the sun was at its hottest, 35°the weatherman had confidently said but it felt more like 40°! I wondered how long we would have to drive the BMWs fitted with Potenza Sport tyres; after all, the type of tyre fitted to a car makes all the difference to safety and comfort levels.
Registration and COVID protocols dispensed with, I maneuvered towards the beverage area for a bottle of cold water. Once I was settled, I looked around for familiar faces which is not a lot of people as this was only my second launch. I was happy to recognize two associates who also admitted that they too were expecting “yet another one of those launches” (a statement accompanied with an eye roll).
We were soon ushered to the seating area as the event was to begin. Jacques Fourie, the CEO of Bridgestone and Thandeka Ngoma, Consumer Sales Director were the first two speakers who took us through the company’s journey and that it was celebrating its 90thanniversary since it was established in Japan in 1931. Moreover, it had been 50 years since Bridgestone launched its manufacturing plant in Brits, South Africa.
In developing and launching the Potenza Sport tyre, Bridgestone wanted to create a tyre that meets the high expectations drivers have when purchasing high-performance tyres. The tyre manufacturer also aimed to address the everyday challenges face – thus aligning to their new brand messaging launched in 2022 – “Solutions For Your Journey.”
Ary Coetzee, Bridgestone South Africa’s Technical Manager, took us through some of the various new, innovative technologies that have been implemented in the tread pattern, the blend of materials used to improve the wet and dry performance of the tyre as well as the actual construction of the tyre.
As expected, I confess that my mind did indeed start to drift when the presentation got to the technical part. I made a mental note to enquire what terms such as ‘hybrid crown reinforcement’ meant but I did grasp that it’s a technology that helps maximize a tyre’s stability performance at high speed. Of course I understood the words ‘high speed’ and I was itching to get behind the wheel of one of the Beemers.
Just as a smirk of excitement was forming on my lips, my mind caught up with Ary as he explained how “3D sipes in the tyre’s tread design increase stiffness, resulting in enhanced braking and abrasion resistance”. My mind was boggled as he further shared that Bridgestone has developed technology that enables the company to accurately predict a tyre performance while in the development stage – without physically producing it.
That sounded very interesting. Unfortunately, the Brits facility does not produce this high-performing tyre but it is available in South Africa in 96 sizes, ranging from 17” to 22″.
These tyres come standard in the following supercars; Maserati MC20, Lamborghini Huracán STO, Audi RS3, Ferrari F171, and the Porsche Macan. Between 2022 and 2023, the tyres will be extended to include BMW and in particular the 8 Series range. If you can afford any of these cars, please contact me so I can elaborate on the benefits of these tyres, (wink, wink, nudge, nudge)
Finally, it was time to put all that talk to the test. It was time to drive; an activity I had been waiting for from the moment I accepted the invitation. Aziye!! (Let’s go).
In groups of 3’s and 4’s we jumped into the beautiful but beastly BMWs and in a convey we followed the instructors to the skidpan.
Equipped with a walkie-talkie in each car, the instructor took us through a series of braking, accelerating and emergency lane change do’s and don’ts before we each got an opportunity to tackle the different exercises. After each driver had a go, we finally got to the GYMKHANA!!!!
As I was adjusting my car seat, side mirror and steering wheel, (the entire car really), to suit my height and size, I noticed someone approaching the front passenger seat holding a camera. My heart sank. Here I was, about to be filmed. Note that I was the smallest person in the group, who had never before attempted to dodge cones on a piece of concrete (or anywhere else for that matter) was about to be filmed.
The unsuspecting cameraman asked if he could be my passenger specifically to record all the silly facial expressions I was about to make while attempting this drill. Sure, I said, wondering if he had any idea of just what he had just signed up for.
All set, I jumped onto the accelerator immediately the countdown was done and what happened next became a blur very quickly! I have been caught in a skid before but under immensely different circumstances.
Learning how to control your car when it starts to skid gave me a heightened sense of confidence which I hadn’t even been aware was missing! I can honestly say that asides from the fun, some of the technical jargon came to mind and I visualized exactly what the tyres were doing as I swerved left and right and jumped on the brakes as hard as I could.
There is no better joy you will experience in a Code B vehicle than burning someone else’s tyres whilst driving as fast as you can, trying to avoid hitting these little cones on a course while someone is timing you. I can’t remember having that much fun!
The more I manoeuvered the Beemer, the more I recalled notes from the presentation, particularly around the area performance.
During the braking exercises, I could feel the difference in stability between a dead brake in a car equipped with the Potenza tyres as compared to the tyres in my mother’s Toyota RAV4. Although she has brand new tyres on her car, there was much less skidding on the Potenza tyres and more grip in them. Also, you have better control when steering while speeding, especially when you have to brake instantly whilst changing lanes – I see you, Potenza, I see you!
After all the exercises had been done a couple of times – the instructors would have had to physically drag me off the gymkhana had it not been for the fact that my score no longer qualified me to continue with the exercise. We drove back up to the venue for some much-needed cold refreshments.
Suitably nourished, I found it much easier to mingle with Bridgestone staff and members of their support team. Of course, I had to inquire about who was responsible for ‘the Stig’ that had delivered my gift the previous Saturday morning. Not that I have anything against receiving gifts but the Stig arrived unannounced and if you anything about the ‘rituals’ of a Black woman at the weekend you know I was in house-cleaning mode and looked every bit the part!
I explained in detail how mortified I had been when seeing ‘the Stig dude’ jump out of his car and stride towards my floor. Stiggie arriving unannounced wasn’t as big a problem as that he also wanted to take a selfie and didn’t seem to mind that yours truly was wearing a dookie (headwrap), an oversized T-shit and unflattering ‘cleaning-the-house-in-pants’ caused my embarrassment.
It is extremely important that motorists not only ensure their tyres are properly maintained but that they purchase the correct and best-value-for-money tyres they can.
When you think about it, the only thing that separates the car from the surface of the road is 4 patches of rubber that are the size of the palm of your hand.
When I first laid eyes on the GS Pro boots my thoughts immediately went to images of Autobots and Decepticons from the Transformers movie franchise.
In truth, I absolutely love the GS Pro boots! Of course, there are a few things I am not crazy about but on the whole, I love the colours and the look of my ‘Robocop Boots’ as I like to call them. Initially, I was intimidated by the size and weight of the boots when I first held them…..
I am aware that my love for the GS Pro boots doesn’t extend beyond a handful of off-road riders. Those I have interacted with, who aren’t fans of the sci-fi-looking footwear, cite weight and difficulty in maneuverability when wearing them, as their main areas of contention.
Having worn the GS Pro boots in many different riding conditions over the past few months, (including participating in the GS Trophy try-outs); I hope my opinions on these beefy adventure boots will benefit those who haven’t had the opportunity to experience them as extensively as I have.
Soft and Plush On The Inside
The inside of the GS Pro is nice and soft because it’s made from 100% calf leather. As a vegetarian, I would ordinarily protest at the thought of an animal’s coat being used to adorn my feet but when it comes to materials used to enhance my riding safety and comfort I don’t have any quibbles with animal skin!
A Bootie In A Boot
Once I had gotten past the look and weight of the GS Pro boots, the next thought that invaded my mind was that I would get the most painful blisters of my life. This notion was based on the fact that the GS Pros are made from hard-wearing materials which make them sturdy and inflexible. Only when I slipped one on, did I discover that they have an inner shoe or as I call it, a ‘bootie’, which in fact, is what you wear.
Think of it as a two-layered Russian Doll; you wear the bootie inside the boot so that your foot is not directly in contact with the GS Pro itself. The comforting thing about this is that the bootie protects you from the hard outer shell of the GS Pro boot. This swiftly resolved my concerns about the possibility of getting agonizing blisters.
The bootie is comfortable and made of durable yet breathable material. It is removable, making it easy to wash and dry. Designed with gel ankle cushions, the booties aids mobility within the GS Pro boots which are pretty unbending especially when brand new. Thanks to the inclusion of the bootie, you are able to move your ankle as freely as you ordinarily would when wearing any other type of shoe, the only exception being that your feet are clad in protective armour.
A Cuff To Keep The Dirt Off Your Pants
A lot of detail has gone into the production of the GS Pro boot and in as much as that’s something all motorcycle boots have in common, one unmistakable standout highlight that I picked up on, become my all-time favorite feature; being the cuff at the top of the opening of the boots.
Located at the top of GS Pro boot, at its opening, is a cuff designed to reduce small stones and other debris from getting in between your pants, boot and possibly underfoot. It’s not 100% foolproof but over the course of the many months I have worn these boots, I can honestly say the cuff is impressively effective.
Here’s an example; imagine you are on an off-road adventure, where your focus is fixed on remaining upright on your motorcycle as you bounce over stony terrain. Suddenly, you feel the prick of something sharp in your shin and, no matter how hard you try to ignore it, the unrelenting stab in your shin threatens to divert your attention from the gravel track. The cuff on the GS Pro boot helps minimise the occurrence of such instances; something you’d only appreciate when you are riding between a mountain-side and a sheer drop.
Strangely Not Water Proof
The cuff also helps minimise the amount of water that would otherwise splash into your boot but in spite of its plastic-clad look, the GS Pro boots are not waterproof. I learned this the hard way having ridden in the rain for the better part of a particular excursion. On the bright side though, as soon as you remove the bootie and boot to dry out, they do so fairly quickly. Perhaps the hot summer sun helps in that regard; I didn’t try it in winter.
Awkward To Walk In
In a nutshell, let’s just say these boots weren’t made for strolling around in!
With hard protective reinforcements all around, the GS Pro boots proved quite difficult to walk in. Being rather heavy, the weight of the boots felt as if you’ve set your feet in blocks of cement. Coupled with the tall stable shaft, form-fitting calf & shin protector and plastic reinforcements at the heel and toes, I found myself mechanically stomping around like an angry toddler, much to the astonishment of onlookers.
On a serious note though, the protective materials used to manufacture the GS Pro boots hold your lower limbs in place, so that there is minimal risk of you twisting your ankle or leg.
As with all new gear, it was critical that I wore my GS Boots as often as possible before riding in them. This allowed me to get a better feel for them, as by wearing them, I was breaking them in. After becoming comfortable in the boot, my next step was to start riding in them. This felt strange because the dynamics between walking and riding in them will be vastly different.
Even though I had worn my boots for quite a while, riding in them felt like a completely new experience and once again the GS Pros felt rigid. As any rider would know, it is critical that your ankle can flex comfortably when using the rear brakes and changing gears. Being unable to do so when I first started riding in my boots was my most pressing worry.
Initially, I made rookie mistakes such as putting too much pressure on the rear brakes simply because I couldn’t “feel” the brakes. At times I was too soft on them and at other times too hard. I was in a constant state of either wondering why the bike wasn’t slowing down or at risk of going over the handlebars.
Equally embarrassing was my changing into the wrong gear every so often purely because I couldn’t feel which gear I was in. Granted, my motorcycle has a gear change indicator, but with 11 years riding to my name (a lot longer than the gear change indicator technology has been on the market), I intuitively listen to my bike rather than rely on technology – as good as it is.
In spite of all their good qualities, I found the GS Pros to be quite slippery on-road. Granted, they are off-road boots but one often has to ride on the tarmac in order to get to the gravel roads. Although I had spent quite a long time wearing them, I eventually realised that being slippery wasn’t a result of the boots not being sufficiently broken in, rather, I think it’s the material used on the sole.
The steel toe caps give the GS Pro boots a sense of ‘bling’, but these also proved to be dangerously slippery. At my height, my idea of tippy-toeing is actually me being on the balls of my feet. However, if you are not blessed with the gift of height and you tiptoe in these boots, chances are you will have a disgraceful dismount of mammoth proportions.
Off-road though, the sole and steel toe caps have magnificent gripping ability. Perhaps the solution would be to ride in different boots on road with the GS Boots in your top box!
Adaptive cruise control is a safety feature found in most modern cars and in this article, we break down just how it works and why it is also known as a ‘driver aid’.
Safety features such as Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) used to be the norm only in big, expensive vehicles. However, over the years, ACC and other features have steadily made their way into smaller more affordable cars.
In order to understand how ACC works, we must first look at the cruise control function.
Cruise Control
Simply put, cruise control is a very useful feature that makes long-distance driving easy and quite relaxed. You just set the speed at which you’d like to travel then activate cruise control. The function maintains your desired speed and; to cancel it, all you have to do, is tap the brakes.
Adaptive Cruise Control
ACC is an enhancement of cruise control and works in pretty much the same way as does conventional cruise control. Although ACC is able to maintain whatever speed you set it to, the difference between the two is that ACC automatically adjusts the speed of your vehicle to match the speed of the one in front of you.
If the car ahead of yours slows down, ACC in your vehicle will intuitively reduce speed to match it; but when the leading vehicle accelerates or moves out of your way, ACC increases your vehicle’s speed till it gets to the speed you had initially set and had been traveling at.
Adaptive cruise control uses high-tech radars, sensors and onboard computers, to ‘read’ the road ahead of you for traffic. ACC uses distance, direction and approximate speed to determine the speed of your vehicle and the distance between your vehicle and the one ahead of it.
As with most things, there are some pros and cons to using adaptive cruise control.
PROS
The car uses less fuel due to it maintaining a steady pace.
It makes driving long distances comfortable and stress-free.
Set to the legal speed limit, adaptive cruise control helps keep you on the right side of the law.
CONS
Adaptive cruise control cannot be used in all types of weather may not be effective on ice, snow, fog, rain and gravel.
Can lead to accidents due to one’s mind zoning out, also known as ‘highway hypnosis’.
May lead to delayed driver reactions such as late braking.
Spark plugs (aka sparkies) aren’t just a term used to describe an annoyingly clever person. Rather, they are tiny electric devices used in most internal combustion engines and are critical in the ignition process of your vehicle.
Think of a spark plug as a diminutive bolt of lightning; minute but powerful, the spark of electricity that a spark plug produces, creates the ignition required to start up your car’s engine.
Simply put, sparkies have the power to start your car and keep it powered up – or not – depending on the health of the plugs in your car.
Technically Speaking…
I know I come across as a motoring journalist whose sole purpose in life is to flit from one car launch to the next and to drive fancy cars in between, but allow me to show off some of my technical know-how with the following mechanical explanation:
A spark plug is fitted into your car engine’s cylinder head and is connected to the ignition coil. The coil generates the high voltage necessary to create the spark from the plug. When the spark occurs, the fuel ignites, allowing your engine to start and run. However, if the plug is damaged then it stands to reason that it won’t produce the spark required to ignite the fuel and in turn, fire up the engine.
Image: Master Mechanic
That said, a damaged sparkie could have enough life left in it to get your engine started but may struggle to keep your vehicle powered up. This could result in a comically jerky ride due to misfiring during acceleration and at worst, a drastic reduction in fuel efficiency (which no one can afford!)
How Often Should Spark Plugs Be Replaced?
Fortunately, spark plugs don’t require replacement very often and can operate optimally for years – particularly if they are of premium quality. Nevertheless, their durability not only depends on their make but also on the regular maintenance of your vehicle, hence you must have your car serviced regularly.
Image: Axle Addict
Signs That Your Car’s Sparkies Are Nearing Retirement Age
As with most car parts, spark plugs don’t last forever and after enduring several thousands of kilometres sparkies eventually go to sparkie heaven. The two main enemies of the mighty spark plug are:
Deposit Build-Up: Over time, the interaction between the spark plug and the air-fuel mixture causes residue which leads to pre-ignition of the fuel and an unpredictable delivery of energy to your engine.
2. Expanding Gap: When a sparkie ignites, the spark has to jump across a gap of space in order to provide the necessary amount of combustion. As the spark plug ages and as a result of extreme temperatures and normal wear and tear, the gap widens. Eventually, the gap becomes too wide, making it difficult for the spark to travel across and provide ignition.
Symptoms Your Sparkies Need To Be Replaced
Similar to most things that age, sparkies give tell-tale signs that they require replacement.
Here are our top 3 most common signs your engine is begging for new sparkies:
Hard Start / Hard Ignition: This results in your vehicle giving trouble when getting started.
2. Reduced performance: This results in a sluggish and fuel-guzzling drive
3. Rattling / knocking-like sounds: This is a result of the sparkies firing at the wrong time.
Healthy spark plugs are critical to your everyday driving comfort but should you notice any of the above-mentioned symptoms we suggest having your vehicle looked over by a qualified technician.
Contrary to popular belief, car maintenance is not something which only takes place at a service dealership; rather it is something you can do every few weeks in your own driveway.
With the ever-increasing demands of work, running a business, looking after your family and ensuring you make time for yourself, a month can go by very quickly. So quickly in fact that you might neglect to do more than just ensure your car has enough fuel to take you from point A to point B.
To be certain that your car runs as smoothly as possible (and that you don’t end up stranded on the side of the road), it is important to maintain it as best as possible.
Here are 4 checks you should do on your car monthly:
1. Check Engine Oil
Engine oil plays many roles within an engine, the most important being that it lubricants the various engine parts which are constantly in motion. In the absence of sufficiently good quality engine oil, these parts would grind against one another, causing costly or irreparable damage to the engine.
If you drive an older vehicle, you can check your engine oil yourself approximately every second time you fill up your fuel tank. However, in the case of relatively modern cars, the manufacturer advises that a qualified technician checks this and other issues you might encounter.
2. Wiper Blades and Windscreen Washer Fluid
Wiper blades are an understated safety feature that ensures optimal visibility at all times. As with other car parts, wiper blades deteriorate over time, particularly if your car is not stored undercover. The sun and other natural elements can erode the quality of the wiper blades thereby reducing their effectiveness.
It is advisable to check the level of the windscreen washer fluid whenever you check the quality of your car’s wiperblades. Contrary to popular belief water is not the best fluid with which to wash your windscreen.
Rather, a specifically formulated washer liquid works best to clean and maintain the integrity of the materials of both the wiper blades and windscreen itself. Windscreen washer fluid is inexpensive and can be obtained at any good quality car parts outlet.
3. Tyres and Pressure Levels
A flat tyre can happen at any time but the best way to negate such a nasty surprise is to keep an eye on your tyre pressure. Regularly checking the overall condition of your tyres, allows you to timeously spot low pressure, worn tread and other anomalies such as cuts, lumps and irregular or uneven wear. Don’t forget to check the condition of the spare tyre too!.
Lights are a critical component of your everyday driving safety. Lights make it easy for you to see where you are going and just as importantly, allow others to see you too. To check the proper functionality of your vehicle’s lighting system, engage any of the lights and walk around your vehicle to confirm that they are working.
Should you discover that any of the lights are not working, have the fuses checked or bulbs replaced immediately.
Your safety and that of other road users depends on how well you maintain your vehicle. The above check-list is simple and can be done in a relatively short amount of time.
Checking these basics could prevent accidents and costly repairs; also you will be surprised how easily working this check-list into your monthly schedule is, once you get into the habit of doing it.
Press Release: South African GT Racing Association
When the teams line up on the grid for the start of the Kyalami 9-Hour race on Saturday, 4th December, a piece of South African motorsport history will be made with the appearance of the first all-Black African team tackling the famous race.
The final round of the Intercontinental GT Championship will see Xolile Letlaka, Tschops Sipuka and Philip Kekana take on the best GT3 racers in the world behind the wheel of their Into Africa Mining Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo.
Letlaka and Sipuka raced their Huracan GT3 to two victories and a second place finish from their four starts in the 2021 SA Endurance Series, providing a taste of things to come in the Kyalami 9-Hour where they will be aiming to win the National Class. Despite missing the first round of the Endurance series, and a non-finish at the Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) round, Letlaka and Sipuka lie third in the championship standings.
Philip Kekana
Tschops Sipuka
Xolile Letlaka
48-year-old businessman Xolile Letlaka became the first man of colour to win a round of the Endurance series last year, his first race in a pukka GT3 car, teamed with Charl Arangies.
“It will probably be one of the proudest days of my life”, said Letlaka about how he will feel when standing on the grid with his teammates while the National Anthem is played. “Fielding a team with two drivers who grew up in rural villages in the Eastern Cape and one from Soweto speaks to my motto of “we lift as we rise.”
Tschops Sipuka needs no introduction to SA motorsport fans. He won the Polo Cup title in 2002 and 2003 before progressing into production cars in a factory-backed Audi. After a seven year absence from the sport, he returned to GTC racing in 2019, winning the East London round. The 43-year old Sipuka raced a Mercedes Supertruck and tested an Indy Lights car during his varied career.
“It will be an honour to showcase ourselves on an international stage,” said Sipuka. “Consistency and speed will be our watchwords. The Kyalami 9-Hour is going to be a very special moment for our team.”
Philip Kekana is both excited and nervous about his GT3 racing debut; having been out of the sport for a long time, he is relishing his test session ahead of the big race.
“It’s going to be a steep learning curve for me; I have to become accustomed to the car – understand how the machine works and how far I can push it. I was very excited when Xolile called to offer me the drive. I’ve been training hard since then”, said the 55-year-old Sowetan resident.
Kekana started racing Group N cars in 1997 before winning the title in 2002 and hopes the Into Africa Mining team will inspire young black children to take a bigger interest in motorsport, especially from an engineering perspective.
When it comes to building pick-up trucks, Peugeot is a veteran with decades of experience under its belt.
One of the oldest car brands in the world, Peugeot entered the pick-up market in 1938 with the introduction of the Peugeot 202 U Camionnette / Bâchée. A small number of these 202 pick-ups were imported to South Africa after World War II, most of them being redundant former French military stock. They were not even re-painted, but made their debut in matt army green colouring. Only one of these vintage 202s still exists in South Africa, where it forms part of a lucky owner’s private collection.
Peugeot 202 U Camionnette Image: Orlando Auto Museum
Following the imported 202, Peugeot released car models of the locally manufactured 203. National Motor Assemblers, part of the Stanley Motors Group, started assembling 203 cars at Natalspruit industrial site in Alberton, south of Johannesburg in 1950. Although there was a 203 pick-up manufactured in France until 1960, they were not for sale in South Africa.
Peugeot 403 Pick-Up Image Wikipedia
The 403 model followed in 1956 and was the next Peugeot pick-up to appear on the market. Only a handful of these models are reportedly left in the country today, in the collections of classic car enthusiasts. Comfort, economy and durability coupled with superb road holding, precise steering and excellent brakes were the hallmarks of these 403 pick-ups and they built up a tremendous reputation in South Africa, especially in the country districts.
Peugeot 404 Pick-Up: Image Club-Ottomobile.com
Peugeot 404 Pick-Up: mage Club-Ottomobile.com
Peugeot 404 Pick-Up: Image Club-Ottomobile.com
Peugeot 404 Pick-Up: Image Club-Ottomobile.com
Peugeot 404 Pick-Up: Image Club-Ottomobile.com
Further north in Africa, Peugeot’s success story in Nigeria supposedly began with a hundred privately-imported Peugeot 403s back in the late 1950s, firmly establishing the brand and its suitability for the rigours of the continent.
When its successor, the 404 pick-up appeared, Peugeot pick-ups began making deep tracks in Africa. It was hugely popular in South Africa and throughout the rest of the continent where it became a faithful workhorse on farms, at small business and across various industries. It was not uncommon to see large industrial projects, like the building of the Sishen–Saldanha iron ore railway line and export harbour, to solely run on Peugeot 404 wheels.
Peugeot 404 Sedan Image: Pixabay
In its heyday, the 404 pick-up was found from Cape Town to Cairo and everywhere in between, because of its ability to go anywhere in Africa. The 404 series was also locally assembled at Natalspruit industrial site in Alberton.
Although a total of 2,885,374 Peugeot 404 units were produced worldwide, “only” 794 760 of those were pick-ups / châssis cabine. While the 404 cars were manufactured until 1978 in South Africa, the 404 pick-ups stuck around for longer, being produced in Kenya until 1991. As the saying goes: “unstoppable, unless you forget to top it up!”
Peugeot 504 Sedan : Image Wikipedia
Peugeot 504 Sedan: Image AutoEvolution
Peugeot 504 Station Wagon: Image Pinterest
Peugeot 504 Station Wagon: Image Hemmingways Motor News
The legendary Peugeot 504 was also available in a pick-up model, but never came to the South African market. Described as the “King of the African road”, it was produced in Kenya until 2004 and Nigeria until 2006. So tough were these 504 pick-ups that they could be entered, with minimal mechanical adjustment, into the notorious African off-road rallies, winning the 1984 African Rally Championship and, at the same time, writing the Peugeot 504 pick-up into the rally rankings forever.
And you thought a Peugeot double cab will be a first in history for Peugeot. But long before it became fashionable, Peugeot built a four-door double cab 504 pick-up in China and Argentina.
With such an impressive pedigree of pick-ups in its ancestry, Peugeot’s next generation pick-up has big tyres to fill.
Congratulations to the winners of Honda Quest 2021: Ruan Ueckermann & Neil Rieck.
The winners were announced at a victory ceremony held on November 10, 2021 at Kaleo Guest Farm. The champions were ‘crowned’ by Yuishi Fukuda, President of Honda Motor Southern Africa.
This year’s pairs were particularly strong and the 7 teams got a taste of some of the most breathtakingly beautiful landscapes in South Africa whilst putting their riding skills to the test.
Just 9 days before the final event, the 14 contestants were strangers; polite and formal around each other. But within a very short period of time, no one would have believed that they had just met. It wasn’t the dust and travel grime that made them gel so well; rather, it was the adventure journey that had irrevocably changed them.
The final tally of the adventure was very close amongst the heroic group; however, Ruan and Neil’s infectious energy, ability to approach every challenge with a smile and unwavering consistency both on and off the bike saw them richly deserving of their grand prize the Honda Africa Twin motorcycles which they competed on.
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