Drive Kenya July/August 2015

KENYA’S PREMIER AUTO MAG ISSUE 7 - JULY/AUGUST 2015

COMPLIMENTARY COPY

The Drool Factor

Mercedes G63 AMG 6x6

Formula 1

Montreal & Austria Results

KCB Eldoret Rally Results Roundup

Mazda Demio 2016 vs Toyota Vitz SE 2015 Classic Car: Alfa Romeo 6C 1750

Bikes: Honda CBR300R

Dear Reader, Greetings!

This past month has seen quite a bit of sprucing up of Nairobi roads and the street lighting on some key roads in anticipation of the Global Entrepreneur’s Summit to be occasioned by the visit of President Barack Obama of the United States. We’re quite pleased by the initiative shown by the Government and we hope this momentum continues after the big summit as better roads and better lighting greatly enhance driver safety and security.

We’re also looking forward to seeing the US President’s car of choice - the Cadillac One, known as “the beast”. This is probably the most secure vehicle in the world. The doors alone are reportedly the same weight as a Boeing 757 cabin door!

This month we feature a subcompact urban battle between the 2016 Mazda Demio and the 2015 Toyota Vitz. These cars are bound to grace Kenyan roads in large numbers in the year ahead. We at Drive Kenya are leaning towards the Demio on this urban domination battle, as it has been completely redesigned, whereas the Vitz has received more of a re-touching.

In this months technical take we expound on the key differences between All Wheel Drive and Four Wheel Drive systems, while our local safety expert, Uncle Bob, dwells into the safest rated cars around. Our Kenya Car Guy goes into detail on engine oils, their purpose and usage guidelines.

In the Drool Factor we feature the Mercedes G63 AMG 6x6 which set a new standard in insane fun over the past two years. The Top Gear videos with Richard Hammond at the helm of the G Wagon are well worth watching after you’re done reading Drive Kenya.

We also feature two mid-sized engine bikes this month in the fast lane, the Honda CBR300R and the Yamaha YZF-R3.

These are two nippy intro sport bikes.

Rounding it up is the usual news feature and the local and international Motorsports results.

Enjoy the ride!

Drive Kenya Team.

Front page photo credit: Mazda Media & Toyota Media

Contact us for more details and options: P.O.Box: 1911 – 00606 Westlands, Nairobi - Email: info@drivekenya.co.ke - tripletwoholdings@gmail.com Tel: +254 718 221 222 +254 732 221 222 - www.drivekenya.co.ke Published By: Triple Two Holdings Ltd. - Editorial & Design Team: Amit Kwatra, Amit Soni & Vivek Kothary

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Contents REVIEWS & FIRST DRIVES

NEWS & EDITORIALS 5

The News

6

The Technical Take

7

Uncle Bob

9

The Alpha Romeo 6C 1750 Classic

8

The Kenya Car Guy

12

Demio vs Vitz

18

International Motorsport Results

14

Mercedes Benz G63 AMG 6x6

23

The KCB Eldoret Rally Results

THE FAST LANE 16

Honda CBR300R

15

Yamaha YZF-R3

IN

www.drivekenya.co.ke

THE NEWS Kenya’s Premier Auto Mag

Alfa Romeo Set For Renaissance

Dt Dobie Creates A New Showroom For Volkswagen

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is about to make petrol heads worldwide swoon.

In Arese, Italy, FCA has unveiled a new sedan from the Alfa Romeo stable. The automaker is hoping to increase sales of the Alfa Romeo brand by 50% over the next 3 years. In order to do so, FCA will release the Giulia, a rear-wheel drive sedan that seats five adults and sports 4-doors. The Giulia’s debut was on the 105th birthday of Alfa Romeo and it will be powered by a 6-cylinder 510-hp engine derived from Ferrari. The Gulia is said to go from 0-100km/h in under 4 seconds and has a 50/50 weight distribution to enhance handling.

DT Dobie is creating a new showroom for Volkswagen models at the Company’s premises in Lusaka Road. This will be the most compliant Volkswagen outlet in Sub Saharan Africa and has been designed by two officials, Volkswagen and CFAO architects Johannes May and Capy Joulia, to comply with the highest international standards. The construction of this state of the art facility follows the appointment of DT Dobie as the Volkswagen distributor in Kenya. This will house the VW models which include Touareg and Tiguan SUVs, the Polo and CC saloon, Caddy van and up to 7 seater Kombi, different variation of Transporter vans, Multivan and pick-ups, the Amarok pick-ups, not to forget the Crafter van and bus. In the next future, the range will be extended to the new Golf 7th generation, the new Passat 8th generation, and the new Jetta.

Self Driving Car Market To Be Worth $87 Billion in 2030 According to Lux Research car manufacturers and tech companies, designing self-driving cars will create a $87 Billion market in 2030. They predict that software companies will be the big winners moving forward with growth from $0.5 Billion today to $25 Billion by 2030.

While noting that fully autonomous vehicles will remain elusive, they predict that 92% of autonomous cars will have “Level 2” features such as: adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and collision avoidance braking. More advanced “Level 3” cars with high-resolution special maps will account for 8% of the market. This technology was recently demonstrated by Google and Mercedes-Benz.

The showroom’s floor is being built with tiles from Italy and the inside colors will respect the Volkswagen standards such as white, light wood, and the blue color. The furniture is designed in Germany and will be imported from there. The elements for visual identity will also be imported from Europe, and designed accordingly. In the scope of refurbishment, will also be a new delivery area, and the upgrading of the workshop.

Philippe Delunsch, the DT Dobie Director for Sales and Marketing, commented, “The new showroom will be officially opened in September this year by top CFAO officers from Paris and representatives from Volkswagen in Germany. In addition to creating the Volkswagen facility, we are also revamping the Mercedes showroom in preparation for the arrival of the latest Mercedes models and according to the newly launched worldwide Mercedes-Benz corporate image.”

“We are delighted about our representation of Volkswagen as it is the biggest German car manufacturer and among the very largest in the world having made 10.14 million cars in 2014.

July/August 2015

The Volkswagen brand has a strong following resulting from advance design, pace setting technology and very high standards of quality control.”

“The Volkswagen models available at our DT Dobie showrooms in Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru and Kisumu are backed by a comprehensive warranty, after sales service and a wide range of spare parts. We have also invested in a dust free workshop and special tools.”

Total And Visa Promotion

Ada Eze (second right), the Managing Director of Total Kenya Limited, Anne Kinuthia (left), the Barclays Bank Head of Lending and Victor Ndlovu (right), the Visa Country Manager for Sub Sahara, assist Winston Sankale (second left), a motorist, to pay for fuel using a Visa card during the launch of the “Total Freedom with Visa” promotion held at the Total Limuru Road Service Station.

This campaign ran until July 19th and rewarded lucky customers who fueled, or purchased other products using Visa cards at Total Service Stations with free petrol.

DRIVEKENYA.CO.KE | JULY/AUGUST 2015 5

toyota media

Four Wheel Drive vs All Wheel Drive Four Wheel Drive and All Wheel Drive are often thrown about like they refer to the same thing, but they are actually two different systems. A 4WD system is typically used on off-road vehicles. The basic idea is that the power goes from the transmission to the transfer casing, which consists of a series of gears that split the power between the rear and front axles, so that maximum torque goes to each wheel.

The problem with this is that the transfer case splits power evenly, so that each wheel turns at the same speed, which, for a car is troublesome. For a car to make a turn, the inside wheel has to turn more slowly than the outside wheel which is covering more terrain. If a vehicle can’t do this, the inside wheel loses traction and spins freely - this isn’t particularly great for forward momentum.

To get around this situation, most 4WD systems are only activated on demand. This is done by using the funnylooking secondary lever between the front seats, or done electronically. More refined 4WD systems include buttons or switches that include multiple settings, which allow the driver to use ‘limited slip’ that splits power less evenly between the inside and outside wheels, allowing for a correction of the locked, spinning inside wheel up to a point.

4WD systems are a proven, rugged technology, that allows

6 DRIVEKENYA.CO.KE | JULY/AUGUST 2015

the vehicle to get the best traction in off-road conditions.

The downside of a 4WD system is that it isn’t ideal for all conditions, that it adds weight & complexity to a car and is thus, more expensive than two wheel drive versions.

All Wheel Drive systems are a fairly recent innovation found in everything from family cars to high performance vehicles. An AWD system is typically switched on the entire time. A mechanical AWD system is constructed using 3 differentials, which take the power from the transmission and split it at different levels between two wheels (via the front and rear differential), or the front/rear axle (via the center differential). Electronic AWD systems are largely the norm now; the sensors monitor each wheel and the computer determines where power should be sent, depending on grip conditions. AWD systems are not as robust as 4WD systems, but they do have some advantages, including increased grip and control under all road conditions, which allow sportier handling, as it is basically on the entire time. The downsides are that, it isn’t as good under off-road conditions, and it increases the weight and complexity of the vehicle which correspondingly lowers the fuel economy. Under Kenyan road conditions a 4WD system is the better option.

Safety First!

Top Safety Pick Vehicles 2015

By Uncle Bob The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in America (IIHS) conducts vehicle tests to determine crashworthiness — how well a vehicle protects its occupants in a crash. It also rates vehicles for front crash prevention, systems that warn the driver or brake automatically to avoid or mitigate a frontal collision. The vehicles that perform best in the tests qualify for TOP SAFETY PICK, which has been awarded since the 2006 model year, or TOP SAFETY PICK+, which was inaugurated in 2013.

To qualify for 2015 TOP SAFETY PICK, a vehicle must earn good ratings in the moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests, as well as a good or acceptable rating in the small overlap front test.

To qualify for 2015 TOP SAFETY PICK+, a vehicle must meet the TOP SAFETY PICK criteria, plus earn an advanced or superior rating for front crash prevention. TOP SAFETY PICK+ winners with optional front crash prevention qualify for the higher award only when equipped with the technology. However when not equipped, they still meet the criteria for TOP SAFETY PICK. Models that earn TOP SAFETY PICK+ or TOP SAFETY PICK are the best vehicle choices for safety within size categories. Size and weight influence occupant protection in serious crashes. Larger, heavier vehicles generally afford more protection than smaller, lighter ones. Thus, a small car that’s a TOP SAFETY PICK+ or TOP SAFETY PICK doesn’t necessarily afford more protection than a bigger car that doesn’t earn the award.

Category

Winner

Small Cars

Mazda 3

Large Luxury Cars

Mercedes E class/ Volvo S 80

Midsize Luxury SUVs

Mercedes M Class/ Volvo XC60

Minivans

Toyota Sienna

Small SUVs

Honda CR-V/ Subaru Forester

Midsize SUVs

Nissan Murano/Toyota HighLander

Midsize Moderately Priced Cars

Mazda 6/ Subaru Legacy/ Subaru Outback/ Toyota Camry

From the Winner’s list it is apparent that some vehicles that are gaining popularity in the Kenyan market are considered some of the safest vehicles available today. The dominance of Subaru models in some of the categories should have many Subaru lovers in Kenya happy and feeling vindicated.

About the author: Uncle Bob is Kenya’s leading child safety expert and has been working with Parents’ to ensure that children who travel in cars are safely secured in an appropriate car seat. Uncle Bob also trains parents on how to properly install and use their childrens’ car seats.

You can learn more about Uncle Bob from the following links: Website: www.unclebobs.co.ke Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UncleBobsStrollers

DRIVEKENYA.CO.KE | JULY/AUGUST 2015 7

Each month, our car guy gives you solutions to the problems you face with your car.

Mobile: +254 733 666 597 - E-mail: info@kenyacarguy.com We asked the Kenya Car Guy to discuss the purpose and usage of engine oils this month. Here is what he had to say: The quality of lubrication an engine receives , affects the life and performance of that engine, even if you use the finest of service parts.

Poor lubrication or incorrect lubrication can seriously damage the engine.

What is the purpose of motor oil?

Motor oil in any engine does 5 key jobs: - Reduces friction between moving parts.

- Reduces heat.

- Cleans dirt and debris from the moving components.

- Assists in compression by sealing and creating a film between valve guides, piston rings and cylinder walls.

- Cushions engine parts from the force of combustion.

Motor oils consist of several additives which contribute to the formulation and performance of engine oils. Most petroleum based motor oils consist of refined crude oils and additives.

Additives are blended in during the refining process to enhance an existing quality the oil has, add a property it lacks or add one which was lost in the refining process.

Why is it important to maintain the correct type of oil?

The oil in an engine is constantly being churned by moving parts. During this process, air and other gases may mix into the oil , causing it to foam. An engine foam does not allow proper lubrication, causing ware between moving metal parts, shortening the life of the engine. It is important to choose the engine oil with a viscosity rating, approved by the vehicle manufacturer. Viscosity is the tendency of a liquid to resist flowing under different

temperatures. Viscosity of a fluid is designated by the viscosity number. Some additives in motor oils allow for a wider temperature range.

Currently there are 2 main types of oils available: Mono grade oils: Oils tested at one temperature Multi grade oils: Oils tested at more than one temperature.

Most automobiles in today’s market are manufactured to run on multi-grade oils.

What’s the difference between conventional oil and synthetic oil?

The differences between the two are many but some of the most common ones are: Composition: Conventional oils have a lower temperature rating and therefore, a shorter life between drain time. Synthetic oils have a higher temperature rating allowing the oil to last longer before it deteriorates and loses its qualities.

Cost: Synthetic oils could cost as much as twice as much as conventional oils and this is a factor that deters many consumers. It is commonly argued that even though synthetic oils cost more, they are better for the engine and the duration between oil changes, is delayed.

Vehicle manufactures now specify the type of engine oil suited to be used in the vehicle. Almost all new cars now require the use of synthetic oils since most vehicles have high compression engines and are designed to produce lower emissions.

To send in your questions to the Kenya Car Guy Contact: info@drivekenya.co.ke

flickr.com/rexgray

Classic Car The Alfa Romeo 6C 1750

The Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 is widely considered as one of the finest models ever produced by Alfa Romeo. The 6C 1750 is also often considered to be the first Grand Tourer. The 6C name was used by Alfa Romeo on road, race and sports cars produced between 1925 & 1954. The 6C refers to the straight-6 in-line engine found in these cars. Bodies for these cars were produced by a selection of specialist coachbuilders such as, Zagato, James Young, Touring, Pininfarina and Castagna, who clothed the supplied chassis. The Milanbased Zagato for example, specialized in weight saving and aerodynamics to craft strong, but light racing versions of the 6C 1750.

The 6C 1750 was introduced at the Rome Motor Show in

1929 and was based on the design of the earlier 6C 1500, which was the first Alfa, with double over-head cam-shafts.

The 6C 1750 featured a top speed of 152km/h, a chassis designed to be flexible over wavy surfaces, as well as sensitive geared-up steering. The 6C 1750 was produced in 6 variations including a Super-Sport and Gran-Sport version with power out-put, ranging from 46 to 102-hp. It was produced from 1929 to 1933 and, a total of 2,635 of these classics were manufactured. In 1929, the 6C 1750 won every major racing event it was entered into, including the Grand Prix of Belgium, Spain, Tunis and Monza, as well as the Mille Miglia, the Brooklands Double Twelve and the Ulster TT. In 1930, it again won the Mille Miglia and Spa 24 Hours.

The 6C 1750 was introduced at the Rome Motor Show in 1929

DRIVEKENYA.CO.KE | JULY/AUGUST 2015 9

Commercial vehicles are motor vehicles used in transportation of goods using road as the primary means of transport.

They comprise of vehicles such as Lorries, pick-ups, prime movers, commercial vans among others. Road transport in Kenya remains the most developed means of transport as compared to others such as water, air and rail; this means that a large percentage of goods are transported by road whose network is far reaching even to our landlocked neighbors.

Overreliance on road as a means of transport comes with its own challenges; among them, traffic jams and accidents. Insurance comes in to help in the event of road accidents by making sure the commercial vehicles are repaired and business continues without much interruption. The transport business contributes positively to the growth of our economy and thus we cannot over emphasize the part played by Comprehensive insurance solutions such as the ones offered at GA. 1) What is motor commercial Insurance?

4) Am I covered when I transport goods out of Kenya?

Yes! The insurance cover extends to the East African countries albeit for own damage only. For injury or damage to third parties or their property, the customer has to purchase a Comesa Yellow card. This is a central fund that is built through contributions of member countries; it is using this fund that third party claims are paid in case they happen whilst the vehicle is outside Kenya.

5) Is the Driver and Loader Covered in the event of an Accident?

The comprehensive policy only covers the vehicle and third parties. Nonetheless, one may buy a policy rider (add-on) to cover the driver and loader.

You can also purchase a separate personal accident cover or WIBA and Employers Liability cover for them at

This is an insurance policy designed for commercial vehicles used in the transportation of goods. The goods can be owned by the owner of the vehicle or a third party who pays for them to be delivered to its customers. The vehicles can also be for hire and reward which means that the owner of the vehicle is paid upon delivery of goods from one point to the other.

2) What are the major classifications for Motor Commercial?

There are of two types:•

Motor Commercial Own Goods – Carrying of goods owned by the owner.

•

Motor Commercial General Cartage – Carrying of goods owned by a third party for a fee.

3) What is covered under a Motor commercial policy?

• Accidental collision and/ or overturning • Theft of the vehicle • Fire • Riot and Strikes • Malicious damage – where by the vehicle is damaged by another person with ill motive.

• Flood and Natural perils • Damage to other people property • Injury to pedestrians • Windscreen • Radio Cassette • Towing

affordable premiums to make sure they are adequately covered.

6) Are the Goods covered?

As stated above, the policy only covers the vehicle and third parties; however, one may also buy a policy rider (add-on) to cover the goods.

The following are alternative covers that you can purchase to ensure your goods are fully covered.

• •

If you own the goods, you can purchase a Goods In Transit cover (GIT) If you do not own the goods, you can purchase a

•

Carriers Liability cover To cover against theft by employees, you can purchase a Fidelity Guarantee.

7) Am I covered against terrorist attacks?

Political risk and terrorism can be covered by paying a small supplementary premium in addition to your normal annual premium.

8) Does my insurance premium reduce if I don’t have an accident during a given period?

Yes! You are entitled to a 10% No Claim Discount for each accident-free (claim free) year. This is subject to certain minimum rates.

9) What is Policy Excess?

This is the first amount you pay towards repairs or replacement of the vehicle after accidental damage or theft occurs respectively. In the event accidental damage occurs, the excess is usually a percentage of the vehicles’ value and ranges from 5% to 10% depending on the use of the vehicle.

In the case of a Theft claim, the percentage can go as high as 20%, this can however be reduced up to 5% if risk mitigation measures such as, installation of Anti-Theft devices, Tracking devices and Fleet management systems are installed.

10) Can I pay my premium in installments?

Yes! We have partnered with I&M Bank Ltd for competitive rates on Insurance Premium Financing (IPF). This is a facility provided by the bank where they pay the insurance company the full premium amount and you as the insured get to pay the bank back in flexible installments that can run up to 10 months.

11) Do I get a discount when I have a Fleet of vehicles?

Yes! Having a fleet (5 or more vehicles) attracts a lower rate as compared to a person having a single vehicle; this rate can be discounted further if the vehicles in the fleet have had no claims during a given period of insurance.

12) How is our claims management process?

Our claims process is quite fast having a wide range of garages and assessors among other service providers at our disposal, we are able to repair your vehicle and have it back on the road within the shortest time possible.

Also, our team of well experienced employees is always at hand to offer unlimited support ensuring your claims process runs smoothly.

Get A Solid Cover from

GA Insurance

13) Why GA? GA is a strong Brand in the market with strong financial stability, years and years of experience dating back to 1979 as well as the experienced staff who are always willing to assist Customer satisfaction is our key pillar and we will leave no stone unturned until all your insurance demands are met.

GA Insurance Motor Commercial Cover Talk to us today to find our more.

GA Insurance House, Ralph Bunche Road | Mombasa | Kisumu | Westlands Call: 0786 555555, (020) 2711633/4, 0736 711633, 0721 677273 Email: insure@gakenya.com | Online: www.gakenya.com

Mazda

Demio

2016

The subcompact sector has grown tremendously in the last few years and manufacturers have increasingly focused on making them more stylish and well equipped. Subcompact cars are quite popular on Nairobi roads with the Toyota Vitz (also known as the Yaris) and the Mazda Demio (aka the Mazda 2) being amongst the most popular choices out there. In this Head On we compare the two automatic versions for urban dominance.

The 2016 Mazda Demio is reportedly the most upscale looking of the entire subcompact market right now. The Demio’s interior is a blend of sport and luxury with a visually pleasing, modern layout with a dashboard that’s low and largely free of buttons. The infotainment system is one of the best in class, with a crisp screen mounted atop the dash with a click wheel/knob between the front screens controlling the infotainment system. Mazda’s Skyactiv engineering goals are to combine lightweight construction with fuel efficient engines and these are found in the Demio for the first time. The Demio’s wheelbase has been extended 7.9 cm further to 257 cm from the prior model while the overall length has gone up by 16 cm to 406 cm. The 2016 Demio is taller by 2.5 cm and its width remains the same at 169.5 cm. Mazda has announced three

12 DRIVEKENYA.CO.KE | JULY/AUGUST 2015

different engine versions for the Demio for Europe & Japan, a new Skyactiv-D 1.5-liter diesel 4-cylinder, a Skyactiv-G 1.5-liter petrol 4-cylinder, and a Skyactiv-G 1.3-liter petrol 4-cylinder. The engines will be mated with either a 6-speed automatic or manual. The 2016 Demio has been reported as fun to drive with much more refinement and comfort. Expect to see a lot of these on Kenyan roads in the years ahead.

Toyota

Vitz SE 2015

Front page photo credit: Mazda Media & Toyota Media

Specs

The 2015 Vitz has had a mid-cycle refresh as opposed to a complete re-design. The new-look Vitz sports a more expressive and daring grille design, fresh taillights, a remodeled rear bumper and a number of interior upgrades.

Chassis improvements include additional spot welds to enhance body-shell rigidity, this sort of selective stiffening and subtle suspension re-tuning mean that the Vitz is reported as surprisingly responsive and nimble on its feet. The 2015 Vitz has better interior materials and added features include a 6.1-inch color touch screen, nav system, reviewers note that the seating position is comfortable but the steering wheel feels too low despite being height and reach adjustable.

Where the Vitz has also trailed the competition is with it’s

anemic 1.5-liter petrol 4-cylinder engine that’s been mated to either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic. Critics note that it struggles to make 106-hp and sounds heavy when under acceleration. Fuel economy on city/highway driving is estimated at 7.35L/100km.

2016 Madza Demio SKYACTIV – G 1.5 litre petrol 4 cylinder

2015 Toyota Vitz SE Engine

1.5-liter petrol 4-cylinder

88-hp @6,000 rpm

Max power

106-hp @ 6,000rpm

148 Nm @4,000 rpm

Max Torque

140Nm @ 4,200rpm

7.1 L/100km 6 Speed Automatic

Fuel Consumption Transmission

7.35 L/100km 4-speed ECT Automatic DRIVEKENYA.CO.KE | JULY/AUGUST 2015 13

The

Drool Factor Mercedes Benz G63 AMG The G63 AMG 6x6 makes no sense at all, unless you are a Mad Max road warrior, looking to bash and conquer sand dunes with a monstrous machine that is designed to be big, fun and powerful! The G63 AMG 6x6 weighs in at 3,785 kg curb weight, has a 5.5-liter V8 twin-turbo that generates 544-hp and manages to accelerate this beast from 0-100km/h in 6 seconds! Mercedes Benz sold a 100 of these units in the last 2 years, before discontinuing production earlier this year.

Pricing of the base model was â‚Ź379,000 in Germany with an armor-plated version going for $1.35 Million. Everything about this vehicle screams - BIG. The tyres at 37-inches, the ride height, the turning circle and the price-tag.

There are an astonishing five different locks in the G63 AMG, and this version is bigger in every single dimension.

It measures nearly 625 inches long, which is more than 43 inches beyond the G63. At 83 inches wide, it has been bumped out by 8.6 inches, and its height has jumped from 10.7 inches to 87 inches. One would need a separate house to store this vehicle. The payload is a miserly 750kg, so after you and your buddies are in the G63 AMG, all you have left over for food, water and Mad Max style dune bashing, is 350kg. The brakes to stop the 6x6 are all castiron. Mercedes has made all the off-road angles better, too, with the approach angle, jumping from 16 degrees to 52, and the departure angle boosted from 27 degrees to 54, while the ramp-over angle creeps up a degree to 22 degrees. This is one outrageous machine!

media.daimler.com

“

“

Everything about this vehicle screams - BIG

hondanews.eu

The Honda CBR300R The Honda CBR250R, launched in 2012, was supposed to challenge the Kawasaki Ninja 250 with its low sticker price, good performance and high fuel efficiency. Kawasaki, though, responded quickly and in 2013 launched the Ninja 300 that left the Honda CBR250R in the dust.

Honda has now responded with the CBR300R which retains the tubular steel frame and suspension from the 250R, but adds 37cc for a total engine displacement of 286cc, by extending the engine stroke by 8mm to 63mm.

Honda claims a 17% power increase over the 250R, and the exhaust system now utilizes a muffler setup similar to the CBR500R. One reviewer notes that, “The 300R’s engine is stronger than you might expect it to be. It starts to go from around 5000rpm, with another li, ft at 6000rpm and then a strong surge at 7500rpm. Revs are rewarded, but they are not an essential part of the show. In top gear, the 300 is showing 70mph at around 6800rpm, then gives another 10mph for each additional 1000rpm until topping out at an indicated 104mph, as the tacho needle teases the 10,500rpm redline.”The CBR300R is also reported to have agile handling, while 16 DRIVEKENYA.CO.KE | JULY/AUGUST 2015

the 300R’s bodywork is certainly cooler, having been more closely aligned with the Honda CBR-RR supersport models. The overseas price is estimated at Ksh 640,000.

QUICK SPECS Engine Type: Liquid-cooled singlecylinder four-stroke

Engine Displacement: 286cc

Bore x stroke: 76mm x 63mm

Transmission: Six-speed

Ignition: Computer-controlled digital transistorized with electronic advance

Power: 30.4-hp @ 8,500 rpm

Torque: 9.9 lb-ft @ 7,250 rpm

Rake/Trail: 25.3 deg. / 98 mm

Fuel Efficiency: 3.31L/100km

Fuel capacity: 12.9 Litres

Kerb weight: 162.3kg

Seat height: 30.7 inches

Front Tire: 110/70-17 Rear Tire: 140/70-17

Front Brake: Single 296mm disc Rear Brake: Single 220mm disc

Compression ratio: 10.7:1

Front Suspension: 37mm fork; 4.65 inches travel Rear Suspension: Pro-Link single shock with five positions of spring preload adjustability; 4.07 inches travel

flickr.com/labnol Asia

The Yamaha YZF-R3 Yamaha has certainly created an exciting, yet practical entrant into the new sports class with its solid R3 bike. Sporting a 320cc twin-cylinder engine, with a 6-speed transmission and an all new chassis, the R3 combines power & agile handling with Moto GP inspired race bike styling. Yamaha says that the new R3 has been designed to provide a fun, enjoyable riding experience. To that end, the R3 utilizes a lightweight diamond type steel frame which is narrow and compact with a low 780mm (30.7”) seat height. Despite the cool super sport styling, the R3 offers a comfortable, upright riding position which reduces rider fatigue and increases the fun factor. The R3 is the first geared bike that’s made in its new factory in Indonesia. Indonesians buy a staggering 7 million new bikes every year. The data instruments get the essentials across clearly. The digital speedometer sits prominently alongside an analogue rev counter.

There are two trip meters, two fuel economy readings, odometer, fuel gauge and a water temperature gauge.

The R3’s display panel also tells riders how long it’s been since an oil change and alerts the rider when the

next change is due. The handlebars are clip-ons, but they’re mounted above the yoke and are designed to give a more generous lift for more comfort on the road. Brakes feature ABS as standard. The R3 is priced at roughly Ksh 700,000 abroad.

QUICK SPECS Engine Type: 4-stroke, liquid-cooled, DOHC, 8-valves (4-valves/ cyl), in-line twin

Engine Displacement: 321cc

Bore and Stroke: 68.0mm x 44.1 mm

Compression ratio: 11.2:1

Transmission: Six-speed

Final Drive: “O” ring chain

Wet Weight: 166 kg

Fuel Delivery: 32 mm throttle body F.I.

Tyre Front: 110/70-17

Brakes Front: 298 mm disc / twin piston caliper

Rake and Trail: 25 degrees and 95 mm

Fuel Consumption: 3.72L/100km

Tyre Rear: 140/70-17 Front Suspension: 41 mm fork / 130 mm (5.1”) Rear Suspension: Adjustable Monocross / 125 mm (4.9”)

Brake Rear: 220 mm disc / single piston caliper

Seat Height: 780 mm (30.7”)

Fuel Capacity: 14 Liters

Colours: Yamaha Blue Vivid Red Metallic Black

DRIVEKENYA.CO.KE | JULY/AUGUST 2015 17

press.porsche.com/

Le Mans Porsche was expected to present a challenge to Audi’s recent domination of Le Mans, but no one expected it to win in such a manner. The Porsche 919 Hybrid had a very clean race with few issues and battled effectively all the way with the Audi R18 e-tron Quattro which suffered a myriad of issues. Nico Hulkenberg (who drives for Force India in F1), Nick Tandy and Earl Bamber cruised to victory in their No. 19 car. Hulkenberg became the first active F1 driver to win the Le Mans 24 in twenty-four years. The win was the first overall trophy for Porsche since 1998. Audi had previously won the last five races, and an astonishing 13 of the last 15 races.

For most of the races, the battle at the top went back and forth between the two German manufacturers. Porsche dominated in the first hour with Timo Bernhard in car No. 17, thereafter, Audi managed to take advantage of the safety car to take the lead in the second hour, as Andre Lotterer ran a number of fast laps and employed a smarter pit strategy. A tire- puncture in the No. 7 Audi gave up the lead to Porsche, and moments later, a crash forced the No. 8 Audi-driven by Loic Duval into the garage. But a three-minute replacement of the front and rear bodywork kept the Audi in contention.

As the race wore into the night, Porsche maintained a slightly faster pace than Audi. At the midway point of the race, the two Porsches started building a gap of roughly

18 DRIVEKENYA.CO.KE | JULY/AUGUST 2015

one minute from the Audis, with the No. 19 car leading the charge. Nick Tandy took the lead on Lap 253 early Sunday morning, and car No. 19 never gave up the top position, there on. The win was the first for all three drivers of the No. 19 Porsche – Nico Hülkenberg, Earl Bamber, and Nick Tandy. A lap behind in second was the No. 17 Porsche. The Audis fought reliability problems through the night, with their noses and engine covers, but still finished third with the No. 7 Audi R18. Audi’s problem certainly wasn’t speed in fact, all 3 of their cars broke the previous lap record that had stood for, well over 40 years.

Here are the results from the LMP1 race: 1. HULKENBERG Nico (Porsche 919 Hybrid) 395 laps 2. HARTLEY Brendon (Porsche 919 Hybrid) 394 laps 3. TRELUYER Benoit (Audi R18 e-tron quattro) 393 laps 4. DI GRASSI Lucas (Audi R18 e-tron quattro) 392 laps 5. JANI Neel (Porsche 919 Hybrid) 391 laps 6. WURZ Alexander (Toyota TS 040 - Hybrid) 387 laps 7. ALBUQUERQUE Filipe (Audi R18 e-tron quattro) 387 laps 8. BUEMI Sebastian (Toyota TS 040 - Hybrid) 386 laps

Moto GP Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo dominated from start to finish at the Catalunya Moto GP, held at the Montmelo circuit just outside of The Barcelona, to win his fourth consecutive race and in the process, broke Casey Stoner’s record of leading by 88 consecutive laps, reaching a new record of 102 consecutive laps led. Lorenzo moved into first place at the very first bend after having started third on the grid. Valentino Rossi pushed him hard all the way though and with just 5 laps to go, Lorenzo’s lead was just 1.29 seconds, but he kept his cool and held the Italian legend at bay, for a home track victory.

Lorenzo now moves to within a point of Rossi’s 138 points atop the rider’s leadership standings. “I stayed focused and didn’t make any mistakes,” said Lorenzo, at the end of the race. Dani Pedrosa, on a Honda, finished third for his first podium result of an injury-hit season. Spain’s Marc Marquez, the reigning champion, had yet another crash early on in the race while pursuing Lorenzo. It was his third fall in seven races so far, this season. Marquez was quoted as saying after, “The thing is that, if you are not at your best, these things can happen. I felt strong but couldn’t break into the corner!”

It was a dramatic race in Assen at the Dutch MotoGP, with the Italian legend Valentino Rossi, winning a thrilling battle with Spain’s Marc Marquez to capture the win. Rossi started from pole position and led almost throughout, with reigning MotoGP Champion Marquez, overtaking him briefly with 7 laps to go. Rossi quickly regained the lead and managed to hold on for the win, despite a desperate final push by Marquez, at the very last corner. Marquez made a move on Rossi as the duo approached the final chicane and made contact with the Italian, sending him across the gravel. Rossi managed to stay upright and crossed the finish line first. This was Rossi’s third win of the season and the 111th of his career. Rossi is now 10 points clear at the top of the overall leader-board, from Yamaha team-mate Spain’s Jorge Lorenzo, who managed to finish third. “This win is very important because I was competitive all weekend,” said Rossi, at the end of the race. Rossi’s final winning margin was 1.242 seconds and the win sets him up nicely to challenge for his first MotoGP title since 2009.

Deutschland

Catalunya

Deutshland

Results

Catalunya

1.

Jorge Lorenzo

SPA

Yamaha

42’53.208

2

Valentino Rossi

ITA

Yamaha

+0.885

3

Dani Pedrosa

SPA

Honda

+19.455

4

Andrea Iannone

ITA

Ducati

+24.925

5

Bradley Smith

GBR

Yamaha

+27.782

6

Maverick Viñales

SPA

Suzuki

+29.559

7

Scott Redding

GBR

Honda

+36.424

8

Stefan Bradl

GER

Yamaha

+42.103

9

Danilo Petrucci

ITA

Ducati

+49.350

10

Alvaro Bautista

SPA

Aprilia

+52.569

1.

Marc Marquez

SPA

Honda

41’01.087

2

Dani Pedrosa

SPA

Honda

+ 2.226

3

Valentino Rossi

ITA

Yamaha

+ 5.608

4

Jorge Lorenzo

SPA

Yamaha

+ 9.928

5

Andrea Iannone

ITA

Ducati

+20.785

6

Bradley Smith

GBR

Yamaha

+23.215

7

Cal Crutchlow

GBR

Honda

+29.881

8

Pol Espargaro

SPA

Yamaha

+34.953

9

Danilo Petrucci

ITA

Ducati

+35.875

10

Aleix Espargaro

SPA

Suzuki

+37.253

DRIVEKENYA.CO.KE | JULY/AUGUST 2015 19

media.daimler.com

Montreal F1 Lewis Hamilton got over the disappointment of Monaco with a superb drive at the Canadian Grand Prix, by beating Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg. In the process of doing so, he surpassed Nigel Mansell’s record for most laps, led by a Briton. The Mercedes duo had a comfortable lead of 40 seconds over Williams’ Valtteri Bottas, who finished third.

The Canadian circuit is notoriously hard on fuel economy and heavy braking and for a while, Rosberg had to nurse his brakes as wear patterns crept in, and Hamilton had to hold back to conserve fuel.

Up until lap 29, Hamilton had a settled lead over Rosberg, but once he pitted, Rosberg had a blistering lap and pitted on the very next lap, and upon exiting Rosberg, found that he had cut Hamilton’s lead down from 4.4 seconds to less than 2 seconds. By lap 45, Rosberg had narrowed the lead down to, as narrow as one second. It fluctuated from there as both drivers overlapped slower cars, with Hamilton locking his front wheel a few times and Rosberg running wide, twice at the hairpin. Over the closing laps, Hamilton coasted away to a lead of 3.5 seconds on the penultimate lap, even though he was advised to conserve fuel. In the end Hamilton won by a margin of 2.2 seconds for his fourth Canadian Grand Prix win.

Hamilton was quoted as saying, “I did not feel that I had the most comfortable balance in my car, it was under-steering,” he continued, “Nico was quick but I never felt that I was under too much pressure. After the pit stop, I thought that because he was in my slipstream, he was able to save more fuel. I thought I had saved enough but had to save some more, so the fact that the gap shrank so much, was down to fuel saving. I was just trying to manage things and bring 20 DRIVEKENYA.CO.KE | JULY/AUGUST 2015

the car back safely. Once I had saved enough, about 15 laps before the end, I was able to get on it a bit more. I had some time in my pocket, so after that I was able to pull out the gap again.”

Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen finished fourth after spinning on lap 27, and team mate Sebastian Vettel finished 5th after battling all the way up from 18th at the start, after penalties for overtaking during a red flag in practice.

media.daimler.com

Austrian F1 Nico Rosberg had a dominant win at the Austrian Grand Prix, passing his Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton at the start of the race and subsequently never looked back. Hamilton tried to re-pass Rosberg on lap one, but was stopped by the safety car as a result of a spectacular crash between McLaren’s Fernando Alonso and Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen, where the McLaren ended up on top of the Ferrari. Both drivers escaped unhurt. When the safety car was withdrawn, Rosberg and Hamilton quickly made their one and only pit stop. Hamilton though, was given a 5 second penalty for edging over the white line which separates the race track from the pit exit. This effectively put an end to his winning the race.

Rosberg’s third win of the season saw him reduce the gap between him and Hamilton, at the top of the driver’s leaderboard to 10 points.

even though the latter inched closer with every lap and was on Massa’s tail with 10 laps left, the Brazilian kept his nerve and held on to finish ahead of the four- time world champion Vettel. Behind them Valtteri Bottas, again of Williams, held of Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg (who had won Le Mans 24 hours just a few days prior) for fifth, in a battle that lasted half the race.

When asked later about his trend of winning on the Red Bull Ring track that many drivers describe as difficult, Rosberg commented, “I don’t know if there’s a trend on this track or anything. It’s just that, today is a great day, good start and then good pace in the race – and that’s what I’m most happy about! The car felt good, I was able to push from the first lap all the way, so that’s cool. I think this year I found what I needed to find last year in terms of race, y’know, and just doing a little bit better in the races and that’s really working out for me this year.”

Behind the Mercedes duo, William’s driver Felipe Massa finished third and claimed the 1000th point of his career after Ferrari’s Sebastien Vettel lost the third place, because of a problem, fitting his car’s right rear wheel during his pit-stop.

Massa had a 4 second lead over Vettel with 34 laps to go and DRIVEKENYA.CO.KE | JULY/AUGUST 2015 21

flickr.com/Best Of Rally Live

WRC Italy Sébastien Ogier claimed maximum points from Rally Italia Sardegna on Sunday, after winning both, his fourth WRC event of the season and the final live TV Power Stage.

After a fierce fight with Hayden Paddon, Ogier eventually enjoyed a comfortable 3 min 05.3 sec victory in his Volkswagen Polo R over the New Zealander, who produced the surprise of the rally by heading the world champion for almost two days.

After problems late yesterday, Paddon’s consolation was a career-best second in a Hyundai i20. Belgium’s Thierry Neuville finished 4min 22.5 sec off the lead in third, ensuring two podium places for the Korean manufacturer.

Ogier was the only front-runner to avoid major problems as the rocky roads took a heavy toll. He leads the championship by 66 points from Citroën’s Mads Østberg, with seven of the 13 rounds remaining.

The Frenchman overcame the handicap of sweeping gravel from the roads for the opening two days, and only demoted Paddon, in his first full WRC season, when the Kiwi spun and later hit a rock and damaged his gearbox.

“Hayden did a great job and deserves his podium,” said Ogier. “I didn’t expect this kind of result here. It was very difficult to open the road but the times got better and better.

Everything was perfect all weekend, from the car to the weather forecasts.”

Paddon became the first New Zealand driver to lead a WRC 22 DRIVEKENYA.CO.KE | JULY/AUGUST 2015

round outside his home country. But with victory gone after yesterday’s problems, he eased through the final day, hiding the fact he was nursing his car.

“We still had some damage from the impact yesterday, so we were lucky to get here,” he said after the final stage. “I’m very relieved, it was a massive weekend, but there’s more to come yet,” he promised.

Neuville climbed to third this morning, after Østberg went off the road in the opening stage and damaged his DS 3’s brakes. He limped through the final three tests, falling behind, both, Neuville and Elfyn Evans, but holding off JariMatti Latvala.

After driveshaft problems on the opening day, Evans recovered to finish fourth in a Ford Fiesta RS, 1 min 12.3 sec behind Neuville and more than two minutes clear of Østberg.

Latvala threw everything at his attempt to overhaul Østberg, but fell 16.6 sec short and settled for sixth in another Polo R. The leader-board was completed by WRC 2 trio, Yurii Protasov, Paolo Andreucci, Jan Kopecky and Khalid Al Qassimi.

Among those to finish down the order, were Andreas Mikkelsen (suspension / fuel pressure), Kris Meeke (accident), Dani Sordo (wheel off / fuel pressure), Ott Tänak (gearbox) and Robert Kubica (gearbox).

Source: Red Bull Content Pool.

Photo Credit: SIMON MULUMBA/CMONCY IMAGES

KCB Eldoret Rally The flying-Finn Tapio Laukkanen, navigated by Pasi Torma, got back to his winning ways with a decisive win at the KCB Eldoret Rally on Saturday the Fourth of July. The KCB Eldoret Rally route was 151km in length this time round and went through some of the most scenic areas around Kipsaos, Flourspar, Nyaru and Kimwarer. A total of three competitive stages that were repeated took place. This was Laukkanen’s second win of the KNRC season, with the first coming in the opening round at the KCB Kisumu Rally.

Laukkanen in his Subaru Impreza battled with the Ford Fiesta R5 of former Uganda Rally champion Rajbir Rai, who was navigated by Tim Challen, all the way to the finish. In the end Laukkanen secured a close to 3-minute margin win over Rai. The former Finnish and British Rally champion proved victorious despite having problems with the engine and suffering from two separate punctures which could’ve easily cost him victory. Uganda’s Jas Mangat finished third to round out the top three in his Mitsubishi EvoX. Jaspreet Chatte still remains atop the overall KNRC leaderboard having finished in fifth position overall at the event.

FINAL RESULTS 1. Tapio Laukkanen (Subaru STI R4) 1:37:32 2. Rajbir Rai (Ford Fiesta R5) 1:40:27 3. Jas Mangat (EVO X) 1:41:24 4. Quentin Mitchell (Skoda S2000) 1:41:28 5. Jaspreet Chatthe (EVO X) 1:42:40 6. Carl Tundo (EVO IX) 1:42:53 7. Manvir Baryan (Ford Fiesta R5) 1:42:59 8. Baldev Chager (EVO X) 1:46:21 9. Tejveer Rai (EVO X) 1:46:46 10. Raajpal Bharij (EVO X) 1:48:42 11. Jansher Sandhu (EVO IX) 1:51:36 12. Denis Mwenda (EVO IX) 1:52:05 13. Farhaaz Khan (EVO IX) 1:52:20 14. Steve Gacheru (Subaru Impreza) 1:52:25 15. Asad Khan (Subaru STI N10) 1:55:32

DRIVEKENYA.CO.KE | JULY/AUGUST 2015 23

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