Drive Kenya

KENYA’S PREMIER AUTO MAG

ISSUE 2 - FEBRUARY 2015

Luxury meets Power

The Nissan Patrol PAGE 12

ASK

THE KENYA CAR GUY

THE TOP 10 PICK

from the Detroit Auto Show 2015 YO U R F R E E C O P Y

A Word From the Editor Dear Reader,

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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 Team: Amit Kwatra & Vivek Kothary Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/drivekenya

Contents NEWS & EDITORIALS

6

News Feature

7

Technical Take

14

The Top 10 Pick From the Detroit Auto Show

16

The Kenya Car Guy

19

Enthusiasts Corner

21

The F1 & Moto GP 2015 Schedule

REVIEWS & FIRST DRIVES

10

Aston Martin DB 5 Classic

11

Porsche 550 Classic

12

The Nissan Patrol

THE FAST LANE

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17

The Yamaha YZF - R1

18

The Kawasaki Z1000

16397-6 +27 (0)12 460 8545

Innovation that excites

POWER_ MEETS LUXURY

NISSAN PATROL THE PERFECT BALANCE. The new Nissan Patrol is an expression of richly crafted luxury combined with a 5.6L V8 engine to bring the perfect balance where absolute luxury meets absolute power.

Power | Luxury | Heritage

NSC NAME NISSAN KENYA

Address and city details here PARTS Opening hours Uhuru Highway Bunyala Rd & xam-xpm Monday to Friday Mombasa Road Service Centre xam - xpm Saturday Phone: +254 (0) 202 407 544/33 E-mail: partssales@nissankenya.com

Address and city details here SERVICE Opening hours ICD Road, off Mombasa road xam-xpm Monday to Friday Opposite Business Park xam - xpmSameer Saturday

Phone: +254 (0) 202 400 407 E-mail: service@nissankenya.com

Address and city details here SALES Opening hours Uhuru Highway Bunyala Rd xam-xpm Monday to Friday Roundabout xam - xpm Saturday Phone: +254 (0) 202 407 544/33 E-mail: carsales@nissankenya.com

www.nscdetails.co.xx MOMBASA BRANCH Lumumba road - Mombasa Phone: +254 (0) 702 188 880 E-mail: mombasa@nissankenya.com

IN www.drivekenya.co.ke

THE NEWS

Subaru, Lexus Top Resale Value Awards In US Subaru has been ranked as the best brand and Lexus as the best luxury brand by Kelley Blue Book for its 2015 Best Resale Value Awards. The awards issued annually are based on projections by KBB's automotive analysts who review statistical models based on millions of transactions to determine which vehicles will have the highest residual value after five years. The Subaru Impreza, WRX and Legacy won individual awards while Toyota claimed 5 awards. Of interest to Kenyan readers as well would be that the Honda CR-V came second overall in The top 10.

Kenya’s Premier Auto Mag

Click, Print and Drive Away One of the highlights of the recent Detroit Auto Show was the introduction of a 3D printed car by the company Local Motors. According to Local Motors, " Everything on the car that could be integrated into a single material piece has been printed. This includes the chassis/frame, exterior body, and some interior features. The mechanical components of the vehicle, like battery, motors, wiring, and suspension, are sourced from Renault’s Twizy, an electric powered city car."

The car's top speed is projected to reach 80kph and it could be cleared for public roads as soon as this year in the US. The pricing range per CEO Jay Rogers is expected to be between $18,000 - $30,000. The car is made from aerospace grade material - "ABS plastic that has been reinforced with carbon fiber" per Local Motors.

End Of The Road For Cuban Classics?

They survived the Cuban revolution, the Cold War and the fall of the Soviet Union.

Now Cuba's estimated 70,000 vintage American sedans from the 1950's, also known as "almendrones" or large almonds for their rounded shape, may not survive the easing of the 5 decade long Washington led trade embargo.

Purchasing and selling the vehicles has only been allowed for the past three years for Cubans. Now as sanctions ease the cars preserved by local mechanics for decades are hot items for car connoisseurs globally.

6

F1 Cars Predicted To Be Faster In 2015 In an interview with Autosport Magazine, Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembery predicted that this season would see cars go quicker by as much as three seconds per lap over the previous season. Last year Formula 1 moved from a V8 engine configuration to a V6 turbo engine configuration which led to complaints that the cars were slow. Pirelli being the official tyre supplier to F1 has insider knowledge into the progress and development of all the teams. Hembery predicts that by the time of the season opener in Melbourne or at the latest in Shanghai, he fully expects to see significant jumps in performance as teams implement aerodynamic developments and improve the engine, especially on the powertrain front.

DRIVEKENYA.CO.KE | FEBRUARY 2015

February 2015

The Rise Of Fake Engine Noise To some car enthusiasts it's an act of fraud, to others the sign of real progress in engine efficiency and performance the sound of fake engine noise.

“If you’re going to do that stuff, do that stuff. Own it. Tell customers: If you want a V-8 rumble, you’ve gotta buy a V-8 that costs more, gets worse gas mileage and hurts the Earth,” says Karl Brauer a senior analyst with Kelley Blue Book.

Since car engines have been getting better performance and mileage they've gotten a whole lot quieter but therein lies the paradox, consumers still want the growl of older engines, the primal feel of raw power under the hood. Softer, gentler sounding cars simply don't have the same impact to the buyers in the muscle and sports car segment. In order to accomplish this automakers are increasingly turning to special pipes to boost an engines sound or to digitally fake it altogether by playing engine noise into the cabin that varies based on load.

Orchestrated engine noise will soon become a necessary legal requirement on all electric vehicles soon as the quietness of the engine takes many blind and distracted pedestrians by surprise and could thus prevent thousands of accidents.

All about engines There are various configurations of engine types used in vehicles today. The most common being the Straight/ Inline Engine, the V Type Engine, the Boxer/Flat Engine and the Diesel Engine. Other types include the Rotary Wankel Engine used in some Mazdas.

Straight / Inline Engines

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As the name suggests these engines have cylinders arranged in a straight line, one after the other. This type of engine has a lower production and maintenance cost compared to an equivalent Flat or V Type engine as the cylinder bank and crankshaft can be milled from a single metal casting and it requires fewer cylinder heads and camshafts. Due to its smaller size and lightweight construction the Inline 4 (L4) engine is the most popular engine in the market today and the preferred choice for Front Wheel Drive Cars as the design is very fuel efficient. The Inline engines are generally not as smooth as the other engine types as the vibrations from the engine increase with any corresponding increase in the power and size of the engine, resulting in lower strength and durability.

www.www.flickr.com/reckless_sniper

Technical Corner

V Type Engines

anointed to this Engine design. Invented in 1896 by Karl Benz this was the first internal combustion engine with its horizontally opposed pistons. The engine has multiple pistons that all move in the horizontal plane. Boxer engines have a lower center of gravity than other common configurations so vehicles that use them should benefit from better stability and control during cornering.

The most popular layout has cylinders arranged in two banks on either side of a single crankshaft as a result the two pistons join together in the middle of Top Dead Centre. These engines are also wider than other configurations and the extra width causes problems in fitting the engine into the engine bay, though this hasn't stopped Subaru from producing dynamic AWD front engined cars for years now with the accompanying smoothness throughout the rev range that such engines bring. The boxer has a natural dynamic balance which means that the engine is smooth and harmonious at idle. These engines do tend to be noisier at higher revs due to the lack of airboxes and other components in the engine bay.

The V Type engine is tried and tested. It has provided huge performance over the years. In this engine type the engine has two rows of cylinders angled at ninety degrees to each other. The engine has a short length, great stability of the engine block, a heavy crankshaft and a relatively low profile which is very practical in motorsports applications. Having a lower engine naturally lowers the centre of gravity which increases the car's handling greatly. The rigidity provided by the engine design is excellent for endurance motorsports as well.

Used in F1, this type of engine allows the possibility for very high compression ratios, without engine block distortion under load, thus resulting in more power. The compact engine design also means that you can achieve shorter car length without losing passenger room. The V6 engine is the second most popular engine configuration but its popularity has been waning in recent years as the inline is more fuel efficient and cost effective.

Diesel Engines

Boxer/ Flat Engines

Similar to the movement two boxers touching gloves at the beginning of a fight make is the origin of the name 8

DRIVEKENYA.CO.KE | FEBRUARY 2015

The Diesel engine was first invented by Rudolf Diesel and patented in 1892. Although quite similar in design to petrol internal combustion engines, Diesel engines don't use spark plugs as these engines use compression of the air-diesel mix to ignite the mix alone. The sequence that occurs in Diesel engines is that the air intake stroke is followed by the compression stroke that results in a hot compressed air mix that is then followed by the injection of the diesel fuel resulting in the combustion stroke and finally the exhaust stroke. Diesel ignites without the need of a spark plug as its auto-ignition point is at 210 °C vs 247–280 °C for petroleum. Diesel is also denser than petrol and contains roughly 15% more energy. Diesel engines have much greater efficiency at converting fuel into mechanical energy compared to petroleum based engines and are thus used extensively in large trucks, boats, earthmoving machinery etc. Diesel engines also produce more torque.

Kingsway Product Launch Michelin EnergyTM XM2 Tyre with 1 year Pothole Guarantee In East Africa where road networks are underdeveloped and congested, potholes ever present and distances between the key urban centres are long, drivers not only have to be very attentive – above all, they need a robust tyre to handle all the challenges they encounter. When developing the MICHELIN ENERGY™ XM2 tyre, MICHELIN engineers addressed all of these issues. The Group’s research and development engineers have developed unique technologies that enable the XM2 tyre to deliver the highest level of safety for the lowest total cost of ownership. The unrivalled robustness of the MICHELIN ENERGY™ XM2 guarantees user safety by reducing the risk of blowouts and drivers losing control of their vehicle. During pothole damage tests it was proven to have outstanding robustness.

The XM2's robustness is due in particular to MICHELIN IRONFlex technology, which enhances sidewall solidity and deformability to deliver excellent resistance to road surface irregularities.

Inspired by properties found in nature and in particular by bamboo, which can bend without breaking, IRONFlex technology was created to offer solidity and elasticity, strength and flexibility.

The MICHELIN ENERGY™ XM2 can equip a wide array of vehicles including city cars, compacts and sedans, from small models to large sedans. MICHELIN’s objective is to make its advanced technologies as widely available as possible. Its most unique benefit is the Pothole Guarantee.When purchasing two or more MICHELIN ENERGY™ XM2 tyres, the purchaser will receive a 1 year pothole guarantee. Should the tyres be damaged, by accident, due to a pothole shock or road hazard impact, the tyre will be replaced with a new tyre of the same size and pattern for free!

Contact: 020 2220996, 2217648-52, 0735 699000, 0722 227719 - www.kingswaytyres.com

Lost in Translation?

You You don’t don’t have have to to learn learn Japanese Japanese to to make make the the most most of of your your Mitsubishi Mitsubishi

Let Let us us covert covert your your Mitsubishi Mitsubishi stereo stereo into into English English for for you! you!

Access Your Music Server

Access Camera Settings

Adjust Your Speakers

Maintenance Log & Much More

Contact Us: Mobile: +254 722 922 229 / +254 735 599 509 - Email: mmcs@obsltd.biz

www.flickr.com//pedrosimoes7

The Porsche 550 A Rare Beauty The gorgeous Porsche 550 was a racing sports car produced from 1953-1956. It's best known as the car James Dean fatally crashed in 1955. The beauty of this car was the fact that it was home both on and off the race track. Each Spyder was individually designed and customized to be raced. It has a top speed of 220 kph with a 1.5-litre engine that has four cylinders air cooled, horizontally opposed with 4 overhead camshafts.

Only 90 of these beautiful, “naturally aspirated cars were ever made �

A few years ago a 1955 Porsche 550/1500 RS Spyder sold for a whopping $3.685 Million at an auction. The 550 is one of the most reproduced classic cars amongst enthusiasts with several companies manufacturing replica body kits and it's not hard to see why given the striking, elegant beauty of the 550.

Only 90 of these beautiful, naturally aspirated cars were ever made. Of the 370 races it was entered into over the period 1953 to 1965, it won 95 times overall and 75 times in its class. www.flickr.com/carpictures-dot-com

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www.flickr.com/shinythings

The 1963 Aston Martin DB5 A James Bond Special The DB5 is one of the most recognizable and gorgeous cars in cinematic history appearing in numerous James Bond movies including first in Goldfinger and then in Thunderball, Goldeneye, Tomorrow Never Dies, Casino Royale and Skyfall. It's also appeared in movies such as Charlie's Angels and Catch Me If You Can. The original DB5 used in both Goldfinger and Thunderball was sold for a whopping £2.6 Million (365 Million Kshs) in 2010 at an auction.

Only 1,023 of these cars were ever made which weigh in at 1,503kg. Most of the DB5's have a ZF 5-speed transmission, the Engine type is a 3,995 cc 'Tadek Marek' Inline six, named so after the lead engineer. The engine produces 210 kW of power. Torque of 390 Nm. Top Speed is 230 km/h and it accelerates from 0–60mph in 8s.

Variants of the DB5 include the Vantage and the Convertible of which 65 and 123 were made respectively. The Vantage had greater power at 235kW which produced greater top end performance at the expense of driveability.

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“

The original DB5 used in both Gold-

finger and Thunderball was sold for a whopping £2.6 Million (365 Million Kshs) in 2010 at an auction

”

www.flickr.com/shinythings

The Nissan Patrol Hero of all terrains The Nissan Patrol has an impressive legacy, spanning more than 60 years and 7 generations. In that period it has cultivated a huge fan base due to its reliability, off road performance and durability in the harshest of conditions.

In the Miles Ahead expedition into Africa in 2005, the Patrol Y61 covered 17 countries over a period of only 157 days, across some of the most inhospitable terrain in the world due to it's superior 4x4 capabilities. The successor to the Y61 is the more than capable Patrol Y62.

ments the Patrol definitively does look more high end but it can still do some serious work - this generation is the most powerful in the Patrol's history. The engine is a mighty 5.6-litre V8 petrol that generates 298kW of power and 560Nm of torque. 90 percent of the torque is available at just 1600 rpm, this means the Patrol has some serious towing capacity of up to 3500 kg. Top speed on this 7-speed automatic with manual option is north of 200km/h.

What makes this iteration different from previous iterations is that the seventh generation Patrol comes only with a petrol engine, given that its major market is now in the Middle East where petrol is cheap to say the least, it's also bigger and thus roomier - 85mm wider, 90mm longer and 55mm taller - and weightier coming in at a kerb weight of 2830kg. The Patrol can seat up to 8 people and you could well use the Patrol as a limousine by putting the middle seats down.

We drove the Patrol for a couple of hours along Mombasa Road, Uhuru Highway, Waiyaki Way, Riverside, Lavington and back. Yes, we missed out on the Patrol's off-road capabilities but we liked what we saw and we'll be going back for more. The interior has a nice wood grain panel and leather trim finish. We found the legroom in the front seats as being very spacious and in the second row as very comfortable, the 3rd row we found to be a little cramped but this was expected given our height, what helps is that the rear most seats are adjustable backwards.

The leather seats themselves felt comfortable on our test drive, the front seats are electronically adjustable and the driver's seat offers lumbar memory.

Nissan Kenya offers the LE+ version of the Patrol which is very competitively priced compared to its main rival the Land Cruiser by 15-20 percent. Given the design improve-

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PERFORMANCE

TRANSMISSION

5.6L V8 engine along with VVEL technology and an industry-ďŹ rst Direct Injection Gasoline system delivers seamless acceleration with 400hp and 560Nm of torque.

The 7-speed Automatic transmission with Manual mode and synchronised Rev Control

The feature list on the Patrol is impressive as well, which includes things such as Intelligent key entry, Dual Zone Climate Control, Audio steering control, 13 premium BOSE speakers, Bluetooth, iPod and USB connectivity, an 8" QVGA centre console display, two 7" LCD entertainment panels in the 2nd row, a sunroof, around view monitor with 4 cameras to assist with parking, auto compass integrated into the mirror and a handy centre console with storage and cool-box for 6 500ml bottles.

One particularly impressive fact was the rear storage space of 550 litres which increases to a staggering 3170 litres with the 2nd and 3rd row of seats folded down.

Driving the Patrol was quite fun, it is a very quiet car given its monstrous V8 engine and the growl is superb as you close in on the 6000-7000rpm band, the gear changes are quick and responsive in either direction. Any potholes and bumps were encountered with minimal fuss. Nissan claim the laminated windshield and front windows reduce cabin noise by 35 percent compared to normal glass adding to the quietness of the ride. The Patrol has 4 drive modes which can be alternated at the turn of a rotary dial depending on the terrain - sand, on-road, snow and rock.

We only drove it in the on-road selection, we found the handling to be good though there is a vague patch of a few degrees in the middle while turning the steering where nothing much happens, the steering takes approximately 3.5 turns to get from left lock to right lock. Nissan claim the combined city/highway fuel consumption figure on the Patrol is 14.5L/100km and on our trip the computer found this to be close to the ballpark figure at 15L/100km, yes the Patrol is a thirsty SUV but with a fuel tank capacity of a 140 litres you'll make it Mombasa easily, with plenty to spare to reach Diani.

The LE+ model at Nissan Kenya also includes a Hydraulic Body Motion Control system which features independent suspension all around for the first time, this means 13

DRIVEKENYA.CO.KE | FEBRUARY 2015

that each wheel acts independently of the others and each has an air compressor that should produce greater stability off-road and less body roll during cornering.

Although we didn't get a chance to test it, the Patrol features some excellent off-road features including Limited Slip Differential & Rear Differential Lock, Hill Start Assist, Hill Descent Control, Active Brake Limited Slip, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System and an Off-road monitor function which are present to ensure the best handling and traction possible.

Safety features on the Patrol include 6-Airbags, Active Head Restraints, ABS, Electronic Brake force Distribution, Vehicle Dynamic Control, Crash Sensitive Door Unlock and Zone body construction which in the case of an accident redistributes the force of impact away from the occupants, passengers in the 3rd row seats are all offered seat belts including the middle seat via a 3 point seat belt and rear window curtain airbags are also included - a safety feature no other car in the class comes with. Nissan Kenya offer a 3Yr/60,000km warranty on the Patrol.

All in all the Nissan Patrol Y62 LE+ is spacious, powerful, does extremely well off-road per the critics and will in our opinion live up to be as reliable and durable as it's worthy predecessors.

To ďŹ nd out more about the Nissan Patrol go to: www.nissankenya.com

THE TOP 10 Pick from the 2015 Detroit Auto show* The Lexus GSF 5 Liter V8, 468hp and 389 pounds of torque

The Hyundai Santa Cruz Futuristic looking, innovative truck cross-over concept

The Chevrolet Volt Can travel up to 50 miles without burning gas. Smaller, more efďŹ cient engine and fresh styling

The Ford F150 Raptor More power & mean looks, It comes with a 3.5 Liter eco-boost V6 engine and a 10 speed transmission

The Cadillac CTS-V A super charged 6.2 Liter V8, boasting a 640hp with a top speed of 200 mp

The Acura NSX 550hp from the twin turbo V6, with a 9 speed transmission and three hybrid electric motors

The Shelby GT 350R Carbon Fiber Wheels! Also first ever production V8 from Ford with a flat plane crankshaft

The Ford GT Features the most powerful eco-boost production engine ever producing more then 600hp

The Mercedes GLE Coupe 63 AMG Super athletic, razor sharp driving dynamics and great power

The VW Cross Coupe GTE A stylish and futuristic plugin hybrid with all wheel drive *The cars shown above are listed in no particular order

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Your

Questions Answered!

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

1) Hi KCG, I'm having a problem with the front passenger door lock of my Honda CRV. My passenger side door switch was unable to open the door, I had to use the master switch on the drivers side. I manually switched the small white component on the passenger door and now i can't close the door and it won't switch back. :KDW FDQ Ζ GR WR ȴ[ WKLV"

4) There is a funny sound coming from around the alternator area for the past few weeks. I have a 2005 Corolla and after I park it for the weekend it doesn't start the next Monday.

What's going on?

(KCG) - Hi. What you describe seems to be a problem with the door lock actuator. These are moving parts and go bad over time. Have it tested to see if the linkage is detached and bench test the actuator to check its operation.

(KCG) - The noise coming from the alternator area is trying to tell you that it's not functioning as it should. The battery is QRW EHLQJ FKDUJHG VXÉ?FLHQWO\

2) I have a Mazda Demio, 2005 model. Recently my car has been taking time in picking up speed. This LV KDSSHQLQJ HYHQ ZKHQ WKH URDG VXUIDFH LV ČľDW and the rpm gauge is over 4000, the car starts rumbling as well. What's going on?

5) I have a 2007 Mercedes c180. I have a persistent squealing noise coming every time I press the brakes. I recently changed all disc rotors and brake pads. My mechanic also applied grease to the brake spacers and pads were sanded down. Yet noise still FRPHV $Q\ Č´[ IRU WKLV"

(KCG) - There are quite a few possible causes for this: FKHFN WR VHH LI \RX KDYH VXÉ?FLHQW IXHO SUHVVXUH DOVR look at the condition of your spark plugs. What color are the spark plug tips? Do they smell of petrol? $OVR FKHFN WR VHH LI \RXU JHDU ER[ ČľXLGV DUH DW WKHLU correct level.

3) I have a second hand Touareg 2006 model. When accelerating the car there is a thud at the back half of the car. The ride is smooth once I level out to a speed over 30 kmh. A friend told me it might be the universal joint?

(KCG) - Universal joints usually cause the symptoms you describe during acceleration and deceleration. A worn universal joint will vibrate during acceleration and deceleration.

(KCG) - Check the quality of the brake pads. Poor ceramic brake pads are know to heat and wear unevenly causing a noisy braking system. Switch over to original or Mercedes approved brake pads and rotors

To s e n d i n y o u r q u e s t i o n s t o t h e K e n y a C a r G u y C o n t a c t : i n f o @ d r i v e k e n y a . c o . k e 16

DRIVEKENYA.CO.KE | FEBRUARY 2015

www.flickr.com/bombaglot

The Yamaha YZF - R1 A brand new motorcycle has been born to bring the Yamaha's super sporty DNA to new contours.

The brand new 2015 Yamaha YZF-R1, which was launched by Valentino Rossi on a rainy night in Milan in November, comes with more power at 200hp, 7kg less wet weight at 199kg and a technologically superior new electronic system which includes banking sensitive traction control and ABS, launch and lift control, power modes and a quick shifter with good linear torque being reported throughout the rev band. The 2015 YZF-R1 comes in three colours; Team Yamaha Blue, Rapid Red and Pearl White.

The chassis on this bike is pure race bred and highly refined, it has a short wheel base design featuring a light weight asymmetrical aluminium deltabox frame. In terms of styling, upfront it's got that Yamaha M1 MotoGP bike style cowling with a central ram air take.

It really is a FUNdamentally unique monocycle, the next generation of street legal superbikes.

To ďŹ nd out more about the YZF - R1 go to: www.yamaha-motor.eu 17

DRIVEKENYA.CO.KE | FEBRUARY 2015

QUICK SPECS Transmission system: Bore x stroke: 6-speed with 79.0 x 50.9mm multiplate slipper clutch

Engine type: Liquid-cooled inline 4 cylinder DOHC 16 valves

Engine Displacement: 998cc

Final Drive: O-ring chain

Wheelbase: 55.3 inches

Rake/Trail: 24.0 degrees/4.0 inches

Seat Height: 33.7 inches

Claimed Wet Weight: 199.5kg

Fuel Capacity: 17 litres

Horsepower @ RPM: 199 @ 13,500

Torque @ RPM 83 @ 11,500

The Kawasaki Z1000 Ready to strike The Z1000 was one of the most talked about bikes of 2014 and it's not hard to see why.

The Kawasaki Z1000 was designed using the "sugomi" styling concept. In Japanese it is a word used to describe the intense aura given off by of an object of greatness.

And we at Drive Kenya believe that this description is spot on.

The transformers like body work & almost face like headlights, resemble a robotic predator ready to pounce on its hapless prey. With its intense and elegant lines the 2014 Z1000 is truly a futuristic boundary pushing bike.

This machine is built for adrenaline junkies in mind, with its "streetfighter" style riding position providing excellent control and maximum maneuverability. Top speed is over 200km/h. One of the standout features about this bike is the dual element tachometer that lights up LED lights from 4,000rpm to 11,000rpm. Dunlop also developed new, specialized grippy Sportmax tyres for this bike.

This is truly one fierce machine, both in looks and performance.

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DRIVEKENYA.CO.KE | FEBRUARY 2015

QUICK SPECS Engine Type: Liquid-cooled, transverse in-line four, DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder.

Engine Displacement: 1,043cc

Transmission system: 6-speed,cableactuated wet clutch

Final Drive: X-ring chain

Wheelbase: 56.5 inches

Rake/Trail: 24.5 degrees/4.0 inches

Seat Height: 32.1 inches

Claimed Wet Weight: 221 kg

Fuel Capacity: 17 litres

Horsepower @ RPM: 140 @ 10,000

Torque @ RPM 83 @ 7,500

Bore x stroke: 77.0 x 56.0mm

Q&A

DriveKenya sits down with car enthusiast Amir Mohamed to talk about his passion for cars.

DriveKenya) Tell us a bit about yourself, your background?

AM) Names are Amir Mohamed. Director at Auto Art, The Great Run & Club TT Motorsports. Happily married with four gorgeous kids, I'm a licensed pilot, actively engage in community service, enjoy the study of philosophy and have a profound passion for cars and the great outdoors.

DriveKenya) When did your interest in cars first begin?

AM) The early 80s. Motorsports has always been the dominant sport in the household DriveKenya) What was your first car?

AM) A 1986 Twin Cam Toyota Carina GT DriveKenya) What cars do you currently drive?

AM) I own a small collection of homologation specials which include the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI Extreme, a WRC 22B conversion STi Type R, a Toyota Celica GT Four and a Nissan Skyline R34 GTR V Spec II. DriveKenya) What would be your dream car to own and drive?

AM) The Lexus LFA

Have an interesting car? Let us know: info@drivekenya.co.ke

DriveKenya) What's the most interesting and fun aspect of driving a car according to you?

A) I enjoy exploring the fascinating distinctiveness of various platforms.

The uniqueness in deliverance of excitement & release is outright thrilling.

DriveKenya) Formula 1, MotoGP or rallying?

AM) Definitely Rallying.

DriveKenya) Tell us about the Great Run, how did the idea come about?

AM) The concept behind the Great Run was fronted during a light banter among the three of us (Jaw, JM & I). We were discussing the variety of high-performance vehicles owned by various enthusiasts around the country and how they need to be showcased. The obvious answer would have been a motor-show, but those already existed; we had to come up with an angle that made our enterprise unique. The answer was a moving motor-show: what better way to appreciate these vehicles than to see them in action?

DriveKenya) What have been some of the highs and lows with organizing the Great Run?

However, the background of the Great Run is not to display cars, the binding element is to bring motoring enthusiasts together and have some like-minded fun.

The idea is to link up, talk shop, and go for a drive. That is the common denominator of all car meets; and the Great Run is no different. However, this may come off as a bit selfish; more so seeing how the Great Run takes us to quite a variety of places, some of them far flung; where the local communities get introduced to the sound of high-horsepower machinery. You could call us the petrolhead pastors, evangelists bearing the message of "we love cars, are you interested too?"

It is if no benefit if you just blast past people with your exhaust popping and valves clattering as you bounce off the red line; no, to convey the message you have to stop and engage those people. Let them admire the cars. Get to know them a little. Talk to them. Leave them something if you can.

Leaving them something has been a key element for the Great Run. We chose to specialize on the less fortunate rather than just random crowds that gather to watch a Nissan GTR fly by at full boost. As such, each and every single Great Run has always terminated at a children's home of our choosing. The children are needy, we are there for them. Check. We have a message to convey, what better time to acquire new converts to our society than when they are still young and impressionable? Check. The destitution and poverty are overwhelming, and the Great Run comes bearing gifts.

The children are happy, we are happy, everybody is happy. That is Great Run, has been, is and will be.

20

DRIVEKENYA.CO.KE | FEBRUARY 2015

AM) As with any event, the biggest hurdles have always been logistical and financial. It is not easy keeping track of and guaranteeing the well-being of a large convoy of cars - our largest gathering was the Great Run 3, where we had 87 vehicles in convoy. Producing merchandise for the participants is also costly and despite appearances, the registration fee does not cover that cost. This is where sponsors come in, and that leads us to another problem area: getting sponsors. Convincing companies to back up our project has been an uphill task, but we have made some headway and hope to make further inroads along those lines.

We have also had one or two participants turn back owing to mechanical failures, leaving them out of the fun, but they are always good-natured and promise to go the whole way next time. And there is always a next time.

The highs? They are too many to count. This may sound immodest but it is true anyway: the Great Run is ALWAYS fun. The anticipation, the reconnaissance, the announcement of the event, the joy of meeting friends new and old, the scenic locales we drive through, the driving in itself, the sense of adventure, the camaraderie, the giving (of donations), the engagement with the little tykes, the animated discussions concerning who did what or what happened to who, the drive back, the subsequent social media frenzy and of course Baraza's (JM) unusual article afterwards... these are the highlights of the Great Run. Such have been the highlights that demands for more Great Runs per annum have been made and we are looking into that; but if we announce one right now, registrations will fill up within a week, you can trust me on that.

13 - 15 Nov

SĂŁo Paulo

Mexico City

30 Oct - 01 Nov

24 - 26 Jul

Budapest

Sakhir

17 - 19 Apr

17 - 19 Jul

Germany

10 - 12 Apr

Shanghai

Austin

23 - 25 Oct

TBA

27 - 29 Nov

Abu Dhabi

Belgium

21 - 23 Aug

Monza

18 - 20 Sep

08 - 10 May

Catalunya

04 - 06 Sep

Singapore

22 - 24 May

Monte Carlo

05 - 07 Jun

MontrĂŠal

Sochi

09 - 11 Oct

Suzuka

25 - 27 Sep

19 - 21 Jun

Spielberg

03 - 05 Jul

Silverstone

13 - 15 Mar

Melbourne

27 - 29 Mar

Kuala Lumpur

The Formula One Race Calendar

2015

For more detailed info go to: www.formula1.com

Monster Energy Grand Prix de France 17 May

bwin Grand Prix České republiky 16 Aug

Shell Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix 25 Oct

Gran Premio d'Italia TIM 31 May

British Grand Prix 30 Aug

Gran Premio de la Comunitat Valenciana 8 Nov Australian Grand Prix 18 Oct

Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix 9 Aug

Gran Premio bwin de España 3 May

Motul Grand Prix of Japan 11 Oct

Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland 12 Jul

Gran Premio Movistar de Aragón 27 Sep

MOTUL TT ASSEN 27 Jun

Gran Premio Red Bull Grand Prix Red Bull de la of The Americas República Argentina 12 Apr 19 Apr

Gran Premio TIM di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini 13 Sep

Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya 31 May

Commercial Bank Grand Prix of Qatar 29 Mar

The Moto GP Race Calendar

2015

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