2012
Ksh 200 Ush 4,000 Tsh 2,500
March - April Issue No.14
Motor Trader
w w w . m o t o r t r a d e r s . c o . k e
6 164001 538000 >
MOZEL MOTORS
Location: Railways HQ, Workshop Road & Murang’a Road Email: mozelmotors@yahoo.com Tel: 020-2218915, 316384 Our Sales Team: 0722-405 793 / 0723-447 945 / 0722-366 680 / 0721-218 186 / 0726 787 378
Contents
All the news, races, the cars, the drives @ www.motortraders.co.ke
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News
Pg 6 News Mercedes wins truck of the year 2012 Award
Reviews
Pg 10 New Toyota Camry
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What we thought of the new Camry.
Pg 18 New Hyundai Accent
Hyundai gave us the opportunity to try out their new Accent.
Feature Pg 24 Ford Focus RS
The only ford focus that we know of in Kenya let alone in East and Central Africa and we had a feel of it...
Bike Review
Pg 30 Yamaha 750 Super Tenere
Have a look at this baby... consumes fuel, but rides like the wind.
Motorsports
Pg 30 Concours D’elegance, Africa Dates have been set for the next Concours
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Trader
Publisher:
Motor Trader Co. Ltd. P.O. Box 21824, 00400 Tel. 020 8079558/9 Mobile: 0718223838 info@motortraders.co.ke Nairobi
Editor:
Joseph Murai joe@motortraders.co.ke
Features and Road test Editor
J. M. Baraza barazajm@motoringpressagency.com
Technical Editor
Trevor Lamenya trevor@motortraders.co.ke
Sales and Marketing:
Sarah Oyoo James Mugwanga sales@motortraders.co.ke
Marketing Manager:
Susan Njuguna susan@motortraders.co.ke
This MONTH This looks like an interesting year... In the previous issue we decided to change the layout and size to save paper and the trees. Well we sat down and we saw it was not worth it. Yes, we are environmentalist but we drive cars all month, how much of the environment do we really save? And so, we are back! This past month was interesting, Nissan had a challenge that covered over 2,500km. Am sure you saw it on KTN. But we also had some fun. We had the chance to test the new Toyota Camry. Our initial plan was to go head to head with the Hyundai Sonata but we were not lucky to get one available. So we opted for the next best thing, the Accent. It was an interesting drive but you just have to read through it. Ford Focus RS....... Now that’s an animal waiting to explode. Lovely to look at and still bites if you try to poke it with a stick. We tried it out. Luckily the owner, was kind enough to let us join him. Have a look at what we thought about it. Bikers Garage Kenya also joined us for a photo shoot at Karen. Loved the bike, although it was too high and drunk terribly. We put 1000 ksh from Karen and it was empty by the time we were at Gigiri. How, its like driving a Nissan Patrol. Well that’s it from me folks... Enjoy!
Design & Layout: William Mwangi
Photography:
Motor Trader Ltd KMSF Front light photography
Motor Trader magazine©, the original motoring magazine in Kenya, is published monthly by Motor Trader and distributed in Kenya by Jetsam Distributors Ltd. While utmost care will be taken to ensure accuracy both in the published articles and prices of listed cars and equipment, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for any omissions and errors arising. The opinions and representations in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Readers are advised to verify the authenticity/safety of the products/services advertised herein by independently contracting the adviser. No part of this publication including artworks and pictures or any part of the contents (articles) thereof may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without prior permission of the publisher in writing.
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MOTORING NEWS
Mercedes G-Class Chinese Clone: BAIC B80VJ We are used to Chinese automakers cloning products of European or US ones, but this time we are dealing with a special situation, as we are talking about a Mercedes G-Class clone coming from none other than the German carmaker’s Chinese partner BAIC (aka Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co or Beiqi). The vehicle, which uses the B80VJ designation, is expected to appear at the Beijing Auto Show in concept form, with the production model probably arriving soon after that. This comes after last year the two companies reached an agreement that is seeing Daimler, Mercedes’ parent company, investing $2.87 billion in its join-venture with BAIC, Joint Venture Benz Automotive Co. We’ll remind you that this is not the first time when BAIC clones a Mercedes-Benz model, as this has happened before with the B-Class. I tend to wonder, where are we heading? Are the Chinesse taking over?
Renault Twizy Launched With a name that means TWIn + EaSY, no doors and small wheels, we don’t need to add the “Zero Emission” to the end of the Twizy for you to figure out that it’s an electric car designed for the city. Renault announced that their smallest electric vehicle will be joining its Z.E. brothers on the French market. There is a choice of two motors, with the base Twizy 45, which has 5hp and 33 Nm of torque being eligible for 16-year old to drive if they get the road safety certification. As the name suggests, it’s capped to only reach 45 km/h, but the bad news for you youngsters is that it costs from €6,990 (aprxt 700,000ksh ) plus the battery lease which starts at €50/month. Still, wait a couple of years and it will be affordable, just like you would for any scooter. If you are old enough to drive, the uncapped Twizy will provide you with 17 horsepower and is good for 80 km/h.
2012 Mercedes AMG Petronas W03 F1 Car Unveiled The SL63 was not the only AMG car unveiled, as the Mercedes Petronas Formula One Team also unveiled the W03 car for the 2012 championship season. The car was shown at the Circuit de Catalunya track in Spain, where the press had been gathered for the second official pre-season test. “We had a car that was mechanically complete some time ago and we’ve done a lot of work on rigs to understand how it behaves and performs,” Mercedes GP principal Ross Brawn said. “For us, at least, in that respect this is probably the best prepared program we’ve had going into the first race.” Brawn described the ugly nose as being “an acquired taste”, but called the whole car “a clean step forward in terms of detail design and sophistication”.
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Mercedes wins truck of the year 2012 Award A jury of journalists from 24 countries in Europe who specialize in commercial vehicles voted the Mercedes-Benz Actros the Truck of the Year for 2012. This is the fourth time that the Actros has been chosen for this prestigious award. Commenting on this high level recognision for the attributes of the Mercedes-Benz Actros, Mike Duder the General Manager of the Mercedes-Benz Trucks Division of D.T. Dobie, said, “The selection of the Mercedes-Benz Actros for the Truck of the Year 2012 title is a matter of pride and satisfaction for us.” The Truck of the Year Award recognises technological advancements for road transportation in the fields of economy, emissions, safety, driveability and comfort. The Mercedes-Benz Actros scored 161 points with a commanding lead from the runner up on 67 points. The verdict of the Truck of the Year jury stated, “With their new flagship, Mercedes-Benz have combined evolutionary elements with revolutionary new developments that raise the bar for efficiency, safety and comfort in a heavy duty vehicle.” The latest Actros is ideal for the high quality diesel fuel in Europe and smooth highways. The model in Africa is the Actros which won the Truck of the Year title in 2009 and is available from D.T. Dobie and Company (Kenya) Limited. All over East Africa, Mercedes-Benz prime movers are powering giant fuel tankers and trucks. Their popularity is based on giving long years of economical and reliable service.
.Photo: Jared Odiambo, the New Car Preparation Manager of DT Dobie and Company Limited, inspects an Actros truck before delivery to a customer.
Next Volkswagen Passat Coming in 2014 with New Bi-Turbo TDI Engine VW has recently launched an all-new MQB platform and one of the first future vehicles that will be underpinned by it is the Passat, which is expected to receive a new generation in mid-2014. The vehicle will be a bit larger than the current generation and while the sedan and the estate will keep their identity, the CC model will be moved upmarket, being slotted between the Passat and the Phaeton, with the carmaker expected to also introduce coupe and convertible versions. As for the tech goodies that will hide under the hood, VW is believed to be developing a new biTDI (bi-turbo TDI) diesel that should offer at least 200 hp. Another important novelty should be a plug-in hybrid version using a 1.4-liter turbocharged petrol unit and an electric motor, with its combined output sitting at 170 hp and its electric-only range at 50 km (31 miles). VW should also offer turbocharged petrol units (TSIs) with displacements of 1.4, 1.8 and 2.0 liters, with outputs ranging between 130 and 250 hp.
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MOTORING NEWS
Top Gear Toyota Hilux 2012 The Toyota Hilux has to be the favorite car of the boys at Top Gear - as you probably remember, the trio has taken the vehicle on quite an adventure and has tried to destroy it in an infinite way on spectacular ways, but with no success. Now, Hammond, May and Clarkson are preparing for a new Hilux adventure. The company didn’t offer too many details on the trip the boys are planning, but it did release the adjacent photos, which show a Hilux loaded with all sorts of expedition equipment. Check out the photo to see the goodies the vehicle has been fitted with if you want to get an idea of what the three will be doing with it. These range from an intake snorkel to an on-car tent, so we’ll all be in for quite a ride.
Hyundai Won’t Enter Truck Market Too Soon Hyundai is one of the car companies that has grown the most in terms of image over the last few years and, together with sister company Kia, the automaker is looking to aggressively expand its business in the coming years. However, it seem that Hyundai won’t enter the pickup market as it has led us to believe, or at least not too soon, as ohn Krafcik, CEO of Hyundai USA, said. We’re not a big truck player. I like to say brands define themselves as much by what they choose not to do as what they chose to do. We could be a truck player if we wanted to, we choose to focus on more fuel efficient segments of the market,” the executive was quoted as saying by the aforementioned source.
Peugeot and GM Alliance
Peugeot, the number two European carmaker and General Motors, currently the world’s largest automaker by volume, are analyzing the idea of establishing an alliance, with various sources reporting that the two companies are in advanced talk on the subject. The Peugeot Citroen Alliance has already established various partnerships with other carmakers, such as BMW, Ford and Toyota, but it seems that the tie-up with GM would go beyond this stage. Both companies would benefit from such a move and both need help in certain areas. While GM has made a strong comeback, but its European division, which includes Opel and Vauxhall, has been registering loses in the past years. Peugeot has a strong image in Europe, despite the fact that it has posted a loss last year, so it could help GM, while the two companies could also share R&D activities. 8
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BMW Interested in Buying Saab
Hyundai Genesis Sub-Brand Cancelled Hyundai recently reported that it was looking to introduce a Genesis sub-brand that would unite its premium vehicles, with company boss Dave Zuchowski having confirmed that the carmaker was evaluating the possibility. However, Hyundai America CEO ‘John Krafcik’ has subsequently confirmed to Ward’s Auto that the plan has been ditched. “We have no plan to change our Equus and Genesis retail approach – it’s working,” the executive was quoted as saying by the aforementioned source. However, the company is going to make new steps for its premium vehicles, with Krafcik adding that the Genesis could get all-wheel drive in the future, but this would arrive on the next generation of the platform, as the automotive producer is willing to make its cars appealing to a broader audience.
The future of Saab has started to look a bit brighter recently. While liquidation of asset is a given, the brand might survive, and for the sake it employees that have fought to keep the company alive, we hope the European production facilities will as well. What we mean is that building Saabs in China, or making them out of Chinese chassis is not really a solution. Right, getting back to the good news. Saabs United reported recently that administrators might not give the company to the highest bidder. Instead, the company that can provide the technology and the know-how for the rebirth of Saab will be chosen. Several sources say that one European company interested in Saab is “German and located in Munich.” But does it have a blue and white logo that looks like a propeller? Jokes and anecdotes aside, BMW is supposedly interested in “Saabs and their own cars on the same platform.” Can you imagine a TwinPower 9-3? That would be so cool!
Mercedes Patents Four-Door SLS AMG? Platform flexibility is at the pinnacle of its greatness right now. Automakers can turn sedans into hatches, hatches into SUVs and SUVs back into sedans. Mercedes is also pretty good at this, as the next S-Class will have an unheard of six variants. But apparently, the German automaker is still missing one product, a rival for stuff like the Porsche Panamera and especially the Aston Martin Rapide. It’s got to have a sporty feel, only four seats and a long nose with a huge grille at the end to gather a billion flies on long journeys. How about a four-door SLS AMG? Perfect, that’s the one! A set of patent images of this new Merc’ fell into the hand of autoblog.com. They show some rear-hinged suicide doors to go along with the front gullwings. Interestingly, there is no B-pillar between the two, which must be hard to put into production considering the complicated shape of both the sets of doors. EDITION 14 MARCH - APRIL 2012
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THE NEW 2.5 litre
“KAMURI”
Crown prince of the midsize sedans? By Baraza
I
am breaking the law. Right now, as the photographer Joe (editor’s namesake) wobbles in the back seat, his bum seeking purchase of the sedan’s rear left chair and his hands doing their damnedest to stay stable long enough for one or two high speed stills to be snapped off in quick succession, I am winding up the sleek black dart to 130 km/h and possibly beyond. Not that impressive, you think. Anyone can spool a 2.5 litre 4-cylinder Dual VVT-i to that velocity, and beyond, you think. A ah, but the question is where are we? Not on the highway, that’s for sure. Not even on a public road. We are deep inside Nairobi’s leafiest of all leafy suburbs, Karen, where the only individuals on foot are a man walking a pair of, frankly speaking, vain equestrians (when we asked them to pose, not even grossly overpaid and over glorified underwear models could muster that much narcissistic exuberance); and the predominantly Caucasian demographic driving by, curiosity written all over their faces, some stopping with the oft-repeat-
NEW REVIEWS
How many horses you got in there, bud?
ed question of “Do you need help?”. No we don’t need help, what we need is for them to please get out of the way so that photographer and I can get on with our business of motoring photo journalism on his part and some fancy cornering on mine. In my defense, it is not my fault that I am rushing along at that speed. For maximum blur effect, our expert photographer asks me to “cane it”, an instruction you should never issue to an enthusiastic petrol head columnist-cum-ho on you are sharing a car with, unless you have a strong stomach. Clearly, this is the first time the cameraman has met me. He soon regrets his wish. Never mind the narrowness of the verdant lane; never mind the random cam12
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ber changes on the road surface; never mind that an exhauster service truck might be doing the rounds and suddenly make an appearance at the blind right hander that is coming up really fast – I was going for 150, but I never made it. I ran out of road, and I had to stop to let Joe out, possibly to relive himself or more likely throw up, none of which he did. You could also blame the car. Punchy and with impressive pulling power, the 2012 Toyota Camry that I am driving comes across as a bit overeager at times. It’s not that it is impossible to drive slowly - that you can - but the front drive chassis seems incapable of handling the 178hp on tap. A simple junction exit has
the front wheels scrabbling for grip, to a background accompaniment of the traction control’s hectic beeping, if you are less than circumspect with the hot pedal; while treading it gingerly yields nothing more than a slight increase in engine rpm and little corresponding movement. Under whelming, if you ask me, and reminiscent of other large Toyota saloons from five or six years ago. This is not my first time in this car. Initial contact was actually made a fortnight ago (see the Naivasha feature elsewhere in this magazine) where I had a chance to try it out on the highway. I must admit the 6-speed automatic with manual override was a revelation then, as it is now, and it proved more responsive and bet-
Straight line speed is awesome in the “Kamuri”
Photo: “ Get out my brother, you have reached your destination ” ter suited to the car’s performance than the frankly uninspiring 4-speed affair I encountered yet another fortnight before that in a Subaru Legacy BH5 saloon, which, incidentally, was as black as this Camry is and is just as shiny. Not that it matters. This, however, is the first time I notice the absence of a sunroof, a handy feature in the middle class executive car segment that the Camry inhabits; where a huge chunk of its clientele consists of showoffs and faux nouveau riches, individuals for whom a clear sky above their heads and police sunglasses across their foreheads are the definitions of panache, but who also regard convertibles as overkill devices for the hapless victims of mid-
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Photo: Really Clever touches mark the design theme . The chrome fog lamp surrounds a bit gaudy
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life crises. Newly rich the intended sales quarry may be, but you have to be actually rich to buy one of these. More on this later. Now to the subject at hand: what is the car like? “Pretty impressive” is the first opinion you are likely to have, more so if you have been exposed to previous iterations of the tiara (Camry is anglicized “kamuri”, which is Japanese for “crown”). The sharp executive face belongs on a
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Lexus, particularly the LS model, right down to the gaudy chrome fog lamp surrounds. The side profile is not entirely dissimilar to the angular crispness that can be seen on the current range of Cadillacs; but it is at the back that the plot is lost and everything goes all Korean retro - not exactly spoiling the look, but not complementing the handsomeness ahead of the C-pillar either. From the back, the Camry looks like an old model
Hyundai or KIA. Oops. Once inside, you are again wowed by the execution, but you cannot help noticing that it still isn’t quite there – the front drive Camry’s sister car, the rear drive Mark X, is so much better. There might not be a sunroof, but there is plenty more kit and caboodle to make time spent in this car worth your while. An intuitive telematics screen lets you control a variety of devices such as the radio; the radio itself has AM/FM and a 6-disc indash stacker that can read both MP3 and WMA files. A well sorted HVAC system will keep you hot and cold with Phileas Fogg-like accuracy like an upmarket hotel room, the well designed instrument panel gives you all the vital piloting information, there is electric everything, right down to the 8-way seat adjustment, a hands free integrated telephone system offers communication with the outside world, complete with Bluetooth technology: all this is set against wood and leather. Coming soon to a middle level saloon near you: carbon fibre gear levers and Kevlar safety belts… not. So why are we here, in Karen, instead of at the showroom combing through the vehicle’s many features seeking faults and listening to lengthy lectures about the operational efficiency of the Dual VVT-i system? Because we are not that interested in that stuff? Well, yes, but also because we need a cover photo for this edition of the magazine and we are still as yet undecided whether to go for the Camry or the Ford Focus RS. Driving in Karen also unintentionally allows me to stress the chassis a bit. As photographer tells me to negotiate the nearby right hander (which is now a left hander because I am going in the opposite direction) as fast as I possibly can (to the obvious chagrin of the Toyota salesman who insisted on coming along to see how badly we were planning to treat his Toyota), I am pleased to discover two things: first, gone is the sogginess that was the main characteristic in the larger Toyota saloons of yore. The steering is direct and response to tiller twirling is keen to say the least. The steering itself may
‘Taking the 90-degree turn at 55 km/h, I can even tell where the limits of grip are: ’ feel a bit dead on the straight ahead, but corner hard and some feel creeps into the rack, feel which is transmitted from road surface to palms with none of the accompanying vibration so typical of poorly set up systems. Taking the 90-degree turn at 55 km/h, I can even tell where the limits of grip are: just before under steer sets in, I ease off the power and twirl the helm to recover some extra traction. I can also tell where the limits of the road are, because turning at this speed in something that is not competition spec requires you to use the entire width of the road; and after the third try I realize that with the smallest lapse in attention will come death and destruction to the watching crowd positioned perfectly for me to plough into them if I turn the wheel a second too late or should under steer get the better of the traction capabilities of the front wheels. It does not happen. A motley crowd this is too. It includes a camera crew, a G4S security guard (to guard the car against grand theft auto by some motoring journalists, I presume), and of all things, a woman; present in Karen not because Karen is prone to encroachment by Motley Crowds but because frantic and breathless phone calls were made to friends and acquaintances to the tune of “We have the new Camry, come and have a look”. The Motley Crowd does have a look, an admiring one, observing my driving. I am blissfully unaware of them as I contemplate the chassis optimization, which involves improvement in structural rigidity and bush compression. There is no more ponderous delaying between the moments when the wheel is turned and when the nose changes course. Reactions to steering input are instantaneous. This is partly down to the suspension, partly due to sublime chassis honing. At one point it is important to stop. If a road test involves Trevor and me, the
Arab Money for an Oriental Car
It is genuinely disconcerting that the Camry costs what a Mercedes E Class costs right here right now or what a G Wagon costs in the US. Consider its immediate showroom rivals: the 2010 Subaru Legacy was introduced less than two years ago with an asking price of 4.5 million, and the Hyundai Sonata that so grabbed our attention at during last year’s Total Motor Show is three hundred thousand shillings cheaper again than the Sube. Fleet sales: will these be the Camry’s target? Sort of, according to the strangely calm folks at Toyota Kenya. And not just any fleet, particular ones, which I will leave to you to guess what they are but here’s a hint: think loyalty, think patriotism and therein lies your answer. Go figure.
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only time we stop is when we run out of fuel, but today we have to hand the car back sooner than we wanted. But if you own the car and you need to stop for other non-fuel related reasons, take comfort in the ABS and EBD incorporated into the car to supplement the anchors incredible bite. And the brakes are easy to modulate. There is no grabbing, there is no play at pedal level, and the stopping power is linear in delivery. As soon as we are done taking pictures of it, the car returns to its rightful owners, back to Toyota’s service centre along Mombasa Road. At least now I can address The Motley Crowd and field the nagging question that has been on my mind ever since the first time we saw it: why does this car cost 8 million shillings? Yes, you read that right. The thing costs almost as much as an E-Class Benz, and from what I have observed, it has not yet attained that degree of excellence. 95,000 USD, the salespeople told us, even before we took off for Naivasha two weeks before. The only explanation offered was a weak tale about how the dollar and the shilling had fallen out of bed with each other, and 16
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so when the car was imported it cost that much and then the dollar fell back in love with the shilling but they could not adjust the price downwards otherwise financial pitfalls would plague them…. I stopped listening. None of my fellow hacks bought the story either. 95,000 USD is 95,000 USD, shilling or no shilling. Even more worrying is the unaffected nonchalance the sales team is showing. The lack of worry on their part is causing worry on ours because, well, we cannot understand what they are planning. Clearly no one will buy this car. I do understand, eventually, when another explanation is offered for the calm comfort of the sales team, and their cool acceptance (and even expectation) that no individual will buy this car; but that explanation is not something I can safely repeat here if I am ever to drive another Toyota from that showroom. Fear not, Toyota Kenya, your secret goes with me to the grave… I hope.
Comparison 2012 Honda Accord EX-L, 2012 Hyundai Sonata SE, 2012 Kia Optima EX, 2012 Toyota Camry SE, 2012 Volkswagen Passat 2.5 SE
Toyota Camry (2.5liter) Base Price ksh 8,900,000 Drivetrain Front Wheel Drive Curb Weight (kg) 1447 Fuel consumption (ltrs/100km) 9 Power 178 hp @ 6,000 rpm Torque (Nm) 170 lb-ft @ 4,100 rpm Wheelbase 2775 Length (mm) 4805 Width (mm) 1820 Height (mm) 1470
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Accentuated Pause By Baraza
Photo: Handsome facade, if a bit overcooked in the design oven
A
ll hands on deck! Grab your samurai swords and your lexicons, and man up people, because if you are caught napping everybody will soon be speaking with an Accent. Driving elocution is about to experience a major shake up. The world’s biggest mainstream motor manufacturer has come under attack from one of the world’s smallest mainstream motor manufacturers. It is Korea vs. Japan, and this is not an Asian chapter World Cup football qualification/elimination match. We have a brand new Hyundai in our midst, and that
pretty face is not laughing at anybody’s jokes. This is a first drive with a difference. Not only do I get to meet the General Manager of Hyundai Holdings EA, Mr. Michael Hyun, but I also get to drive him, listening to Britney Spears’ rasp cackling from Mr. Hyun’s iPhone through the Bluetooth invisible data pathway into the Accent’s radio and out the surround sound speakers. For the first time I even think Britney sounds almost convincing as a crooner. And I’m not canvassing; for a factory spec sound system in a small
factory spec car, the noise is appealing. It sounds really good. Hyundai started as a shipyard, constructing schooners, then somewhere along the way got interested in cars. At a time when Pacific Rim countries were venturing into car manufacture mostly building ex-Japanese (Proton) and ex-GM (Daewoo) out-of-production cars, the Korean giant thought to start from scratch, and it showed in their product. The first batch of motor vehicles was - I make no bones about it - awful. The Accent was rubbish: hur-
‘At first we wanted the Sonata. It is quite a looker and a more fitting rival to the Toyota Camry ’
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riedly designed, hastily built and slower than wind erosion. The Elantra was alittle flimsy and the Sonata used a pseudoLexus silhouette to woo unknowing buyers into the experience of having an unrefined SUV engine under the bonnet of the flagship saloon car. But that was the end of the doom and gloom. The advantage of starting so low is that there is no way to go but up. Believe it or not, in terms of quality, some of Hyundai’s cars have caught up with Toyota’s. Daewoo in the meantime has had a fruitless venture engineering their own cars (long after its fellow Korean automaker got its act together) and has resorted to a variation of its original theme. Rather than building ex-GM cars under license, they make their own and emblazon GM brand logos on them. Beware the next small Chevrolet you buy, it could be hand-built by Mr. Kim in Seoul. So there we were, the GM Mr. Hyun, , Mark a ssles representative for hyundai and could speak Korean and me, sweltering in the mid-morning heat, enduring through Ms. Spears’ studio efforts, chasing Joe’s (the Editor) car through the Mombasa Road mid-morning traffic on our way to the Camry’s (and the Accent’s) photo location, and I can’t help wondering in amazement just how far Hyundai have come. This Accent is good. This Accent is very good. Not that Mr. Hyun shows any signs of caring (I am sure he does care), but his presence here is evidence of an underlying sense of magnanimity in his nature. This is how we came about the Accent. At first we wanted the Sonata. It is quite a looker and a more fitting rival to the Toyota Camry, but on arrival at Hyundai, we were informed that there were none in stock available for road testing just yet. Unfazed, Joe The Editor and I looked around the neat and curiously clean showroom and said, OK, no Sonata, no biggie, so give us the Accent
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Top: If only the Accent had the Corolla’s D -Wheel... then. We will talk about it separately. - Er, it is not that straightforward. Again, we have no demonstrator, we only have sales stock. As it is, some greysuited government types showed up last week and put 120km on the odo of the white car you see there, and we plan to sell the car, so increasing the mileage will make the car harder to sell. Howev… - Awww, man! Too ba… - HOWEVER, I can talk to the General Manager Mr. Hyun and see how agreeable he is to the idea. The result is that Mr. Hyun descends the stairs to see who these fellows trying to take away his car without buying it are. After a rather elaborate and detailed narration of our exact intentions, he is very agreeable. So agreeable is he in fact that he offers to come along (declares is more like it; he didn’t ask, he just said “I’m
coming with you”). General Managers don’t just up and leave their offices when the fancy takes them, so Mr. Hyun has to tie up some loose ends in order to free the next two hours on his schedule. This gives me a chance to analyze the car’s interior as I wait for him. From the driver’s position, a cleverly designed instrument cowl gazes at his chest. The color scheme is grey on grey, extremely difficult to read especially in the mid-morning sunlight, and I think “There goes some thoughtlessness”. But I am wrong. Turn the key and the dash lights up, and now everything is as clear as mud. Or day. Two small screens on the centre console also light up, an larger upper one that displays radio information and a lower smaller one that displays the current HVAC settings. The gear lever (autobox
Photo: There aren’t enough words to describe this... so just gaze and be awed
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with manumatic override) nestles in a staggered gate between the front seats next to a tidily stubby little handbrake lever. The steering wheel boss is a swoopy three-spoker with aluminium inserts along the lower edges. The design works so well, but I also think it would work so much better by looking so much cooler if the rim was flat-bottomed like the one in the Corolla. It is at this time that I recognize the first weakness, the positioning of the brake pedal. It is a bit more to the left than is usual, and thus placed further away from the accelerator as is the norm. Worse yet, it is also abnormally high, causing the driver’s knee to bump against the bottom part of the steering wheel whenever he applies the brakes. The real issue was highlighted five seconds into my drive in the Accent: as we approached the gate and I had to slow down, I inadvertently stomped the pedal harder than I intended, applying the emergency brakes and causing everyone to lean forward sud22
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denly as though trying to listen to a distant sound. Everyone? Yes, Mr. Hyun and I have a third person in the car with us, Mark the Kenyan from sales. He is nestled in the back seat. As soon as we leave, the two of them start gabbling away in Korean (eh?). This would normally offend some people but I don’t mind; if anything, I welcome my exclusion from the conversation. You see, whenever I drive I talk very little, and I don’t like it when people talk to me. So the situation could not have been better. In my social solitude, I can at least learn a few more things, the first being how good the 360-degree view out of the car is. The mirrors’ angles of view overlap to reduce the size of the blind spots and the forward view is unimpeded by the narrow A-pillars. The tiniest fly in the ointment Is the thickness of the C-pillars, but that does not present a real problem so to speak. I also note the ever so slight gruffness of the engine, but
NVH management has completely killed its intrusiveness into the passenger cell. The steering column-mounted indicator and wiper stalks are chunky and feel good to the touch. The other thing I quickly learnt was how to modulate the brakes, irrespective of the awkward pedal placement. It turns out that once you have mastered this, you will find the brakes to be smooth, effective and linear all through the pedal Hyundai Accent (1.4liter) Base Price ksh 2,400,000 (Neg) Drivetrain Front Wheel Drive Curb Weight (kg) 1050 Fuel consumption (ltrs/100km) 5.9 Power (Kw) 79@6300rpm Torque (Nm) 138@5000rpm Wheelbase 2570 Length (mm) 4370 Width (mm) 1705 Height (mm) 1455
travel from TDC to BDC, if I could call them that, with increasing stiffness and resistance towards the bottom. They are discs all round, in this day and age nobody installs drum brakes in their car. I did mention Britney Spears, didn’t I? She makes her musical debut (in this car at least) after we fuel near T-Mall along Lang’ata road, and at first I wonder what stupid radio station was that that was playing her music this early in the day when I noticed Mr. Hyun’s phone in hand. And the Bluetooth was on. Hmm. The beauty of the thing was the sound system’s refined quality made the music tolerable, even enjoyable for those who think Britney is a real artist. I don’t, but musical taste is not a point to discuss here. We hit the highway, baby, one more time (pun intended) heading towards Karen, and next in line for scrutiny was the gearbox. It kicks down as eagerly as you tread the throttle, resulting in rapid progress on demand. It was reminiscent of the automatic in the Corolla, but unlike the small Toyota, not once did I catch this unit napping and floundering in the wrong ratio nor was there any indecisive hunting up and down the cogs. It worked beautifully and intuitively, but it worked even better when I slid the gear lever into manual mode. There is absolutely no hesitation between tapping the gear lever and the box responding. I so enjoyed knocking the lever back and forth that more than once I found myself downshifting all the way into first causing the revs to soar and the car to sit on its haunches and claw away at the tarmac in manic acceleration (Oops. I did again. Another intentional weak pun). This was the formula, which to my surprise elicited no sharp or curt remarks from my passengers, all the way to the Bomas of Kenya, from which point onwards into Karen I had to slow down and move on to assessing the suspension’s response to the uneven road surface that is typical of leafy suburbs in and around Nairobi. Two words: convinc-
ingly adept. The car will not break your back any time soon. The end of my drive came at the location of the photo shoot, which meant I could step out and look at the Accent again. The rear, with the boot open, looks a lot like the E60 BMW: fat rump, fat bumper and fat rear lamps angled slightly upwards towards the outer edges. The front and sides possess that quaint quality peculiar to Hyundai and some Mazda cars: the falling prey to the temptations of overdesign. There are too many creases, folds, scoops and swells along the face and torso, though this time round they have managed to make them work well together. One adjective for the design theme is “busy”. The other is “a panel beater’s nightmare”. I am sad to see the Hyundai go, two hours after I met it. Till another day, Mr. Hyun.
Top Competitors> Ford Fiesta sedan Mazda 2 Toyota Yaris sedan Honda Fit Nissan Versa 4-door sedan
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THIS MONTHS FEATURE
F
ocused assassin? At last! After years of awe, speculations and stigmatization of Ford’s Hottest hatch yet, Motor Trader magazine has officially driven the crème de la crème of the Focus genre, the heart wrenching turbo charged sled RS; a first in East and central Africa. Arguably the hottest hot hatch in the world, Ford has once again raised the bar in as far as defining the limits to which a hot hatch can be defined. Even having to defy the laws of motion physics through cleverly thought out ideas developed over the two decades of the focus existence. Originally when the hot hatch segment was invented by Renault Clio Williams, Peugeot 306 GTi-6, VW Golf Gti and Lancia Integrale , they were all about fun, exploiting their chassis and suspension, power-to weight ratio without the trick aids that are now en-vogue with manufacturers. But let’s get down to business here: is the Ford Focus RS hype really just a blast of hot air? Lets find out; Looks It’s definitely a looker by all means; new design language by Ford, bulged out fenders, curvaceous bodywork couple with faux pas bonnet slots and a mean ass rear diffuser. This is the ultimate 12 year old poster car. The interior swiftly reminds me of Fuji’s Impreza STI; lots of blue and black in the cabin. The hugging Recaro seats enhance that ‘Race mode’ feel and the well laid out front dash has lots of creature comforts like climate control, audio system and a sat-nav that doesn’t work effectively in Kenya. How about the engine? The RS is powered by its legendary and reliable 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo unit which is shared with numerous Volvos, but it’s got almost 80bhp extra here and is thoroughly re-worked: new pistons, cams, turbo, intercooler, engine management and more. All 397bhp is channeled to the front paws by a 6 speed close ratio ZF gearbox that exploits the 5 cylinder engine fully. The RS is astonishingly fast that even our chase car; a stock Subaru Impreza STI pushing about 320Bhp couldn’t keep up with the RS. It’s flexibly refined from very low down it pulls strongly and smoothly from 1500rpm in sixth while also stretching to a red line to be quite honest; you’ll always reach for another gear before you hit the limiter. The sound track, too, is great, intensifying throaty five-cylinder warble sounds like an enclosed beehive with angry bees ready to attack an intruder. Adding a little flavor in the mix, is an extra serving of dump valve action. You may turn your nose up at wastegate whistles but, believe me, you will like it. Much like the rest of the car..
Focused Assasin? By Trevor
POCKET ROCKET:THE FORD FOCUS RS.
THIS MONTHS FEATURE The drive The Focus RS is an absolute blast to drive; it’s astoundingly quick from point-to-point. Front-wheel drive was definitely the way to go according to the RS engineers. They reckoned it had to go for slim possible; reduce all that unwanted mass to gain extra agility. There’s so much front-end grip that you just don’t need driven rear wheels. And, to be honest, the RS is already a heavy at 1467kg – an all-paw drivetrain would take that kerb weight to around 1600kg. Steer- feel is excellent as it provides positive feedback. At around 2.2 turn’s lock-to-lock, it’s noticeably quicker than the standard Focus and, while every small input has an effect, it’s not nervous and there’s a beautiful, elastic resistance that builds in proportion to your efforts. The suspension is a little rigid for the daily commute, but it’s not brittle, and its composure over quick curvy roads in Karen suburbs is impressive, offering enough compliance and suspension travel to soak up tricky roads at high speed. Disappointment came with the brakes, yes the dual pot brakes hold well under extreme conditions, but Ford would have opted for a pair of Brembo’s stoppers at the front for assured and ultimate stopping power. Well, despite all the hype that surrounds Ford’s trick differential that actively sends torque where needed and RevoKnuckle; a system that allows MacPherson strut suspension to behave with the purity of a multi-link set-up I can conclusively report that this car does torque steer. It’s not violent like the Golf GTI but the steering wheel will firm up noticeably under hard acceleration and the wheels scrabble for grip in the lower gears ; the ESP system allowing the driver to dictate when power should be cut in most situations, rather than cutting in early and spoiling the fun. A disappointment, perhaps, but then what did we expect with 397bhp going through the front wheels? It surely suffers from a
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‘Ford RS engineers developed unique camshafts, a revised cylinder head and gasket and revised intake and exhaust manifold system for the car. ’ Ford Focus RS (2.5liter) Base Price ksh 5,200,000 (Neg) Drivetrain Front Wheel Drive Turbocharger: Borg -Warner K16 Fuel consumption (ltrs/100km) 5.9 Power (Kw) 395 PS @6500 Torque (Nm) 440@2300 – 4500 rpm Transmission type Manual 6-speed Engine management Bosch ME 9.0 Width, (mm) 1842 Overall length (mm) 4402 Fuel Tank (litres): 62 Oil Change 20,000 km
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THIS MONTHS FEATURE smoking problem.. Too much torque at the front would simply shred the tires after a few burnouts. Verdict I am deeply impressed with the new Ford Focus RS. Yes, it battles to put power down more than we were led to believe and its styling is a little overdone like over toasted bread, but I will forgive that as an RS must live to its hype. Overall, it is an amazing package. It’s easy to live with day to day while delivering an incredibly intense adrenaline hit when you’re in the right mood. If you’re after thrills, the new Focus RS hot hatch makes the current Subaru STI hatch, Golf GTI and the rest of the herd seem positively pedestrian. The RS, then, is a great hot hatch. But is it the best? Be the judge. I rest my case.
Subaru STI While it still looks like a Sube, it performs like a racecar. The WRX STI (which stands for Subaru Tecnica International) gets its motorsports technology directly from Subaru expertise in FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) competition. Lots of changes for ‘06: new 2.5L 300hp engine, new driver controlled differentials and reworked suspension. Let me be perfectly clear: this car for serious driving enthusiasts only. Still looks like a Sube, though.
Evolution IX The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX (Evo 9 to its friends) is like Frank Sinatra: So talented that it can get away with behaving badly. This is one of the meanest, fastest, most capable cars you can buy, with the power and agility to embarrass exoticars twice (or thrice) its price. It’s not for novices; if you light a fire under the Evo’s cauldron, you’d better know what to do when it boils. But skilled hands can play it like a Baldwin Grand. $31,399 and worth every penny.
Graph courstey of AMS Performance 28
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Overview At the heart of the all-new Focus RS is a specially developed, Turbocharged version of the Duratec 2.5-litre 5-cylinder engine. Significantly revised for high performance, this powerplant is targeting an impressive power output of 300PS and over 410Nm of torque, contributing to an excellent power-to-weight ratio. Such significant increases are not simply the result of altering engine management or boost pressure: starting with the Duratec 2.5-litre block, Ford RS engineers developed unique camshafts, a revised cylinder head and gasket and revised intake and exhaust manifold system for the car. Although the car is still in development, prior to its launch in early 2009, early performance testing indicates a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) time of under 6 seconds. Throughout Focus RS’ development, Capito and his team have been keeping a sharp focus on creating a car that delivers excellent performance and traction. Various innovations, developed as a result of customer feedback from previous performance Fords, have allowed engineers to keep the new Focus RS as front-wheel drive, with a limited-slip differential, while still achieving demanding targets for traction, handling and steering. The new Ford Focus RS is equipped with an innovative front suspension system known as a ‘RevoKnuckle’, which is designed to reduce unwanted steering disturbance and torque steer, the impact of torque on steering in
front-wheel driven vehicles. Torque steer occurs during hard acceleration, cornering or driving on uneven surfaces, when torque on the driven wheels exceeds grips levels. It is characterised by sudden turning force on the steering wheel and can be exacerbated by vehicles with wide tyres and limited-slip differentials. A genuine Focus RS must maintain and enhance the reputation for responsive, precise handling for which Focus is acclaimed and considerable engineering effort has ensured that the new Focus RS will do just that. Driving quality developments for Focus RS include a 40mm wider track, stronger, longer driveshafts, revised springs and dampers and a thicker, longer rear anti-roll bar. At the same time, the steering system has been retuned to provide an even sharper steering response and very precise feedback. Brakes also have been uprated, with 336mm ventilated front discs and 300mm rear discs generating vice-like stopping power on road or track. Large calipers peek out from behind unique 19-inch wheels, wrapped in 235/35 low profile Continental tyres. A special version of Ford’s ESP system has also been developed for Focus RS, designed to allow a very sporty driving style before activating. Intensive work to refine the natural handling abilities of the car has allowed the ESP system to carry a full de-activation option for enthusiast drivers and especially for track use. In creating the new Focus RS, Ford’s Team RS engineers have had to meet the same stringent targets for durability and reliability as those set for the rest of the Focus range. Despite its many bespoke engineering and styling elements, Focus RS will be built entirely on the main Focus production line in Germany and offered with a standard Ford of Europe warranty.
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BIKE REVIEW
Yamaha XTZ 750 Super Tenere
By Joe
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I
n 1989 Yamaha presented the Super Ténéré. The new developed two-cylinder twin engine has five valves and downdraft carburettors. The Model set new maximum performance values in the Enduro scene. It’s not as light as a single cylinder bike and so not to use for everything. But if one gets used to the weight you can use it quite well off road. The Super Ténéré is a solid motorcycle for travelling long distances with much comfort. I’m looking forward to meeting a Super Ténéré owner ‘David‘. Will his knuckles be constantly scabbed from trailing on the ground? Does he open Tusker bottles with his lips? Only time will tell. One thing’s for sure, anyone who buys a Super Ténéré isn’t an introvert. You can’t get much more high profile than a 34inch seat height Paint it white, yellow and blue, put a pair of handlebars on it that, for all intents and purposes, crucify the rider for all to see and you’ll please every extrovert exhibitionist from Dorking. But writing off the Super Ténéré as some designer’s drawing-board-abortion that got better would not only be unkind, it would be damningly unfair. You can hardly call the Ténéré’s styling is aesthetic and is reputed to have sex appeal, Yamaha’s
‘ Still, it can sometimes be fun when the bike reaches its limitations before you reach yours. Know what I mean? ’
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BIKE REVIEW
latest desert racer clone has a certain je ne sais quoi. It must have, all the dealers fell for it. It may have a 21in front wheel and knobbly tyres. So what? My washing machine doesn’t have any visible signs of forced induction despite the proudly displayed ‘Turbo’ stickers. In the same light the Super Ténéré uses its dirt styled specification to swoon potential customers. It’s a pity really, because it’s a cracking road bike. Most people who commented on the Ténéré said some pretty derogatory things about its confused sense of purpose. I had to agree. But styling is in the eye of the purchaser. If you like the idea of owning the Range Rover of motorcycles, then read on. If you’re not interested in the slightest read on anyway because I’m talking to you. Otherwise ‘wacha siasa boss!’ There have been a lot of enthusiastic, mumblings about the Ténéré ten valve motor and is adaptability. On paper it looks as though it should be the hot set up in a Battle of the Twins racer. Massively oversquare and with the super efficient FZ five valve combustion chamber, the 180 degree crank motor could quite possibly end the Italian domination in said racing class, but somebody’s going to have to do a lot of tuning work first. As a road bike the big lump of 750cc twin is a seriously brilliant all rounder. Make use of the prodigious midrange grunt by short shifting through the five speed box at, say, 5,000rpm and it’s the ideal bike for zapping around town. The quick steering, good brakes and pot hole absorbing suspension only serve to strengthen its traffic dodging prowess. A full tank of petrol makes life more difficult though. But it doesn’t start to flounder once out of the built up areas. I’m not sure I’d like to do it regularly, but revving the Ténéré deep into its wide reaching bloodline makes it go obscenely fast; 32
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more than enough to hassle most sports bikes. Revving its mechanical potatoes off in this way alters the previously Superdreames-que engine note to that of a thrashed RC30. The guttural induction noise of the twin downdraught Mikunis amplified by the enormous fuel tank drowns out any other mechanical whirr and whine. Out of town and on the move, the ultra low first gear is completely redundant. I’m not sure whether Yamaha slipped the low ratio first gear in to give it some off road advantage or just to improve wheelying potential. The truth of the matter is that even if it had a higher ratio first gear to eliminate the huge jump from first to second it’d still have perfect power characteristics for pulling stonking wheelies. . .on private property of course, ahem. Maybe our neanderthal friend would take it trail riding and need a low first gear but not me, not without a three man back-up team and a surgical truss anyway. If your name isn’t David the Super Ténéré’s real forte is the ability to demolish twisty, bumpy B roads. Perhaps it was designed with the average Kenyan road in mind — it might well have been. The plush suspension absorbs all but the worst of craters letting the engine get on with laying the grunt down. This is where the Ténéré scores over any of its road rivals. With the rider peering over the tops of the hedges from his lofty observation post, straights between corners disappear as if they didn’t exist like the bumps. It’s the perfect position to be in to muscle the bike around and its A to B speed is the proof. If it means anything to you, I managed to get from Karen to Gigiri in less than half hour... although i went through some problems, lets say i should have fueled this beast. 1000ksh dint do any justice, this monster drinks. Had I been on
General information Model: Yamaha XTZ 750 Super Tenere Year: 1994 Category: Enduro / offroad Engine and transmission Displacement: 749.00 ccm (45.70 cubic inches) Engine type: Twin, four-stroke Power: 70.00 HP (51.1 kW)) @ 7500 RPM Top speed: 170.0 km/h (105.6 mph) Valves per cylinder: 5 Ignition: electronic Cooling system: Liquid Transmission type, final drive: Chain Fuel consumption: 6.00 litres/100 km (16.7 km/l or 39.20 mpg) Greenhouse gases: 139.2 CO2 g/km. (CO2 - Carbon dioxide emission) Exhaust system: single stainless steel pipe Chassis, suspension, brakes and wheels Front brakes: Double disc Rear brakes: Single disc Physical measures and capacities Weight incl. oil, gas, etc: 240.0 kg (529.1 pounds) Fuel capacity: 25.00 litres (6.61 gallons) Other specifications Starter: Electric Bike courtesy of Bikers Garage Kenya
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BIKE REVIEW
anything else I would almost definitely have missed my meeting, the reason for the rush. In this kind of against-the-clock rush the mirrors are very effective. The roll-on top gear power is the sort of stuff that bike owners would and could only dream about. Keep the needle hovering around the 5,000 mark and simply point and squirt; great if you don’t know 34
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the road. It’s probably a good thing but from about 130kph upwards it gradually begins to tie itself in knots. Long, fast sweeping corners are its pet hate. It’s a cross between a wobble and a weave that gets more pronounced the faster you travel. It’s probably not as dangerous as it looks, and it never gets totally out of shape, but it shouldn’t do it at all. This is
the late eighties, not the 2030 period. Still, it can sometimes be fun when the bike reaches its limitations before you reach yours. Know what I mean? And what would you expect from a 21 inch front wheel with a knobbly on and several miles of suspension travel? Bearing in mind its iffy 160+ handling this could be the ideal bike for those of you with heavily soiled licences or indeed
those of you who have no wish to travel that fast anyway. If you like to cruise at or around the speeds where you can get off with a telling off, the Ténéré will be the ideal bike for motorway cruising. The fairing keeps most of the wind blast off and the riding position is supremely comfortable. The plastic hand guards even manage to keep hands relatively warm and dry.
It will cruise at an easy 130kph for 200 km until it splutters on to reserve. It’s comfortable enough not to need a bottom rest at the refuelling stop. The tank will take the biggest Baglux tank bag in existence and there’s room for a huge stuffa bag on the carrier, though it’s a pity there aren’t any bungee points. On the long distance touring bike scale of one to ten it scores an admirable eight point five. It would have scored ten if there was more room for the pillion. If you’re planning that long promised type of holiday you couldn’t do it on anything better. The fact that the Ténéré can scratch, tour and commute is mainly thanks to its engine. The rest of the bike just seems to have happened. The fairing panels have a nasty habit of vibrating against the tank at specific rev ranges and the convoluted right hand footrest assembly must have been designed by the apprentice. What would it look like after five years? What would it look like after a neanderthal had taken it trail riding. Because the right hand footrest sticks out so much to clear the (steel) pipes it also grounds fairly easily, and in the space of a few months it would be possible to wear through the brake pedal completely. Finally, the said pedal it is placed in a position that means the foot presses on it all the time. Don’t be surprised if you’re following a Super Ténéré and the brake light keeps flickering. Wonder how long the back pads will last? Another oddity of the Ténéré layout is its peculiar behaviour under braking. Under fast cornering, especially right handers, ground clearance is already limited; try applying the front brake (the back brake is already redundant because it’s an inch off the floor) and the fork dive uses up all the rest of the ground clearance. It does at least quicken up the steering, but beware the pillion headbutt. Front brake action is a bit spongy, probably caused by having yards of unbraided rubber hose between the master cylinder and front calipers, and under extreme conditions two fingered braking is out of the question because the lever
almost comes back to the bars. But the twin two piston calipers are as much as the forks can physically cope with. Such shortfalls are common to any trail bike. It’s the fact that it’ll never be a trail bike that makes them seem even more pointless and ridiculous. Spondon and Harris are already working on alloy chassis kits for the ten valve motors and Yamaha are rumoured to be bringing out a sports bike using the same engine. If it weighs about the same as an FZR600 and handles and stops as well they should be on to a winner. As it is, if you are struck by the styling of the Super Ténéré and want a bike that does most things admirably without , putting your licence in jeopardy, you’ll get on fine together. Me? I think Yamaha could have built a better all rounder by ditching the knobbly tyres and 21 inch front wheel. How about an African Twin or a Super Moto replica instead?
Honda XLV 750 Africa Twin Cooler and more charismatic than the Yamaha, but not nearly as practical. Well worth having a go on one, but ownership might be less fun. If you have the money to sort all the problems and update certain parts, a capable adventure tourer could be had for an awful lot less.
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USED CAR REVIEW
BMW
Z3
The BMW Z3 knew how to make an entrance. It claimed the gun-barrelshaped spotlight along with Pierce Brosnan in the James Bond flick GoldenEye shortly before its introduction for model-year 1996. This celebrity-like intro, combined with the fact that the car was BMW’s first modern mass-market roadster, gave the Z3 instant popularity. Neiman Marcus’ 1995 Christmas catalog showcased the luscious sports car as the perfect Christmas gift, and it launched a sales stampede that resulted in sold-out Z3 numbers for BMW before the first model even hit showroom floors. The Z3’s romance with the public proved to be long-lasting. Although riding on an antiquated semi-trailing-arm rear suspension from the E30 3 Series, the BMW Z3 was nevertheless a stylish, fun roadster that re-energized the affordable sports car market. Initially offered with only a 1.9-liter 138-horsepower inline-4 engine, a 2.8-liter inline-6 making 190 hp became available in 1997. (They could be differentiated by wider rear fenders.) It was the straight-6 engine, with its flawlessly smooth power delivery and distinctive sound, that really made the Z3 come alive. Handling was impeccable. The Z3’s ride was taut enough to satisfy enthusiasts, yet agreeable enough to make it a pleasant daily driver. And
from a buying and owning perspective, the Z3 neatly straddled the line between entry-level roadsters like the Miata and more out-of-reach models like the 911. Still, the BMW Z3 had its shortcomings. Some interior materials were subpar and its cabin could seem confining for larger occupants because of the big, non-telescoping steering wheel and oversize rearview mirror. Convertible models were also saddled with a chintzy plastic rear window that sullied the car’s luxury image by clouding over time. Finally, the coupe’s styling was highly polarizing. But these imperfections are pretty minor. As a used sports car, its more reasonable prices place it within reach of those who may not have been able to afford its lofty pleasures had they attempted to purchase it years ago as a new vehicle. If you’re in the market for a stunning used coupe or convertible that handles even better than it looks, you owe it to yourself to investigate this talented Bimmer.
THE BMW Z3 convertible earns more street credibility with the adoption of a 2.0-litre, six-cylinder engine as base powerplant replacing the 1.9-litre fourcylinder. It also gets a new look with a reshaped, better looking rear end. The straight six is no powerhouse but it sounds great and is delightfully smooth. The previous four-cylinder failed badly on all three points. So the Z3 becomes a much more desirable sports car without losing any of the easy-driving characteristics of its more scrawny predecessor. The only real problem is the price. One used 2.0-litre Z3 convertible costs 2.2million almost as much as a Mercedes C200. Conclusion... Its a nice toy to have but expensive. I would prefer a mercedes C200, four door, which can be used as a family car instead of a two door and no back seats.
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TECH TOYS
Sony’s New Smart TVs, 3D TV The Sony XBR-HX929 is a smart TV with both internet and 3D capabilities. You can get online on your television and stream movies or browse for new apps. It has all the necessary hookups so you can connect to your personal computer or your local area network. The television has two composite video inputs and one component video input. You can turn regular, two-dimensional programming into three dimensions of fun and excitement. This means a regular foot-
ball game can far surpass tunnel vision; you will feel like spectator in the stadium. Kids will love this feature when applied to their favorite cartoons. This 3D TV features four HDMI ports for your all of your game systems and various DVD and 3D Blu-ray players. Two of these HDMI ports are located on the back of the television, while the additional two are on the right side of the unit. It also has two USB ports for additional accessories. A USB port can be helpful for showing off a picture of your latest vacation or showing a sche-
matic on a larger scale. The Sony 3D TV is compatible with both digital and analog audio signals. These are located on the back of the television next to the two HDMI ports. It has two composite inputs, but only one component input, which could be a problem if you have multiple devices vying for that port. You can also connect your computer to the 3D TV and display your desktop on the big screen by using the PC input port.
Samsung GALAXY Ace 2 The Samsung GALAXY Ace 2 is the new king among Samsung’s mid-range Androids. The screen has increased in size from 3.5-inch on the original Ace to 3.8 inches and resolution is improved from 320 x 480 to 480 x 800 pixels. The original GALAXY Ace had a rather low device. The handset also comes with a pixel density of 165ppi which certainly 5MP camera with LED flash capable of will be higher on the new model. The capturing 720p HD videos. biggest upgrade in the Ace 2 is the bump up to a dual-core 800MHz processor, an impressive feature for a mid-range 38
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GARMIN NUVI 1450LMT There are just one or two very well established companies in this market, with Garmin indeed being one of them. We have now taken a good, close look at the Garmin 1450LMT GPS, a portable unit, in hope of aiding you with your buying decision. The 1450LMT GPS by Garmin includes a enormous touchscreen measuring 5″ on the diagonal. You’ll easily be allowed to view various levels of map detail along with photos and of course traveling directions. This product also takes very good care of you in an urban location. The traffic database has enhanced navigation for pedestrian traffic which can help you to know what to expect. In addition, at a mere finger touch you will observe bus stops, pedestrian crosswalks, bars and restaurants and stops and other kinds of public transportation. You will be real glad you have this product the next time you’re in a unexpected new city trying to find out how best to get around. Garmin nüvi 2555LMT 5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator with Lifetime Maps and Traffic.
Playseat-f1-red-bull-racing-game-simulator-unveiled The Suunto Ambit GPS Explorers Watch The Ambit will feature all of the tools we have come to expect from Suunto such as a compass, barometric altimeter, barometer, thermometer, weather tracking, and heart rate monitoring (relies on an optional heart rate belt), an alarm and dual time zones. In addition to this bevy of features, the main new skill set of the Ambit is its SiRFIV chip driven GPS ability. Suunto calls the Ambit “The GPS for Explorers” and, providing it delivers a usable and reliable experience, we can’t think of any reason we wouldn’t want one on-wrist for our next adventure. The Ambit can manage waypoint navigation and can also render your location in conjunction with multiple coordinate systems. The Ambit can also blend data from its accelerometer and GPS connection to render highly accurate speed and pace measurement data. All of the data collected by the Ambit can be synced with Movescount. com where users can plan and share their next sporting achievement or training goal and even customize certain settings for their watch (via a USB cable). Available in a black or silver case which is 100m water resistant and fitted with a mineral crystal, Suunot does not list the size of the Ambit but it will be large. Power comes from a rechargeable lithium ion battery and the Ambit screen has an adjustable back light and can be reversed (either white text on a black background or black text on a white background). Additionally impressive is the 50 hour battery life with GPS enabled, allowing for two straight days of GPS use before requiring a recharge.
Dutch-based company Playseat have recently taken the wraps off their latest game seat, developed in partnership with Red Bull Racing, and which targets mostly F1 fans. While the Playseat F1 game seat will only be available from May, it has already managed to catch unexpected attention. In fact, Playseats founder Fernando Smit says they have already taken orders from Formula 1 drivers, though failing to give any specific names. “The Austrian firm will be using and promoting the Playseat F1 game seat, designed and developed by Playseats, to take motorsport and the Red Bull Racing brand a step closer to the consumer,” a company statement reads. Compatible with Playstation2, Playstation3, Xbox, Xbox 360, Wii and PC, the Playseat F1 Red Bull game simulator is also designed to work with all “steering wheel and pedal sets” on the market. According to the manufacturer, this is a patented racing seat, boasting key features such as fully adjustable Black coated steel framework, seat upholstered with high quality leather look, black vinyl and red double stitching design. It
also comes with a G27 gearshift support included. “The time that people raced, perched on a kitchen chair with a racing wheel clamped to the table, have been gone for some time now. But the new Playseat formula takes virtual racing to a completely new level. The interaction with the racing game is unrivalled. The user feels every bump in the road surface. People will experience the race as if they are real racing drivers,” says Playseats founder Fernando Smit. The Playseat F1 Red Bull game simulator will retail for EUR949 (approximately $1,320 at the current exchange rate), excluding steering wheel or pedals.
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TECH TOYS
Garrett GTX Turbocharger
Next Generation Portable Picks up where the PlayStation Portable left off, adding 3G connectivity, a shockingly crisp 5-inch OLED touch screen, and rear-mounted multitouch controls. Due at the end of 2011, it not only features dual joysticks and a gyroscope, accelerometer, and motion sensors for active play, but runs games stored on memory cards—including PlayStation 3-quality titles. Thank a staggeringly
powerful quad-core CPU, built-in GPS, and extensive online features, with new renditions of Call of Duty, Killzone, Metal Gear Solid, and Wipeout already making jaws drop. Sony / $TBD / www.playstation.com
The evolution of the turbocharger continues with the release of the Garrett GTX3071R, GTX3076R, and GTX3582R. The Garrett GTX lineup features all new compressor wheel aerodynamics that deliver 10 to 20 percent more flow and pressure than the standard Garrett GT wheel of the same size, thanks in part to its 11 full-blade design, fullymachined from forged aluminum alloy. The Garrett GTX turbocharger center cartridges are interchangeable with their GT counterparts, so it’s an easy upgrade for those looking for more power without completely altering their setups.
XtremeMac Wireless Auto Bluetooth XtremeMac announces its new InCharge Bluetooth (BT) series that allows users to simultaneously charge and wirelessly stream from an iPod/iPhone through a car’s stereo. The InCharge Auto BT simply plugs into a car’s line-in jack and provides three unique functions in one compact device, including handsfree calling, wireless audio playback, and 10 watts of charging power. Through its one-touch, multifunction button users can answer calls and play/pause music via a Bluetooth connection. Additional features include a self-resetting fuse to protect devices, and a standard USB connection for maximum compatibility with most USB mobile devices. InCharge Auto BT includes a 4-foot, 30-pin-toUSB cable for charging. XtremeMac / 866.392.9800 / www.xtrememac.com 40
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Turbosmart Ultra-Gate38 Wastegate Turbosmart’s brand-new Ultra-Gate38 is a 38mm external wastegate packaged in a smaller, compact design that delivers maximum flow for street and racing applications. The new Ultra-Gate38 is smaller (3.71 inches versus 4.44) and lighter (1.79 pounds versus 2.37) than the previous model. It features Turbosmart’s unique locking collar design for reduced size and quicker spring changes, and a stainless steel valve to withstand abuse. Turbosmart / 909.476.2570 / www.turbosmartusa.com
MOTORSPORT NEWS IN EAST AFRICA AND THE WORLD
This Month 1. Sharpe, Shazar, Duncan, Tom win X-Country raid one 2. MuchemiTriumphs Again 3. Spotlight Turns To New RVM & SC Motocross Track 4. CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE, AFRICA
MOTOR SPORTS
Sharpe, Shazar, Duncan, Tom win X-Country raid one Courtesy of KMSF Team JCB\Ganatra driver Simon Sharpe, his teammate Shazar Anwar, Tom Cholmondeley and Ian Duncan emerged winners during the opening round of the Cross Country Raid 1 organized by Nanyuki Rally Group in the remote Tomlinson Ranch near Mount Kenya. This was Sharpe’s maiden win in the crowd-pleasing “Monster” contraption which has previously had its campaign stymied with unforeseen gremlins.Defending car champion Nish Lakhani settled for second overall which wasn’t that bad for his title defense. Sharpe, codriven by Crispin Kennedy at the wheel of the V8 supercharged Platz hybrid machine, clocked 2.50.03hours cumulatively amidst two days of exhilarating displays. “We had everything this weekend from technical roads to tricky navigation, plenty of wildlife to keep us on our toe and an enthusiastic organizational team,” said Sharpe. Defending quad champion Shazar savored his season opening victory but candidly admitted that second placed Vincent Boulanger really quick. “The event was a mix of all sorts of terrain -and above all- great fun. I am glad to win for my new sponsors Team JCBGanatra. But again, it was a very tough race and quite unfortunate that Vincent suffered electrical problems,” said Shazar. Chantel Young in her Honda TRS quad won the Coupe Des Dames for the best lady competitor whilst the most meritorious trophy went to bike rider Steve Scot, who returned 6th overall in the bikes class. Roysambu based Cholmondeley showed what stuff he is made off when he vanquished all and sundry in the 42
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bikes tussle including defending champion Shivam Vinayak who could only manage forth behind second placed Sean Wilcock and Wangai Kimeria. “It’s a solid start to the cross-country season. Consistency won it for me last year and I am pleased with a fourth place finish. Navigation was tough, route was very well done, and I am very determined to better my result at the next one,” said Shivam. Former enduro champion Andrew Pleasance made his debut in the comptitive buggies class and finished third overall ahead behind winner and champion Ian Duncan and Jim Heather Hayes who was navigated by Keith Henrie in a doubleseater buggy. Three times Rally champion Azar Anwar also drove a buggy. Chirag Soni drove his 1978 Range Rover 3.5litre V8 Patrol to fifth place navigated by Falgun Bhojak. “Wemade a few errors on Saturday and lost time but we tried to push and make amends in day two. But the car was sliding a lot and had a puncture plus the brakes went soft. On Saturday, we got lost while trying to find section 3 and 7 and it took us long to recover. Today (Sunday) we missed the first checkpoint and had to turn around and come back,” said Chirag. The event revved-off on Saturday with competitors tackling a 50kilometer stage once and tackled a 45 kilometer stage twice on Sunday. The second round of
the cross country series will be staged by Rift Valley Motor & Sports Club (RVM&SC) on the weekend of May 19-20. CARS 1. Simon Sharpe ( Toyota Platz) 2.50.03 2. Nish Lakhani (Landrover-LC VX hybrid) 3.35.40 3. Rajesh Maini (Range Rover 3.9 Bobtail) 3.46.11 4. Sammy Jessel (Land Rover) 4.18.20 5. Chirag Soni (Range Rover V8 Patrol) 4.37.30 BUGGIES 1. Ian Duncan (KTM Buggy) 3.38.17 2. Jim Heather Hayes (Double S. Buggy) 4.05.55 QUADS 1. Shazar Anwar (Bombardier 650)3.53.58 2. Vincent Boulanger (Can Am Renegade) 4.23.59 3. Chris Wahome 4.55.31 4. Zane Young (Raptor 650) 5.15.40 5. Chantel Young (Honda TRS) 5.55.31 BIKES 1. Tom Cholmondeley 3.06.11 2. Sean Wilcock 3.10.52 3. Wangai Kimeria 3.12.33 4. Shivam Vinayak (Yamaha 250) 3.16.39 5. Peter Kinyua 3.2033
MuchemiTriumphs Again Courtesy of KMSF Safaricom team ace Ben Muchemi aka Baba ‘Ciru’ Muchemi is at it again. Driving a Mitsubishi EVO6 rally car, Muchemi won his second successive round of the Kenya National Autocross Championship to cling to the top of the table with 44points. After the race Muchemi felt compelled to go for the championship currently held by Keith Henrie who wasa notable absentee in the meeting. Waita Nzioka, of Safaricom Corporate Afaiars finished 5th overall and second in the rally car category. Charles Mugo won under 24 class after finishing 3rd overall in his buggy. Peter Young in 9th place won the quad category. Muchemi dedicated the win to his son Andrew Muchemi who made his debut in the Safaricom/KRS Subaru Forester. Another debutant was Devan Bhundia who finished 14th in a Subaru Legacy clocking 7.47.90minutes. Devan was using the event to test his car for KNRC events after his rally debut at the KCB Guru Nanak Rally last year. Rookie driver Eugene Maina came third overall in the under 24 class despite mechanical gremlins. This was the youngster’s second race ever and being the youngest driver Maina, a 15 year old boy at Nairobi Academy drove aggressively. The event was organized by Kenya Motor Sports Club. Simba Union will host the next round in Kiambu in April. RESULTS 1. Ben Muchemi (EVO6) 6.55.16 2. Samir Khan (Buggy) 6.59.74 3. Charles Mugo (Buggy) 7.07.04 4. Kyle Lucas (Buggy) 7.07.95 5. Nzioka Waita (EVO6) 7.08.34 6. Geoff Mayes (Subaru N10) 7.11.33 7. Rash Bhabra (Subaru gc8) 7.15.90 8. Hardeep Rehsi (Buggy) 7.16.72 9. Peter Young (Honda 450 quad) 7.17.80 10. Joe Muchiri (Subaru gc8) 7.25.99 11. Zane Young (Yamaha 660 quad) 7.29.66 12. Amit Pandya (Buggy)7.30.29 13. Eugene Maina (Buggy7.31.82 14. Devan Bhundia (Subaru Legacy) 7.47.90 15. Nitya Patel (Buggy) 7.48.36 16. Sammy Nyori (Toyota Vitz) 7.52.49 17. Pinal Patel (Buggy) 8.12.10 18. Joe Boulanger (Yamaha350) 8.17.85 19. Goovy Bhabwa (Subaru gc8)8.18.99 20. Chantal Young (Honda450 quad) 8.20.06 21. Stella Macharia (Subaru) 8.26.00 22. Andrew Muchemi (S. Forester) 8.28.32 23. Shaz Esmail (buggy) 8.30.82
Felipe Massa: It’s time to turn the page Ferrari’s Felipe Massa insists he is determined to put his bad start to the 2012 season behind him after a day spent at the team’s Maranello headquarters analysing what went wrong for the Brazilian in the year’s first two Grands Prix. In Australia, Massa qualified 16th and then retired from the race after a clash with compatriot Bruno Senna. And in Malaysia’s tricky conditions last weekend he finished 15th, almost a lap down on race-winning team mate Fernando Alonso. “I met my engineer Rob Smedley and I spent a lot of time with [chassis director] Pat Fry, going over everything that happened, because this is the only way I think we can understand the reasons behind these two bad weekends,” Massa told the Ferrari website. “I am disappointed, there is no denying it: not scoring any points in two races hurts, but now it’s time to turn the page. It’s the not the first time I’ve gone through a difficult moment like this and I know well that things can change quickly, but now is the moment to do my utmost because I want this negative period to come to an end.” Ferrari have freely admitted that the F2012 is currently far from competitive, despite Alonso’s unexpected Kuala Lumpur victory, and Massa says his focus is now on improving the car while maximising his chances in the two remaining flyaway races before the paddock returns to Europe. “Pat ran through with me the details of the F2012 development programme and we hope we can slightly improve our performance already in Shanghai,” he continued. “Both there and at Sakhir, one of my favourite tracks, we will once again be fighting on the counter-attack, trying to fine tune the car as well as possible to make the most of any opportunity, just as Fernando did in Sepang.” Having altered his original post-Malaysia plans in order to visit the Ferrari factory, Massa will now head home to Monaco for a few days with his family before returning to Maranello for further engineering meetings and to spend some time on the simulator. “I feel there is confidence around me, that the team is united in its support for me and that is very important,” he added. “Now I want to transform that into results to pay back all this support. I want things to return to normal, to a situation in which I can show my talent as I have always done and as the team knows I can do.”
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MOTOR SPORTS
Spotlight Turns To New RVM & SC Motocross Track Courtesy of KMSF The anticipated new motocross track at the Rift Valley Motor & Sports Club (RVM&SC) in Nakuru is ready. It will host the third round of the Kenya National Motocross Championship. RVM&SC Chairman Rob Collinge has indeed welcomed all riders and officials to the new track which is located behind the Clubhouse. Unlike the current track at Nairobi’s Jamhuri Park, Collinge said they have a Clubhouse which is attached to the pits and the motocross track.“I respectfully remind you all that in the vicinity of the Clubhouse it is forbidden to ride your bikes into the pit area. The bikes have to be switched off and pushed in front of the Clubhouse. We do not want the grass torn up and the club house filling with dust,” Collinge said. Among the stars will be Kawasaki 450 four-stroke rider Shivam Vinayak who heads the MX 1 class from his nearest adversary KTM mounted Allan Maina. Vinayak, who finished second last time round, is determined to avenge the humiliating Round Two defeat he suffered at the hands of crowd-pleasing Cruze “Control” Muigai who has since moved up to the topmost MX1 class this year. The MX1 class has already featured riders likes of Ian Duncan, Louis Dirnboeck, Sean Pelling, Isaac Kuria and the-never-say-die Moses Mugo (KTM). Young Apollo Mbuki, the MX 125 leader is another stylish competitor who rides a KTM and is followed by Rohan Gandhi (KTM) and Karan Sehmi on a Husaberg machine. The determination of the children contesting the MX 50 and MX 65 classes always produces close fought action and just what is up their sleeves will be known on Sunday. Jesse Waithaka, Dekker Kihara and Dylan Mutahi are the riders to watch in the MX 50 class and
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Rolf Kihara is set consolidate his MX 65 class championship lead. Kihara has won all the two round held at Jamhuri park so far and anticipates a stiff opposition from Jeremy waithaka, Elias Sherman, Mohammed Anwar and Owain Ashley among others. STANDINGS AS AT ROUND 2 MX50 1. Jess Waithaka (KTM) 120 2. Dekker Kihara (KTM) 92 3. Dylan Mtahi (KTM) 81 MX65 1. Rolf Kihara (KTM) 112 2. Jeremy Waithaka(KTM) 91 3. Elias Sherman (KTM) 91 MX85
1. Samir Anwar (KTM) 106 2. Walter Kuria (Yamaha) 105 3. Githuku Mungai (KTM) 93 MX125 1. Apollo Mbuki (KTM) 120 2. Rohan Gandhi (KTM) 98 3. Karan Sehmi (Husaberg) 78 MX2 1. Tutu Maina (KTM) 120 2. Ivan Guya (KTM) 102 3. Eugene Maina (KTM) 86 MX1 1. Shivan Vinayak (Kawasaki) 111 2. Allan Maina (KTM) 93 3. Louis Dirnboeck (Suzuki) 76
Double Podium For Kick Energy Kick Energy scored a double podium during the second round of the Kenyan National Autocross Championship when Zane Young finished second in the Quad category and Geoff Mayes finished third in the rally car class at last weekends meeting at Jamhuri Park in Nairobi. 17 year old Zane powered his 660cc Yamaha Raptor to his second consecutive second position in two weeks when he around the Jamhuri track last Sunday. As at the previous round Zane’s times improved consistently throughout the four heats and he was overjoyed to end the day ahead of a number of faster attacker buggies. The autocross is really improving my skill as a rider but we need
Courtesy of KMSF
to make a few small changes to the quad bike to find a bit more acceleration as it is currently set up for long distance enduro events. but this is still a lot of fun! Geoff Mayes was once again in a Safaricom Subaru Impreza rally car, kindly lent by Ben Muchemi. After suffering a broken windscreen in practice and then a damaged driveshaft during one of his heats Geoff was still happy to finish third in class. Once again I owe a massive thanks to Ben Muchemi for lending me one of his cars. hopefully mine will be running properly by the next meeting! We had a good battle today and the track was fantastic.
CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE, AFRICA The international status of the Africa Concours d’Elegance was highlighted at the premiere of the TV programme which was the launch pad for the 2012 Regulations. In addition to entries from the host country Kenya, competitors from Australia, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda will be heading for Nairobi to contest the Concours at the Nairobi Racecourse on September 30th. At the launch ceremony held in the Nairobi Club David Macharia, the Chairman of the Kenya Motor Sport Federation, complimented the Alfa Romeo Owners Club for running the Concours annually for the past 42 years. He traced the transition of the Concours from small beginnings to become a FIM AFRICA recognised and sanctioned event in 2006 with full continental status for both cars and motorcycles. A group of MG enthusiasts from Australia have arranged for their cars to be
shipped to Cape Town in August. After flying from Australia to South Africa, the owners will drive to Nairobi to participate in the Concours d’ Elegance on September 30th. The MG cavalcade is a mix of convertible sports cars and GT models and will break the record for MG entries in the classiest event on the Kenya motor sport calendar. The Uganda Bikers Association (UBA) has entered eight giant trail and enduro motorcycles which will be ridden from Kampala to Nairobi for the Concours. These machines will contest the over 650 cc trail and enduro motorcycle class which was won by Gianfranco Masetto last year and William Fowler was the runner up. Both these enthusiasts are in the 2012 UBA team. Masetto will be showing a Honda Varadero VTR1000 and William Fowler will be mounted on a 2004 BMW 1150GS. Arusha based Concours competitor
Courtesy of KMSF Tor Alan hopes to take home a prize for his 1996 Peugeot 404. This classic saloon will be placed in the up to 1800cc touring car class and is a previous prize winner. Local entries from Kenya include a 1978 Saab which is being painstakingly rebuilt by Walter Serem and a 1972 Alfa Romeo Spider sports car entered by Michael Tilley. Seasoned Concours participant Magdi Riad is placing his hopes on a 1952 Chevrolet and a Mercedes Benz which was made in the following year. These large saloons are slotted in the up to 3000 cc touring car category. Regular Concours entrant Douglas Kiereini will be a strong contender in the up to 900 cc street motorcycle class with his Yamaha XS 750E and his Honda CB 750F which were both made in 1980. Kimani Gathu will contest the class for super bikes with a massive 1,400 cc Kawasaki.
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MOVIE REVIEWS
I
n April 1805 during the Napoleonic Wars, the H.M.S. Surprise, a British frigate, is under the command of Captain Jack Aubrey. Aubrey and the Surprise’s current orders are to track and capture or destroy a French privateer named Acheron. The Acheron is currently in the Atlantic off South America headed toward the Pacific in order to extend Napoleon’s reach of the wars. This task will be a difficult one as Aubrey quickly learns in an initial battle with the Acheron that it is a bigger and faster ship than the Surprise, which puts the Surprise at a disadvantage. Aubrey’s single-mindedness in this seemingly impossible pursuit puts him at odds with the Surprise’s doctor and naturalist, Stephen Maturin, who is also
Papillon There’s a lot to like about Papillon. Compared to the witless blockbusters of today, with their explosions and CGI trickery, Papillon is the type of outsized escapist adventure tale that Hollywood once had down pat. It’s well acted, gorgeously shot, and generally exciting — all of which makes its mediocrity an even greater disappointment. Director : Franklin J. Schaffner Producer : Robert Dorfmann, Franklin J. Schaffner Screenwriter : Dalton Trumbo, Lorenzo Semple Jr. Starring : Steve McQueen, Dustin Hoffman, Victor Jory, Don Gordon, Anthony Zerbe, Robert Deman
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Aubrey’s most trusted advisor on board and closest friend. Facing other internal obstacles which have resulted in what they consider a string of bad luck, Director: Peter Weir Writers: Patrick O’Brian (novels), Peter Weir (screenplay) Stars: Russell Crowe, Paul Bettany and Billy Boyd
The Expendables A team of mercenaries is given the assignment to take out a corrupt military leader and a rogue CIA operative on a Latin American island. Director: Sylvester Stallone Writers: Dave Callaham (screenplay), Sylvester Stallone (screenplay) Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham and Jet Li
Mission Impossible 4 Brad Bird made his name with two brilliant animated films, The Incredibles and Ratatouille. Mission Impossible 4 is his first live-action film, and it confirms that he is a first-rate director. There are three sequences here – a break from a Russian prison, a hazardous climb up the tallest building in the world in Dubai, and a climactic fight in an automated multi-storey car park in Mumbai – that rank among the best not just of the year, but of all time. It’s these that make Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol superior to the other films in this series, and very much worth the price of admission. See it, if you can, on an Imax screen, where the stunts are breath-taking. “Mission Impossible 4: It’s not deep or meaningful” Fair enough. But neither were the other three. And people do not expect it to be. This a movie for pure and simple entertainment and surely it will get the job done, as the previous movies did. Loved it! Director: Brad Bird Writers: Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec, and 1 more credit » Stars: Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner and Simon Pegg EDITION 14 MARCH - APRIL 2012
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NEW CAR RATES BMW Model Name Retail Price (KES) 3 Series 320i 5,100,000/= X5 35i Petrol 7,950,000/= 116i - COM 3,250,000/= X3 20D 6,426,000/= 120i 1,689,546/= 330i 2,832,594/= 523i 2.600,000/= 3 Series - 320D 7,535,880/= X1 2D 5,622,800/= X3 2.5i 7,938,000/= X1 S18i 5,110,855/= 750Li 19,860,912/= X6 50i - Petrol 23,000,000/= Chevrolet Model Name Aveo Notchback Optra manual Optra Auto Aveo Hatchback
Chrysler Model Name Chrysler 300C
Retail Price (USD) 77,000/=
Retail Price (KES) 1,450,000/= 1,825,000/= 1,995,000/= 1,450,000/=
Ford Model Name Retail Price (KES) Bantam 1.3 1,385,000/= Bantam 1.6i 1,650,857/= Everest XLT (7seater) 3,898,000/= Ford 2500 1 ton 4 x 4 3,300,000/= Ranger 2.5 PU 1,870,000/= Ranger 2.9 2,275,000/= Ranger 2.9 Base 2,375,000/= Ranger 2.9 Base 1,914,950/= Focus 1.6 1,975,000/= F250 D/C XLT 4,800,000/= F250 S/C XL 3,887,088/= focus H/back 2,290,000/= Territory 6,300,000/= Ford Ranger XLE 4,500,000/= Ford Mondeo 2.3 3,500,000/= Ford Kuga 4,250,000/= Ford Everest 3l 4.500,000/= Ranger 4X4 (Ambulance) 3,200,000/= F/RANGER T6 L 5,700,000/= Foton Model Name Retail Price (KES) BJ1036 1,194,800/= BJ1036 - DC 2.5 Tonner 1,351,000/= BJ1046 - S/C 3 Tonner 1,305,000/= BJ1036 - DC 2 Tonner 1,252,800/= BJ1036 (2.8) 1,194,800/= 48
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EXT - P/Mover 34T BJ1056 - S/C 3 Tonner BJ1089 - S/C 5 Tonner BJ1056, 3T, 3330cc, S/C BJ1089, 5T, S/C, 3990cc Hummer Model Name H3
1,351,000/= 1,375,000/= 2,300,000/= 1,375,000/= 2,300,000/=
Retail Price (KES) 6,000,000/=
Isuzu Model Name Retail Price (KES) FSR 33H Cab 4,700,000/= FTS 33 H 7,271,900/= FVR 23M 5,250,000/= FVX 23 6,350,000/= FVZ 23S 7,260,000/= MV123 5,700,000/= NPR 66 Bus 2,673,700/= NPR 66 Cab 2,350,000/= NQR 66 Cab 2,850,000/= NQR 66 Bus 3,159,700/= TFR 54 S/C 1,550,000/= TFS 54 D/C 2,395,000/= NHR 55 Bus 1,669,900/= TFS 77 D/C 2,750,000/= NKR 66 Cab 1,995,000/= TFS 77 S/C 1,950,000/= TFR 32 S/C 1,475,000/= TFS85 D/C 3,456,000/= NHR 55 Cab 1,513,000/= NKR 66 Bus 2,176,600/= FRR 33 - Light Truck 3,450,000/= FRR 33 - Large Bus 4,092,000/= NQR MAX 3,850,000/= Jaguar Model Name Retail Price (KES) JAGUAR XF 3.0 TDV6 8,500,000/= Jeep Model Name Retail Price (USD) Jeep Wrangler (4 Door) 66,500/= Jeep G/Cherokee 3.6VV 85,000/= Jeep Overland 5.7 VV 59,500/= Jeep Commander 92,500/= Jeep Wrangler (2 Door) 63,250/= KIA Model Name Retail Price (KES) RIO 1.5 LS 1,400,000 Sorento EX DSL 2.5 3,950,000 Carnival 2,999,000 Land Rover Model Name Retail Price (KES) Freelander II - 2.2 Ltr (D) 6,800,000/=
Defender 110 TDI - CC 3,035,000/= Defender 110 TDI - PU 3,750,000/= Defender 110 TDI - SW 4,380,000/= Discovery TD5 (7 Seats) 4,980,000/= Freelander 5DR 2.0L Diesel 4,400,000/= New R/Rover 3.0L D 12,680,000/= R/Rover 4.4 L V8 P 15,600,000/= Discovery III - S/Edition 7,500,000/= New R/Rover 2006 15,500,000/= New Discovery III - SE 8,300,000/= Discovery III HSE (auto) 9,300,000/= R/Rover sport 4.2 L 16,500,000/= R/Rover sprt 2.7TD V6 14,000,000/= R/Rover sport 4.4 V8 15,500,000/= Range Rover 3.6D 14,000,000/= R/Rover 4.2 L P SC 16,000,000/= R/Rover Sprt 3.0 TDV6 13,200,000/= Defender S/Wagon TD5 5,600,000/= R/Rover Sport 3.6 TDV8 14,000,000/= Defender PICK UP 130 D/C 5,300,000/= R/Rover Sport 5.0 L SC 17,500,000/= R/Rover Vogue 5.0 L SC 19,800,000/= DEFENDER 90 S/W 4,300,000/= R/Rover Vogue 5.0 L NA 14,400,000/= R/Rover Sport 5.0 L NA 14,400,000/= DISCOVERY 4 HSE 11,700,000/= R/ROVER 4.4 TDV8 17,300,000/= Maruti Model Name Retail Price (KES) Gypsy 1.3 H/Top 1,199,000/= Omni CARGO VAN 669,000./= Omni PASS - 5 seater 749,000/= Gypsy 1.3 S/Top (Pick-up) 999,000/= Alto LX 800,000/= Omni Pass - 8 seater 775,000/= Swift ZXI 1,395,000/= Swift Vxi 1,250,000/= Eeco 1.2 - 5 seater 1,300,000/= Mazda Model Name 323 Midge 1.3 T 3500 C/CAB T 4000 4T CAB Mazda 6 saloon T4000 TRUCK BT50 D/C
Retail Price (KES) 1,394,380/= 2,232,300/= 2,232,300/= 2,750,000/= 3,025,117/= 1,685,000/=
Mercedes Benz Model Name Retail Price (KES) C180K Classic 4,449,350/= C200K Elegance 5,299,800/= A150 Classic 2,628,000/= A150 Elegance 2,810,500/= E 200K Automatic 6,679,500/=
E 280L Automatic 7,482,500/= ML 280 CDI 7,884,000/= E 200K Manual 6,387,500/= ML 320 CDI 8,891,400/= Actros 13,000,000/= Mitsubishi Model Name Retail Price (KES) Lancer - CY4ASTMHR 2,691,200/= FH - FH215JBRB11 4,002,000/= Fuso FM615LHRB11 (Trk) 5,518,120/= Fuso FM657LRB11 5,220,000/= Fuso FN617RSRB11 7,720,960/= Fuso FN627RSRB11 (Trk) 8,584,000/= Fuso FV515HRRB11 7,760,000/= L200 - K12TUNSRK 1,334,000/= L200 - K14TUNSRK 1,461,600/= L200 - K34TUNSRK 1,705,200/= L200 - AC (LA4) 2,737,600/= Canter FE635E6RB11 2,552,000/= Canter FE659F6RB11 3,074,000/= FH - FH215JBRB11 (Bus) 3,450,000/= Lancer - CY4ASTXHR 2,946,400/= Lancer - CY2ASRSHR 2,180,800/= L200 - KB8TGJRXZR 3,845,400/= Lancer - CS3ASNJEBR 1,954,600/= OutLander 3,654,000/= Pajero - V31WNHERK 3,045,000/= Pajero - V73WLRXVR 5,336,000/= Canter FE515B8RB11 2,088,000/= Canter FE635E6RB11 (Bus) 2,200,000/= Canter FE659F6RB11 (Bus) 2,650,000/= Fuso FM657LRB11 (Trk) 5,220,000/= Pajero - V96WLNHFR 4,865,910/= L200 - KB4TNENMR 1,856,000/= Pajero - V31VNDRK1 2,861,720/= Fuso FN627RSRB11 6,000,000/= L200 - KA4TNENMR 1,798,000/= Outlander-CW5WXTSHZR 4,234,000/= Lancer - CS3ASTJER 2,140,200/= Pajero - V31WNHER k 3,196,960/= Pajero - V76WLNDFR 4,129,600/= Pajero - V78WLYXFQR 6,278,500/= Pajero - V73WLNDVR 5,336,000/= Fuso FM657LRB11 (Bus) 5,220,000/= Fuso FM615LHRB11 (Bus) 4,757,000/= Lancer - CS1ASNDEBR 1,075,000/= L200 - K74TJENSR (K39) 2,737,600/= Lancer - CY2ASNSHR 1,972,000/= Galant - EA2ASNHER 2,586,800/= Nativa - K97WGRHFR 3,712,000/= FUSO - FV517JR2RB11 8,200,000/= Pajero - V36WNHRK 3,306,000/= Pajero - V96WLRHFR 5,707,200/= Pajero - V98WLYHZQR 6,150,900/= Pajero - V93WLRHVR 5,730,400/=
Lancer - CS1ASNDR (H29) 1,600,000/= L200 - K74TJENSR 2,534,600/= L200 - KB7TNJNMR 3,010,200/= Rosa Bus BE637JRSH 3,475,000/= Rosa BE637JRMSH 3,600,000/= Fuso FV517JR2RB11 9,040,000/= Pajero V98WLYHZSR 6,278,500/= L200 - KB4TGJNXZR 3,337,320/= Pajero V93WLRXVR 6,171,200/= L200 KB7TNENMR 2,436,000/= Pajero V96WLNXFR 5,108,640/= Canter - FG83PE6R 3,528,000/= Pajero V98WLYXZSR 6,757,000/= FUSO - (TURBO) 5,360,000/= Fuso - FV517JR2RB1A 9,040,000/= FUSO - FM657LSRB11(Bus) 5,660,000/= Pajero - V96WLRXFR 5,523,200/= Canter FE71PBN4RB11 2,370,000/= Canter FE84PE6RB11 2,715,000/= Canter FE85PG6RB11 3,100,000/= FUSO - FM657LSRB12 5,220,000/= Canter FE85PG6RB11 (Bus) 3,100,000/= Fuso FM617LHRB12 5,145,000/= Fuso FM657LSRB12 (Bus) 4,865,910/= Canter - FE84PE6RB11(BUS) 3182500 Nissan Model Name Retail Price (KES) Sunny N16 1300EX 1,795,000/= Sunny N16 Super Saloon 1,995,000/= B140 (Half Ton Pick-Up) 990,000/= Patrol 3.0L TDI GL 5,550,000/= Patrol 3.0L TDI GRX 8,450,000/= Mini bus E24 P 1,995,000/= Mini bus E24 D 2,150,000/= Hardbody J05/J21 1,495,000/= Hardbody J24/J28 2,450,000/= Hardbody X 12 2,375,000/= Hardbody X 09 1,585,000/= Hardbody J44 1,950,000/= Hardbody J22/J20 1,995,000/= Civilian W41 4,850,000/= Hardbody J66/J70 (Luxury) 2,950,000/= Hardbody J23/J25 2,100,000/= Hardbody J26/J29 2,750,000/= Hardbody J43/J48 2,475,000/= Hardbody J45 2,775,000/= Hardbody J81 1,995,000/= Hardbody X 38 (Luxury) 2,980,000/= X-TRAIL 2.2L D 3,985,000/= X-TRAIL 2.0L P 2,995,000/= X-TRAIL 2.5L P 3,575,000/= TIIDA 1.6 Manual 2,171,000/= TIIDA 1.6 Automatic 2,275,000/= Patrol pick-up 4.2L (UY61) 2,695,000/=
TIIDA 1.8 Automatic Navara YD25 LE (A/T) LUXURY Navara YD25 SE (M/T) STD Navara YD25 LE (M/T) LUXURY TIIDA 1.8 Manual Patrol 4.2L D GL NP 200 Pathfinder Patrol 4.2L D SGL Nissan Diesel Model Name CB 31 SXN CB 46S TURBO (SXN) CB 46L TURBO MKB210L BUS MKB210 TRUCK MKB210S (BUS) PKF210 Bus CWB 450 HTNA CWB 450 PPNA (pm) MKB 210 L Bus NU 41 Truck NU 41 Bus CWB 450 PPNA (rigid) PKF210 Truck PKF210 Truck (6x2) NU 41L Bus (33 Seater) Peugeot Model Name Boxer Panel 206 307 Estate 406 SR 406 SR Estate 406 ST 2.0 Partner Combi Partner Van 307 XT 1.6 Sal 407 CF 2.0E 307 XR 1.6 307 XT Auto Scania Model Name P124CB P124 (6x4) F114 (4x2) Bus P380 F270 (4x2) Bus Skoda Model Name Octavia Sedan 1.6 M/T Fabia 1.4 M/T
Retail Price (KES) 9,240,000/= 9,700,000/= 10,400,000/= 5,250,000/= 4,375,000/= 4,775,000/= 6,750,000/= 9,498,935/= 9,500,000/= 5,250,000/= 2,700,000/= 3,325,000/= 9,860,000/= 6,200,000/= 7,100,000/= 3,850,000/=
2,515,000/= 3,900,000/= 3,300,000/= 3,885,000/= 2,650,000/= 4,975,000/= 1,392,000/= 5,750,000/= 5,950,000/=
Retail Price (KES) 2,950,000/= 1,625,000/= 2,200,000/= 2,675,000/= 2,850,000/= 3,200,000/= 1,700,000/= 1,500,000/= 2,250,000/= 3,650,000/= 2,100,000/= 2,600,000/= Retail Price (KES) 14,276,000/= 12,906,840/= 7,500,000/= 12,906,840/= 7,500,000/= Retail Price (KES) 2,445,000/= 1,795,000/=
EDITION 14 MARCH - APRIL 2012
49
NEW CAR RATES Octavia Combi 1.6 A/T Octavia Combi 1.6 M/T Octavia Sedan 1.6 A/T YETI ACTIVE 1.8
2,795,000/= 2,695,000/= 2,650,000/= 3,650,000/=
Subaru Model Name Retail Price (KES) Forester 2.0X Manual 3,050,000/= Forester 2.0X W Auto 3,200,000/= Impreza 1.6TS Manual 2,135,000/= Impreza WRX 2.5 Turbo 3,700,000/= Impreza S wagon TS Manual 2,245,000/= Legacy Outback AWD (M) 3,950,000/= Legacy Outback AWD (A) 4,150,000/= Legacy 2.0 R Wagon AWD 3,140,000/= Legacy 2.0i wagon 2ltr (M) 3,050,000/= Legacy 2.0 R Saloon AWD 2,950,000/= Legacy Wagon GL AWD (A) 3,605,000/= Impreza Saloon 2.0L GX 2,410,000/= Impreza 2L GX Wagon AWD 2,500,000/= Forester Wagon 2.5XT 3,995,000/= Impreza saloon 1.6TS - (A) 2,221,400/= Impreza sprt wagon TS (A) 2,360,000/= Impreza 1.5R - (M) 2,450,000/= Tribeca 3600cc 6,200,000/= Forester 2.0 XS Auto 3,600,000/= Outback 5,200,000/= Outback 3.0R Auto 5,200,000/= Impreza 1.5R Saloon 2,800,000/= FORESTER 4,300,000/= Outback Wagon 3.6R 6,200,000/= Outback 2.5i CVT 4,950,000/= Legacy Saloon 2.0i CVT 4,400,000/= Suzuki Model Name Retail Price (KES) Jimny 1.3 (A/C) 1,700,000/= Grand Vitara 2.0 (Auto) 3,150,000/= Jimny 1.3 (Standard) 1,599,000/= Grand Vitara 2.0 (Manual) 2,950,000/= Grand Vitara 2.4 Manual 3,150,000/= Grand Vitara 2.4 Auto 3,250,000/= Tata Model Name Retail Price (KES) LPK 1615 T.C 3,000,000/= LPK 2516 Tipper (6x4) 4,500,000/= LPT 509 (TIGER) 1,650,000/= LPT 713 S (BUS) 1,870,000/= 207 TELCONE P/UP DC 1,850,000/= LPT 713 S(CARISMO) TRK 1,890,000/= LPO 1316 BUS 2,800,000/= 207 DI SC Pick Up 1,225,000/= XENON Pickup Double Cab 2,600,000/= LPT 709/34 TRK 4x2 1,881,000/= SFC 407 Pick Up 1,705,000/= 50
EDITION 14 MARCH - APRIL 2012
Tata Sumo 1,600,000/= Tata Novus V3TVF (USD)120,000/= LPT 1918 TC CAB CHASIS 3,800,000/= Xenon pickup S/C 2.036,000/= LPT 709/38 TRK 4x2 1,942,000/= SE 1613/42 2,350,000/= LPK 2523 Tipper (6x4) 6,835,000/= LPK 2516 (6x4) Mixer 7,394,000/= LPT 1116 TRK 4X2 2,200,000/= SUPER ACE 1,150,000/= TATA Novus V3T6F (USD)100,000/= LPT 913 2,350,000/= LPT 2523 c/chassis (TRK) 6,835,000/= Toyota Model Name Retail Price (KES) Corolla NZE 120R (A/C) 1,746,000/= Camry ACV40R-AEANKW 3,890,000/= Avensis 2,684,000/= Coaster Bus 3,830,000/= Corolla NZE 120R (A) 1,637,000/= Corolla NRE150R(A) 2,333,900/= Hiace (LH114) 2,197,500/= Hiace (RZH114) 2,055,000/= RAV 4 3,000,000/= Land Cruiser HDJ 100 B 8,275,000/= Land Cruiser (HZJ 105R) 5,231,000/= Land Cruiser HZJ(T/C) 5,274,000/= Land Cruiser Prado (A) 4,955,000/= Land Cruiser LJ 120R (A) 4,225,000/= Prado TRJI20R-GKMEK - A 4,095,000/= Prado TRJI20B 4,387,000/= Land Cruiser(AMB) 4,611,000/= Land Cruiser (KZJ(AUTO) 4,756,000/= Land Cruiser LJ 120R (B) 4,408,000/= Land Cruiser LJ 120R (STD) 4,034,000/= Corolla NZE 120R (B) 1,895,000/= Hilux TGN15 1,766,700/= Fortuner (LX) 3,950,000/= Fortuner (ME) 3,650,000/= Land Cruiser HZJ 105R 5,708,000/= Land Cruiser (TRV) 4,842,000/= Corolla ZRE151-DEPNK 2,500,000/= Camry ASV50R-AETNKW 8,900,000/=