Issue 19

2013

March - April Issue No.19

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Ksh 200 Ush 4,000 Tsh 2,500

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w w w . m o t o r t r a d e r s . c o . k e

The Wild

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2013 Jaguar engine range

Contents All the news, races, the cars, the www.motortraders.co.ke

News

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Pg 6 News >> This is the 2013 Volkswagen Golf GTI

Feature Pg 10 The Wild Cats >> Jaguars new engine range for 2013

Pg 22 Dakar Rally >> Why the name was changed from Paris-Dakar to Dakar

Reviews

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Pg 34 Hyundai Santa Fe >> The new Santa fee 2.4liter.

Pg 36 WRC Mexico Review >> We get a glimpse on what happend in Mexico.

Pg 39 The Samsung air purifier >> Samsang is about to launch a new gadget for all motorists. Here is a short review abut it.

Motorsports Pg 41 This years Calender and news.

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Publisher:

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Motor Trader Co. Ltd. P.O. Box 21824, 00400 Tel. 020 8079558/9 Mobile: 0718223838 info@motortraders.co.ke Nairobi

Editor:

Joe Murai joe@motortraders.co.ke

Features and Road test Editor

J. M. Baraza barazajm@motoringpressagency.com

Technical Editor

Michael Chege Mwangi

Organising Editor Kay Wachira

Design & Layout: William Mwangi Motor Trader Ltd

Photography:

Motor Trader Ltd KMSF Pitch Afric

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.

This ISSUE Back when man was pondering giving up the idea of tying a horse to the front of a wheeled vehicle, petrol and diesel engine technologies were in their infancy. Steam was king at the turn of the century, and we owe a lot to steam, because it was the transitional force which drove us from having no engine at all, to having various types of engines for different purposes.

At first turbochargers (and superchargers, but to a lesser extent), were used in high-end sports and racing cars, which really needed to stick to engine displacement rules and regulations, yet wanted more power. However, slowly but surely turbochargers have become commonplace in our modern cars, and in fact, some manufacturers don`t even have naturally aspirated cars on offer, at all, any more.

The turbocharger has allowed us to downsize our engines, and benefit from lower fuel consumption, and get more power and reduce the overall weight of our engines.

Turbocharging is a great way to maintain a high power output when you need it, strong linear and flat torque delivery and low fuel consumption and emissions.

However, this new craze of turbocharging has created a bit of an issue. Some manufacturers are still offering huge engines, and while some are turbocharged, there still are a lot of naturally-aspirated units on offer.

This all begs the question: In this day and age, is it morally correct to buy a car with a high-displacement naturally-aspirated engine, thus encouraging manufacturers to still offer them? Any modern V8 can be replaced by a turbocharged V6, and any V6 can be replaced by a turbocharged four-pot, and any four-pot can be replaced by something with less than four cylinders and a turbocharger – Ford is getting 125 hp out of one liter, and that`s extremely impressive for a production engine to get 125 hp per liter. Also, while fuel efficiency may not always be directly correlated with engine displacement, it is nevertheless better to start with a smaller displacement engine, then try to make it more efficient, instead of taking a large one you already have and fiddling with that. It is common sense and common knowledge.

So, is it moral to keep buying large naturally-aspirated engines? Well, I say hell no!

All in all jaguar have done alot to make sure their customers get to enjoy pure performance with less fuel economy and great prices.

You need to actively ask the automakers to give you what you want, and not keep feeding you what they think you want, justifying their course of actions through bogus ‘studies’.

Joe Murai www.motortraders.co.ke

MOTORING NEWS

Nissan Confirms High-Performance Nismo GT-R The Nissan GT-R line is about to receive a new high-performance vehicle after the Japanese automaker unveiled Nismo’s plans on releasing several sporty cars in the near future.

According to company representatives, Nissan’s performance brand and official motorsport team is about to get its hands on a number of vehicles, including the GT-R sportscar.

No further details have been revealed yet, but word has it we might see a race-ready Nissan GT-R leaving Nismo’s facility, and probably a 2014, 24 Hours of Le Mans version as well.

“It would be unthinkable for us to develop a range of Nismo road cars without including the GT-R,” said Nissan CEO, Carlos Ghosn. “The standard road car is a global supercar and the GT-R’s performance on track reflects the passion and talents of the Nismo team. The GT-R Nismo will be special and I can’t wait to drive it.”

Nissan recently decided to move in-house tuner Nismo to new headquarters in Yokohama as the small 1984-founded company can now be recognized as a brand.

Story by Nissan

BMW Engine Has the Eye of the T-Rex, Breath of Godzilla When diesel engines first came out on regular cars, they had the distinct sound and feel of agricultural equipment. You could even go as far as saying it had the cough of an asthmatic donkey, the power of an earthworm and the carbon footprint of a cow’s behind… which by the way is very large (the footprint, not the cow’s behind… oh, just forget it!).

But diesels had plenty of torque and eventually found their way into luxury automobiles, prompting BMW to start development for something made with much better animal parts.

The Bavarians are really proud of their achievement, of creating an engine that’s economical, fun and powerful, so much so that they’re relaxed enough to joke about it, which is something Germans don’t do every day.

The new tri-turbo engine they fitted to the X5 M50d, X6 M50d and M550d xDrive is a spectacular mixture of movie monsters.

According to BMW themselves, the 3-liter diesel is a tribute to King Kong without the muddy footprints, a homage to T-rex with a smaller appetite and honors Godzilla with less smoke. News via BMW

BMW 1 Series GT Details Leaked The new BMW platform, the UKL, is the starting point for many of the future cars developed by the Munich based company. One of those cars is the 1 Series GT, the direct competitor for the Mercedes-Benz B-Class.

At the moment, very little is known about the new Bimmer. We know that it will be front wheel drive (and all wheel drive is optional), it will be based on the Active Tourer Concept (unveiled in Paris September 2012) and it will be a luxurious, smaller version of the BMW SUVs for the weekend or a second car.

As we can see from the spyshots(on your right hand side) published by Jokeforblog, the future development of the car seems promising design-wise. The production car will be really close to the concept. The LED lights will be available as well as the side cameras (as optional equipment, of course). The front bumper looks a lot like the Concept and the headlights are almost identical.

The rear looks a lot like the Active Tourer, the taillights being identical and the tailgate looking strangely familiar. We can be almost sure that the final design of the 1er GT will resemble the Active Tourer Concept’s but the final production car might bring some surprises.

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This is the 2013 Volkswagen Golf GTI Just before the Geneva Motor Show, Volkswagen published the first photos and production details of the seventh-generation Golf GTI. For the first time in its history, the Golf GTI will be offered in two versions, meaning a 220 HP regular and a 230 HP Performance variant. Both will be powered by turbocharged 2.0-liter engines and will have a peak torque of 258 lb-ft.

The difference between the two is even smaller when it comes to other performance figures, such as 0 to 62 mph sprints, 6.4 seconds for Performance and 6.5 seconds for the regular, or top speed, 155 mph vs. 153 mph in favor of the Performance GTI. We’re not at all impressed, but Volkswagen

must have something up its sleeve.

After taking a look at fuel economy, we can tell you that the cars have a fuel consumption of 6 liters/100 km with the standard 6-speed manual gearbox and 6.4 liters/100 km if the engine is mounted to the optional dual clutch 6-speed automatic.

CO2 emissions range between 139 g/km and 150 g/km depending on gearbox choice.

Volkswagen will start taking orders for the 2013 Golf GTI in early March in Germany. You can find more information about the car in the company’s website.

The new Subaru Forester sneaks in Right from the offset, as a slightly raised estate with credible off-tar grip, solid build quality and genuine comfort, the Subaru Forester began to accumulate a loyal following. And justifiably so. Now in its fourth generation, the Forester still exemplifies all those qualities, although it has evolved – in recent iterations – into a more conventionally proportioned SUV. Improved packaging and slight increases in overall dimensions have translated into a truly spacious cabin with comfortable seats and exceptional rear passenger legroom accessed via doors that swing open to 90 degrees.

Foresters have never excelled in the looks department, and not much has changed here either. Yes, XT models do wear a more distinctive front bumper complete with corner-defining vertical slashes, but once again practicality trumps aesthetics. The result is a vehicle that offers its driver brilliant visibility thanks to a low waistline and tall glass-

house. The obvious tell for new-car spotters is the introduction of a front quarter-light that lends more of a cab-forward appearance. So, a little sportier looking, but not much else. Rather more evident is the new interior, which adopts a similar look to the new XV including softtouch surfaces and more tech, like a standard dash-top-mounted 4.3in colour display with reversing camera. As usual, the build quality feels top notch, as evidenced by tight panel gaps and zero rattles. However, also as before, the actual dashboard design appears a generation behind the Germans.

As for the engineering, Subaru are keen to show that considerable development has gone into making the new Forester a safer and more efficient vehicle, with improved dynamics. Having criticised the current car for displaying too much lateral roll when cornering, New for 2013 is X-Mode, which is just

a fancy name for the electronic systems governing brake-activated torque transfer and hill descent control works well on the launch route’s reasonable rocky off-road section, controlling wheel slip admirably as well as governing a steep descent with aplomb. This, after the absorbent ride and quiet suspension allowed the Forester to put in a commanding performance over several kilometres of gravel road. It’s easy to appreciate the familyfriendly touring appeal.

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MOTORING NEWS

RR Ghost Six Senses concept

Kia Provo Officially Revealed

Following the leaked photos that emerged on the web, Kia saw fit to tell everything there was to know about their concept car.

Just like expected, it’s a B-segment car, basically a Rio with lots more attitude. The compact sportscar measures 3.88 meters in length, which makes it shorter than the Rio supermini by 166 millimeters. At 1.35-metres tall, it’s 100 mm lower than the Rio and 28 mm lower than a Cooper S MINI Coupe.

Unlike most concept cars shown in the past two years, the Provo is not an EV, which is something you may just love about it. Instead, the powertrain is made up of Kia’s latest high-performance technology. This stylish little coupe marks Kia’s first use of the new seven-speed DCT transmission developed with Hyundai. The engine is a new 1.6-liter Turbo GDi, the same one used in the new Pro_Cee’d GT. This is aided by an electric motor driving the rear wheels and providing an additional 45 PS. The interior is unlike anything Kia has ever made. The two seats are fixed into place and it’s the wheel and pedals that are adjusted. This bench seat is covered in quilted leather stitched in contrasting yellow.

“This is entirely a car for European tastes and conditions. Designed purely at our Frankfurt studios the Kia Provo concept was conceived as a confident and single-minded statement of dynamism and energy to deliver a new sense of fun into the B-segment.

The potent shaping displays a balanced and refined outline within a compact overall shape and the tiny front and rear overhangs enhance the balance within its proportions.”

Even though Kia has long considered building a hot supermini, it likely has no plans to put the Provo into production as-is. The concept does, however, show what direction the company’s design is headed in, and that they too are working on hybrid all-wheel drive systems.

Kia Pro_Cee’d GT Official Specs Ahead of their official debut in Geneva, Kia has released official specs for what they say are their most performanceoriented cars ever.

In order to turn them into hot hatches, Kia has fitted both the three- and five-door Cee’d models with a powerful new engine. The Korean automaker’s 1.6-liter GDi units now have forced induction, a twin-scroll turbo that helps increase power output by 51 percent to 204 PS (201bhp), and torque up 61 percent to 265 Nm. Equipped with this new unit and a six-speed manual gearbox, the Kia Pro_Cee’d GT and Cee’d GT can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.7 seconds and reach a top speed of 230 km/h. They can also accelerate from 60-100 km/h in fourth gear in 5.4 seconds, 80-120 km/h in fifth gear in 7.3 seconds and 80-120 km/h in sixth gear in 8.8 seconds.

Even though these are C-segment hot hatches, they are far off the pace of what we’d consider to be their main rivals, the Golf GTI, Focus ST and Opel Astra OPC. However, all those models have bigger 2-liter turbos.

A more fair comparison would be the Astra Turbo, who’s 1.6-liter engine has 180 PS an is thus a little slower, reaching 100 km/h in 8.3 seconds and stopping its speedometer needle at 220 km/h. Ford meanwhile has never tried warm hatchbacks, but does offer a 180 PS turbo engine as well, which predictable is also slower than the two Kias.

But what the high-performance Kia’s lack in actual perfor8

EDITION 19 March - April 2013

mance, they make up for in looks. Designed in Germany under the guidance of Peter Schreyer himself, the Pro_Cee’d GT and Cee’d GT have sportier grilles, bumpers and headlights.

The LED daytime running lights have been removed from the headlights and added to the lower bumper, just above the fog lights. This four-point LED design is the main focal point of the car and should get you plenty of attention.

“The new Kia Pro_cee’d GT will have great appeal for motorists looking for style, performance and dynamism in their next car – and the Cee’d GT adds an extra level of practicality for buyers who prefer five doors.”

Production will start in May. Prices and trim levels will be announced closer to the launch date.

New L200 with Hybrid Pickup Concept bigger to Geneva: this is a preview for their next generation L200.

The vehicle’s design seems impressive at first glance, and the Japanese automakers says the hybrid will be powered by a diesel engine and an electric motor for an optimum fuel consumption and low CO2 emissions. The latter are estimated at 149 g/km, which is quite good for a fairly big pickup.

The concept will also sport the Super Select 4WD and the Super All Wheel Control (S-AWC) system, but further information will be available in their website.

Well, the Japanese carmaker (Mistubishi) couldn’t stand around doing nothing until the Swiss event the Geneva Car Show so they decided to give us a glimpse of their GR-HEV hybrid pickup concept.

We rarely get to see a pickup concept showcased during European auto shows, but we do kind of understand why Mitsubishi decided to bring something

For Sale: The Bankrupt Nurburgring Racetrack There is a very short list of tracks that are still around with a storied history. Indianapolis is one, and so is LeMans. The third example of this, and perhaps the most challenging is the Nurburging. Once the home of incredible endurance races, the German track has become something of a rec. center for all kinds of racers, mixing supercars with staid rides all on the same track. Unfortunately things have not been profitable for the Nurburgring as of late.

The owners of the track filed for bankruptcy in July of last year, and enthusiasts everywhere started to worry about the future of the so-called “Green Hell.” The track is now in possession of a state-appointed liquidator and is up for sale at a rumored $152 million asking price. For most, the word “liquidator” should be a red flag.

But all is not lost. There are requirements that the new buyers must follow, including allowing for open track days. This is to keep potential buyers from turning the ‘Ring into their private racetrack. At $152 million, it would be one expensive private playground, so we’re glad that provision has been made.

Mercedes Announces New Bulletproof SUV Soon the G500 won’t be the only armored SUV you can buy from MercedesBenz, as the German automaker decided to include two versions of the M-Class in its Guard lineup.

The new ML350 and ML500 variants, which are in compliance with the VR4 protection level, come with reinforced body and frame elements in order to resist ballistic attacks and even hand grenade explosions.

To seal the SUV against any villainous attempt upon its passengers, Mercedes has fortified the ML with polycarbonatearmored windows, tight-fitting special steel, increased structural firmness for the passenger compartment and run-flat tires.

Since the car is now a lot heavier, weighing about 2.8 tons, the Adaptive Damper System and the axle components have

been redesigned. Despite its weight, the ML500 is able to reach 62 mph (100 km/h) from a standing start in just 6.5 seconds thanks to a gasoline 408 HP engine. The less powerful ML350 BlueTEC, using a 258 HP diesel, needs 9.4 second to get to 62 mph. Both versions have a limited top speed of 210 km/h.

The cars are available on order from March 15 with prices starting at $154,000 (EUR 118,650) for the ML500 and $136,670 (EUR 105,050) for the ML350.

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Guilt-free motoring has become one of the key selling points for luxury car makers, and the 2013 model year Jaguar XF and XJ is the British brand’s efforts to keep up in the efficiency stakes with the Germans by introducing two additional forced-induction petrol engines to its range for 2013; the new 3.0-litre V6 Supercharged Petrol, and the four-cylinder 2.0-litre Turbocharged Petrol.

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THIS MONTHS FEATURE

The 3.0L XF

The 3.0 V6 S/C petrol engine has been developed by Jaguar powertrain experts from its existing award-winning 5.0-litre V8....

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aguar is expanding its product offering in key global markets by the introduction of two additional petrol units to its range to enhance customer choice; the new 3.0-litre V6 Supercharged Petrol, and the 2.0-litre Turbocharged Petrol. We (Motor Trader Kenya) were invited to Durban South Africa, to try the new range of engines that Jaguar intends to bring to our market.

The Engine Jaguar has established itself as a leader in the field of supercharged induction technology in order to extract the highest efficiency from its powerplants.

Currently, supercharging is used to the greatest effect in the XKR-S which produces 543Hp and 680Nm from its acclaimed 5.0-litre V8 engine.

It is this same award-winning engine architecture which forms the basis for Jaguar’s new 3.0 V6 S/C and which helps it produce higher specific outputs than the astonishing XKR-S.

The new quad-cam V6 shares its all-aluminium construction with the V8, with the lightweight die-cast block supplemented with cross-bolted main bearing caps to increase rigidity and therefore refinement. The four-valve cylinder heads are constructed of recycled aluminium.

The valves themselves are subject to control by a dual independent variable cam timing (DIVCT) system which is activated by the positive and negative torques generated by the movement of the intake and exhaust valves. This variable timing system features actuation rates of more than 150 degrees per second throughout the rev range, to optimise power, torque and economy at all engine speeds.

This responsive and uninterrupted power delivery is made possible through the use of spray-guided direct injection (SGDI) which delivers precisely measured quantities of fuel directly into the centre of the combustion chambers

at pressures of up to 150bar. The fuel is delivered several times during each combustion cycle, creating a more homogenous air-fuel mixture for cleaner and more efficient combustion.

This is aided by an innovation new to this engine to maximise combustion efficiency; spark plugs which are precisely oriented both in relation to the injector and within the combustion chamber.

The compression ratio is also raised from 9.5:1 in the supercharged V8 to 10.5:1, further improving fuel economy and reducing emissions.

Mounted in the ‘V’ of the engine is latest-generation Roots-type twin vortex supercharger, its use key to the 3.0 V6 S/C’s high-specific output and efficiency. More compact than the model used with the V8, a water-cooled intercooler reduces the temperature of the intake air to optimise power and efficiency. New to the 3.0 V6 S/C is that the supercharger boost control is electronically supervised by new Bosch engine management software, offering efficiency gains of up to 20 per cent.

In creating the new 3.0 V6 S/C, Jaguar’s engineers devised an innovative system of counter-rotating front and rear balancer weights which lend it the same smoothness and refinement characteristics as its larger V8 brother.

The 3.0 V6 S/C powertrain is completed by the Jaguar-tuned eight-speed automatic ZF transmission. This trans-

mission’s large spread of ratios allows the engine’s prodigious power to be fully exploited while optimising economy and emissions. Efficiency is also boosted by the engine’s compatibility with Jaguar’s Intelligent Stop-Start system which improves fuel consumption by up to seven per cent on the EU combined cycle. Utilising a twin solenoid starter, the system is able to restart the engine in less time than it takes for the driver’s foot to move from the brake to the accelerator, and in engine rundown ‘change of mind’ scenarios it is able to reenergise the engine via rapidly refuelling the cylinders.

In the XF and XJ the 3.0 V6 S/C replaces the naturally-aspirated version of the 5.0-litre V8 for the 2013 Model Year. In the XJ the 3.0 V6 S/C replaces the naturally-aspirated version of the 5.0-litre V8 in the majority of markets for the 2013 Model Year.

The Drive It’s sad to say but the naturally aspirated V8 engine will soon be consigned to the same drawer labelled ‘Bye Bye’, certainly as far as executive saloons are concerned. So this new engine needs to offer petrol fans higher kpl(Kilometer per liter) and lower CO2, without compromising on performance and character.

What’s the Jaguar XF 3.0 V6 supercharged like to drive? Motor Trader >>

2.0 i4 Ti 3.0 V6 S/C 5.0 V8 S/C Type 2.0-litre i4 turbo 3.0-litre V6 supercharged 5.0-litre V8 supercharged Capacity (cc) 1999 2995 5000 Bore/Stroke (mm) 87.5/83.1 84.5/89 92.5/93 Power (kW@rpm) 177@5500 250@6500 375@6000-6500 Torque (Nm@rpm) 340@2000-4000 450@3500-5000 625@2500-5500 Transmission ZF Eight-speed automatic Intelligent Stop/Start No Yes Yes Final Drive Ratio 2.73:1 2.56:1 2.56:1 0-100km/h (secs) 7.9 5.9 4.9 Top Speed - km/h 241 250 (limited) 250 (limited) Combined Economy 8.9 9.4 11.3 (l/100km) CO2 (g/km) 207 224 270

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THIS MONTHS FEATURE >> was previledged to be invited to South Africa to try out the XF, and XJ 3.0 liter supecharged and 2.0 liter Turbo charged range.

On paper, the new engine has all the required numbers. It generates 250kW and 450Nm ft of torque, and it puts its power through the latest eight-speed automatic gearbox to the rear wheels.

The car will cover the 0-100kph dash in just 5.9 seconds and hits a limited top speed of 250kp/h limited.

Unfortunately, the driving experience doesn’t quite match up to the billing.

While the supercharged XF is pretty quick off the mark, it struggles when you ask it to accelerate from a cruising speed because of its incredibly short gear. Even a gentle request for extra speed causes the gearbox to change down one, two or even three gears, sending the revs soaring.

There is a way to avoid this – just stick the gearbox in Sport mode and use the steering-wheel-mounted paddles to select top gear. However, this blunts performance to an unacceptable degree, so you end up having to change down anyway to pick up any real pace.

Matters aren’t any better when you need to get past slow-moving traffic, because when you put your foot down the transmission has to change down a number of gears, which isn’t the work of a moment. Unless your anticipation is bang-on, passing opportunities can be all too easily lost. The engine doesn’t sound nearly as exciting as the V8.

Still, it helps that it’s been installed in a basic package as strong as the XF’s.

If you’re the sort who likes to take the meandering route home, the XF is for you. It steers consistently and faithfully, and always lets you know what the front wheels are doing.

Body control is superb, and the XF changes direction in a manner that utterly belies its considerable weight.

The steering is consistent and keeps the driver informed.

There’s a firmness to the ride at low speeds, but once you’re going at a decent pace it displays a fine balance of control 14

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and suppleness.

Comfort and Styling What’s the Jaguar XF 3.0 V6 supercharged like inside?

The XF’s start-up party piece never fails to intrigue and amuse; the heater vents swivel open and the gear selector rises from the centre console.

The dashboard itself is easy enough to find your way around, but the touchscreen system that controls the sat-nav, Bluetooth and audio functions is still a little bit slow.

The dash is easy to navigate, but interior quality is starting to lag behind that of rivals.

The Jag is starting to really lag behind its rivals for interior quality these days.

Everything looks stylish, but there’s a flimsiness to the materials and the way some switches and cubby lids operate.

There’s plenty of space for the front two occupants, although those relegated to the back won’t be so happy. Space is tight for tall blokes and the seats aren’t particularly well shaped for its class.

They are alittle bit firm compared to its competitors.

Should I buy one?

There are better petrol alternatives.

We’d be tempted to go for a BMW 535i SE instead. It isn’t as quick as the XF, but it’s more economical, emits less CO2, has a smarter interior and sounds better too.

If diesel is an option, go for an XF 3.0D V6, which offers brisk performance, an average of 47.9mpg.

Top: XF Front

Top: XF Side view

Top: XF Side view

Top: XF Interior

The 2.0L XF

The 2.0-litre Turbocharged Petrol engine uses a range of state-of-the-art technologies for power generation that belies its size, and its introduction to XF models will see it installed in north-south orientation. It produces 177kW and 340Nm thanks to the use of three key innovations; low-inertia turbocharging, direct fuel-injection and variable timing of both the intake and exhaust camshafts.

Ron Lee, Group Chief Engineer Powertrain, Jaguar Cars, said: “Both the 3.0 V6 S/C and 2.0 Turbocharged make intelligent use of forced-induction technology to produce high-specific output in an efficient way, while delivering the compelling combination of flexibility, refinement and driver reward that are integral attributes in all Jaguar engines.�

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he introduction of the 2.0l i4 Ti 177kW petrol engine to the Jaguar range in XF saloons marks a key response to the growing demands of legislation and customer demand alike. The 2.0l Turbocharged engine used in the XF sees it oriented in north-south configuration and mated to the same smoothshifting eight-speed transmission used on the 3.0 V6 S/C. Again, this transmission’s large spread of ratios maximizes both performance and efficiency.

Producing 177kW at 5500rpm the 2.0l Turbocharged engine offers flexible power delivery, and with an ‘as-shipped’ weight of 138kg courtesy of compact dimensions and all-aluminium construction, it is also the lightest Jaguar engine ever. This small mass aids dynamic agility while, of course, bringing further emissions and economy benefits.

The 2.0 is an engine that retains all the true Jaguar qualities of muscular potential, refinement and soul-stirring character with far better efficiency than a larger capacity multi-cylinder engine that would traditionally have been required to produce similar levels of power. For example, the peak torque output of the 2.0 Turbocharged exceeds that of Jaguar’s 3.0-litre naturally-aspirated V6 from just ten years ago.

Despite its small capacity, it is the 2.0 Turbocharged uses of a low-inertia turbocharger that enables it to produce its high-specific power and torque outputs. The 2.0l turbocharger is fed via a lightweight thin-walled exhaust manifold which allows for a shorter engine warm-up period and therefore lowers emissions still further.

In order to provide the muscular usability characteristics required, chaindriven variable timing is applied to both the intake and exhaust valves to maximise the broad spread of torque, strong bottom-end performance and outstanding drivability.

Designed from the outset with the goal of enhanced efficiency, the engine

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features specialised coatings on the piston rings and tappets in order to reduce unwanted internal friction. This same thinking led to the adoption of very precisely controlled direct injection technology. Fuel is injected in precisely measured doses several times during each combustion cycle to ensure the most efficient possible burn with the maximum benefit in terms of power generation and the lowest fuel consumption and emissions.

Jaguar levels of smoothness and sophistication have been achieved through the use of twin balancer shafts while significant steps have been taken to ensure expected levels of refinement. Amongst these are active engine mounts, an acoustic cover and the use of high density foam for additional sound deadening.

In the XF sports saloon’s engine is capable of accelerating the car to 100km/h in 7.9 seconds and on to 241km/h.

Sedan buyers have been embracing the performance and fuel economy of four-cylinder turbocharged engines for some time. But now the Germans have a challenge with Jaguar boosting its excellent XF range with the addition of a new turbocharged 2.0-litre model.

Boasting all the hallmark Jaguar XF attributes, the new XF 2.0-litre arrives with some significant advantages over its German rivals – more power and torque and a low price range. In many ways, this is the most important Jaguar XF model yet.

Arrival of the 2.0-litre turbocharged Jaguar XF is part of the 2013 model year changes – they include the range-wide adoption of the ZF eight-speed automatic transmission and new Meridian audio systems plus intelligent auto startstop for V6 and V8 petrol models.

XF Engine Check the spec sheet.

XF Interior Inside, the Jaguar XF remains a stand-

Top: XF interior

Top: XF side view

Top: XF rear view

Top: XF front view

out. We still love the start-up procedure which sees the air-vents automatically open and the rotary gear selector dial rise into position.

And we still love the elegant timber highlights which are a cue to luxury Jaguars of the past.

But this is the new Jaguar so the XF comes equipped with a beautiful threespoke leather-wrapped steering wheel which adjusts electronically for rake and reach and nicely-shaped front seats (electronic adjustment on Premium Luxury models).

But the headline for the 2013 model year update is the availability of British Meridian audio systems. You can choose from a 380W, 12-channel 11-speaker system or an 825W, 15-channel 17-speaker system.

Exterior & Styling Well, there’s no beating around the bush – the Jaguar XF is simply one of the best automotive designs of the current era. Slick, sophisticated and a winner of more than 100 international awards, the XF announced Jaguar’s return to the top shelf in no uncertain terms.

From the front, the hallmark Jaguar grille is surrounded by exotic headlights with superb crystal white DRLs in the shape of a Jaguar ‘J’ and the side view with the coupe-like sloping roof and

sporty front fender air-ducts is very purposeful and dynamic.

And we’ve always liked the Jaguar XF rear-end with its elegant, modern taillights, curved wheel-arches and just the right amount of chrome highlights.

Jaguar XF On The Road During the day we got to drive both the entry-level model and the betterequipped Premium Luxury version.

Of course the turbocharged 2.0-litre Jaguar XF arrives simultaneously with the adoption of the ZF eight-speed and the combination of the engine’s wide torque spread and the handy ratios of the eight-speeder is the key which delivered handy performance even on the steep climbs. In the twisty stuff, manual shifts of the eight-speeder were rapid and the exhaust note when working hard was suitably sporty.

And, as always, the ride and handling of the XF are both top-shelf – firm and sporty without being jarring and lovely refinement even on the bumpy stuff and even when we really cracked the whip on the turbo 2.0-litre…very impressive.

Jaguar XF Challenges As always with the Jaguar XF, tall folk could feel a little cramped in the rear seat.

Jaguar XF Verdict Jaguar is correct in saying the XF

lineup was incomplete until the turbocharged 2.0-litre arrived. Now the XF has the full armada to conquest sales from rivals – Audi A6 2.0, BMW 520i and Mercedes-Benz E200, all of which are hot-sellers.

Fact is too, Jaguar is back to the top.

Cars like the XF, the superb XJ and the upcoming F-Type sport car are proof the British icon is again doing what it does best – luxury performance cars with world-class technology and that oh-soBritish style.

Jaguar XF The Competition Premium European mid-size sedans are the automotive industry’s ‘Dream Team’ – all are excellent but there’s no denying Jaguar has trumped its rivals with the XF 2.0-litre’s $68,900 (appxt Ksh 6 million)starting price. As always, you need to carefully check specifications which are important to your specific needs when comparing models and options.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class is simply one of the world’s best cars. That’s it. But the E200 carries a price premium over the Jaguar XF 2.0 of more than $10,000 (apprxt Ksh 850,000) and the German’s 135kW/270Nm turbocharged 1.8-litre engine is significantly out-gunned by Jag’s 177kW/340Nm 2.0-litre.

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THIS MONTHS FEATURE

The 3.0L & 2.0L XJ

In its XJ application, the 3.0 V6 S/C accelerates to 100km/h in 5.9 seconds and a limited top speed of 250km/h.

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T

here are no styling changes to Jaguar’s flagship sedan, which launched in 2010, but instead there’s a major revision to its range of drivetrains – including two new downsized petrol engines.

There’s a new supercharged V6 that will replace the normally aspirated V8, and a new four-cylinder turbo that’s a variation on the 2.0-litre EcoBoost engine.

Both are mated to a new ZF eightspeed automatic gearbox that is also applied to every other engine, which includes a pair of supercharged 5.0 litre V8 and a 3.0 litre V6 diesel.

The Jaguar XJ 2.0 I4 Ti is highly impressive, holding its own against the new supercharged V6 that will also power the upcoming Jaguar F-Type two-seater sports car.

There’s a mere 177kW of peak power found at 5500rpm, with 340Nm of torque produced between 2000 and 4000rpm. These are low figures in limo world.

Yet, the XJ four-cylinder moves away from standstill in a sufficiently responsive manner before the engine hits its stride through a lively mid-range, revving smoothly and enthusiastically beyond 6000rpm.

Photo: Front the 3.0 V6 XJ at Karkloof Spa South Africa.

The 3.0 V6 S/C 250kW and 2.0 177kW join Jaguar’s existing engine range comprising: , 5.0-litre V8 supercharged 375kW, 2.2-litre (turbo-diesel) 140kW, 3.0-litre V6 Td (twin-turbo diesel) 202kW.

It’s also nicely matched to the new eight-speed auto, with the transmission picking its upshifts and downchanges at appropriate moments.

We recorded average of fuel consumption of exactly10.0L/100km during a day’s driving on a mixture of roads, with variations of speed, in and around the roads in Durban during the media launch in South Arica earlier this year.

That’s close to the official figure of 9.3L/100km, which would be good if the supercharged V6 wasn’t just a fraction less efficient at 9.4L/100km.

Blame that on the turbocharged four-cylinder’s omission of a stop-start

system that is standard on every other Jaguar XJ engine.

That rules out fuel consumption as a reason to buy the 2.0 I4 over the supercharged 3.0 V6, though if the fourcylinder were to come to Kenya it would become the most affordable model.

The V6 naturally offers more power and torque – 250kW and 450Nm. We tested in a slightly heavier, longwheelbase Jaguar XJ as shown on the photo above, but still close enough to a direct comparison of the two engines.

And based on drives of the two models, the 3.0-litre V6 is not better than the four-cylinder in every respect. >> EDITION 19 March - April 2013

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THIS MONTHS FEATURE

Photo: The XJ >> It has the edge in responsiveness over the four-cylinder above 3000rpm, feeling even more muscular in the midrange, though it lacks some fizz at lower revs.

The V6’s acceleration is quicker through the mid-range if far from explosive in comparison, and the bigger engine neither felt as consistently smooth in its power delivery nor as refined at higher revs.

Response from the eight-speed auto didn’t always help, either, with a particularly noticeable delay on kickdown.

The Jaguar XJ 3.0 V6 is only twotenths of a second slower than the non-supercharged V8 that will continue in some countries, eg US – reaching 100km/h from standstill in 5.9 seconds.

The Jaguar XJ 2.0l i4 takes 7.5 seconds.

Even allowing for the weight and dimensional difference between shortand long-wheelbase XJs, the four-cylinder version feels a little lighter on its feet and has a front end keener to turn into

corners.

Regardless of which Jaguar XJ model you choose, however, this is the limousine to pick if you’re an executive with a penchant for sporty driving compared with the S-class and 7series.

The XJ’s agility is notable for such a large car, with Dynamic mode stiffening the variable dampers to bring another level of body control.

The steering delights with its linearity and accuracy even if some extra heft wouldn’t go amiss.

Jaguar, however, has tweaked the suspension for improved compliance.

The company says it was a normal update in line with the introduction of new engines rather than response to customer feedback or media criticism of the firm ride.

There seems to be some extra suppleness to the XJ’s suspension, though the big Jag still doesn’t isolate its occupants as well as a Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

The ride just avoids harshness over

Photo: On the left the XJ and XF on the right

Photo: The XJ 20

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potholes but small and medium sized bumps are still felt more than is expected of a luxury limousine.

Large 20-inch and 19-inch wheels with relatively low profile tires fitted to our 3.0 V6 and 2.0 four-cylinder test cars respectively wouldn’t have helped matters, with the bigger rubber generating more noticeable tyre noise.

Otherwise there are few other changes to report for the Jaguar XJ. There are no alterations whatsoever to the exterior styling, though the XJ remains thoroughly contemporary and distinctive.

There are a number of updates for the Jaguar XJ’s audio and sat-nav systems – though Jaguar is still playing catch up with other luxury brands in terms of driver assist systems such as night vision, lane departure and lane keeping systems.

And, as a result of a disagreement over increased costs, Jaguar has switched all of its models from Bowers & Wilkins audios to music systems from Meridian.

We’re not audio experts, but our test of the 386-watt Meridian audio suggested the sound quality is a slight step backwards from the brilliant B&W systems.

Regardless, that sound is filtered through multiple speakers into a cabin that is suitably dressed in generous amounts of leather, slabs of wood veneer and, in our LWB Portfolio test car, suede cloth for the headlining.

If the XJ’s cabin doesn’t match the ultimate impeccability of the rival Audi A8, it still carries a sense of British class with a cool, modern edge.

And if you’re a businessman who prefers to be at the business end of a car’s cabin rather than the back seat, the Jaguar XJ is a leader among limos.

3.0 V6 S/C 5.0 V8 S/C 3.0D Type 3.0-litre V6 supercharged petrol 5.0-litre V8 supercharged petrol 3.0-litre V6 turbocharged diesel Capacity (cc) 2995 5000 2993 Bore/Stroke (mm) 84.5/89 92.5/93 84/90 Peak Power (kW@rpm) 250@6500 375@6000-6500 202@4000 Peak Torque (Nm@rpm) 450@3500-5000 625@2500-5500 600@2000 Transmission ZF Eight-speed automatic Intelligent Stop/Start Yes Yes Yes Final Drive Ratio 2.56:1 2.56:1 2.44:1 0-100km/h (secs) 5.9 4.9 6.4 Top Speed (km/h) 250 (limited)

250 (limited)

250 (limited) Combined Economy 9.6 11.6 6.5 (l/100km) CO2 (g/km) 224 270 171 EDITION 19 March - April 2013

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The Dakar rally The Dakar Rally (or the Paris-Dakar Rally) first took place in 1979 and was organized by Frenchman Thierry Sabine. It is an extreme race, to say the least, that traditionally ran from Paris (France) to Dakar (Senegal). Due to various political disturbances and all out war in some of the countries, the route changes annually. In 2009 it changed drastically, and moved to South America.

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istory

The race originated in 1978, a year after racer Thierry Sabine got lost in the desert and decided that it would be a good location for a regular rally. Originally, the rally was from Paris, France, to Dakar, Senegal, interrupted by a transfer across the Mediterranean. However, due to politics and other factors, the course, including origin and destination, has varied over the years. Dakar has been the destination city on all but four occasions during the period the rally was held in Africa (i.e., prior to 2009). The event started from Paris every year from 1979 to 1994, and also in 1998 and 2001. In 1994 the rally both began and ended in Paris but, due to complaints by the mayor, the finish had to be moved from the Champs-Élysées to Disneyland Paris. This also caused the organisation to lay out the rally through different locations in following years.

Incidents The Dakar Rally, also known as ‘The most dangerous race ever’, never concludes without an incident. We start of with one of the most popular incidents that hit the motoring airwaves in 1982. While competing in the 1980 Le Mans 24 hour endurance race, Mark Thatcher, son of then British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was offered the chance to compete in the Paris-Dakar rally. He agreed but soon forgot all about it. A year and a half later, he received a phone call inviting him to Paris to attend the press launch for the 1982 Paris-Dakar.

He gave it some serious thought and decided he’d do it because he came to the realization that not many people had the opportunity to cross the Sahara in a rally car.

Mark, who was known to be gauche and naïve at best and cocky and arrogant at worst, only did half a day’s testing and the following day he was driving out of The Place de la Concorde in Paris with his French co-driver, Anne-Charlotte Verney and their mechanic, Jacky Garnier in a four-wheel-drive Peugeot 504. This long24

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A car competes during the 10th stage of the Dakar Rally 2013

wheelbase machine would give its crew a rough ride over the bumps.

On 9th January 1982, Thatcher was in a small convoy on the 537 kilometer section to Timeiaouine in southern Algeria when his 504’s rear axle broke free. The rest of the convoy stopped, took note of where they were but erroneously reported that Thatcher’s crew was 25 miles west instead of 25 miles east; after they had completed the stage.

This subsequently resulted in Thatcher, Verney and Garnier being stranded in the Sahara for six days. The Algerian Military were quick to scramble a search party on 12th January after they were officially declared missing. A C-130 Hercules search plane from the Algerian military spotted the white 504 30-50kilometers(depending on sources) off the rally route on 14th January 1982.

The whole crew was unharmed.

During their 6 day ordeal, they survived on drinking 2 polystyrene cups of water a day and eating some dried food that they had in the car. Thatcher described their meals as useless, funny thing it’s what kept them alive.

After her son Mark got lost in the desert competing in the Paris-Dakar rally, Margaret Thatcher shed a rare tear in public.

When it came to paying for his rescue, however, the ‘Iron Lady’ was firmly back in the driving seat and at pains, to ensure she personally, not taxpayers, footed the bill for her hapless off-spring’s misadventure. The Foreign Office calculated their costs for other accommodation, travel, telegrams and telephone calls to be £1,191. In current rates this would be around Ksh 500,000.

Margaret Thatcher shed a tear in public when son Mark went missing in the Algerian desert in 1982.. via the telegrapgh

Mark Thatcher with his co-driver Charlotte Verney after being rescued from being marooned in the Sahara Desert for six days

In a handwritten note dated February 12, 1982, a month after Mark’s rescue, to John Coles, the Prime Minister’s Private Secretary for Overseas Affairs, Mrs Thatcher wrote: ‘I must pay the £1,191.

We can therefore say that no extra cost has fallen on the British taxpayer. To who do I make out the cheque?’ The Foreign Office later revised the total to £1,748.80. Mrs Thatcher duly sent them a cheque for that amount on March 10.

Ever a keen advocate of financial discipline, she requested a ‘receipt please’.

(From mail online by David Wilkes and Claire Ellicott).

Yet on another case, the organiser of the rally, Thierry Sabine, was killed when his Ecureuil helicopter crashed at 07:30 p.m. on Tuesday 14 January 1986, into a dune at Mali during a sudden sand-storm. Also killed onboard was

the singer-songwriter Daniel Balavoine, helicopter pilot François-Xavier Bagnoud, journalist Nathalie Odent and Jean-Paul Lefur who was a radiophonic engineer for RTL. Six people were killed during the 1988 race, three participants and three local residents. In one incident, Baye Sibi, a 10-year-old Malian girl, was killed by a racer while she crossed a road. During the same race, a film crew’s vehicle killed a mother and daughter in Mauritania on the last day of the race. The race participants killed, in three separate crashes, were a Dutch navigator on the DAF Trucks team, a French privateer, and a French rider. Racers were also blamed for starting a wildfire that caused a panic on a train running between Dakar and Bamako, where three more people were killed. >>

Prime Minster Margaret Thatcher’s 28-year-old son Mark, and his co-driver Anne-Charlotte Verney during the 1982 during the Paris to Dakar car rally

Margaret Thatcher insisted on paying nearly £2,000 towards the search for her son after he went missing in the Sahara desert amid concerns of a public backlash over taxpayers’ money being used, newlyreleased files reveal EDITION 19 March - April 2013

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>> In 2003 French driver Daniel Nebot both rolled and crashed his Toyota heavily at high speed killing his codriver Bruno Cauvy. In 2005, Spanish motorcyclist José Manuel Pérez died in a Spanish hospital on a Monday, 10th January after crashing the week before on the 7th stage. Italian motorcyclist Fabrizio Meoni, a two-time winner of the event, became the second Dakar Rally rider to die in two days, following Pérez on 11th January on the 11th stage. Meoni was the 11th motorcyclist and the 45th person overall to die in the history of the race. On January 13, a five-year-old Senegalese girl was hit and killed by a service lorry after wandering onto a main road, bringing the total deaths to five.

In 2006, 41-year-old Australian KTM motorcyclist Andy Caldecott, in his third time in the Dakar, died January 9 as a result of neck injuries sustained in a crash approximately 250 km (260 km) into stage 9, between Nouakchott and Kiffa, only a few kilometers from the location where Meoni had his fatal wreck the year before. Andy had won the third stage of the 2006 event between Nador and Er Rachidia only a few days before his death. The death occurred despite efforts by the event organisers to improve competitor safety, including limiting speed, mandatory rest at fuel stops, and reduced fuel capacity requirements for the bike classes. On the 13th January, a 10-year-old boy died while crossing the course after being hit by a car driven by Latvian Māris Saukāns, while on 14th January a 12-year-old boy was killed after being hit by a support lorry.

In 2007, 29-year-old South African motor racer Elmer Symons died of injuries sustained in a crash during the fourth stage of the Rally. Symons crashed with his bike in the desert between Er Rachidia and Ouarzazate, Morocco. Another death occurred on 20th January, the night before the race’s finish, when 42 year old motorcyclist Eric Aubijoux died suddenly. The cause of death was initially believed to be a heart attack, however it was later suggested that Aubijoux died of internal 26

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In 2006, 41-year-old Australian KTM motorcyclist Andy Caldecott, in his third time in the Dakar, died ... injuries sustained in a crash earlier that day while competing in the 14th stage of the race. Although every year The Dakar takes place tragic incidents occar it has never been cancelled except during 2008 when they had to change the entire route due to security reasons.

In 2008 Dakar Rally cancelled over a terrorist threat. It was cancelled due to security concerns after al-Qaeda’s murder of four French tourists on Christmas Eve in December 2007 in Mauritania (a country in which the rally spends eight days), accusations against the rally calling it “neo-colonialist”, and accusations against Mauritania calling it a supporter of “crusaders, apostates and infidels”. The French based Amaury Sport Organisation in charge of the 6,000-kilometre rally said in a statement that they had been advised by the French government to cancel the race which had been due to begin on 5th January, 2008 from Lisbon.

“Overall about 60 people, including 25 competitors, have died in the Dakar Rally.”

They said direct threats had also been made against the event by al-Qaeda related organisations.

Omar Osama bin Laden, son of Osama bin Laden, attracted news coverage in 2008 by promoting himself as an “ambassador of peace” and proposing a 4,800 km horse race across North Africa as a replacement to the Dakar Rally, with sponsors’ money going to support child victims of war, saying “I heard the rally was stopped because of al-Qaida. I don’t think they are going to stop me.” Story via Wikinews news On 7th January 2009, the body of 49-year-old motorcyclist Pascal Terry from France was found. He had been missing for three days and his body lay on a remote part of the second stage between Santa Rosa de la Pampa and Puerto Madryn.

On 4th January 2010, a woman watching the Dakar Rally was killed when a vehicle taking part in the race veered off the course and hit her during the opening stage.

On 1st January 2012, motorcyclist Jorge Martinez Boero of Argentina died after suffering a cardiac arrest after a fall.

He was treated by medical staff within five minutes of the accident, but died on the way to hospital. 2013 a biker also died during the last stages of the race.

Overall about 61 people, including 25 competitors, have died in the Dakar Rally.

Criticism When the race was held in Africa, it was subject to criticism from several sources, generally focusing on the race’s impact on the inhabitants of the African countries through which it passed.

Some African residents along the race’s course in previous years have said they saw limited benefits from the race; that race participants spent little money on the goods and services local residents can offer. The racers produced substantial amounts of dust along the course, and were blamed for hitting and killing livestock, in addition to occasionally injuring or killing people.

After the 1988 race, when three Africans were killed in collisions with vehicles involved in the race, ‘PANA’, a Dakar-based news agency, wrote that the deaths were “insignificant for the [race’s] organisers”. The Vatican City newspaper L’Osservatore Romano called the race a “vulgar display of power and wealth in places where men continue to die from hunger and thirst.” During a 2002 protest at the race’s start in Arras, France, a Green Party of France statement described the race as “colonialism that needs to be eradicated”.

The rally was also criticised before 2000 for crossing through the disputed territory of Western Sahara, without the approval of the Polisario Front, which considers itself the representative of the Sahrawi people. After the race officials gained formal permission from the Polisario from 2000 onwards this ceased to be an issue.

The environmental impact of the race has been another area of criticism. This criticism of the race is notably the topic of the song “500 connards sur la ligne de départ” (“500 Assholes at the Starting Line”), on the album Marchand de cailloux by French singer Renaud.

According to recent figures provided by the Dakar Rally, the carbon emissions of the two-week race are approximately equivalent to a Formula One race.

Rally cars may destroy or stunt the growth of plants which fixate the soil, particularly in sandy regions. Due to the >>

Results of all the Cars Year Driver and Co-driver / Car 2013 Stephane PETERHANSEL (FRA) / Jean-Paul COTTRET (FRA), Mini Countryman All 4 2012 Stephane PETERHANSEL (FRA) / Jean-Paul COTTRET (FRA), Mini Countryman All 4 2011 Nasser AL-ATTIYAH (QAT) / Timo GOTTSCHALK (GER), Volkswagen Touareg 3 2010 Carlos SAINZ (SPA) / Lucas CRUZ (SPA), Volkswagen Touareg 2 2009 Giniel De VILLIERS (SAF) / Dirk Von ZITZEWITZ (GER), Volkswagen Touareg 2007 Stephane PETERHANSEL (FRA) / Jean-Paul COTTRET (FRA), Pajero/Montero Evo 2006 Luc ALPHAND (FRA) / Gilles PICARD (FRA), Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero Evo 2005 Stephane PETERHANSEL (FRA) / Jean-Paul COTTRET (FRA), Pajero/Montero Evo 2004 Stephane PETERHANSEL (FRA) / Jean-Paul COTTRET (FRA), Pajero/Montero Evo 2003 Hiroshi MASUOKA (JAP) / Andreas SCHULZ (GER), Pajero/Montero Evo 2002 Hiroshi MASUOKA (JAP) / Pascal MAIMON (FRA), Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero 2001 Jutta KLEINSCHMIDT (GER) / Andreas SCHULZ (GER), Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero 2000 Jean-Louis SCHLESSER (FRA) / Henri MAGNE (FRA), Schlesser- Renault Megane 1999 Jean-Louis SCHLESSER (FRA) / Philippe MONNET (FRA), Schlesser-Renault Megane 1998 Jean-Pierre FONTENAY (FRA) / Gilles PICARD (FRA), Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero 1997 Kenjiro SHINOZUKA (JAP) / Henri MAGNE (FRA), Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero 1996 Pierre LARTIGUE (FRA) / Michel PERIN (FRA), Citroen ZX Rallye Raid Evo5 1995 Pierre LARTIGUE (FRA) / Michel PERIN (FRA), Citroen ZX Rallye Raid Evo4 1994 Pierre LARTIGUE (FRA) / Michel PERIN (FRA), Citroen ZX Rallye Raid Evo3 1993 Bruno SABY (FRA) / Dominique SERIYES (FRA), Mitsubishi Pajero 1992 Hubert AURIOL (FRA) / Philippe MONNET (FRA), Mitsubishi Pajero 1991 Ari VATANEN (FIN) / Bruno BERGLUND (SWE), Citroen ZX Rallye Raid 1990 Ari VATANEN (FIN) / Bruno BERGLUND (SWE), Peugeot 405 T16 1989 Ari VATANEN (FIN) / Bruno BERGLUND (SWE), Peugeot 405 T16 1988 Juha KANKKUNEN (FIN) / Juha PIIRONEN (FIN), Peugeot 205 Turbo 1987 Ari VATANEN (FIN) / Bernard GIROUX (FRA), Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 Grand Raid 1986 Rene METGE (FRA) / Dominique LEMOYNE (FRA), Porsche 959 1985 Patrick ZANIROLI (FRA) / Jean DA SILVA (FRA), Mitsubishi Pajero 1984 Rene METGE (FRA) / Dominique LEMOYNE (FRA), Porsche 911 4x4 1983 Jacky ICKX (BEL) / Claude BRASSEUR (FRA), Mercedes 280 GE 1982 Claude MARREAU (FRA) / Bernard MARREAU (FRA), Renault 20 Turbo 1981 Rene METGE (FRA) / Bernard GIROUX (FRA), Range Rover 1980 Freddy KOTULINSKY (SWE) / Fred LUFFELMAN (SWE), Volkswagen Iltis 1979 GENESTIER (FRA) / TERBIAUT (FRA) / LEMORDANT (FRA), Range Rover (4th overall)

Photo: Car No 302 Mini Stéphane Peterhansel and Jean-Paul Cottret EDITION 19 March - April 2013

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>> eroding action of the vehicles on the predetermined track (which can destroy plants and loosens the soil), it may promote desertification in the ribbon of land they race on.

2014 Dakar Rally For the sixth year in a row, the Dakar Rally will race in South America, though the iconic rally race is mixing things up, and is dropping its route through Peru for one that includes Bolivia instead.

The Dakar will keep Argentina and Chile on its 2014 course schedule, and the two countries will comprise the majority of the race’s torturous test of its competitors.

The 2014 Dakar Rally will have longer special stages, as well as several marathon stages (stages where only the competitor can do mechanical work on his/

her machine, not the mechanics). Taking riders and drivers though Argentina’s northwest canyons and sandy valleys, it should be an especially grueling edition of the historic race.

With KTM announcing an investment in its future, signing Kurt Caselli to join Marc Coma and Ruben Faria to its Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team, fivetime winner Cyril Despres has yet to announce where he will be racing next season (if at all).

Smart money is put down on the Frenchman defecting to Honda, as HRC made a strong factory showing in the 2013 edition of the Dakar Rally, and is now ready to put some top-talent on its HRC prepped Honda CRF450 Rally race bike. Coma vs. Despres on different machinery — just what The Dakar needed. 2014 should be a good race.

Results of all the Trucks Year 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1988 1987 1986 Benz 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 28

Name of Driver and type of truck Eduard NIKOLAEV (RUS), Kamaz Gerald DE ROOY (HOL), Iveco Vladimir CHAGIN (RUS), Kamaz Vladimir CHAGIN (RUS), Kamaz Firdaus KABIROV (RUS), Kamaz Hans STACEY (HOL), Man Vladimir CHAGIN (RUS), Kamaz Firdaus KABIROV (RUS), Kamaz Vladimir CHAGIN (RUS), Kamaz Vladimir CHAGIN (RUS), Kamaz Vladimir CHAGIN (RUS), Kamaz Karel LOPRAIS (CZE), Tatra Vladimir CHAGIN (RUS), Kamaz Karel LOPRAIS (CZE), Tatra Karel LOPRAIS (CZE), Tatra Johann-Peter REIF (AUT), Hino Viktor MOSKOVSKIKH (RUS), Kamaz Karel LOPRAIS (CZE), Tatra Karel LOPRAIS (CZE), Tatra Francesco PERLINI (ITA), Perlini Francesco PERLINI (ITA), Perlini Jacques HOUSSAT (FRA), Perlini VILLA (ITA), Perlini Karel LOPRAIS (CZE), Tatra Jan DE ROOY (HOL), DAF Giacomo VISMARA (ITA), MercedesJost CAPITO (GER), Mercedes-Benz LALLEU (FRA), Mercedes-Benz George GROINE (FRA), Mercedes-Benz George GROINE (FRA), Mercedes-Benz VILLETTE (ALM/ACMAT) ATAQUAT (ALG), Sonacome EDITION 19 March - April 2013

The Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero/Shogun depending on where you live has won the Dakar Rally 7 times in a row from 20012007. The Mitsubishi Pajero also has 12 wins total, making it the most winning car thus far in the Dakar Rally

Results of all the Bikes Year 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979

1 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 4 3 1 3 1 12 1 1 3 4 92 1 30 80 92 100 83 95 95 101 101 100 95 100 50 12

Name of Rider and Bike Cyril DESPRES (FRA), KTM 450 Rally Cyril DESPRES (FRA), KTM 450 Rally Marc COMA (SPA), KTM 450 Rally Cyril DESPRES (FRA), KTM 690 Rally Marc COMA (SPA), KTM 690 Rally Cyril DESPRES (FRA), KTM 690 Rally Marc COMA (SPA), KTM LC4 660R Cyril DESPRES (FRA), KTM LC4 660R Nani ROMA (SPA), KTM LC4 660R Richard SAINCT (FRA), KTM LC4 660R Fabrizio MEONI (ITA), KTM LC8 950R Fabrizio MEONI (ITA), KTM LC4 660R Richard SAINCT (FRA), BMW F650RR Richard SAINCT (FRA), BMW F650RR Stephane PETERHANSEL (FRA), Yamaha YZE850T Stephane PETERHANSEL (FRA), Yamaha YZE850T Edi ORIOLI (ITA), Yamaha YZE850T Stephane PETERHANSEL (FRA), Yamaha YZE850T Edi ORIOLI (ITA), Cagiva Elefant 900 Stephane PETERHANSEL (FRA), Yamaha YZE850T Stephane PETERHANSEL (FRA), Yamaha YZE850T Stephane PETERHANSEL (FRA), Yamaha YZE750T Edi ORIOLI (ITA), Cagiva Elefant 900 Gilles LALAY (FRA), Honda NXR750V Edi ORIOLI (ITA), Honda NXR750V Cyril NEVEU (FRA), Honda NXR750V Cyril NEVEU (FRA), Honda NXR750V Gaston RAHIER (BEL), BMW GS980R Gaston RAHIER (BEL), BMW GS980R Hubert AURIOL (FRA), BMW GS980R Cyril NEVEU (FRA), Honda XL500R Hubert AURIOL (FRA), BMW GS800R Cyril NEVEU (FRA), Yamaha XT500 Cyril NEVEU (FRA), Yamaha XT500

France’s Despres and Peterhansel celebrate on the podium after they won the fifth South American edition of the Dakar rally 2013

2014 Dakar Rally Route Replaces Peru with Bolivia 2014 dakar rally route map

Robby Gordon of the U.S. inspects France’s Guerlain Chicherit’s SMG before the start of the 14th and last stage of the Dakar Rally 2013

Argentina’s Gaston Gonzalez rides his Honda quad during the 11th stage of the Dakar Rally 2013

Portugal’s Paulo Goncalves rides his Husqvarna during the 13th stage of the Dakar Rally 2013

Spain’s Barreda and France’s Despres compete during the 12th stage of the Dakar Rally 2013

France’s Pascal Thomasse, co-pilot Pascal Larroque and Dakar director Etienne Lavigne are helped by a helicopter to take out their Buggy MD Rallye which was stuck in a river following a flash flood

Mechanics work on the Hummer of Robby Gordon of the U.S. following the 12th stage of the Dakar Rally 2013

A helicopter lifts a motorcycle after the rider was blocked by a river following a flash flood during the 11th stage of the Dakar Rally 2013

Peru’s Vellutino rides his KTM the 9th stage of the Dakar Rally 2013

Mastromatteo and co-pilot Aliaga are seen stuck in river following flash flood during Dakar Rally 2013

Motorcyclists compete during the 12th stage of the Dakar Rally 2013

EDITION 19 March - April 2013

29

ASK THE MECH

Tips for driving in the rain

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n stormy conditions, it is more difficult to see other vehicles, road signs and the road itself. It is critical to make sure you can see and be seen.

First and foremost: slow down! It takes longer to stop or adjust in wet weather.

Stay toward the middle lanes - water tends to pool in the outside lanes.

Maintain proper following distance (3 Second Rule from the car infront). This needs to be increased in wet weather.

Drive in the tracks of a car ahead of you.

Don’t follow large trucks or busses too closely. The spray created by their large tires reduces your vision. Take care when passing them as well; if you must pass, do so quickly and safely.

Be more alert when driving in wet or slippery conditions. Watch out for brake lights in front of you.

Avoid using your brakes; if possible, take your foot off the accelerator to slow down.

Turn your headlights on even in light rain, or in gloomy, foggy or overcast conditions. Not only do they help you see the road, but they’ll help other drivers see you. If your car has daytime running lights you still should put them on, so vehicles ahead and behind you can see you better.

Before the rainy seasons, please make sure you replace old or brittle wipers.

Avoid off-road driving: it’s hard to judge the actual depth of puddles and you can easily become stuck, even in an SUV. Never drive beyond the limits of visibility. At night rainy roads become especially treacherous. The glare of oncoming lights, amplified by the rain on your windscreen, can cause temporary loss of visibility while substantially increas-

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ing driver fatigue. In rainy conditions pedestrians, livestock, and wildlife are extremely hard to spot and even harder to avoid.

Never drive through moving water if you can’t see the ground through it; your car could be swept off the road.

When driving through a puddle of uncertain depth, go slow. If it’s deeper than the bottom of your doors, turn around and find another route. Deep water can cause serious damage to a modern car’s electrical system.

Avoid splashing water on pedestrians, it’s rude and dangerous to the pedestrian.

If possible, stay off the road during heavy thunderstorms. Large flashes of lightning can temporarily blind and disorient drivers, and the accompanying high winds and heavy rain can create deadly driving conditions.

Slow down! This should be obvious but it also very important. People are so used to driving certain speeds on certain roads that sometimes they forget the need to slow down when inclement weather presents itself.

Before you go - Wet-weather driving demands gentle use of all the main controls - steering, clutch, brake and accelerator - and a larger allowance for errors and emergencies. When you begin a journey in rain, your shoes will be wet and liable to slip off the pedals. Scuff the soles on the rubber matting or carpeting of the car before you start the engine. All motorists should regularly check that their headlights, tail lights, brake lights and turn signals are working properly. Although Kenyan motorists don’t take this very seriously, which they should!

How are your tires? - Check your tires on a regular basis. Bald tires significantly reduce your traction on wet roadways, and offer little resistance to hydroplan-

ing. When your tires run over water, the water is displaced and it needs somewhere to go quickly. The best place is between the treads of your tires. If your tires are bald, the water has no place to go and you end up riding on a layer of water, like a boat.

Replace your wipers regularly, at least once a year. Wiper blades in bad condition don’t clear water from the windshield very well and distort your view.

Older vehicles may need to have the whole wiper arm replaced. The arms bend over time and sometimes can’t keep enough downward pressure to clear the windscreen, even with new blades installed. Wipers will often clear light rain from the windscreen with a few sweeps, then run on an almost-dry screen and leave smears of drying dirt. Don’t be afraid to use the windscreen washers liberally: the fluid is cheap and the safety benefit is high.

Heavy rain - Heavy rain can overload the wiper blades, allowing an almost continuous sheet of water to flow over the screen. When visibility is so limited that the edges of the road or other vehicles cannot be seen at a safe distance, it is time to pull over and wait for the rain to ease up. It is best to stop at rest areas or other protected areas. If the roadside is your only option, pull off as far as possible, preferably past the end of a guard rail, and wait until the storm passes and please make sure your harzards are on, seldom more than a few minutes. Keep your headlights on and turn on emergency flashers to alert other drivers. Locally ‘Matatus‘ have this idea of mixing water and washing detergents to help when their wipers dont function. Well we have not tried this yet but it would be better to make sure your wipers are always on perfect working condition.

Foggy windows - Rain or high humidity can quickly cause windows to mist up inside the car. In a car equipped with air conditioning, turn up the heat and direct the airflow to your defrosters with the AC switch engaged. (Many cars automatically engage the AC when switched to the defrost mode.) In a car without AC the procedure is the same, but you may need to open your side windows to get the air moving. Most modern cars have a built-in rear window defroster that easily clears a misted rear windscreen by heating up electrodes embedded in the glass. If you don’t have one, put your defroster on high and its hot air will eventually follow the inside of the roof down to the rear window. If the car has swiveling dashboard vents, adjust them so that the air flow strikes the upper edge of the side windows. The airflow will clear the side windows first, finally traveling to the rear of the car. If all else fails, a rag or article of clothing will work as well; you’ll just need to clear the window more often. Drivers should regularly clean their windshield and windows, both on the inside and outside, to help them see in good and bad weather. Smokers need to take extra care to make sure their interior windows are clear of a buildup of smoke residue.

Handling a skid - Losing control of your car on wet pavement is a frightening experience. You can prevent skids by driving slowly and carefully, especially on curves. Brake before entering the curves. tunnels etc, Steer and brake with a light touch. If you find yourself in a skid, remain calm, ease your foot off the gas, and carefully steer in the direction you want the front of the car to go. This procedure, known as “steering into the skid,” will bring the back end of your car in line with the front. For cars without anti-lock brakes, avoid using your brakes. If your car has ABS, brake firmly as you “steer into the skid.”

Expressway driving - Leave lots of space between you and the car in front because it takes longer to stop. You’re supposed to leave a few seconds between cars in

dry weather. Make sure you add space in wet weather because if you have to hit the brakes hard, your tires will lock up, you will hydroplane and you will most likely hit the car in front of you. If available, drive in the fast lane, where there are fewer cars and less oil deposited on the road. Also, because of the built-in slope of the road, water drains towards the slower lanes. Avoid lane changes, as water tends to build up between the tire ruts in the lanes.

Oily deposits - Watch for intersections because of the oil spots in the road. Rain is most dangerous when it falls after a long, dry spell on to roads that have become polished and smooth: the rain blends with oil and rubber-dust deposits on the road surface to form a highly dangerous skid mixture. That mixture builds up at intersections, where cars stop and start frequently. Be extra careful immediately after it starts raining because it takes a while for the worst of the dirt and oil to get washed off the road.

Driving Through Water - Where water has flooded onto the road, drive very slowly and cautiously. Never drive through moving water if you can’t see the ground through it: you and your car could be swept off the road, possibly finishing you both. Stop the car before entering the flooded area and check the water level ahead. Generally, if the water is deeper than the bottom of your doors or the bottom third of your wheels, it is inadvisable to attempt driving through it. Seek a detour rather than braving the flood and risking damage to your electronic control systems. Attempting to go through deep water can ruin any of these systems, creating a crazy repair bill.

At night it’s much harder to see water hazards. You’ll need good road observational skills to notice the difference between a wet road surface and flood water. Watch the contours not only of the road but also of fences, trees, hedges and buildings at the side of the road ahead. If they appear to be unnaturally low, slow down at once as the road is probably flooded. If you don’t slow down and hit

flood water at speed, the effect is almost like hitting a wall: you will first lose control, then come to a violent stop, possibly injuring your passengers as well.

If you determine it’s safe to go on, proceed slowly and avoid making large waves in the water.

What to do if you stall in deep water - If possible, have someone pull your vehicle out using a tow rope or cable winch. It may be possible to drive a manual transmission car out using the starter motor.

You can make the job easier by removing your spark-plugs, thereby lowering your compression and making your starter turn more easily. Take great care not to let water enter the cylinders, as it will hydro-lock your engine, ruining it. This is a last resort for rescuing a flooded vehicle and is not recommended.

Check your brakes - If you successfully pass through a deep water hazard, test your brakes. They may be saturated, and only driving very slowly and braking lightly at the same time will generate enough heat to dry them out. Be sure they are pulling evenly on all wheels before building up speed again.

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NEW CAR REVIEWS

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2013 Santa Fe

f it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Whether it’s a friendly Nigerian prince offering you the deal of a lifetime, a free Apple iPad or a delicious zero-calorie dessert, these opportunities are illusions. But if someone tells you about a crossover utility that offers a decent amount of luxury, tons of features, and also does so without breaking the bank, you can actually take them at their word. Well, if they’re talking about the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe, that is.

Capping off what has been an epic march up the rankings for Hyundai, the redesigned Santa Fe adopts the company’s “fluidic sculpture” design with favorable results. For the first time, Hyundai is also offering two models of this crossover. The Santa Fe now features a third row of seats, increasing the passenger count to seven and effectively replacing the outgoing Hyundai Veracruz. But if you see little need for that sort of capacity, you’re in luck, as 34

EDITION 19 March - April 2013

Hyundai also offers the slightly shorter, five-passenger Santa Fe Sport.

Under the hood, Santa Fe Sport buyers have the choice of either a 2.4-liter petrol four-cylinder or a more powerful, turbocharged 2.0-liter four cylinder petrol. Given the choice between a marginal gain in fuel economy versus a significant boost in output, the turbo is the engine of choice.

Whichever version you choose, you’ll no doubt appreciate the cabin’s clean and modern design, admirable materials, intuitive controls and extensive number of standard and optional features.

There are some very desirable choices for a crossover SUV this year. The Suzuki Vitara, Kuga and Honda CR-V are all excellent choices for a five-passenger model, while the slightly bigger Kia Sorento is a standout for seven-passenger seating. Overall, though, we think the Santa Fe easily deserves its place among this top-tier group.

In the case of the 2013 Hyundai Santa

Fe, you really can believe the hype.

Body Styles, Trim, and Options The Hyundai Santa Fe is a six or seven passenger SUV that is available in limited trim levels. The smaller Santa Fe Sport seats five and is offered in base and 2.0T trims.

Standard features on the base Sport model include 19-inch alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, cruise control, a trip computer, full power accessories, air-conditioning, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, cloth upholstery, 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats, Bluetooth phone connectivity, Hyundai’s Blue Link telematics system and a six-speaker audio system with CD player, satellite radio and USB/iPod integration.

To this, the optional Popular Equipment package can be added, which includes automatic headlights, foglights, heated mirrors, roof rack rails, a leatherwrapped steering wheel, heated front seats and an eight-way power-adjustable driver seat (with power lumbar sup-

port).

The Sport 2.0T adds all of the above, along with a more powerful turbocharged engine, 19-inch wheels, an upgraded gauge cluster and information display and keyless ignition/entry.

The Santa Fe GLS is similar in feature content to the base Sport model, but gains a longer wheelbase, a V6 engine and 50/50 split-folding third-row seats.

Also added are 18-inch wheels, foglights and sliding second-row seats.

Some features are offered as options on supporting trims as part of bundled packages. Most notably, a navigation system is offered on all trims and is also paired with an 8-inch touchscreen display, a rearview camera and a premium sound system. A panoramic sunroof is available on all but the GLS. All trims can be optioned with a heated steering wheel. Finally, a blind-spot monitoring system is only available on the Limited.

On the road The 2.4-litre petrol however (available only in Active models), is a bit crude and outclassed in this category.

Although utilising the latest in direct injection (GDi) technology, and producing a healthy-enough 141kW @ 6300rpm and maximum torque of 242Nm @ 4250rpm, it feels lifeless underfoot and is a bit ‘buzzy’ at higher revs.

It might work better with the manual transmission, but mating a hardworking 2.4 litres to the six-speed auto makes things a bit fidgety and unsettled.

The potent 2.2-litre diesel engine, available to all models, is such a good unit you have to wonder why Hyundai bothered with the petrol. Although the disel version may never be sold in Kenya due to the quality of diesel we use.

On either side of the driving spectrum, the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe has the potential to impress. As a leisurely commuter and kid shuttle, the ride is luxuriously compliant and the cabin remains whisper-quiet, even at highway speeds.

On winding mountain passes, the Santa Fe’s optional AWD system directs power to individual wheels (or conversely, applies a brake to a specific corner), blessing it with a surefootedness that is uncommon among crossover SUVs that don’t have a luxury badge.

Safety Standard safety features for all 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe models include antilock disc brakes, traction and stability control, front-seat side airbags, side curtain airbags, front-seat active head restraints, and hill hold and descent control. Also standard is Blue Link, Hyundai’s emergency telematics system that provides services such as remote access, emergency assistance, theft recovery and geo-fencing.

Suzuki Escudo Suzuki has quietly unveiled a facelifted Escudo (aka Grand Vitara) in Japan. Modestly updated, the model gains a replacement front bumper, a revised grille and tinted headlights.

Out back, the spare tire has been jettisoned from the tailgate and presumably relocated beneath the vehicle. In Japan, the model is powered by a a pair of.4-liter engine that produces 166 PS (122 kW / 164 hp) and 225 Nm (166 lb-ft) of torque. It may be connected to a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission. Additionally, all-wheel drive is optional.

Interior and Special Features It’s difficult to fault this interior. For ergonomics, feature list and style, it’s among the better in the segment and packs value that very few can match.

With a soft-touch dash, nicely matched textures, and tight alignment of trim panels, there is a snug feel to the Santa Fe and a sense that there’s been no scrimping on quality.

In conclusion Yes, you should probably buy a brand new Hyundai Santa Fe. Despite certain ongoing issues, the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe remains a top content, styling and performance contender in the cheapest price range of its class.

Honda CRV

Despite the increased ride comfort, the CR-V remains one of the most keen-handling SUVs in the class. It isn’t soggy like the Subaru Forester and Mitsubishi Outlander, nor harsh and bouncy like the Sportage and ix35 cousins. Instead, it feels agile at the front end. Brake deep into the corner, and it’s possible to feel the rear shift slightly to help with front-end point.

Most impressively, the stability control completely trusts the chassis; the electronics understand that inherent suspension composure is the first line of active-safety defence.

EDITION 19 March - April 2013

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NEW CAR REVIEWS

Article by Kimaru Trakman

Sebastian Ogier won the 2013 Rally Mexico in spectacular fashion. The Frenchman dominated the event winning 16 of the 23 stages in his VW Polo R WRC. He won the event by close to three and a half minutes. This was the first test for the Polo on gravel and it passed with flying colours. The Polo has proved quick on all the surfaces run on the WRC and the future is bright for the German team. “We have to take each one as it comes. The start of the season was perfect for us, the car was perfect for us. Very happy.” Ogier said after the rally Finn Mikko Hirvonnen finished second in his Citroen DS3 WRC after Mads Ostberg who was running in second retired due to a broken alternator.

Mads was gutted by the retirement because he was hot on the heels of Ogier.

Mikko was happy to accept second

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on this occasion. Mikko admitted that Citroen are off the pace but was happy with the result non the less. “Of course, I’m happy to get my first podium of this year but Sebastian was so fast and we couldn’t match his pace. Okay, we have lots of work to do but I’m happy we’ve finally got on the podium and taken a solid result.”

In 3rd place was Belgian Thierry Neuville who got his first ever podium in the Ford Fiesta WRC. The jubilant Neuville enjoyed the moment of glory which was well earned “I am very pleased, especially we learned a lot. In the morning we tried to push and it went wrong but we are still there. I think we did a good job and we can be proud of this. We make another step. We are ready to go forward.”

Dani Sordo the second Citroen fac-

tory driver finished in fourth , Olympic Medalist and Dakar winner Nasser AlAttiyah finished in 5th, Chris Atkinson 6th , Ken Block finished in 7th, his best result so far. Local Benito Guerra Jr finished in 8th Martin Propok 9th and Evgeniy Novikov wrapped up the top ten.

In an interesting statistic, in the WRC caterogry, the top 12 finishers were all from different countries.

In the manufacturers standings the table is as follows: 1: Citroen Abu Dhabi WRT 87 2: Volkswagen Motorsport 81 3: Qatar M-Sport WR 37 4: Qatar World Rally Team 35 5: Abu Dhabi Citroen WRT 25 The next rally is the battle of Iberia, we move to Portugal to see if Citroen can pick up the pace or it will be a hat trick of wins for VW.

Article by Kimaru Trakman

Top Photo: Ogier in Mexico Middle : Ogier with his co-driver after completing Mexico at first place Bottom: Ken Block on the right

WRC3 is the official game for the 2012 FIA World Rally Championship. It’s available on PlayStation 3, XBOX 360 and PC.Made by Milestone and distributed by Ubisoft like the previous two installations, the framework of the game is pretty much the same. You have two game modes to choose from. The WRC Experience which you can either play the entire 2012 season, a single rally or even a single stage. There is also the Road To Glory which is the career mode. You start out as a little know driver and you make your way up to the top where you will compete against the best The game’s Road To Glory mode is a bit different from WRC 2. You can’t negotiate with sponsors and with staff hiring which is a bit of a buzz kill. To make the Road To Glory a bit less monotonous WRC3 have put in some other distractions. It doesn’t only have rallying on timed stages but other challenges such as the Gate Contest where random gates pop up as you drive and hitting the wrong gate slows you down. This gives it a Dirt 3 feel. The Dirt 3ness is also reinforced by a limited rewind feature that enables you to rewind the game if you make a mistake.

In the career progression you get reputation points according to the position you finish and there are ‘Ability’ points you get for doing drifts, driving on two wheels, jumps etc. Your main aim in the career mode is to beat all the seven rising stars from seven different geographical regions in head to head battles and at the end of it all you will have a major show down with the best. Different Road To Glory events have different rules on the type of cars you could use, from the 70’s classics to the all-powerful Group B cars, the 90s cars, the 2000s cars and the

modern WRC cars. This is great because you get a variety of cars to choose from but really sucks because you don’t get to spend enough time in one car thus mastering the different handling traits of all of the, you don’t get to know which set up to use on which surfaces WRC3 has a wide variety of cars to choose from but whichever on whichever surface you’re driving on there is one problem, handling. All the cars from the 2wd cars to the WRC cars feel very light and the navigator’s voice male or female has a very boring monotonous tone.

Sometimes the pace notes he is reading out and the direction symbols on the screen are totally different.

Once you go higher up the ranks and get to unlock more cars you start to enjoy the game. The WRC Cars are the Citroen DS3, the Ford Fiesta RS, and the Mini John Cooper Works and there is also the VW POLO R test car which is abit underpowered compared to the other factory cars. The 70’s cars are just the Mini Cooper, the Peugeot 504 and the Ford Escort. They DON’T have the almighty Lancia Stratos. In the 80’s group B cars the left out the iconic Audi Quattro.

All in all to the casual rally fan it’s an okay video game but die hard rally fans might find it a bit disappointing

EDITION 19 March - April 2013

37

TECH TOYS

2013 Honda Accord, Acura RDX and ILX to Offer Apple’s Siri Later this year, Honda will integrate the iPhone’s Siri artificial assistant into the 2013 Accord, as well as the 2013 RDX and ILX from the automaker’s Acura luxury division. If you have an iPhone 4S or iPhone 5 running the latest operating system, Siri can read incoming text messages, respond to texts and emails, add calendar appointments, check the weather, give sports scores or stock quotes, find points of interest, announce turn-by-turn directions or make a phone call over the car’s Bluetooth system just by pressing the steeringwheel Bluetooth button for a few moments. It’s all part of Apple’s new Eyes Free mode, which works while your smartphone screen stays dark.

Want to Know Your Blood Alcohol Level?

Breathometer Inc. announced that it has developed the first-ever blood-alcohol-content monitoring device for smartphones. The device, for use with both iPhone and Android phones, is the size of a typical car key and plugs into a smartphone’s headphone jack. When paired with a mobile app, the Breathometer helps drivers decide whether they’ve had too much to drink, according to a statement.

In addition to helping users determine whether their blood alcohol concentration exceeds the legal limit, the Breathometer also helps connect users with alternate transportation options such as a taxi service. The device awaits Food and Drug Administration and patent approval, but the company aims to have it available for sale starting this summer on the company’s website, the Apple App Store and Google Play. It will be $20, including the app.

“Breathometer wasn’t created just to address the risks associated with drinking and driving, but to help people, their friends and family all to make smart and safer choices when consuming alcohol,” said Charles Michael Yim, Breathometer Inc. founder and CEO.

RAC QuickFix GO – Bluetooth Hands free & FM Transmitter Kit QuickFix Go requires no wiring and lets you stream music from your smartphone, iPod, USB stick or SD card to your car stereo using the in-built FM transmitter. You can also make and receive phone calls providing the complete entertainment and communication solution for your car, and you can pop it in your pocket when you’re not using it too.

Handy, useful and clever: what more could you ask for?

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EDITION 19 March - April 2013

iO Play 2 If your car doesn’t already have Bluetooth then this is for you: iO Play2 is a new and innovative in-car music streaming and hands free device with a high contrast removable OLED screen that uses CSR Bluetooth technology to provide high-levels of sound quality and performance. Not only can the iO Play2 can connect and integrate all iPhones, iPods, mobile phones, MP3 players and Sat Nav systems with a vehicle’s existing audio system so drivers and passengers can listen to music stored on any portable device, but it can let them make and receive mobile calls using handsfree as well. In addition, the device offers advanced Text to Speech for every search category including, Songs, Artists, Albums, Podcasts, Audio books, etc.

Hyundai Connectivity Concept turns smartphones into car keys Now here is a novel idea – since “there is an app for everything”, why not expand that horizon with the Hyundai Connectivity Concept? Imagine your smartphone doubling up as your vehicle’s key, now what would make one less thing to remember to bring with you wherever you go, don’t you think so? After all, vehicle manufacturers have been moving in a direction where content from your smartphone is being sent to your vehicle, and with a smartphone, you are able to access navigation, music, text messaging and other phone functions from the driver and/or passenger seat. With the Hyundai Connectivity Concept, the South Korean vehicle manufacturer intends to bring things up by another level, allowing you to transfer all of the phone’s content to the car’s touchscreen display wirelessly and throwing in other wireless functions to boot.

Hyundai has named it the Connectivity Concept, being a “technology study” and has a dream of it reaching production within the next three years. In fact, Hyundai has already equipped the conceptual system on a New Generation i30 as part of its demonstration purposes.

The Connectivity Concept hardware will kick off before you even enter the car.

Instead of a hard or electronic key, the Hyundai Connectivity Concept will rely on near-field communications (NFC) to pop the locks of the vehicle open, all you need to do is place the smartphone over an NFC tag on the door, and be prepared to enter.

When you have planted your rear end on the comfortable seat, the smartphone can then slide into a wireless dock that is located in the center console, where the entire slew of its content, ranging from music to phone contacts, and profile settings among others are then streamed to the car’s 7-inch touchscreen.

Samsung Virus Doctor Samsung Virus Doctor is the innovative and best ionizer existing which is introduced of S-Plasma ion technology inside. Owing to Samsung’s up-to-date air care technology, it enhances consumers’ well-being reliably. We were recently given the opportunity to try it during a review of the new BMW 5 series. Being a new idea that will change the motoring sector in Kenya, we were really impressed on how simple and useful this gadget is.

It is also a pleasant addition that complements any interior furnishing, featuring a simple yet luxurious design with touch buttons and lighting.

Protecting against Airborne Viruses Samsung Virus Doctor is the appropriate way to protect ourselves against airborne diseases, defeating the cause of airborne diseases effectively. Besides, BAF (British Allergy Foundation) has approved SPlasma ion’s effectiveness eliminating of allergens. Keeping the air you breathe in the car clean and healthy.

Eliminating Viruses Samsung Virus Doctor eliminates harmful viruses which cause of serious airborne diseases such as Influenza A, subtype H1N1 and even SARS. Many academic research organizations have proven the superior effectiveness up to 99.9% of S-plasma ion. Now you can feel perfectly safe about invisible tiny enemies in the air of your car.

Simple & Smart Design At any place, Samsung Virus Doctor offers finest design with varied colour options. Three major design award have verified its aesthetic value highly. You can see how simple and neat looking it is, coordinates with any places giving a visual delight.

Top Photo: The Samsung Virus Doctor Middle and bottom: The Virus Doctor plugged into the BMW X5 cigarette lighter Intuitive Interface Another forte of Samsung Virus Doctor is its own intuitive interface so you do not have to learn how to use it by reading manuals overnight. Only with a slight touch, it immediately starts to work for your healthier atmosphere.

Free Maintenance Tired of changing filters? You are free from filter replacement with Samsung Virus Doctor. It has its own brush to clean up the filter inside. Enjoy freedom from cleaning and replacement costs!

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TECH TOYS

<< Boost Gauges The humble boost gauge has become a must-have accessory for turbocharged and supercharged cars, it is essential for observing peak boost levels, tuning and general faultfinding. Ksh 8,000

Oil Press Engine oil pressure is important if you are monitoring oil surge while cornering or accelerating, want to make sure that bearing wear isn’t becoming excessive, or - in a worst case scenario - need to confirm that there’s in fact oil in the engine. Ksh 8,000

HKS Turbo Timer Type 0

Motor Monkey in-Car Charger The Motor Monkey is the world’s smallest in-car charger and has been designed so it can be permanently connected in the cigarette lighter without draining your car’s battery. It’s extremely compact and the latest model includes some clever features such as the self-sensing technology which automatically detects the voltage required, meaning it can charge iPads as well as much smaller devices via the USB socket. At £20 it’s pretty good value too.

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Description The HKS Turbo Timer - Type 0 assist in cooling down the turbocharger to prevent oil coking in the center bearing cartridge assembly. Oil “coking” occurs when a turbocharger is not properly cooled down and the oil that normally lubricates the center cartridge heats up and forms solidified oil deposits. A turbo timer allows an engine to idle for a preset amount of time after the ignition key has been turned to the off position and removed. By allowing a turbocharged engine to idle, oil continues to pass through the turbo until it has cooled down to the point where oil “coking” will not occur. Re-designed for 2008, the all new Turbo Timer Type-0 and Type-1 feature a new, slim low profile design with a separate LCD display and control unit following the same design concepts as the current HKS EVC and A/F Knock Amp. The Turbo Timer Type-0 features a red LCD backlit display for easy visibility, 2 timer modes, and a battery voltage meter with a peak value indication and warning function. Ksh 7,000

MotoGP Could Return to Brazil in 2014

Renault Reveals 2014 Formula 1 Power Unit V6

Courtesy of FIA

Courtesy of FIA

Formula One is about to enter a new era after FIA decided to to introduce new engine regulations for the 2014 season, basically eliminating the V8 in favor of a smaller turbocharged V6.

While this season’s competitors have just revealed their updated 2013 single seaters, French company Renault seems to be one step ahead with their all-new 2014 engine design and even decided to reveal some preliminary technical specifications.

With FIA’s new fuel restrictions in mind, Renault has started developing their new energy efficient V6 Power Unit consisting a V6 turbo engine (singe-stage turbocharger) and two electric motors for a joined capacity of 1.6-liters.

According to their latest press release, the unit will have direct fuel injection and an output of over 600 horsepower, while the maximum engine speed is rated at 15,000 rpm, about 16% less than the cur-

rent V8 RS27. Power from the Energy Recovering System will be about 160 HP and available for a five times larger duration every lap (about 30 seconds).

“Improving the energy efficiency of an engine entails transmitting as much of the energy produced as possible to the wheels mechanically and re-using as much of the energy resulting from the fuel’s combustion as possible. The aim of the new regulations is effectively to increase combustion efficiency thanks to the combination of downsizing, turbocharging and the recovery of the energy contained in exhaust heat (ERS- H) and lost as heat under braking (ERS-K) and then re-using this energy as electricity,” said Rob White, Deputy General Manager and Technical Director, Renault Sport F1.

For more information, check Renault’s official press release below.

Firmo Alves, President of the Brazilian Motorcycle Confederation, has mentioned in an interview with local broadcaster SporTV that the MotoGP races could once more be hoste in Brazil starting with 2014.

The last presence in MotoGP in Brazil was in 2004, at Autodromo Jacarepagua, in Rio de Janeiro. However, the circuit has been demolished, making room for the new complex which will host the Olympic Games in the summer of 2016.

One of the possible locations Alves could have possibly thought of is the Interlagos circuit in Sao Paulo. Interlagos hosted a MotoGP race in 1992, but it is unclean whether the track complied with the actual MotoGP regulations. Or maybe there are some serious plans for building a new, top-notch circuit. The Russians are doing so right now.

The country has no representatives in MotoGP, the last Brazilian rider to race a MotoGP bike being Alex Barros (Ducati, 2007). Three spectacular pictures of Barros’ crashing at Phillip Island during the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, in October 2005.

Vettel Wins Malaysian GP, Angers Webber Have you ever heard of a Formula One heist? Then you must have missed Malaysian Grand Prix, where Sebastian Vettel robbed his team-mate Mark Webber in broad daylight.

Driving in second place with only ten laps to go, Vettel ignored team orders, that asked him to stay behind Webber, and decided to overtake his team-mate with a risky maneuver. The German went on to win his 27 grand prix angering both Webber and Red Bull team officials.

Sebastian Vettel was then asked to apologize to his his Aussie team-mate, which he did, but it looks like the feud between the two was fueled up again. Obviously furious, Webber refused to join the postrace celebration, but declined to comment on the incident, saying that he was off to Australia for a short vacation until the next race.

Getting back to the race results, Lewis Hamilton finished in third position, while his Mercedes AMG team-mate

Nico Rosberg took fourth place. Massa, Grosjean, Raikkonen, Hulkenberg, Perez and Vergne snatched the remaining points. Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso had to drop out of the race after just one lap following an accident that wrecked his vehicle beyond repair.

The next Grand Prix will take place on April 14, in China.

EDITION 19 March - April 2013

41

MOTOR SPORTS

Hyundai shows upgraded WRC Courtesy of WRC Hyundai has displayed new updates to its 2014 World Rally Championship challenger at Geneva Motor Show.

A little more than five months after the i20 WRC broke cover at Paris Motor Show, the Korean manufacturer showed a revised version sporting aerodynamic updates and suspension improvements.

A new rear wing and front spoiler give the car a different look, while upgrades have also been made to the suspension kinematics and chassis stiffness.

“We are still in the infancy of our exciting WRC programme so the development curve for the car and team is steep,” explained team principal Michel Nandan. “This latest version of the i20 WRC has centred on aerodynamics with the objective of improving the car’s cooling systems.”

Nandan has recruited key technical, logistics and motorsports specialists for the new Hyundai Motorsport operation in Alzenau, Germany, and the squad will soon begin more intensive testing.

“Building up a new motorsport facility from scratch is an ambitious and rewarding challenge. We have begun the recruitment process but already have a number of key people in place who bring with them a wealth of rally and motorsport experience,” he said.

“We are rapidly building up the team infrastructure and are pleased that every-

thing is running to schedule.

“Our ultimate goal is to be victorious but we know that we have a lot of tough competition ahead of us. We will use this year to lay the solid foundations but hope to advance quickly as 2014 approaches,” added Nandan.

The i20 WRC was resplendent in a redesigned livery which blends Hyundai’s corporate blue with characters from the native Korean script, Hunminjeongeum.

2013 CBA AFRICA CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE Courtesy of KMSF

The television programme premiere and the launch of the Regulations for the 2013 CBA Africa Concours d’Elegance will be held on Wednesday February 20th at 6.30. p.m. in the Panafric Hotel.

The key note speech at this popular social and motoring function will be delivered by Jeremy Ngunze, the CBA Chief Executive Officer, Kenya, following brief comments on the Regulations by Maina Muturi, the Vice President of the FIM, AFRICA and Bob Dewar, the Event Director.

The highlight of the evening will be the first showing of the TV programme which will be projected on a large screen.

Afterwards there will be a draw giving competitors who have submitted their Concours entries on, or before Wednesday February 20th the opportunity 42

EDITION 19 March - April 2013

to win one of the three lucky prizes of 20,000 shillings each.

REGULATIONS FOR THE 2013 CBA AFRICA CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE The Regulations for the 2013 CBA Africa Concours d’Elegance have been approved by the Kenya Motor Sport Federation (KMSF) and work is underway to design and print the booklets and entry forms in readiness for the official launch on February 20th.

The Regulations and entry form have already been posted on the event website (www.concourskenya.com)

and photocopies are available from the Concours office, Bob Dewar Publicity, Second Floor, Block G, Norfolk Towers, Kijabe Street.

JANE NJOROGE -- CO-ORDINATOR -- CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE LUCY MUNGAI -- SECRETARY -- CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE BOB DEWAR -- CHAIRMAN -ALFA ROMEO OWNERS CLUB

Vitz drivers take good homoured banter to the next level Courtesy of Sam Ateka (KMSF) Toyota Vitz has been perceived by many to be a lass kind of car, but not until last season when Victor Okundi of Mombasa and his Nairobi based adversary Sammy Nyorri became the first group- on Kenyan soil -to convert the small “baby” contraption into rally machines.

There has been some good-humoured rivalry as Nyorri and Okundi have constantly banterred over who comes out tops.

The duo has always looked forward to fighting every inch of the way in the gravel each event.

“This season we look forward to less technical glitches. We intend to spend more time practising so that we can be able to push the “Squirrel” (or Quatulu as the car is referred to as) harder than would be expected. The only downside on our Vitzs is suspension travel.

But we have dedicated a lot more time on suspension issues given that 2WD is a budget class, so to me, spending Ksh. 400,000 on one component is unrealistic, in the sense that this amount can buy a whole Vitz car. So we keep improvising on suspensions and they have served us better. During Guru Nanak, for instance, suspensions came back intact. We only broke the torsion bar the moment we sat in the dust of one of the competitors. Now we have eliminated that torsion bar and made the rear suspension be independent,” expounded Okundi.

After a number of upgrades, Nyorri and Okundi are now looking beyond their much-fancied rivalry and contemplate drawing fresh battle lines with the rest of the 2WD field.

“We are only worried about (Dennis) Mwenda and Adnan (Suhail). Victor

Photo: has never beaten me and I don’t think he will ever,” banterred Nyorri, adding: “We had good shocks in Kajiado and are getting better ones soon so I don’t think he stands a chance.”

Although Okundi refuses to let go of their Vitz banter time and time again, he has no particular crew in mind and he intends to win a few sections on the Vitz this season!

“One on one with Nyorri, and no glitches, he’ll see dust this time round! Yes, its gonna be interesting, I assure you. I must now change to a more aggressive approach-though its not easy as our engines lose power at high altitude, like in Nyeri and Iten, because air is thinner up there. Its only because on hilly sections we Vitz drivers have an advantage over topspeed but lack the torque,” Okundi explains.

Their good-humoured banter has compelled some Two Wheel competi-

tors to upgrade to newer versions of Toyota because they are competitive.

This include Carole Gatimu and Dennis Mwenda who has since upgraded to a Toyota Sprinter GT. “Last Safari at CS 2, we got stuck in mud with Nyorri and our on-board shows approximately 14 minutes lost which in that section alone. We would have been behind Adnan by 2 seconds. But then again its a wouldhave-been scenario- but we observed.

So yes, we can take them on!” Okundi bragged.

EDITION 19 March - April 2013

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MOTOR SPORTS

K.M.S.F.L. MOTORSPORT KENYA Final 2013 MOTORSPORT CALENDAR - AS AT 18.3.2013 SAT-SUN

PROPOSED CLUBS

KCB KNRC

AUTOX MOTOX ENDURO

RAID

TRIALS

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

FIA AFRICAN RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP AND OTHERS

JAN 05-06

KMSF ANNUAL AWARDS 2012

JAN 12-13 JAN 19-20 JAN 26-27 FEB 02-03 FEB 09-10 FEB 16-17

EAMSC KMSC EAMSC RSC

MX 1

KNRC 1

KCB KAJIADO RALLY ENDURO 1 RAID 1

RVMSC/EAMSC

AUTOX 1

TRIALS 1

FEB 23-24 MAR 02-03 MAR 09-10 MAR 16-17 MAR 23-24

ARC 1 - Rally Bandama Cote D'Ivoire*/FIM Africa - Central Africa Challenge Rd 1 Ken

EAMSC KMSC

MX 2 AUTOX 2

Easter

MAR 30-31 APR 06-07 APR 13-14 APR 20-21 APR 27-28 MAY 04-05 MAY 11-12 MAY 18-19 MAY 25-26

RSC EAMSC RVMSC SUC EAMSC EASRL RVMSC KMSC

JUN 01-02

JUN 22-23

RVMSC NRG EAMSC

JUN 29-30

RSC/EAMSC

JUL 05-07

KMSF

JUN 08-09 JUN 15-16

KNRC 2

KCB NYERI RALLY MX 3

ARC 2 - Sasol Rally South Africa

RAID 2 AUTOX 3 ENDURO 2

KNRC 3

KCB VOI RALLY ARC 3 - Zambia International Rally

MX 4 AUTOX 4

2013 RHINO CHARGE KCB NAKURU RALLY KNRC 4

TRIALS 2

MX 5 AUTOX 5

KCB SAFARI RALLY

KNRC 5

ARC 5 - KCB Safari Rally Ramadhan Ramadhan Ramadhan Ramadhan

JUL 20-21 JUL 27-28 AUG 10-11 AUG 16-18 AUG 24-25 AUG 31-SEPT 01

SEP 07-08

MMC RVMSC EAMSC EAMSC EMC EMC

Total Quartz Economy Run

ENDURO 3

JUL 13-14

AUG 03-04

FIM Cross Country/Quad Championship - Namibia

ARC 4 - Tanzania Rally

RAID 3

AUTOX 6

FIM Africa Central Africa Challenge Round 2 - Uganda

RAID 4

ARC 6 - Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally

MX 6 ENDURO 4

KNRC 6

KCB KISUMU RALLY

FIM Africa Continental Africa Championship - South Africa

MX 7

ARC 7 - KCB Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally

AUTOX 7

SEP 14-15 SEP 20-22 SEP 28-29 OCT 05-06 OCT 12-13 OCT 19-20

RVMSC AROC SUC

2013 CONCOURS D'ELEGANCE KCB GURU NANAK RALLY KNRC 7

KMSC/EAMSC

AUTOX 8

TRIALS 3

RSC

RAID 5

Standard Chartered Marathon ARC 8 - Total Rally International Madgascar FIM Africa Central Africa Challenge Round 3 - Kenya

OCT 26-27 NOV 01-03 NOV 09-10 NOV 16-17 NOV 23-24

44

KCB MOMBASA RALLY MX 8 ENDURO 5

2013 KENYA AIRWAYS EAST AFRICAN SAFARI CLASSIC

NOV 30- 1 DEC

DEC 07-08

KNRC 8

MMC EAMSC EAMSC NRG

AUTOX 9

8

Kenya National Motocross Championship

8

FIA African Rally Championship

8

KCB KNRC/2WD

5

Kenya National Enduro Championship

5

National Raid Championship

1

Kenya Airways East African Safari Classic

9

Kenya National Autocross Championship

1

Total Economy Run

1

2013 Concours D'elegance

3

FIM Africa Central African Challenge

1

FIM Africa Continental Africa Championship

3

Trials

EDITION 18 JAN - FEB 2013

www.motorsportkenya.com

In the fast-paced action thriller SNITCH, Dwayne Johnson stars as a father whose teenage son is wrongly accused of a drug distribution crime and is looking at a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 10 years. Desperate and determined to rescue his son at all costs, he makes a deal with the U.S. attorney to work as an undercover informant and infiltrate a drug cartel on a dangerous mission -- risking everything, including his family and his own life. (c) Summit Directed By: Ric Roman Waugh

A Good Day To Die Hard (2013) John McClane (Bruce Willis) heads to Russia in this fifth installment of the Die Hard film series. Skip Woods (The A-Team) provides the script, with Max Payneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s John Moore directing. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi Directed By: John Moore Written By: Skip Woods, Roderick Thorp

EDITION 18 JAN - FEB 2013

45

MOVIE REVIEWS

Identity Thief (2013) Unlimited funds have allowed Diana (McCarthy) to live it up on the outskirts of Miami, where the queen of retail buys whatever strikes her fancy. There’s only one glitch: The ID she’s using to finance these sprees reads “Sandy Bigelow Patterson”....and it belongs to an accounts rep (Bateman) who lives halfway across the U.S. With only one week to hunt down the con artist before his world implodes, the real Sandy Bigelow Patterson heads south to confront the woman with an all-access pass to his life. And as he attempts to bribe, coax and wrangle her the 2,000 miles to Denver, one easy target will discover just how tough it is to get your name back.

Directed By: Seth Gordon Written By: Steve Conrad

Lethal Weapon (1987) L.A. cop Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson), whose wife has recently died, is a loose cannon with a seeming death wish. This makes him indispensable in collaring dangerous criminals, but a liability to any potential partners. Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover), a conservative family man who wants to stay alive for his upcoming 50th birthday, is partnered with Riggs. As Riggs gets to know Murtaugh and his family, he begins to mellow, though his insistence on using guerilla tactics to catch criminals is still (put mildly) above and beyond the call of duty.

The main villain is The General (Mitchell Ryan), a drug dealer responsible for the death of the daughter of one of Murtaugh’s oldest friends. The General is also in charge of a deadly, militia-like gang of smugglers. Adding fuel to the fire is The General’s chief henchman, played with all stops out by Gary Busey. Moviegoers familiar only with the relatively tongue-in-cheek Lethal Weapon sequels may be amazed to find out how dangerous and unpredictable Riggs is in the first Lethal Weapon -- and how likely it seems that Murtaugh might not survive until fade-out time. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi Directed By: Richard Donner Written By: Shane Black

Ironman 3 (2013) Marvel’s “Iron Man 3” pits brash-but-brilliant industrialist Tony Stark/ Iron Man against an enemy whose reach knows no bounds.

When Stark finds his personal world destroyed at his enemy’s hands, he embarks on a harrowing quest to find those responsible. This journey, at every turn, will test his mettle. With his back against the wall, Stark is left to survive by his own devices, relying on his ingenuity and instincts to protect those closest to him. As he fights his way back, Stark discovers the answer to the question that has secretly haunted him: does the man make the suit or does the suit make the man?

Directed By: Shane Black Written By: Shane Black, Drew Pearce

46

EDITION 18 JAN - FEB 2013

Actual: 12metres (w) by 10 metres (h)

Artwork reduced to 25%

Distributed by: MDL Auto Ltd Call: Call: 020-828470/ 0717565079 or020-2474351 0733565079 Fax: 020-828469 artwork.indd 1

9/21/2012 6:54:51 PM