2012
Ksh 200 Ush 4,000 Tsh 2,500
September - October Issue No.17
Trader w w w . m o t o r t r a d e r s . c o . k e
Run! The
Great
Petrol heads with a Cause
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>>Ford Focus RevoKnuckle Suspension and Quaife LSD Explained
Contents
All the news, races, the cars, the drives @ www.motortraders.co.ke
News
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Pg 6 News Kia Working on Mercedes CLS Rival
Feature Pg 10 The Greta Run Camaraderie. Philanthropy. Visual drama. Most of all, FUN.
Pg 20 RevoKnuckle Suspension and Quaife LSD Ford’s RevoKnuckle front suspension is a re-engineered version of the McPherson setup.
Reviews
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Pg 24 Landcruiser Pickup Toyota gave us the opportunity to try out their new Land cruiser pickup.
Pg 30 JMC Double Cabs Chinese company goes ‘hands-on’.
Pg 34 Mahindra Genio Mahindra launch their Genio and we have a go at it.
Motorsports Pg 46 Engines to dominate F1 from 2014
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Trader
Publisher:
Motor Trader Co. Ltd. P.O. Box 21824, 00400 Tel. 020 8079558/9 Mobile: 0718223838 info@motortraders.co.ke Nairobi
Editor:
Joe Murai joe@motortraders.co.ke
Features and Road test Editor
J. M. Baraza barazajm@motoringpressagency.com
Technical Editor
Trevor Lamenya trevor@motortraders.co.ke
Sales and Marketing:
Sarah Oyoo sarah@motortraders.co.ke James Mugwanga james@motortraders.co.ke
Design & Layout: William Mwangi Motor Trader Ltd
Photography:
Motor Trader Ltd KMSF Pich Afric Roy King
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 Remember the good ol’ days. The days of speed freaks and adrenaline. Ah, it’s so romantic that you can barely contain yourself, right? The music was swinging, the rubber was burning away to the sound of leaded fuel and you had no restrictions, no inhibitions. There weren’t even as many STDs as there are these days. Surely, Greenpeace with their blue whales and polar bears, as well as the safety-first guys have killed the joy. That’s not true! It’s way to easy to blame and point fingers, but the truth of the matter is we’ve made a lot of progress. Sure, the interior from an old Rolls or Mercedes 600 Grosser is a thing of beauty, with its thin steering wheel and masses of tinted wood. The body seems to be made from tank steel beaten into shape by the gods themselves. But are they good cars in reality? No, because lamenting that today’s cars aren’t as emotional as they used to be is equivalent to saying that it would be better if we still lived in caves. I love the idea that if I have a crash, the steering column will not go through my neck or my chest. I love the idea that if the airbag doesn’t open properly and I die, my relatives can sue somebody for damages. I also like that inside the car, I can breath the air, even though the summer is melting the world around me like marshmallows in an oven. There’s a microchip in my radio that allows me to listen to the latest music. The car has proven just how cunning we humans can be when faced with a very difficult problem. A car has airbags, it has catalytic convertors and it has stability control. It’s what we evolved apes were able to invent in just over 100 years of our history. Think about this while you hate the fact that airbags burden your car! Airbags are made from nylon on a weaving loom by a machine that can operate thousands of individual strands at a time. It’s then coated with liquid silicone and cut with a laser. That’s the sort of invention that could save your life one day. Modern technology is amazing, and in my opinion, cars still need to be a lot safer than they are now, because at highway speeds you’re still susceptible to injury or death. And what about you’re mzee’s car? Well, that’s a veritable death sentence. Rumor has it the next Mercedes S-Class will have a camera that sees bumps in the road and preemptively softens the suspension (“This will really come in handy especially along Thika road where bumps come up every 5 hours”). Traction control is almost an art-form today, so we don’t need to worry about crashing on a slippery wet road as much as we used to. Fantastic! That’s why, I think we should have faith in those boring German and Japanesse engineers. They will eventually get everything right so we’ll be able to enjoy doing what we love the most: driving!
Joe Murai www.motortraders.co.ke
MOTORING NEWS
Tata 4x4 Gets the Evoque Treatment
New Honda Accord revealed
While we’ve seen some cars converted to resemble a car from a different brand, we’ve always laughed at the effort. This, is no exception! It is a Tata Safari that has been ‘styled’ to look like the Range Rover Evoque - ironic considering the fact that Tata own Land Rover, yet they make inferior cars. The work has been done by an Indian tuner called BigDaddyCustoms, residing in New Delhi. While the transformation could never be called successful, it is nevertheless striking and, if you get the irony of the whole concept, you may even stop hating it. Even its name is funny: Moon Rover. Also, it has made us wonder. Since Tata and Land Rover are now basically the same entity, why don’t they continue making the Defender in India (as it will be replaced by a production version of this), with no features, as simple as possible, in order to make it accessible to the developing Indian car market - we think it would sell, as people know and recognize the LR badge, which would be one of its key selling points.
Next-generation Honda Accord gets clever interior packaging and updated styling. Honda has released official pictures of the nextgeneration Accord saloon. As seen from the current Honda designs, the Accord gets many styling tweaks but overall the new design is very much on the conservative side except a strong character line that runs on the sides. As seen from the picture below, the new Accord will get LED daytime running lights as well. The new Accord will have more interior room, thanks to clever packaging. There is no news on engine choices but we expect them to be carried over from the current car. The new Accord will compete with the likes of the Hyundai Sonata, Toyota Camry, Skoda Superb and Volkswagen Passat. Expect Honda to launch the new Accord in India next year.
Kia Working on Mercedes CLS Rival Korean automakers have made huge strides in terms of design and luxury. It used to be the case that Hyundais and Kia were budget cars for people who didn’t care what they were driving, but these days they have competitive products that rival Opel’s or VW’s. From the tiny Picanto to the brand new K9 luxury sedan, not one Kia model looks out of place, but apparently, they still need a flagship. As if the cars they offered weren’t German-looking enough, Kia wants a new flagship model to take on the Mercedes CLS. This would be a production version of the GT Concept (photo on the right), which made its debut at last year’s Frankfurt Motor Show, powered by a 390 horsepower 3.3-liter turbo V6. Kia’s chief designer, Peter Schreyer said that “Every company needs a halo car. The coupe market is dominated by German brands, and the GT is Kia’s first step – it’s like putting a foot in the door of the club. This car is aimed at a niche that Kia could fill. It could find a lot of customers.” While we’re willing to put up with the new cee’d being compared to an Opel Astra, we’re not sure that a Mercedes rival built by Korean is going to work. Cars like this are more than the sum 6
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of their parts. Just think about all the millions Mercedes spends to make sure all the buttons feel the same, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. One thing Korean are good at, however, is offering efficient engines, ant the production version of the GT will not be any different. It will have turbocharged dour-cylinder diesels and petrols, plus a hybrid powertrain.
Mercedes-Benz Officially Discontinues the Maybach While the Maybach by Mercedes-Benz was touted as being the best luxury car in the world, it never really reached its full potential. It looked too much like a regular Mercedes-Benz, both inside and out, and despite the sheer quality and luxury of the interior, cars like the Rolls-Royce Phantom and now the Bentley Mulsanne are much more appealing. It was supposed to go out of production in 2011, but they strangely kept making them and now they have a few left which they are selling at a $100,000 (Ksh 8.3mil) discount. They didn’t even issue a press release to announce the news, opting instead to have ‘Discontinued’ next to all five models in the pricing list. However, this means that the cars that the cars which they have left, will sell rather quickly, thanks to the discount. Nobody will really miss the Maybach, because of the very few people who could afford one, even fewer actually considered buying one and a smaller percentage of those people actually went on to spend their money. Still, it would have been nice to see the result of the proposed Meredes-Aston Martin partnership which was supposed to give Maybach a new lease of life, but fell through due to cost issues.
All-New Mazda 6 Finally Revealed We’ve been very anxiously waiting for the new Mazda 6 ever since we first saw the stunning Takeri concept. The Japanese manufacturer assured people that the upcoming production version of the Takeri, the all-new 6 would retain most of its design cues, and we’re very happy to report that they weren’t lying. After one picture leaked onto the web, Mazda responded by releasing an additional three, showing the car from pretty much every angle. We are really impressed with how it turned out and we say that it’s the best looking sedan revealed in a while (a few years, actually). According to Mazda, they will be officially revealing the car live one month sooner than anticipated, not at the Paris Motor Show, but at a similar venue taking place in Moscow (August 29th). It will, obviously, be shown in Paris as well, but Russia will be the first country to see the new 6 in the metal. We hope this car is as good to drive as it is to look at, as well as being very efficient, as we’ve come to expect from Mazda. We applaud their design effort,
and if it will be backed up by similarly good driving dynamics (which judging by the old model, it probably will, and some), there will be no reason for anybody to want another sedan.
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MOTORING NEWS
RR Ghost Six Senses concept Bosch Introduces ESP 9 Premium for Faster, Smoother Braking Each driver has his or her own guardian angel, but there are also some wing-gifted, good deed-addicted entities that we all share and one of them is the Electronic Stability Program, which will be mandatory in most parts in the world in a few years’ time. Bosch, the German company that first produced an ESP system, is now introducing a high-performance version of the system’s current generation (this is number 9). This is called ESP 9 Premium and relies on an upgraded return pump that can build up brake pressure extremely quick and is almost vibration-free. Current systems use two pump elements, but ESP 9 premium integrates a total of six pistons. These build up braking pressure very fast and in an even way, regardless of how much pressure is needed. Thus, the system can apply
full braking power instantly, but it can also apply the gentle level of pressure required by features like automatic dry braking or adaptive cruise control with a stop-and-go function. The high-pressure build-up is overseen by two additional pressure sensors, which are placed in the hydraulic modulator and the smooth operations means that the bodywork doesn’t receive vibrations anymore, so the brake pedal doesn’t send noise and vibration to the driver.
BMW To Design Singapore Airlines’ Cabin
2013 Audi A3 Sportback Rendering
Audi is actually pinning a lot of its hopes on the new A3, a car which for the very first time has to go up against a suitable Mercedes rival, the third generation of A-Class, as well as the first ever front-wheel drive BMW, the 1-Series GT which will be presented as a concept in Paris this September. So the new A3 is learning from its past mistakes and is going to do without the strange wagon body. As such, the regular 5-door will be called the A3 Sportback. This car is rumored to make its official debut at the Paris Motor Show 2012, ahead of a market launch early next year. Based on the numerous sightings of the new A3 Sportback, a rendering has been created by Virtuel-Car, combining elements from the recently unveiled third-gen A3 3-door. The engine range is made up exclusively of turbocharged petrol and diesel engines, including the new 1.4L with cylin-
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BMW has a rich tradition when it comes to airplanes even the company’s badge is inspired from a propeller, so the carmaker’s latest development connected to this should come as no surprise. We are talking about the fact that BMW’s DesignworksUSA subsidiary recently announced that it has reached a deal with Singapore Airlines which will see it redesign the airline’s first-class cabin. The revamped cabin will enter service on Singapore Airlines’ new Boeing 777-300ER, which is scheduled to enter the company’s fleet in the second half of next year. BMW hasn’t offered exact details about the cabin refinish job, but its badges will be found all over the place. This means that the company will take full marketing advantage of the move, as Singapore Airlines is known as a leader in the airline industry thanks to the luxury it offers, which means that the audience is just right for BMW.
der deactivation. All-wheel drive will be optional, and so will the double-clutch gearbox.
Toyota Returnign to WRC with Yaris R1A
Toyota recently announced that it is returning to the WRC scene, with the carmaker introducing a budget race car in the form of the Yaris R1A (or as we know it as the VITZ). The Toyota Yaris
Audi Sales Jump 12.9 in July Despite the European downturn, Audi’s sales are booming not only on the old continent, but also across the world. The Ingolstadt company delivered 12.9% more cars in July than it did in the same month a year ago. For the first seven months of the year, Audi managed an increase of 12.3 percent over the same period of last year, bringing the total to 852,900 vehicles sold worldwide. “Following this successful start to the second half, we are expecting the new A3 to give us an extra lift over the coming months,” said Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG. . “Because we aim to continue pioneering the premium compact class with the new generation, too.” The new Audi A3 will appear on the first markets from the end of August. IN Europe, Audi delivered 5.5 percent more cars than a year ago, 60,800 of the for the month of July and 454,200 for the year to date. Meanwhile, in China Audi’s sales grew an impressive 34.6 percent over the previous year, to 226,748 units. Sales of the locally-made Audi Q5 jumped by 80 percent, with 50,170 customers choosing this SUV model between January and July.
R1A is set to make its racing debut on August 24 at the ADAC Rallye Deutschland, the 9th round in the WRC season, where it will be used as a “Zero Car”, which means that it will tackle the course in order to confirm the driving conditions. The car was built by Toyota Motorsports GmbH (TMG) and complies with the current FIA R1A rules, which covers production cars with engines of up to 1.4 liters, which are only allowed to receive limited modifications. The Yaris R1A comes with a list of tech mods that includes a custom racing exhaust, with a special catalytic converter, an adjustable suspension, as well as a shorter final drive. The vehicle also offers the usual racing safety features, such as a rollcage, bucket seats and underbody protection. Once it gets the FIA R1A homologation, drivers will be able to use it in regional, national and international competitions, which include, among others, WRC events. The order books for the Yaris R1A are already open and the vehicle will set you back GBP17,700 (Ksh 2.5mil appxt at the current exchange rate), but the pricing doesn’t include the donor car, tax and installation.
Bentley Certain to Build SUV Before the Cayenne, Porsche was a much smaller company, only making sportscars. To be frank, nobody payed attention to the sales numbers at that time, but the German automaker is now a powerhouse with a diversified range of models, including the 911, Boxster, Cayman, Cayenne and Panamera, soon to add the Macan. It all started with a SUV which became their volume model, thanks to its blend of road performance and luxury. Bentley doesn’t really have a performance identity, but they do make very powerful luxury cars with all-wheel drive. So making a big SUV should be the next logical step. When Bentley showed the EXP 9F Concept at the Geneva Motor Show in March, a lot of people objected to
the strange styling. Even we said that it looked like Sid the sloth from Ice Age. But to be honest, it’s the best thing Bentley has to make more money. Speaking at the Pebble beach Concours d’Elegance, Bentley officials said that SUV production is a “foregone conclusion”. This does not surprise us at all, since rumors have been circulating that their factory is being retooled during the summer shutdown. The flagship model offers up a 6.0-litre W12 engine which develops 600bhp and 800 Nm (590 lb-ft) of torque. The new 4.0-liter V8 twin-turbo will also be available with 500 bhp, just like in the Continental GT, but there will also be a hybrid V6 system with 30 km of pure electric range. EDITION 17 SEPT - OCT 2012
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The
Run! Great
Petrol heads with a Cause
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Camaraderie. Philanthropy. Visual drama. Most of all, FUN. This is not a ceremony where a clique of kids is given a cash handout to spend as they will; this is The Great Run. July 14th was D-Day for a group of motoring enthusiasts in 17 cars and 8 bikes. The brief was this: get a gathering of like-minded petrol heads for a run from Nairobi to Namanga. Entry was open to anyone in any self-propelled vehicle. Stop along the way, at Kitengela, for a short burst of charity, target: Hawa Children’s Home (now the kids get a handout). Drive on to Namanga. Drive back to Nairobi. Enjoy yourself in the process. We did enjoy ourselves, as is apparent from the pictorial feature in the following pages. Have an awesome viewing.
The Run is a charity event. We approach homes and shelters and provide food stuff, clothing and much more.
Top: Namanga town at Kenol Petrol Station On the right: One of the participants with a massai lady. Next Page: 1. Starting point at Total Petrol Station Limuru road. 2. Participant gearing up to leave. 3. Briefing before departure. 4. Filling up. Toyota Supra, Subaru impreza, Nissan Fairlady 5. Our second DNF and Evo 8. 6. Little Malia on the Evo 6. 7. Some of the participants at Namanga. 12
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THIS MONTHS FEATURE What is the Great Run? The Great Run is a mid to long distance driving event for any form of motorized transport. It is a chance for both driver and vehicle to cover hundreds of kilometers and take in some of the best roads in the country in the company of like-minded individuals. However, much as it is organized as such, the Great Run is not a form of motorsport nor is it competitive. This is to ensure the highest standard of safety and obeisance of traffic regulations are observed, as the Great Run will be conducted on public roads. Charity The Run is a charity event. We approach homes and shelters and provide food stuff, clothing and much more. We contribute 10% of the total amount raised. Format: The format is simple. A targeted group of about 50 vehicles will gather at the start-off point, after which they will depart in convoy towards their destination. Any participant is free to stop >>
Top: RIP, You lived your full life . On the right: An Evolution 6 (white), Skyline R33(blue) and the bikes at Kajiado. Next Page bottom: 1. Some of the bikers that joined us. 2. A lady and some of the children from Hawa. 3. Mr. Njenga, one of the children at the home standing infront of a skyline R33.
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Photo: Welcome to Tanzania..... Some of the participants stretching their legs after a vigorous 180km.
The Great Run acts as a podium from which we aim to dispel the false notion that a love of cars is synonymous with lack of responsibility on the road.
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at will, overtake or be overtaken, provided his actions are in accordance with the Traffic Laws of Kenya. To ensure this, there is a lead vehicle, under the control of the organizers that determines the overall speed of the convoy. None of the participants is allowed to overtake this lead vehicle. At the very back of the convoy is an ambulance and a recovery truck for contingency purposes (but in the case of the first run there was one Prado which did both). Why: There are a number of motoring enthusiasts who own exotic, tuned or unusual vehicles, but lack the facility to fully enjoy their cars. The Great Run aims to bring these individuals together in an arena where they can drive these cars in the company of similar hardware and in the presence of people who appreciate what they have, without giving them undue negative criticism, as has been the case. The second reason is to show all motoring enthusiasts that elitism is non-existent in this fraternity if the passion is shared. One does not have to drive an expensive exotic or heavily 16
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Previous page top: Mr Baraza and a Nissan Skyline R34 On the left: A massai on a suzuki. 1. Hawa childrens home. 2. Dan on the right and Mr Roy King 3. Mr Paji n Malia 4. Our first DNF (Did not finish) Evo VIII or VIX this car really confuses me. 5. Toyota Supra 6. A massai lady at Namanga town infront of the supra. EDITION 17 SEPT- OCT 2012
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tuned vehicles for one to qualify as a motoring enthusiast. The open format of the Great Run’s entry qualifications ensure that any vehicle from the cheapest hatchback to the most expensive exotic can join in. Third and most important is attitude. The Great Run will act as a podium from which we aim to dispel the false notion that a love of cars is synonymous with lack of responsibility on the road. All in all we are here to have fun. So join us for the next run and have the best time of your life.
Top: Helping out the Supra that had a puncture near Kajiado. On the right: Baraza briefing the participants Next Page: Some of cars that participated in The Great Run.
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H
othatches these days are becoming ever more vicious animals. It used to be the case that only sportscars could top the 200 hp mark, but nowadays just about every manufacturer has a go-fast car with at least that which calls itself a hothatch. As late as 1995, Porsche was offering the 911 with 272 PS (993.1 Carrera) which today is matched by front-wheel drive cars like the Opel Astra OPC (280 PS), Ford Focus RS (305 PS), Renault Megan RS (265 PS) and VW Scirocco R (265 PS). All these magic numbers are achieved through turbocharging, which is also creating lots of torque. RevoKnuckle 3D schematic So how are these cars, based on simple family vehicles that your mom would buy, coping with all that power and all
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that torque going through the front wheels. Surely, it’s a recipe equal to nuclear apocalypse on the road, to trying to ride a bull while holding on to its tail! It would have been were it not for the magic of trick suspension. VW played electronic warfare and got the inside wheel in check, while Opel has something called a HiPer Strut. But Ford had the biggest problem in controlling their little devil, as the engine they used in the Focus RS also makes 440 Nm (325 lb-ft) of peak torque from as early as 2,300 rpm. Surely, with the front tires having to soak up the bumps, take care of the steering, deal with the power and stop the car’s heavy front end slipping about, they can’t possibly managed. So how have the guys at Ford SVT made a car that costs as little as the most basic 3-Series but does all that? Well, the old Mk1 Focus RS had a reputation for
being a bit of animal, so they knew they could still make something savage and unrestrained. The solution chosen was a new type of front suspension called a RevoKnuckle. Next to that, they also fitted a Quaife Automatic Torque Biasing limited-slip differential, a lowered ride height, and stiffer shocks, creating a setup that has made the Focus RS infamous, even three years after it was launched. Ford’s RevoKnuckle front suspension is a re-engineered version of the McPherson setup which weighs less and costs less than a double wishbone system, but also reduces torque steer which occurs due to unequal driveshaft lengths in FWD cars, road conditions and body roll. This combination allowed Ford to create what was previously thought to be impossible: a car with FWD that makes over 300 hp and 400 Nm of torque.
Ford Focus
RevoKnuckle
Suspension
and Quaife LSD
Explained
THIS MONTHS FEATURE
Advantages of RevoKnuckle explained. Let’s talk physics for a second! Consider the tire and the contact surface to the road - traction forces are manifested in two ways - the “couple” of the force is transferred as you would expect through the the driveshaft, but there’s also a part that acts through the wheel center. This element creates a turning force about the steering axis. The larger the offset between the wheel centre and the steering axis, the bigger the effect is. This is especially problematic for performance cars, where wider wheels create a greater offset. Thus, getting the kingpin offset compares favorably to that of double wishbone systems is an achievement. But keeping the center of the tire as close as possible to the steering axis (ideally they should be in the same place) is philosophical in the real world, where the contact area moves due to uneven surfaces. The RevoKnuckle suspension setup was created to keep the simple and cheap setup of the McPherson strut arrangement, by inventing a geometric setup 22
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with very little steering offset. Ford Jost Capito, who left SVT for Volkswagen, says the idea for the system came in 2001 when high-torque turbocharged diesels came along. The fist application came with the Focus RS in 2009, but they say it could handle even more… in theory at least. Quaife LSD While we’re on the subject, let’s also talk about the other miracle-worker that the Focus RS comes with, the Quaife limited slip differential. This uses helical gears instead of the more traditional viscous couplings and clutches. Each of the two drive shafts has a sun gear attached to it and placed in the middle of six helical planet gears that spin around it. This is a very special kind of animal, as it’s not a speed sensitive diff, rather a torque sensitive one. It does not try to make the inside wheel turn same speed as the outside wheel. If both wheels have traction, it transmits equal torque to both regardless of relative wheel speed. When one wheel slips, the six heli-
cal gears will slide and will thus create force against a friction plate, which practically applies braking effort to the wheel with less traction. One advantage is that in some cases it transfers power better than AWD, and the other is that it’s not affected as much by what you do with throttle. The system is simple, efficient and waists very little energy, the only disadvantage being that if you do hit a padlle of water, there will be slip, but one which is mechanically limited. As a final “coup de grâce” Ford even made a limited edition called the RS500 (as seen below), to prove the RevoKnuckle could do cope with so much more: the same 2.5-liter turbo, but producing 350 PS and 460 Nm (339 lb-ft) instead of 440 Nm (325 lb-ft). This was a FWD car that could to 0-100km/h in 5.6 seconds. If that didn’t prove the technology, nothing will. Only 500 were ever built, wrapped in matte black and sporting black wheels. All RS500s were individually marked, sold out in a matter of days in some countries and became instant collectables. The hot Focus became a way to remind people of the success of the legendary Sierra RS500 Cosworth that raced in the 1980s.
NEW CAR REVIEWS
Challenge
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NEW CAR REVIEWS
T
he Toyota Land Cruiser 79 Pick-up truck is a marvelous invention, an invention of unmatched proportions. The vehicle is a power horse, one that means business. This power train has the ability to pull massive loads and with the ability to carry a trailer with a load capacity that is equivalent to the load capacity of some trucks. This pickup has the daring abilities of a lion, abilities unfathered by many. Why do you think they love using this vehicle in most wars? Warlords know what it can do and trust me they love this ‘Beast’. It usually comes as a single cab and with greater payload than most double cab vehicles although they have started making a double cab version of it. It beats trucks such as the Toyota Hilux and the Ford Ranger among many others when 26
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it comes to off-road terrain and comes with engine options that include the 4.2L diesel in line 6 which we had a try to Lake Magadi, 4.5L turbo diesel V8 (which you can order through Toyota Kenya), while the latter model boasts of an all new 4.0L petrol V6, functioning on a manual transmission and 4x4 drivetrain. As a policy of continual development by Toyota, the popular Land Cruiser Pick Up and Station Wagon Models have witnessed some modifications, in line with market changes and demands. These changes include a name change from Land Cruiser Pick Up to the LC79 and from the Station Wagon to the LC76. The pickup truck has created a reputation of being an indestructible vehicle, with the new modification on the truck allowing for greater occupant
Ford Ranger Potential buyers of the Ford Ranger can choose between 6-speed automatic with 6R80 regimes Sport (sports) and Normal and 6-speed manual MT82 and 5-speed manual MT75. Versions are equipped with both four-wheel drive, electronically adjustable receive a gearbox that allows the driver to change the transmission type 4×2 to 4×4, where necessary. You can also purchase an electronic locking differential or limited slip differential.
safety and comfort while the petrol powered Pick Up gains a new generation all aluminium V6 engine. The new LC79 and LC76 now come fitted with driver and passenger front airbags, while the bumper is now extended forward by 136mm in order to accommodate the airbag sensors, and prevent them from deploying in minor impacts often encountered in normal off-road driving conditions. There is more work put into the function of instruments on the pickup truck. The steering column features tilt and telescopic adjustments while the steering wheel itself is now a four-spoke urethane version similar to that used on the Land Cruiser 200. There is the molded roof-lining that now replaces the suspended type used previously and provides for improved head-room
and a cleaner, more tailored look. And a drink bottle holder is now featured on the truck for improved comfort for the driver and passenger. One major modification on the Pick Up petrol engine, is the new generation all aluminium 4.0 litre V6 engine that has proved so successful on the Toyota Hilux and Toyota Fortuner. The new engine now generates 170 kW, which is an improvement of five percent compared to the previous 4,5 litre engine, with 360 Nm of torque. Features on the pickup truck include Air conditioning, Power steering, Pre-radio equipment, Heating system, Double fuel tank, Reinforced radiator, Reinforced suspension, Spare tyre on rear door, Floor in vinyl, Snorkel, Steel wheels : 16” front & rear tyres. The LC79 is now fitted with driver and passenger airbags.
Toyota Hilux Mechanically, the Hilux single cab is identical to the double. Buyers benefit from the 120bhp 2.5-litre D4-D diesel engine, double wishbone front suspension and a leaf-sprung rear axle. The engine uses common-rail injection technology to produce decent refinement and reasonable performance. It has received some criticism for its lack of grunt but this is largely from lifestyle-focused quarters where the Hilux double cab is being compared to more powerful high-end pick-ups and even SUV passenger cars. For most commercial vehicle customers choosing the Hilux single cab, the performance won’t present a problem and the superior fuel economy achieved compared to meatier diesels will be a real boon.
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NEW CAR REVIEWS The 2010 Toyota Land Cruiser Pickup also known as the LC75 and comes with new features that include a V6 engine from the in-line-6. Other features you will find on the 2010 pickup truck include the front and rear differentials that incorporate diff locks, with electronic selection of either rear diff lock, front and rear lock. The heavy-duty suspension consists of live axles front and rear, with coils at the front and leaf springs at the rear, while the Pickup also has automatic locking front hubs that facilitate shift-on-the-fly transition to fourwheel-drive without the need to stop for locking the hubs. What makes this car what it is, is neither in its looks nor in its refinement. It is the deliverables that makes the Toyota Land Cruiser Pickup truck a real player in the pickup range. The truck is matched amongst vehicles in its range. Those who find it faltering are definitely not for the Cruiser, they may as well look for something, other than a pickup truck that delivers. My guess is that the most capable Toyota 4x4 out of the box for pure goanywhere ability would be a BJ74 with cable lockers and a 13BT diesel. Probably one of the toughest vehicles Toyota ever made as well... those things are pure BEEF. The reason this one would be my pick for most capable rig toyota ever built would be because 1) front and rear cable actuated diff locks. 2) solid axle. 3) short wheelbase. 4) torque diesel motor- these things have a tonne of torque available way down at maybe 500rpm. 5) good break-over, approach and departure angles. you could even get these with a factory PTO winch... how awesome is that? A car that delivers. All in all Landcruisers have made a name in the offroad sector. The LC79 is no exception, one of the ‘grandfathers’ in the market.
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What makes this car what it is, is neither in its looks nor in its refinement! It is the deliverables that makes the Toyota Land Cruiser Pickup truck a real player in the pickup range. Toyota Land Cruiser (4.2liter) Engine 4.0 V6 4WD 4.2D I6 4WD Gearbox 5Manual 5Manual Power (hp) 228 131 Torque (Nm) 360 285 Fuel Econ (l/100km) 13.0 12.7 0-100 kph (sec) 11.5 12.5 Top Speed (kph) 180 160
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EDITION 16 JULY - AUGUST 2012
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NEW CAR REVIEWS
JMC C
Chinese company goes ‘hands-on’
hinese involvement in the local vehicle market has taken a further step forward with the appointment of Yansam East Africa Ltd, a subsidiary of Ryce Group, as the sole distributor of JMC commercial vehicles in Kenya. Usually Chinese vehicles have been marketed here by independent importers as in most cases.
About JMC JMC specializes in turbo diesel engine pick-ups, double-cabs and trucks, developed in co-operation with three large international firms, namely Isuzu, Hitachi and Ford. Just under 30 per cent of the “umbrella” company, JMC, is owned by 30
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Ford and the engineering/development subsidiary, Jiangling-Isuzu, has two share blocks of 12, 5 per cent owned by Isuzu and Hitachi respectively. Paul Gitau, head of Operations of Yansam Kenya, stresses that the company will be concentrating on building up a solid distribution and service network in this country over the next couple of years. First models to go on sale are, a 2.8 litre non-turbo (NA) diesel pick-up which we were given to have try, a more stylish re-skinned model, the Boarding, with identical mechanicals and a range of light trucks in the 1,5 to 3,5 ton sector. Next year could see the arrival of the N350, a modern-looking vehicle which is to be
built in SUV and double-cab versions. The current models are marketed with a 1 year/50,000 km warranty and a choice of service and maintenance plans. Pricing of around 2.2 million for 4x2 single cab and 2.9 million for 4x4 double cabins, is expected to be between 15 and 20 per cent below “mainstream” competitor products. Frankly speaking it’s a good bargain. Performance Being my first time to try out a Chinese assembled vehicle you could tell they really try and save costs. I had a short drive in the double-cab and it did not pull quite as I had expected on the highways, but braked reasonably in nor-
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mal use and steered fine. The plastics cladding the interior were cheap-looking (Would not complain though being a Chinese product) but should be reasonably durable. Driving experience isn’t quite exciting as we expected on the highways being that the max speed on this vehicle is limited to 120kph, but who cares about the speed limit while offroading? Like the Single Cab, the Double cab is family to the Great Wall Wingle, which is a compact pickup truck built and marketed by Great Wall Motor since 2006. It brings great reliability and enjoyable comfort, bringing together the best of worlds, a working partner and a luxury to enjoy. The Double Cab 4 x 2 brings you just that. It’s a serious pick up, but with loads of space for family, friends or colleagues. The designers did not sacrifice creative comforts like lathered seats, power steering and reverse radar. Engine JMC Boarding 4x2 Pick-ups are equipped with a 2.8 liter 4JB1 engine which the engine, chassis, transmission and gearbox are manufactured in Thailand. This engine is well known for reliability and found in many well known Japanese brands. The Double Cab’s capability on the road is immeasurable; it rides up hills and descents them with grace, thanks to the ingenuity of the Chinese in making this car. It’s a vehicle you can use on the most rugged dirty roads with great ease and comfort. With a ground clearance of 210mm, you are assured of a smooth crossover on the rugged terrains. It’s quite easy to handle and very responsive! Fuel Economy It provides impressive fuel economy. Consuming just about 10 liters for every 150km is gracious and quite economic for a vehicle that combines both, work and luxury easily. It exerts its authority due to the “biggish” stature it possesses. Both variants measure 5135mm in length, 1690mm in length and 1705mm in height. It has a wheelbase of 3025mm and a payload of 1080kg, making it a significant contender in transporting both passengers and luggage. Providing for a seating of 5 adults, you won’t have to decide
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1. Having a look under the hood. 2. The non turbo 4JB1engine. 3. Great ground clearance. 4. At Siokimau.
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NEW CAR REVIEWS
Great Wall Pick-Up Not bad if i may say so, impressive specification and work-horse ability for a price that won’t break the bank. Pick-ups are a Great Wall speciality – currently the maker has five in its range, which are offered in a variety of markets across the world. So it certainly knows its stuff.
JMC Boarding Single Cab 4JB1
JMC Boarding Double Cab 4JB1
Deriative: 4x2 DX 4x2 LX Seat Capacity: 2/3 Pay Load (Kg): 1,000 Max. Speed (Km/h): 120 Minimum Grnd Clearance (mm): 210 Displacement (cc): 2771 Max. Power (Bhp/rpm): 77/3600 Fuel Consumption: 15km/liter Fuel Tank Capacity: 53liters Tyre Size 215/70R15 ABS Brakes: N/A
Derivative: 4x2 Engine: 4/2771 Fuel Supply: D-T Power (Bhp/rpm): 84/3600 Torque: 235/2300 nM Gears: 5/R Transmission: Manual 0 to 100km/h: Not so good Max Speed: 130 Kph Fuel Consumption: 15km/liter ABS Brakes: N/A
This is a truly global product, on sale in more than 130 countries across the globe, built in Thailand and badged as a Holden in Australia and as a Chevrolet in the US. The double-cab has a body and a muscular engine to fulfil the role of 4x4 leisure vehicle. But even then, it feels resolutely work-orientated. You wouldn’t pose in this pick-up. And that’s exactly the way loyal customers like it.
Isuzu Pick-Up 32
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who to leave behind when going out. A fuel tank capacity of 58 liters enables you to travel comfortably along the highway. The cab boasts of one of the latest suspension systems to date, a double wishbone front suspension, independent with a stabilizing bar and torsion bars. In conclusion Chinese vehicles have had a rather bad reputation ever since they started imitating other products around the world but with the current boom in their cheap vehicle prices do not be shocked to see Chinese vehicles taking over the market in terms of price and reliability. The JMC won’t impress you quit much at first glance on the highways and it might confuse you thinking it’s an Isuzu, but however long the distance you cover
and you give a short glance at the fuel gauge, you will suddenly have a cheeky smile on your face. With a 14km per liter economy, it has the lowest fuel economy among its competitors. It’s also surprisingly comfy and stable. Off-road is the best environment for this vehicle, with double wishbone front suspension, independent with a stabilizing bar and torsion bars you really don’t feel the rough terrain as you drive along. So if you are a contractor or a family man looking for a double cab that easy on your pocket in fuel and maintenance costs I would recommend you to try this car. If you love the thrill of speed and luxury and you pockets run deep enough to your socks, this may not be the vehicle for you.
Our Likes Great bargain price. Economical. Comfortable. Durable. Adequate rear leg room. Our Dislikes Not much power on the wheels but that is covered by the torque. The break and the Gas pedals are a little bit too close
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NEW CAR REVIEWS
Mahindra GENIO
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he Genio is powered by the state-of-the-art m-Hawk engine which displaces 2.2 litres and pumps out 120 BHP @ 4000 RPM. This is complemented by a torque of 290 Nm @ 16002800 RPM to ensure an effortless drive. This menacing beast is, however, gentle on the environment. It complies with stringent Euro 3 & 4 norms and will soon meet the even tougher Euro 5 norms as well.
Luxurious style The Genio’s sleek contours coupled with structured edges and the signature Mahindra front grille give this stylish pickup a touch of elegance while retaining the aggressive stance of a utility vehicle. Chunky alloy wheels and strong curves on the bonnet and fenders reinforce this look. The integrated roll-over bar adds to the Genio’s sporty look, while the superbly finished tub gives it a dynamic, modern look. An elegant dashboard in rich granite finish with an array of convenient charging points, compliments the vehicle’s stylish interiors Pick up or lounge? The Genio’s car-like feel extends to its interiors which have been designed keeping in mind passenger comfort. Luxurious seats which have been ergonomically designed with lumbar support ensure a smooth ride, while tilt steering and height adjustable seats enables you to zero in on the perfect driving position. The Genio is also the widest pickup in its category and coupled with the maximum height, ensures it is the most spacious cabin in its category. A tech freak’s delight! The Genio also incorporates a high level of technology including the DDAS (Digital Drive Assist System) which displays vital stats like current mileage and fuel level. This helps you optimise your driving and keeps you tension free. At the press of a button, you can read the speed and the current gear, again helping you optimise the mileage from your Genio. The DDAS also offers information like date, time, inside and outside temperature and relative humidity. The 2 DIN audio system plays not just your MP3s from CDs, but even SD cards and USB sticks, thus ensuring you never miss out on your favourite tunes. The Genio comes with steering mounted controls for the audio system, ensuring that the driver’s hands are firmly on the steering wheel while shuffling tracks or adjusting the volume.
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NEW CAR REVIEWS Work in style The Genio comes with a stylish cargo box which extends the stylishness of the pickup all the way. It’s a case of stylemeets-functionality as the SC pickup has a category leading payload of 1.25 tons. With a one touch release button for the cargo tub and low loading height, the pickup makes loading a breeze. The cab has one of the largest tubs in its category, which aptly complements the spacious cabin, making the Genio a luxurious pickup, inside & out. The Genio also boasts of a 4WD technology option which significantly improves performance in extreme conditions and ensures better control in gruelling situations. Safety The Genio comes with ABS – Anti Lock Braking system which provides maximum grip on the most slippery surfaces.It also offers an Airbag option for
both the driver and co-driver to protect themfrom serious injury in the event of a collision. The Genio is designed with crumple zones to, minimize impact from the sides and also boasts of an immobiliser to prevent vehicle theft.
Mahindra Genio Spec Sheet Type: mHAWK, CDRe, DOHC, !6v VGT Capacity: 2179cc Turbocharger: Single turbo Fuel consumption 14.5l/100km Power (Kw) 120Bhp (88kW) Torque (Nm) 290Nm @ 1800-2800 Transmission type Manual 5-speed Payload (2WD/4WD): 1260/1160 Fuel Tank (litres): 74ltrs
Mistubishi L200
Toyota Hilux
The advantages of the L200 are really obvious if you’re a business user. Which of the various models you choose will depend on how you intend to use it, as the range includes everything from a basic Single Cab workhorse to a Club Cab and the most carlike, the Double Cab, which still has a 2700kg towing capacity. All have the same engine (although there are some upgraded special-edition models with more power), and if you want to save money as an owner, it’s worth considering Mitsubishi’s Service Plan. This will cover all the scheduled services required throughout the first three years of a new car’s life, ensuring that they are performed by Mitsubishi.
The main drawback of a single cab pick-up is the lack of secure storage space. There are various oddment holders dotted around the cab and there’s additional room on the passenger seat when a passenger isn’t in residence but, these spaces aside, it’s hard to find somewhere for tools or other equipment that could fall prey to light-fingered members of society. The double cab model lays-on rear seats that fold-up to create a decent amount of storage capacity but in the single cab, you’re stuck and, unlike some other manufacturers, Toyota aren’t offering a halfway house king cab version with two seats plus a bit of storage behind.
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Conclusion Great car to have. Can handle huge loads and still give performance. May not be so pretty at the eye at first but trust me you will come to adore it.
Paint Is Dead: Wrap It Up!
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efore I go way off on a tangent and say something unbelievably strange, let me just state that paint is not dead yet, nor will it for the foreseeable future. But I can clearly see a new trend forming - car wraps might become huge soon. But first ask yourself this: in a perfect world, are not all cars supposed to be just as unique as their owners? Of course they should be, but in reality all we get for our money is a bunch of graduated grays with stupid names that hide a distinct lack of imagination. And even when we’re offered a choice of more interesting colors, they come with a huge additional cost for the buyer. Even for a relatively affordable cars, special paint can cost well over Ksh150,000. Yes, or as much as a bad second-hand car just for a some paint. And don’t get me started on the way the Germans do business. You just click a button for another shade of color in the configurator, and it instantly adds €5,000 (Ksh 600k) to the list. Aren’t cars supposed to come with paint anyway? How can they charge so much! And yes, I know that every new color has to be first approved by a committee, then engineered, batch tested to ensure it covers both metal and plastic, and afterwards worked into an assembly line. But what if there was another way! From Russia, to Dubai and the US, everybody is jumping with joy because the aftermarket industry offers a really cool
alternative to paintjobs. It’s called vinyl wrapping, and from chrome to matte finishes, the possibilities are endless. Of course, the process isn’t perfect, but then nothing is, and you have to see this as a new industry. Companies that used to wrap commercial vehicles into rolling billboards are common and while they have some experience, we would strongly recommend a true specialist, the kind that deals with Astons and Ferraris. You don’t need any big logos, no Japanese graphics or dragons. Just add color and enjoy! I have one of our fellow colleagues vehicle wrapped in matte black. The overall look is imposing, but the execution is, of course, not without flaws. We called this a learning experience, but let’s consider the alternative for a second. With a non-factory paintjob, you have to worry about the paint running if the mixture is too thick, that the wet sanding will burn it, and let’s not forget about paint blisters. No such problems with wraps. All the big sheets of vinyl are made in the same factory under the same conditions. If you damage a fender and have to paint it, matching tones of paint is a nightmare, but you can forget about all that with wrap. Manufacturers are jumping onto this bandwagon as well. The limited edition Ford Focus RS500 was wrapped, not painted, in matte black, while BMW wrapped one of its special editions in “Frozen Red” because it couldn’t get the matte finish with paint. Sometimes, there are finishes you can’t get with paint - gold, chrome, brushed aluminum or even alligator skin imita-
tion. I believe that fluorescent materials are viable, and it’s only a matter of time before supercars glow in the dark. Painting a car in you wife’s favorite shade of pink is a very nice gesture, but also stupid financially speaking. In some cases, a car’s resale value can even be halved by a stupid paintjob, but with wraps you can just rip them off and the paint is intact underneath. Word of warning though: I’ve heard of cases where the material just wouldn’t come off, so make sure you go to the pros! The way I see it, some people… some rich people just need something that makes others go “OMG, what’s that?” but don’t necessarily want to stick with Kermit The Frog Green or Army Camouflage forever. If they don’t like it, they can just pull the vinyl off. As far as I know, wraps are already a big thing in racing, as they allow quick changes in sponsors. If it’s good enough for a 458 Challenge, it’s good enough for a Ford Mondeo, I think! We’ve only just begun to see the possibilities, and I expect in a couple of years everybody will realize the benefits. I don’t want to take away from the fantastic finishes on some of the exotic cars out there. But paint only needs to be a base coat to protect the metal if you want it to be. You should just be able to go to that Renault dealer and ask him to make a photo collage of all your Facebook friends instead of him charging you €1,000 for some yellow paint.
NEW CAR REVIEWS
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It was at the back end of 1995 that Scania announced its 4-Series long-haul tractive units to the world. With a new cab and a new 12-litre engine it promised to perform more efficiently than its predecessors. The cab offered more living space and comfort; new seats came with more comfortable and more effective, integrated seat-belts. Equipment in the tall cab included a frontmounted top bunk over the windscreen and a spacious70x200cms lower bunk over stowage lockers. A wardrobe was installed behind the driver’s seat. Scania’s moves to reduce drag started with the 3-Series Streamline range; the 4-Series carried this process a stage or two further. Although the windscreen was positioned in a more vertical plane than previous models, adding to the perception of greater interior space, this cab was more rounded at the sides and its width increased by a200mm from front to rear. Scania insisted that use of its exterior sun visor smoothed the passage of air over the cab’s roof and improved air flow overall, but the flush-mounted side windows and encapsulated minors probably had more effect. Launch vehicles were equipped with a bottom step that folded flat with the bodywork when the door dosed. It was a nice idea but in service proved to be a complication that most operators could do without, it was soon relegated to the
options list in the UK. Since then the linkage has been modified and is said to be more robust and reliable. Introducing the 12-litre engine with 400bhp on tap was a far-sighted decision. At the time only international hauliers used that much power, but operators are demanded more and more power to cope with restricted driving hours, lower speed limits, heavier weights and increased fuel costs. The 10hp- plus-per-tonne benchmark still holds good for 41 tonnes on domestic work. The 360hp mechanical-injection and 400bp EDC six-cylinder charge-cooled engines incorporated four valves per cylinder in separate cylinder heads with injectors positioned vertically in the centre of each cylinder. Designed with a hot and cold side, the engine layout separated the fuel system from the exhaust. Timing gears were installed at the rear of the engine with the flywheel, while an in-line flange-mounted pump was driven directly from the timing mechanism, just like the servo pump for I the power steering. EDC (Electronic Diesel Control) ensured that fuel was injected in precise quantities to burn efficiently in redesigned combustion chambers. Scania has used a centrifuge to filter engine oil since the end of the fifties. On the 12-litre engine this was supplemented by a full-flow oil filter to extend
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oil-change intervals-service intervals of 60,000km were possible for virtually all road-going applications. A flat-toothed poly-V drive belt and automatic tensioner were introduced to give a positive drive for the coolant pump, alternator and air conditioning compressor: the cooling fan with thermostat-controlled hub fitted directly into the crankshaft. Scania’s 12-speed GR900 transmission was introduced in 1991; this was consistent.: with the company’s policy of providing synchromesh gearboxes with a direct top gear to minimise power losses. An efficient integral hydraulic retarder was added to the spec sheet in 1993; Opticruise, Scania’s automated transmission providing integrated control of engine, gearbox and retarder, has been an option since the mid-nineties. Single-reduction drive axles were steadily upgraded throughout the decade to handle increasing levels of torque. In a move towards Euro-3, a revised power line-up was launched in April 1998, with the 12 litre engine topping 420hp. But the major change was that the new 11 litre Euro 2 units at 340hp and 380hp and the 12 litre at 420hp all came with unit injectors, replacing the in-line injection pump. The injectors were controlled by an ECU (electronic 40
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control unit) on the cool left hand side of the engine. As with EDC, this control system could be integrated with other sytems such as electronnic brakes, stability control and adaptive cruise control. Versions meeting Euro-3 came along the following year. Most electronic systems on 4-Series had integral fault diagnostics which could be accessed in the workshop: use of a laptop computer with a Vehicle Communications Interface link ensured a fast, systematic approach to trouble shooting. Scania says that development of its network is a high priority.
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he CBR1000RR is really compact and belies its massive 1000cc engine capacity. This is a motorcycle with softer, friendlier lines that many have come to admire, and some just never grew into. A notable feature of the 1000RR is that it concentrates its mass low and close to the centre of the bike, and the factory has labored hard to keep its weight to a bare minimum, so crucial on these kind of built-for-speed machines. Lightweight alloy is the norm across most of the bike’s cycle parts, including its frame, hollowed-out wheels, massive swing-arm and in-line, four-cylinder engine. The CBR’s front fairing gives the bike an aggressive stance, with twin headlights glaring out of an aerodynamically shaped snout. Front turn signal indicators are located on the smart, really high-quality stalk-mounted mirrors, which show clear rear view at all speeds. The turn signal warning icons are smartly placed on the periphery of this single-pod fascia, while within the rev counter sit a low-fuel warning lamp, neutral, high beam and bright redline warning lights. The CBR also provides an odometer, A and B trip facility as well as accurate real-time fuel economy readouts. All this is located in front of its attractive, machined alloy steering triple clamp. Clip-on handlebars are standard fare with all inclusive switches including a hazard warning button and engine kill switch to the right. The CBR leaves one headlight on all the time, with the rider only able to command high beam. The grips lend a nice feel to the rider’s palms and the bike has smartly buffed levers, with the front brake offering reach adjustability. A large and easy to turn cable- adjusting nut fastens into the clutch yoke.
Honda 1000RR
BIKE REVIEW The ’Blade utilizes Honda’s proven thief-repelling Honda Ignition Security System (H.I.S.S) that won’t allow the bike to start without its original set of keys. It’s engine and curved radiator sit semi-concealed beneath its distinctive bodywork, with its massive frame running back to expose itself just under its long tank section. The stubby silencer adds to the CBRs attractive appeal with much of its muscle coming from a humongous swing-arm, and 190/50 section rear tyre, flanked on one side by an exposed and O’ring sealed chain. The rear is slim, with boldly stepped rider and pillion pads ending in a petite taillamp, while the rear mudguard sticks out with considerable overhang. It houses a liquid-cooled, 999.8cc, in-line, four-stroke engine. It’s a motor with an integrated sump and sleeveless cylinder bank, these four sitting packed close together with nickel silicon carbide-plated bores. The 16-valve head is designed to be really compact, and piston construction has intentionally been kept light, to pave the way for really quick revving. This power plant uses dual sequential fuel-injection, precisely controlled via a nicely weighted throttle. The bike also makes use of a slipper clutch system that’s specially
developed for the ’Blade – The system works to keep the shift smooth by sending power back in seamlessly after the shift, when a rider downshifts really aggressively from high rpm. This system works brilliantly in the real world, without being obtrusive in diluting the direct riding experience and allows for easy downshifts even when you simply lack good gear-shifting accuracy. And the CBR1000RR uses a cable-operated clutch and slick six-speed gearbox that shifts in a universal one-down-five-up pattern. High-speed performance is impressive with the power delivery furious, still ‘maska’ smooth and step-free all the way to the ’Blade’s 13k redline. There’s 174bhp made at 12000rpm, and 11.4kgm of torque that comes into play at 8500rpm. With a power wheelie at the beginning and ending at 130kph we recorded the best acceleration time from zero to 100kph in an astounding 3.56 seconds. And the ’Blade went on to crack 190kph in a blistering 7.62sec. Performance & Economy The people who buy some of the fastest motorcycles in the world will care little about economy. For the record though, in our test run, the CBR1000RR gave us 16.7kpl in city riding conditions, and 18kpl when tearing up tarmac on the highway. Ride & Handling Once opened past 4000rpm the engine note takes on a gruff tone and unlimited power is at hand. Beyond 8000rpm it takes expert throttle modulation to keep this short wheelbase bike’s front wheel on the deck, but despite this the RR always has you feeling in control of the motorcycle. Stuffed into a 1410mm wheelbase, the CBR1000RR never feels a full-blown 1000cc superbike. It’s just too compact for that,
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even with its largish-looking tank feeling nice and supportive between a rider’s thighs. The RR’s riding posture is just as uncomfortable as any other race-bred motorcycle with its aggressive riding stance. Its weight-forward riding position does well to load up the front end, but is a real palm-killer. The bike uses a four-piece gravity diecast frame. Front suspension is 43mm inverted telescopic forks, while the rear is brought up by Honda’s Pro-link system and a gas- charged monoshock, both of which are adjustable for preload, compression and rebound. A massive alloy swingarm holds up the rear. Braking comprises of a combined ABS system with radial-mounted four-piston front calipers chomping on 320mm twin discs up front, to haul the ’Blade from 100kph to rest in 46.71 metres. The combined ABS system works so well that we could never feel it working. Handling is surprisingly light, and cornering ability was as sharp as we expected. An electronically adjusted steering damper made the CBR easier to steer at low speed, and progressively stiffened damping to keep us safe at high speeds. Verdict The 1000RR didn’t win the International Bike of the Year 2008-2009 award without good reason. The ’Blade is capable of delivering explosive, road-shrinking, creamy-smooth power when called upon. It backs up its fiery performance with precise handling and formidable, ABS-armed brakes.
Infinity EMS from AEM AEM is proud to present their Infinity Programmable Engine Management System for race vehicles. Featuring a 200 MHz, 32 bit processor with a math co-processor, the Infinity’s primary MCU is able to process 400 MIPS and includes up to 12 peak and hold injector drivers and up to 12 ignition outputs. Infinity’s USB technology allows for downloads up to 480 MB/ second. The enclosure and connectors are sealed and suitable for engine bay mounting and features a fully-sealed IP67 rated connection system. Other features on the Infinity EMS include: > Compatibility with most factory and performance aftermarket sensors. > Includes start up configurations. > ECU set up wizard > User interface featuring 3d Graphics > Internet simulator > USB 2.0 High-Speed communications > AEMdata analysis software and more! For more information on the Infinity EMS or on any of AEM’s other products please visit www.aemelectronics.com.
Latest Android Version of DashCommand App Compatible with Pioneer’s New AppRadio 2 Palmer Performance Engineering have released a new version of DashCommand for the Android OS that supports Pioneer’s new AppRadio 2 smartphonepowered in-dash receiver, allowing users to view DashCommand’s performance data on the AppRadio 2’s 7-inch touchscreen, giving them improved visibility and convenient access directly on their vehicle’s dash. DashCommand’s virtual gauges display almost everything automotive enthusiasts might want to know about their vehicles’ systems in real time. Previously this data was only viewable on a smartphone but now all this information can be viewed and controlled on the 7-inch touchscreen of Pioneer’s in-dash AppRadio 2 by connecting it to an Android smartphone or iPhone 4/4S that has been loaded with a compatible version of DashCommand. “The place you most need to view the information DashCommand gathers is inside your vehicle. Placing that information right on the dash in a larger, more visible format is invaluable to our users,” comments Brian Palmer of Palmer Performance Engineering. “Pioneer’s AppRadio brought this technology to our iPhone users and now the introduction of AppRadio 2 is enabling our Android users to enjoy the same benefit.” For more information on Palmer Performance Engineering’s other products, visit their website at www.palmerperformance.com.
Camera: More than Enough But not Pro! The camera fitted in the device is 8 mega pixels. If we look at the smartphone market then it seems like 8mp is a bit less than required but if you look at the situation like this that why will anyone need a camera more than this in their phone? I am not saying that 12mp is not that good, 12 mp is quiet good and in my opinion there is no need to fit a camera more than required like the one fitted in Nokia Lumia 900 (41mp camera). However, if you think you can use it for professional purposes, think again! Buddy photo share, Burst Mode and Face zoom are some of the main features. Features: Powerful Processor with Adequate Memory! Camera, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi are the essential features of any smartphone, which we already know are present in the Galaxy S III. It has a powerful processor of 1.4GHz working under the hood which makes the processing of functions very speedy and lag free. It is available in 16/32 and 64 GB built in memories which can be extended by adding an extra 64 GB with the help of external SD card. Internet is also quiet fast due the EDGE capability. Other features include FM Radio as well..
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TECH TOYS
Digital MTX Series Air/Fuel Ratio Gauge!
6 point Cusco Rollcage Evo VII, VIII, IX 40mm chrome molybdenum pipes used 33% percent lighter than a similar steel roll bar. - Lightweight joints used to increase safety with competition roll bar layout. - Mounted such to increase body rigidity. - Bar layout is designed from extensive experience based on feedback from the track that looks good as well as being effective. For more info contact Auto Art Kenya
The new Innovate Motorsports Digital MTX Series Air/Fuel Ratio Gauge utilizes the only 100% digital Wideband air/fuel ratio technology on the market! The award-winning patented DirectDigital™ technology we use is faster and more accurate than common “UEGO” gauges and is now more affordable! In addition, the gauge features a water resistant casing, interchangeable faceplates and bezels, and 2 fully programmable linear analog outputs for use with aftermarket engine managements systems and dataloggers
Formula GT3 mirrors (For GDB STI & EVO VII+ Light and in carbon fiber shell. Great aerodynamic shape. Anti glare wide lens. For more info contact Auto Art Kenya
High performance billet camshafts Brian Crower high performance billet camshafts are CAD designed to optimize torque & horsepower throughout the power band. EVO X’s have dyno-proven 30+ HP more at the wheels on stock turbos with these cams, making them some of the best bang for the buck upgrades you can do! Performance cams are worth their weight in gold when it comes to making power on turbo engines. More air in/out means more power and if you are all about making power in your Evolution, you can’t do without a set of cams! For more info contact Auto Art Kenya
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Subaru WRX Bolt-On Front & Rear Big Brake Kit Wilwood has released a new bolt-on front and rear big brake kit for the Subaru WRX. The front kit features massive, race-proven billet aluminum 6 piston Superlite calipers while the rear kit retains the stock parking brake and features 4 piston Dynalite calipers. Both kits include PolyMatrix brake pads that will shorten stopping distances, improve handling, and eliminate overworked stock components. For more information on these brake kits or on any of Wilwood’s other products, visit their website at www.wilwood.com.
AEM’s New Digital Wideband FAILSAFE Gauge! AEM is proud to present their new Wideband FAILSAFE Gauge! Designed to accurately tune AFR, the Wideband FAILSAFE Gauge actively protects engines by constantly monitoring AFR curves and activating a user-defined failsafe strategy if it runs lean. A must have for all tuned performance engines, the Wideband FAILSAFE Gauge is a Universal Exhaust Gas Oxygen (UEGO -”you-way-go) controller with an internal boost sensor, internal data logger, and a full color OLED display. For more information on the Wideband FAILSAFE Gauge or on any of AEM’s other products or to find a authorized AEM Electronics dealer or FactoryTrained tuner, please visit www.aemelectronics.com
XXR Concaved Supremacy for Subaru Size: 18 x 8.5 PCD: 100 Color: Matte Gold Description: - Dynamic Concave Spoke design sinks into a dramatically deep lug pocket - Astounding X factor offers ample caliper clearance For more info contact Auto Art Kenya
XXR 530 Intense for EVO/STI Size: 18 x 8.75 PCD: 114.3 Color: Flat Black - A deep concave wheel design featuring the most unique wheel widths on the market. - Extra wide wheel width and precise offset pairing allow you the perfect tire stretch fitment while affording you a maximum tire footprint for street and highway. - This Light weight traditional web styled design possess a major X-Factor property to clear large brake calipers on today’s most respected cars such as EVO, STI, and Z-Cars. For more info contact Auto Art Kenya EDITION 17 SEPT- OCT 2012
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MOTOR SPORTS
Kubica tests factory WRC Fiesta The Polish driver joined Ford for its development test at the Circuit des Ecuyers. Robert Kubica tested a factory Ford Fiesta RS WRC in France last month, AUTOSPORT’s sources have confirmed. The Polish driver joined Ford for its development test at the Circuit des Ecuyers close to Reims in central France. The source confirmed he drove the car for a day on the track. Prior to the French test, Kubica is believed to have hired a Ford Fiesta RS WRC from an Italian team in preparation for his time in the Ford’s official test car. Ford team principal Malcolm Wilson refused to even acknowledge Kubica was present at the test, saying: “As you know,
Courtesy of FIA
we had a four-day development test at a circuit in France, that’s all there is to it. It was a private test and I’m not prepared to comment further.” An AUTOSPORT source in Italy said: “Robert drove the car, we know this. And he drove the car well. He has the big passion for rally.” Ford drivers Jari-Matti Latvala and Petter Solberg were both present at the test and both are believed to have discussed the car with Kubica. The test is Kubica’s biggest step towards a return to the highest level of motorsport since he crashed a Skoda Fabia S2000 heavily on the Ronde di Andora in February 2011, seriously injuring his right arm and hand.
Engines to dominate F1 from 2014 The Red Bull chief technical officer thinks engines will become the differentiating factor when F1 undergoes a regulation overhaul in 2014. Adrian Newey expects engine performance to become the dominant differentiator between teams when the new V6 turbo engines are introduced in 2014. The Red Bull chief technical officer fears that the combination of tighter chassis rules and potential differences between the performance of the engines could lead to one group of teams sharing one supplier having a big advantage. “In 2014, you will have the variation in engine performance,” Newey told AUTOSPORT. “That means the engine power unit itself, which is not only the internal combustion engine but also the various recovery systems bolted to it. “It is possible that one manufacturer will do significantly better than the others, at which point you might end up 46
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with that manufacturer’s cars at the front of the grid. “You could end up with an engine manufacturers’ championship.” Newey has long been critical of how restrictive the chassis rules are in F1 and believes the 2014 rules to be even tighter. He expects this to further swing the balance in favour of engine performance, with the main scope for innovation po-
tential coming in terms of the way that the engines are used. “The chassis regs, aero wise, are a more restrictive version of what we have already,” said Newey. “The installation of the engine is obviously something that the teams will work on with their engine manufacturers. It remains to be seen whether someone comes up with something novel there and steals an advantage.”
Tundo wins Nanyuki Rally Courtesy of KMSF Carl “Flash” Tundo navigated by Tim Jessop in Mitsubishi EVO9 emerged victorious in the KCB Advantage Banking Rally in Nanyuki following cancellation of the last stage (CS11) at Batian View. Following heavy afternoon downpour, Clerk of the Course, Nazir Yakub in consultation with stewards ended proceedings at penultimate stage with only 5kilometers of super special to spare. As heavens opened, Tundo savoured his second career Nanyuki Rally victory after winning this event in 2005 in a Subaru N10. This was his first Nanyuki victory in the Mitsubishi. He beat teammate Alastair Cavenagh by a mere 22 seconds to claim his fourth win of the 2012 KNRC season. “The rally was really good. I have won Nanyuki for the first time in my Mitsubishi,” said Tundo. Tundo has so far won the season opening Nyeri rally, Nakuru Rally, the diamond jubilee Safari and now Nanyuki. He now opens a 75 point championship lead from Duncan who retired on day two but still maintained second position on 280points. Alastair’s second in Nanyuki saw him cling to third in the KNRC tussle with 250. Third was Baldev Chager whose Subaru was losing power amidst his spirited fight. Quentin Mitchell came home fourth in a Subaru N16. With Tundo and Cavenagh untouchable, Quentin spent the whole day fighting with Chager for a podium slot which he eventually lost. Day 1 overnight leader Raaji Bharij finished 11th after he went off at some point and lost 6minutes. A tense showdown was manifest going into the last section of the rally. In fact, It was down to 22seconds between Tundo and Cavanagh but when
skies opened, Tundo was declared the winner. Alastair had his run on the Loldaiga section frustrated when he drove the last 13kilometers on a puncture and lost 6 seconds to Tundo. Azar Anwar finished 6th overall behind the Mitsubishi EVO9 of Jassi Chathe from Kisumu. The Nanyuki Rally had a number of casualties. Peter Horsey retired after the engine of his “Moto Moto” Datsun pick up failed. Issa Amwari was time barred in service. Other casualties were Patrick Kibaara, Jonathan Somen, Jeff Mburu and Munir Khan. Hardeep Rehsi rolled on CS6 and kissed Nanyuki goodbye. Provisional Results 1. C Tundo/T. Jessop (EVO9) 1:22:11 2. A. Cavanagh (EVO9) 1:22:3 3 B. Chager/Raju S. (N16) 1:26:40 4. Quentin M./C. Davis (N16)1:27:11 5. J. Singh/G. Panesar (EVO9) 1:28.07 6. Azar/Julius Ngigi (EVO8) 1:29:34 7. F. Tundo/T. Cangio (EVO9) 1.29.48 8. Izhar Mirza/Z. Shah (EVO9) 1.29.51 9. O. Rai/Raju Chagger (N16) 1.30.07 10. M. Singh/N. Arena (N16) 1.34.33 11. R. Bharij/G. Mayes (EVO9) 1:34:42 12. Don Smith/B. Kaugi (subaru) 1:40:21 13. J. Nganga/G. Njoroge (N10) 1.41.51 14. J. Chana/R. Chana (Celica) 1.43.27 15. Ben Muchemi (EVO6) 1.46.12 16. M. Halai/K. Halai (Subaru) 1:46.26 17. A. Keith (Subaru) 1:46:32 18. J. Muigai/Allan M. (Subaru) 1.46.40 19. F. Khan/K. Henrie (Subaru) 1:47:01 20. T. Rai/George Mwangi (N16) 1:48:43 21. A. Khan/A. Khan (Porsche) 1.52.56 22. Hussein Malik (Subaru) 1:53:18 23. N. Waita/L. Cliff (Subaru) 1.55.43 24. Joe Muchiri/R. Ismail (gc8) 2:05:43
Dennis Mwenda registers maiden 2wd win in Nanyuki. Courtesy of KMSF
Dennis Mwenda has won the 2WD class of the KCB Advantage Rally on his first outing in his Toyota Sprinter GT. Mwenda was all smiles after winning his first ever event, incidentally, on his home turf. “Its absolutely fantastic to win in Nanyuki my birthplace, on my son’s birthday and on the maiden event of our new car. We had a clean run. The car did not miss a beat. We were flying through the sections,” said Mwenda. Second was Leo Varese while overnight leader Gurmit Thethy sealed the podium dash in third place. “After having held first position since yesterday to mid of today, we got stuck in the second last stage ...we lost communication and wipers but still managed to finish 3rd,” said Gurmit. 2WD RESULTS 1. Dennis Mwenda (Toyota Sprinter) 2;03;43 2. Leo Varese (VW Golf) 2:07:15 3. Gurmit Thethy (VW Golf) 2:10:09 4. Victor Okundi (VITZ) 2:17:25 5. Sammy Nyorri (VITZ) 2:19:03 6. Nadeem Kana (Subaru) 2:20:04
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Rossi returns to Yamaha for 2013 Courtesy of FIA
RVM&SCto host Motorcross 6 at Solai club CLUB Courtesy of KMSF Its all systems go as the sixth round of the National Motocross Championship returns to the newly-built Solai racetrack in Nakuru. The event, organised by Rift Valley Motor & Sports Club (RVMSC) will feature members of the Kenya team which finished second at last weekend’s FIM Africa Motocross Championship in Kampala. Riders and their mechanics have been preparing vigorously to ensure all is well ahead of the race-day on Sunday. MX50 class will feature the likes of Dekker Kihara, Maina Wanjigi, Ethan Nyachae and jesse Waithaka. MX65 has the likes of series leader Rolf Kihara, Jeremiah Waithaka, Alistair Diniz and Owain Ashley. MX125 has Apollo Mbuki who led his team-mates Rohan Gandhi and Masalule Kituyi to a rare 1-2-3 finish in Kampala. The trio hope to renew their rivalry in Nakuru. Defending MX2 Champion Tutu Maina intends to eclipse Ivan Guya in what is anticipated to be a true race of champions. Guya is the outgoing MX125 champion who didn’t defend his title this year after moving on to the MX2 class. Champion Shivam Vinayak will be riding to safeguard his MX1 championship lead up against the likes of Moses Mugo, Charles Mugo, Louis Dirnboeck and Allaan Kuria. RVM&SC Chairman Rob Colllinge thanked his members for the efforts towards what they do for Karting and par48
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ticularly the huge extra work load of the Motocross they have taken to organise the forthcoming Round 6 of the National Championship on Sunday 2nd September. “The Club is indebted to you. Members please come and support the Club by attending this most entertaining and thrilling sport,”Collinge. During his visit to Finland, Vettel said he would like to take part on a rally one day and added that he would seek advice from eight-time world champion and his fellow Red Bull-backed driver Sebastien Loeb. “I have plenty to do in Formula One but who knows one day?” Vettel said at the time. “The WRC is as far as you can get in rallying, I wouldn’t mind some drives in the future.” Last December former Volkswagen Motorsport boss Kris Nissen offered Vettel a test in the firm’s new-for-2013 Polo R WRC. “It could be great for our sport if it could be possible because he is a two times Formula One world champion but it won’t be easy,” Nissen said.
The Italian legend will return to Yamaha in 2013 after leaving Ducati at the end of the current season. Valentino Rossi will return to Yamaha in 2013 after leaving Ducati at the end of the current season, the Japanese manufacturer confirmed on Friday. Ducati announced this morning that Rossi was leaving the team following a disappointing two-year spell at the Italian squad, where the Italian rider struggled to be competitive, managing just two podiums and no victories so far. Rossi enjoyed a very successful time at Yamaha, which he joined from Honda at the start of the 2004 season. With the Japanese squad, the nine-time world champion took the titles in 2004, 2005, 2008 and 2009 and scored 46 victories before leaving for Ducati at the end of 2010. Rossi will rejoin Yamaha alongside Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo, who was his team-mate at the team before he decided to leave for Ducati. The Italian rider has signed a two-year deal with Yamaha. “This announcement is once again excellent news for Yamaha,” said Yamaha’s Lin Jarvis. “In June we were able to sign Jorge Lorenzo for the 2013-14 campaign and now we are able to confirm Valentino Rossi for the next two years. “In doing so we have been able to put together the strongest possible team to challenge for victories and to promote the Yamaha brand. “The target for the future is obvious and we will do our utmost to achieve our goals. “I have no doubt that with the experience, knowledge, skills and speed of these two great champion riders we will be able to challenge for many race wins and for the 2013 & 2014 World Championship titles.”
A group of hardened Nazi killers stalk their prey in Nazi-occupied France as a Jewish cinema owner plots to take down top-ranking SS officers during the official premiere of a high-profile German propaganda film. As far as Lt. Aldo Raine (aka Aldo the Apache,” Brad Pitt) -- is concerned, the only good Nazi is a dead Nazi. Raine’s mission is to strike fear into the heart of Adolf Hitler by brutally murdering as many goose-steppers as possible, or die trying. In order to accomplish that goal, Lt. Raine recruits a ruthless team of coldblooded killers known as “The Basterds” which includes baseball-bat-wielding Bostonian Sgt. Donnie Donowitz (aka “The Bear Jew,” Eli Roth) and steely psychopath Sgt. Hugo Stiglitz (Til Schweiger), among others. When the Basterds’ secret rendezvous with turncoat German actress Bridget von Hammersmark (Diane Kruger) goes awry, they learn that the Nazis will be staging the French premiere of “The Nation’s Pride,” a rousing propaganda film based on the exploits of German hero Fredrick Zoller (Daniel Brühl), at a modest theater owned by Jewish cinephile Shoshanna Dreyfus (Mélanie Laurent), posing as a Gentile after the brutal murder of her family by the ruthless Col. Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz). As the Basterds hatch an explosive plan to take out as many Nazis as possible at the premiere, they remain completely oblivious to the fact that Shoshanna, too, longs to bring the Third Reich to its knees, and that she’s willing to sacrifice her beloved theater in the process. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Inglourious Basterds
Directed By: Quentin Tarantino Written By: Quentin Tarantino
The Bourne Legacy (2012) The narrative architect behind the Bourne film series, Tony Gilroy, takes the helm in the next chapter of the hugely popular espionage franchise that has earned almost $1 billion at the global box office: The Bourne Legacy. The writer/director expands the Bourne universe created by Robert Ludlum with an original story that introduces us to a new hero ( Jeremy Renner) whose life-or-death stakes have been triggered by the events of the first three films. For The Bourne Legacy, Renner joins fellow series newcomers Rachel Weisz, Edward Norton, Stacy Keach and Oscar Isaac, while franchise veterans Albert Finney, Joan Allen, David Strathairn and Scott Glenn reprise their roles. Directed By: Tony Gilroy EDITION 17 SEPT- OCT 2012
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MOVIE REVIEWS
Directed By: Guy Ritchie Written By: Michele Mulroney, Kieran Mulroney
Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) has always been the smartest man in the room... until now. There is a new criminal mastermind at large-Professor Moriarty ( Jared Harris)-and not only is he Holmes’ intellectual equal, but his capacity for evil, coupled with a complete lack of conscience, may actually give him an advantage over the renowned detective. When the Crown Prince of Austria is found dead, the evidence, as construed by Inspector Lestrade (Eddie Marsan), points to suicide. But Sherlock Holmes deduces that the prince has been the victim of murder-a murder that is only one piece of a larger and much more portentous puzzle, designed by Professor Moriarty. The cunning Moriarty is always one step ahead of Holmes as he spins a web of death and destruction-all part of a greater plan that, if he succeeds, will change the course of history.
Act of Valor (2012) An unprecedented blend of real-life heroism and original filmmaking, Act of Valor stars a group of active-duty U.S. Navy SEALs in a film like no other in Hollywood’s history. A fictionalized account of real life Navy SEAL operations, Act of Valor features a gripping story that takes audiences on an adrenaline-fueled, edge-of-their-seat journey. When a mission to recover a kidnapped CIA operative unexpectedly results in the discovery of an imminent, terrifying global threat, an elite team of highly trained Navy SEALs must immediately embark on a heart-stopping secret operation, the outcome of which will determine the fate of us all. Act of Valor combines stunning combat sequences, up-to-theminute battlefield technology, and heart-pumping emotion for the ultimate action adventure film-showcasing the skills, training and tenacity of the greatest action heroes of them all: real Navy SEALs Directed By: Mike McCoy , Scott Waugh Written By: Kurt Johnstad 50
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Marley 2012 Bob Marley’s universal appeal, impact on music history and role as a social and political prophet is both unique and unparalleled. Marley is the definitive life story of the musician, revolutionary, and legend, from his early days to his rise to international superstardom. Made with the support of the Marley family, the film features rare footage, incredible performances and revelatory interviews with the people that knew him best. Directed By: Kevin Macdonald