SATURDAY, 7 NOVEMBER, 2015
Polar opposites, but both aimed at offroad enthusiasts: the barebones Russian UAZ Hunter (left) and the noluxuryspared MercedesBenz GLS. PHOTOS: SUPPLIED
The rough vs the sublime Russia’s Hunter and Germany’s GLS cannot be more different, but compete on the same turf ALWYN VILJOEN OFFROADERS now have two new utes to choose from and while both pay homage to a tough predecessor, they cannot be more opposite in design. In the noluxuryspared cor ner, MercedesBenz is now tak ing orders on its new GLS, which extends the Geladen wagon’s abilities beyond the red carpet into the corporate boardroom. In the barebonesbasics cor ner, Russian brand UAZ is flog ging the Hunter to Mongolian shepherds and Vietnamese fishermen. UAZ also makes quite mod ern sport utes, but built the Hunter to pay tribute to its World War 2 4x4 legend, the Kozlik, or UAZ 496. Aficiona dos of Africa’s muddiest roads made with Russian funding know the Kozlik is still pre ferred over Defenders and Land
Cruisers in those states. Paying tribute to hardriding predecessors is quite the fash ion. Toyota also did so last year with the eighties’ lookalike Land Cruiser 70. Like the Cruiser, the UAZ rides on ancient coils over oil upfront and leaf springs at the rear, (where drum brakes still have to stop these wagons), but the Toyota’s dashboard is posi tively modern compared with that in the UAZ. About the only modern giz mo the Russian 4x4 builder al lowed in its Hunter is fuel injec tion instead of a carburettor. The Russian ute does, how ever, sport a cigarette lighter across the range, and the dis tributors can order a “Souve nir” kit bag that containts a groundsheet, an axe, a kettle and a set of tableware. The GLS offers neither kettle nor axe, instead, there is Re mote Online services that pro
vide users with vehicle info via an Internet platform. The GLS also just about glides about on air suspension with an enhanced adaptive damping system that seeks to provide a stable ride, while op tional active roll stabilisation should help in the corners. For as CEO of the Mercedes Benz SA Fioran Seidler ex plained at the launch of the Merc sport ute range in Nami bia last week, the GLS offers the offroad genes of the GClass, with all the refinement of the SClass. This means ambient light ing, an ionization system to im prove the air quality inside the vehicle, as well as seats that can heat or cool their front passen ger’s and driver’s butts. The Hunter has a choice of two engines — a 2,6 petrol making only 94 kW or a 2,2 die sel making a mere 84 kW. GLS customers have a choice
of four formidable engines, with the smallest, a V6, making 245 kW and the most powerful making 430 kW. The Russian wagon has a fivespeed manual gearbox and low range, with the electric drive selecting the cogs in the transfer case. The GLS models have per manent allwheel drive with power transmitted through a ninespeed 9GTronic auto matic transmission as stan dard, with the exception of the MercedesAMG GLS 63, which comes with an AMG Speed shift Plus 7GTronic transmis sion. But the Hunter has a wading depth of 50 cm and its owners look all the more credible if their Russian wagon has dents and scratches. UAZ is selling three models, from the entrylevel Dymos with its 16inch wheels, the Vic tory series, packing a special
khaki colour and music score where it is currently sold with graphics from the movie that a 12 months or 30 000 km war marked the 70th anniversary of ranty, download, fill in and Russia’s World War 2 battle email a candidate distributor’s victory, and the Trophy model, business case to export@uaz.ru which comes with extra under Then be prepared to negoti body protection. ate a Vodkafuelled price. GLS owners have four mod The GLS arrives next year in els to choose from, including a South Africa. diesel, but will hesitate to set To order a model that suits foot on even smooth gravel your style, have your butler roads, despite Merc last week pour you another as you ap proving the entire new SUV point your nearest Merc dealer range can go where Mad Max to come visit you, and then call went. your accountant to arrange The Hunter is currently only writing off quite a bit more on sale in several Far East coun than the rugged GClass’s R1,4 tries up to Mongolia, and in the million. Czech Re public in Europe, but dealership queries are • Optional - Two-year/unlimited km warranty • 80-point mechanical check welcome. • Terms and conditions apply. E & OE • Ownership guaranteed To order • 7-day exchange plan • Mileage certified • Full service history a UAZ out PRICE COLOUR MILEAGE side the POLO VIVO countries 2011 Polo Vivo 1,4 Blueline 5-Door Silver 91 000 km R99 900
… and from the edgy to the curvaceous at Sema Toyota engineers in the U.S. modified a Sienna minivan to show what they can do when given free rein for a corporate road trip in June. Called the Toyota Ultimate Utility Vehicle (UUV), the custommade Sienna body is retrofitted on top of a Tacoma truck and after crossing America in the U.S. leg of Toyota’s EverBetter Expedition, the UUV went on display at this week’s Specialty Equipment Market Association (Sema) conference in the U.S. From the rugged to the sublime is the gorgeous and totally unique car made for Metallica front man James Hetfield by a team ‘of the most gifted hands in custom car building and metal shaping in the USA today, led by hot rod legend Rick Dore’. Called the Aquarius, the lines are inspired by the teardrop coaches built by French designers in the thirties, specifically the Delhaye 165 cabriolet. The handfinished, brushed aluminium panels are built onto a 34 Packard chassis and a V8 power in what is reportedly a very driveable car. PHOTOS: SUPPLIED
2011 Polo Vivo 1,4 Trendline 5-Door 2013 Polo Vivo 1,4 Trendline 5-Door 2014 Polo Vivo Sedan1.4 Trendline 2014 Polo Vivo Sedan1.4 Trendline 2015 Vivo 1.4 Trendline 5-Door POLO 2012 Polo 1.6 Comfortline 5-Door 2012 Polo 1.6 TDi Comfortline 5-Door 2014 Polo Sedan 1.4 Trendline 2014 Polo GP 1.2 TSi Trendline 2015 Polo GP 1.2 Comfortline GOLF 2011 Golf GTi 2.0 FSi DSG 2012 Golf GTi 2.0 FSi DSG 2013 Golf 7 GTi 2.0 FSi DSG 2014 Golf 7 1.2 TSi Trendline 2014 Golf 7 1.4 TSi Comfortline JETTA 2012 Jetta 1.4 TSi Comfortline 2012 Jetta 1.2 TSi Trendine UP! 2015 Take UP! 1.0 55 kW 2015 Take UP! 1.0 55 kW 2015 Move UP! 1.0 55 kW OTHER VW 2010 Scirocco 2,0 TSi 2011 VW Tiguan 1.4 TSi Trend 2011 VW Touareg 3,6 FSi V6 2013 VW T5 Kombi 2.0 TDi LWB 2015 VW Tiguan 1.4 TSi Trend 2015 Touareg GP 3,0 TDi V6
OTHER 2010 Audi A5 2.0 Multitronic Sportback 2013 Hyundai Veloster 1,6 2013 Hyundai iX35 2,0 2015 Isuzu D/Cab KB300 D-teq Auto
Silver White Silver Silver Silver
63 000 km 44 000 km 71 000 km 20 000 km 8 000 km
R104 900 R119 900 R107 900 R129 900 R149 900
Red White White White Red
31 000 km 58 000 km 32 000 km 34 000 km 9 000 km
R165 900 R175 900 R154 900 R169 900 R224 900
Red White Red Silver While
117 000 km R239 900 122 000 km R259 900 70 000 km R319 900 28 000 km R208 900 19 800 km R254 900
White White
60 000 km R169 900 79 000 km R155 900
White Silver Blue
6 000 km 4 500 km 5 000 km
White Silver Brown White Silver Blue
115 000 km R199 900 90 000 km R189 900 39 000 km R349 900 83 000 km R349 000 6 000 km R314 900 14 500 km R679 000
Grey Silver Silver White
79 000 km 75 000 km 78 000 km 16 000 km
R119 000 R119 000 R125 000
R199 900 R189 000 R245 000 R389 900
Mastercars warranty not included in advertised price.
Barons Pietermaritzburg
Tel: 033 845 3100 After hours: Laurie 082 783 8040 • Rajen 072 228 9834 • Sanjay 083 639 0989 • Barry 072 235 4244 • Phumlani 073 744 8350