NEWS

New larger premises for Storm Jeeps and jeepey.com

When it comes to the UK Jeep scene there are two names that stand above the rest - jeepey.com and Storm Jeeps.

Outgrowing their old premises, jeepey.com and Storm Jeeps have recently moved into new, larger premises in Brough, East Yorkshire.

Founded in 1999 by Andy Bonner, Jeepey is a well-respected and trusted name in the offroad marketplace that supplies replacement and aftermarket parts and accessories for all Jeep models from 1942 onwards, and with over 60 years of Jeep expertise the team are always happy to help.

With Andy’s wealth of experience he also heads up a strong team of skilled enthusiasts who are passionate about delivering exceptional custom Jeep builds. Their passion and knowledge for the Jeep brand allows them to achieve what others can not deliver, Jeeps which are outstanding both on and off-road.

Whether you are designing your own Storm Jeep, or choosing from one of their previous builds to base your conversion, they offer build options to suit all budgets, tastes and requirements.

Tel: +44 (0)1482 666 491 Email: sales@stormjeeps.com

more at » jeepey.com & stormjeeps.com

ViewRanger is now Outdooractive!

If you use ViewRanger to plot your ‘off-road’ routes, you will probably be aware that it’s about to be merged with OutdoorActive, and by the end of February the ViewRanger service will be discontinued, and it’s hoped users will have transferred their details over to OutdoorActive by then.

For a lot of folk it isn’t an easy transition, but thankfully a new Facebook group, Outdooractive, has been created to help people like me who struggle with new tech: https://www.facebook.com/groups/441533281016108

By connecting your ViewRanger accont to OutdoorActive, routes you have plotted, downloaded and recorded will continue to be available within your OutdoorActive account. Once your ViewRanger account is connected to OutdoorActive, a free subscription will be started automatically.

To help even further, the OutdoorActive’s marketing team is also currently working on some changes on their social media pages with the hopes of providing more regular posts to share hints & tips about using the platform, especially for 4x4 and other green lane users.

more at » https://www.outdooractive.com/en/

2022 updates for Fiat 500X

Fiat UK has announced model year 2022 updates to its everpopular 500X with updated standard specifications across the range.

The 500X MY22 is available in the Club, Cross and Sport trim levels, and in two body variants: Hatchback and the newlyannounced Dolcevita soft top.

Club receives 16-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, cruise control and 7” touchscreen, and is priced from £22,085 OTR.

Cross provides buyers with a more rugged exterior and includes rear-view parking camera, 17” alloy wheels, LED headlights and automatic dual-zone climate control, priced from £23,585 OTR for the hatchback and £26,235 OTR for the Dolcevita.

Top-of-the-range Sport trim has alcantara steering wheel, puddle lights, body-coloured bumpers and side skirts, and colour TFT screen, and is priced at £25,085 OTR for the hatchback and £27,735 OTR for the Dolcevita. All trim levels come with the efficient Firefly 1.0-litre unit with six-speed manual transmission.

Toyota helps keep classic Land Cruisers moving

The legendary Land Cruiser 40 is the latest great Toyota to benefit from Toyota Gazoo Racing’s Heritage Parts Project.

TGR announced recently that it is reproducing key discontinued components for the model, helping enthusiasts keep more of these mighty 4x4s on the road. Around the world, the Land Cruiser 40 became symbolic of “go anywhere” performance, a tough and hugely capable 4x4 with a history spanning four decades from its launch in 1960.

It joins other Toyota classics in the heritage project, including the ultrarare 2000GT sports car of the 1960s, early generations of the Supra coupe and the famous AE86 Corolla.

In 2022 a further 56 reproduction parts will be produced, for six different vehicles. From 1 February, these will be gradually made available for purchase through Toyota retailers worldwide, in the same way as genuine parts for current models.

The project demonstrates TGR’s commitment to car culture and nurturing grassroots enthusiasm for motoring, alongside its world championshipwinning involvement in international race and rally competition and its pivotal role in helping engineer Toyota’s acclaimed GR series of sports cars.

Toyota announces rally-inspired New Hilux GR Sport

The Toyota Hilux is one of the legends of the Dakar Rally and a past outright winner of the world’s toughest race, and its success has inspired the creation of the Hilux GR Sport.

Toyota has introduced dedicated suspension features to deliver an even more rewarding driving experience, with increased control, responsiveness and grip feel. A series of GR-themed exterior and interior design features reinforce the vehicle’s special quality and appeal.

Powered by the Hilux’s more powerful 2.8-litre engine that delivers 201bhp and 500Nm of torque, the GR Sport has the power, but what about handling?

The key feature in the upgraded suspension system is the introduction of new monotube shock absorbers and new front springs.

The monotube design creates a larger piston area to give better damping performance, with faster response and better heat dissipation. It also helps maintain the performance quality of the oil inside the unit when driving in tough conditions.

The front coil springs have been stiffened and both these and the new shocks are painted red to make a stand-out statement of the Hilux GR Sport’s special character.

Compared to the standard Hilux, these upgrades deliver significant improvements in handling characteristics, including steering effort and steering angle response, straight-line performance, a flat ride and reassuring roll and rear grip feel. The new set-up also contributes significantly to ride comfort, with fast response to high-frequency vibrations and increased damping capability to control body movement and eliminate shock.

It isn’t a show pony, either. A Double Cab version of the GR Sport can take a payloads of one tonne and tow braked trailers up to 3.5 tonnes.

Styling wise, the GR Sport has black front grille and dedicated G-pattern mesh and gains a prominent central horizontal bar with the TOYOTA name classically rendered in a heritageinspired touch form the fourth generation Hilux of the early 1980s.

The GR Sport has 17” alloy wheels with a black and machined finish and are fitted with all-terrain tyres. The black theme is carried through in the door mirror casings, side steps and tailgate handle, plus a sports bar, fitted as standard. These elements throw the bright red of the new shocks and springs into sharp contrast.

In the cabin there are new sports front seats in a combination of black leather and synthetic suede with red perforations and contrast stitching. The GR Sport branding is featured on the seatbacks, carpet mats, starter button and the information display animation graphic.

The driver can use paddle controls for manual shift selection and aluminium sports pedals are fitted. The look is enhanced with carbon fibre-style trim inserts, a red deco line across the width of the instrument panel and blue door panel illumination.

Equipment specifications are based on the Hilux Invincible and include a premium JBL sound system, navigation system, heated front and rear seats and a Panoramic View Monitor which provides an all-round view of the vehicle’s location for precise manoeuvring over rough terrain and in tight spaces.

LED headlights and combination lamps, smart entry and pushbutton start, dual-zone air conditioning, Downhill Assist Control and an automatic limited-slip differential are also included.

The new Hilux GR Sport will be arriving at Toyota retailers from summer 2022. The commercial vehicle on-the-road price is £37,551(excluding VAT), the standard on-the-road price is £44,995.

New Hennessey VelociRaptor 400 Bronco

Hennessey, the Texas based hypercar manufacturer and highperformance vehicle creator, has brought forward production of its new VelociRaptor 400 Bronco due to customer demand across the US and around the world.

John Hennessey, company founder and CEO said “Since we announced our plans for the Bronco mid-last year, we’ve been inundated with customer requests to take our upgraded version. For so many of our customers, the Bronco is a special car they’ve always loved, now we can give them a VelociRaptor 400 Bronco with the power and style to make it a truly special vehicle.”

Hennessey’s engineering team enhances the stock 2.7-liter, twin-turbocharged, V6 powerplant with an all-new intake and exhaust system, engine recalibration and larger front-mounted intercooler system, to extract 411 bhp at 4400 rpm and 603 lbft torque at 3,200 rpm from the stock Bronco Badlands model. The VelociRaptor enhancements enable the off-road capable 4×4 to hit 60 mph from standstill in just 4.9 seconds.

The new Hennessey livery option pairs VelociRaptor and Hennessey badging with distinctive double bonnet stripes that extend onto the roof. Additionally, each side sees a distinctive ‘D-shape’ line graphic and a ‘number 1’ on the driver / passenger door. Customers may individualize their Bronco further with 35" off-road tyres on 18" Hennessey wheels; front and rear VelociRaptor bumpers; retractable side steps; and VelociRaptor branding.

Thanks to the extensive Hennessey research and development process, the Bronco’s driving modes and off-road systems are retained, plus Hennessey provides a 3 year / 36,000 mile warranty.

Customer deliveries begin immediately after the the VelociRaptor makes its public debut in Arizona, USA, at the Barrett-Jackson collectable car auction. Production is limited to just 200 units for the year, and orders for the 2 or 4 door version, with or without a soft top, can be placed through authorised Ford retailers, or directly with Hennessey.

more at » HennesseyPerformance.com

Welsh Borders Hill Rally is back in 2022!

That's Motorsport Ltd are organising a Clubman Hill Rally on the 27-29 May 2022 in the Welshpool area of Mid Wales.

The first Hill Rally took place over 50 years ago in May, 1971 and started in Llangollen, North Wales, and the organising team are super excited to be running this event again this year..

The event will:

• use public roads for liaison - the first time since 2007.

• be the first UK Hill Rally to use closed public poads as parts of stages.

• be spread over 3 days:

• have nice stages with a good blend of grass, mud, and gravel roads.

• have stages containing fast, technical and rough bits

There will also be: On-site catering, Toilet facilities, Free camping for Competitors and Marshals on a hard-standing tarmac car park

To join in the interactive fun and ask questions please join the Facebook Group - The Welsh Borders Hill Rally 2022