NEWS

New range of accessories for Isuzu's D-Max

The High-Line pack, designed with the best-selling top of the range V-Cross in mind, combines an Alpha Type E Air Gullwing Canopy with added water defence kit and a bed rug for the load area. The exterior is enhanced with a longitudinal roof rail set and dark grey over fender extension set, along with a towbar with 13-pin electrics.

Lighting is enhanced with a Lazer Lamp roof bar and Lazer Linear 6 front grille lamp set. Finally, on the interior, a new rearview mirror camera kit, which has been specially designed for the Isuzu D-Max, provides a permanent high-quality rearview image. With a retail price of £5,250 plus Vat (excluding fitment), this pack represents a customer saving of over £250.

For customers with a slightly more business focus, the new Mid-Line Pack, with the All-Purpose vehicles in mind, combines a colour-coded CMX Commercial Canopy, which benefits from solid sides and lift-up gullwing doors, with an under rail load liner and water defence kit for the load area. On the exterior, the pack adds the Lazer Linear 6 front-grille-mounted lamp set and dark grey over wing kit and is finished with a hardwearing 3D mat set. The Mid-Line Pack is priced at £4,150 plus VAT (excluding fitment) and represents a customer saving of £100.

Finally, the new Start-Line Pack, aimed at customers with the DL20, comprises a Keko Tonneau Cover & Sports Style Bar, along with an under-rail load liner for the load bed, whilst the pack also adds remote tailgate central locking and rubber floor mats. A towbar with 13-pin electrics is also included along with a quick hitch socket and the Lazer Linear 6 front-grille-mounted lamp set. With a customer saving of over £100, this pack has a retail price of just £1,375 plus VAT (excluding fitment).

The parts and accessory division at Isuzu UK has also recently produced a new accessory brochure which details every genuine Isuzu D-Max accessory in one place and includes over 160 individual accessories that including everything you could imagine for your Isuzu D-Max.

The new comprehensive accessory range can also be found on the updated website - https://www.isuzu.co.uk/accessories/

Hampshire couple support medical services affected by war

Classic car enthusiasts Richard and Gosia Myers, a husband and wife team of from the New Forest, are to donate two fully prepared vehicles to support Ukrainian medical services as part of a life-saving mission in Eastern Europe.

They have enlisted the help of a number of local businesses to prepare the two vehicles - a Land Rover Freelander first response vehicle and a Fiat Ducato ambulance - but are still looking for support to raise funds for essential medical equipment, as well as any assistance possible in the preparation and maintenance of the vehicles, and help towards the cost of delivering them across Europe.

Richard said “Having team members with direct family ties to Eastern Europe, we couldn't stand by and do nothing. We decided to donate two vehicles to the Ukrainian Medical Services. The first (Land Rover Freelander) has just undergone a conversion to a First Response car, and will be kitted out with medical supplies, spinal boards & trauma kits. The second (Fiat Ducato) is ready to be converted into a frontline Ambulance. Once it is is completed, we will drive them straight to the Poland-Ukraine border and hand them to a representative from the Ukrainian Medical Services.”

The Ambulances4Ukraine team are working with the full support and guidance of the Ukraine Embassy in London, as well as receiving huge support from Thurston, Condor Ferries, Guernsey Transport Solutions (GTS) and A-Cute Medical.

Kyiv resident and friend of Richard and Gosia, Inna Dashchenko said "Our medical defenders are waiting for these vehicles to evacuate wounded people from Bucha, Irpen and other hot points. To carry wounded soldiers from the battle fields to hospitals. The vehicles will do so many good things."

They are still in urgent need of emergency roof bars and beacons for the vehicles, along with sterile medical equipment, and any donations can be made on their JustGiving page - https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ambulances4ukraine?utm_term=q4qk89GYE (JustGiving charges a percentage fee, but Richard and Gosia have agreed to match it so anyone who donates can be guaranteed that 100% of their pledge goes directly to support frontline medics).

If the fundraising campaign proves successful, Richard, Gosia and their team will be looking to prepare two more vehicles upon their return to the UK.

Kingsley's brand new dry ice blasting service

If you need your vehicle stripping down Kingsley Cars, one of the UK’s most well known Range Rover classic specialists, is offering a new less damaging, environmentally friendly process.

Kingsley Re-Engineered team has seen a plethora of rusty Range Rovers since they were founded in 2001.

With a Range Rover Classic needing approximately 100 hours to strip its shell and chassis before embarking on a restoration or rebuild project, Kingsley have now moved from using traditional methods, such as sand-blasting and chemical stripping, to cryo dry ice cleaning.

Research shows that up to 70% more panels could be saved using the cryo process compared to more abrasive stripping methods, and it’s better for the environment.

Dry ice blasting is a particle spray procedure that uses CO2 granulate as a spray agent. Unlike most other blasting solutions, which keep their solid state during the entire work process, the frozen CO2 purifies immediately to CO2 gas when it touches the surface, meaning no spray agent residues are left behind.

Available not just to Kingsley's vehicles, the Ice Blasting service will be taking bookings from 4th April 2022 at its Oxfordshire HQ. more at » www.iceblasting.co.uk

Comparison between unrestored Range Rover Classic

Land Rover Defender rally special to celebrate 60 years of 007 News

2022 marks the 60th anniversary of the James Bond film franchise and Land Rover is celebrating by entering a rallyprepared, liveried Defender 90 into the 2022 Bowler Defender Challenge, with Mark Higgins competing in the North Wales leg on 26th March.

Higgins, a 3 time British Rally Champion, and Bond stunt driver, will make his return to rallying with co-driver Claire Williams on 26th March in North Wales.

Higgins has been at the wheel in four James Bond films: Quantum of Solace, Skyfall, Spectre and No Time to Die, and as the new Defender features in the latest Bond film it’s a fitting choice for Higgins.

The Defender 90 features a trademark black and gold Bond livery. The stealthy looking vehicle also features a special 007 60th logo on its roof and sides.

The competition-ready Bond Defender is based on a current Defender 90, powered by the P300 Ingenium powertrain. It features a host of safety modifications, including a full roll cage, enhanced cooling for the engine and transmission, a sports exhaust and new rear roof spoiler.

Other enhancements include strengthened 18-inch Bowler wheels with all-terrain tyres and a bespoke suspension design with modified subframes, new springs and unique turrets for increased stiffness.

Regulated by the Motor Sports Association and operated by Bowler, the 12-team 2022 Bowler Defender Challenge is designed to act as a feeder series for global rally-raid competitions including the annual Dakar rally.

Mark and Claire will compete on the gravel surfaces of Rally North Wales in Dolgellau on 26 March.

Mark said: “The New Defender is a tough and capable vehicle when it leaves the production line, and I’ve seen it perform really challenging stunts while on the set of No Time To Die.

With the race ready enhancements made by the Bowler team, and with Claire by my side, we are confident we can have a great result.”

Prodrive reveals the Hunter allterrain adventure vehicle

Prodrive has revealed the Hunter, a 600 bhp, four-wheel drive all-terrain adventure vehicle with an unrivalled ability and performance across any landscape.

Born out of the Bahrain Raid Xtreme competition car driven by nine-time World Champion, Sebastien Loeb, to compete on the toughest motorsport race in the world the Dakar, it thrives in desert sand, dunes and rough mountain tracks. Indeed, this Hunter is even more extreme than that driven by Loeb, with a 50% increase in power from the 3.5 litre V6 twin turbo engine and more suspension travel to absorb the harshest of terrain.

But while the car is even faster and more capable than the race car, it is also more refined. Ian Callum, who styled the exterior of the original competition car, has returned to the project to create a new interior more in keeping with every day use than racing. A digital display gives the driver all the important information they need, while the centre console houses the more traditional controls found on a road car.

Prodrive Chairman, David Richards, said: “There are numerous hypercars on the market, however they all need good roads or even race tracks to show their performance. We identified that in certain parts of the world, particularly the Middle East, there are vast expanses still to be explored that go way beyond the access provided by asphalt roads. Therefore why not create a vehicle that gives the opportunity to explore these regions with performance way beyond that offered by any off-road vehicle before.”

The Hunter retains the Dakar competition car’s engine, drivetrain and suspension, but to improve driveability, the manual sequential gear box has been replaced by a six-speed paddle shift, giving a smooth gear change in just milliseconds.

As the hypercar does not have to comply with strict competition regulations power has been increased by more than 50%. The 3.5 litre twin turbo V6 has been refined and retuned on Prodrive’s advanced transient dyno in Banbury, UK to produce over 600 bhp and 700 Nm of torque while making its power delivery smoother and easier to drive.

Prodrive estimates that this would give it a 0-100 kph time in less than four seconds and a top speed of nearly 300 kph, however the vehicle is fitted with bespoke 35” off-road tyres designed to optimise grip over rough terrain and sand rather than on tarmac.

Richards said: “We took the deliberate decision to keep the Hunter Hypercar as close to the original as possible. It’s about giving owners the opportunity to experience what it is like to drive Loeb’s Dakar car across the desert, but with all the comforts of a road car and the ability to drive it from your home, through a city, to any destination of your choice.”

The whole car is built around a high tensile steel space frame chassis, giving both a rigid platform to optimise the suspension geometry and performance and an FIA standard safety cage to protect the occupants.

The all-round double wishbone suspension with twin adjustable dampers on each corner has 400mm of travel – an increase from 350mm on the competition car – to give a smoother ride and even greater ability to cross the roughest terrain at speeds unimaginable in any other vehicle. Six pot racing brake calipers and vented discs all round give it plenty of stopping power both on and off-road.

The whole vehicle has been designed to minimise overall weight and optimise the weight distribution and centre of gravity. All the bodywork is made from lightweight carbon composite, which includes recycled materials produced by Prodrive Composites.

The first development vehicle is currently touring the Middle East where customers are being offered the opportunity of driving the Hunter and confirming their personal specification for production vehicles to be delivered later this year.

Volvo launches free puncture & windscreen chip repair service

Rough and worn-out road surfaces are making punctured tyres and stone-chipped windscreens all too common hazards for motorists, so Volvo Car UK has launched a free puncture and windscreen chip repair service for Volvo cars of any age, so at the first sign of damage, drop into any Volvo retailer and get it sorted.

The process is simple, convenient and comes with the peace of mind of work carried out by qualified Volvo technicians, helping to get owners safely back on the road again as soon as possible.

Owners can take their car to any UK Volvo retailer, where the damage will be checked to determine whether a repair is safe and possible. In most instances, a repair can be made on the spot, while the customer waits, with no charge.

If the damage is not repairable, the retailer will advise the customer and, if they wish, arrange for a new tyre or windscreen to be fitted.

Kristian Elvefors, Volvo Car UK Managing Director, said: “As well as reducing the nuisance factor of minor damage, this new service helps keep cars in safe condition and, in the case of windscreens, can prevent chips leading to cracks and more costly replacements. We value all Volvo drivers, no matter how old their car might be, and this new service is the perfect way to help them stay safe, secure and mobile.”

more at » www.volvocars.com

Zero tolerance for phone use behind the wheel

A loophole allowing drivers to escape punishment for hand-held phone use if they are taking a photo or playing a game is now closed, and it’s is now illegal for motorists to use a handheld mobile phone under virtually any circumstance while driving.

Anyone caught using their hand-held device while driving could face a fine of up to £1,000 as well as six points on their licence.

New legislation means making phone calls and texting are not the only functions banned when behind the wheel as taking photos or videos, scrolling through playlists and playing games is also prohibited.

On the flip side, drivers are still able to make contactless payments, for example, at drive-throughs, fuel stations and toll roads, so long as their vehicle is stationary. They can also use their mobile ‘hands-free’ while driving as well as using their sat-nav, just as long as it is secured in a cradle.

The amended regulations will mean an offence is triggered as soon as a driver holds, touches, or fondles their mobile whilst on the move or even stuck in stationary traffic, regardless of why they are holding it.

This law also applies if you’re a passenger who is looking after a learner driver, which is fair enough.

Basically, other than being safely parked at the side of the road, or in a designated parking bay with your engine off, or making a payment, DO NOT TOUCH YOUR MOBILE!

Apparently, the only time you can use a mobile phone while driving is to call 999 or 112 in an emergency, and only if there is nowhere safe to stop, but I dare say you’ll still get ‘done’ if you’re caught driving erratically.

more at » https://www.gov.uk/government/news/transportsecretary-declares-zero-tolerance-for-phone-use-behindthe-wheel-as-law-changes-today