“It’s also quite apt that this weekend dawned with a bit of tardiness on my side.”
January 30 2017: Monday
Tempos Fugit! This is a Latin maxim that basically translates to ‘time flies’. And we’ve seen a speedy exit of January 2017 and an equally speedy introduction of a number of new cars into the industry, Toyota’s face-lifted Corolla and Mitsubishi’s all-new Triton double cab. It’s also quite apt that this weekend dawned with a bit of tardiness on my side; waking up too late to join a friend and colleague for the ‘Jap Fest’ hosted by JDM on Sunday January 29. The convoy was billed to be massive with every Japanese brand represented there and our passports; me in the surprisingly excellent new Honda Civic Sport I’ve been driving and he in a new Mazda MX-5. On this entire Monday the Honda is overshadowed by BMWs; McLarens; Astons and Bentleys at Daytona, indisputably the best drool worthy dealer in Gauteng. I ogle a rare McLaren 670 LT and talk at great length to new Aston Martin manager GC Lukhele, right alongside a DB11. Gosh! It’s an absolutely gorgeous machine and hope to get my hands on it soon.
January 31 2017: Tuesday
News break that German BMW and British McLaren, arguably two of the finest authors of dynamism for a long time, will get together again to find ways to further the development of internal combustion engines. These two last worked on the McLaren F1 with BMW providing the engine and SA born Gordon Murray’s McLaren days constructing the shell. These news brings a much needed break from the sapping talk of all-electric mobility. While still on electricity, the Honda Civic’s styling looks decidedly good and apt for a Hybrid. It’s almost certain this will happen, more especially its slightly gawky turn-in prowess. It’s also proving quite a tidy consumer. Fuel consumption is nailed to the 7.7l/100km mark when I gun it down to Grace Bible Church in Soweto for late Gospel singer Lundi Tyamara’s memorial service. On my way out I come across the great Padre himself – Pastor Musa Sono- not so well hidden by the dark tint of a hulking BMW 750 Li he is commanding.
February 1 2017: Wednesday
Preparations for the coming weekend’s #TrailblazerAdventure are in full swing. It’s always a hell-raising event when you mix a GM off-roader; muddy Limpopo roads and the fun and adventure loving former Group N race ace Grant McLeery. I’m also readying myself for either a Honda MPV or the seemingly rising in popularity new Renault Kwid to arrive on test. If I’m honest, my lust is pointed directly at the little Frenchie. I have suspicions that it’s going to be more frog’s legs than soft and creamy croissant but so many people can’t be wrong.
February 2 2017: Thursday
And it’s the Renault Kwid that chugs to a stop for testing. I’m seeing a great number of these tiny cars on the roads of late and I will finally get to the bottom of the burst in sales. It looks to be a sensible purchase material, and though the small capacity engine sounds horrible and feels poverty stricken in power, this has clearly not dissuaded bargain seekers. In other news, Ford Motors South Africa President Jeff Nemeth releases an apology in a move to polish the brand’s dented image after the Kuga fires scandal. He said: “We recognize that, during the initial process, customer and the public were not well enough informed about the situation, and for that Ford sincerely apologizes.”
February 3 2017: Friday
Ready and packed for a weekend with Chevrolet’s refreshed Trailblazer, a convoy of these fresh looking SUVs head out to Tzaneen, Limpopo for a leisurely break. The 300km plus journey over stretches of tarmac and through bush roads in the middle of the Makgoeba’s Kloof rain forest bring many questions about lifestyles and motoring solutions to the fore. A chat with GM’ product PR man Lunga Ntsendwana clarifies one important aspect; South Africans have a plethora of motoring solutions to meet a very wide scope of lifestyle and applications needs. Mclaren is in the news again. This time they inform everyone to look forward to the new generation of Super Series cars it will reveal at the up-coming, 87th Geneva Motor Show. The day ends with a spirited drive of the hulking Trailblazer slicing through a darkened, cat’s eye lit R71 in Tzaneen – one of the greatest pieces of road to drive on.
ZA TOP RANGE 