Car Category : Hyundai
Added : 30th January 2014
Body: Sedan
Downloads : 589 times
Saturday, January 13, 2018
Hyundai Avante 2014
Car Category : Hyundai
Added : 30th January 2014
Body: Sedan
Downloads : 589 times
motortrend 2017 Chevrolet Spark Activ Does its Best Crossover Impression
2017 Chevrolet Spark Activ Does its Best Crossover Impression
Free Price Quote From a Local Dealer Free Price Quote From a View Special OffersNo Obligation, Fast & Simple Free New Car Quote Change Car Select Make cars/" target="_blank">Acura cars/" target="_blank">Alfa Romeo Aston Martin Audi Bentley BMW Buick Cadillac Chevrolet Chrysler Dodge Ferrari FIAT Ford Genesis GMC Honda Hyundai Infiniti Jaguar Jeep Kia < b>Lamborghini Land Rover Lexus Lincoln Lotus Maserati Mazda McLaren Mercedes-Benz MINI Mitsubishi Nissan Porsche Ram Rolls-Royce Scion smart Subaru Tesla Toyota Volkswagen Volvo Select Model Camaro City Express Colorado Corvette Cruze Cruze Limited Equinox Express Impala Malibu Malibu Hybrid Malibu Limited Silverado 1500 Silverado 2500HD Silverado 3500HD Sonic Spark Spark EV SS Suburban Tahoe Traverse Trax Volt GO 1.Vehicle Option Trim Exterior Color No Preference Black Blue Brown Gold Green Orange Red Silver White Yellow Interior Color No Preference Beige Black Blue Gray Green Other Red White Buying Time Frame Within 48 hours Within a week Within two weeks Within a month More than a month Payment Method Undecided Loan Lease Cash Trade In?Dealer Selection Receive your free dealer pricing information by completing your contact information!
Kelly Pleskot
Chevrolet unveils slightly lifted Spark Activ crossover
Automakers try to give the people what they want and lately, they want regular hatchbacks with 1994 cars/" target="_blank">Pontiac-Grand-Am-levels of plastic body-cladding.Chevy has revealed such treatment affixed to its sub-compact Spark before this weeks L.A. Auto Show.Dubbed the Spark Activ â€" not a typo â€" it adds a 10-millimetre suspension lift, large swaths of black, unpainted plastic and several thousand dollars to the price of a standard Spark.
2017 Chevrolet Spark Activ Not Fooling Us With Crossover Costume â€" Motoringcrunch
Chevrolet has just revealed their new automotive/" target="_blank">2017 Chevrolet Spark Activ which will come in as the smallest crossover in the market but is it really a crossover?The Chevrolet Spark Active will be getting a few exterior upgrades that will include a black plastic body cladding over the wheel arches, updated front and rear fascias, new side skirts, updated grille, redesigned fog lights, roof rails, 15inch allow wheels and more.Chevrolet also lifted the Spark Activ by 0.4inch.
Staff Reporter
2017 Chevrolet Spark Activ Launc hed
By Matt DeLorenzo on November 15, automotive/" target="_blank">2016 2:00 PM"The new Spark Activ is all about adventurous fun and style," said Steve Majoros, Chevrolet director of car and crossover marketing."It has an attitude, while still offering the sophisticated, efficient and connected driving experience customers have come to love."An SUV-inspired version of the automotive/" target="_blank">2017 Chevrolet Spark called Activ has been launched, boasting trail-inspired features like skid plates, a bolder front fascia and revised suspension that raises the ride height by nearly a half-inch.The new model also features roof rails, r ocker moldings and standard fog lamps.
Chevrolet Spark Activ is a tiny city crossover
Weve seen this idea have great success in Europe â€" from no frills models like cars/" target="_blank">Dacias Sandero Stepway to the cars/" target="_blank">Volkswagen Cross up!â€" and now Chevrolet is doing it for the urban-dwelling Americans.Say hello to the new Spark Activ â€" which has all-round black plastic body cladding and added ride height that facilitates third degree encounters in the urban jungle.
Aurel Niculescu
Friday, January 12, 2018
2018 Chevrolet Equinox at the Detroit auto show
collected by :John Max
- DETROIT (WWJ/AP) â€" The North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year revealed as the North American International Auto Shows press preview days kick into high gear.The announcements made Monday morning at Detroits Cobo Center.The Chevrolet Bolt announced as the Car of the Year, the Honda Ridgeline named Truck of the Year, while getting the nod in a brand new category for Utility is the Chrysler Pacifica.
. read more from here
- 2017 DETROIT AUTO SHOW: REVEALS AND BIG EVENTSA brief history of the Ford Bronco | 0:55With a resurrection of the Ford Bronco all but confirmed, heres a brief look at the history of this iconic SUV.
.
follow the latest progress in chevrolet from different sites to most famous technicals / by 2017-01-14 at 3:58
As it stated in
Chevrolet Bolt Named Top Car Of The Year At 2017 Detroit Auto Show « CBS Detroit
- DETROIT (WWJ/AP) â€" The North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year revealed as the North American International Auto Shows press preview days kick into high gear.The announcements made Monday morning at Detroits Cobo Center.The Chevrolet Bolt announced as the Car of the Year, the Honda Ridgeline named Truck of the Year, while getting the nod in a brand new category for Utility is the Chrysler Pacifica.
. read more from here
2018 Chevrolet Equinox at the Detroit auto show
- 2017 DETROIT AUTO SHOW: REVEALS AND BIG EVENTSA brief history of the Ford Bronco | 0:55With a resurrection of the Ford Bronco all but confirmed, heres a brief look at the history of this iconic SUV.
.
Wham Bam thank you Nam! Day 3
Namibia: 30 August â€" 9 September 2006
Day 3: (…of ghost towns and ghosts in the darkness)
Friday 1 September 2006
The next morning was taken easy once we discovered that Namibia was one hour behind SA time. Instead of waking up at six, we had accidentally roused ourselves at 05:00! We also established that the Kolmanskop tour started late in the morning and we therefore took the time to ride around town and visit the tourism centre for some info regarding the next few days’ travel.
Leaving
(When Joe and Gurtrude returned to their beach house the next summer they discovered to their horror that gophers had completely decimated their lawn.)
S26 42.189 E15 13.872
We arrived at Kolmanskop at 9:30. Just in time to join a group of Canadians, Chinese and what I think were Portuguese. It was a windy morning and the corrosive dust scratched at our eyes. The guided tour ended mercifully soon and some of us headed for the cool shelter of the restaurant while the remainder of us braved the heat and dust to take some pictures of the abandoned buildings.
We left that wind swept ghost town and made our way to Aus along the long stretch of tar. The road was littered with small birds that flew up at the last moment. They swooped away, sometimes missing the rider in front by mere inches and sometimes they didn’t miss at all. My bike was struck several times and Kobus and I took turns at point. He got a few hits on the helmet and eventually resorted to riding so slow that he could punch and kick in the air to get rid of their incessant harassment. It was so funny to watch that I nearly crashed from laughing so.
Next stop Aus. This time we stopped at the hotel and were extremely surprised by the well kept establishment. We had plenty ice cold beers and ordered chicken schnitzel while we removed our smelly boots. A group of 1 beemer and 3 KTMs thundered past without stopping or waving back at us.
The waiter was a local who had seen his town fall from grace to almost the depths of ruin but seemed hopeful that it would regain its former glory.
S26 01.093 E16 07.692
We knew that reaching Sesriem before nightfall was impossible so we headed for Duwisib Castle instead. But no journey should be rushed and we took the looping D707 along the Naukluft National Park as per Jacko’s suggestion.
The first kilometre or so had me quite nervous and I adjusted the steering damper to maximum. I soon discovered the trick of the road though. Stand up, relax and twist that throttle open every time the front gets too wild.
Pieter also used this method but did so much throttle twisting that when he entered a turn in the road he was going way, way too fast. He struck the sand bank aside the road and for some reason managed to remain upright. He later reflected on the incident and confided in us that he was actually trying to postpone the inevitable crash until he could find a soft place to fall when the bike mercifully found it’s way back to the road again.
Zanie saw Gemsbok, Kudu, Springbok and a multitude of other wildlife but I saw only the road… I must admit, it was one of my favourite roads of the whole trip. Slightly demanding but extremely rewarding.
S25 15.668 E16 32.457
We arrived at Betta after dark and the pumps were already locked. There was no turning back or going forward for fuel so we rode the last 20 kilometres to Duwisib Castle in pitch darkness avoiding roaming cattle and small vermin. It was not a pleasant ride but the campsite looked promising when we finally found it.
(Despite his friends’ misgivings, curious photographic evidence would later confirm Kumar Popadopolous’ claims that he is in fact a saint)
The campsite at Duwisib was great! Easily the best on the entire trip. Running water at every plot. Clean, revamped ablutions with hot water and awesome trees. Each and every morning a small boy comes to rake the sand of every campsite so that new visitors will feel like the first ones there.
It was an awesome evening. We collected wood from the surrounding velt while barking geckos made their music. We cooked pasta and tuna with cheese sauce and drank from our large stash of old brown sherry.
Now and then we heard or saw movement in the tall yellow grass and someone set out to investigate.
Frequently one of the guys would accost Zanie with tales of snakes witnessed in trees. She would assure us that these were merely harmless lizards and their ilk.
We concocted a new cocktail called ‘Njakker-Miaau’ (Brandy, Whiskey, white wine & Cream soda) and got well and truly sauced. Kobus and I eventually retired to our respective tents but I shook with silent laughter when I heard the hilarious discussions still emanating from the fireside.
It was a great night!
Route of the Day - Click on the GoogleEarth image for an enlarged view
Day 3: (…of ghost towns and ghosts in the darkness)
Friday 1 September 2006
The next morning was taken easy once we discovered that Namibia was one hour behind SA time. Instead of waking up at six, we had accidentally roused ourselves at 05:00! We also established that the Kolmanskop tour started late in the morning and we therefore took the time to ride around town and visit the tourism centre for some info regarding the next few days’ travel.
Leaving
(When Joe and Gurtrude returned to their beach house the next summer they discovered to their horror that gophers had completely decimated their lawn.)
S26 42.189 E15 13.872
We arrived at Kolmanskop at 9:30. Just in time to join a group of Canadians, Chinese and what I think were Portuguese. It was a windy morning and the corrosive dust scratched at our eyes. The guided tour ended mercifully soon and some of us headed for the cool shelter of the restaurant while the remainder of us braved the heat and dust to take some pictures of the abandoned buildings.
We left that wind swept ghost town and made our way to Aus along the long stretch of tar. The road was littered with small birds that flew up at the last moment. They swooped away, sometimes missing the rider in front by mere inches and sometimes they didn’t miss at all. My bike was struck several times and Kobus and I took turns at point. He got a few hits on the helmet and eventually resorted to riding so slow that he could punch and kick in the air to get rid of their incessant harassment. It was so funny to watch that I nearly crashed from laughing so.
Next stop Aus. This time we stopped at the hotel and were extremely surprised by the well kept establishment. We had plenty ice cold beers and ordered chicken schnitzel while we removed our smelly boots. A group of 1 beemer and 3 KTMs thundered past without stopping or waving back at us.
The waiter was a local who had seen his town fall from grace to almost the depths of ruin but seemed hopeful that it would regain its former glory.
S26 01.093 E16 07.692
We knew that reaching Sesriem before nightfall was impossible so we headed for Duwisib Castle instead. But no journey should be rushed and we took the looping D707 along the Naukluft National Park as per Jacko’s suggestion.
The first kilometre or so had me quite nervous and I adjusted the steering damper to maximum. I soon discovered the trick of the road though. Stand up, relax and twist that throttle open every time the front gets too wild.
Pieter also used this method but did so much throttle twisting that when he entered a turn in the road he was going way, way too fast. He struck the sand bank aside the road and for some reason managed to remain upright. He later reflected on the incident and confided in us that he was actually trying to postpone the inevitable crash until he could find a soft place to fall when the bike mercifully found it’s way back to the road again.
Zanie saw Gemsbok, Kudu, Springbok and a multitude of other wildlife but I saw only the road… I must admit, it was one of my favourite roads of the whole trip. Slightly demanding but extremely rewarding.
S25 15.668 E16 32.457
We arrived at Betta after dark and the pumps were already locked. There was no turning back or going forward for fuel so we rode the last 20 kilometres to Duwisib Castle in pitch darkness avoiding roaming cattle and small vermin. It was not a pleasant ride but the campsite looked promising when we finally found it.
(Despite his friends’ misgivings, curious photographic evidence would later confirm Kumar Popadopolous’ claims that he is in fact a saint)
The campsite at Duwisib was great! Easily the best on the entire trip. Running water at every plot. Clean, revamped ablutions with hot water and awesome trees. Each and every morning a small boy comes to rake the sand of every campsite so that new visitors will feel like the first ones there.
It was an awesome evening. We collected wood from the surrounding velt while barking geckos made their music. We cooked pasta and tuna with cheese sauce and drank from our large stash of old brown sherry.
Now and then we heard or saw movement in the tall yellow grass and someone set out to investigate.
Frequently one of the guys would accost Zanie with tales of snakes witnessed in trees. She would assure us that these were merely harmless lizards and their ilk.
We concocted a new cocktail called ‘Njakker-Miaau’ (Brandy, Whiskey, white wine & Cream soda) and got well and truly sauced. Kobus and I eventually retired to our respective tents but I shook with silent laughter when I heard the hilarious discussions still emanating from the fireside.
It was a great night!
Route of the Day - Click on the GoogleEarth image for an enlarged view
Winding Road POV Test Drive Of Chevrolet Bolt quoting Inside EVs
You may order presentation ready copies to distribute to your colleagues, customers, or clients, by visiting http://www.autobloglicensing.com This page is for personal, non-commercial use.
As it stated in
3 days ago by Electric CarsTVIn typical Winding Road style, this is a full point-of-view test drive of the Chevrolet Bolt. Winding Road states:Wear headphones! While not all that entertaining, it does provide us with a sense of how quietly the Bolt operates while in motion. With headphones or earbuds on, youll feel like youre actually sitting in the drivers seat. The whole point of these types of test drives videos is to really provide you with a sense of what it would be like if you were in the drivers seat and in that regard, Winding Road does it best.
As it stated in
3 days ago by Electric CarsTVIn typical Winding Road style, this is a full point-of-view test drive of the Chevrolet Bolt. Winding Road states:Wear headphones! While not all that entertaining, it does provide us with a sense of how quietly the Bolt operates while in motion. With headphones or earbuds on, youll feel like youre actually sitting in the drivers seat. The whole point of these types of test drives videos is to really provide you with a sense of what it would be like if you were in the drivers seat and in that regard, Winding Road does it best.
to read more visit us chevrolet
collected by :John Max
Thursday, January 11, 2018
gmauthority site state First Drive 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV
collected by :John Max
this image is quoting of "gmauthority" site
- Even if you dont reside on the west coast, where the automotive/" target="_blank">2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV will initially launch this year, that shouldnt stop you from paying a visit to Chevrolets official website to build your own Bolt EV.cars/" target="_blank">Yes, thats right, th e brand has brought the official configurator online for potential owners, or just EV perusers, to check out and click a few option boxes.Its not the most exciting configurator in the world since there arent that many options to be had with the Bolt EV, but nevertheless, its here.
. read more from here
this image is quoting of "nydailynews" site
- For the better part of the last 100 years, the gas station has been irrevocably intertwined with our hallowed concept of personal transportation.Who wouldnt want to comingle with hoodied strangers in variable weather conditions, dropping fistfuls of dol lars to pump a smelly, volatile liquid hydrocarbon into their vehicles every few hundred miles or so, then combust it and blow the emissions into the atmosphere?My guess is quite a few of us.
.
follow the latest progress in chevrolet from different sites such as "gmauthority" site most famous technicals /Sean Szymkowski by 2016-12-01 at 9:3
referring to
2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV Configurator Live
this image is quoting of "gmauthority" site
- Even if you dont reside on the west coast, where the automotive/" target="_blank">2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV will initially launch this year, that shouldnt stop you from paying a visit to Chevrolets official website to build your own Bolt EV.cars/" target="_blank">Yes, thats right, th e brand has brought the official configurator online for potential owners, or just EV perusers, to check out and click a few option boxes.Its not the most exciting configurator in the world since there arent that many options to be had with the Bolt EV, but nevertheless, its here.
. read more from here
First Drive: 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV
this image is quoting of "nydailynews" site
- For the better part of the last 100 years, the gas station has been irrevocably intertwined with our hallowed concept of personal transportation.Who wouldnt want to comingle with hoodied strangers in variable weather conditions, dropping fistfuls of dol lars to pump a smelly, volatile liquid hydrocarbon into their vehicles every few hundred miles or so, then combust it and blow the emissions into the atmosphere?My guess is quite a few of us.
.
Volkswagen CC R Line Car Wallpaper
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| Volkswagen CC R-Line Car Images |
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| Volkswagen CC R-Line Car Wallpapers |
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| Volkswagen CC R-Line Car Pictures |
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Review 2017 Nissan Navara
Guns blazing!
Never before have there been so many bakkies for South Africans to choose from, and the segment keeps on growing. Enthusiasts have reason to celebrate the arrival of yet another contender â€" the updated Nissan Navara.Xavier Gobille, Nissan’s director for sales, marketing and after-sales, is in high spirits. His French accent is punctuated by feverish hand gestures, yet the wine in his glass never spills.
The last time we saw him this energised was when he was appointed MD of Renault South Africa. Back then he pledged to improve Renault’s dubious reputation, which he has done.
This time Xavier has a new objective: To rekindle our interest in Nissan, and the new Navara will play a key role in his efforts.
The old Navara always seemed to stand apart from other bakkies, partly due to its slightly larger size (and heftier price tag) and because of the continuation of the Nissan NP300 Hardbody, which has always been regarded as the traditional opponent to the Toyota Hilux and the Ford Ranger.
The long-lived NP300 can’t possibly hope to compete against the latest generation of Hiluxes and Rangers, however, which is why the new Navara â€" now in its third generation â€" has stepped back into the ring.
New Navaras are parked neatly in a row, against the jade vineyards of Rhebokskloof Wine Estate. From time to time I glance at the bakkies while Xavier lays out his plans for the brand.
Noticing that my attention is drifting, he halts his monologue and asks my opinion of the new bakkie.
“It’s very nice!†I blurt out. Feeling daft, I quickly add: “But what could you have done better?â€
Xavier is unfazed. He looks directly into my eyes and says, “Nothing is perfect, pfft! But zis is ze best one.â€
What’s new on the outside? Nearly everything about the 2017 Navara is different. The first thing you’ll notice is that the body is far curvier and it also appears slightly smaller than before, although it actually isn’t.
The load bed has been stretched by 67 mm and it’s 18 mm deeper, resulting in a capacity of 1 061 litres. The roof has been lowered by 20 mm to give the vehicle a sleeker appearance and to create the illusion of a wider stance.
My favourite exterior feature is the spoiler on the lip of the tail gate. Its primary role is to improve aerodynamics, but it also doubles as a perch for your brewsky at sunset. Cheers!
And inside? Black and satin silver are the only two colours you’re getting, whether you opt for fabric or leather upholstery. I wouldn’t call the interior “bland†though, it’s just utilitarian. There’s no shortage of cup holders: four in the front and two at the back, plus bottle bins in the door pockets.
There are also four 12 V sockets strewn throughout the cabin for USB adaptors to charge cellphones, or to power a portable refrigerator.
The cabin is slightly shorter and lower than the outgoing model, but legroom remains unchanged. Even a 1,8 m-tall guy like me fits comfortably in the back. The top spec LE model has an electrically adjustable seat for the driver.
What’s the ride like? The new Navara has a multi-link coil suspension attached to a live rear axle, which results in an uncommonly smooth ride for a bakkie without sacrificing off-road ability or carrying capacity. In fact, the new Navara is rated to carry up to 1 002 kg â€" depending on the model â€" and is equal in the rough stuff to most of its competitors.
We didn’t get the opportunity to test the Navara with a tonn e loaded on the back, but it’s interesting to note that Nissan plans to equip the soon-to-be-released single-cab models with regular leaf springs.
This leads one to suspect that the multi-link coil suspension is okay for carrying bicycles and camping gear, but it might not be suited to hauling 20 bags of cement.
The 2,3-litre diesel engine is lively and reaches peak torque and optimal power quickly, at 1 5000 rpm, and holds onto that power for a surprisingly long time thanks to the twin turbochargers that share the load at different engine speeds.
It’s also an economical engine, which has a claimed fuel efficiency of only 7 â„"/100 km despite its admirable performan ce.
The seven-speed automatic gearbox is a good match for the engine â€" I couldn’t fault its operation. However, the six-speed manual is a revelation. Often when a vehicle has a praiseworthy automatic transmission, the manual version is less commendable, or vice versa. Not here. First gear in manual seems well suited to rock crawling and sixth still possesses ample torque â€" it certainly isn’t just a limp overdrive gear to save fuel. So, should you choose auto or manual? Horses for courses, but you won’t be unhappy with either.
Thanks to Xavier Gobille, South Africa has received a superior version of the Navara compared to other markets. He deemed the European-spec models too “soft†for Africa and instructed the local Nissan plant in Rosslyn to give our Navaras better ground clearance and to remove unnecessary bits that would only break on our roads.
You can dial in 4x4 high mode on the fly, at speeds up to 100 km/h, but you’ll have to stop dead before engaging low range and the rear diff lock, just like you’d do in other bakkies. We drove the Navara in the dunes near Lambert’s Bay and its off-road prowess was hard to fault.
Models? Initially the range will consist of three double-cab models, all with 2,3-litre diesel engines and either six-speed manual or seven speed automatic gearboxes.
The range kicks off with the 2.3 DDTT4x4 SE MT (R514 900), followed by the 2.3 DDTT4x4 LE MT (R565 900), and the 2.3 DDT4x4 LE AT (R597 900) with optional leather seats (R13 000 extra).
Two-wheel drive, 2,5-litre petrol, single-cab and possibly also kingcab models are in the works, and we should start seeing them on our roads w ithin a year.
Verdict: Is the new Navara the best bakkie money can buy? I wouldn’t go that far, but it’s certainly one of the best. Toyota and Ford both have legions of fans and Mitsubishi has an excellent bakkie in their Triton. The VW Amarok has recently been upgraded and Mercedes-Benz will launch their X-class bakkie soon. (The Merc bakkie, coincidentally, is based on the Navara.)
Move over SUVs, this is the decade of the leisure bakkie. Oh, what a time to be alive!
The last time we saw him this energised was when he was appointed MD of Renault South Africa. Back then he pledged to improve Renault’s dubious reputation, which he has done.
This time Xavier has a new objective: To rekindle our interest in Nissan, and the new Navara will play a key role in his efforts.
The old Navara always seemed to stand apart from other bakkies, partly due to its slightly larger size (and heftier price tag) and because of the continuation of the Nissan NP300 Hardbody, which has always been regarded as the traditional opponent to the Toyota Hilux and the Ford Ranger.
The long-lived NP300 can’t possibly hope to compete against the latest generation of Hiluxes and Rangers, however, which is why the new Navara â€" now in its third generation â€" has stepped back into the ring.
New Navaras are parked neatly in a row, against the jade vineyards of Rhebokskloof Wine Estate. From time to time I glance at the bakkies while Xavier lays out his plans for the brand.
Noticing that my attention is drifting, he halts his monologue and asks my opinion of the new bakkie.
“It’s very nice!†I blurt out. Feeling daft, I quickly add: “But what could you have done better?â€
Xavier is unfazed. He looks directly into my eyes and says, “Nothing is perfect, pfft! But zis is ze best one.â€
What’s new on the outside? Nearly everything about the 2017 Navara is different. The first thing you’ll notice is that the body is far curvier and it also appears slightly smaller than before, although it actually isn’t.
The load bed has been stretched by 67 mm and it’s 18 mm deeper, resulting in a capacity of 1 061 litres. The roof has been lowered by 20 mm to give the vehicle a sleeker appearance and to create the illusion of a wider stance.
My favourite exterior feature is the spoiler on the lip of the tail gate. Its primary role is to improve aerodynamics, but it also doubles as a perch for your brewsky at sunset. Cheers!
And inside? Black and satin silver are the only two colours you’re getting, whether you opt for fabric or leather upholstery. I wouldn’t call the interior “bland†though, it’s just utilitarian. There’s no shortage of cup holders: four in the front and two at the back, plus bottle bins in the door pockets.
There are also four 12 V sockets strewn throughout the cabin for USB adaptors to charge cellphones, or to power a portable refrigerator.
The cabin is slightly shorter and lower than the outgoing model, but legroom remains unchanged. Even a 1,8 m-tall guy like me fits comfortably in the back. The top spec LE model has an electrically adjustable seat for the driver.
What’s the ride like? The new Navara has a multi-link coil suspension attached to a live rear axle, which results in an uncommonly smooth ride for a bakkie without sacrificing off-road ability or carrying capacity. In fact, the new Navara is rated to carry up to 1 002 kg â€" depending on the model â€" and is equal in the rough stuff to most of its competitors.
We didn’t get the opportunity to test the Navara with a tonn e loaded on the back, but it’s interesting to note that Nissan plans to equip the soon-to-be-released single-cab models with regular leaf springs.
This leads one to suspect that the multi-link coil suspension is okay for carrying bicycles and camping gear, but it might not be suited to hauling 20 bags of cement.
The 2,3-litre diesel engine is lively and reaches peak torque and optimal power quickly, at 1 5000 rpm, and holds onto that power for a surprisingly long time thanks to the twin turbochargers that share the load at different engine speeds.
It’s also an economical engine, which has a claimed fuel efficiency of only 7 â„"/100 km despite its admirable performan ce.
The seven-speed automatic gearbox is a good match for the engine â€" I couldn’t fault its operation. However, the six-speed manual is a revelation. Often when a vehicle has a praiseworthy automatic transmission, the manual version is less commendable, or vice versa. Not here. First gear in manual seems well suited to rock crawling and sixth still possesses ample torque â€" it certainly isn’t just a limp overdrive gear to save fuel. So, should you choose auto or manual? Horses for courses, but you won’t be unhappy with either.
Thanks to Xavier Gobille, South Africa has received a superior version of the Navara compared to other markets. He deemed the European-spec models too “soft†for Africa and instructed the local Nissan plant in Rosslyn to give our Navaras better ground clearance and to remove unnecessary bits that would only break on our roads.
You can dial in 4x4 high mode on the fly, at speeds up to 100 km/h, but you’ll have to stop dead before engaging low range and the rear diff lock, just like you’d do in other bakkies. We drove the Navara in the dunes near Lambert’s Bay and its off-road prowess was hard to fault.
Models? Initially the range will consist of three double-cab models, all with 2,3-litre diesel engines and either six-speed manual or seven speed automatic gearboxes.
The range kicks off with the 2.3 DDTT4x4 SE MT (R514 900), followed by the 2.3 DDTT4x4 LE MT (R565 900), and the 2.3 DDT4x4 LE AT (R597 900) with optional leather seats (R13 000 extra).
Two-wheel drive, 2,5-litre petrol, single-cab and possibly also kingcab models are in the works, and we should start seeing them on our roads w ithin a year.
Verdict: Is the new Navara the best bakkie money can buy? I wouldn’t go that far, but it’s certainly one of the best. Toyota and Ford both have legions of fans and Mitsubishi has an excellent bakkie in their Triton. The VW Amarok has recently been upgraded and Mercedes-Benz will launch their X-class bakkie soon. (The Merc bakkie, coincidentally, is based on the Navara.)
Move over SUVs, this is the decade of the leisure bakkie. Oh, what a time to be alive!
| VITAL STATISTICS | 2.3 D DT4x4 LE AT |
| Engine | 2 298 cc 4 inline twin turbo-diesel |
| Power | 140 kW @ 3 750 rpm |
| Torque | 450 Nm @ 1 500 rpm |
| Transmission | 6-speed auto |
| Final drive | Four-wheel drive with low range |
| Fuel consumption | 7 â„"/100km |
| Tank volume | 80 â„" |
| Ground clearance | 229 mm |
| Approach/departure angle | 33° and 28° |
| Payload | 961 kg |
| Towing weight | 750 kg (3 500 kg braked) |
| Warranty | 6 years/150 000 km |
| Service plan | 3 years/90 000 km |
| Service intervals | 15 000 km/12 months |
| Price (June 2017) | R597 900 |
