November was a big month for us – we couldn’t let you guys down after our fantastic relaunch issue in October, so we packed the new magazine with even more exciting content. Go grab your copy now!
We headed to the Ascari racetrack in Spain for the world launch of the BMW M5 and were thrilled with the new car. It’s not as brutal as it was before but it’s faster and more fun than ever, and cleaner too. Solid on road and on the track, the M5 impressed across the board, but if you want to know more, you’ll have to buy the magazine.
We also travelled to Vienna in Austria to give the all-new Mercedes-Benz B-Class a go, and what a surprise that was! It blew us away with all the latest technology and it’s definitely going to fight for top spot in the segment.
Out keynote feature in November is the Art of Driving. We look at the concept of driving from every conceivable angle and whether you want to hear about it from racers, writers, instructors or armchair experts, we’ve got it. What is it about cars, and indeed ourselves, that makes driving such a pleasure? Skidding, off-roading and everything in between, racing past and present, it’s all in Cars in Action’s in-depth look into the Art of Driving.
And with that in mind, our road test could not have been more appropriate, as we gave the Porsche Cayman R a bit of a thrash, but you’ll have to read the story in the magazine to find out how much we liked it.
Of course we couldn’t get away without any shootouts and the November issue has two stunning ones. First up, the new-engined Alfa Romeo 159 takes on the facelifted Honda Accord and the all-new Suzuki Kizashi, with city hatches, including the Kia Picanto, Nissan Micra, Suzuki Alto and Toyota Aygo, fight it out for top spot.
The latest news, motorsport and the usual raft of quick tests and long-term updates mean the November issue of Cars in Action is packed with action from cover to cover. Only question is, why are you still reading this? Go get your copy now!
You’ll know by know that we’ve reinivigorated Cars in Action, adding the country’s best and most respected motoring journalists to our line up and combining it with a fresh new style and a fair dose of excitement. Now the wait is over and you can get your hands on the October digital edition of the relaunched Cars in Action before it hits shelves next Wednesday.
It’s packed with all the excitement we promised, from a special on the Frankfurt Motor Show to a preview of the upcoming Johannesburg International Motor Show as well as a unique, in-depth insight into the world of car design, both past and present. That article was penned by the newest edition to the team, South Africa’s most decorated motoring writer, Egmont Sippel, so you won’t want to miss it!
That’s not all – Michele Lupini headed to the UK to get behind the wheel of Noble’s mad M600, which lit up our test equipment with a a run at 330km/h. 0-100km/h was just as impressive, but you’ll have to get the digital edition to see what else we got up to with the M600.
John Bentley took to the Portuguese pavé in Kia’s latest offering, the all-new Rio, and was mighty impressed with the product, so you’ll want to check that one out too. And speaking of that Rio, in Cars in Action October you can subscribe and win the impressive Rio.
Of course the magazine is still packed with everything good Cars in Action has become renowned for, not least of which are our shootout tests. This month’s shootout sees the Mercedes-Benz C350 face off against Chevrolet’s Lumina SSV and our new long-termer, a BMW 335i.
On the testing front we got hold of the BMW 1 Series M Coupé and wrung its neck, so if you’re keen to see just what kind of a driver’s machine this thing is, that test is well worth a read.
Our fast impressions comprise the new Audi A6, the Volvo C30 diesel, the Chevrolet Orlando and the Citroën C4 Grand Picasso, while a long-term Suzuki Kizashi has joined the Honda CR-Z in our fleets as we bid a sad farewell to the diesel Citroën C5 that’s served us admirably.
Motorsport coverage, as always, is out of the top draw, and we’ve even enlarged our Formula One section so that you can dive even deeper into the opinions of the best F1 gurus in the business.
We’ve got it all and this is the first opportunity for you to feast on the relaunch issue of Cars in Action, which you won’t want to pass up. The future is here, ladies and gents, so go grab your copy of it now!
The October issue of Bakkie & Truck magazine has plenty to satisfy your needs for both working-class heroes and off-road adventurers.
For starters we have an exclusive first test of the new Toyota Hilux. We take a detailed look at the entire Hilux range so you will be able to see exactly which one of the many models on offer is best suited to your needs. Then we take the new two-litre single-cab Hilux to and put it to the test. But were we impressed? You’ll just have to pick up your copy to find out.
If you’re keen for something a little different, we also got our hands on the new Volkswagen Amarok Single Cab, which is a bakkie keen to take a piece of the Hilux’s workhorse pie. And we reckon it stands a good chance.
On top of that, we put two Chinese cheapies up against each other to find out who is the top dog in the budget bakkie segment. Both the CMG Fudi and the Futon Thunder put up a brave fight but in the end there can be only one. Our load test this issue is also Chinese and, while it’s affordable, it’s far from cheap. Can the GWM Steed 5 really handle the heat when it heads into battle with established rivials like the Hilux, Ranger or KB? This is one you won’t want to miss! In the SUV section of the magazine we bring you our story from the international launch of the Rand Rover Evoque, held in Wales. Michele Lupini took the trip over there and was mightily impressed with the versatility offered by the baby Range Rover. But that’s not all; we pitted three hardcore off-road vehicles against each other, namely the Land Rover Defender, the Mercedes-Benz G300 and the Toyota Land Cruiser 60th Anniversary Edition. So if you’re looking for a true off-road vehicle that can handle anything, you better not miss this test. There’s still more; we also try out the Chevrolet Capitva and the new GWM H5 SUV, plus let’s not forget the truck news where we get behind the wheel of the new JMC Carrying truck and also bring you a full test of the Mercedes-Benz Axor 3340S/33. Watch out for it on shelf, it’s well worth a read!
With the September issue of Cars in Action, we focus on the environment once again. In this year’s Green Issue we have a major scoop in the form of the very first local drive of the Toyota Auris Hybrid, which brings the Prius’ legendary eco friendliness to the mainstream. It’s decent to drive, too, so you won’t want to miss it!
And speaking of the Prius, we decided to pit it against the Honda Insight to see who came out tops. Both cars were amongst the ‘original’ modern hybrids and, even though the two systems are very different, it’s interesting to see how things have progressed since the ‘90s and where hybrids are taking us today.
For something a little less mainstream but arguably even more exciting, we also delved into the world of Eve, a South African electric car innovation that could revolutionise the way personal mobility works. Not only is the electric car itself impressive, but so is the way Eve’s creators want to lease the vehicle as and when necessary – futurists, this one’s for you!
And if you’re one of the many people out there who think that the greening of the motorcar is set to ruin everyone’s fun, you’ll definitely want to have a look at the feature we have on electric racing in our Green Edition. Sure, it might sound a little different, but with performance equal to Formula 3 cars, it’s no less exciting.
And on the topic of excitement, there’s stacks more in the Green Edition of Cars in Action. We tested Porsche’s 911 Carrera GTS, adding a nice twist by throwing a 1984 911 Carrera into the mix, drove Range Rover’s new Evoque in Wales, Volkswagen’s new Beetle in Berlin, challenged ourselves to get a 520d to Durban and back on a tank and got up close and personal with Porsche’s new CEO, Matthias Müller. There’s an affordable sportscar shootout too where the new Volkswagen Scirocco takes on the RenaultSport Mégane Cup and the Peugeot RCZ, which is definitely worth a read.
Keen for more on South Africa’s cleanest and dirtiest cars, BMW’s super-clean new ‘i’ sub-brand and plenty more, plus our usual fix of news, reviews and racing action? Then check out Cars in Action September, on shelf now!
INTERCONTINENTAL COMBAT The August issue of Cars in Action is packed with hot metal. We kick things off with a trip to the heartland of German luxury to take a cheeky drive in Jaguar’s all-new XF. It’s sleek and sexy for sure, but is it a pretender or a contender? You’ll have to check out the Digital Edition to find out!
We also got behind the wheel of McLaren’s new ‘F1’, the MP4-12C, in the UK. It’s got stacks of gadgetry and it’s incredibly quick, but it has previously been slated for being uninvolving. However, we were pretty impressed with the new Macca (it even surprised our resident Tifosi), so have a look at the August issue to look deeper.
As if that wasn’t enough, we returned to South Africa the next day to take a drive in the McLaren’s biggest rival, the newly launch Ferrari 458 Italia. Still not satisfied? Well we’ve got intercontinental combat between the pages of Cars in Action August as we compare the two of them head to head, so you won’t want miss it!
While in the UK we also had a man on the ground at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. We were spoiled and treated like a boy in a candy shop, with Goodwood boasting not only the latest sheet metal, but classic cars too and everything from Formula One cars to WRC ones. It’s all inside Cars in Action August.
There’s a bumber, 13-car shootout inside too, where we decide what the best car on a budget is in our Affordable car of the Year shootout. Should you go A-segment, sub-B or even C? Brand new or only revised? How about Chinese? Check it out to find the answer for yourself!
On top of all that, we sat down with the former Stig, Ben Collins, to get to know the man behind the mask a little better. Want to know what he’s like? You know where to go.
Of course there’s the usual fix of news from all over the world as well as our own shores, motorsport coverage and comprehensive Formula One comment. It’s a great read, so go dive into the Digital Edition of Cars in Action August now!
We introduce VW’s all-new single-cab Amarok, discover the best panel van & three big SUVs fight it out
In the August issue of Bakkie & Truck magazine we’ve got a wide variety of working, off-road and leisure vehicles for you to feast your eyes on.
We kick things off by pitiing the Citroën Berlingo, the Peugeot Partner and the Volkswagen Caddy against one another during our recent office move. It’s a test with a twist, too, as each van is a powered by a totally different engine – a 1.6 petrol, a 1.6 diesel or a bigger, two-litre oil burner – which is best for you? Grab the magazine to find out!
We also put a tough Chinese offering through the gauntlet with out load test. JMC’s BD 2.8-litre 4x4 bakkie is clearly built for the farm and in Bakkie & Truck August you can see how it fared with 500kg on its back.
The big news on the bakkie scene is the introduction of Volkswagen’s new Amarok Single Cab. While the Double Cab has been doing fairly well VW wants to up the ante with the single-cab Amarok. This is no easy task, rewriting the rulebook for what is arguably South Africa’s national vehicle, so you won’t want to miss that read.
There’s also our newly revamped SUV insert, formerly known as Ute. Inside SUV, you’ll find our big off-roader shootout where we put the Audi Q7, the Land Rover Discovery and the Nissan Pathfinder to the test. Of course, if you want to get really rough and tumble, you’d consider buying a Defender – we took one through the Namibian bush and it impressed across the board.
Of course trucks haven’t been neglected either and our Truck insert features military might from Mercedes, as well as a virtual test of the Hino 700.
Of course there’s the usual fix of news from the world of bakkies, SUVs and trucks, plus plenty more for you to dig into!
The July Digital Edition of Cars in Action is available now and it’s packed with excitement from every corner of the market.
To kick things off, we’ve got an oil-burning limo battle where Jaguar’s new XJ diesel fights for its place amongst the perennial favourites, the BMW 730d and the Mercedes-Benz S350 BlueTec, while the wildcard A8 4.2 TDI joined the pack too. Can the Jag overhaul the 7 or the S, or will the A8 spark a surprise – it’s a close fight, that’s for sure!
Sticking with the limo theme, we also took a trip to Austria to drive the new Porsche Panamera Hybrid. This super saloon is more thrilling than just about any hybrid out there – it’s even got a nifty trick to make efficient driving far more fun.
Still want more? How about a Ferrari that’s ready for anything? We delve into the go-anywhere Ferrari, the four-wheel-drive four-seater FF to see just how spectacular it really is. You can also check out the Formula One-sounding Lexus LFA in the new Cars in Action, because with only three of these R5-million supercars in South Africa, you’re unlikely to be one of the lucky few to do so in real life.
On the other end of the scale we cause trouble with two school-yard roughians, namely the new Volkswagen Polo GTI and the ever-popular RenaultSport Clio. Will the new guy topple the popular kid? You’ll have to read it to find out!
A stupidly quick SUV also finds its way into the pages of the July issue in the form of the Subaru Forester S-Edition, while we’ve got a green shootout to decides whether a hybrid is better than today’s clever diesels.
And of course you won’t be left without your usual fill of car news and reviews and motorsport reports from around South Africa and the world. So log in to the Digital Edition now to get your fill.
As you will see from the image, you may initially wonder what the car on the cover is. There are very few pictures of it and the angle at which we have it on the cover is probably one you have never seen before - that's the Perana - the PE-developed Zagato-penned SA-built supercar that stunned the world at Geneva last year.
Cars in Action is the first media anywhere in the world to drive the thing - so you really have something to look forward to this issue. And not only did our man Bentley pedal Perana, but he also spent the afternoon with the man behind it, Jimmy Price as he explored PE's mini-Maranello, while Michele Lupini went to Milano to find out more on how Zagato fitted into he picture - from the horse's mouth.
Mr. Bentley certainly kept himself busy in his first month - considering how a used Bentley (what else!) shapes up against Merc's CL500 and delving into Mercedes' glorious 125 years of motoring history. Elsewhere the Audi R8 Spyder heads up our test schedule that this month that includes a shootout between the junior Giulietta against Citroën's C4, Golf and the Hyundai i30, while Mr. Lupini reports back on why it took him two weeks to get to Zagato driving Fiat's amazing little 500C TwinAir through Italy.
We have all the regular news, views and interviews too, let alone all the latest from the racetrack topped of by all the WesBank SuperSeries action. Watch for the Digital Edition in a day or two and the magazine on shelf 20 April - just in time for a really cool extended Easter read...
Cars in Action's April issue is a cracker - and it's waiting for you on shelf now. Headed up by our indepth report of the Geneva motor show, we're likely the only title to have that content on shelf so soon with all the hot show from Aventador, FF, Azera R, Huraya and the glorious Alfa 4C all in print already. But isn't that what you expect from Cars in Action?
Of course that's not all - we harness the princes of darkness in a kilowatt and Newton-metre fest with BMW's fantastic Frozen up against LupiniPower's sensational Superute flat out on out favourite roads in SA. We also feature a pair of full tests - an exclusive drive on the all-new BMW 6 convertibles and a look at Subaru's much improved Impreza STi.
Our second multi test however likely sheds light on one of the reasons why Volkswagen wants Alfa Romeo - find out why in our shootout between the Audi A1, Citroen DS3 and Alfa Romeo Mito. There are the usual fast impressions and all the data is there as usual, a pre-final look at the WesBank Car of the Year finalists and a bumper WesBank SuperSeries preview among much more.
Click the link to access Cars in Action's Digital Edition now!
We pit SA's best baby workhorses and most powerful SUVs against each other in two super tests
Bakkie & Truck Action magazine's April 2011 issue is a pretty mixed bag. We have a wide variety of latest machinery covered to keep all tastes satisfied this month.
Starting at the bottom, we pit Daihatsu's Grand Max against Chana's little Star in a test of small bakkies with big hearts. Somehow we came away with a soft spot for both. Still on the commercial side we put our Best Bakkie Volkswagen Amarok through it's paces in our traditional Load Test, drive Land Cruiser through the Namib and check out JMC's latest bakkie offerings.
Moving a bit softer, we pit the BMW x5 50i against Porsche's Cayenn Turbo, Range Rover Sport Supercharged and Volkswage Touareg V8 with quite surprising results. And getting downright dirty, we move some earth with Renault's latest trucks, test it's Lander horse and catch up with the latest from Hino, DAF, Tata and Hyundai in a just as diverse Truck section this issue.
All that's left is for you to go get it - click on the cover to log in and access your Digital Edition now...
What, with the pickup market turned on it's head with the arrival of the Volkswagen Amarok, the rest were hard at it to try prevent the Argentine-built German from nicking their precious market share, so most brands were well represented in the 2011 shootout. But were the cab-and-a-half Hilux, Ford's tweaked Ranger or the big new Hardbody V6 turbodiesel capable of stopping the VW juggernaut?
Find out in the Best Bakkie edition now - it's a most intriguing, interesting and entertaining contest...
Beyond Best Bakkie, we feature a quite incredibe Load Test - Lupini's mad 400kW Chevy Superute is actually quicker carrying a 500kg load! There's also all the regular Bakkie, Ute and truck news, features and the rest and it's all waiting for you on the bookshelf now. Go get it!
November also packs a comprehensive economy car special, the highlight of which is our Affordable car of the year shootout that pits ten sub-R120 000 cars against each other to determine which is the very best affordable car on offer today.
The economy special also takes in in-depth look at the success stories of this years Total Economy Run and, for those that like their economy in a more comfortable package, we feature a comparison test between the VW Jetta 1.4 TSI and Toyota Corolla 2.0.
Its been an exciting month on the international front and after travelling to the recent Paris Motor Show, we bring you a full show report while also highlighting some exciting British unveilings at the show.
Catch all this and more, including regular favourites like fast impressions, best engine, Classic Cars in Action and the latest motorsport news in our November 2010 edition.
That’s why the October issue of Cars in Action is packed with such vehicles, our lead comparison test kick-starting the proceedings with a high-peformance roadster bang as the new 250kW BMW Z4 sDrive35is takes on a more affordable alternative in the form of Nissan’s 370Z Roadster.
Real world budgets are considered too, so we assembled three convertibles from the affordable end of the scale. Here we see the Audi A3 Cabriolet 1.8T facing up to the BMW 120i Convertible and Peugeot 308 CC
The excitement continues with an in-depth look at the new Audi R8 Spyder and a total of eight road tests, including the BMW 335i Convertible and Volvo C70. If you still prefer a fixed roof, however, our first track drive of the Ford Focus RS is sure to inspire you.
We’ve increased our page count to bring you more action than ever, while still packing all the regular favourites like news, columns, Demons & Angels with full data, classic car features as well as local and international motorsport.
GREEN (MEAN) EDITION Technically, the September 2010 issue of Cars in Action is our annual Green Edition that focuses on the economical side of motoring, but given the level of motoring enthusiasm inherent in ourselves and our readers, we’ve decided to focus more on the exciting side of ecological. To that end, a highlight feature is our first spin in the stylish and squeaky-clean Honda CR-Z, which is officially the first hybrid sports car to reach South African shores. We then delve into a glut of in-depth features, showing how carmakers like Porsche, BMW and many others are enhancing efficiency and performance at the same time. The green theme continues more intensively with a comparison test, with real-world fuel consumption figures, comparing a diesel, petrol and hybrid from Toyota’s stable, while our columns sum up our wishes for a greener future and uncover the foibles of the proposed emissions tax that will be slapping our wrists soon.
We’ve even taken a trip down memory lane in our classic section as we reveal that the electric car concept is certainly nothing new. Our road test agenda kicks off with a bang as we put the incredible Mercedes-Benz SLS through its paces, while our fast impressions put two frugal diesel cars, the BMW X1 23d and Merc C220 CDi to the test.
POWER EDITION 2010 Small engines making big power – that’s the way of the future and it’s something we celebrate with great vigour in the July issue of Cars in Action.
The three pocket rockets we’ve assembled for our lead shootout epitomise this. Can the new Alfa Romeo Mito with MultiAir technology beat the Citroën DS3 and Mini Cooper S? No easy feat.. If that trio is too miniscule for your requirements, we also visit the premium saloon segment, where the new BMW 535i, with its V8-like punch, takes on the Mercedes E350 and Audi A6 3.0T.
Also punching well above its cubic capacity is the Audi TT RS that we’ve subjected to the full road test treatment, along with the affordable new Kia Koup. Not exactly a small engine, but absolutely brutal in the power stakes, we take Lupini’s 400kW Chev SuperUte for a 2000km spin.
Each bakkie gets assessed on its own merit within its own niche and this year’s diverse field covers everything from the new Ford Ranger DC to the Nissan Navara King Cab and right down to Daihatsu’s new Gran Max workhorse and three half-tonne lightweights. The new Nissan NP200 diesel had an equally hard task this issue, being laden with a 500kg payload for our three-page road test further on. Other bakkie highlights include coverage of the new Volkswagen Amarok, due in SA late in 2010, and a road test of the Toyota Hilux 2.5 D-4D Raised Body. SUV fans also have a feast lined up, with a comparison test pitting the new Ford Everest against the trusty Toyota Fortuner and the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport. Our road test line-up also puts the Mercedes-Benz GL and Nissan Murano under the spotlight. Then flip over to Truck Action and find all the latest trucking news and a virtual test of the Hino 300.
