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Cars in Action March 2010

BIG Cars in Action
We’re going big with the March issue – literally! This latest instalment to our series of themed issues takes a look at the changing face of the large luxury cars, with a lead comparison test pitting the new Porsche Panamera Turbo against its hyper-limo rivals, these being the BMW 760Li, Merc S 600 L and Maserati Quattroporte GTS Sport.

Too big for you? We also travelled to Portugal to drive the all-new BMW 5 Series, which is due in May, while back on home soil we got hold of its smaller 330d sibling to see if it, and the Merc C320 CDI, can still stand tall against a sumptuous new turbodiesel rival from Citroën, in the form of the C5 3.0 HDi.

If you’re after a big saloon with gut-wrenching power, be sure to read our full track test of the Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG. The Audi R8 V10 also gets full test treatment while our fast impressions for the month include the Lexus IS250C, Toyota Verso 1.6 and a final goodbye road test of the Citi Golf MK1.

Your regular CiA favourites are also in place, including a full Detroit Motor Show report in Fast News and a host of season previews in our motorsport section. What’s more, our Demons & Angels new car buyer’s guide has been remodelled, now more concise but punchy as ever.

Cars in Action January 2010

POWER EDITION 2010
It’s that most exciting time of year again, where we kick off the holidays with a blast by reuniting all our favourite performance cars of the past year for one final blast at Kyalami.

This year’s Performance car of the year contest covers as wide a spectrum as ever, with everything from the Porsche GT2, Audi R8 V10 and Nissan GT-R supercars right down to the affordable Opel Corsa Sport competing for honours, along with a glut of hot hatches and super saloons that play the middle ground. 13 cars in total, but only one wins.

Another tradition we’ve followed with delight was giving the full test treatment to two motorsport champions of 2009 in the form of Jayde Kruger’s Formula Volkswagen and Evan Hutchison’s Off-Road Revo. Back to reality, we’ve also road tested the Audi A5 Cabrio, VW CC and Peugeot 308 CC.

Other highlights include the scoop on Porsche’s future model range in Fast Forward, a feature on the new Lotus Evora that’s coming to South Africa in January and all the regular motoring and motorsport news, including season wrap-ups on all the prominent local and international motorsport formulae.

Bakkie & Truck Action January 2010

BEST BAKKIE 2010
It’s not easy being a hard-working bakkie in this day and age and the bakkies’ plight gets even harder at the end of each year as we assemble all the new arrivals of the year for our Best Bakkie contest.

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.


Supertest Annual 2010

SUPERTEST ANNUAL 2010
Supertest is a special edition of Cars in Action and Bakkie & Truck Action's best shootouts and comaprison tests of the year and features all the most important new cars of the year compared against their closest market rivals.

Highlights this year include a dramatic shootout between the Nissan GT-R, Audi R8 V10 and Aston Martin V12 Vantage and there's another on the same Audi and Aston in V8 form versus BMW M6.

Of course we put the Audi RS 6 up against the BMW M5 and Merc CLS63 AMG, the Audi S4 versus the BMW 335i, while Golf GTI features in two comparos and there's something for everybody with even a double-cab, half-ton and bakkie-based SUV shootout for you to enjoy...

Cars in Action November 2009

THE CARS IN ACTION HOT HATCH SPECIAL
We have prepared a hot hatch feast for you this issue, from the traditional to the future...

The December issue of Cars in Action magazine on sale now celebrates the hot hatchback by tackling all angles of the segment, and most excitingly, its evolution into the very premium end of the spectrum.

To this end, we were most delighted to drive the new Porsche Panamera flat out in Dubai and you can read about it in our four page driving impression, which kicks off the hot hatch special after a quick look at the evolution of the genre and how it’s spawning new entrants like the Aston Martin Rapide and BMW 5-Series GT.

From here we get back to business with the more conventional hot hatch by seeing how the latest hot hatch entrant, the Mazda3 MPS, stands up to the latest evolution of the iconic hot hatch – the VW Golf GTI – and throw in a Ford Focus ST for good measure. Before you get to that, however, you’ll also read about the next VW Golf GTI in fast forward.

The hot hatch game is also evolving downwards and we celebrate this aspect too, with a shootout between the latest Renault Clio RS and Opel Corsa OPC, while the most affordable end of the segment also gets a look in with a road test of the Renault Twingo RS.

The test agenda also includes a full test of the Alfa Romeo Mito and fast impressions of the Maserati GT A and a modified VW Scirocco. We’ve also thrown in a sedan shootout, in which the new Kia Cerato tackles the Chev Cruze and Toyota Corolla, while all your favourite aspects of Cars in Action, including the latest motoring and motorsport news is also in place.

Bakkie & Truck Action November 2009

WERK MAAR LEKKER!
Peek beneath the skin of a traditional bakkie and its ladder frame construction and leaf-sprung rear suspension might make it seem outdated by car standards, but that’s for a very good reason. These bakkies are made to withstand the toughest conditions while carrying a full load in its rear container. In the December issue of Bakkie & Truck Action, we celebrate the working bakkie.

Our line-up kicks off with a comparison test between the 2.5-litre turbodiesel, raised suspension, single cab versions of the Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger and Nissan NP300. While offering the loading capacity of a workhorse bakkie, these derivatives bring extra off-road ability and comfort to the equation. But which one is best?

This edition also marks the introduction of load testing to our magazine and the first victim is the latest Ford Ranger 3.0 TDCi double cab 4x4. After testing the vehicle with a 500kg load on the back, we’ve compiled an in-depth, three-page road test of this Ford bakkie. At the other end of the scale, we also take a look at the new Daihatsu Gran Max cab-over bakkie.

The December issue also packs in the latest bakkie and SUV news, three road tests and our regular trucking section on the back, which includes a virtual road test of the latest Mercedes-Benz Actros.

Cars in Action October 2009

SUPERCARS IN ACTION
Cars in Action October hits the track flying with a return to the kind of cars we all fantasise about, and boy do we have some exhilarating metal to report on!

Let’s start with a supercar shootout that pits the new Nissan GT-R against the Audi R8 V10 and Aston Martin V12 Vantage. However, no need to kick yourself too hard if your needs and budget fall into the real world category as we’ve also pitted the stunning new Audi S4 against the BMW 335i on track and road.

Talking track tests, we’ve also attained two of the most surprising track results ever, which you’ll read about in our full road tests of the Nissan GT-R and BMW X6 xDrive50i.

It’s also been a crazy month on the new model front, in which we’ve packed together in a full Frankfurt Motor Show report, while also covering the local turf with new model insights on the Porsche Panamera, RenaultSport Clio, Kia Cerato and Fiat Linea. Meanwhile, ‘Fast Forward’ sneaks a peek at the radical new Chevrolet Corvette that GM is working on.

Furthermore, October also introduces our first ever coast-and-reef test programme featuring the Toyota Prius, Mazda3, Chevrolet Cruze and Ford Focus. As is customary, the cherry on the cake is our regular columns, long-termers, SA’s best new car guide and a healthy whack of the latest gossip from the motorsport world.

Bakkie & Truck Action October 2009

CAB-AND-A-HALF KINGS
The last time Nissan offered a King Cab, it was back in the ‘eighties and it had the market to itself. Now the King Cab is back – in Navara guise – but it has three formidable rivals to face, including the new facelifted Ford Ranger. As you’d expect, we throw all four into the fighting ring.

At the lower end of the bakkie market, Fiat has just introduced a revised Strada now imported from Brazil and powered by a 1.4-litre engine. To keep it honest, we round up its workhorse rivals from Ford, Opel and Nissan.

Keeping our focus on the Brazilian influence, our news section lifts the lid on the next generation Opel Corsa Utility, which incidentally is not even an Opel but rather wears a Chevrolet bowtie. It’s based on an all new range developed in South America.

Other highlights include an Isuzu adventure in Damaraland, a look at the new Ford Ranger, a road test on the Nissan NP200 1.6 16V with figures attained both at reef altitude and sea level and, of course, the latest from the trucking industry, including a road test of the Scania R500.

Cars in Action September 2009

THE GREEN EDITION
September’s issue of Cars in Action is all about ecological responsibility in the realm of motoring, and it’s less compromising than you think. We prove this to you by assembling five cars that offer the most bang for your carbon footprint: each capable of sprinting from 0-100km/h in eight seconds or less and emitting less than 175g/km when driven with optimal economy in mind.

There is plenty of excitement before you get to that section, however, with a full preview of the next BMW 5-Series, a glance at Nissan’s new electric car called the Leaf and an investigation into how South Africa’s poor fuel quality is hindering the technological advances that carmakers are making.

Being the Green Edition, we also take an in-depth look two new ‘green’ products in the form of Toyota’s Prius and the Lexus RX 450h. We also explore BMW’s EfficientDynamics technologies and the ecological strides that certain other manufacturers are making before reporting on a real-world scenario in the form of the recent Total Economy Run.

Our test agenda for the month includes a full test of the Volkswagen Golf TSI Highline and fast impressions of the Honda Accord diesel, Peugeot 107, Smart mhd and Renault Sandero. South Africa’s best new car guide and a full complement of motorsport news is also on hand as always.

Cars in Action August 2009

SPORTS CARS IN ACTION
We all grow up dreaming of sports cars and the August issue of Cars in Action, on sale now, keeps those dreams alive with an adrenalin-packed magazine that focuses on this most exciting breed of car.

Read all about the 2011 Lamborghini Murcielago replacement in Fast Forward, before checking out our top ten sports cars of all times, followed by an indepth look at exciting new international players like the Aston Martin One-77, Corvette ZR1, Bugatti Veyron GS and the locally-released Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4.

Our main shootout for August takes a more real-world approach to the sports car, as we take three relatively affordable sports cars in the form of a Nissan 370Z, BMW Z4 35i and Audi TTS on a road trip to Dawsons in Mpumalanga.

Our next needlematch pits the new VW Golf GTI against the Ford Focus ST, Renault Megane R26 and Subaru Impreza WRX, while our test line-up includes a full test on the VW Scirocco and fast impressions on the Mini Cooper S Convertible and Mercedes-Benz S500.

It’s sports cars galore in CiA August, but we haven’t neglected to also offer you the latest in motoring and motorsport news, columns and long-term updates.

Bakkie & Truck Action August 2009

CHALLENGING THE CHAMP
The Toyota Hilux has a long record of winning our bakkie shootouts, but there are always new challengers to the throne.

Mazda’s BT50 has received a nip and tuck and Tata has put a powerful new engine in its Xenon, which means for us Bakkie & Truck Action folk, it’s time for a fight! But will either topple the king? We pit these three against each other, also throwing in an Isuzu KB and Nissan Navara for good measure.

For those that prefer smaller bakkies, we’ve also done a comparison featuring Nissan’s new high-spec NP200 16-valve, the 1.8-litre Opel Corsa Ute and the Ford Bantam 1.6 XLE. These bakkies all combine surprisingly good performance and comfort for the prices they command, but only one can win…

The August issue is also packed with the very latest in bakkie and truck-industry news, and we’ve also reintroduced the Action & Adventure section for those into off-road biking. This month we take a look at some of the new dirt bikes for 2010.

Cars in Action July 2009

THE POWER EDITION
The July issue of Cars in Action is dedicated to the glory of power and as youd expect, we’ve lined up a glut of vehicles that have no shortage of ponies.

After taking a peek at the fastest cars on earth, our attention shifts to a comparison test between three powerful sports cars available in South Africa. Question is, can Aston Martin’s new 4.7-litre V8 Vantage run with the Audi R8 and BMW M6? For those with real-world budgets, we also compare the two most advanced 1.4-litre cars on the planet as the new 118kW VW Golf TSI takes on the Fiat Bravo 1.4 T-Jet

If you want your big power car coated in the best of British elegance, you’ll love our in-depth feature that takes a look at the Aston Martin Vantage, DB9 and DBS. Next we put Jaguar’s new 202kW XF Diesel S under the spotlight, along with the new XFR and XKR and staying with the Brits, the new 449kW Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed gets the full test treatment.

Our Fast Impressions agenda puts the new Audi A6 2.0T, Opel Corsa 1.6 Sport, Peugeot 308 HDi and Ford Focus TDCi to the test and you’ll also find all your favourite CiA regulars, including the very latest motoring and motorsport news and a sneak preview of the next Jaguar XJR in Fast Forward.

Cars in Action June 2009

CARS IN ACTION CELEBRATES SPEED
June issue of Cars in Action may seem a radical departure. But dont judge a book by its cover

Speed has always been the essence of enthusiastic motoring and in the June issue of Cars in Action, celebrates the newfound relevance of top speed in the first installment of our new campaign of themed issues that youll see regularly in future

While the cover of the July issue is a big departure from the norm, we found no need to change much on the inside, where all the Cars in Action regulars are still in place.
Our lead comparison test pits the new VW Scirocco against two chic hatch rivals in the form of Alfa Romeos GT and the Honda Civic Type R.

Our full test agenda puts the Audi A6 3.0T and Mini JCW through their paces, while BMWs new 750iL, the Lexus IS250 Sport, Toyota Corolla 1.3 and Ford Fiesta 1.6 TDCi are covered in Fast Impressions.

Weve also taken a drive in the new BMW Z4 and provided in-depth coverage on the new Porsche Boxster and Cayman and Fords recently updated Focus. Before you get to that though, our news coverage takes a look at the upcoming Ferrari F400, all-new Astra and VWs Citi Golf replacement and we take a look at the highlights of the Shanghai Motor Show in China.

Further back in the magazine youll also find all the regulars youve come to enjoy, including coverage of key local and international motorsport events.

Bakkie & Truck Action June 2009

GROWN-UP LIGHTIES
The June 2009 issue of Bakkie & Truck Action magazine takes a look at the top end of the small bakkie scale. Ford’s new Bantam brings a modern turbo-diesel to the Opel Corsa Ute’s turf and we compare them to see if there’s a new king of the high-spec diesel pile.

We also take an in-depth look at the new Ford Bantam and delve into the history of this South African-made icon. In another feature, the expanding Tata bakkie range comes under the spotlight. For those seeking a premium SUV-type vehicle, we’ve also put together a comparison of the new Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Volvo XC60.

Our test agenda features the Mitsubishi Triton Club Cab, Toyota Fortuner, Fiat Scudo and Peugeot Partner, in addition to all the latest bakkie news. Flip the magazine and you’ll also enjoy our truck section, featuring the latest news and a road test.

Cars in Action May 2009

PULL FACTOR
In the May 2009 issue of Cars in Action, we bring together four of the coolest cult hatchbacks around, lining up Honda’s new Civic Type R Championship Edition, the Mini Cooper S JCW, Opel Corsa OPC and Peugeot 207 GTi. This comparison has nothing to do with price and everything to do with pull factor, performance and dynamics. May the best grown-up go-kart win…

The test excitement continues with a shootout between the new Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Volvo XC60, a full test featuring the Audi RS 6 and fast impressions of Mercs C180K Blue Efficiency, the Honda Accord Tourer, Mazda6 2.5 and Ford Ikon 1.4 TDCi.

Before you get to that, though, read about the upcoming Mercedes-Benz SLS Gullwing in Fast Forward, the new VW Golf GTI in Fast News and a comprehensive look at the exciting stuff from the Geneva Motor Show. This in addition to all the regular action youve come to enjoy, including SA comprehensive new car guide and all the motorsport news in our improved motorsport section.

Cars in Action April 2009

BAHNSTORM!
Indulge in what's possibly the most significant super saloon shootout, ever, as Audis new RS 6 meets its foes, the BMW M5 and Merc CLS 63 AMG at Kyalami for a showdown. And if you think that the Audis 426kW twin-turbo V10 give it the edge over its less powerful rivals, you might be quite surprised at the results of this test.

The adrenalin doesnt end there. Our April issue also slips in full track tests of the Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG Estate and Audi TTS Coupe.

Yet no need to see storm clouds on your horizon if you cant afford these machines – April CiA also slots in numerous affordable cars, including an in-depth look at the new Renault Sandero and fast impression tests of the Fiat Grande Punto T-Jet, Peugeot 308 SW, Renault Koleos and BMW 125i Coupe.

Catch up with the most important Geveva Motor Show news, including the new VW Polo, in fast news and if motorsport is your best, our motorsport section packs in a wealth of news and season previews.

Bakkie & Truck Action April 2009

THE AUTOMATIC CHOICE
Until recently those wanting a diesel double cab with an automatic gearbox didn’t have much choice, but now the options have been widened with the release of the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux auto diesels. In the April issue of Bakkie and Truck Action, we pit these two newcomers against an established player from Isuzu.

For those seeking a workhorse with a closed load compartment, we also compare three panel vans that cost under R200 000 – Peugeot’s new Partner takes on the VW Caddy Maxi and Fiat Doblo. The April issue also includes road tests on the Nissan NP300 double cab, Toyota Hilux workhorse, Suzuki Grand Vitara, Renault Koleos and Dodge Journey.

We also bring you news of the new Ford Ranger and Mitsubishi Triton that have been launched internationally, an in-depth look at how Giniel won this year’s Dakar, and detailed features on the new Fiat Scudo and Toyota Fortuner. Of course, flip the magazine over and find a wealth of news and info from the world of trucks.

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