Rudely awoken by a roaring Raptor with its brute V6 tune in Baja mode, the third and final morning in the Namib desert was harsh and cold, a brutal reminder of how unforgiving the barren terrain is.
A carpet of morning haze shielded the harsh African sun blooming over the dune horizon and it was time to pack up and make our way from the desert playground to electricity and functional plumbing. It had been three torturous days. Not for us we were glamping in a valley between a majestic sea of dunes, but instead, for the vehicles that had ferried us on our escapades.
The two-hour-plus flight into neighbouring Namibia had let me unearth the lasting impression the previous-generation bakkie had left with me. As good as it was, a gripe that bothered many was the diesel powertrain. On the back of the news Ford had shoehorned a petrol-powered V6 into the next-generation model, it seems as though Ford listened.
There was only a short stint of civil tar-road driving before taking to the dunes and commencing with the convoy antics. Tyres carried just over a bar of pressure coming off the hard surfaces, so we erred on the side of caution to prevent separating rubber from metal. Regardless, 14 Ranger Raptors sang their Ohio-sourced tune, upshifting with vigour to overtake trucks hauling salt. We entered protected areas with the Atlantic Ocean on our flank.
DRIVETRAIN
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Toyota Fortuner
Considered by many as the quintessential adventure SUV, the Fortuner is about as strong a used buying proposition as you can get in this segment. We take you through the things to look out for and list two rivals for comparison.
MIND THE HURDLE
With a repaired car and a point to prove, Alex Shahini returned for Round 3 of the Toyota GR Cup at Zwartkops Raceway to achieve a career-best finish
KING OF KILLARNEY
For four decades, Denis Joubert was directly involved with the creation, development and ongoing success of Cape Town's international motorsport venue, Killarney. Having just celebrated his 90th birthday, we talk to the man whose contribution to South Africa's motor-racing heritage is priceless....
Selecting the 4WD SYSTEM for your needs
As 4WD SUVS and double cabs grow in popularity, more first-time buyers face the challenge of selecting a vehicle with a drivetrain that best meets their requirements. We explain the key differences between the all-wheel drivetrains available
Kia Picanto 1.0 LX MT
Kia's ever-popular budget hatch has recently received a range of exterior and interior updates - we test the entry-level variant to see if it remains a force to be reckoned with in this highly competitive segment
Super C
The fastest and most technologically advanced flagship C-Class to date, AMG's C63 S has evolved into an electrified uber-sedan. Has this mighty model forsaken some character in pursuing this status? We strapped our test equipment to the new shooting star.
Bentley's Brutes
A break in proceedings during an exclusive preview of the fourth-generation Bentley Continental GT afforded us an opportunity to sample the stately yet hair-raising Bentayga S
RUNNING UP THAT HILL
Now in its 14th year, the Simola Hillclimb continues to combine adrenaline-fuelled competition with showcasing some of the most appealing classics out there in a heady mix that keeps local petrolheads coming...
BAND OF BROTHERS
Complete with rugged bakkie-based underpinnings that encourage off-the-beaten-track venturing, largely proven powertrains that afford maximum range and towing capability, and brand names with enviable respective reputations for reliability, adventure SUVs remain the favourite of thousands of South Africans.
TWELVE OF THE BEST
Ferrari keeps things suitably old-school with its V12-engined 12Cilindri GT
