In a road show requiring a bit of logistical tap-dancing, Ford South Africa took several drivers on a trip from Gauteng to Gqeberha. Fifteen different Single-and Super Cab models trekked roughly 1 500 km, testing the cars on not only highways, but some very gnarly byways, too.
To my great delight, we spent a lot of time nosing over rocks, tight-roping through narrow passes and sloshing through mud and water.
An added novelty of this press tour was that some of the bakkies were loaded: Ford bought several Jojo water tanks to be transported to communities in the drought-plagued Eastern Cape.
My first impression as we headed out in our Single Cab 4×4 - with a JoJo tank strapped tightly to the load bed - through Joburg's early morning traffic and hit the first stretch of open road was: "Wow, this thing motors". The ease and pace at which our car moved up through its six gears and the way it maintained a high cruising speed was impressive. Towards the middle of the second day, we ventured off-road for the first time.
We were surrounded by great expanses of green grass as far as the eye could see, and the morning's rainfall spiced the air so that, once we opened our windows, the mountains and valleys didn't just drift by, but also into the cab on the breeze.
The beauty of the landscape disguised the rugged terrain we had to manoeuvre through. After an hour or so of bumpy, technical driving, we reached Tstsikamma Village, which is not to be confused with the popular Garden Route destination of Tsitsikamma. At the bottom of a valley, against the backdrop of the Eastern Cape's impressive mountains, lay a scattering of small houses.
Denne historien er fra June 2023-utgaven av CAR South Africa.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Denne historien er fra June 2023-utgaven av CAR South Africa.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
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
