Hybrid
Sprint Review: Toyota Prius
A new car, lots of information in short paragraphs.
What you need to know: The Toyota Prius was the first petrol-electric hybrid vehicle to go into mass production around 1997 and its maker sold about nine million hybrids since (including Lexus). 2,900 of those were in bakkie-mad, long-distance southern Africa. Exact Namibian sales numbers unknown…
Tested: Mercedes-Benz ML400 4Matic
The gentle giant
It just happened again. Motoring journalists are not infallible and for the third time in my career I made a slightly huge mistake. The first one involved a hidden Honda CD player, my second blunder was mistaking a Jeep’s engine and this newest one follows that tradition with the Mercedes-Benz ML400 4Matic.
Launched: Mercedes-Benz S-Class [2013]
The phenomenal change
The best car in the world. Although Mercedes-Benz South Africa preferred to use the phrase “This changes everything” for their flagship model, the S-Class has long been the leader for pioneering technology. Most of what you discover here will trickle down to other cars in a few years.
Tested: Honda CR-Z
The enticing toy
Please excuse my lacklustre typing and slouched posture, I’ve just sold one of my cars. There was no pressing need to do this other than the fact that I simply didn’t have the time to play with my oversized toy. I love cars that double as toys, which is probably why I took a shine to Honda’s revamped CR-Z.
Tested: 2012 Toyota Yaris HSD
The dwindling consumption
Motorised vehicles have taken a lot of flak in recent times due to exploding numbers, dwindling resources and nasty emissions. Toyota was pioneering with their hybrid cars, although these also gathered quite a bit of criticism. Believe it or not, today I won’t add any more to that.
Tested: 2012 Honda CR-Z
The mild shove
Can you hear that? The fizzing noise coming from your pocket as more precious Dollars are being mercilessly fried by yet another petrol price hike. Your salary doesn’t increase proportionately, new car prices aren’t exactly dropping and public transport still in its infancy, often emulating a newborn’s sounds and smells.
Padtoets: 2012 Lexus RX450h
Koning van Japan?
Dit voel soos nou-die-dag wat ek die bekendstelling van die eerste Lexus RX-modelle ‘n hele paar jaar gelede in die Kaap bygewoon het. Die eerste indruk van die RX was dat hy ‘n nuwe mode stelling gemaak het met sy vaartbelynde voorkoms en die toonbeeld van krag wat hy uitgestraal het, heeltemal in kontras met die 4×4 voertuie van die tyd.