Beide Honda en die X-Raid Mini JCW spanne het die jaar hul tweede agtereenvolgende Dakar tydren oorwinning geneem. Waar Honda laas jaar die 13-jaar onoorwonne streek van KTM gebreek het met Ricky Brabec, het Kevin Benavides hierdie jaar die title geneem, terwyl Stephane Peterhansel sy driemalige Dakar-wenner spanmaat, Carlos Sainz, afgelos het. Dit is dan ook Peterhansel se 14de algehele Dakar oorwinning; by verre meer as enige ander individu.
Mini
Sprint Review: Mazda2 1.5 Individual Plus (Auto)
While everyone is rushing to market with their twin-scroll compact SUV’s, Mazda appears to be fast asleep. Or are they?
Padtoets: 2017 Mini Clubman Cooper S – John Cooper Works
Prysige prettigheid
Die Rooiwarm staan in direkte kontras met die donker grys reën wolke in die agtergrond. Met die regte lens aan die kamera, stap ek oor die pad om die gepaste foto’s in te kry. Ietwat riskant staan ek in die aankomende baan van die bult, maar soos die Millenial generasie argumenteer; geen risiko is te groot vir daardie perfekte skoot nie. Ek is net gereed om gou daardie foto in te kry, toe ‘n vrou, moeg van die 2.5km se bult draf, eers by my stilhou om uit te vra oor hierdie Brandrooi Bigi (“Big mini”).
Padtoets: Mini Countryman Cooper S
Die Mini perspektief
My laaste ontmoeting met ‘n Mini strek terug na einde 2016 en laat ‘n glimlag op my gesig elke keer as ek daaraan dink. Die Mini Cooper S (afslaankap) was een van my gunsteling voertuie om die jaar te toets, bloot omdat ek soos Mark Wahlberg op die stel van “The Italian Job” gevoel het elke keer as ek my regtervoet aan gravitasie oorgee. In die ‘Sport’ funksie was hierdie kar ook nie sommer die normale ‘stil’ sluiper nie, maar eerder die aandag-soekende, geweerskoot-rasende, klein stadsverkenner.
Tested: 2016 Mini Clubman Cooper S
Mini forces me to swallow my words
The Clubman, first released in 2007 as a “supermini”, together with the Countryman, released in 2010 has always stood as an oxymoron for me. How can BMW and Mini brand their vehicles as the “not so mini, well Mini…”?
Sprint Review: Opel Adam Rocks
A new car, lots of information in short paragraphs.
What you need to know: The Opel Adam is a modern, stylish and compact city car in the mould of Audi’s A1 and the desirable Mini. Arriving rather late to this party of trendy runabouts, Opel even named it after its founding father and gave it plenty of style and proper technology to stand a fighting chance.
Tested: Audi A3 Cabrio
The basic suspect
Sometimes it feels that the collective car makers are building a car for every person. New models, filling niches, updating a range, they just keep on coming. Obviously this is quite enjoyable when you’re a motoring journalist but it also means that you have to get your head around cars like the Audi A3 Cabriolet.
Tested: Hyundai Grand i10 Fluid
The big fun
Today, the Hyundai Grand i10 and I would like to teach you a lesson. Don’t worry; it’s not the hurting kind but rather the opposite – small cars can be fun. The harsh reality is that practicality and price rule when your budget is tighter than two coats of paint but you shouldn’t settle for something cheap ‘n nasty.
Tested: Mini Cooper S
The trendy character
Hello. I don’t know who you are or even what your name is but I’m safely assuming that you’re sat behind your computer or a fresh newspaper because you’re interested in the new Mini Cooper S. Even if you haven’t got Mini-friendly funds at your disposal right now, I’ll try to make this a bit interesting.
Launched: Toyota Corolla [2013]
The household appliance
I’m not a connoisseur of household appliances. Although I always try to purchase those of reputable brands, the only time I splashed out on something extravagant for the kitchen was when Mr. Porsche made a kettle. Other than that, I tend to ignore tumble dryer sales and don’t subscribe to Appliance Enthusiast magazine.