This year’s Tractor World Show will be even more family friendly when it opens the season on the 2nd and 3rd March 2013. A great new Weekend Camping ticket allows two adults and children under 15 to camp for up to three nights on-site and gives them tickets into the show, for just £40 in advance. Exhibiting clubs are backing the family theme. The Ferguson Club, is inaugurating its own awards scheme at the show for its junior members and intends having part of its stand dedicated to young restorers. There will be a great variety of new models on display, as well as classic and vintage machinery. Stand space is filling fast, including in the improved link tunnel area that will connect the two big halls – Avon and Wye Halls – at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern. As in previous events, there will be a bustling auction on the Saturday courtesy of HJ Pugh, a vintage sort-out on the Sunday, a model tractor area, a build-a-tractor demonstration and a road run.
For entry forms or further information, call 01697 451882 or visit www.tractorworldshow.co.uk.
KELSEYAdmin
Mokka available in showrooms
VAUXHALL’S NEW compact SUV has hit the showrooms now as a direct competitor to the Skoda Yeti, Nissan Qashqai and the other models in a crowded UK market. There are three 4×4 models in the range: the Exclusiv, the Tech Line and the SE. Each is powered by the 1.7 CDTi 130bhp diesel engine and come with a six-speed gearbox. The four-wheel drive system is an on-demand unit with an electro-magnetic clutch. As with other models in the class, on dry tarmac roads the vehicle remains in front-wheel drive and drive is transferred to rear wheels as grip and traction at the front drops, to a maximum 50:50 split. The Mokka comes with Traction Control, Descent Control and Hill Start Assist as standard. On the road prices are: £20,990 (inc VAT) for the Exclusiv, £18,990 (inc VAT) for the Tech Line and the SE for £23,490 (inc VAT).
Kommercial Korando
SsangYong continueS the recent model range with a commercial version of the Korando CSX. The van has a claimed 1312 cubic litre load volume and 433kg payload, and a 2000kg towing capability. The model has the 2.0-litre diesel turbo engine and is priced at £15,996 on the road (excluding VAT). As with other models it comes with a five-year limitless mileage warranty, which SsangYong claims is the only 4×4 van on the market with such coverage.
Land Rover Freelander 2
Land Rover’s Freelander had never been a 4×4 to excite the Editor’s interest. However, after a few days of freezing rain, heavy snow, ice roads and dropping temperatures, he’s ready to reconsider…
Words: Nigel Fryatt
It was not something that you do everyday. Edging out to overtake, the road ahead was completely clear; that wasn’t the issue. Edging out we moved across to a section of the road where the surface looked different. Was there more ice on the far side, under the snow covering? Pulling alongside the thunderous snowplough wasn’t the time to find out. Up close and personal to the massive machine’s enormous front blade, now was not the time for our vehicle to start snaking, wheels scrabbling with different levels of grip and traction. Heaven help a sideways slide into the unforgiving metal of the Canadian snowplough…
Hubs, and more
The guys at KS International contacted us with some details of special offers they have on AVM hubs. These high performance freewheeling hubs are universally recognised for their toughness in extreme driving conditions. Instead of having a die cast internal drive unit, the High Performance Version has its internals machined from a single steel billet, making them stronger than standard die cast ones and less likely to break. Until the end of January 2013, these hubs are discounted by KS International: for example, hubs for the Toyota Hilux that have a usual price of £100 are yours for £75. Well worth giving them a call if you are in the market for some decent hubs. KS International claims to be the UK’s largest supplier of Japanese 4×4 and truck parts, and with some 20,000 parts on the shelves at any one time, it’s likely the guys there will have what you are looking for; telescopic tow bars, snatch blocks, recovery points, and wheel spacers for all Japanese 4×4 models are always in stock. You should check out the company’s extensive website at
www.ks-international.com, call them up on 020 8842 7567 or send an email to: [email protected]
Polaris Profits
ATV specialist Polaris has announced an impressed profit rise of 39 per cent over the same period last year. The success has been put down to the increased demand for the side-by-side Ranger models. A new and completely redesigned Ranger model with a new, purpose built EFI engine, improved ride, handling and comfort is due to be introduced for 2013. For more details go to: www.polaris-britain.com
Jimny cracker
Details have been released of the 2013 Suzuki Jimny. Amazingly, 2013 will be the 43rd Anniversary of Suzuki’s first ever SUV. It’s great that the Jimny remains on the model range, standing as it does as the only small, budget SUV available in the UK with serious off-road ability – something that is recognised by an estimated 20,000 loyal owners in the UK. Design revisions for the latest model include new front bumper and grille design, new bonnet shape to incorporate a central air intake and repositioned front fog lamps. New fabric seat trim is available inside for the SZ3, with new head rest design and ISOFIX child seat mountings as standard. A new Breeze Blue metallic paint is a £399 option. We, perhaps, would have liked to see some extra oomph being added to the 1.3-litre engine, but that remains at 85bhp and 81lb ft of torque. Motorway journeys are something of a trial for the little Jimny, which truly bursts into life the minute you take it off-road. Great to see Suzuki will continue to produce the model.
Suzuki dealers offer owners a new winter tyre promotion with prices claimed to be 10 per cent lower than last winter, with storage facilities also available to look after your ‘summer’ tyres. For a Jimny, prices are around £169 each, and for the Grand Vitara £199.
Bedslider
For many owner operators, their pick-up is a very specialist vehicle. It is not just a big load area where you can randomly ‘throw’ all tools or products in the back. The Bedslide, available from Auto Styling, is a great way to load and unload your truck and it turns the bed into a sliding floor, allowing you to get goods from the back of the load bed without having to climb in – murder on the knees! The Bedslide 1000 is a sleek and stylish option from the people who really know about pick-ups, Auto Styling. It costs £675 (plus VAT) and can be found on the excellent Auto Styling website www.autostylinguk.com. You can call them on 0845 833 1101 to get a free catalogue, which is very cleverly produced so it can concentrate on your particular model of pick-up. Yep, the Editor already has a Hilux catalogue on his desk!
Wheels, tyres and lifts
When it comes to Japanese vehicles, the guys at Milner Off Road have been in business since 1981, so if it’s a Jap truck that you own, this is a good place to start. To meet the coming winter season, Milner does a wheel and tyre package, various sizes and tyre options, and prices start from a very reasonable £375 (plus VAT). Give them a call to see what they advise. Of course, should you want to fit larger, oversize wheels, then you’ll be needing a body lift kit. Milner kits contain aluminium spacers and all the hardware to lift the body from the chassis 1.5in, retaining the centre of gravity, and without having to modify any other parts on the vehicle. Such a modification could also lead you to consider fitting manual freewheeling hubs. For many, manual hubs are a better option – less to go wrong – while also saving fuel and wear on the axles. Milner freewheeling manual hubs are available from £38 (plus VAT). The comprehensive website can be found at www.milneroffroad.com, you can email your query on [email protected] or be more traditional and call for a chat (remembering to say you read about it in this magazine!) on 01629 734411.
Flagship Cayenne
THE MOST POWERFUL Porsche Cayenne ever is now available. The twin-turbocharged engined Cayenne Turbo S has a 10 per cent power lift over the previous model, rising to a stunning 550bhp, with the torque boosted from a ‘meagre’ 700Nm to a far more acceptable 750Nm… Wow. This helps push the Cayenne’s performance to a 0-62mph in a sports car embarrassing 4.5 seconds and a potential top speed of 175mph. Why? Because you can. When you consider that the NEDC fuel consumption is 24.6mph it’s obviously a highly efficient engine, even if those lucky owners who can afford the £107,460 price tag are probably not that bothered. After all, who would buy a 550bhp 4×4 for its fuel economy? Exterior change include highlights to the air inlet grilles, headlight housings and mirrors, which are now, black matt. Inside there are new leather options and colours including Carrera Red and Black/Luxor Beige. Understandably for a prestige vehicle like this, it is fitted with the Porsche Vehicle Tracking System a very sophisticated system that has the approved Thatcham Category 5 standard. Buy a new Cayenne Turbo S and you also get a complimentary course at the Porsche Experience Centre, Silverstone.
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