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NigelFryattNigel Fryatt – editor

NovStaff1For anyone regularly enjoying off-roading, getting scratches on the bodywork goes with the territory. At least with the off-road, greenlane, territory. For those of us that use the 4×4 for a multitude of uses – daily driver, family saloon, and occasional mud-plugger – it’s a little more difficult. While you accept that there might be the odd scratch, you want the vehicle to look good.

Of course, as regular readers will know, scratching the bodywork extensively while it is sitting on your drive is pretty dumb! And as I tried to explain last month, it was all thanks to the hosepipe ban.

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NovadvStartLast month in our Atlas Overland adventure to the Mediterranean island of Corsica, our 4×4 convoy explored the central wooded lowlands and scaled the heights of the magnificent Monte Cinto. Now the tour heads north towards the stunning coastline and glorious beaches

Words and photography: Hils Everitt

Having basked in the glory of an ascent up the magnificent Monte Cinto in the central region of the tiny island of Corsica the previous day, our tour then journeyed to the north of the island.

This meant, sadly, that we had reached the final two days of 4×4 adventure company Atlas Overland’s two-week tour of the lovely island that sits in the Mediterranean in between the south coast of France and west coast of Italy. Due to its position, Corsica has influences from both countries. Politically a province of France, its language, however, derives from its Genoese occupation and is very similar to Italian. Dialects do vary from area to area, even village to village, but if you speak some basic French you’ll get by. Luckily, Atlas’s Peter Girling is a good French speaker, so when we tried to get a replacement tyre for the Discovery 3, that had suffered a puncture the previous day up the mountain, he was able to discover that the required Pirelli 19in would not be available in time.

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JulyHilsFaceA trip to North America allowed our Hils to try out the Escape, Ford’s best-selling SUV, and brought back memories of when the Explorer was here in the UK…

I recently took a spot of R&R and spent some time in Canada, British Columbia to be precise, to get up close and personal with some amazing wildlife in their natural habitat; grizzly bears, hump-backed whales and orcas, eagles, seals, and all sorts. But while there I also had the chance to drive the length of Vancouver Island, from Port Hardy in the north to the state capital, Victoria, in the south. That’s the equivalent of Kent to Edinburgh, roughly, so a good chance to see the glorious landscape and perhaps drive something a bit different.

It’s not often we get the chance to get behind the wheels of vehicles not available in the UK, so when the nice man at Budget car rental said, “You’re down for an SUV; you have a choice of a RAV4 or a Ford Escape, which do you fancy?” I was slightly disappointed, as the confirmation email had said ‘Ford Explorer, or equivalent’ and I really wanted to experience the latest incarnation.

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NovNews105It is appropriate that we should have a test of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class on this month’s front cover, as the company can rightly claim to celebrate its 105th anniversary of the very first commercially available 4×4 vehicle. Given the amount of celebrations that are recognised by other major players like Land Rover and Jeep, it’s worth remembering that the German company has a rightful place in the pantheon of 4×4 greats.

For those who don’t know (and that included your Editor, I have to admit – NF), the first commercially available 4×4 was the Dernberg-Wagen (top picture) and this not only had four-wheel drive, but also a centre diff and four-wheel steering – you can imagine how difficult it would have been to alter direction! It had a 32cm ground clearance and a monster 6.8-litre engine producing a modest 35bhp at a lackadaisical 800rpm. Mind you, it did weigh some 3.6 tons. It seems that Paul Daimler, son of Gottlieb Daimler, had a hand in the construction of this epoch starting machine, allowing Mercedes-Benz to ‘claim’ the vehicle for its own 4×4 heritage.

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OctProdBreathsBreathless Land Cruiser? Filtration specialist Pipercross has a new filter for every variant of Toyota’s indestructible Land Cruiser, petrol and diesel models from 1969 to the present day. Each Pipercross filter is a direct replacement for the OEM part on these models, fitting directly into the factory air box, maintaining the original induction tract and, it is claimed, improving performance. Multi-layered foam construction not only means a higher rate of flow, and compared to cotton-gauze replacements, Pipercross foam filters can last for up to three times longer before needing any servicing or cleaning. Prices that start from just £35.99 including VAT. Go to: www.pipercross.com or call them on 01604 707750.

OctNewsQuadWhile there are more and more electric vehicles coming to the market, having an electric quad seems a little unlikely because of the size of the chassis, matched with the size of the batteries. The guys at Electric Quad Bikes have had a two-wheel drive electric quad – the Eco Charger Dominator – on the market for a couple of years now, but the really interesting news is that they have now got a 4×4 version, called the Eco Charger 4×4 Eliminator. And very impressive it looks.

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OctNewsSteedYou can now secure a new Great Wall Steed for a mere £1 deposit. Said to be the most affordable pick-up on the UK market, it would seem that customers still need financial incentives to plumb for a marque that, let’s face it, few have ever heard of. Bargain price it may be, but people are still driven by brands, and loyalty, and in the case of the working pick-up, also by reputation. It will take Great Wall time to build all these things.

OctProdCooperThe Cooper Discoverer range now includes an all terrain tyre. The A/T3 is an important addition to an already excellent range, offering a very suitable on and off-road option. The A/T3 is available for SUV and trucks from 15 – to 20inches and is at Cooper stockists now. Give the guys at Silverline a call to find out more on 01926 496668 or go to: www.silverline4x4.com

OctNewsHondaFirst built back in 1995, and with some five million having been produced, Honda’s latest version of the CR-V will be available in the UK in October. This is the fourth generation and has been comprehensively re-designed. Ironically, this was being written as the news announced that Honda’s factory in Swindon is going on a four-day week. The new model will be available with the 2.0-litre i-VTEC 155bhp petrol and 2.2-litre i-DTEC 150bhp diesel engines. Full technical spec and prices of this latest SUV will be announced nearer the on sale date.

OctProdARBA new high performance air compressor from ARB is now available in the UK through Arbil. The model has a twin motor design; specifically engineered to being compact, yet offer significant performance. These are available as either vehicle mounted or portable. Ideal for tyre and recreational equipment inflation, as well as the operation of air tools. Sold exclusively in the UK and Ireland via Arbil, it is currently available as an on-board twin motor compressor for £378.48 + VAT. The portable twin motor version costs £626.15 + VAT. For more information, call them on
0845 600 4556 or go to: www.arbil4x4.co.uk

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