[X]

KELSEYAdmin

1413 POSTS 0 COMMENTS

7 Tips For Losing Weight While DrivingIf you’re really serious about losing weight, you want to do everything possible to shift a few extra pounds here and there. You might be surprised to realise that there are a few things you can do to help you lose weight while driving. The following tips aren’t going to get you to do exercise at the wheel or anything like that – they’re going to prevent you from eating while driving, which will in turn prevent you from putting on more weight. It’s very easy to eat while driving somewhere.

If you drive regularly, say a daily commute to and from work, for example, and you frequently eat when you drive, try to imagine how much food you’re consuming. You’ll be surprised how much it adds up to. It can be easy to fall into the trap of not realising how much food you’re eating while driving. If you can cut out eating while driving  altogether, you’re going to put on less weight and this should contribute towards weight loss. You aren’t going to lose tons of weight by cutting out eating while driving, but it will certainly benefit you, especially if you practice it in the long run.

Shogun the BarbarianIt depends on your point of view; out-dated 4×4 or traditional workhorse? One thing not up for discussion is the Mitsubishi Shogun’s tough character and ability to get the job done. And with this brand new special edition, it’s quite a looker too! This is the new Shogun SWB Barbarian, which certainly looks great in this ‘stealth’ black option, complete with 20 inch black and silver Le Mans alloy wheels. Inside it has the L200 Barbarian-style leather seats and carbon inserts, DAB digital radio and alloy pedal kit. In manual form the Shogun SWB Barbarian will cost you £31,999, the auto version is £33,684. Mitsubishi is one of the few manufacturers still offering commercial spec versions and you can also get Barbarian ‘van’ options in manual and automatic for £33,449 and £35,134 respectively. All Shoguns come with a three-year/unlimited mileage warranty. OK, so it doesn’t have all the clever techno stuff of some of the latest SUVs, but for a tough workhorse that looks great, this new Shogun Barbarian ticks all the boxes for us.

EDGING CLOSER TO EUROPEIn what is turning out to be one of the longest ‘introductions’ for a new SUV that we can remember, Ford has released more details for the long-awaited (sic) new flagship SUV, the Edge. Bearing in mind that a version of this model has been available in the US since 2007, and that we drove one for a very enjoyable crossing of the Rocky Mountains back in 2012 (reported in the January 2013 issue), the European Edge does seem to be taking its time. This all-new Edge is part of Ford’s SUV expansion plans and will join the medium-sized Kuga and smaller EcoSport to give the company a full range in this 4×4 market segment.

As you would expect from a premium Ford product, the new Edge will certainly have a highly competitive specification. It will be a roomy, four door SUV and should be with us by 2015. It will be fitted with Adaptive Steering, which continually changes the steering ratios depending on vehicle speed, making the vehicle easy to manoeuvre and it is claimed ‘fun to drive’. The Ford Edge will be fitted with the company’s intelligent all-wheel drive torque-sensing system, and come with two engine options, both based on the 2.0-litre Duratorq TDCi turbo diesel engine. One will have 178bhp, 400Nm of torque and emit 149g/km fitted to a six-speed manual transmission, while the top of the range will be the 208bhp, 450Nm version, emitting 159 g/km mated to the six-speed PowerShift automatic transmission.

If you have ever been in a teepee style tent that has a wood burning stove inside, then you’ll know just what a fantastic job it does. It’s not just about the temperature, it’s the whole ambience that is created. The stove shown here will do just that. From the outdoor equipment guys at Anevay, this is the Traveller and is a fully portable multi fuel stove. The company actually started making stoves for disaster zones for humanitarian aid, but the Traveller is aimed purely at the leisure market. It can be freestanding, or fitted into canvas bell tents, yurts, or summer houses, it could suit your overlanding adventures. If you need to know more, call them on 01872 870839 or email [email protected]

Website: www.anevay.co.uk 

AND FASTEST RANGE ROVER EVERThis year’s Festival of Speed at Goodwood saw the introduction of what you might think was a somewhat incongruous new model. For those that don’t know, the Festival of Speed highlights all that is great in global motorsport, with a strong leaning to classic motorsport hardware. This year, however, one of the stars was a Range Rover Sport SVR, the fastest and most powerful production Land Rover ever produced. A highly camouflaged version of the SVR, delivered some 542bhp up the famous Goodwood hill, in the ‘First Glance’ class – nothing much to do with classic motorsport but certainly a clever way for the Festival of Speed organisers to get high profile manufacturer support and publicity for the event – well it’s made it into the pages of a 4×4 magazine, so it obviously works!

The model is the first to come from the company’s recently announced Special Operations department, but it will be built alongside the ‘standard’ Range Rover Sport models, and will be available through the normal dealership network. Full technical details of the SVR had not been announced as we closed for press.

ATTENTION: SPECIAL OPSFollowing a company tradition that goes right back to the vehicle’s initial production, Jaguar Land Rover has just announced the launch of a new Special Operations division, aimed to offer discerning customers ‘bespoke commissions, heritage products and branded goods.’

The new centre will be led by Paul Newsome, Director of Special Vehicle Operations, who arrives at JLR from Williams Advanced Engineering and he will be based at a new dedicated technical centre. There will be no less than 150 technicians at the centre, working to offer ‘a halo of vehicles ranging from high luxury to extreme performance.’

The emphasis here will be on bespoke and personal commissions, not quite the same as the company’s original special vehicle operations that produced commercial conversions for Land Rovers as fire tenders, field ambulance and the like. However, besides the new Special Operations operation a new heritage vehicle workshop will be created at Browns Lane in Coventry. This is actually the original home of Jaguar, and it will be the site for the recently announced production site for the six lightweight E-Type sports car recreations. It is hoped that this centre will also look at Land Rover heritage specials in the future. We await future announcements from both the Special Operations and heritage centre with great interest.

Snatch it upLook the part with these new snatch blocks from Warn. Coated with Cerakote they are able to accept wire and synthetic rope. CE certified, these Warn snatch blocks can be used to double the pulling power of any winch or change a pulling direction without damaging the rope. They have also been designed to help reduce heat build-up and amp draw during recovery. Available in two rated capacities: 5000lbs and 12,000lbs, the blocks retail at £50 and £100 respectively. Call the guys at Arbil 4×4 for more details.

Website: www.arbil.co.uk/4×4/ 

Historic driving glassesThanks to some much needed summer sunshine, having a pair of sunglasses available in your truck is essential. If you are looking for a good pair, then choosing a pair from Serengeti seems a good choice as the glasses usetechnology initially developed to be incorporated into premium car windscreens. This is said to selectively filtrate the light spectrum and enhance the ‘driving’ colours, red, green and yellow. The objective was to produce a safer windscreen with the highest clarity and superior definition that would allow the driver to see and react to driving hazards such as brake lights and traffic signals more quickly. As there are strict regulations regarding the degree of light filtration in car windscreens and windows, the technology was instead used to create Serengeti, which the company claims produces ‘the world’s finest driving sunglasses’. They are available as prescription glasses, so check with your optician or call 0208 391 4700.

Website: www.serengeti-eyewear.com 

Calculate your savingsSpecially designed for diesel 4x4s, as well as other vehicles, Tunit’s fuel saving options are said to save up to 12 per cent for some customers. If you want to check out what the modification could save you, the company now has an online fuel calculator where you can input your personal driving details to calculate any potential savings. Once you’ve done that, it will be a case of booking an appointment. Tunit says that the conversions do not interfere with original manufacturer’s engine equipment. Full details (and the new Fuel Calculator) can be found on the website, or give the guys a call on 01257 274100.

Website: www.tunit.com

Louise LimbLouise Limb

 

Suzuki Grand Vitara As June and MOT time approached, the ominous bumping sounds from beneath the Freelander became louder. I’d say, ‘surely you can hear that now?’ as we’d encounter a minor road hump and looking round the delightful leather cabin. I’d think, ‘it’ll never pass its MOT and the costs will mean sayonara for our well travelled friend’. One day, taking my daughter, two grandsons and my mother-in-law around Southport, I realised that the familiar strange creaking from under the rear seat that accompanied every journey had stopped. Some weight on the rear seat was all that was needed to cure that noise! I felt sure the other rumblings were serious and was dumbstruck when my regular mechanic Phil emerged to say there was nothing wrong with the elderly Land Rover; not even the tiniest advisory.