So this morning I heard the sirens coming down our street and was wondering what’s wrong and then remembered that the police van is coming for me. Accused by the SPCA with some trumped up charge and having cuffs put on and bundled in the back of the van, only to be met by Sean Snyman, Paul Gerber and a third chap (sorry forgot his name) who were also arrested.We were taken to the SPCA and put into cells with dogs. My cellmate was Scotty a beautiful Scottish Terrier. The people in the cells around me was able to raise their bail a lot faster than I could but after 2 hours we were set free.Well done Salome and the team at the SPCA!
The South African Guild of Motoring Journalists (SAGMJ) today announced the Jury and Trainee Jury members for the 2020 AutoTrader South African Car Of The Year.Love George is proud that no less than three of the journalists writing for our local publication, Ultimate Drive, have been honoured with selection as 2020 COTY Jurors. We believe in quality journalism and Ultimate Drive, as our Motoring Division, delivers just that. The criteria for Jury eligibility includes:
All candidates must be members in good standing with the SAGMJ
A Full Member must have completed a minimum of two years of Jury training. Full members who do not comply with this requirement will be considered for the jury programme
A Jury member must be active members of the SAGMJ for a minimum of five years
A Jury member must be an industry-recognised journalist who has participated in the industry by attending manufacturer launch events, and/or by driving test vehicles during the eligibility period
The criteria for Trainee Jury eligibility includes:
All candidates must be members in good standing with the SAGMJ
Trainee Jury members must be active members of the SAGMJ for a minimum of two years
A Trainee Jury member must be an industry-recognised journalist who has participated in the industry by attending manufacturer launch events, and/or by driving test vehicles during the eligibility period
Following a vote by the Full membership of the SAGMJ, the following members of the Guild have been nominated and vetted by the Executive Committee as the Jury and Trainees for the 2020 competition, and have confirmed their participation:2020South African Car Of The Year Jurors (in alphabetical order)Adam FordBernard Hellberg Jr.Carl WepenerCharlene ClarkeColin WindellDenis DroppaDerek WattsDirk GallowitzEgmont SippelFerdi de VosFrancisco NwambaHannes VisserJanine-Lee van der PostJason WooseyJeanette Kok-KritzingerJohann van TonderJustus VisagieLawrence SmithMabuyane KekanaMarnus HattinghPritesh RuthunRay LeathernRoger McCleeryRubin van NiekerkSean NurseStuart JohnstonWynter Murdoch2020South African Car Of The Year Trainee Jurors (in alphabetical order)Brenwin Naidu (1st year)Chris Wall (1st year)Farzana Chaumoo (1st year)Graham Erasmus (2nd year)Melinda Ferguson (2nd year)Richard Wiley (1st year)Sisanda Mbete (2nd year)Vuyi Mpofu (2nd year)RESERVE: Hanjo Stier (1st Year)The eligibility period for vehicle ranges that may be considered for the 2020 AutoTrader South African Car Of The Year competition is from 1 November 2019 up to and including 31 October 2019.The finalist announcement is scheduled for November (final date to be determined), and on 8th, 9th and 10th of March 2020 the Jury will put the finalists through stringent testing. The winners’ announcement is tentatively booked for the 31st of March 2020 or 2nd of April 2020.The SA Guild of Motoring Journalists is the custodian of the South African Car Of The Year competition since 1986 and has a long-standing heritage of awarding automotive excellence. It remains the most prestigious and credible Car Competition in South Africa.
One thing I have to hand to Zontes is that they have an extremely creative design team. They certainly have produced some good looking motorcycles recently. Now they tried their hand at an adventure motorcycle and they have hit it out the park!Using exactly the same underpinnings as the ZT310-R and ZT310-X they had a solid base to start from. The engine is the same lively 312 cc mill that produces 26 kW and the stubby little exhausts have now become a trademark of the 310 range. On top of that sits a very aggressively styled bike. It has the obligatory ‘beak’ that has now become the norm for adventure bikes. The headlight is an elongated unit with daytime running lights and four powerful LED’s in the middle to provide the illumination.The windscreen is adjustable through two heights and behind that sits a comprehensive LED screen. Under the screen, Zontes has included a little cubby-hole for cards and small items and there is even a USB-socket for charging devices while on the go. The bike is also fitted with substantial crash bars and a metal bashplate to protect the underside. That rounds out the rugged off-road look.In my mind this bike was never intended to be a proper off-road machine, but rather intended to be used as a commuter with some mild off-road capabilities. To test my theory, I took the bike out on a long stretch of gravel and the suspension handled it surprisingly well. The test unit was fitted with aftermarket luggage, and again, the build quality was good. The cases are lockable and they are lined with canvas. They are easily removable and have a few anchor points to strap things to. The rest of the bike’s build quality is very good and some parts, like the mirror stalks, feel almost over-engineered. It will certainly live up to some adventuring!The bike has keyless entry and everything that can lock or unlock is done from buttons on the handlebars. In terms of performance, the Zontes can hold its own against some serious contenders in this category. The acceleration is brisk, and the bike performs equally well in corners while the brakes are ABS assisted.The ZT310-T is a really good looking bike, and if you fancy a small bike with off-road ability, then the Zontes makes perfect sense. The dealer network is expanding and Zontes have some more exciting models coming. If they keep on producing bikes of this calibre, Zontes is certainly heading in the right direction.Article and Photos: Ultimate Drive Ed.54 (Brian Cheyne)
Vir baie Suid-Afrikaners is R1-miljoen net té veel geld om van te droom, terwyl vir ander dit kleingeld is. En dan kan jy nog ʼn trap of twee verder gaan en begin gesels oor wat dit is om R1.5m of selfs R2m op ʼn motor te spandeer. Dis vrek baie geld om op vier wiele en ʼn enjin uit te gee, tog is daar mense wie dit kan doen. En dan begin wonder jy oor of Suid-Afrika régtig in ʼn ekonomiese krisis gedompel is. En as daar ʼn krisis is, vir wie raak dit dan nou eintlik?Ek vra so, want einde April 2019 het Audi sy nuwe Q8 kom bekendstel en in Mei het die vervaardiger 39 van hierdie SUVs van die hand gesit. 39 eenhede van ʼn voertuig wat knus onder R1.4-miljoen kos. So wat maak hierdie Q8 dan nou eintlik so spesiaal?Die Q8 is ʼn heel nuwe SUV wat bo-aan Audi se hierargie sit. Dit is Ingolstadt se nuwe voorbok wanneer dit by SUVs kom en verdwyn selfs die Q7 – wat ook nie klein is nie – amper in sy skaduwee. Dis so groot, in fact, dat wanneer ʼn gemiddelde grootte man dwars voor die Q8 lê dit sal lyk of hy voor ʼn blouwalvis se bek uitkamp. Die Q8 spog met ʼn nuwe sierrooster wat dit beslis teenwoordigheid op die pad gee. Dit lyk wonderbaarlik mooi en sal die Q8 ook voortaan die pas aangee vir wat Audi met die ontwerp van sy SUVs wil doen.
Tog is dit nie net buitekant waar die Q8 beïndruk nie. Binnekant is daar ʼn oormaat weelde en luuksheid en word Alcantara leer mildelik ingespan. Nuwe en aangepaste tegnologieë is tot die insittendes se beskikking en word raakskerms eerder as knoppies gebruik. ʼn Lekkerny is die twee skerms wat die middelkonsole uitmaak en help dit beslis om instruksies makliker in te voer. Sewe passasiers kan in drie rye sitplekke geakkommodeer word en wanneer die twee sitplekke in die kattebak nie in gebruik is nie, is die laairuim ʼn baie gawe 605L. Maar slaan ook die tweede ry sitplekke plat en daai ruimte vergroot met meer as 1000L! Dis ʼn helse klomp spasie, maar dan moet ons ook onthou dat die Q8 ʼn helse groot wa is.Audi het vir eers net een model aan land gebring – die Q8 55 TFSI Quattro – en sal ʼn 3.0-liter V6 diesel, genaamd die 45 TDI, in die tweede helfte van 2019 geloods word. Die 55 TFSI word óók deur ʼn 3.0-liter V6 enjin aangevuur, maar een wat petrol instede van diesel sluk. Hierdie enjin skop ʼn gesonde 250kW en ʼn fris 500Nm uit. Audi praat van ʼn 0-100km/h-lopie wat in 5.9 sekondes afgelê word en ʼn top spoed wat tot 250km/h beperk word. Dis vrek vinnig vir ʼn voertuig wat 2000kg weeg, maar dit word veral aangehelp deur Audi se befaamde Quattro stelsel wat krag, via ʼn agt-spoed outomatiese ratkas, na al vier wiele stuur. En, moenie vergeet nie, die Q8 kan ook met al-wiel stuur bestel word, wat toelaat dat die agterwiele met soveel as 5° kan draai. Heito! Smaak my hierdie wa sal soos ʼn GTI om ʼn draai kan sit!
Audi was nie skaam om die Q8 van die beste te voorsien nie en kan die SUV met reg sy plek bo al die modelle in die Audi-stal inneem. Teen R1.4-miljoen, vóór opsies, is die Q8 nie goedkoop nie, maar Audi slaan alreeds munt uit die nuwe model se aankoms.Artikel vanuit Uitgawe 54 van Ultimate Drive (Charlen Raymond).
A hefty fine, 12 months’ imprisonment or a massive civil suit could await you, should you post a picture of any perceived “criminal” on a social media platform.
Legal specialist in all police matters, Advocate Melville Cloete from the provincial police, recently spoke about the legislation surrounding this topic at a talk at Gene Louw Traffic College in Brackenfell.
He addressed members of local neighbourhood watches, warning them of the dangers linked to posting such photos on social media. “You are not allowed to publish a picture identifying an alleged suspect in a crime on WhatsApp or on Facebook before this person had appeared before a court of law,” he stressed.
The South African Police Service Act strictly forbids this.
The same applies to pictures of anybody who might be a witness in a criminal case.
“Members of neighbourhood watches often take pictures of suspects at crime scenes, which you can do, but the moment you send the picture to someone else or post it to a social media platform, it is considered published,” he said.Posting photos could lead to vigilantism Vigilante action is rife in many areas of Cape Town. Advocate Melville Cloete
According to Cloete, the only exception applies when the investigating officer on the scene gives his permission for the picture to be published. In addition to the Police Act, section 35 of the Constitution affords every citizen the right to a fair trial.
“The publication of a photo identifying the alleged perpetrator could thus render the trial unfair and it might result in the suspect being acquitted. The same applies if the perpetrator is identified in public before an ID parade has taken place,” said Cloete
The publication of such a photo could furthermore defeat the ends of justice, by hampering a pending investigation. “It can also lead to vigilante action in cases where the person arrested is innocent, but as a result of the published photo, which depicts him as a criminal, the community takes the law into its own hands.”
Cloete says vigilante action is rife in many areas of Cape Town.
When publishing such a photo a person could also land him or herself on the receiving end of a defamation lawsuit. “Everyone has the right to a good name and reputation and the person who taints this with defamatory statements, by posting such a photo, can be held liable for damages in civil court,” said Cloete, adding that numerous complainants have won such cases in recent years.
Danger of unlawful arrest, detention
Lastly the publication of such a photo could result in unlawful arrest and detention. In the case between Mkwanazi and three others, the Minister of Police was successfully sued for an unlawful arrest when the aforesaid men were unlawfully arrested following a WhatsApp post that was picked up by police.
“In the post the men were identified as perpetrators, which prompted police to arrest and detain them only to find out two days later that these were the wrong men,” said Cloete
In this case the policemen involved did not investigate or analyse the information received from the members of the community. “It can happen so easily. We have to be very careful what we publish on social media platforms such as WhatsApp. If you see a person in your neighbourhood and you have grounds to believe him to be a criminal, don’t just take a photo, naming him a suspect, and post it. Rather state the facts around the circumstances and post that,” Cloete advised the audience.
21 Reasons Why the English Language is Hard to Learn: There have been a lot of discussion on grammar and lately the English language has prompted me to search for this email I received years ago. I wish I knew who the original author so I could give proper credit to him/her.
The bandage was wound around the wound.
The farm was used to produce produce.
The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
We must polish the Polish furniture.
He could lead if he would get the lead out.
The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.
A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.
When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
I did not object to the object.
The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.
They were too close to the door to close it.
The buck does funny things when the does are present.
A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.
To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.
The wind was too strong to wind the sail.
After a number of injections my jaw got number.
Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.
I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?
Images credited (c) Ian Thurtell / Accelerate Sport Victoria Bay celebrated high performance surfing in pristine conditions last weekend in an international championship. Top local and international competitors faced off in the three-day inaugural Vic Bay Classic. Record numbers of spectators, both locals and overseas tourists, lined the point and pier of the local beach to witness superior quality surfing action.George Municipality logged over 1800 visitors at the seaside resort during the City Surf Series event, held from Thursday 20th until Saturday the 22nd of June. The tournament was also streamed on the World Surf League online platform, reaching over 11 000 viewers at one point. Event organiser Accelerate Sport, who hosted the event for City Surf Series, attributes the unprecedented success of the championship to Victoria Bay’s world class waves. “Victoria Bay is one of the most consistent right-hand point breaks in South Africa,” said Edward Gregory, CEO of Accelerate Sport. The event was the first time in 25 years that George’s local beach featured on the South African WSL Qualifying Series. However City Surf have promised to return; “We would love to come back next year,” added Gregory, “being able to surf high performance waves with just four opponents in the water is incredible”. Gregory further acknowledged the support provided by George Municipality, in terms of financial assistance, municipal infrastructure, refuse removal, law enforcement and media coverage.“Surfing related tourism has become a very valuable asset to our local economy,” says George Tourism Manager, Joan Shaw. “The Vic Bay Classic provided a huge boost to local businesses in what is traditionally considered our ‘low season’,” she continued. “We hope this event will continue to showcase our beautiful beach as a year-round surfing destination,” Shaw added. Many of the guesthouses in Victoria Bay were filled and further self-catering accommodation in George and Wilderness benefitted from increased bookings.The popular right-hand point-break produced formidable waves over the duration of the competition, with many clean 4 to 6 foot sets. Over one quarter of the 120 strong field of competitors were international surfers. Entrants from the UK, Holland, Germany, Spain, France, Australia and New Zealand competed in order to contest points towards the international WSL QS rankings. These rankings are then used to qualify and seed surfers in WSL events worldwide. Many of the international competitors have vowed to return to Victoria Bay for more waves, citing plentiful accommodation and safe, clean, fun waves as a huge drawcard. Local surfer Bianca Buitendag took the Women’s title with her trademark backhand attack, netting a prize purse of R24 000. The George athlete’s intimate knowledge of Vic Bay proved to be a massive advantage; “Having grown up here and with all the local support, it was a really great event. We get waves like this almost every week, so I felt right at home,” said Buitendag.Durban’s Slade Prestwich bagged the Men’s title, along with R30 000 prize money. The little pocket bay proved to hold a special place in his heart; “It feels so good,” said Prestwich, “to win my first QS is great, but to win at Vic Bay is really special.” The Classic was the seventh tour date for the World Surf League’s Africa Qualifying Series Tour and the final date for the 2019 City Surf Series.The Vic Bay Classic also rolled out a transformation programme in an effort to draw marginalised local youths into the sport. Surfing South Africa promoted a ‘Learn to Surf’ outreach project in collaboration with Caltex EC and the NSRI. Ocean Pledge called on surfers and spectators to lead a change for the ocean by tackling a beach clean-up. The NSRI offered education workshops about ocean safety and ocean awareness.More information, results and images are available on www.worldsurfleague.com. Information about accommodation, surf camps and surf lessons can be accessed from the George Tourism Office at 044 801 9295.
As many as 45 hijackings incidents take place on South Africa’s roads daily, with criminals constantly finding new ways to dupe the public.Citing the latest SAPS statistics, ADT Fidelity said that most of these hijackings occur in Gauteng (23 per day), followed by KwaZulu-Natal (7 per day) and Western Cape (6 per day).The security company said that approximately 60% of all these hijackings take place close to home, so knowing what to look out for and how to prevent falling prey to hijackers is important to prevent from becoming a victim.Below it outlined a number of safety hints and tips motorists should be aware of:
The ‘tap tap’ method: Don’t fall for the “tap tap” trap where a driver taps the back of your car in traffic. They often use lady drivers as decoys here. Never get out of your car on the scene to assess the damage but rather drive to a busy location;
Go three houses down: If you suspect you are being followed, put your indicator on and slow down at least two to three houses prior to your home. If you are being followed, you will force the vehicle behind you to pass and this could cause the criminals to lose interest;
Leave the key in the ignition: If you need to stop in your driveway to manually open the gate, always leave the key in the ignition and the motor running unless you have a child in the car. Only then should you take the key with you as you open the gate;
The back wheels rule: Always make sure you can see the back wheels of the car in front of you when you stop in the traffic. This gives you enough room to manoeuvre and escape.
In a hijackingIn the unfortunate event that you are hijacked, ADT Fidelity said that motorists should do the following:
The first and golden rule is to not antagonise the hijackers who are probably more scared than you are. You need to show them you are not a threat;
Lift up your arms to show you have no weapon and will surrender. Use your left arm to undo your seatbelt and put your car in neutral;
Do not turn off your car, and remember to get out slowly;
Also remember to protect your head with your arms and avoid direct eye contact with the hijackers but try to take in what they are wearing, the sound of their voices, etc.
In Thursday’s State of the Nation Address, President Cryil Ramaphosa promised that his administration will halve violent crime cases. However, murder rates have increased drastically, and also noting that murder cases are often connected with drugs in South Africa – it raises a serious concern on the government’s ability to deliver on its promises. While the President’s address is only a promise; the youth of Thembalethu in George have taken a stand against murders and drugs in a peaceful walk on Monday 17 June as part of resembling the youth of 1976 by saying ‘’enough is enough” on crime and substance abuse.The walk was organized by young people of Thembalethu under the name ‘Youth in Action’. Above a hundred youth took part in this walk. One of the organisers of the walk, Snazo Gulwa, had this to say: “Today we have decided that we are going to take a stand as young people of Thembalethu against substance abuse and youth-on-youth killings. This also serves as a warning to those who continue to sell dangerous weapons to young people. We also invited the police to come and accept our petition in which we stated our concerns, and we hope that we will continue to have engagements with regard to these matters.” This walk is encouraging and should continue to make the community aware that these crimes are not acceptable given their escalation since last year.
Executive Mayor, Melvin Naik today officially opened the construction site for the raising of the Garden Route Dam spillway project with a Sod Turning ceremony. The construction works on the dam wall and spillway area started on 13th May this year.The model spillway design which was tested at the Department of Water and Sanitation’s Hydraulic Laboratory“This is a first for George and the Western Cape, the project design is unique and I would like to thank all role-players within George Municipality and externally who started with the planning of this project as far back as December 2008. Given the uncertain impact of climate change and the future expansion of George, I am excited about this project which is part of the Grow George initiative, increasing the storage capacity of this precious resource is a positive step for the future development of George. I wish only success to the project and everyone involved here today,” said Naik.The dam’s full supply level will be raised by 2.5 metres, which will increase the total storage capacity of the dam by approximately 25%. The current weir height is 179,94m with a volume capacity of about 10.0 million cubic metres. The new weir height will be 182,5m with a storage capacity of approximately 12,5 million cubic metres. The construction period is still estimated to be ten months from time of contractual commencement and the site and an extended surrounding area remains closed to the public for safety reasons. The fill for the raising of the dam wall will be excavated on the MTO/NMU side of the dam and transported to the construction site and it is expected that approximately 13 000 cubic meters of material will be transported.Construction siteThe new spillway will be approximately 80m in length and varies between 3.7m to 4.7m in height (above existing ground levels) and approximately 400 to 600mm thick at the top of new spillway wall. Hydraulic testing on the spillway design was done at the Department of Water and Sanitation’s (DWS) Hydraulic Laboratory in November 2017 and was undertaken to substantiate the computer modelling simulation undertaken by Aurecon. The model tested as calculated and was accepted as such by DWS.
Using exactly the same underpinnings as the ZT310-R and ZT310-X they had a solid base to start from. The engine is the same lively 312 cc mill that produces 26 kW and the stubby little exhausts have now become a trademark of the 310 range. On top of that sits a very aggressively styled bike. It has the obligatory ‘beak’ that has now become the norm for adventure bikes. The headlight is an elongated unit with daytime running lights and four powerful LED’s in the middle to provide the illumination.
The windscreen is adjustable through two heights and behind that sits a comprehensive LED screen. Under the screen, Zontes has included a little cubby-hole for cards and small items and there is even a USB-socket for charging devices while on the go. The bike is also fitted with substantial crash bars and a metal bashplate to protect the underside. That rounds out the rugged off-road look.In my mind this bike was never intended to be a proper off-road machine, but rather intended to be used as a commuter with some mild off-road capabilities. To test my theory, I took the bike out on a long stretch of gravel and the suspension handled it surprisingly well. The test unit was fitted with aftermarket luggage, and again, the build quality was good. The cases are lockable and they are lined with canvas. They are easily removable and have a few anchor points to strap things to. The rest of the bike’s build quality is very good and some parts, like the mirror stalks, feel almost over-engineered. It will certainly live up to some adventuring!
Using exactly the same underpinnings as the ZT310-R and ZT310-X they had a solid base to start from. The engine is the same lively 312 cc mill that produces 26 kW and the stubby little exhausts have now become a trademark of the 310 range. On top of that sits a very aggressively styled bike. It has the obligatory ‘beak’ that has now become the norm for adventure bikes. The headlight is an elongated unit with daytime running lights and four powerful LED’s in the middle to provide the illumination.
The windscreen is adjustable through two heights and behind that sits a comprehensive LED screen. Under the screen, Zontes has included a little cubby-hole for cards and small items and there is even a USB-socket for charging devices while on the go. The bike is also fitted with substantial crash bars and a metal bashplate to protect the underside. That rounds out the rugged off-road look.In my mind this bike was never intended to be a proper off-road machine, but rather intended to be used as a commuter with some mild off-road capabilities. To test my theory, I took the bike out on a long stretch of gravel and the suspension handled it surprisingly well. The test unit was fitted with aftermarket luggage, and again, the build quality was good. The cases are lockable and they are lined with canvas. They are easily removable and have a few anchor points to strap things to. The rest of the bike’s build quality is very good and some parts, like the mirror stalks, feel almost over-engineered. It will certainly live up to some adventuring!
The bike has keyless entry and everything that can lock or unlock is done from buttons on the handlebars. In terms of performance, the Zontes can hold its own against some serious contenders in this category. The acceleration is brisk, and the bike performs equally well in corners while the brakes are ABS assisted.The ZT310-T is a really good looking bike, and if you fancy a small bike with off-road ability, then the Zontes makes perfect sense. The dealer network is expanding and Zontes have some more exciting models coming. If they keep on producing bikes of this calibre, Zontes is certainly heading in the right direction.Article and Photos: Ultimate Drive Ed.54 (Brian Cheyne)
Die Q8 is ʼn heel nuwe SUV wat bo-aan Audi se hierargie sit. Dit is Ingolstadt se nuwe voorbok wanneer dit by SUVs kom en verdwyn selfs die Q7 – wat ook nie klein is nie – amper in sy skaduwee. Dis so groot, in fact, dat wanneer ʼn gemiddelde grootte man dwars voor die Q8 lê dit sal lyk of hy voor ʼn blouwalvis se bek uitkamp. Die Q8 spog met ʼn nuwe sierrooster wat dit beslis teenwoordigheid op die pad gee. Dit lyk wonderbaarlik mooi en sal die Q8 ook voortaan die pas aangee vir wat Audi met die ontwerp van sy SUVs wil doen.
Tog is dit nie net buitekant waar die Q8 beïndruk nie. Binnekant is daar ʼn oormaat weelde en luuksheid en word Alcantara leer mildelik ingespan. Nuwe en aangepaste tegnologieë is tot die insittendes se beskikking en word raakskerms eerder as knoppies gebruik. ʼn Lekkerny is die twee skerms wat die middelkonsole uitmaak en help dit beslis om instruksies makliker in te voer. Sewe passasiers kan in drie rye sitplekke geakkommodeer word en wanneer die twee sitplekke in die kattebak nie in gebruik is nie, is die laairuim ʼn baie gawe 605L. Maar slaan ook die tweede ry sitplekke plat en daai ruimte vergroot met meer as 1000L! Dis ʼn helse klomp spasie, maar dan moet ons ook onthou dat die Q8 ʼn helse groot wa is.Audi het vir eers net een model aan land gebring – die Q8 55 TFSI Quattro – en sal ʼn 3.0-liter V6 diesel, genaamd die 45 TDI, in die tweede helfte van 2019 geloods word. Die 55 TFSI word óók deur ʼn 3.0-liter V6 enjin aangevuur, maar een wat petrol instede van diesel sluk. Hierdie enjin skop ʼn gesonde 250kW en ʼn fris 500Nm uit. Audi praat van ʼn 0-100km/h-lopie wat in 5.9 sekondes afgelê word en ʼn top spoed wat tot 250km/h beperk word. Dis vrek vinnig vir ʼn voertuig wat 2000kg weeg, maar dit word veral aangehelp deur Audi se befaamde Quattro stelsel wat krag, via ʼn agt-spoed outomatiese ratkas, na al vier wiele stuur. En, moenie vergeet nie, die Q8 kan ook met al-wiel stuur bestel word, wat toelaat dat die agterwiele met soveel as 5° kan draai. Heito! Smaak my hierdie wa sal soos ʼn GTI om ʼn draai kan sit!
Audi was nie skaam om die Q8 van die beste te voorsien nie en kan die SUV met reg sy plek bo al die modelle in die Audi-stal inneem. Teen R1.4-miljoen, vóór opsies, is die Q8 nie goedkoop nie, maar Audi slaan alreeds munt uit die nuwe model se aankoms.Artikel vanuit Uitgawe 54 van Ultimate Drive (Charlen Raymond).
Die Q8 is ʼn heel nuwe SUV wat bo-aan Audi se hierargie sit. Dit is Ingolstadt se nuwe voorbok wanneer dit by SUVs kom en verdwyn selfs die Q7 – wat ook nie klein is nie – amper in sy skaduwee. Dis so groot, in fact, dat wanneer ʼn gemiddelde grootte man dwars voor die Q8 lê dit sal lyk of hy voor ʼn blouwalvis se bek uitkamp. Die Q8 spog met ʼn nuwe sierrooster wat dit beslis teenwoordigheid op die pad gee. Dit lyk wonderbaarlik mooi en sal die Q8 ook voortaan die pas aangee vir wat Audi met die ontwerp van sy SUVs wil doen.
Tog is dit nie net buitekant waar die Q8 beïndruk nie. Binnekant is daar ʼn oormaat weelde en luuksheid en word Alcantara leer mildelik ingespan. Nuwe en aangepaste tegnologieë is tot die insittendes se beskikking en word raakskerms eerder as knoppies gebruik. ʼn Lekkerny is die twee skerms wat die middelkonsole uitmaak en help dit beslis om instruksies makliker in te voer. Sewe passasiers kan in drie rye sitplekke geakkommodeer word en wanneer die twee sitplekke in die kattebak nie in gebruik is nie, is die laairuim ʼn baie gawe 605L. Maar slaan ook die tweede ry sitplekke plat en daai ruimte vergroot met meer as 1000L! Dis ʼn helse klomp spasie, maar dan moet ons ook onthou dat die Q8 ʼn helse groot wa is.Audi het vir eers net een model aan land gebring – die Q8 55 TFSI Quattro – en sal ʼn 3.0-liter V6 diesel, genaamd die 45 TDI, in die tweede helfte van 2019 geloods word. Die 55 TFSI word óók deur ʼn 3.0-liter V6 enjin aangevuur, maar een wat petrol instede van diesel sluk. Hierdie enjin skop ʼn gesonde 250kW en ʼn fris 500Nm uit. Audi praat van ʼn 0-100km/h-lopie wat in 5.9 sekondes afgelê word en ʼn top spoed wat tot 250km/h beperk word. Dis vrek vinnig vir ʼn voertuig wat 2000kg weeg, maar dit word veral aangehelp deur Audi se befaamde Quattro stelsel wat krag, via ʼn agt-spoed outomatiese ratkas, na al vier wiele stuur. En, moenie vergeet nie, die Q8 kan ook met al-wiel stuur bestel word, wat toelaat dat die agterwiele met soveel as 5° kan draai. Heito! Smaak my hierdie wa sal soos ʼn GTI om ʼn draai kan sit!
Audi was nie skaam om die Q8 van die beste te voorsien nie en kan die SUV met reg sy plek bo al die modelle in die Audi-stal inneem. Teen R1.4-miljoen, vóór opsies, is die Q8 nie goedkoop nie, maar Audi slaan alreeds munt uit die nuwe model se aankoms.Artikel vanuit Uitgawe 54 van Ultimate Drive (Charlen Raymond).
