May 2017

Motoring along

May brought a visit to the London Motor Show – sponsored by confused.com and held at Battersea Evolution. This is only the second outing of the event and my first visit. I have extremely fond memories of the old British Motor Shows that were held alternately in London and at the NEC Birmingham until it was deemed no longer viable to hold a motor show in the UK.

That still rankles a bit. I thought it was a great shame, as Britain holds its head up in terms of automotive design and technology; plus our motorsport heritage and expertise are unrivalled. Yet we couldn’t sustain a proper motor show!?

The reincarnation of what was a great show is a wheel revolution in the right direction, which I heartily welcome, but it has a long way to go if it wants to get anywhere near the shows of the past.

Naturally, with my 4×4 inclination, the main event for me was the unveiling of MG’s first foray into the compact SUV sector with its stylish and funky MG ’XS’. MG had been rather coy prior to the Show as to what type of car it was to be, but the obvious chunky lines hiding under the silky red cover on the stand didn’t leave much to the imagination! As you can see from my pictures, the ‘XS’ follows the design cues of the typical modern ‘SUV’ (think Nissan Juke and rivals) which I happen to admire. The recent trend for metallic bold red bodywork also enhances the sector no end and I take my hat off to MG for finally entering the fray. The MG GS has gone pretty well, but this new baby will attract a bigger audience.

MG’s new XS SUV – available in two power units and adhering to the current design trend. Look out Nissan Juke…

I was also drawn to the latest Mini Countryman, in British Racing Green (always a favourite), as well as several butched-up Jeeps and Land Rovers. There was also my first sight of the new SsangYong Musso pick-up. Years ago, I ran a long-term SsangYong Musso for 4×4 Magazine. At the time it was a revolution in bold, bizarre styling, fiercely dividing opinion. But I have a soft spot for the quirky and non-conformist, and I loved that old huge beast of a 4×4. So I was quite excited when the Korean company announced it was launching a pick-up version into the massively competitive commercial sector. But I have to say, I’m not convinced I like the ‘Moose’ with an open loadbed; it looks, well, like a bit of an afterthought, really.

Mini Countryman resplendent in British Racing Green – suits you Sir

SsangYong’s reinvention of the mighty Musso as a pick-up truck. Rear lacking in style…

Far more pleasing to the eye was the gorgeous Aston Martin Vantage and a stunning, rare Jaguar Lightweight E-Type as displayed by Stratstone. Only 18 were intended to be built and this is No 15.

Diamond-studded eyes of a gorgeous Aston Martin Vanquish

The E-Type is also one of the ‘Missing Six’ – as part of an alumium-bodied racecar project in February 1963, Jaguar was going to make 18 Special GTW-types, powered by an aluminium block version of the 3.8-litre XK engine, but only 12 were eventually built. Why is unclear, but chassis numbers 13-18 remained ‘missing’ until 2014, when JLR decided to complete production, opening another SVO (Special Vehicle Operations) division, the ‘Jaguar Classic’. Each of the ‘Missing Six’ have been constructed using original  1960s’ tooling, period-exact dimensions and specs to make sure they are fully authentic. Think you’ll agree, it’s a beautiful thing.

One of ‘Missing Six’ – a beautiful, rare Lightweight E-Type. You may salivate

Bling city. Bentley’s Bentayga diesel model unleashed. It’s an acquired taste

Even though I may be diminutive in size I love big trucks, so it was gratifying to spy HR Owen’s display of Ford and Chevvy American monster pick-ups (read ‘standard size’ if you are enjoying this in the States!) They look ludicrous here in the UK, but I never tire of seeing them. I have driven a Ford F-150 and I had a ball; so if you have the cash (and a big enough sweeping driveway) you could too…

Beast from Ford available in the UK from Clive Sutton – plus Chevvy and GMC offerings – gotta love a big truck

On that note I will leave you to reflect and enjoy a few more pics from the Show. It has great intentions, and just needs a bit more pizzazz and support from more manufacturers – each with proper stands rather than a bit of square metre-age on the black carpet.

Revamped classic Mini gets the look of leather

As a road cyclist was delighted, if not rather surprised, to see Maserati’s Levante double as bike carrier. A rare sight perhaps?

A marvellous melee of magnificent Morgans

Kahn Design does its thing on Jeep Wrangler and Land Rover Defender 90 

TTFN

Hils

April 2017

Now is the time to say goodbye…

We have great news in the 4×4 market as latest figures show SUV sales are booming; the latest Discovery 5 is falling off the shelves at avalanche rates and we have the salivating prospect of a new Jeep Wrangler and Wrangler pick-up heading our way.

There’s big news from Mitsubishi at the Geneva Motor Show with its entry into the crossover market; then we have the bonkers Mercedes AMG G 65 4×4² cabriolet and the expected reveal of the new Range Rover to fill the gap between the Evoque and Sport to be called the ‘Velar’. Plus there’ll be plenty of updates to other 4x4s and the odd surprise as well. Exciting times.

Although those times are a-changing for some of us. I’d like to say a big thank to you, dear reader, for indulging me generally in my monthly rants, rambles and general musings over the last six years. This is very likely my last column for the magazine as it departs for pastures new next month. It’s been fun; at times unburdening and thought provoking, as well as great for the opportunity to reminisce on some highly memorable adventures and spout my opinions on various irksome subjects.

After over 20 years writing for the magazine, two as editor, I do feel I am saying cheerio to an old friend who has given me a fantastic opportunity to have experiences of which many others can only dream. I have been lucky enough to travel all over the world with the magazine and drive through and over some exhilaratingly scary and satisfying terrain. The 2006 Croiserie Blanche was immense fun and a particular highlight. A big team of us from the magazine hauled a bunch of the then editor’s trusty old wrecks on trailers behind smart pick-up trucks to the French Alps to blast through massive snow drifts. We laughed a lot, got stuck a lot, spent a lot of time digging, lived through a scary motorway drive back in appalling conditions and had the time of our lives.

The Milles Rivieres, another hairy French off-roading extravaganza, was tough driving and taught me plenty; such as the skilful use of our long-term Jeep Wrangler’s rear axle diff lockers and subtle throttle technique. I put the less-equipped Defender 90 to shame…

Then there was a two-week overland trip through Utah and Arizona which blew my head off – not to mention camping by the rim of the Grand Canyon, at its most remote location.

Grizzly tracking in Alaska, Wadi bashing in Oman, dune bashing in Namibia, a safari in Tanzania and the SsangYong Musso launch in South Korea proved the more exotic trips over the years and introduced me to some extremely diverse cultures. Oman was a big test, purely due to the heat. We were driving air-conditioned Nissan Patrols for hours on end through dusty swathes of dry earth and deep river beds. That required some respite and a stretch of the legs. Jumping out of the driver’s seat, however, proved a nasty shock as a fist of 50 degrees heat punched me in the face and I nearly fell over in a daze.

Blasting through Iceland’s incredible interior was at the other extreme. I have made two trips to that glorious island and both served up atrociously cold weather, but equally sumptuous landscapes and tough driving conditions. I have never been so cold taking a picture, but it was worth it and I’d return again and again. So many more companies offer tours there now, so make sure you get yourselves there; can’t recommend it highly enough. An overland tour on Corsica was the start of a love affair with the island and I have since spent a holiday there and plan to do more.

Many great weekends on UK greenlane trips with various clubs and organisations over the years have opened new areas for me. Thanks to my fellow guests for their patience when I wanted to set up the best shot; for often sharing their snacks and hot drinks and generally being all-round good eggs and introducing me to some stunning countryside that I have not visited before. I truly discovered Northumberland on one of these events and vow to get back there very soon. It is a glorious part of England. Taking on the incredible Corrieyairack Pass in Scotland with a team from the magazine was a real privilege as was driving the byway across Morecambe Bay with the Queen’s Guide. That offered its own tense moments in those fast-moving tides. Best bow waves ever though!

The last 20 years has sped by and there’s plenty to muse over and I thank my lucky stars for the opportunities that have come my way. I wish the new editor, an old colleague, the best of luck at the helm. And a big thanks to outgoing editor Nigel Fryatt for taking me on as a rather green staff writer in the first place when he was the publisher all those years ago. It’s been brilliant.

You never know, you might spot me at an off-road event/show in the future. If you do, come and say hi; and if you buy me a flat, brown beer even better! Keep in touch with your thoughts and adventure stories. Cheers all, it’s been a pleasure – happy 4x4ing.  (@Hilsphotojourno)

Hils

March 2017

Polar power

Every so often I’ve regaled you with stories of my travels and the interesting 4x4s I meet. This month is a little different as I feature a little trip made by my extremely fortunate other half.

He works for the UN and was recently invited to visit Antarctica to make a film about a new Polar Code for international shipping. Before he went, I, green with envy, said: “Keep an eye out for any 4x4s etc that would catch my eye.”

As a guest of the Chilean Navy he stayed at the Eduardo Frei base, run by the Chilean Navy on Fildes Bay, King George Island, part of the South Shetland Islands. The base is home to the maritime search and rescue sub-centre for the region, manned 24/7 by the Chilean Navy. The island is also home to Uruguayan, Chinese and Russian naval bases; all operating a range of excellent all-terrain kit.

My favourite has to be the Hägglunds Bandvagn 206 (Bv 206) tracked, articulated, all-terrain carrier that consists of two units with all four tracks powered, carrying up to 17 people with trailer adapted for different uses. This unit belonged to the Uruguayan Antarctic Institute, based at its Artigas research station about half an hour drive from the Chilean base. Previously this unit had fallen into a crevasse with half a dozen scientists on board and they had to get two mobile crane units from the nearby Russian base (Bellingshausen) to lift it out. The Uruguayan base commander said: “It was a very scary experience but a great example of how the different nations work together and help each other. On Antarctica, we are all like one nation.” Having driven across crevasses in Iceland I can imagine how scary that was!

Getting around between bases and research areas tends to mean bouncing around on 800cc CanAm quadbikes with tracks. The conclusion was: ‘These are great fun to drive but cold. You get filthy from the muddy slush they kick up and the steering is really heavy, especially at slow speeds’. The filming team and Chilean crew drove them to the Uruguayan base and at one point one of them got stuck in meltwater lurking beneath the thin snow covering. The second one was, fortunately, able to winch it out after a lot of digging and faffing. There’s a moral there…

The basic transport of the Chilean Navy here is the Mitsubishi L200. Basically unmodified, they are run on winter tyres all year, and are fitted with heavy-duty batteries due to the cold. Corrosion is a bigger problem than cold and they go through shock absorbers and springs pretty quickly. There is a small workshop at the base where all the basic fettling, including welding, is done, plus there’s a reasonable inventory of spares, all of which are flown in from the naval base at Punta Arenas on the mainland: maybe once a week in the summer, weather depending, but there are no flights in winter, so you have to hope that nothing major is needed then…

During his visit a new crew from the South Korean base, across the bay, had flown in. The Chileans had taken the L200s to pick them and their supplies up from the airport. Then all were loaded onto their boats to take over to the Korean base. Currently all the loading/offloading has to be done manually but this year Chile plans to build a small pontoon dock with a crane, so the L200s can drive onto it and the boats loaded more easily.

Summer in Antarctica means driving along ‘roads’ of compacted dirt/gravel with plenty of potholes, standing water and piles of snow. In winter, everything is covered in a blanket of snow. It’s important to stick to the tracks because none of the ‘services’ to the buildings (power, waste etc) are buried so there are lots of surface pipes just off the road but under the snow. Along the way drivers may meet the 4×4 tracked Ford Transit, belonging to tour company Antarctica XXI, on loan to the Chilean Navy which works very closely with them; for example on transporting scientists and researchers from the mainland. It is fitted with the Mattrack system but they swap these for wheels during the summer.

I was very envious of that trip. Now what on earth can I come up with to beat it?

To see the brilliant film that my hubby made about the Polar Code visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_x2_RTUiGM&t=12s

Hils

 

February 2017

In memory of Drew and Brian – true 4×4 icons

It is with a heavy heart that I sit down and write this month’s column. The year 2016 has all ready been classed as an Annus Horribilis due to the amount of notable people who have passed away.

We all were hoping that was the end of it, but in mid November, the 4×4/off-roading world had its own terrible shock with the news of the sudden death of the brilliant Drew Bowler at only 53 years old. Founder and owner of Bowler Motorsport, Andrew ‘Drew’ Bowler paved the way for off-road motorsport in the UK when he decided to go into production with his Land Rover Defender-inspired Bowler Tomcat in 1985. Drew had started off his career in trials in an 86in Series 1; he graduated to building his own ‘Tomcat’, which subsequently went into production and since then Drew and his formidable team has produced the Wildcat, Nemesis, EXR and EXR-S as well as bringing us the Defender Challenge competition. I wrote a report on the second instalment of the first six-part Challenge series in the July 2014 issue which was the last time I saw Drew. He was sitting by his former Dakar Rally service truck at the Somerset Stages Rally and we had a great old chat about the Challenge and Bowler generally with me desperately trying to get some lowdown on the replacement Defender. He had a twinkle in his eye and refused to budge, as of course he would. I will now never know what he did and didn’t have secretly stored away.

Before that we met at the Goodwood Festival of Speed where Drew slotted me in ahead of the long queue of fans wanting a Comp Safari-style ride in a Wildcat on the challenging course because I didn’t have a lot of time. That was a lot of fun and I was very grateful. Then we met for a special feature on the new EXR road car, the next step in the brilliant timeline of the Nemesis that joined the Wildcat as a superb Dakar Rally entrant.

Richard Hammond, then of Top Gear, had been ‘playing’ with the EXR on Pendine Sands for his Christmas DVD the day before we were due to head up to Derbyshire to see it in the flesh and get our eager hands on it. At the time, I must admit I was worried about the timing. We all know what TG gets up to… Many would probably put us off if there was a problem. But not Drew; he didn’t want to disappoint us when the EXR came back from the beach shoot with multiple dents and one or two mechanical issues. He and his team worked hard to patch it up temporarily so that I could get some decent pictures and we could at least have a taster of a blast with it across one of his Belper Farm fields. It made the front cover of the October 2010 issue and Drew used some of my pictures on promotional material.

We got what we needed and it was a scoop for 4×4 Magazine before the Nemesis launch at Goodwood. I will always be grateful to Drew for that. He was a charming and unassuming man who was hugely popular and inspirational to many. The Bowler team is carrying on in his name and will continue to produce amazing off-roading sports vehicles. His legacy lives on, but, of course, for them and us it won’t ever be the same. My heart goes out to them and Drew’s wife Diane and their three children who have lost a top man way too soon.

We were privileged to feature his vehicles in the magazine. I was planning on making another visit to see the latest of his creations, the Defender Bulldog. I hope to do this at some point. It will be so strange visiting the team with no Drew. He was a real gent and genius.

My sombre mood continues, I’m afraid, as November also saw the loss of another pioneer in the 4×4 world, Brian Bashall. Brian founded the famous Dunsfold Collection in 1968 when he realised there was a wide-ranging interest in his passion for prototype and pre-production Land Rovers. Now a registered charity it houses over 2000 vehicles, including every model made by Land Rover since 1947 including military vehicles, Royal models, limited editions, engineer drawings, manuals and handbooks. It also supplies the TV and film industry with Land Rovers of all ages. Now run by his son Philip, Dunsfold is also a specialist parts and servicing business which is the go-to place with owners all over the world and highly revered – I have pointed friends in its direction. Brian was also one of a team that founded the All Wheel Drive Club –the largest off-road club in Europe. I send my deepest sympathies to Phil and his brother Chris – who runs the fantastic, highly acclaimed Surrey Off Road next door to Dunsfold – to the extended family and the Dunsfold team while thanking Brian for his dedication to the Land Rover cause.

It’s at this point I normally wish all our readers a very Happy New Year, which I do, but it is tinged with sadness. RIP Drew and Brian – you both left some great legacies.

Hils

 

January 2017

Off limits

Last month we featured a comprehensive piece on off-road driving: the dos and don’ts, how to learn to do it, where to do it and who to do it with. I hope you found it useful and are all ready booking up your next driving course/greenlaning trip/Pay ‘n’ Play day/epic overland adventure. It was designed to inspire you to get your 4×4 off the tarmac and have some fun and excitement.

I hope it did inspire and inform and that you took heed of the warnings and pleas for responsible greenlaning/off-roading. We wish someone in particular had taken note of that particular feature and especially the warnings about not going it alone and making sure you check the routes you want to drive beforehand. That is easy when you have the likes of the Greenlane Association to help you with updated knowledge of where is safe, legal and open to 4x4s. We can’t bang on about it enough. So it was not without some mild amusement mixed with some despair I recently read a news story that proved extremely relevant to the feature.

Not long after that particular issue came out there were pictures all over the internet of a Toyota Hilux pick-up truck that was completely wedged between two stone walls on a very, very narrow lane in the Lake District, or Little Langdale to be precise. If you haven’t seen this story then google it up or visit the Greenlane Association’s Facebook page and scroll to 14^th October and there you’ll find a link to the article in a national newspaper.

If you visit the Facebook page you will see plenty of comments from fellow 4×4 users and locals etc mostly condemning the guy who ignored the sign that said ’ Warning unfit for cars, no turning places’ before the lane. If he had only checked before he went – as we always ask 4×4 owners to do – then he might well have found out that the particular lane is way too narrow for a modern 4×4 – a Suzuki Jimny or Fiat Panda would probably manage it, but that’s about it.

To be Devil’s Advocate for a moment, we have driven down a lot of lanes that do have ancient signs saying ‘not suitable for motor vehicles’ which on those occasions means your average saloon road car that can’t cope with the obstacles that modern 4×4 vehicles can deal with. We know these lanes are fine because they’ve been checked out beforehand. So we could have a little sympathy with the Hilux driver who may have thought that, but, once again, it’s always better to check beforehand. He was a lone driver which again we don’t encourage: if you are going greenlaning have at least one other 4×4 with you in case you get into difficulty. Having said that, in this respect two 4x4s on that route would have been even more of a disaster, although we’d hope that the other driver may have had some gumption to take a look first!

The incident attracted lots of spectators and much amusement as well as anger. Damage to the Hilux must have been huge as both sides were dented to the extreme, which most people found a fitting punishment. After climbing out of the Hilux’s window the driver went with the onlookers to the pub and admitted he had been a fool, but all were wondering how on earth he was going to extricate it. We still don’t know how he managed it in the end, but it was gone the next morning – any update would be much appreciated!

While this proves entertaining in its way, as it serves him right and luckily the lane doesn’t appear to be a major route to anywhere that would mean a big problem if blocked, it highlights yet again the importance of knowing what you are doing. Perhaps The National Trust – on whose land he got wedged – should specify that it is a very narrow lane and not even suitable for any 4x4s, rather than the more general warning. But it still doesn’t excuse Toyota man from being naive and a twit –he should have ventured down it first on foot to check it out. His insurance should cover the damage as he was on a legal byway even though it was more suited to his mountain bike that was in the back of the pick-up. He has also probably added to the anti-4×4 brigade loathing of 4x4s in the countryside. Sigh…

Be warned readers, don’t let this happen to you. A lesson learned, but he should have got a subscription to 4×4 Magazine…

Hils

Winter 2017

Conception reflection

It will officially be winter when you read this, so in nature everything has fallen away and died slowly as the severe frosts and temperamental weather set in. This is also the time that shouts 4×4 heaven as car buyers realise they probably might want a four-wheel drive vehicle to get them through the harshest of months. It snowed heavily in Cumbria in November and, by the time you read this, the UK could well be covered in a blanket of the stuff.

Many of the 4x4s we test in this month’s mega 4×4 of the Year test will be useful tools in this foul weather, others not quite so remarkable, but at least they all have some reasonably decent capability that will see you along the snow-laden roads and water-logged country lanes. I hope to see evidence of our newest and most important new arrival in this year’s test ploughing through the snow at some point during the ’17 winter season. The Jaguar F-Pace impressed us greatly and you can see whether it triumphed in the Prestige class; or indeed overall. It impressed us on the off-road testing ground, so on snowy roads will definitely be a winner. Always even more impressive is the Discovery 4 which we had to bid a fond farewell this year with the launch of the Discovery 5. We have yet to test that, but, no doubt, the technology will be even more amazing than the outgoing model. It’s just a shame that it looks so bland – I prefer the old shape, but I expect that boxy D4 silhouette to reappear in some guise or other in the new Defender out in a few years, so all is not lost.

Around about the time of our big test a major off-roading event takes place in the US with more new ideas and concepts. The SEMA (Speciality Equipment Market Association) show in Las Vegas is where you go if you are into massive bling and incredible modification or just plain showbiz 4x4ing. Much of it seems way too much for us conservative Brits, but this year a particularly new concept caught my eye and it’s a cracker.

Hail the latest advancements from Mopar – the service, parts, customer care and speciality build arm of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. This year it displayed six new models including the brilliantly named Dodge Shakedown Challenger and Durango Shaker plus Ram Macho Power Wagon, but what really caught my eye was the ‘Jeep® CJ66’ concept. Diehard 4×4 fans will know that the CJ Jeep hails from the 1960s and is the brilliant precursor to the modern series of Wrangler TJs and JKs. It makes so much sense to weld the original CJ to a Wrangler to create the ultimate Jeep off-roader, so that’s what Mopar has done to celebrate the 75^th anniversary of the brand at this year’s show.

The CJ66 sports a Wrangler TJ frame that holds up a ’66 CJ universal Tuxedo Park body which houses some Wrangler JK elements alongside a handful of new Mopar products. So we have three mega Jeeps in one with a few modern innovations thrown in for good measure. What’s not to like? To represent a true, mighty off-roader it requires the best kit and therefore it’s no surprise there are front and rear Mopar Dana 44 Crate axles and to enhance power deliverance Mopar has fitted its cold-air intake and cat-back exhaust.

True fans will notice the headlamps are JK, but amber fogs are Mopar LEDs and the winch is pure Mopar. I love the 35in BFG AT rubberwear keeping the Jeep Performance Parts (JPP) 17in beadlock wheels warm. To make life easier to deflate and inflate those BFGs Mopar has designed a two-way air system concept. Other innovations are the fender flares both front and rear to biff nasty obstacles, accompanied by the Mopar 10^th anniversary Wrangler JK Rubicon Bumper Kits, JPP skid and front bumper plates and concept JPP rock rails which have been custom cut to fit the CJ body. And the driver gets to pilot this lovely lot snugly cosseted in the Viper seats with concept seat risers, protected by a custom-built roll cage, bent to match the 2in cropped windshield’s surround. It’s a beautiful thing, don’t you think?

We love the winter months and our 4×4 of the Year test, bringing you all the info on the bright shiny new vehicles, that includes major launches each year. But as they all are starting to morph into each other wouldn’t it be great to have a competition for ‘Concept 4×4 of the Year’ as well? We could get the major, true 4×4 manufacturers to come up with vehicles designed around a morphing of their greatest 4×4 hits? Now there’s a real challenge. Just throwing it out there folks; I can but dream…

Hils

December 2016

Revelling in the Revival

One of the highlights of my year is the annual Goodwood Revival show in West Sussex. It proves a sell-out every year over a long weekend in mid September. The Revival celebrates the golden age of motor racing from the 1940s, ‘50s and ‘60s.

As you would expect, most of the 4x4s around are military Willys Jeeps and you get the odd Land Rover Series pottering about. The most impressive Series, however, is the recovery truck that hurtles around the track to rescue stranded machines, courtesy of Everymans Garage in Chichester. It is resplendent in baby blue and is a favourite of the crowd when it appears. The Jeeps also get a great reception; many of them proudly adorning lavish military nostalgia stands and others ferrying the great and the good from their private helicopters to and from the show arena, driven by guys and gals in full American Army uniform.

It is brilliant salivating over these gorgeous machines and the racing cars from all genres to the top F1 classics of the old days – the noise of 40 Jaguar E-Types revving up before the start of a race is one of the best growls you will ever hear away from the jungle or African plains. But the Revival does also pay a nod to the present when there is an important new model to show off and stunning vehicles from the more recent past.

The new model category this year in 4×4 was represented by the presence of a brand new luxury SUV that was on show in the Earl’s Court exhibit. It took me by surprise seeing the much-talked of Maserati Levante next to a gorgeous bright red sports Maserati from the 1970s. I was also rather pleased as it was my first chance of seeing it in the flesh as we won’t be testing one at this year’s 4×4 of The Year mega test next month (featured in the Winter ‘17 issue). I have to say I loved it; didn’t expect to, but in the flesh it looks far more imposing, sleek, sophisticated and just downright luxurious that any pictures convey. I sat in the cockpit and just kept running my hands over the leather steering wheel and nestling into those optional Luxury Pack sumptuous leather, trimmed with silk -yes really – front seats and admiring the uncomplicated but classy leather dash. I must admit to being a little sceptical about all these high-end road car manufacturers jumping on the SUV band wagon wondering whether they would really work and bring some worth to the sector rather than a gimmicky character.

Well, I have to eat my words and hand it to Maserati for producing a SUV which sports five suspension settings and two off-road modes and has brought in a diesel engine into the UK that doesn’t make it look so extravagant at £53-55,000. It’s a decent 4×4 with a price tag that puts it well into its sector without being a rather ridiculous exclusive monstrosity. There are plenty of cues that link it to the Maserati lineage, starting with its name that follows the trend of naming vehicle after winds – the Viento Levante that breezes through the Strait of Gibraltar. Then there is the trademark front grille that reflects the sports cars of the past with the Trident badge.

In the same hall, under another massive sports car iconic name, was a proper 4×4 from the late 1970s. Lamborghini may well be joining Maserati in the SUV stakes with its oddly-named Urus in 2018, but at Goodwood its classic sports cars shared the stand with its former brash and bold 4×4 – the LM002. It first appeared as the code-named ‘Cheetah’ as a prototype, inspired by the company’s tractors and post-war military surplus as a collaboration with Mobility Technology International that wanted an all-terrain vehicle with military applications. It evolved during ’77 into the LM001, powered by a North American-built V8. By 1987 it grew into the LM002 ‘Rambo Lambo’ with 5.2-litre V12 with 444bhp and a price tag at the time of $120,000. Then it was a revelation, but we doubt the latest ‘Lambo’ 4×4 will have quite the same effect in a couple of years – how times have changed.

Our recent features on camping and adventure overland trips made one exhibit also rather poignant to me. It may not be a traditional 4×4 but the VW Beetle with raised suspension and a Hannibal roof tent was here showing off its round-the-world trips, adorned with a mass of stickers and entry into the Paris-Prague Rally 2017 for veteran, vintage and classic cars. Made me think that the rumours of a Beetle-inspired compact SUV from VW would be a really fun idea now wouldn’t it?

TTFN
Hils

November 2016

French Flare

Last month I was extolling the virtues of 4x4s used for passenger trips in the European Alps while on a driving holiday to the south and south eastern alpine region of France. This month I will continue my homage to the continental use of 4x4s to their max abilities and the continued penchant for aged steeds.

This pictorial offering makes me smile because I love seeing true old workhorses doing their bit as they should. Here in the UK you don’t often see a rusty, battered old true 4×4 doing a job that obviously the owners feel just cannot be achieved with a modern shiny expensive SUV.

My first encounter in France was with a gorgeous Toyota Land Cruiser, used to tow a large trailer loaded with kayaks back from our finishing point in the Gorge d’Ardeche to the boat hire HQ. Outside it looked pretty good but inside there was rust everywhere and seats that could have done with a reupholster a decade ago probably. It was accompanied by a Nissan Patrol – we still miss those in the UK – of equal age and doing the same job. Both were full of sand, rust and load-securing gear, but with no attention to cosmetic niceties. The lads running the show loved driving them and wouldn’t swap them until something in the engine went bang.

Gorgeous ageing Toyota Land Cruiser (top) officiating as kayak lugger, ably assisted by equally distinguished Nissan Patrol. Need some cosmetic TLC…

Up in the mountains, on the other hand, there were sightings of pristine Toyota Hiluxes and Isuzu D-Maxes helping ski lift engineers doing their summer maintenance work high up in the clouds only accessible by 4×4 tracks. Of course the lift companies want to look up to date and clinically squeaky clean, but when you venture on foot to the farms and mountain refuges the locals who live there all year round are running the likes of Fiat Panda ‘Country Clubs’ (1992-5) – part of a range of Pandas at the time available in Europe that included the ‘Val d’Isere’, ‘4×4 Trekking’ and ‘CLX’ . The Country Club had obviously seen many winters, plus we spotted a very battered SWB Ford Maverick GLS ‘Colorado’ that could do with some cosmetic TLC after a significant prang, but we seriously doubt it will get it.

Bruised and battered Fiat Panda Country Club (top) and Ford Maverick GLS Colorado buzzing about the Italian mountains for many years to come

The purpose of the trip was to follow some of the Tour de France and what a lot of people won’t know is that before the leaders and Peloton race past wherever you happen to be watching there is the Carnival procession about an hour beforehand. This consists of the most bizarre and wildly decorated ‘floats’ advertising everything from sponsor Vittel to McCann chips, would you believe. And to do that some companies chose pick-up trucks to advertise their wares. I smiled at these 4x4s for different reasons.

Normally seen working hard on industrial and trade sites, Isuzu D-MAx (top) and VW Amaro pick-ups have plenty of fun on the ridiculous TdF Carnival

Yes, true, characterful 4x4s are very much alive and kicking on the continent and I wish it was as healthy here in the UK. If you are running a trusty old 4×4 to carry out an important job, let us know. (@hilsphotojourno).

TTFN
Hils

October 2016

French foray & BOAT bans

I have just returned from my annual major holiday which, this year, for the first time in many moons, was a two-week road trip. Living in Kent makes it easy to nip over to France, via the Eurotunnel. Luckily we weren’t affected by those horrendous queues on the M20/A20 for the Dover ferry. Those poor families. If any of you were caught up in that, you have my deepest sympathy and I hope your holidays weren’t spoilt too badly. We were actually coming home when that nightmare kicked in and chose to extend our trip a bit by taking the ferry from Caen to Portsmouth, rather than running the Eurotunnel gauntlet.

In the past, it was always the norm to fill up with fuel in France as soon as you got into Calais as it was always so much cheaper. Prices vary as much over there as they do here – the Autoroutes are way more expensive – by about 25 cents in some places. The prices ranged from Euros 1.08-1.35 per litre of ‘gazol’ so, even when you take the ‘new’ exchange rate into consideration, French fuel is still significantly cheaper, despite Sterling’s post Brexit weakness. Because of the huge variation in prices we did, however, find ourselves cherry-picking fuel stops – something I have never done on previous trips!

Driving in France has other advantages – superbly smooth roads which make our motorways feel like neglected country lanes in need of serious repair. We cruised over mile after mile of newly-laid black tarmac that looked like a hard tennis court with its beautifully white lane markings – totally showing up the UK’s pothole-infested equivalents.

And when we’d had enough of the long motorway miles, the Routes Nationales were a pure pleasure, taking a more leisurely course through some of France’s gorgeous countryside. On the ‘N’ roads, you avoid the tolls and get to see some fantastic scenery while cruising on empty roads which, again, are in pretty good nick. As someone who does a lot of driving for a living, I just wish our roads were better, less cluttered and more stress-free.

Taking a cheeky turn off one of many French N roads that lead to stunning fields of sunflowers basking in the southern French sunshine

I don’t have quite the same affection for French drivers, however; too many of whom have the patience of a wasp and, on the two-lane motorways make ridiculously risky manoeuvres and leave little room when overtaking. It doesn’t take long to get used to it, but you need eyes in the back of your head and it’s handy having a passenger on the left side of the car to be an extra pair of eyes.

We stayed in La Clusaz to watch a stage of the Tour de France coming through and rode our bikes along some of the route the day before

Part of our trip was a visit to the Alps and it is always a pleasure to wind around the mountain passes and visit those breathtaking cols. We did some walking in ski resorts, and saw plenty of 4x4s employed in the summer maintenance work transporting equipment and workforces up to the lift stations and the slopes. These ranged from rusty old Toyota Land Cruisers to smart, new, shiny Isuzu, Toyota and Nissan pick-up trucks.

Squeaky clean Toyota Hilux working for its living helping the La Clusaz lift company carry out essential maintenance high in the French mountains 

While walking, I was reminded of a recent trip to Cortina in Italy where we found a leisure company running a Jeep Wrangler to take people up into the mountains. It was very popular with the elderly and less fit.

Most people walk up mountains or take cable cars or chairlifts where available. But if there is no mechanical uplift and people can’t or would struggle to walk up, a 4×4 service could be an excellent means to enable people to enjoy the mountain experience.

This month’s big feature in 4×4 Magazine is on adventure travel which illustrates some of the most beautiful areas of the world that are available to 4×4 drivers and would be pretty inaccessible or impractical otherwise. During my wet and windy, but excellent, day’s driving on the Yorkshire Moors,  I discovered that a previous guided day trip I joined in the Yorkshire Wolds was no longer available because of the number of routes that are being shut down. This is happening all over the UK. Recalling the 4×4 service in the mountains of Cortina did make me question once again the UK’s obsession with closing down legitimate routes in the countryside. Have the local councils that are intent on shutting these routes down ever thought about those who can’t walk, or ride a mountain bike, or ride a horse into the wilder areas? How are the disabled or the infirm or elderly meant to get into these places if there are no routes available for comfortable, weather-protected 4x4s to take them? Surely that is discrimination?

The company in Cortina has set a good example. Is there anybody out there running a 4×4 service for those unable to get into the countryside themselves? We’d love to hear about it (@Hilsphotojourno).

TTFN
Hils

September 2016

Showing off

Two massive outdoor events dominate every June and places where 4x4s are most definitely needed. They fell on the same weekend this year and in the middle of some typically rubbish UK summer weather.

It was the last weekend of June and the events were Glastonbury and Goodwood Festival of Speed. Every year the AA Sort team sets up camp at Goodwood expecting to spend hours starting dead batteries and heaving a long stream of vehicles out of the inevitable mire. Local 4×4 response teams also help out at the music festival and soundly earn their keep. Not much moaning about 4x4s down there in the west country, that’s for sure. At Goodwood, however, it’s less organised than that. If people get stuck in the car park then it’s not necessarily easy to get someone to extricate you. I attended a few years ago when it was torrential rain all day. Luckily, I had the sense to take my Jeep Grand Cherokee so while loads of people were wheel spinning, throwing up buckets of mud and digging great holes, wedging themselves firmly in, I could saunter off, smugly. Yes, of course I would have stuck (pun intended) around and helped a few people but I had a car-full of mates who had to get back in time for some important events that evening.

This year proved similar with drivers being warned that it may take a bit longer to leave as many vehicles would need a hand removing themselves from the quagmire. Unlike Glastonbury there doesn’t seem to be a proper contingency plan – Glasto had a ton-load of tractors arrive on Monday morning to clear the congestion. Goodwood is a less down-to-earth and ‘roll up yer sleeves to help out’ kind of a place. Yes, there are plenty of 4x4s around; but as the name suggests, it’s really about speed and the famous hillclimb with stunning classic and modern race cars worth millions flying past that scary flint wall and clocking up breathtaking times. It’s the history and tradition of the place, but these days it has become an event for some manufacturers to show off their new launches. This year two such launches stuck out for me which sit at polar opposites of the 4×4 scale.

At the very bottom was the new Dacia Duster. Dacia decided the world’s most glamorous motorsport show was the place to uncover the latest value for money SUV to the UK market. We’ve always liked the Duster and its capabilities and the new one took to the famous track outside Goodwood House to show off its re-designed curvy lines and more sophisticated aura. At just under £20,000 it is a lot of SUV for your money and flies a very welcome budget flag for the 4×4 market. It even has DAB radio now and there’s a ‘Prestige’ model that tops the existing Laureate model. What was a shame was the only the two-wheel drive model appeared at Goodwood.

The brilliant VFM Dacia Duster is a perfect choice for an entry level into the popular SUV market. Great off the road and pretty impressive on it

At the other end of the scale was the long-awaited appearance of the Maserati Levante at around £54,000. Like Rolls Royce, Bentley and Lamborghini, its entrance to the 4×4 market has been viewed with scepticism by some, but these manufacturers feel they can’t be left behind by the rapid expansion of the SUV market. The Levante does at least boast five suspension settings and two off-road modes but is only available in diesel form to the UK – now that is weird.

The height of SUV luxury motoring. Maserati’s Levante has plenty of off-road tech prowess and comes in diesel only for the UK. Interesting…

These latest large SUVs are aimed at the road-going luxury end of the market and styling is now influenced heavily by the road car. And that has been heightened by the latest generation of SUV coupe models. It all started with BMW’s X6 back in 2008. It’s taken a while but in the last year or so we’ve had the Mercedes GLE Coupe – that we tested in our 4×4 of the year 2016 – and now it’s rumoured that Bentley is all ready talking about building a coupe version of the Bentayga. So it’s probably hardly surprising that Land Rover wants in on the act. To that effect, a new model has been spied testing in Europe. Despite extensive camouflage the pictures do show that there is a definite receding roofline and steeply-raked rear window. We’re hearing it hides a 2.0-litre engine that will pump out 300bhp; Land Rover’s traditional 4WD capability is expected to be maintained, although that isn’t necessarily a given with a coupe version. Who knows, this could be the model that sees Land Rover, or, more precisely, Range Rover deviate from its true traditional roots. Perhaps a watered down version without specialist off-road modes but adjustable air suspension featured as it is so low-slung and a vehicle with a Range Rover badge must have to be able to cope with some more tricky terrain and surely some kind of Hill Descent Control at least? It is due out next year we are teased, so watch this space. No baby Land Rover yet then it seems.

Goodwood next year could be the place for Land Rover to debut its new variant, although doubt it would be seen towing stricken cars out of the mire. Shame that Masarati didn’t show off its new luxury 4×4 in the mud, keeping it clean for the glitterati of Goodwood despite its off-roading tech. It would have been a great photo opportunity for a Lavante towing out some stricken punters’ sports cars out of the car parks and doing its bit as a 4×4 really should. Summer festivals would be a great product awareness exercise for the public and offer up a 4×4 demonstration event of these luxury brand 4x4s to the full, helping out the 4×4 professionals. Yeah, what is she thinking – never gonna happen. Sigh…

TTFN
Hils

August 2016

Happy anniversaries & eagerly awaited updates

We like a significant anniversary in the 4×4 world. For 2016 there have been two notable landmarks. We’ve had the Isuzu 100^th anniversary with the D-Max being the only model here in the UK – and a particularly popular one at that – celebrating the fact with its 100^th anniversary Venetian Red ‘Blade’ model. Only 100 were made and were actually only different from the standard Double Cab with that paint job and ‘Blade’ written in black on the front doors. I sort of expected a bit more of a show than that for such a significant anniversary, but perhaps Isuzu has more development issues on its mind at the moment?

This month in the magazine we are celebrating a very important 4×4 milestone which is the 75^th anniversary of the iconic Jeep. Time has flown since the 70^th anniversary celebrations where I marked the occasion at Goodwood Revival. I joined many other fans salivating over lots of lovely vintage Jeeps on the official stand that featured an American Diner serving up all sorts of retro snacks, music and great costumes. Jeep is making its mark this year by hosting the biggest ever Camp Jeep in Basella Spain where hundreds of Jeep owners and enthusiasts from all over the world gather together to celebrate their beloved brand of 4×4. Much of the talk, no doubt, will be of the new JL Wrangler due out next year and the Wrangler pick-up that will follow. Although it’s a pity we aren’t getting the new Wrangler this year to coincide with the anniversary.

Spy shots all over the internet show that the general appearance of the manufacturer’s most capable and rugged 4×4 will not change dramatically. It won’t turn into a leisure SUV like its peers; take the Suzuki Vitara – a former great off-roader that has lost its mojo, even though there is a ‘4×4 lock’ mode. Those Jeep spy shots show the same body shape, more or less, with exposed door hinges but wider arches. The body-on-frame construction remains as does the solid front axle, but we know that weight will be reduced with some use of aluminium in the bodywork. Even the Wrangler has to bow to the need for better fuel economy in this environmentally-conscious world and we are thankful for that.

We are more than thankful that our new best in class rugged off-roader won’t change too dramatically, and with the Defender out of production let’s hope some old diehard Land Rover fanatics will consider the new Wrangler JL as the best option. As you can read in my feature on the latest Rubicon modification carried out by the founder of the Jeep Owners Club here in the UK, the club is finding previous Land Rover owners moving over to the dark side once they have seen what the Wrangler can do first hand and how much less they have to pay for it, and how much more reliable it could prove to be.

The speculation about the JL engine options is that the petrol V6 Pentaster engine is expected to stick around in 3.6-litre form and the US, as well as Europe, should get a new turbodiesel unit. Rumour has it there could be a 3.0-litre diesel option plus a mild hybrid. A more powerful, cleaner and more efficient diesel power house than the outgoing 2.8-litre will be a welcome move and we keep our fingers crossed that it will materialise – we’re also hearing of an eight-speed gearbox. Bring it on.

In the meantime, we can relish all these prospects and celebrate another major milestone for the great granddaddy of the off-roader. We can also revel in the latest production figures from SMMT that has European and UK sales of Jeeps at record highs – in April it was the UK’s leading manufacturer in terms of growth at an increase of 115%, with the Grand Cherokee still selling well and marvellous Renegade topping the charts at 1058 sales. It’s all looking good – the new Wrangler JL and subsequent pick-up cannot come too soon.

Talking of true off-roaders and another vehicle that should benefit from the lack of Defender production is the all-new Toyota Hilux. I tested the ’16 model in the Namibian desert recently; you can read about it in the August ’16 issue of 4×4 Magazine. Suffice to say, it still lags behind rivals for performance with an engine that doesn’t really produce fireworks on the road as even truck owners come to expect these days; but off-road is where it excels. New features have turned an all ready great off-roading truck into a brilliant one, plus the styling has improved immensely. I am sad that Toyota hasn’t up-rated its power plant to meet current standards in a highly competitive sector that is growing all the time as newcomers arrive and old timers get updated. That could prove costly…

TTFN
Hils