Motoring_8_Nov_15

SATURDAY, 7 NOVEMBER, 2015
Polar opposites, but both aimed at off­road enthusiasts: the bare­bones Russian UAZ Hunter (left) and the no­luxury­spared Mercedes­Benz GLS.
PHOTOS: SUPPLIED
The rough vs the sublime
Russia’s Hunter and Germany’s GLS cannot be more different, but compete on the same turf
ALWYN VILJOEN
OFF­ROADERS now have two
new utes to choose from and
while both pay homage to a
tough predecessor, they cannot
be more opposite in design.
In the no­luxury­spared corner,
Mercedes­Benz is now taking
orders on its new GLS,
which extends the Geladenwagon’s
abilities beyond the
red carpet into the corporate
boardroom.
In the bare­bones­basics corner,
Russian brand UAZ is flogging
the Hunter to Mongolian
shepherds and Vietnamese
fishermen.
UAZ also makes quite modern
sport utes, but built the
Hunter to pay tribute to its
World War 2 4x4 legend, the
Kozlik, or UAZ 496. Aficionados
of Africa’s muddiest roads
made with Russian funding
know the Kozlik is still preferred
over Defenders and Land
Cruisers in those states.
Paying tribute to hard­riding
predecessors is quite the fashion.
Toyota also did so last year
with the eighties’ lookalike
Land Cruiser 70.
Like the Cruiser, the UAZ
rides on ancient coils over oil
upfront and leaf springs at the
rear, (where drum brakes still
have to stop these wagons), but
the Toyota’s dashboard is positively
modern compared with
that in the UAZ.
About the only modern gizmo
the Russian 4x4 builder allowed
in its Hunter is fuel injection
instead of a carburettor.
The Russian ute does, however,
sport a cigarette lighter
across the range, and the distributors
can order a “Souvenir”
kit bag that containts a
groundsheet, an axe, a kettle
and a set of tableware.
The GLS offers neither kettle
nor axe, instead, there is Remote
Online services that provide
users with vehicle info via
an Internet platform.
The GLS also just about
glides about on air suspension
with an enhanced adaptive
damping system that seeks to
provide a stable ride, while optional
active roll stabilisation
should help in the corners.
For as CEO of the Mercedes­
Benz SA Fioran Seidler explained
at the launch of the
Merc sport ute range in Namibia
last week, the GLS offers the
off­road genes of the G­Class,
with all the refinement of the
S­Class.
This means ambient lighting,
an ionization system to improve
the air quality inside the
vehicle, as well as seats that can
heat or cool their front passenger’s
and driver’s butts.
The Hunter has a choice of
two engines — a 2,6 petrol
making only 94 kW or a 2,2 diesel
making a mere 84 kW.
GLS customers have a choice
… and from the edgy to the curvaceous at Sema
of four formidable engines,
with the smallest, a V6, making
245 kW and the most powerful
making 430 kW.
The Russian wagon has a
five­speed manual gearbox and
low range, with the electric
drive selecting the cogs in the
transfer case.
The GLS models have permanent
all­wheel drive with
power transmitted through a
nine­speed 9G­Tronic automatic
transmission as standard,
with the exception of the
Mercedes­AMG GLS 63, which
comes with an AMG Speedshift
Plus 7G­Tronic transmission.
But the Hunter has a wading
depth of 50 cm and its owners
look all the more credible if
their Russian wagon has dents
and scratches.
UAZ is selling three models,
from the entry­level Dymos
with its 16­inch wheels, the Victory
series, packing a special
Toyota engineers in the U.S. modified a Sienna minivan to show what they can do when given free rein for a
corporate road trip in June. Called the Toyota Ultimate Utility Vehicle (UUV), the custom­made Sienna body is
retrofitted on top of a Tacoma truck and after crossing America in the U.S. leg of Toyota’s Ever­Better Expedition, the
UUV went on display at this week’s Specialty Equipment Market Association (Sema) conference in the U.S.
From the rugged to the sublime is the gorgeous and totally unique car made for Metallica front man James Hetfield
by a team ‘of the most gifted hands in custom car building and metal shaping in the USA today, led by hot rod
legend Rick Dore’. Called the Aquarius, the lines are inspired by the teardrop coaches built by French designers in the
thirties, specifically the Delhaye 165 cabriolet. The hand­finished, brushed aluminium panels are built onto a 34
Packard chassis and a V8 power in what is reportedly a very driveable car.
PHOTOS: SUPPLIED
khaki colour and music score
graphics from the movie that
marked the 70th anniversary of
Russia’s World War 2 battle
victory, and the Trophy model,
which comes with extra underbody
protection.
GLS owners have four models
to choose from, including a
diesel, but will hesitate to set
foot on even smooth gravel
roads, despite Merc last week
proving the entire new SUV
range can go where Mad Max
went.
The Hunter is currently only
on sale in several Far East countries
up to Mongolia, and in the
Czech Republic
in
Europe, but
dealership
queries are
welcome.
To order
a UAZ outside
the
countries
where it is currently sold with
a 12 months or 30 000 km warranty,
download, fill in and
e­mail a candidate distributor’s
business case to export@uaz.ru
Then be prepared to negotiate
a Vodka­fuelled price.
The GLS arrives next year in
South Africa.
To order a model that suits
your style, have your butler
pour you another as you appoint
your nearest Merc dealer
to come visit you, and then call
your accountant to arrange
writing off quite a bit more
than the rugged G­Class’s R1,4
million.
• Optional - Two-year/unlimited km warranty
• Terms and conditions apply. E & OE
• 80-point mechanical check
• Ownership guaranteed
• 7-day exchange plan • Mileage certified • Full service history
COLOUR MILEAGE PRICE
POLO VIVO
2011 Polo Vivo 1,4 Blueline 5-Door Silver 91 000 km R99 900
2011 Polo Vivo 1,4 Trendline 5-Door Silver 63 000 km R104 900
2013 Polo Vivo 1,4 Trendline 5-Door White 44 000 km R119 900
2014 Polo Vivo Sedan1.4 Trendline Silver 71 000 km R107 900
2014 Polo Vivo Sedan1.4 Trendline Silver 20 000 km R129 900
2015 Vivo 1.4 Trendline 5-Door Silver 8 000 km R149 900
POLO
2012 Polo 1.6 Comfortline 5-Door Red 31 000 km R165 900
2012 Polo 1.6 TDi Comfortline 5-Door White 58 000 km R175 900
2014 Polo Sedan 1.4 Trendline White 32 000 km R154 900
2014 Polo GP 1.2 TSi Trendline White 34 000 km R169 900
2015 Polo GP 1.2 Comfortline Red 9 000 km R224 900
GOLF
2011 Golf GTi 2.0 FSi DSG Red 117 000 km R239 900
2012 Golf GTi 2.0 FSi DSG White 122 000 km R259 900
2013 Golf 7 GTi 2.0 FSi DSG Red 70 000 km R319 900
2014 Golf 7 1.2 TSi Trendline Silver 28 000 km R208 900
2014 Golf 7 1.4 TSi Comfortline While 19 800 km R254 900
JETTA
2012 Jetta 1.4 TSi Comfortline White 60 000 km R169 900
2012 Jetta 1.2 TSi Trendine White 79 000 km R155 900
UP!
2015 Take UP! 1.0 55 kW White 6 000 km R119 000
2015 Take UP! 1.0 55 kW Silver 4 500 km R119 000
2015 Move UP! 1.0 55 kW Blue 5 000 km R125 000
OTHER VW
2010 Scirocco 2,0 TSi White 115 000 km R199 900
2011 VW Tiguan 1.4 TSi Trend Silver 90 000 km R189 900
2011 VW Touareg 3,6 FSi V6 Brown 39 000 km R349 900
2013 VW T5 Kombi 2.0 TDi LWB White 83 000 km R349 000
2015 VW Tiguan 1.4 TSi Trend Silver 6 000 km R314 900
2015 Touareg GP 3,0 TDi V6 Blue 14 500 km R679 000
OTHER
2010 Audi A5 2.0 Multitronic Sportback Grey 79 000 km R199 900
2013 Hyundai Veloster 1,6 Silver 75 000 km R189 000
2013 Hyundai iX35 2,0 Silver 78 000 km R245 000
2015 Isuzu D/Cab KB300 D-teq Auto White 16 000 km R389 900
Mastercars warranty not included in advertised price.
Barons Pietermaritzburg
Tel: 033 845 3100
After hours:
Laurie 082 783 8040 • Rajen 072 228 9834 • Sanjay 083 639 0989 • Barry 072 235 4244 • Phumlani 073 744 8350