Mickeys

The Geneva motor show, which opens next week, is not usually the place to spot newfangled bakkies and SUVs. Nissan will be showing off its upgraded Navara and Pathfinder ranges though, boosted by Renault turbodiesel power.

Beyond its larger (utilitarian) Patrol sibling and Toyota's Cruiser, Pathfinder boasts the best towing capability of any Japanese SUV.

Considering the boundless popularity of the Navara locally, the improvements to both it and the five-door Pathfinder SUV should intrigue  local buyers.

From a styling perspective very little has changed – with some stylised high-end wheel options on the Pathfinder being about as much of a muchness as you need to know about.

If you are a particularly astute Navara/Pathfinder owner you’ll notice the slightly-revised bonnet fronted by a reshaped grill, framed by new projector headlights on Pathfinder.

The facelift is underscored by restyled bumpers, which add 80mm to Pathfinder’s total vehicle length too.

Cabin upgrades include new trim, upholstery, chrome highlights, restyled dials and thoroughly contemporary switchgear.

We’re heartened to see a proliferation of steering-wheel satellite controls for Navara, an area it was dating quite badly in compared to rivals.

Touch-screen navigation and a rear-view parking camera will be optional on the Pathfinder, enabled by the screen resolution capability of the new centre console.

Nissan is obviously keen to meet the bakkie market’s biggest shakeup in decades (the pending introduction of VW’s Amarok) with a commensurate increase in performance from its own offering, the Navara double-cab.

New centre console's increased digitisation a welcome boon. Ventilation controls much improved too.

Subsequently the current 2.5 dCi four-cylinder engine benefits from increased outputs and is joined by a Renault sourced 3l compression ignition V6.

Thanks to some fiddling by Nissan’s engineers the 2.5 dCi boasts an extra 13kW and additional 47Nm, boosting peak outputs to 141kW and 450Nm. These numbers best those of the most powerful incarnation of Amarok’s 2.0 TDI engine.

A Renault sourced 3.0l V6 will now headline the diesel side of the Navara/Pathfinder range, producing 173kW and 550Nm – whilst the current 4l V6 engine is carried over.

The surge in power courtesy of the 3.0 V6 significantly ramps up Pathfinder’s braked towing capacity to 3.5t, enabling it to join the Land Rover Defender/Discovery 4 league of big-rig towing.

Not to be outdone by its SUV sibling, Navara double-cab will now see off a 3t braked trailer with ease.

The handsome double-cab bakkie also benefits from a neat dynamic safety upgrade in the shape of Pathfinder sourced ESP brake actuated chassis stability control.

New ten-blade, 18-inch, alloy wheels will appeal to urban SUV owners.

The updated Pathfinder and Navara models are set to on sale in Europe from April.

Expect them to arrive locally in the third quarter, although the sophisticated nature of Renault’s 3l V6 turbocharged engine, especially considering its compression ignition format, might preclude it from the local market at first – where diesel fuel quality is still vacillating at best.

taken from Wheels24

Flight was a great addition to the way people moved around the world. However, suddenly we needed somewhere to land the darn aeroplanes. As planes became bigger and air travel grew commercially, airports needed a lot more space, and that wasn’t always possible. Sometimes cities were so high that the logistics of taking off and landing became trickier. Sometimes the conditions facilitated a need to do things differently.

Well, some airports managed to adapt to what was required, and here are five of them:

1) Gibraltar Airport

As Gibraltar is nestled on a tiny piece of land, squashed between Spain and the sea, space is at a premium. It is because of this that the main road through Gibraltar, Winston Churchill Avenue, has to cross the runway. Yep, when planes land, the traffic along Gibraltar’s main road comes to a complete standstill.

2) The Ice Runway – Antarctica

Naturally, the weather conditions make landing an aircraft in Antarctica somewhat tricky, and only specific aircraft can do it. Planes which are too heavy can break the ice, or become submerged in snow.

3) Kansai International Airport (Osaka, Japan)

Due to the sky-high population density of many Japanese cities, space is at a serious premium. In Osaka, this necessitated the creation of an airport outside the city… in the sea. About 5km offshore sits a manmade island containing Kensai International Airport, and since 1994, full size commercial aircraft have been able to land there safely. However, global warming could pose a serious threat to this airport’s future.

4) Qamdo Bangda Airport (Tibet)

What makes Qamdo Bangda Airport unique is its altitude. At over 4 200m above sea level, the thin air makes it more difficult to stop an aircraft landing. An expert named Schreckengast says, “At sea level, where your approach speed is 150mph (about 240kph), it may take 5 000ft (about 1500m) of runway to stop. At 14 000 feet your approach speed is still 150mph, but maybe it takes 10 000ft (3 000m) to stop.” This is why the runway here is over 5.5km.

5) Princess Juliana International Airport, Saint Maarten

This is a famous runway as the approach to it goes right over a well-frequented beach before landing – in fact, damn close to it! Experts reckon that cars driving along the road between the beach and the apron are more at risk than the sunbathers, should an accident ever happen.

taken from GoTravel24

A car key costing more than £20,000 has been launched for wealthy James Bond wannabes.

The expensive watch key for the Aston Martin Rapide

The lavish device is implanted inside a watch with a touch sensitive face which will open the door to an Aston Martin car.

If indulgent owners press the space between 8 and 9 o’clock the doors of the car will open, and if they press the opposite side they will lock.

If you touch both sides together, the car’s lights will flash – to help you find it, or just impress your friends.

The gadget is not quite on a par with James Bond’s watches and their lasers, hooks and saws, but a lot of work has gone into its clever design.

The engineers at Jaeger-LeCoultre had to reduce the size of the transponder that sends the locking signal to the car.

They then spent 18 months working out out to install the internal mechanics of the watch around it.

Bond will never have one of his own because of his contract with Omega.

But if you can afford an Aston Martin Rapide, then for a mere £21,850 you can have the luxury watch key as an optional extra.

story from SkyNews

Rescue workers walk along the wreckage of two commuter trains in Buizingen, Belgium. At least twenty people were killed in the collision.

Two trains crashed head-on outside of Brussels on Monday, killing at least 20 people, officials and Belgian broadcaster VRT said.

The local trains collided near Halle, some 15 kilometres (9 miles) southwest of Brussels at around 08:30 (07:30 GMT).

VRT said 20 people were killed, but officials from the train line operator were unable to immediately confirm that figure.

Train services, including the high-speed line between Brussels and Paris, were blocked.

taken from News24

Honda has recalled more than 400 000 vehicles to fix a defect which could cause airbags to explode and spray out deadly metal shards.

Amidst Toyota’s global recall for several of its models, the Honda recall is the third since 2008 relating to the airbag defect.

Honda reports that the defective air bag could rupture, “resulting in metal fragments passing through the airbag cushion material and possibly causing injury or fatality to vehicle occupants”.

The recall includes Accord and Civic models sold in the US, Canada and Japan and according to Honda SA’s Joeline Dabrowski, models sold in South Africa will not be affected.

taken from Wheels24

Eleven people were killed and two seriously injured after a truck and taxi collided head on the N1 between Polokwane and Matoks, paramedics said on Friday.

ER24 spokesperson Werner Vermaak said that the accident happened when the Toyota Condor Taxi was travelling to Matoks in the early hours of the morning and collided with a truck.

“Paramedics that arrived on the scene found debris and people scattered across the highway.”

All eleven occupants of the taxi died and a truck driver and his passenger were left seriously injured.

The two injured were taken to hospital for further treatment.

The cause of the accident is not known.

“The local authorities will be investigating the accident,” said Vermaak.

taken from News24

An accident between two minibus taxis in Soweto, Johannesburg left 40 people injured on Friday evening, Gauteng paramedics said.

“The two fully laden taxis collided head on and then bust into flames, passages clambered out of the vehicle, some with the aid of fellow commuters and bystanders,” said Netcare 911 spokesperson Chris Botha.

“The interior of both taxis were totally gutted by the flames.”

Forty people from both of the taxis have been injured, 6 of them seriously in the Doxenville road accident. One of the injured suffered burns on 50% of his body.

Police were working to re-direct traffic but their work was hindered by rain.

taken from News24

A motorist has told Sky News of his disbelief at being fined for blowing his nose while his vehicle was at a standstill.

Defiant: Mr Mancini says he will fight the fine all the way to court. Pic: Scottish Sun

Michael Mancini had stopped his van in traffic and wiped his nose with a handkerchief.

When he moved off, he was pulled over by police who told him he had not been in control of his vehicle.

Mr Mancini, from Ayrshire, was handed a £60 fixed penalty and given three points on his driving licence.

He told Sky News: “I thought they were joking and that it was a wind-up.

“I was stopped in traffic and had the handbrake on and thought to myself, ‘Ive just got time to blow my nose.’

“Then police pulled me over and I was booked. I genuinely thought they were joking, that it was a wind-up.”

The incident occurred in October, but Mr Mancini has refused to pay the penalty.

His solicitor wrote to prosecutors earlier this month explaining the offence could not have occurred because Mr Mancini’s handbrake was on.

But prosecutors replied the next day warning that if the fine wasn’t paid, the case would be taken to court.

Mr Mancini added: “I intend taking this all the way to court. I still don’t believe it actually happened.”

A Strathclyde Police spokesman said: “A 39-year-old man is the subject of a report to the procurator fiscal in connection with an alleged traffic offence on October 26.”

taken from SkyNews

Meet the new Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight – a factory custom with some of the elemental coolness of a hot-rod thrown into the mix.

The Forty-Eight (as in 1948, the first year in which the company used the legendary “peanut” fuel tank) is based on the running gear of a Sportster 1200 but gets new fork sliders, a low solo seat, under-bar mounted mirrors, fat balloon tyres and slammed rear suspensions to help emphasise its chiselled customisation.

A chopped rear fender with combination stop/turn/tail lights help show-off the fat 150 mm rear tyre and 16-inch black steel laced wheels. The front tyre also rides on a wide black wheel. Power comes courtesy of a blacked and polished rubber-mounted Evolution 1200 cc V-Twin engine with Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI) and a broad torque curve.

Some other stuff to look forward to include: forward foot controls, low profile custom handlebar, under-bar mounted mirrors, fork-mounted turn signals, slammed speedometer mounting bracket and lightened fork brace.

“With its classic bulldog shoulders stance, the Forty-Eight strikes a distinctive look and low profile that could only come from Harley-Davidson,” says Ray Drea, Harley-Davidson Senior Director of Styling. “The Forty-Eight has a collective past life experience and broken-in look that is raw and authentic.”

The Forty-Eight is available in Vivid Black, Brilliant Silver and Mirage Orange Pearl colours.

taken from Wheels24

There were 1 582 road accident deaths over the festive season, a decrease from 1 655 in 2008, Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele said on Tuesday.

KwaZulu-Natal recorded the highest death toll with 298 and the Northern Cape the lowest with 66, Ndebele said at the release of the statistics in Pretoria.

There had been 1 247 vehicle crashes.

“It’s no particular age group who drives badly on the roads, it’s individuals.”

Ndebele said over last year’s Confederations Cup no “major” road accidents had been reported.

“However it is important to contrast that behaviour [of driving] during soccer events to [that of the festive season]. Our behaviour on the road is not expressive of a free democratic society.”

Drivers tended to believe they were the only ones on the road and ignored fellow motorists and pedestrians.

“We must place more value on human life and exercise respect and democracy on our roads as well.”

Over the last three years there had been a “slight decrease” in the number of deaths, but it was so minimal so it could not be attributed to behavioural change.

Ndebele said during the festive season more than 1 500 roadblocks were conducted and more than 1.2 million vehicles and drivers checked.

As a result more than 6 000 vehicles, including 1 536 buses and 1 669 minibus taxis were pulled off the roads.

More than 5 900 arrests were made – including drunk drivers (3 917), reckless or negligent drivers (314), speedsters (415), drivers with overloaded vehicles (250), public transport offenders (246), drivers without driving licences and false documents (251) and other offences (589).

Ndebele said 218 pedestrians were arrested for jaywalking.

More than 447 000 speed camera offences were recorded, with the highest speed clocked was 232km/h in KwaZulu-Natal. The motorcyclist responsible was arrested and fined R18 000.

More than 330 000 fines were issued directly to motorists for various other offences.

“We want to move with speed and put in place measures that have proven to be effective in reducing the impact of road traffic crashes 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.”

He said in terms of the newly-promulgated National Land Transportation Act, all national bus services such as Greyhound and Roadlink would be licensed by the national transport regulator.

“We have legislation in place which provides for cases where provincial or municipal law enforcement is ineffective, national intervention is possible.

“In this regard, I have taken a decision to implement that relevant provision of the law in cases which deem necessary,” said Ndebele.

The current traffic law enforcement system was also not effective, the minister said.

“If we want to stop counting bodies every year we have to change it.”

He said the system of issuing traffic fines with an option of going to court overstretched already burdened courts.

taken from News24

Beirut – An Ethiopian jet carrying 90 passengers and crew plunged into the sea off Lebanon in a ball of fire just after take-off in stormy weather early on Monday, witnesses and Transport Minister Ghazi Aridi said.

Ethiopian Airlines

It was unclear whether there were any survivors.

Aridi said Ethiopian Airlines Flight 409 lost contact with the airport control tower shortly after take-off and crashed into the Mediterranean sea about 12km south of the airport.

“The control tower was assisting the pilot of the plane on take-off and suddenly lost contact for no known reason,” Aridi told reporters, adding that the Boeing 737 crashed some 3.5km off the coast.

Families of the passengers, some of them weeping, could be seen arriving at Beirut International Airport, where they were escorted to a private area to await news of their loved ones.

Witnesses reported seeing a ball of fire as the jet plunged into the sea.

The accident took place amid heavy rains and storms in Lebanon in the past two days that have caused heavy flooding and damages in some parts of the country.

Aridi said the passengers include 54 Lebanese, 22 Ethiopians, one Iraqi, one French woman, one Syrian and seven crew members. There were also several dual nationals including two British-Lebanese, one Canadian-Lebanese and a Russian-Lebanese.

Thousands of Ethiopians are employed as domestic workers in Lebanon and Ethiopian Airlines operates a regular flight between Addis Ababa and Beirut.

Search and rescue effort

A government official told AFP that among the passengers was the wife of France’s ambassador to Lebanon Denis Pietton.

“Among the names on the passenger list was that of Marla Sanchez Pietton, the wife of the French ambassador to Lebanon,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Ambassador Denis Pietton took up his post in Lebanon in September.

An airport official had initially said that 92 people were on board the doomed flight, which he said crashed about five minutes after take-off at 02:30 (12:30 GMT).

Aridi said he had formed an investigative committee to determine the cause of the crash and had contacted nearby countries to assist in the search and rescue effort.

The Lebanese army, navy as well as the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) were assisting in the rescue, Aridi added.

“We have contacted everyone, inside and outside the country, that can assist us and the Lebanese navy, the army and UNIFIL have joined in the rescue,” the minister added.

He said the French organisation responsible for technical investigation of civil aviation accidents was taking part in the probe.

The Boeing 737-800, which entered into commercial service in 1998, is one of the latest versions of the world’s most widely used short to medium-haul airliners, and is capable of carrying up to 189 passengers.

taken from News24

Durban – A woman and four schoolchildren were injured when a minibus taxi hit them while they were waiting for a lift on Adams Mission road, south of Durban, on Monday morning, KwaZulu-Natal paramedics said.

“A woman and four schoolchildren were seriously injured when they were struck by a minibus taxi,” said Netcare 911’s Jeff Wicks.

They were waiting on the curb for a lift when the taxi driver lost control of the vehicle.

Wicks said the injured were taken to hospital, while the taxi driver and his passengers were uninjured.

taken from News24

Johannesburg – A 40-year-old Bedfordview man was arrested for speeding on the N1 south near Rivonia early on Sunday morning, Johannesburg metro police said.

“Metro police officers waved for him to stop after cameras caught him driving over the speed limit, but instead he accelerated just at around 1am,” said Senior Superintendent Wayne Minnaar.

He was caught driving at 188km/h in a 120km zone.

While running away from the police, he smashed his BMW into the safety barriers. “The car was a write-off but he was not injured.”

He was arrested and taken to Sandton police station where he paid R500 bail, said Minnaar.

He was expected to appear in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

taken from News24

Johannesburg – What would have been only a R500 spot fine, became five charges against a woman who allegedly refused to stop when Johannesburg metro police wanted to pull her over because she was talking on her cellphone.

Dalene Fordham is arrested on the M1 highway in Johannesburg.

Dalene Fordham, 46, on Thursday appeared briefly in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on charges of reckless or negligent driving, resisting arrest, crimen injuria, assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm and intentional injury to property.

According to Wayne Minnaar, spokesperson for the Johannesburg metro police, a female official tried to pull Fordham over on the M1 south near the Empire read off-ramp because she was talking on her cellphone while driving.

Fordham refused to stop and started swearing at officials, even reportedly calling them kaffir.

“One of the officials stood in front of the woman’s car and tried to stop her, but she drove directly towards her. The official had to jump on her bonnet so she wouldn’t run her over,” said Minnaar.

The woman then tried to drive away, but another official shot out the left rear tyre of her red Honda.

Minnaar said Fordham was taken to their Drager alcohol testing centre in the CBD, but she refused to be tested. The officials then took her to have her blood tested.

The charge sheet doesn’t contain a charge of drunken driving.

The case was postponed to Friday and she remains in detention.

taken from News24

A Japanese woman has been arrested after driving for four miles with the body of an 80-year-old pensioner lodged in her car windscreen.

Student's boyfriend reported her to police

Michiko Sato struck the elderly woman in the early hours of Sunday morning, but continued the drive to her home north of Tokyo.

Police called at the 23-year-old’s home to find the body still sticking out of the car’s shattered windscreen.

It was only when Sato’s boyfriend reported the incident to the police that she was arrested.

“The suspect said she was so shocked that she didn’t know what to do,” a police spokesperson said.

The catering school student was charged with causing a traffic accident resulting in death and leaving the scene of an accident.

If convicted, Sato faces up to 17 years in prison or a fine of up to £13,500.

taken from SkyNews