TECHNO BLUE(S)
On our frequent journeys countrywide and into neighbouring states things do not always go swimmingly, and we have had our share of misfortunes and troubles on the long road – including a surfeit of flat tyres and a glut of chipped windscreens.
We have also experienced wheels damaged by potholes, and scraped bumpers and side skirts from rough roads or offroading. But never did we expect that one day our travels would be thwarted by advanced technology …Well, this is exactly what happened on our recent trip to Namibia to retrace the route done by the first-ever four-wheel-drive vehicle in the world with a Mercedesbenz GLB.
Being a diesel, the brand-new Benz needs to conform to European restrictions on emissions and particulates. In order to do so, manufacturers use an additive called Adblue as this converts harmful NOX from diesel engines into nitrogen and steam … Well, close to Windhoek, messages started to flash on the cockpit display telling us the Adblue in our vehicle was low.
We did not pay particular attention to this, as we were under the impression the engine can run without it (I mean, we do not have any emission regulations in this regard). However, when the messages became insistent, indicated we had less than 500 km left before we needed to refill, we became worried.
We were still more than 700 km from the border and realised we will have to fill up before we reached it. As we entered Keetmanshoop, the computer indicated we had only 30 km left before complete shutdown … You can read the outcome of our technoblue misadventure in the lead article.
Besides our (admittedly minor) troubles in Nam while pursuing the tracks of the “Dernburgwagen”, contributor Ian Mclaren did a Sound Check with the new Audi Q3 Sportback in the Eastern Cape while Jim Freeman took the strongest Volkswagen Amarok to the Southern Cape to experience wings and whales and the delightful diversity of the De Hoop Nature Reserve.
Meanwhile, Liezel van der Merwe travelled North towards the Kapama Game Reserve in Limpopo in a quest to find a new normal, and the Fernandes family, winners of our first Epic road trip competition, tells us of their fantastic getaway visiting all the “corners” of the country.
To celebrate 20 years of the recently revamped Hyundai Santa Fe, we visited twenty interesting little towns and hamlets in the Western Cape, while our intrepid wine connoisseur Jim Freeman enjoyed some fizz with Soul when he visited Simonsig, the original home of sparkling wine in South Africa, in the new Mazda CX-30.
Also, we have recently joined forces with the Value App company and their innovative Road Trip SA application to bring you exciting new benefits and added value. The Road Trip SA app is the only one available that lists information on thousands of places and destinations of interest throughout Southern Africa, available at your fingertips.
This partnership enables readers and subscribers of Roadtrip to now have access to content and information on the Road Trip SA app and to celebrate the partnership, we are offering you the opportunity to download a limited version of the Road Trip SA app for free (see page 86). Do it now!
Until next time, safe travels …