Bucket Seat: Mercedes-Benz CLE Cabriolet

With the new CLE Cabriolet, Mercedes-Benz is continuing its long tradition of four-seater open-top dream cars. Expressive design, intelligent technology and upmarket equipment guarantee driving pleasure at an exclusive level. This new model is based on the sporty CLE Coupé. However, the classic fabric acoustic soft top and additional high-quality details give it a character of its own. The CLE Cabriolet combines dynamic driving characteristics with a high level of everyday comfort for year-round open-air enjoyment.

Open-air fun any time of year

The AIRCAP® electric wind deflector system and the AIRSCARF® headroom heating system are standard equipment. Both systems have been further developed. They make open-top driving in cool outside temperatures more pleasant. AIRCAP® consists of two elements: the wind deflector on the windscreen directs airflow over the occupants’ heads. It extends at the touch of a button. The automatic wind deflector behind the rear head restraints reduces turbulence more efficiently. AIRSCARF® produces even warmer airflow around the necks and throats of front-seat occupants – even in unfavourable wind conditions.

The standard-fit fabric acoustic soft top also contributes to the year-round usability of the CLE Cabriolet. It is available in the colours black, red or grey. The multi-layer structure with extensive insulation provides the basis for the best thermal comfort in all seasons. It also reduces wind and driving noise. The soft top opens and closes within 20 seconds up to a road speed of 60 km/h. For the first time, it is powered exclusively by electricity, making it even quieter. The standard-fit powered roller divider automatically separates the folded soft top from the remaining luggage compartment.

Sporty luxury in a class of its own

The freestanding 12.3-inch fully digital instrument display and the 11.9-inch driver-oriented central display in portrait format are eye-catchers in the interior. The latter can be electrically tilted from 15 to 40 degrees to prevent distracting glare when the soft top is down. Another highlight is the optional dynamic ambient lighting. Bands of light sweep from the cockpit over the doors and rear side panels to behind the rear seats. This stylish wraparound feel is enhanced by two further details: the top of the dashboard, the beltlines and the soft-top stowage lid are upholstered in black man-made nappa leather effect. Added to this is the chrome trim that runs around the entire passenger compartment.

To prevent the optional leather seats from heating up too much in the summer, they have a special coating which reflects the sun’s near-infrared rays. As a result, the leather remains up to 12 degrees cooler in direct sunlight than untreated standard leather. Even with the top closed, the interior heats up less thanks to the cool seat covers. The choice of colours offered for the sun-reflecting leather and nappa leather are: black, macchiato beige/black, tonka brown/black, power red/black and white/black. The standard AVANTGARDE Line offers ARTICO/MICROCUT man-made leather in black.

The front seats developed exclusively for the CLE have an integral sports seat design. In conjunction with the optional Burmester® 3D surround sound system, they each have two loudspeakers level with the head restraints. This creates a particularly personalised and immersive music experience with Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio close to the ear. This premium sound system has a total of 17 loudspeakers.

Generous space inside

As the largest convertible in the mid-size segment, the sporty two-door model offers a high level of long-distance comfort for four people. The dimensions are: 4,850 millimetres long, 1,861 millimetres wide, 1,424 millimetres high and a wheelbase of 2,865 millimetres. Rear passengers in particular benefit from the extra 25 millimetres on the wheelbase. Among other things, they have 72 millimetres more knee room and 19 millimetres more shoulder and elbow room. This makes the vehicle significantly more spacious than the C-Class Cabriolet.

With a volume of 385 litres (295 litres with the top down), the boot is extremely practical for everyday use. If required, this is extendable using the folding rear seat backrests. Customers can conveniently fold them down from the boot in a 60:40 split. Access to the luggage compartment is contactless and fully automatic with HANDS-FREE ACCESS. KEYLESS-GO is also part of standard equipment. The vehicle doors lock and unlock by touching the door handle.

Exceptionally interactive and customised

The entertainment offering is highly interactive and personalised. The third generation of the MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) infotainment system enables third-party apps. The MBUX Entertainment package is optionally available via the Mercedes me Store. It includes internet radio, music streaming and a data package from a selected third-party provider.

Thanks to artificial intelligence, MBUX also offers a new level of personalisation with automated convenience functions. At market launch, customers will be able to use templates for standard routines. Examples include “Cold days” (seat heating switches on at a certain outside temperature) or “Date night” (romantic music plays via Bluetooth audio; the ambient lighting turns pink). Users access the templates via a carousel in the central display. They can also create their own routines, by linking several functions and conditions. They do this on the central display and the resulting routines appear under the “My routines” menu heading.

Dynamic and comfortable driving experience with a powerful, top-of-the-range six-cylinder engine

The chassis of the new CLE Cabriolet enables driving pleasure on winding roads. At the same time, it offers exceptional ride comfort on long journeys. The comfort suspension, which has been lowered by 15 millimetres, is fitted as standard. It combines a supremely comfortable ride with responsive, sporty handling. A sports suspension with an amplitude-selective damping system is available as an option.

The optional DYNAMIC BODY CONTROL suspension facilitates a highly adjustable driving experience ranging from extremely sporty to comfortable through continuous, adaptive damping front and rear. The active suspension individually controls the damping characteristics for each wheel in conjunction with the engine, transmission and steering characteristics. This takes into account the driving situation, speed and road conditions. The DYNAMIC SELECT switch gives the driver a choice between a comfortable or firmer, sportier setup.

All engines are mild hybrids. Each has an integrated starter-generator and 48-volt on-board electrical system.

“Sublime, that’s the word that I would use to describe the all-new CLE model offerings that we have made available to our customers. These are the cars that people dream about, and they do not disappoint. We have come in very competitively with our pricing and customers have unmatched choice in terms of crafting their desired CLE model to their specification.” Alex Boavida. Vice President Sales and Marketing MBSA.

Bucket Travel: MSC Brings Two Cruise Ships to SA

MSC Cruises – one of the leading global cruise lines– has reaffirmed that they will be bringing two ships to South Africa’s shores for the 2022/2023 cruise season to. This will mark the first time that two MSC Cruises ships of different classes, the MSC Orchestra – which is part of the Musica class and MSC Sinfonia – which is part of the Lirica class, will be deployed in the country simultaneously providing additional cruise capacity to cater for the demand for cruise holidays in South Africa.

The 2021/2022 local cruise season saw MSC Cruises carry in excess of 40 000 guests to various destinations with new Health & Safety regulations to ensure the safety of all guests. As we prepare for the 2022/2023 local cruise season, we are pleased to confirm that both unvaccinated & vaccinated guests are now able to cruise. At present we can also confirm that :

• vaccinated guests are no longer required to provide a Covid-19 test before departure 
• unvaccinated guests 5 years and older are still required to provide a negative Covid-19 PCR test, 48 hours prior to departure in accordance with the local government regulations in South Africa 
• children under age 5 are not required to provide a COVID-19 test

Continued investment in Africa’s tourist industry

MSC Cruises’ plan to bring two ships to South Africa in 2022 is part of the company’s commitment to investing in South Africa and African tourism at large. The cruise line’s focus to improving South Africa’s tourist infrastructure has been particularly noteworthy in its development of the Durban port terminal over the past few years. The R300-million terminal was designed, developed, constructed and financed by the KwaZulu Cruise Terminal Consortium, in partnership with the South African chapter of MSC Cruises and empowerment investment entity Africa Armada Consortium.

MSC Orchestra

This project is a significant undertaking for the consortium and represents MSC Cruises’ commitment to the South African economy. The terminal will help promote the country’s image among cruise passengers and provide jobs to many citizens. In addition to our commitment, our investment has included infrastructure development in Mozambique – a popular cruising destination for South Africans – and continued collaboration with the Namibian government, as Walvis Bay is one of the ports that MSC Cruises sails to. There are also knock-on benefits for the tourist industries in the destinations that MSC Cruises sails to, which have been enhanced by increased passenger volumes.

More itineraries offering more cruise holiday options for South Africans

MSC Orchestra, a well-known vessel by local cruisers will return to South African waters in November 2022, with approximately 40 sailings to Mozambique and to local destinations. Alongside MSC Orchestra is MSC Sinfonia that will operate approximately 22 sailings out of Cape Town to Namibia and other various local destinations. The itineraries will vary from two to seven-night cruises, offering guests a wider choice of options to book their cruise holiday. The ships will alternate routes, providing South African cruisers with a wider choice of options to suit their holiday needs with more cruise destinations and packages on offer.

“We are delighted to be bringing two ships to South Africa this upcoming season and we reaffirm our commitment to affordable and safe cruise holidays for South Africans” explains Ross Volk, MD for MSC Cruises South Africa. “Our dedication to playing our part in the recovery of the tourism sector in South Africa, has made it possible for us to create a second cruising hub in Cape Town. MSC Sinfonia will be permanently positioned in Cape Town for the duration of the cruise season and will serve our guests seeking a more cultural experience with our cruises to Namibia. For guests wanting to explore more of our South African destinations we have cruises to Mossel Bay and for guests simply wanting to take time to rest and relax, our “no-destination” cruises at sea provide the perfect getaway to enjoy the Indian and Atlantic Ocean sunrises and sunsets.” continues Volk.

MSC Sinfonia

Cruises as popular holiday ‘destinations’

Cruises are increasingly becoming an appealing holiday choice for South Africans as a hassle-free, safe and all-inclusive vacation with food, accommodation and most activities included in the cruise fare. The diversity of the offerings appeal to holiday makers of all ages, both local and international tourists alike. Guests wishing to experience the delights of an MSC Cruises holiday in the 2022/2023 season can already book any cruise on any of these 2 vessels.

“We continuously strive to bring bigger and better offerings to this country, enriching our itineraries and making cruising more accessible, to more South Africans who are realising that a cruise is an affordable, convenient and exciting holiday option,” concludes Volk.

2017 Wartburger Spring Festival

Nestled just outside Pietermaritzburg, lies a quaint town of Wartburg, having passed there a few times, you might miss it if you blink but many don't know about this little wonder and the history it holds. When I tell people about it, many respond, "what burg?", so here's a quick history lesson for you. The town was settled in the 1850's by German families, and is named after the Wartburg Castles in Eisenach, Germany. To this day, the Wartburg area has had a large population of German speaking citizens who predominantly farm in the surrounding area around town. Okay, enough with the lessons, time to focus on the main reason of this post, the Festival! In it's second year running, the Wartburg Spring Festival is getting ready to host the masses coming in to enjoy all things German.  The event will build on the long-standing traditions of the Wartburg Lutheran Church Bazaar, one of the most anticipated events on the town's calendar with its sale of processed German meats, advents biscuits and other fresh produce. 

This year the festival sees Orion Group's Wartbuger Hof Hotel joining in to host a fun family event in collaboration with the Wartburg Lutheran Church. The bigger and better festival will see stall holders and exhibitors from as far as Cape Town showcasing their artisanal items to the public. Some of the stallholders and craftsmen, include the top KwaZulu-Natal craft brewers, including Lion's River Brewery and Railroad Brewey. Nadia Gmeiner and Antoinette Kleyn, the event organisers, said that they were ecstatic to be involved in such an event. "The town of Wartburg is a beautiful gem and our hotel, the Wartburger Hof, owes a lot of its success and support to the people of this town. For us to be a part of the festivities and the camaraderie among the brilliant townsfolk is such an honor for us and we hope to increase the support and numbers to this years event."

The Wartburger Spring Festival promises to  delight the young and old alike. There will be a number of stalls which range from arts and crafts to artisanal food and beverages including traditional German cuisine that is sure to delight even the most discerning palette. The even will take place on Saturday, 21 October 2017, on the grounds of the Wartburger Hof Hotel. It is a nice excuse for many to explore the countryside and will be a great outing for the entire family. For those wanting to host a stall at the Festival, please contact Nadia Gmeiner on 011-718 6416 or email beerfest@wartburghotel.co.za. For more information, please visit www,wartburghotel.co.za or follow the event on Facebook. To buy tickets to the Festival, they are available online at NuTickets

Bucket Seat: Mini Cooper Hatch

I sit here with mixed emotions trying to put into words what this past week has been like, while there is some drama to this story, this isn't a soppy love story and it is very much a review of a car I've driven, I swear! Then again, when driving a Mini, it is a very emotionally charged experirnce for the driver, being behind the wheel of one excites every aspect of ones sense and it just brings out pure 100% concentrated joy. Yes many might not take the car seriously because of its size and the gimmicks, or as I like to call them, "party tricks" that come along with it but when people talk about an X factor, Mini's definitely come with them.

Impressions

Dubbed "The New Original", I was sent the 2014 Cooper Hatch to drive around with for a week. I was a bit disappointed to see I was not allocated its bigger brother, the Cooper S but with a 1.5l twin turbo enginer under the hood, this wasn't a slouch. From the get go it makes you fully aware of that as the high revving engine maximises the use of its lower gears, with 2nd gear mnaginging up to 120kph just before read lining. try doing that with your hot hatch!  The tiny chasis along with the short wheel makes the entire driving experience almost go kart like, the deep tone in the exhaust has been retained and make for good driving music if you don't fancy having the radio on. 

Interior

The thing I've come to realise with Mini, is that every one of their models is unique, there's always something in there that's different to what one is used to in a car. For example, the Start/ Stop buttong is now a flick switch located in the center consol below the climate control A/C and it glows red when the clutch is pushed in, remnescent of a fighter jet switch to ignite its engine. 

I made mention in my tweets that although the interior is pretty similar to the previous models, the subtle changes they made make a big difference. The speedometer is now located behind the steering wheel and has a neat fuel gauge to the side of it. where one normally found the big round retro style speedometer is now an 8.8" info screen. Wrapped around the info screen is an interactive LED visual aid display where by you can either select your favourite colour or use it interactively with the cars navigation, aircon or even as a rev counter!

Mini Connect comes with an updated version of of the software and they'velistened to me and given it a decent controller! It is very, if not exactly like the one you would find in a BMW which makes things very easy to use! The user interface is fairly the same with some added extras like the "Excitement Analyser" which assists the driver in taking bends at the right speed and efficient gear changing. One thing annoyed me was the center arm rest which you want down while driving but came in the way of the controller. 

Comfort

I had the opportunity to take the car on a long distance trip through the heart of KZN, having quite a stiff suspension very low ground clearnace I was skeptical about the ride quality. Also travelling in the midst of winter to some of the coldest parts of the country without the luxury of heated seats was also a daunting aspect but everything that concerned me was for no reason. The cabin, even with the frameless coupe style doors retain that airlock which keeps it warm even with the temperature reading at 0 degrees on the outside. The ride it self was probably just the same as any other car but probably better because of the amount of fun you have while driving it. Going over speed bumps was tricky but surpsringly on the short stretch of dirty road I had to go through, the car was stable as a 4x4, now I know how they cruised to a Dakar victory earlier this year!

Power

The 1.5l twin turbo engine doesnt spit out astonishing figures, 136bhp and 100kw doesnt flutter ones eyelids but combine that with the overall package with the short wheel base, sharp turning circle and grip for days, it makes the Mini one hell of a beast to drive with on the road. Consumption isn't too bad either, with me managing an average of 7.7ltr per 100km during my time with the car.

Design

If you had to glance at the new Cooper, you probably wouldn't realise its different to its predescessor. Again, subtle but big differences in the design, the car itself is a bit bigger and wider, the tail lights have grown and the front headlight have gone back to a single buld configuration. The bulkiness and chrome detailing make the car stand out for it size and with the dramatic paint work and stripes it ensures that it is a head turner. 

Extras

The car came with the sliding panoramic glass sun roof which in my opinion is a must with the car and I for one am not a fan of it. Besides the extra light coming into the cabin, it makes it seem that the top half the car floats. Other extras include a various set of rims to chose from and the of course the multiple colour combinations for your paint. The car also came with the 6 disc DVD shuttle in the cubby which for me is a waste of time and space since the bluetooth audio streaming is the preffered method for everyone to listen to music in their cars now.

Space

Whilst the car is small and the rear passenger seats has barely enough space for midgets, the boot, well you can't really comment on the space because it would take up too much room. No really, it's blody tiny, your gym bag and laptop case will fill it! The extra storage compartment below is nice for storing things that you don't want flying about like the first aid and tyre repair kit that come with the vehicle. 

Verdict

At the end of the day, you going to have to ask yourself the question before you decide on purchasing a mini, "are you a Mini driver?". Take away the egotistical, questioning ones self about their manhood and really think if this car is what you need. Its pricey but for me, a single guy that travels quite a bit alone whether it be long distances or a short trip to work, it really is an ideal car. It has everything you need in it and it has that solid build quality that many in its size do note have. After doing 960km in it, I grew quite attached to the car and as I said at the beginning, it became quite emotional, mainly because on the last day of having it, the car was a victim of crime with the passenger side window being smashed luckily nothing was taken but it ruined the image of this car that you can just sit and stare at.

Specifications

• 1.5 litre, 3 cylinder twin turbo charged engine
• 6 speed manual gear box
• 100kW
• 136bhp 
• 220Nm torque
• Consumption: 4.6ltr/ 100km (claimed)
• Top Speed: 210kph
• 0-100kph: 7.9 seconds 
• Price: R296 000 (excluding extras)