IT’S not an activity for the faint-hearted: sitting in the back seat of a bakkie pointing face-down several metres above the ground and with nothing obvious to stop it smashing into the concrete below. The sense of helplessness is not helped by loose objects flying past you, and into the footwell below.For the recent launch of its new Hilux range, Toyota SA built a 43° metal ramp to show off the climbing capacity and grip of the 4x4 models. Climbing, even with a test-driver at the wheel, is worrying. Going down, with only ground in view, doubly so. But when the driver proceeds to reverse upwards, it really is, in the words of former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, “squeaky-bum time”.The exercise was designed to underline the Hilux’s offroad capability. We had already taken vehicles through a tough 4x4 course without too much difficulty, though a couple of gung-ho participants threatened to dent the mood (and their vehicles).Toyota needs Hilux to succeed. The company ...
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