Blog Archive

Brute Force – Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk

Some cars are ballistic. This one is a seismic event. A force of nature. 710 hp. Not sophisticated, not playful, not understated. Pure, raw American muscle, that trumps its competition. I experienced the Trackhawk.

dieterlosskarn
12 December 2020
06:08
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Snow mobile – Volkswagen Amarok Canyon 3.0 V6 TDI

The Volkswagen bakkie is almost ten years old. And the Germans are celebrating it with a special model, the honey orange metallic Canyon. Reason enough for me to take it on a special trip.

dieterlosskarn
3 October 2020
08:22
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The Coronator – BMW M 340i

While I was on a road trip in the Karoo, Corona happened. So I spent five weeks of lock down in Prince Albert with BMW’s 3-series flagship, the M340i, flattening the curve in a parking lot. Finally I was allowed to go back to Cape Town. On a deserted Route 62.

dieterlosskarn
3 October 2020
08:14
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Which Seven? – BMW X7 50d or 730Ld

If you would have a choice, which flagship top-of-the-range BMW would you choose? The rather inconspicuous 7-series sedan or the not so subtle X7? Could latter even be an in-house threat to the traditional limousine? I spent some quality time with both vehicles to find out.

dieterlosskarn
3 October 2020
08:06
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Born to be cool – Ford Mustang Bullit

The original 1968 Ford Mustang of Steve McQueen ‘Bullitt’ fame was recently auctioned of in the States - for R54 million. Making it the most expensive Mustang ever sold. GQ motoring ed Dieter Losskarn experienced the limited edition 50th anniversary Bullitt model. On South African roads.

dieterlosskarn
16 April 2020
12:54
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Vorsprung durch Sex-Appeal – Audi Q3

The second-generation of Audi’s extremely popular entry-level luxury compact crossover is bigger, more attractive, more powerful and it features more standard features than before. Reason enough for Dieter Losskarn to take the mini-Q8 on a short road trip.

dieterlosskarn
16 April 2020
12:44
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Swede Cruiser – Volvo XC 90 T6

LossKARn took Volvo’s flagship SUV XC90 out on a little road trip along the Garden Route and into De Hoop Nature reserve. Initially he was quite reluctant to leave the tarmac with the luxurious Swedish beauty.

dieterlosskarn
1 March 2020
06:52
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Polo Reloaded – Volkswagen T-Cross

Volkswagen came late to the baby SUV party, but immediately created a best-seller. I experienced the cool, lifestylish T-Cross in trendy Makena Turquoise.

dieterlosskarn
1 March 2020
06:39
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The Jaguar sleeps tonight – Road trip: Jaguar F-Pace SVR

The F-Pace is the first SUV of the British brand to receive the SVR treatment. Turning it into an animal on the road. I took Jaguar’s wildest cat for a rather dynamic road trip into the Karoo.

dieterlosskarn
18 January 2020
13:29
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Discovery Channel – Land Rover Discovery SE TD6 road trip

There are many premium SUVs around, but few with true off-road capabilities. I took one of the best, the Land Rover Discovery SE TD6, on an adventurous road trip into the Karoo, Baviaanskloof and Addo Elephant National Park.

dieterlosskarn
18 January 2020
13:17
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Lifestyle Cayenne – Porsche Cayenne Coupe

Porsche finally entered the SUV Coupé segment with a variant of their third-generation Cayenne. This rather attractive lifestyle version featuring the characteristic 911 roofline, appeals to a new, younger target group. GQ experienced it on some mountain roads in Southern France.

dieterlosskarn
18 January 2020
10:37
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Papa wag vir jou – Mercedes-Benz G 63 AMG 6×6

Cape Town companies Just like Papa & Wulfchiptegnik impressively modified one of the most insane vehicles ever built: the titanic Mercedes G 63 AMG 6x6. LossKARn took it for an exhilarating spin in the Atlantis sand dunes.

dieterlosskarn
22 August 2019
11:39
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Velociraptor – Ford Ranger Raptor

Ford recently introduced the first ever performance bakkie with long-travel suspension and Fox racing dampers. Dieter Losskarn flew to Upington to enjoy the fast and furious Raptor on a flat, dusty Kalahari clay pan.

dieterlosskarn
22 August 2019
11:29
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Mini G – Suzuki Jimny

The legendary Mercedes Geländewagen is celebrating its 40th birthday in 2019. And Suzuki brought the perfect anniversary present to the party: a Mini G. Dieter Losskarn fell in love with the boxy heartiness of the shrunken G.

dieterlosskarn
7 August 2019
12:32
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I am legend – Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet

How do you improve a legendary icon and a timeless design? Dieter Losskarn travelled all the way to Greece to experience the newest rendition of the topless 911 on some coastal and mountain roads.

dieterlosskarn
21 July 2019
13:36
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Executive Power – Bentley Continental GTC

Bentley got into their centenary celebrations by launching the topless version of their fast and refined Grand Tourer. LossKARn experienced the orange flame GTC around the Andalusian mountains in the vicinity of Marbella.

dieterlosskarn
21 July 2019
13:26
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Currently in Charge – Jaguar I-Pace

Jaguar surprised the German competition by putting their first ever electric vehicle onto showroom floors, long before Audi e-tron, Mercedes EQ, BMW iX3 and Porsche Taycan will be available for potential customers. LossKARn experienced the sound of silence in the new I-Pace.

dieterlosskarn
21 July 2019
13:16
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Altitude Slickness – Porsche Boxster GTS

With one the most agile Porsches ever across one of the most legendary mountain passes in the Alps. LossKARn travelled all the way to Italy to conquer the 82 (!) hairpin turns of Passo dello Stelvio. The slick Boxster GTS absolutely thrived in its natural habitat.

dieterlosskarn
21 July 2019
13:11
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Bold & beautiful – Porsche 911 GT3 RS

The hills of the winelands were filled with the unabashed screeching of the most powerful naturally-aspirated series-production Porsche 911 ever made. LossKARn spent a day of thunder in the lizard-green race car for the road.

dieterlosskarn
3 March 2019
06:30
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Back to the future – New Mercedes-Benz A-Class

The newest Baby Benz is the most intelligent drive ever from the inventor of the automobile. It’s been 40 years since Mercedes went digital by introducing anti-lock braking (ABS), their very first driver assist system. Now you can talk to your A-Class: ’Hey Mercedes’.

dieterlosskarn
6 December 2018
09:45
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911 x 4 – New Porsche Cayenne

The third generation Porsche Cayenne is even closer to the iconic 911 than its predecessors. Dieter Losskarn took the new S on a road trip through his homeland.

dieterlosskarn
30 November 2018
09:19
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Palace on Wheels – Bentley Bentayga Diesel

Bentley just put their first and the most refined diesel engine ever into their Bentayga. Making it the most powerful posh diesel SUV in the world. Proving once again that luxury needn’t end where there is no more road. Our wheels-man Dieter Losskarn spent some quality time in this epitome of rolling luxury.

dieterlosskarn
3 October 2018
13:25
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Sixpack for more power – Mercedes X-Class V6

The new X-class is being produced in Barcelona since October last year – with rather unexciting 2.3-l. four-cylinder diesel engines. Now Mercedes-Benz planted the modified V6 heart of the Sprinter into the 350d. Dieter Losskarn experienced the reinforced lifestyle bakkie in beautiful Slovenia.

dieterlosskarn
3 October 2018
13:11
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Happy Birthday – 70 years of Porsche

The corner stone of Porsche’s enormous success over the last seven decades was a car for the people, the Volkswagen. In 1948 it morphed into the legendary 356. Followed over the years by the most desirable sportscars in the world. From the entry-level 718 Cayman & Boxster to the most powerful street-legal 911 ever, the GT2 RS. The cars from Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen never ceased to exhilarate.

dieterlosskarn
9 September 2018
19:32
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An icon reinvented – New Mercedes G 63 AMG

G wagon fans all over the world dreaded this moment. How will the first new G in 38 years look like? Luckily Mercedes-Benz did not disappoint. He is back. The all-new G looks, at first glance, just like the old one. Boxy and full of character, far removed from the rounded crossover appeal of its competition. Dieter was relieved.

dieterlosskarn
3 July 2018
14:38
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G-Star – G-Wagen 5000 km farewell trip through South Africa & Namibia

After 38 years the oldest vehicle in the Mercedes range has been replaced by a more civilised version. Dieter Losskarn says cheers to one of his all-time favourite cars, the legendary G wagon. In a species-appropriate manner: 5500 kilometres through South Africa and Namibia, across dusty dirt roads with murderous corrugation, through deep, red sand with temperatures ranging between 14 and 40 degrees Celsius. And because this would have been just too easy in a G 350 D, he chose the ballistic G 63 AMG instead for this farewell adventure.

dieterlosskarn
3 July 2018
14:29
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Gone with the Wind – Maserati Levante

Traditionally named after famous winds, like the Mistral, Ghibli, Bora and Khamsin, Dieter Losskarn was blown away by the Levante. The wind of change for Maserati. And to adequately celebrate Italian luxury the base hotel was none other than the magnificent Bulgari Resort Dubai on the man-made Jumeirah Bay Island.

dieterlosskarn
5 June 2018
12:38
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My car is my castle – Rolls Royce Phantom VIII

The eight’s rendition of the world’s most famous luxury car is a mobile art installation.

dieterlosskarn
5 June 2018
12:28
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Turning Heads – BMW X2

BMW added another member to their X-files and launched it in Portugal’s coolest location: ‘Village Underground Lisboa’. And it’s not just a smaller X6 either. LossKARn experienced the extrovert on city streets and country roads.

dieterlosskarn
24 April 2018
10:58
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Giulia in Heels – Alfa Romeo Stelvio

Are you fed up with stars, four rings and blue & white propellers in your street? Here is your chance.Just go Italian. With the Stelvio, Alfa’s first commercial SUV in its 100-year company history.

dieterlosskarn
24 April 2018
10:47
0 comments

Lord of the Rings – Audi R8 Spyder, RS5 Coupé and RS3 Sportback

Audi’s R8 Spyder is the most emotional car in the line-up of the iconic Bavarian brand with the four rings. Dieter Losskarn released the flagship sportscar into the wild of the Karoo. And he recommends two other powerful R8 siblings for the slightly less conspicuous crowd.

dieterlosskarn
4 April 2018
11:46
0 comments

Lifestyle Bakkie – Mercedes X-Class

What do Afrikaners in khaki shorts have to do with urban lifestyle? Well, about six decades ago they invented the concept of a bakkie with the creature comfort of a car. In South Africa. 60 years later LossKARn experienced the newest star bakkie in Chile.

dieterlosskarn
27 March 2018
08:44
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Street Racer – Porsche 911 GT3

LossKARn spent an exhilarating day with the purest 911 available, the naturally aspirated GT3 – a race car for the road.

dieterlosskarn
28 February 2018
13:59
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Über alles – Mercedes G 500 4×4² & E 400 Allterrain 4×4²

In times of downsizing to ever smaller engines and transition to hybrids and electric cars, the inventor of the automobile still fulfills the wildest carnut dreams. Dieter Losskarn experienced two elevated, rather tough looking Mercs south of the cradle of motorkind.

dieterlosskarn
28 February 2018
13:30
0 comments

The City Slicker – Land Rover New Discovery

After 28 years the square-jawed Land Rover Discovery has had a radical style change for its fifth rendition. I discover that the new model has a very different character.

dieterlosskarn
20 November 2017
08:06
0 comments

A supercar for the family – Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid & Turbo Sport Turismo

With the ballistic high-performance 918 supercar Porsche changed the hybrid image forever. Now the family version is out. LossKARn met the E-Hybrid Turbo S, the new top model in the Panamera range, on a racetrack in Canada. Then we experienced the Sport Turismo, a sexy station wagon.

dieterlosskarn
20 November 2017
07:51
0 comments

Son of a Pig – Mercedes E 63 AMG

The most famous AMG racing car, the Red Pig, couldn’t have asked for more appropriate offspring. Meet the most powerful E-class ever.

dieterlosskarn
20 November 2017
07:34
0 comments

Happy Thunder – 50 years of AMG

AMG is in the fast lane for half a century. Building cars that give you goose bumps. Bridging the gap between road legal and race track. There is only one place on earth, where to celebrate those achievements in style. Yes, in the green hell of Nürburgring. Coincidentally the most infamous and demanding race track in the world is turning 90 this year. I joined the birthday celebrations.

dieterlosskarn
20 November 2017
07:16
0 comments

Gone with the wind – Lamborghini Huracan Performante

After Porsche 918 and Mercedes AMG GT R, the brand-new Lamborghini Huracán Performante is now officially the record holder on the Nordschleife. With an astonishing production car lap time of 06:52:01. Causing some serious Nurburgring-Sting for the competition. I chased the Italian super-sportscar around Imola race track in Bologna.

dieterlosskarn
24 August 2017
07:27
0 comments

Thorential Love – Volvo V90 Cross Country

It seems the only two nationalities, who have no penchant for station wagons are Russians – and South Africans. During a road trip into the Klein-Karoo I found out how Volvo is going to sell the gorgeous new V90 Cross Country to local wagon haters.

dieterlosskarn
31 July 2017
11:24
0 comments

Mountains passed – BMW i8

In the last three years I successfully missed every opportunity to experience BMW’s i8. Just before the hybrid super sports car is due for a facelift I borrowed one for a couple of days and headed deep into the Alps.

dieterlosskarn
31 July 2017
11:19
0 comments

Electrifying Performance – BMW 530 i

BMW’s sixth and newest iPerformance vehicle, the hybrid 5-series, is a further step towards electric mobility. And another nail in the coffin for the diesel engine.

dieterlosskarn
31 July 2017
11:07
0 comments

Frozen editions – BMW 4-series Coupe & Convertible

An unexpected return of winter in spring turned Bavaria into a fairy tale Christmas landscape. And the launch of the rejuvenated BMW 440i Coupe and 430i Convertible into a bit of a challenge.

dieterlosskarn
31 July 2017
11:03
0 comments

Elegant and exclusive – Mercedes E Coupe & Convertible

For three decades the Mercedes-Benz E-class Coupé is combining elegance and exclusivity. And the topless Cabriolet version turns 25 this year. I experienced both in the countryside outside Barcelona.

dieterlosskarn
29 June 2017
09:44
0 comments

Topless in heels – Range Rover Evoque convertible

Head in the air, feet in the sand, that’s how I enjoyed the first convertible in the compact premium SUV class: Land Rover’s open happiness Evoque.

dieterlosskarn
29 June 2017
09:43
0 comments