Issued by: Action Publications


But Cars in Action will not change - while its Publishers may have tweaked its layout a little and renewed its highly regarded Demons & Angels new car database this issue, the magazine will continue to be the reliable, enjoyable and informative motoring source it has always been. And most importantly, Cars in Action will continue to be an all-South African motoring magazine for the all-South African motorist...

"Unlike many of our rival titles, Cars in Action has always been a 100% South African motoring magazine," Publisher Michele Lupini explained. "And quite strangely, those other car titles that shared our proudly South African attitude are now also starting to base their magazines on overseas content, which is nice and pretty and all the rest, but what use is that to the local motorist?"

"Not only that, but it's suddenly all the rage to test cars in the Cape," Lupini explained. "We will continue to do most all our testing and evaluation at the Reef, quite simply because not only are driving conditions up here that are totally unique and present their own special circumstances, problems and challenges, but 70% of South Africa's motorists live and drive at high altitude every day of their lives..."

"Most cars lose around 15 percent of their power and performance at Reef altitudes and the normally available fuel in high altitude regions is completely different to that of higher octane sold at the coast, while the dryer, thinner air has an influence on how cars work and several other factors also come into play to ensure a coastal South African road test little relevance to the vast majority of South African motorists," Lupini added.

"A perfect example of this is the phenomenon we like to call 'launch failure' - that tendency of turbocharged cars - both petrol and diesel powered and predominately their automatic versions, to dangerously hesitate when pulling away. "Launch failure is by en large limited to driving on the Reef - it does not often occur at coastal altitudes, so when a car is tested in the Cape, it will probably not be affected by launch failure."

"Our Cars in Action road tests are thus far more relevant to the average South African motorist as we test all the vehicles we do at more appropriate high altitudes and conditions that apply to a far greater proportion of local motorists," Lupini pointed out.

"Now take that offshore, to where so many local magazines these days source syndicated tests and features from British and other international magazines to fill the spare space their local writers cannot in their apparently 'South African' titles and the story is even further skewed. "Overseas driving conditions have literally nothing in common with those in our country, so what is the point is of local motoring magazines using features written by someone who has never seen a Zola Budd taxi, thinks a robot is something in a production plant rather than a traffic light and drives on roads that are in no way relevant to ours - potholes and all...?"

"Cars in Action, as well as its sister titles Classic Car Africa and Bakkie & Truck Action are written entirely by our own South African writers and contributors. "We see no reason to utilise overseas content and pretend its local - or even to off it as it indeed is written by someone who knows nothing about driving in this country."

"What you get in Cars in Action is a truly South African magazine produced specifically for the South African motorist in a totally South African context using only data and information gathered where the majority of South Africans live and drive - on the Highveld, and written by South African writers" Lupini concluded. "And that is why we are the biggest among a minority of magazine titles that can call ourselves a truly South African motoring magazine..."

Cars in Action recorded another new record 17000 ABC circulation in the recent January to June audit, and together with its sister niche titles, posted a 32547 sales, representing a surprise second-biggest ABC for a motoring magazine publisher in South Africa, to close off an era before all will change in that specialised media sector.

Cars in Action's September Diesel Issue focuses on diesel cars with road tests, insights, technical features and many more on diesel cars, which are quickly taking charge of the SA new car market. The Diesel Issue also celebrates Cars in Action's stunning run from Jo'burg down to Durban and back on a single 40-litre tank of BP Cleaner Diesel 50 in a Citroën C2 1.4 HDI and its successes in dominating the recent Total Economy Run's overall results, while a feature on fuel saving tips by expert fuel misers should be most welcome to anyone refuelling any vehicle in this R7-a-litre world...

Cars in Action is published monthly available from most magazine outlets country wide at R24.95 per issue.

Visit our PRESS OFFICE: Action Publications' niche motoring titles - Cars in Action, Bakkie & Truck Action and Classic Car Africa - offer an ideal motoring media platform and SA's second-largest motoring ABC.- more....

[4 Aug 2006 15:30]

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