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December 8, 2016

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… NOW YOU’RE MOTORING

‘Proof is in the pulling’ Will the Nikola One truck silence the doubters?

The much­ anticipated hydrogen­ powered electric truck from Nikola Motors was unveiled at its launch last week.

PHOTO: NIKOLA MOTORS

ALWYN VILJOEN TREVOR Milton, founder and CEO of Nikola Mo­ tors, partly silenced at least one of his doubters — me — with the launch of the fully electric Nikola One truck last week.

The self­described serial entrepreneur has been making big promises, each one sounding too good to be true, since he first announced his plan to build a zero­emission truck that he said would turn the United States’s transport industry on its head.

Initially, his electric trucks’ batteries were to have been recharged by a mini­turbine running on natural gas, but we have since been told that was all a strategic ruse to confuse competitors. Nikola Motors was, in fact, developing a hydrogen­pow­ ered truck with a range of at least 1 287 km and electric motors on its axles that give the trucks over 2 700 Nm and 745 kW (1 000 hp).

These power figures are nearly double that of any other 6x6 truck sold around the world today, and, of course, using hydrogen as a power source to recharge electric batteries can, in theory, give the truck only pure water as its emission.

In practice, making industrial quantities of hy­ drogen requires making electricity twice, first us­ ing truck loads of coal to make the electricity need­ ed to separate the tiny hydrogen atoms, and the second time to generate the current via a fuel cell to charge an electric vehicle’s batteries.

This means that the Nikola One truck’s exhaust pipes have just moved upstream to where the coal­ fired plant emits its toxic gasses from giant smoke stacks. Which is why the legendary Nikola Tesla’s other admirer, Elon Musk of PayPal and Tesla Mo­ tors fame, dismisses hydrogen systems out of hand, preferring to generate electricity only once to re­ charge batteries, using his solar panels.

At the launch of his truck, Milton was as unper­ turbed by these realities as Toyota was before it announced last month that small electric cars are back on the agenda, after the Japanese giant admit­ ting the range and recharging times of current lith­ ium batteries systems are not that bad after all.

That, and the fact that hydrogen is the tiniest

molecule on the Periodic Table of Elements and is therefore able to leak, slip or seep through any material, given enough time.

But several hydrogen­powered cars have shown fuel cells go further and faster than cars that have to recharge their lithium batteries for hours, and as Milton shares Musk’s vision for a world free of fossil fuel smog, it was an obvious choice.

His vision for a diesel­free future has inspired several thousands of orders, with deposits totalling over $3 billion already in Nikola Motors’ accounts.

Milton said at the launch of the Nikola trucks that his company plans to have hydrogen stations at over 800 sites across North America and parts of Canada. Work on the hydrogen stations only begins in a year’s time, in January 2018. The first opening date is scheduled late in 2019 — a few months before the first of Nikola’s 50 000 trucks are scheduled to roll off the assembly line.

Meanwhile, former doubters like me are now out with the jury, waiting for the first on­road test re­ sults of what Milton proudly described as “the most advanced semi­truck ever built”. For as we say in trucking, “the proof is in the pulling”.

Electric vehicle body for SA investor uncertainty in a sector which has boomed internationally but been a slow starter in SA.” The Evia charter commits it to helping the state curb emissions by introducing electric mo­ bility to the transport sector, and to meet inter­ national commitments signed at COP21 in Paris.

Its members will help the government identify regulatory gaps and deliver on key policies such as DTI’s Industrial Policy Action Plan and the Department of Transport’s draft green transport strategy. The new body will support the deploy­ ment of public EV infrastructure, and facilitate installation of fast charge units where most needed by motorists. It will advocate for renew­ able energy as a mainstream source of power for transport, homes and businesses.

Evia’s partners are already working with TIA’s uYilo programme on standardisation of charging infrastructure for battery electric vehicles (BEV) and plug­in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV). This will result in all EVs from all manufacturers be­ ing able to charge at the same location.

“We’ve learnt the lessons from the cellphone and laptop sector, and will avoid the frustrating range of incompatible chargers that would ham­ per the uptake of EVs,” says TIA chief executive Barlow Manilal. — WR.

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JOHANNESBURG — Five pioneering companies of South Africa’s emerging electric vehicle (EV) industry met on Monday to launch the Electric Vehicle Industry Association (Evia) at the Indus­ trial Development Corporation (IDC) in Sandton.

Evia aims to accelerate clean transport, inves­ tor confidence in the sector and meet govern­ ment commitments to reduce emissions, and is endorsed by the Department of Trade and In­ dustry (DTI).

The pioneering companies are BMW SA, Grid­ cars, Nissan SA, the SA National Energy Devel­ opment Institute (Sanedi) and Uyilo, a pro­ gramme of the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA). Participants will include government de­ partments and agencies, other EV manufactur­ ers, as well as electricity infrastructure and smart grid providers.

Evia will serve as a lobby group, enabling in­ dustry to work effectively with the government and researchers to stimulate the sector and to align policies and introduce incentives to sup­ port the development of EV technologies.

“Evia is now a powerful industry body com­ mitted to working with the government to de­ velop electric mobility in South Africa,” says Kevin Nassiep, Sanedi chief executive. “By en­ suring policy alignment, we will help to reduce

2

WitnessWheels MOTORING

December 8, 2016

MOKKA a heady brew Opel’s updated cute and compact SUV would make a great stocking filler The Indica Flash sells for R124 995, including leather seats with the Flash logo, an audio system with USB and hands­free Bluetooth.

PHOTO: QUICKPIC

New Indica adds lots more value TATA has introduced an additional, limited­edition variant of its Indica hatch as an added­value offering.

The new model, known as the In­ dica Flash, is based on the Indica LGi model, with several distinguishing features and significant additions to the list of standard equipment.

The Flash is now specified well above the standard specification of its main competitors in the market.

At R124 995, it is only R6 000 higher than the standard Indica.

“We are confident that the Indica Flash special edition is going to be a success as it is a true value­for­mon­ ey offering aimed at first­time buyers and those with a limited budget,” said Kyri Michael, the CEO of Accor­ dian Investments which markets and distributes Tata passenger cars and light commercial vehicles in SA. People will be able to identify the model with its bold black stripes, in­ corporating the Flash logo, running along the bottom of the doors. The steel wheels have also been replaced with spoked alloy mag wheels.

However, the scope of the big up­ grade comes once one sits inside the Indica Flash. Firstly, there are leather seats with the Flash logo appearing on the top of the front seats, while the steering wheel has a soft leather grip. An audio system with USB and hands­free Bluetooth capabilities has also been added.

The Indica Flash is powered by a 1,4­litre engine which delivers 56 kW and drives the front wheels through a five­speed gearbox. Claimed overall fuel consumption is 6,5 li­ tres/100km. It has a three­ year/100 000 km warranty and a two­year/45 000 km service plan plus roadside assistance. — WR.

OPEL’S compact SUV gets a pre­Christ­ mas makeover — and it is the ideal stock­ ing filler for the young at heart who want the solid quality and precision of a Ger­ man­engineered product in a compact package.

Already well­established as an urban warrior with over 600 000 sales globally and 2 672 in South Africa, part of the update is a name change — it’s now the MOKKA X. The upper­case style is illus­ trative of an even bolder approach to modern motoring, while the X in the no­ menclature is the new global identifier for future Opel SUV and crossover vehi­ cles.

Aimed at drivers who are looking for a vehicle that is safe, family oriented and powerful, the MOKKA X merges func­ tionality, connectivity, technology and safety in a vehicle which is just 4,28 me­ tres from bumper to bumper.

A key highlight and most obvious change is the move to new headlight clusters that combine daytime running lamps and LED technology. Opel is a leader in this field, and the MOKKA X takes advantage of this to provide own­ ers with a dusk to dawn safety advantage

The Mokka is a fashionable sub­compact SUV which stands out from the crowd.

PHOTO: QUICKPIC and 24­hour illumination. The Cosmo now boasts a high­end infotainment sys­ tem with R4.0 IntelliLink and a driver display — this connectivity package is priced at R7 700 and is compatible with a wide range of media platforms via a USB input and is offered as an option

on the Enjoy. Optional on the Cosmo is the Navi 900 IntelliLink, which in­ cludes a full colour display and is priced at R10 700. The seamless integration of the user’s mobile device makes the MOKKA X the best­connected compact SUV in South Africa.

The mechanicals remain unchanged along with the four­model lineup of En­ joy and Cosmo trim choices in either manual or automatic. Powering all four MOKKA X derivatives is Opel’s proven 1.4­litre four­cylinder turbocharged Ecotec petrol engine, which produces 103 kW between 4 900 and 6 000 rpm and 200 Nm between 1 850 and 4 900 rpm.

Zero to 100 km/h is reached in 9,8 seconds with a top speed of 196 km/h for the six­speed manual models. For the two models equipped with the six­ speed automatic transmission, the zero to 100 km/h sprint is achieved in 10,7 seconds and they reach a top speed of 191 km/h.

Average fuel economy for the com­ bined cycle range from 5,9 litres per 100 km for the MOKKA X 1.4T Enjoy manual to 6,5 litres per 100 km for the MOKKA X 1.4T Cosmo automatic.

Prices for the four models start at R317 500 for the MOKKA X 1.4T Enjoy six­speed manual, going up to R368 100 for the full house MOKKA X 1.4T Cos­ mo six­speed automatic.

— Witness Reporter.

New Fiestas heading to Africa Ford has revealed four new production variants of the Fiesta, including the stylish Fiesta Titanium, the Ford Performance­inspired Fiesta ST­Line, the upscale Fiesta Vignale and the Fiesta Active crossover. All come with advanced driver­assistance technologies supported by two cameras, three radars and 12 ultrasonic sensors, which in combination are able to monitor 360 degrees around the vehicle. Jim Farley, executive vice president and president, Europe Middle East and Africa, Ford Motor Company, said: ‘We now have a Fiesta option for every driver, including the luxurious Fiesta Vignale and the Fiesta Active crossover, with advanced technologies and features that small­car customers could only have dreamt of just a few years ago.’

PHOTO: QUICKPIC

Two budget cars which will make great Xmas presents for the family THESE days car prices make your eyes water and committing your budget to large monthly payments for five years and more is a commitment that many shy away from.

The obvious solution is second hand, but buying a second­hand vehicle has its own pitfalls and so we asked ourselves whether it is still possible to buy a new car at a reasonable price complete with a manufacturer’s guarantee and possibly even a service plan. We drove two vehi­ cles which might solve this problem The first is the budget­busting Ren­ ault Kwid and our thanks to Venesh Sew­ sunker, dealer principal of McCarthy Renault, Pietermaritzburg, for allowing us to drive this vehicle. The Kwid is Ren­ ault’s budget beater, but despite its small price, the Renault has style. The chis­ elled, muscular front end flows into a dy­ namic profile, accentuated by the turn indicators on the fender cladding.

The interior is typical Renault mini­ malism. Well­built with hard plastics on the fascia and door panelling, with a modern digital instrument cluster in front of the driver. The car has Blue­ tooth, front electrically operated win­

Tuning you straight dows, an excellent air­ conditioning system and a simple radio/CD with USB in­ puts, as well as adjustable steering and driver’s seat. If you can afford R10 000 more for the Dynamique version, you can add fog lamps, a two­tone dash and seven­inch touch screen, which comes with Apple Device Support and naviga­ tion, usual on cars five times the price.

In this 3,6­metre long vehicle, the rear seats will take two adults, but not for long journeys. However, they are ideal for couples with children. The boot offers 300 litres of space.

The Kwid does tend to wander at high speed and the 13­inch tyres don’t help, although the soft suspension deals well with bad roads. Power comes from Ren­ ault’s tried and tested 999cc, three­cyl­

inder 50kW/91Nm petrol engine, driv­ ing the front wheels via a five­speed manual box giving a fuel consumption of around 4,7 litres per 100 km.

The Kwid requires a fair amount of gear changing with the small engine, and overtaking on the N3 requires planning ahead. The car is, however, comfortable to drive and easy to park. The Kwid does not offer ABS and while it has a driver air bag at the front, together with driver and passenger retractable seat belts, there are no rear seat belts.

The Expression will cost you R119 900 and the upmarket Dynamique R129 900.

There is also a five­year 150 000 km war­ ranty and an optional service/mainte­ nance plan with one year’s insurance un­ derwritten by Zurich. The Kwid presents itself well with sturdy exterior, neatly laid out interior and healthy features list.

The second car we chose was the Mit­ subishi Mirage 1L GL and our thanks to Grenville Manton, dealer principal at Fedauto for allowing us time with the vehicle. The Mirage is more expensive than the Renault and no comparison is intended, except to show what addition­ al features may be expected if you add

R25 000 plus to the price of your choice.

In South Africa, Mitsubishi is known for its large off­road vehicles like the Pa­ jero, so the Mirage came as a surprise to the South African marketplace in 2014. It has just been face­lifted, with up­ grades to the engine and brakes, as well as a new fascia and a number of aerody­ namic improvements. The addition of a 300­watt Pockford­Fosgate audio sys­ tem in the GLS is also welcomed. The car is built, like the Kwid for the sub­ small arena, which makes up about 45% of the South African market.

The car is for those who like their de­ sign understated. The Mirage is polite and nimble. It does, however, project a certain ruggedness in its wedge­shaped design, which offers a roomy cabin and there is a hint of the brand’s older­gener­ ation sports car, the Eclipse, at the front end. The car is a five­ door hatch, with colour­coded side mirrors.

The interior has a little hard plastic here and there, but overall the car is well­ built. The GL has a fairly basic CD­radio setup on a centre console, which is ac­ centuated with piano black. While the air­conditioning controls are also cen­

tred and easily reached. The seats are well­covered and the driver’s seat and steering are adjustable. The rear seats fold down in 60/40 fashion and double the boot space. The Mirage has ABS with EBD and dual front air bags. According to the manufacturers, it also has an im­ pact­absorbing chassis. There are seat belts both front and rear and a single Isofix attachment for a child seat. There is also an on­board computer multi­in­ formation display. The car does not, however, have central locking.

The Mirage GL comes in at around R150 000, with a three­year 100 000 km guarantee and two­year 30 000 km service plan. The GLS is the best equipped of the three­model line­ up but comes in at about R170 000, which means it competes with cars like the Renault Sandero, Etios Cross and Honda Brio.

Both the Kwid and the Mirage are good motor cars and it amounts to how much you have to spend and what you want from these vehicles on a daily basis.

It is a buyer’s market, so negotiate and have a wonderful, safe, motoring Christ­ mas. — Brian Basset.

MOTORING WitnessWheels

December 8, 2016

Electronic engineering student Bernard Bussy with his magnetic floating display, which can scale up to levitate a train.

PHOTOS: RAJESH JANTILAL

3

Computer engineering student Matthew de Neef shows his Automated Security Vehicle System, which tracks a vehicle using closed­circuit TV.

Designs for the future UKZN engineering students’ projects aim to improve how we transport ourselves and our goods ALWYN VILJOEN ENGINEERING students recently dis­ played 14 projects which can each im­ prove the way in which we transport our­ selves and our goods, at an open day held at the UKZN Howard College campus in Durban.

Bernard Bussy’s magnetic floating display was selected to represent the Uni­ versity of KwaZulu­Natal at the South African Institute of Electrical and Engi­ neering national competition in Port Shepstone last week.

Using magnetic force to levitate one surface above another has numerous ap­ plications, from the currently popular “floating” record players to trains that levitate on a frictionless “rail”.

power in footsteps to generate power.

This system can, for example, be used to power LED lights on busy pavements.

Makena wants to generate power by capturing the unexploited energies in the impact of rubber on tar, heat from en­ gines and friction, using various mecha­ nisms.

Siyabonga Manana designed a system that analyses the power garnered from regenerative braking in hybrid power trains under varying operating condi­ tions.

Staying in the field of energy genera­ tion, Gugu Shozi demonstrated a work­ ing PEM fuel cell together with an invert­ er to supply an alternating current, with the aim to power hydrogen vehicles and machines.

WASTE NOT WANT NOT Electrical engineering students Akshay Ashokumar and Andries Makena de­ signed systems to capture wasted energy to generate electricity.

Ashokumar simulated a 20 W electri­ cal power generator that uses the kinetic

OUT ON THE ROAD Matthew de Neef designed an automat­ ed security vehicle monitoring system that can track a security vehicle or securi­ ty personnel escorting VIPs from one lo­ cation to another using closed­circuit television cameras in an area.

“Thabiso Motsa used an effective algorithm to ‘fold’ data, which enables gigabytes of photos taken daily on busy roads to be compressed and stored without image loss.”

Thinking of busy workshops, Javed Muhammed came up with an automatic electro­hydraulic jack to lift light vehicles to a convenient height for mechanics.

Thinking of emergencies, Rowen Run­ giah and Sizwe Mthabela focused on res­ cue vehicles. Mthabela designed a model rescue vehicle that combines a fork lift and an elevator to search for survivors in a burnt building.

Rungiah came up with a robotic metal detector that can find buried land mines and any other metallic object under ground.

DRIVING WITH DATA Looking at data needs of modern trans­ port, the students also designed systems that store photos and aid commuters.

Computer engineering student Ger­ ald Cele designed a local version of Uber aimed at our taxi systems. Drivers and passengers register their accounts on a system that links requests for rides with available drivers.

Thobani Mabaso designed a pollutant detection system that monitors and

stores levels of airborne pollutants in an area in the cloud, which people can ac­ cess to see if it is safe to go to an area.

Cyclers and pedestrians in cities with high levels of smog can use this tool.

Rivash Mothilall’s idea is to create a smart city Internet­of­vehicles system to gather and distribute road, traffic, weather and tourism information for im­ proved driving.

Thabiso Motsa used an effective algo­ rithm to “fold” data, which enables giga­ bytes of photos taken daily on busy roads to be compressed and stored without im­ age loss.

Theo Parker’s brainchild is a road sign detection and recognition system — sim­ ilar to the Opel Eye — that detects and classifies road signs using a camera. The current speed limit and warning is then displayed on the vehicle’s dashboard.

Thineshan Govender had the needs of most young drivers in mind when he de­ signed an FM modulator that used voice control to play music from a flash disk that is plugged into a vehicle’s sound sys­ tem.

WitnessWheels HIGH RIDERS MOTORING

4

December 8, 2016

Ford’s budget Everest deal AMIL UMRAW misses the 3.2 diesel’s power, but enjoys the new 2.2 diesel’s frugal 4x4 abilities FORD has expanded its Everest range, making its seven­seater luxury SUV a bit more affordable without compromising on the quality.

But there is a price to pay, and I am not talking about the cost of the vehicle.

Wheels previously had a go in the Ever­ est 3.2l TDCI and it certainly had Alwyn Viljoen and Brian Bassett raving for days.

Now, to sweeten the deal, Ford has re­ leased a 2.2l TDCI which has all the same bells and whistles for under half a million rand.

Before we start celebrating, let me just mention that one minor setback.

With a gross vehicle mass of about three tons, the Everest is a bulky vehicle — one which requires a sizeable power plant to haul it along.

The 3.2 took on the challenge and suc­ ceeded, but the 2.2 has a smaller engine offers 118 kW/385Nm — 29 kW and 85 Nm less than its bigger brother.

You feel this difference on the throttle and the Everest struggles after 130 km/h.

That said, dads don’t buy a seven­ seater vehicle to win drag races in — un­ less they go to the Thrill Seeker event reported on below — and with speed cameras everywhere, the lack of oomph under the hood could save a few fines on the holiday route.

For the rest, the Everest 2.2 does ex­ actly what it was built to do both on and

Ford has introduced a 2.2­litre TDCI derivative to its Everest range, and the economic engine pulling some three tons can all but guarantee no fines on highways.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

off road: keep you and your family safe while offering maximum comfort and adaptability, up to and including fast links with the teens’ Bluetooth devices.

The expanded 2.2 model line­up com­ prises a total of five derivatives available with two specification levels, manual and automatic transmissions, as well as the option of two or four­wheel drive.

As a novice off­roader, the sand banks ahead of me at the launch of the Everest made my knees clatter a little.

But, with very little help from me, the 4x4 Everest climbed and dropped, just by a push of a button and the turn of a switch. I felt quite useless actually. This is thanks to Ford’s innovative Terrain Management System that boasts four

driving modes: Normal, Mud, Sand and Rock Crawl. These modes are easily se­ lected via a convenient rotary dial adja­ cent to the gear lever.

It adapts throttle response, gear shift patterns on the automatic models, the intelligent four­wheel drive system and traction control to tackle any terrain confidently.

All I had to do was steer it in the right direction.

Back onto tarred roads, you’ll be sur­ prised to hear that you actually can hear inside the vehicle.

With many big diesel SUVs, there is a lot of engine and wind noise but Ford have taken steps to reduce this to the ex­ tent that the driver could probably hear his or her passenger let one slip two rows behind.

This is due to a number of noise­can­ celling devices inside the Everest.

As you would expect, the ride is smooth and the gear changes are seam­ less.

Everything is controlled by the touch of a button and the amount of leg room is impressive.

There are also extra standard com­ forts like storage spaces and power out­ lets for the children to charge their cell­ phones and tablets — a feature that in my opinion also reduces the noise levels in the Everest.

Ford believe the new Everest range will deal a blow to its competitors and it seems as though they have cast an arrow directly at Toyota’s Fortuner.

That’s a tough brand to beat in the South African market, but the Everest is well­adapted and competitively priced to take on the challenge.

• amil.umraw@witness.co.za

Global demand for G­Class shows no end The popularity of the boxy, angular and old­fashioned G­Class — formerly the Gelandenwagen — continues unabated.

Magna Steyr delivered its 20 000 model this year on behalf of Mercedes­Benz.

PHOTO: ALWYN VILJOEN THE 20 000th Mercedes­Benz G­Class has left the Magna Steyr production line in Graz, Austria, — a white Mercedes­ AMG G63.

It is the first time that this volume has been achieved in one year. The G­Class that set up this year’s produc­ tion record is also a very special example.

It has various “designo manufaktur” features, for example manually applied “designo mystic white bright” paint­ work and an interior with designo leath­ er manufactured in the in­house sewing.

“The individualisation and continu­ ous technical optimisation of the G­Class contribute to the great success of the original off­road icon which still

makes no compromises when it comes to off­road,” says Dr Gunnar Güthenke, head of the off­road product group at Mercedes­Benz. “The production of 20 000 G­Classes in one year confirms the high demand for the ‘G’ and likewise the quality of our vehicles, something that is highly appreciated by our custom­ ers. I am very pleased and also proud that some of our employees have been on board since production started around 37 years ago.” “designo manufaktur” makes this classic cross­country vehicle even more individual ex­factory. Customers can tai­ lor the off­road icon to their personal style. The “Manufaktur” hand­finishing

section, which turns a G­Class into a unique “G”, is likewise located in Graz.

Be it exterior or interior, topstitching or model badge, virtually every detail is lov­ ingly crafted by hand. Here unique speci­ mens that meet the most discerning re­ quirements for quality and exclusivity are created with dedication, passion and artisanal perfection.

The legendary G­Class has been in production on behalf of Mercedes­Benz at Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria, since 1979, and continues to be extremely pop­ ular with customers. More than a quar­ ter of a million vehicles have been deliv­ ered to customers since the first model of the G­Class was introduced.

Renew licence before the holiday trip

Practice run for televised event ‘This is the most fun you can have with your clothes on’ is a phrase frequently heard at 4x4 events, but it is especially true of those arranged by Andre Karrim, who invites all owners of a vehicle with more than two driven wheels to go have fun at a practice run for a televised event at Shakaskral on December 14. Entry is only R200 per car, but space is very limited. PHOTO: THRILLSEEKER

THE SA Post Office reminded motorists in KwaZulu­Natal to check that their car licences have not expired before taking that long holiday trip.

“Many motorists may not be aware that their car licence has expired or will expire while on holiday and may be given a traffic fine for the infringement,” said the post office in a statement, adding KZN currently has 31 post office bran­ ches where vehicle owners may renew their vehicle licences.

Geert Bataille, head of the SA Post Of­ fice’s retail division, reminded motorists that vehicle licences can only be renewed in the province where the vehicle is regis­

tered and can thus not be done while on holiday in another province.

Bataille said motorists must take proof of residence and an identity docu­ ment along when renewing a car licence.

Should motorists not have received a renewal notice, the renewal form (ALV) may be downloaded at www.enatis.com Motorists who have received a traffic fine can also pay the fine at any post of­ fice. — WR. Post Offices in the Midlands Bulwer: full service Luxmi: renewal only Msunduzi: renewal only

Plessislaer: renewal only Scottsville: renewal only …in Northern Natal Hutten Heights: renewal only Madadeni: renewal only Nqutu: full service Tugela Ferry: full service …and in Zululand Ingwavuma: full service KwaNgwanase: full service Mahlabathini: full service Maphumulo: full service Mkuze: full service Mtubatuba: full service Nkandla: full service Nongoma: renewal only

MOTORING WitnessWheels

December 8, 2016

5

Two classic Beemers

Sibonelo Myeni discovered that even street traders recognise a classic while cruising in the not­for­sale­at­any­price BMW 333i ‘Gusheshe’, and the very rare and even more collectible BMW M1.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED SIBONELO MYENI DRIVING around Midrand in the classic “Gusheshe”, even street traders take photos of the so­called “robot nui­ sance”.

They also plead for me to rev it so they can listen to that sweet sound of six straight cylinders coming out of the twin tail­pipes. I pleasure their ears as I pull off — what a car, what a drive.

As part of BMW’s centenary celebra­ tions under the motto “the next 100 years”, BMW Mzansi refurbished two of its classic cars, the BMW M1 and BMW 333i “Gusheshe”.

We were allowed to drive these two iconic BMWs for a day and we managed to drool over them in a way rarely wit­

nessed, unless one drives multimillion­ rand supercars.

We start the drive in the Mzansi­only BMW 333i. In 1985, South Africa did not get the E30 M3 for local sale and so BMWs local Motorsport division, based in Rosslyn decided to build an Mzansi “M3” and the 333i legend was born.

In consultation with Alpina Germany, they shoehorned a 146kW/285Nm 3,2­li­ tre, straight­six from the 733i into the small 3­series body, resulting in a zero to 100 km/h sprint in 7,2 seconds; top­ ping at 231 km/h.

Today’s hot hatches easily achieve these figures, but back in 1985, those numbers were the reserve of serious per­ formance machines like the Porsche 911.

The 333i put all that power to the rear

wheels via a limited slip differential and a five­speed manual gearbox. Because of that big block shoehorned into the tight engine bay, owners had to choose be­ tween aircon or power steering, as both systems couldn’t fit.

The one we drove had power steering, meaning no aircon. Despite a 31­degree day, my driving partner and I couldn’t have cared less.

The 333i differs from normal E30 models due to sports Alpina front and rear bumpers and Alpina wheels. The steering feel, lovely change of direction and that sweet six upfront make for a drive few cars can master today.

BMW Mzansi values this particular unit (with only 40 000 km on the clock) at around R500 000, but this is academ­

ic, as the car is not for sale at any price.

Another legend we got to drive, a car not very well known in Mzansi, is the BMW M1. At the 1978 Paris Motor­ show, onlookers got to see a true M leg­ end born.

The M1 was the first car from the Ba­ varian maker to use the letter M in front of a number. It was initially supposed to be a production joint venture between BMW and Lamborghini, but differences in approach meant the Germans ended up doing it alone. This meant their Mo­ torsport division produced a road­going performance car by slotting a 3,5­litre straight­six behind the driver.

The engine was credited with 204 kW and drove the rear wheels via a five­speed manual gearbox to a top speed of

260 km/h. Only 457 units of the M1 were produced, with some dominating mo­ tor­racing categories in the hands of fa­ mous F1 drivers of the time. The unit we are driving is valued at some R8 mil­ lion and considered a classic worldwide.

In 2017, BMW South Africa will re­ store another popular “Gusheshe” — the BMW (E30) 325iS. Introduced in 1985, the 325iS came in two versions, 145 kW and 155 kW from a 2,7­litre natu­ rally aspirated engine.

They had a uniquely identifiable “iS” body kit, 15­inch wheels, full electric package, 25% limited slip differential and M Sport suspension with Bilstein struts. It will add another chapter to a legend that is the “Gusheshe”.

— imotoonline.co.za

WitnessWheels COLLECTORS MOTORING

6

December 8, 2016

A winning partnership Bicester Heritage creates unique auction events where classic cars can fetch highest prices ALWYN VILJOEN LOCAL owners of classic cars will do well to note the contact numbers of the UK’s first business cam­ pus for the restoration, storage and enjoyment of historic vehicles and aircraft.

The campus was announced at the renowned Brightwells Classic and Vintage Auction at Leomin­ ster at the end of last month, and will see Bright­ wells named as the official Bicester Heritage Auc­ tion Partner.

Brightwells’ specialist auctioneers and support team will host three premium events on the 141­hec­ tare Bicester Heritage site in Oxfordshire through­ out 2017, with the first scheduled to take place on April 5, 2017.

With an auctioneering history dating back more than 170 years, Brightwells has been presenting in­ ternationally recognised classic car and motorcycle sales since 2005.

Attracting buyers and sellers from around the world, Brightwells regularly sees online interest from more than 60 000 people in the run­up to an event, while thousands of enthusiasts attend in person.

Commenting on the partnership with Bicester Heritage, Richard Binnersley, joint managing di­ rector of Brightwells, said in a statement: “Having built our reputation in the classic car world over the past 12 years to become one of the most highly regarded auction houses in the United Kingdom, we are delighted that Bicester Heritage has chosen us as its auction partner, because we very much share the same concepts and loyalty to the cultural phenomenon of preserving this country’s heritage

Today’s Brightwells Modern Classics event in Leominster, UK, will again see prices for classic cars that will have local owners thinking about selling.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED in motoring and engineering.

“Partnering with Bicester Heritage allows us to continue to deliver a professional and welcoming sale experience in an authentic period setting of post­World War 1 Britain with the benefits of the site’s central location, accessibility, superb facilities and ready footfall. This will create a unique auction event in which our clients’ classic cars can star. We are highly excited to invite vendors to nominate their classic vehicles for our launch event in April and take part in the honour of being the first to

be sold at Bicester.”

Dan Geoghegan, managing director at Bicester Heritage, added: “Bicester Heritage is all about the future of the historic car movement and, in creating a national centre for specialist expertise, has been careful to select the best possible partners who share our vision. With that in mind, we knew that our auction partner had to deliver the right blend of knowledge, passion and content.

“After a rigorous selection process, we are de­ lighted to welcome Brightwells to Bicester Heritage

as our official auction partner in 2017. As a business with such strong family values and a heritage of 170 years, there is a true cultural fit.

“We are also pleased that the Brightwells team is putting down roots at Bicester, providing a per­ manent on­site presence in the guard house. This shows a real commitment to a long­term partner­ ship on both sides and further adds to the focused blend of businesses at Bicester Heritage.”

From its formation a little over three years ago, Bicester Heritage has rapidly become the centre for historic motoring expertise in the UK, most recent­ ly winning the 2016 International Historic Motor­ ing Awards — Industry Supporter of the Year cate­ gory. The ground­breaking campus has more than 30 specialist businesses, each contributing to an inimitable ecosystem of engineering and skilled support for historic vehicle enthusiasts.

The unique site, formerly RAF Bicester, is the best­preserved World War 2 RAF bomber training station to survive and, with bright plans for the final phase of restoration of its grade two listed buildings and hotel development, it is truly un­ matched as a national centre of excellence focused on future proofing the historic motoring industry.

Full details of the Brightwells at Bicester Heritage events will be released over the coming months, with provisional dates scheduled for April 5 and July 1, 2017, at Flywheel at Bicester Heritage — a live­action celebration of historic wings and wheels — and October 25, 2017.

The next Brightwells Classic and Vintage sale is scheduled for March 8, 2017.

• Visit www.brightwells.com and www.bicester heritage.co.uk for more information.

It’s a pricey paint job MCLAREN announced five exclusive design editions of its multi­award­winning 570S supercar last week, and just to show to what level the rand has tanked of late, each of these paint jobs cost R148 903, what the Brits call “good value”.

McLaren said its new personalisation themes take pimping of supercars a stage further “to showcase the Sports Series coupé at its stunning best”.

“Every design element has been selected to be in perfect harmony, with McLaren’s signature colours co­ordinated with differ­ ent finishes and materials, such as the highest­quality Alcantara and Nappa leath­ er. Each edition comprises the designers’ choice on exterior paint, wheel style and finish, exhaust style and calliper colour — along with what the designers have decid­ ed is the By McLaren interior package that most complements the exterior.

“As well as the most harmonious looks inside and out, ordering a McLaren 570S in this way makes financial sense for the cus­ tomer. Previously, these items could only be specified separately, meaning the design edition all­in option price of £8 500 repre­ sents a significantly lower price than the single­option pricing,” said McLaren.

Clients can add further choices, like their own choice of carbon­fibre options. As well as Onyx Black, the other body colours are Vermillion Red, Storm Grey, Ventura Orange, and Silica White.

The design editions are exclusively for the McLaren 570S with orders now open for deliveries in 2017. — WR.

Our Plymouth Fury, which is more feckless than furious.

PHOTO: AMIL UMRAW

Good guesses, but no one got the Plymouth AMIL UMRAW Design edition 1, combines a Vermillion Red body with five­spoke wheels and diamond­cut finish, Stealth exhaust and red brake callipers.

PHOTO: NEWPRESS

LAST week, I asked readers to hazard a guess as to what vintage (almost 40 years old) car was parked in my yard under a muddied black cover.

Chris Louw thought it may be a Studebaker Lark or a Golden Hawk.

Darylin Chetty guessed Chrysler Valiant. Howick

resident Mano Naidoo also dropped me a message saying it “can only be” a Pontiac.

Nashmir Manirum from Underberg thought it was a Mustang (I wish it was) and Matt Kirkman guessed it may be a Valiant Charger or Rebel.

I’m glad to say I received dozens of guesses — of which none was correct.

But I am impressed, the answers were very calcu­

lated and it was a tricky one. I’m glad to see so many readers know their classics.

The answer in fact is (drum role please) a 1978 Plymouth Fury.

It still has a long way to go until it can live up to its name, but I will keep everyone updated as we go along.

• amil.umraw@witness.co.za

MOTORING WitnessWheels TRANSPORT

December 8, 2016

7

Nissan demonstrates its driverless towing system at its Oppama Plant in Japan.

PHOTO: QUICKPIC

Follow the driverless leader Nissan is using driverless cars to tow new cars from its Oppama plant to the loading quay YOKOHAMA — Nissan Motor Co Ltd today an­ nounced the introduction of Intelligent Vehicle Towing (IVT), a fully automated vehicle towing sys­ tem, at its Oppama Plant.

Nissan has worked on making the relationship between people, cars and society more exciting un­ der its Intelligent Mobility vision, a framework for how cars will be driven, powered, and integrated into society. This new project, which utilises map­ ping and communication technologies to link an intelligent and all­electric car to infrastructure, is a step towards the realisation of Nissan Intelligent Integration.

ABOUT THE TECHNOLOGY The IVT system uses a modified Nissan LEAF to tow autonomously trollies carrying finished vehi­ cles between designated loading and unloading

points at the plant.

Unlike conventional automatic guided vehicle systems for transporting parts, which often require the installation of rails or extensive use of magnetic tape, this system does not need any special infra­ structure to operate.

The towing car is equipped with an array of cam­ eras and laser scanners that detect lane markings, curbs and potential obstacles or hazards around the vehicle. By cross­referencing this information with map data, the towing car calculates its own location, negotiating the route to its destination unaided.

The towing car travels within the speed limits of the factory, and automatically stops if it detects an obstacle or hazard ahead, before setting off again when it has determined that the road ahead is clear.

The towing route can easily be altered to accom­ modate changes in production processes or vehicle

transport routes. All driverless towing cars are con­ nected to a central traffic control system, which can monitor the location, driving speed, remaining bat­ tery and operational status of each vehicle.

When two driverless towing cars meet at an in­ tersection, the control system’s algorithm deter­ mines which car should be given right of way, and in case of emergency, the vehicles can stop remotely.

BACKGROUND OF DEVELOPMENT The Oppama Plant’s existing logistics system re­ quires finished vehicles to be transported from the end of the production line to the facility’s dedicated wharf by a team of drivers, at which point they are loaded onto ships. Introducing IVT will allow Nis­ san to improve production efficiency.

Since trial operations of the system began rough­ ly a year ago, more than 1 600 test runs have been

carried out at the plant. The data acquired has been utilised to ensure that the system can operate relia­ bly within the plant’s premises.

A safety system and a fail­safe system have been developed to counter potential risks or unexpected conditions the IVT system may face during autono­ mous driving, including adverse weather and low­ light conditions.

Nissan will continue to test the system at its Op­ pama Plant, and will examine the possibility of im­ plementation at other manufacturing facilities both in and outside Japan.

Nissan has been developing autonomous driving technology for decades. In August, the company launched ProPILOT, an award­winning single­lane autonomous driving technology for highway use.

IVT further showcases Nissan’s holistic approach to mobility. — WR.

MAN Truck invites collaboration IT is not just musicians who do collabs these days.

Man Truck & Bus has invited 80 body­building companies from GerMANy and neighbouring countries to collaborate with what it calls an “ex­ change of ideas which will help identify and gener­ ate future business areas and models” for the MAN TGE van’s chassis.

Looking at the new MAN van are head of van body­builders MANagement at MAN Truck & Bus Roy Tietze (left), and the MD of Kress Fahrzeugbau GmbH, Joachim Kress.

PHOTO: QUICKPIC

Roy Tietze, head of van body­builders MANage­ ment at MAN Truck & Bus, said: “The develop­ ment of the MAN TGE was very customer­fo­ cused. For MAN, it made perfect sense to finish in the same vein and, together with selected body­ builders, turn the TGE into a customised ‘Swiss Army knife’.”

The starting point for the design and conversion could not be more varied. There are two wheel bases, three roof heights and three vehicle lengths to choose from for the new MAN TGE. The classic panel van is available with normal, high or super­ high roof. The range is completed by chassis with single or crew cabs for a wide range of conversions.

The latter is particularly suitable for installing re­ frigerated boxes. Bernd Mundhenk, sales director of Junge Fahrzeugbau GmbH, said the 3,5­ton vans are used every day in distribution transport on the “last leg” to the customer as well as for scheduled deliveries. “It is therefore imperative that the vehi­ cle is serviced when the schedule permits, which is often outside office hours,” he added.

The new MAN TGE is scheduled to go on sale in March next year, but is not expected in South Africa at this stage. — WR.

LPT1518

11 YEARS AT THE FORE FRONT

PRICE LE WHI VALID KS STOC LAST.

French commuters to travel in style RAIL technology leader Bombardier Transporta­ tion announced recently that it has received an option order for 40 Omneo Premium double deck EMUs (pictured) from SNCF on behalf of the Normandy Region.

This order is valued at approximately €585 million (R8,649 billion) and is part of the contract signed in 2010 with SNCF to provide up to 860 double­deck trains to the French re­ gions. The Normandy Region plans to roll out the new premium trains at the end of 2019 to improve comfort and capacity by over 20% on the frequently used Paris­Rouen­le Havre and Paris­Caen­Cherbourg lines, compared to the lines’ existing fleets.

“This is the first order for the newly designed premium version of our Omneo double­deck platform,” said Laurent Bouyer, president of Bombardier Transportation in France. “Passen­ gers will benefit from over 100 additional seats and a new level of rail comfort and style.”

There is nothing that you cant throw at the Tata LPT 1518 – 8 tonner truck, that is why it keeps on trucking.

Celebrate this Model’s 11th anniversary with this amazing offer valid until 31 December 2016.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED Specifically designed to set a new standard for comfort on long intercity journeys, the Om­ neo Premium trains can travel at 200 km/h and offer a range of amenities for long­distance travellers. Passengers can now enjoy a spacious, WiFi­equipped train that features USB charging ports, standard power plugs and a wider seat equipped with integrated lighting. — WR.

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8

WitnessWheels MOTORING RACING

Hyundai’s new i20 ready to rumble

SA’s first Driftkhana a roaring success

Korean maker’s i20 Coupe WRC ready to make waves at rally champs HYUNDAI Motorsport has unveiled its Hyundai i20 Coupé WRC, a new car with which the team will compete in the 2017 FIA World Rally Champi­ onship (WRC), in its full livery.

The new car, designed to meet WRC’s raft of new technical regu­ lations, was unveiled on December 1 in Italy dur­ ing a static media event at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza.

The three­door Hyundai i20 Coupé WRC is Hyundai Motor­ sport’s third new car since its debut in the Championship in 2014, follow­ ing the Hyundai i20 WRC (2014­15) and the New Generation i20 WRC (2016). Entering its fourth season, the team hopes to continue a positive period of growth as it embarks on a new era for the sport.

The new technical regulations for 2017 were introduced to enhance the WRC spectacle, with cars sporting an aggressive new look. While changes centre on improving aerody­ namic and mechanical grip, there is an engine power increase from 224 kW to 284 kW, a reduction in the weight of the car, and reintroduc­ tion of the active centre differential.

Hyundai Motorsport started test­ ing its new car in April, alongside its ongoing 2016 WRC campaign. The car had already accumulated 6 000 km of testing prior to the launch, with further tests planned ahead of its competitive debut at Ral­ lye Monte­Carlo in January 2017.

With the new car, the team hopes to build on its most successful season to date, in which it secured two victo­ ries and an additional 10 podium fin­ ishes. Hyundai Motorsport crews finished in the top­three in 10 out of 13 rallies last season.

Team principal Michel Nandan said: “It’s a great new technical chal­ lenge and one that we have tackled with enthusiasm. All teams start from scratch, so we are on an equal footing. Having finished in second in 2016, we want to show our ability to fight for the championship in 2017 — and we are confident the Hyundai i20 Coupé WRC will help us do just that.”

Hyundai keeps an unchanged driv­ er line­up for 2017. Thierry Neuville, Hayden Paddon and Dani Sordo will contest all rounds of the Champion­ ship alongside their respective co­ drivers, Nicolas Gilsoul, John Ken­ nard and Marc Marti. The team can also announce an extension to its partnership with title sponsors Shell and Hyundai Mobis.

The new WRC regulations for 2017 mean that manufacturers will

The three­door Hyundai i20 Coupé WRC with which Hyundai Motorsport will take on the World Rally Championship next year.

PHOTO: QUICKPIC

December 8, 2016

Left: PMB driver Garth Howard won the ‘1 minute donut challenge’. He made 15 donuts and won the tyres in the photo. Right: Chris Langsberg about to hit the swing ball with the rear of his car. PHOTOS: ANDRE KARRIM OVER 2 000 people lined the banks at Mason’s Mill on Sunday for the first ever Driftkhana hosted in South Africa.

Organiser Reece Williamson said the fans came expecting the usual antics of a spinning event, where the drivers exit moving cars and dive back through open windows, but they got so much more.

He explained Driftkhana is new motor­ sport that demands precision driving

rather than daredevil stunts. To win, driv­ ers have to, among other tricks, do quick drifts through a tight track on a time at­ tack, then make the most donuts around a stack of tyres, as well as use their car like a bat to hit a large swing ball.

All these challenges are spectacular to watch and Williamson said the Maritz­ burg crowd soon started cheering the drivers, who raced until five on Sunday.

Some 30 of KZN’s top drivers attended the event, but in the end only half of them managed to adapt their skills to the de­ mands of the new format. But because all drivers scored points based on touch­ ing or missing obstacles, this was one rac­ ing event that saw no disputes afterwards.

Williamson said the second round of a Driftkhana Series will be staged during February next year. — WR.

LAND ROVER TRADE-IN / BUY-BACK PROGRAMME

BRING THEM HOME

be able to enter up to three cars in each round, with the two top classi­ fied finishers scoring points for the Manufacturers’ Championship. Aft­ er three seasons of competing with two separate team names, Hyundai Motorsport’s three crews will run un­ der a unified banner in 2017: the Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team.

“We have a strong, consistent and versatile driver line­up. We had a competitive season in 2016, with vic­ tories, podiums, stage wins and Pow­ er Stage points.

“To have all of our drivers involved in such a close fight for second right up to Australia showed just what strength in depth we have. We have the confidence in the team to com­ pete at the front and to be seen as genuine contenders in WRC’s new era,” said Nandan.

Neuville and co­driver Gilsoul were one of the standout crews in 2016, taking victory in Sardinia and an impressive string of podium re­ sults. Finishing second in the Driv­ ers’ Championship, the Belgians want even more in 2017.

“I have high hopes for our new Hyundai i20 Coupé WRC, which is the product of a lot of hard work from everyone in the team. My initial im­ pressions of the car in testing were very positive,” said Neuville.

“The changes in regulations have allowed us to make improvements in key areas, such as aerodynamics and rear stability. The increase in power is incredible while the additional grip and driveability gives us more confi­ dence to push.”

Kiwi Paddon claimed an impress­ ive maiden WRC win in Rally Argen­ tina in 2016, with further podiums in Sweden and Poland. — WR.

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Enquire for more: Land Rover Pietermaritzburg 9 Armitage Road, Pietermaritzburg, 3201 033 897 8860 pietermaritzburg.landrover.co.za