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March 9, 2017
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U.S. owners survey Toyota gets most awards yet, Lexus and Porsche share top spot ALWYN VILJOEN THE latest JD Power Vehicle De pendability Study in the U.S., now in its 28th year, saw Toyota get 10 of the 18 segment awards — the highest number of awards yet to one group in the study. The study covered 177 specific problems grouped into eight ma jor vehicle categories and JD Power staff called 35 186 owners to ask about problems experi enced in their threeyearold ve hicles — 2014 models in this case They determine overall de pendability by the number of problems experienced per 100 vehicles (PP100). A lower score shows higher quality. The 10 topselling 2014 model year vehicles had 134 complaints per 100 people, which is signifi cantly better than the industry average of 156 PP100.
Two perennial best sellers — the Ford F150 and the Toyota Camry — again lead their seg ments with satisfied owners this year. “We find buyers are increas ingly avoiding models with poor reputations for dependability, so manufacturers can’t afford to let quality slip, particularly on their best sellers,” said Dave Sargent, vice president, global automo tive at JD Power. The group has found that in addition to impacting on pur chase decisions and brand loyal ty, better longterm quality is a key factor in contributing to higher resale values for vehicles. JD Power estimates that Toyo ta — the highestranked non premium brand in the study — has a residual values benefit of more than $750 (R9 729) per ve hicle, compared with the average
brand. This translates into a ben efit of more than $1,3 billion for the 2014 model year in the U.S. market. With an average of just 110 PP100 cars, Lexus and Porsche tied for top spot on the list, well clear of Toyota (123), Buick (126) and MercedesBenz (131). Hyundai (133 PP100) was the most improved nameplate in the study, improving by 25 PP100 from 2016. At sixth position (up from 19th in 2016), this was Hyundai’s best ranking yet. Jaguar surprised with 144, only one spot behind Honda (143) on the list, while Land Rover (178) proved more reliable than Ford and Jeep. Most complaints A total of 22% of the owners had audio, communication, enter tainment, navigation (ACEN) complaints, up from 20% last
year. For a third consecutive year, the problems most reported by owners were Bluetooth pairing/ connectivity and builtin voice recognition misinterpreting the commands. New to the top10 list of prob lems reported in 2017 was battery failure. In fact, 44% more own ers reported a battery failure this year than in 2016. Batteries were the most fre quently replaced component not related to normal wear and tear in threeyearold vehicles, at 6,1% — up 1,3 percentage points from 2016. Lowestranked models Four of the bottom five marques were part of the Fiat Chrysler Group. Fiat owners (298) suffer 89 more problems than Jeep (209) in secondlast place. Ford (183) didn’t fare much better, fall ing well short of average (156).
Owners of the 2014 Porsche Panamera GTS (top) and owners of the Lexus RC 350 report few faults. PHOTO: FILE
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WitnessWheels MOTORING
March 9, 2017
Electrifying supercars Allelectric supercars are all the rage at today’s Geneva Motorshow in Switzerland ALWYN VILJOEN SWISS company Classic Cars is back, this time with the Elextra and the company is calling on in vestors “to come forward for open opportunities”, meaning car dealers who think they can sell what looks to be a R4 million car should contact them. The Elextra is one of more than 10 celectric supercars at the Ge neva Motorshow that starts in
Switzerland today. Classic Cars said in a statement they have combined in a team the highest level of engineering and craftsmanship available to create “a unique electric supercar with four seats, four doors, fourwheel drive, and capable of executing the 0100 km/h sprint in less than 2,3 seconds”. This is a blink faster than the Tesla Model S P100D version, which does 0to60m/h time in
2,5 seconds in normal mode, and in 2,4 in “Ludicrous Plus” mode. Swiss designer Robert Palm, who first featured in Wheels with his Lyonheart K interpretation of the Jaguar EType in 2013, and Danish entrepreneur Poul Sohl said the Elextra is based upon the best electric vehicle platform in the world and redefines the su percar. The same claim is made in one form or the other by all the other
The Bentley EXP 12 Speed 6e is an allelectric preview of the direction the British brand wants to go in the future. PHOTO: BENTLEY
NextEV’s Nio EP9 from China in 2016 set high standards for electric supercars to follow, and many will be launching their efforts at the Geneva Motorshow today. PHOTO: NEXTEV electric supercar builders cur rently “muscling their flex” in factories around the world. This include the Chinese elec tric car startup NextEV, who claim their Nio EP9 supercar, which was unveiled late Novem ber last year in London, to be the fastest electric super car in the world. According to NextEV, the EP9 goes from zero to 200 km/h in 7,1 seconds and tops out at 313 km/h.
They also claim their electric vehicle can be fully charged in 45 minutes and has a range of 427 kilometres. It features an interchangeable battery system, which allows driv ers to swap out the empty cells in eight minutes. Palm did not yet reveal any de tails to compare the Elextra to the EP9, but the numbers will have to be close to interest investors in rare cars.
For as was the case with the Ly onheart K, the Elextra is squarely aimed at the collector, with only 100 to be handbuilt near Stutt gart in Germany. Palm says: “The idea behind El extra is to combine pure lines re minding of the most exciting Ital ian super cars of the past, while being resolutely forward looking thanks to its low, sleek and beauti ful design, paired with today’s most advanced technology.”
The Vanda Dendrobium is designed by Singaporebased Vanda Electronics, who claims 321 km/h for the Britishbuilt electric supercar, which will start at R4 million. PHOTO: VANDA
Seniors giving sideways glances
MercedesBenz and Pajero recalls
HENRY SPENCER
MercedesBenz and Mitsubishi have warned of recalls in South Africa. Merc is recalling about one million cars and SUVs world wide because, says the automak er, a starter part can overheat and cause fires. The recall covers certain CClass, EClass and CLA cars and GLA and GLC SUVs, all from 2015 through 2017, includ ing nearly 308 000 in the U.S. MercedesBenz South Africa said their technical team is inves tigating the number of vehicles in SA that are affected and will
THE most essential component of safe driving is our awareness of what is happening around us. At intersections, for example, we need to be aware of vehicles on four sides of the car. But as we age, our peripheral vision de creases. This happens at a rate of ap proximately one to three degrees per decade; i.e. in our mid 70s, we could have a 20° to 30° loss. Many of us senior drivers may also experience limited flexibil The ‘Swindon Magic Circle’ shows how easy we have it with ity in our upper torso and our circles in SA, once you take minibus taxi drivers out of necks, making the detection of picture. PHOTO: BBC sideon hazards difficult. Degenerative diseases, a sed vantage that you are more visible eliminate the taxi component, it entary lifestyle, poor posture, to oncoming traffic. may by comparison dawn upon trauma, arthritis, and even an in If circumventing a round you how simple South African correct pillow on which we rest about you make an error such as roads really are. our heads while sleeping, can all missing an exit, just go round Long hairstyles contribute to our not only hav again, indicating that you want Hair is one area where women ing, but also becoming a pain in to exit the circle. outdo (most) men for danger the neck. Given that agerelated By law, all cars on your left ous distractions, especially losses will occur to varying de have to slow down a bit to make when their hair hangs down, grees, there are adaptive meas space, as the car on the right has covering half their faces. ures which will lessen the risk of the right of way in any circle. A UK study reputedly claimed accidents. Don’t (no matter how late you some scary numbers. Over Checking to the right are for your dementia support 190 000 women admitted expe Often in large, twolane traffic group meeting) just drive across riencing a nearmiss with other circles, one has two options to the traffic circle — as I once did traffic while driving, entirely due turn left — either take the glide to my shame over a traffic circle to hairstyles that restrict their off, or enter the circle and take in the UK in Swindon. Known peripheral vision. the first exit. there as the “Swindon Magic Yet, according to the survey, The former has a large blind Circle”, it comprises of a central sadly 67% of the respondents spot that requires you to swivel circle surrounded by five smaller continued to wear hairstyles your head approximately 150° to satellite circles and looks like a that would serve a better pur monitor the cars in that blind giant diabolical symbol when pose as blinkers on horses at a spot. However, if ones chooses seen from on high. race track. to drive directly to the round I must confess that I once be about and then turn left, the an came so frustrated and confused • Henry Spencer authors books on gle of turn reduces to less than that I did actually drive across ageing. More on halfmens@ 90°. This option also has the ad one of the smaller circles! If you telkomsa.net
inform owners and the media as soon as these numbers are known. Affected models are certain A/B/C/EClass as well as CLA, GLA and GLC vehicles. MercedesBenz SA success fully recalled 2 200 units in Feb ruary 2015 to fix a problem with an engine compartment seal that could ignite. Mitsubishi Motors SA (MMSA) has issued a preventa tive recall on 7 449 Pajeros in South Africa to inspect and re place driver airbags. Mitsubishi is one of several
vehicle manufacturers affected by the potentially defective air bag inflators manufactured by Takata, OEM airbag supplier to Mitsubishi and various other au tomotive brands. MMSA is currently busy con tacting owners to arrange and coordinate the timing of the service inspections where air bags will be replaced at no cost. The inspection and replacement procedure will take approxi mately one hour. — WR. More on www.mitsubishi motors.co.za/recall. — Wheels Reporter.
Topdropping good looks The world’s alltime bestselling roadster now drops its top in 13 seconds, and can be yours for R532 800. That’s some R266 400 per seat in the Mazda MX5 2.0litre RF Roadster Coupe Automatic, including a threeyear unlimited kilometre factory warranty on all the tech inside, backed by a threeyear service plan and threeyear roadside assistance. PHOTO: MAZDA
MOTORING WitnessWheels
March 9, 2017
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Creta confident of sales ALWYN VILJOEN drove Hyundai’s new midsize SUV all night — and found there is a lot to like A DAY and a night spent driving in Hyundai’s new Creta have turned me from firm admirer to a big fan of the Korean brand. I have admired the brand ever since the little turbo diesel Getz klapped all the other small hatches we tested in the mid2000s. A small hatch that can fit in four beefy blokes and get over 20 km to a litre of diesel still gets my vote. Then there was the Sonata, as smooth a drive at legal speeds as you can wish for. I’ve also bought Hyundai’s even smaller hatch, the midget Atos, and with the help of me chanic Jens Denk turned it into the world’s fastest (and yeah, only) hybrid AWD Atos. Neither the Getz nor Sona ta, and especially not my mutilated Atos, prepared me for the comfort in the Creta. Five highlights worth noting My main claim to fame as a car com parer is a cracked coccyx, which makes me a supersensitive tester of relative seat comfort. Having spent 25 hours in the new Creta’s seat, I can vouch, this is one comfy seat. The ergonomic layout also meant that our very petite female tester at
Wheels, Shay Kalik, easily reached the pedals without bumping her knees against the steering wheel console, as often happens with shorter women. There are four more highlights, starting with the brakes, which can stop the 1 760 kg Creta in a short 20 metres from 60 km/h — for just after you suddenly discov er there is no stop sign nor road mark ings on
the steep downhill leading into a town’s busy crossing. The Creta comes with a choice of two engines — a diesel and a petrol — both 1,6 litres. The die sel consumption was impressive. In the denser air at the coast in and around Cape Town, I got 6,7 litres per 100 km. Try as I might, I could not get this past 6,1 on an open road driving at about 800 metres above sea level,
which reminds one this is a ute with a high profile. Once I climbed to over a kilometre above sea level, the thinner air saw the consump tion fall to 5,9 while doing a steady 110 km/h with four people inside. The fourth highlight is the ride height — at 19 cm high, this mid size ute was made for India’s ap palling roads, where it saw best sales of 10 000 units a month since it was introduced last year, This road clearance means the 16inch rims with 205/65
Hyundai’s new Creta is the only automatic SUV selling for under R400 000, offering some of the best supporting seats in the business (left) and excellent overall value, but we predict these launch prices won’t last long. PHOTO: QUICKPIC
Toyota’s CHR reshapes the crossover car WITH the CHR, Toyota tar gets Millenials who are, ac cording to a statement, “pre dominantly driven by emo tional considerations”. Glenn Crompton, vice president of marketing at To yota South Africa, said these customers want individuality, and to be the first to try new experiences and products. Style and quality are essen tial considerations in any pur chase they make, and the car is an extension of their per sonality. Viewed from any angle, the CHR’s combination of facet ted gemstonelike shapes with fluid surfaces and elegantly in tegrated detailing creates a delicate balance of precision and sensuality. The CHR’s coupelike styling is further enhanced by disguised rear door handles integrated with in the C pillar and a sweeping roofline.
There is a whole lot going on visually with the CHR, some would say too much. PHOTO: TOYOTA The prominent rear light clusters give the rear view of the CHR an equally express ive visual signature. The driveroriented area in corporates innovative details and intuitive, approachable technology. All operating switchgear and a display audio touchscreen are slightly an gled towards the driver. A
unique new twotiered front seat design combines a slen der, sporting upper section (inspired by the “bucket” de sign of old) with a more strongly bolstered and sup portive lower area. The Toyota CHR is the first model in South Africa to use Toyota’s advanced new 1,2 litre turbo engine with a D4T di
rect injection system, VVTiW, high compression ratio as well as a watercooled turbo and heatexchanger. The 1,197cc engine makes 85kW and 185 Nm from only 1 500 to 4 000 rpm. Fuel consump tion and CO2 , the manual car achieves 6,3 l/100 km on the combined cycle, and delivers just 141 g/km of CO2. CVT models deliver 6,4 l/100 km and produce 144 g/km. All models are fitted with 17” wheels, shod with 215 60R17 rubber. Plus models feature bladestyle alloy ver sions. All models come with a comprehensive fiveyear or 90 000 km service plan, with service intervals set at 15 000 km. A threeyear/100 000 km warranty is provided. — WR. CHR PRICES 6MT — R 318 500 6MT Plus — R 345 000 CVT Plus — R 356 000.
tyres hardly notice the ruts on even bad dirt roads, but there is a fullsize spare wheel in the boot for when a pothole proves too sharp. At Wheels we have learnt the hard way to say voetsek to cars without fullsize spare wheels, and therefore give full marks to Hyundai for equipping cars for our roads. The fifth highlight, for now, is the pricing, which includes a five year or 150 000 km warranty on “everything that moves”, in the words of Stanley Anderson, sales and operations director of Hyun dai Automotive South Africa; a twoyear or 50 000 km warranty on the powertrain; and a fiveyear or 90 000 km service plan. Service inter vals are 15 000 km on both en gines. Now for the niggles The low lights in clude, ironically, the highlights reflecting from the central console. No matter how high or low I put the seat, the reflected sun light from the rear window casts a glare over half the screen, making the outof date GPS map hard to read. A shade sock over the rear win
dow will cut the glare on the screen, but I recommend sticking with Google Maps to guide you. Underneath the infotainment screen are two 12V sockets and a plug for an AUX cable, but only one USB port. A second USB port, preferably aft, would be most use ful. I also missed a cruise control on the long road and, after wash ing the car twice, noticed it has many crannies to clean. But these niggles are it, really, and on the price alone I predict Hyundai’s dealers will see buyers’ interest in this confident Creta meet the high expectations An derson and his team have of the new car. The only other automat ic SUV for less than R400 000 is Mahindra’s XUV500, a robust ve hicle we like a lot, but local buyers have to date shunned its daring, crouchingCheetah design. Which Creta to choose? Let the force guide you. The Creta 1,6 Executive manual makes 90 kW at 6 300 rpm and 150 Nm at 4 850 rpm, and costs R50 000 less than the Creta 1,6 Executive CRDi automatic. The diesel makes 94 kW at 4 000 rpm and 260 Nm from only 2 750 rpm and if you drive at altitude, we suggest the diesel auto is the SUV for you. Creta 1,6 prices Executive manual R319 900 Executive auto R339 900 Executive CRDi auto R369 900.
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NISSAN XTRAIL IS THE WORLD’S MOST BOUGHT SUV ROSSLYN — Buyers across the globe have spoken and made the Nissan XTrail the world’s most popular SUV. According to initial new vehicle sales statistics for 2016, the Nissan XTrail was the fifth most popular vehi cle in the world last year. The statistics, which were supplied by the international automotive consultancy Jato Dynamics, show that 766 729 people took ownership of a new XTrail last year in its data base of 52 countries. It said that while most markets performed well, Nissan was particularly popular in Europe,
The Nissan XTrail was the fifth most popular vehicle in the world last year. PHOTO: WHEELS24 China and the U.S., where the XTrail is known as the Rogue. According to Nissan’s records, more than 795 000 XTrail/Rogues were sold in
2016 across all countries where the model is on sale. In analysing global sales, Jato Dynamics singled out Nissan for being “well ahead of the curve” in preparing for
a market in which SUVs are the most popular body shape. In 2016, SUVs of all sizes represented 28,8% or 24,2 million vehicles of the global market of 84,24 million vehi cles. Jato Dynamics also said that the XTrail is one of two SUVs which have grown fast er than the segment as a whole and faster than the global average in vehicle sales. The thirdgeneration XTrail, launched in 2014, accelerated the model’s success to make it the world’s most loved SUV.
Our friendly sales team is equipped to deal with all enquiries and have a wealth of knowledge in the motoring field. We pride ourselves in delivering exceptional service and products to our clients and therefore have a stringent quality check process in place to make sure that every product complies with our requirements and is in top order. Tel: Cell:
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Three classes in 2017 Simola Hillclimb KNYSNA — “King of the Hill” is the most prestigious title in the world of hillclimb events, and on ly six drivers have earned this crown to date on the Jaguar Si mola Hillclimb, South Africa’s premier motorsport event. Last year, Franco Scribante re wrote the history books by be coming the Jaguar Simola Hill climb’s only double champion in his standard Nissan GTR, after repeating his 2014 victory, and fans can expect a fierce tussle for this year’s title in the singleseat er and sports racing car category. But this year there’s a whole lot more King of the Hill excitement in store. For the eighth running of the Jaguar Simola Hillclimb in May, the organisers have separated the entries into three main classes, each with equal status and the al lure of becoming a King of the Hill champion. Plus there’s the special trophy, known as “the Jody” and named after South Africa’s only Formula One champion Jody Scheckter, for each overall winner. Geoff Goddard, the event’s sporting director, explained the three classes. Class A groups all standard road cars and supercars into one category, with a total of nine smaller classes encompass ing everything from hot hatch backs to the sports and supercar elite. There’s also a class for hy brid, electric and solarpowered vehicles. No aerodynamic modi fications are allowed, and only streetlegal tyres can be used. Class B covers modified sa loon racing cars, spanning B1 to B7 for various engine capacities, naturally aspirated or forced in duction, and two or fourwheel drive. Class C covers all singleseater and sports racing cars. The 10 fastest competitors in classes A, B and C will face off in their respective allornothing shootouts, which are run in re verse order from 10th place. It’s guaranteed to be nailbit ing stuff as the times tumble with the lastditch efforts to claim King of the Hill glory, and one of the three highly prized Jody trophies. Early bird tickets to the event can be bought at www.itickets.co.za. — WR.
Nonstop fundraising SA’s miracle cyclist tackles world’s toughest solo fundraising ride a fourth time THE many mountainbike racers in KZN have a champion they can look up to. On July 2, Grant Lottering will attempt his fourth Im’possible Tour — a solo fundraising ride in the French Alps. Lottering, Laureus Sport for Good ambassador and interna tional speaker, also known as the “miracle cyclist”, will attempt to cycle over 40 mountains, climb ing a staggering 44 700 m, over a distance of 1800 km, in under 96 hours, nonstop. For his Im’possible Tour IV, Lottering will return to the La Marmotte Granfondo, the same race where he completed his first Im’possible Tour in 2014, and try to complete the demanding route not once, not twice, but 10 times nonstop. At 174 km and 5 000 metres of climbing, the La Marmotte is considered one of the toughest amateur events in the world and comparable to the most chal lenging high mountain stages of the Tour de France. The route includes the Col du Glandon (22 km), Col du Tele graphe (13 km) and Col du Gali bier (17 km), and finishes on the summit of the famous Alpe d’Huez climb (13 km). Lotter ing will have to ride over each of these mountains 10 times within four days. Lottering takes on these an nual solo ultraendurance rides with the purpose of raising funds for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. Laureus financially supports over 20 registered community projects countrywide which use sport to help young people carve
Grant Lottering will attempt his fourth Im’possible Tour — a solo fundraising ride in the French Alps, climbing a staggering 44 700 metres over a distance of 1 800 km in under 96 hours, nonstop. PHOTO: QUIKCPIC out a safe and successful path in societies burdened by the im pact of HIV/Aids, unemploy ment, crime and strong cultural divides. His 2016 Im’possible Tour raised R1,1 million for Laureus, thanks to corporate sponsors who “bought” each and every mountain along the route.
As a highly regarded public speaker, Lottering inspires audi ences to recognise that their po tential is unlimited and that we are all able to accomplish what others consider impossible so long as we truly believe and live our lives with purpose, commit ment, focus and determination. Lottering’s own story is living
proof that when life takes a turn for the worse, you have a deci sion to make — do something with it or it will do something with you! In 2013, Lottering survived a nearfatal cycling accident dur ing a world championship prep aration race in Trento, Italy, when he crashed into a rock em
bankment at a speed of 60 km/h, suffering severe internal and ex ternal injuries. Doctors told him he would never cycle again, but Lottering refused to accept this prognosis, and decided he would return to the Alps in one year to finish the race that almost claimed his life. Thus, the Im’Possible tour se ries was born, with Lottering’s fourth solo attempt taking place on July 2. In 2016, Lottering successful ly completed his third Im’possi ble Tour, cycling 962 km non stop from Cannes to Les Saisies Ski Resort in the French Alps. He cycled over 20 Alpine mountains, climbing 19 840 m during the monster ride, com pleting the challenge in the un believable time of 46 hours and 38 minutes. Public support was massive, with over 7 000 followers on so cial media tracking Lottering’s progress through the remarka ble (and sleepless) 48hour chal lenge. This year Lottering hopes to double the funds raised for Lau reus, with the help of a number of generous corporate partners. Im’possible Tour IV — The World’s Toughest Solo Fun draising Ride — is proudly sup ported by headline sponsors MercedesBenz South Africa, VO Connect and IWC Schaff hausen. Lottering also thanked the race organisation and French Alps Sports Tourism for arrang ing his race entry with the front start group. Find out more at www.grant lottering.com. — Supplied.
Racers start rally season with Tour Natal ADRIAN BURFORD TEAM ATS is fully prepared for the opening round of the South African National Rally Champi onship, which starts with the Tour Natal in Scottburgh on KZN’s Hibiscus Coast tomor row and on Saturday. This year the team tackles the premier S1600 class in a Ford Fi esta R2 — the same car used to such good effect last year. It’ll take to the sugar cane fields — the event’s signature — in a revi talised form and will boast vari ous performanceenhancing technical updates. Richard Leeke jnr (driver) and Henry Kohne (navigator) renew their fruitful partnership and continue to grow in experience and confidence. Together, they have the abili ty to evolve into a truly formida ble team. Despite a threemonth layoff (although both maintain rigor ous gym routines to stay in prime physical shape) they were quickly up to speed on the open ing round of the Northern Re gions Regional Championship event. This curtainraiser, held
CV Joint speCialists
Simola’s 2015 King of the Hill in a 1993 Nissan GTR R32 with 1118 k on tap was KZN’s Dezzi Gutzeit. PHOTO: FILE
March 9, 2017
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Richard Leeke and Henry Kohne are ready for action in the Tour Natal in Scottburgh on KZN’s Hibiscus Coast tomorrow and on Saturday. PHOTO: MOTOR PRESS in the Bapsfontein area in mid February, netted the duo second overall and a class.
With the important ground work done, Team ATS heads to the coast with high hopes, and
a heightened sense of excite ment at the prospect of racing for overall victory.
Top SA karter Stuart White (inset) will trade his hometown Bloemfontein to racing in the Autosport French Formula 4 this year. The French series is a lit tle different to some other global Formula 4 champi onships in that it is run inhouse from Le Mans as an academy by the French racing Federation, the FFSA, which works togeth er with Renault. The 2017 champion will be inducted into the Renault Sport Academy, which aims to get drivers to Formula 1. PHOTO: MOTORSPORT MEDIA
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