Wheels_23Feb2017

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February 23, 2017

Witness

WHEELS

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Sweeping the Dusi ALWYN VILJOEN EVERY public event re­ quires police officers to help keep order, save citizens from themselves and pre­ vent crime.

At the Dusi Canoe Mara­ thon, these officers can only keep up with moving event

on scramblers, riding hard and sleeping rough for three days to act as sweepers and prevent any opportunistic tsotsis from getting ideas.

They say its part of the job, and their back up team, who fixed tyres and strapped on dangling bits, are the real heroes. We salute all these

officers from, Alexandra, Pinetown and Pietermaritz­ burg for risking life and limb to track the struggling pad­ dlers along steep cattle tracks and in 44°C. For, as the few professional bikers who went along can testify, riding the Duzi is the other half of this tough marathon.

Planning where to watch over the paddlers are (from left) Captain Raymond Jali, Constable Matt Janse van Rensburg, Warrant Officer Deon Venter, Colonel Casper Coetzee and Warrant Officer Bernard Feyers. PHOTOS: SHAY KALIK

Constable Shay Kalik has her bike prepped by Ronald Shoniwa at Fury Group in PMB, who services any Japanese bike, after which Caitlin McKelvey (right) at iStyle Motorcycle Accessories swopped levers, a seat, chains and sprockets on Kalik’s scrambler. PHOTOS: ALWYN VILJOEN

LEFT: Constable Mohsin Ebrahim helps Captain Raymond Jali to hop some rocks, and after two days in the saddle, finds a bike is as good as a bed. MORE BIKE NEWS ON P7.

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WitnessWheels MOTORING INDUSTRY

2

February 23, 2017

GM’s top dealers are (from left) Trevor Villet of Williams Hunt Port Elizabeth; Kenneth Cupido of CP Nel Motors; Ian Nicholls, president and MD of General Motors Sub­Saharan Africa, Glynn Crookes of Key Durban; Mark Wilson of Jacksons and Pieter Kruger of Sydfred Motors. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

GM honours its top dealers Award­winners among General Motors’ 131 dealers deliver exceptional service and best results THE top performing dealerships in the General Motors South Af­ rica (GMSA) network have been honoured for the exceptional ser­ vice they provided to Chevrolet, Opel and Isuzu customers in 2016.

The prestigious GMSA Dealer Honours awards ceremony was held recently to recognise dealers who excelled in sales and custom­ er service. Ian Nicholls, president

KZN DEALERS AMONG TOP NADA AWARDS MCCARTHY Toyota Empangeni and Emond Auto, in Durban, are the only KwaZulu­Natal dealerships among the finalists nominated in the National Au­ tomobile Dealers’ Association (Nada) competition for the Business­of­the­Year contest.

This is the 18th year in which these industry awards have been made by Sewells­ MSXI South Africa, endorsed by Nada.

Sewells MSXI SA evaluates the operating financial data of more than 1 000 dealerships countrywide each month, and once a year the best perform­ ers are honoured.

McCarthy Toyota Empangeni are among the finalists for the 2017 Business of the Year awards, while David Emond of Emond Auto, Durban, is among the finalists for most improved Performance Group members.

The winners will be an­ nounced on March 8.

— WR.

and managing director of GM sub­Saharan Africa, said the awards importantly afforded the opportunity to applaud dealers “who go the extra mile to ensure customers are well cared for and remain loyal to our brands”.

“GMSA puts the customer at the centre of everything we do,” said Nicholls. “In 2015 we rolled out the Complete Care pro­ gramme, demonstrating our

commitment to this core value and ensuring our customers peace of mind in their ownership experience.

“We further extended this commitment by ensuring our dealer staff and technicians are attuned to the customer, keeping the customer in mind in every­ thing we do. Technicians receive regular training to keep up to date with the ever­evolving tech­

nologies — we invest in 60 000 hours of dealer development and training per year. All GMSA ser­ vice centres are equipped with a complete range of tools and ana­ lytical systems to carry out main­ tenance and repairs,” Nicholls said. GM’s 131 dealers are at the touchpoint with its customers.

“It is important that we recog­ nise those dealers that consist­ ently exceed the high standards

that are expected across every de­ partment, from the friendly faces at reception to outstanding ser­ vice, finance, parts wholesale, re­ tail and used vehicle sales, as well as a great after­sales experience, “These award­winners make us proud by continuously raising the bar for the entire GM net­ work to make our customers’ ex­ perience an all­round pleasure.”

— Supplied.

Top honours for ‘Dealer of the Year 2016’ went to: • Williams Hunt, Port Elizabeth (major category) • Jacksons, Queenstown (medium category) • CP Nel Motors, Mossel Bay (small category) • Sydfred Motors, Matatiele (rural category) • Key Durban (Motor Dealer Asso­ ciation category)

Dutch company taking reservations for gyrocpter­car AFTER successful test flights, Dutch flying car developer Pal­V last week announced its taking reservations for its dual­engined Liberty three­wheel gyrocopter.

“After years of hard work, beating the technical and quali­ fication challenges, our team succeeded in creating an innova­ tive flying car that complies with existing safety standards, deter­ mined by regulatory bodies around the world,” said Robert Dingemanse, CEO of Pal­V, in a press statement.

The Pal­V Liberty has a Rotax engine­based dual propulsion drivetrain, with one engine driv­ ing the car on road and another to fly it.

Pal­V gives the Liberty’s 100 HP a top speed as 160 km/h on the road, and respectable ninc seconds over the 0­100 km sprint. Fuel economy is rated at 7,6 l/100 km for a range of 1 315 km.

In drive mode, the propeller is hidden away inside the vehi­ cle’s body while the blades fold into slots on the roof. To fly the Pal­V, a button unfolds the rotor

Pal­V is now taking reservations for its Liberty three­wheel gyrocopter car.

PHOTO: PAL­V mast, but the driver/pilot has to manually pull out the tail section and unfold the two rotor blades as well as break out the prop to prepare for flight.

This allows the pilot to con­

duct the mandatory pre­flight inspection on the Pal­V. In the air, the Liberty’s 200 HP flying mode engine is report­ ed to be about as loud as a small fixed­wing airplane and gives a

For more information on Witness Wheels advertising Contact Avir on 033 355 1152 or 084 278 3447 Avir@witness.co.za

maximum speed of 180 km/h, an economic cruise speed of 140 km/h or a high cruise speed of 160 km/h. Maximum altitude is of 3 500 metres.

The Liberty fits into a stan­

dard four­metre garage and is lower and than most cars at only 1,7 m high in drive mode. The vehicle is two metres wide re­ gardless of mode, and the un­ folded rotor diameter is 10,75 metres. It has an empty weight of about half of most small hatches — 664 kg.

The are two versions of the Liberty on offer, both of which can land on a grass strip.

The Pioneer Edition can be personalised and sells for €499 000, or R6,9 million, which is less than a Lamborghini Aventador costs.

The standard Sport model costs less, at €299 000/or R4,1 million, again less than a Lambo Huracan Spyder costs in SA. Buyers will, however, have to wait a little longer for delivery of the flying car than for either of the Lambos, as Pal­V warns it will only start making prepro­ duction units later this year, with road and air­certified models set for delivery to customers by the end of 2018. Asprising owners can use the time to get a private pilot’s licence. — WR.

Miwa welcomes probe The Motor Industry Workshop As­ sociation (Miwa) said it welcomed the Competition Commission’s probe into, among others, exclu­ sionary conduct in the car repair industry.

Vishal Premlall, director of Miwa said Miwa, through its Right to Re­ pair Campaign, has been cam­ paigning to allow consumers the right to select where their vehicles

are serviced, maintained and re­ paired, at competitive prices and in the workshops of their choice.

He said consumers are locked into warranty contract that com­ pells them to pay a much higher rate for repairs and parts for their vehicles under warranty when com­ pared to the rates charged by in­ dependent workshops.

— Witness Reporter.

MOTORING WitnessWheels

February 23, 2017

3

Stella Lux ready for Oz New team of Eindhoven students to show improvements to car of the future STUDENTS from Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/ e) in the Netherlands are prepar­ ing Stella Lux for the third edi­ tion of the World Solar Chal­ lenge, to be held in Australia lat­ er this year.

Stella Lux is the second itera­ tion of a car that runs for thou­ sands of kilometres only on so­ lar­powered batteries, making more power than it consumes along the way in even the watery Dutch sun.

Following their victories in the Cruiser Class in the first two editions of the World Solar Challenge, held in 2013 and 2015, the Solar Team Eindhoven will compete once again at this event in October 2017.

A new team of 21 TU/e stu­ dents are preparing a new kind of solar­powered automobile designed to race across Australia from north to south.

Once again, Axians, the VIN­ CI Energies brand dedicated to Information and Communica­ tions Technology (ICT), is man­ aging the geostrategic internal communications system, an es­ sential resource that enables the two passengers in the vehicle to pinpoint their location, antici­ pate potential obstacles, and maximise solar radiation uptake whatever the weather condi­ tions.

The World Solar Challenge is

The Susuzuki Swift 1,2 RS PHOTO: SUPPLIED

LONG WAITING LIST FOR THE SWIFT 1,2 RS

Stella Lux is the second iteration of a car that runs for thousands of kilometres only on solar­powered batteries.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED much more than a frantic race where speed is the only thing that matters.

“The objective is to stimulate innovation and show the world what can be achieved with tech­ nology,” Jan van de Bovenkamp, marketing manager at Axians Netherlands, said in a statement.

“Our dream is to build the car of the future powered solely by the Sun’s rays.”

By 2013, it was already possi­ ble to travel the 3 000 km dis­ tance between Darwin and Ade­ laide using 64 kWh of electric power on average. This is much less than the 1 500 kWh re­

quired by the most energy­effi­ cient conventional cars.

“We know that many key im­ provements will be achieved in the years to come in terms of dis­ tance, speed, and feasibility,” said Van de Bovenkamp.

As a result of Solar Team Eindhoven’s insistence on de­

signing a prototype every year, Axians has had to redefine the dashboard’s wi­fi systems.

Consequently, experts at Axi­ ans have been able to explore new avenues of development and make the most of their men­ tal agility and creativity.

— Wheels Reporter.

A Special Edition Suzuki Swift is now on sale, called the Suz­ uki Swift 1,2 RS. The 1,2 litre 16­valve engine has the same free­revving character as its larger siblings, but benefits from its lighter weight and smaller capacity to deliver a combined fuel consumption fig­ ure of only 5,3 litres per 100 km.

This engine delivers 63 kW and is mated to a five­speed gearbox in the RS model.

“When we conceptualised the 1,2 RS, we set the target of creating an exciting and visually appealing Special Edition for under R200 000. With a price tag of only R184 800 and a rapidly growing waiting list, we have surely hit our target,” says André Venter, divisional manag­ er for sales and marketing at Suzuki Auto South Africa.

The Swift has a three­year or 30 000 km service plan and a warranty for 100 000 km over the same period.

MOTORS LET US LIGHTEN

YOUR LOAD

The Tata Bolt underoging a full frontal smash in the Global New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP), which tests the mechanical protection provided in new cars.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Praise for Bolt’s safety rating ALWYN VILJOEN WHEN the Bolt launched in 2015, Wheels was impressed by the trust its importer, Accordian Investment, placed in the frugal consumption by challenging the media to see how light their right feet can be.

Glen Hall of the Citizen achieved 4,1 l/100 and Stuart Johnston, who writes Wheels’ karting reports, got 4,7 l/100.

But these two wily old hacks only drove the Bolt using its gut­ less eco mode.

I drove the Bolt with a combi­ nation of normal and eco mode, to record what Kyri Michael, CEO of Accordian Investments, described as the Bolt’s normal consumption: 5,4 l/100. There is no lag on the turbo in the Bolt and the little 1,2 engine’s 140 Nm come in between 1 500 and 4000 rpm for a very enjoyable drive. This means any careful driver will get over 20 km from

each litre of fuel in a Bolt, a claim that cannot be made by many of the Bolt’s competitors that sell for under R160 000.

Back then, executive director at Imperial Group, Manny da Canha, predicted South Afri­ cans would increasingly buying down from B to A segment cars, but they still want all the bells and whistles, which is why he en­ dorsed Accordion Investments importing the Tata Bolt.

Then came a flood of publicity about automotive safety in the lower end cars, and Tata last week issued a statement to point out the Bolt enjoys a four­star safety rating from Global NCAP, thanks to two front airbags and has anti­skid braking (ABS) as part of the Bolt’s comprehensive list of standard equipment.

Commenting on the Tata Bolt’s four­star rating, David Ward, the secretary­general of the Global NCAP said: “It is en­ couraging to see a major Indian

brand like Tata improving the safety of their models.”

Michael said the Bolt is equipped with ninth generation Bosch ABS for the disc/drum braking system with electronic brake distribution (EBD), in­ cluding a corner­braking fea­ ture.

“As the name suggests, the Bolt sedan and hatch exude ex­ citement and energy and are worthy examples of Tata Motors recently­launched vehicles.

“The strategy is to introduce several new products over a five­ year period to significantly grow the company’s market share in­ ternationally,” said Michael.

Tata said it has now retailed more than 65 000 cars and light commercials in South Africa since 2004, and it is embarking on an energetic programme to renew Tata’s brand awareness lo­ cally as well as putting increased focus on quality after­sales ser­ vice. — WR.

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4

WitnessWheels MOTORING

February 23, 2017

For gentleman drivers

ALWYN VILJOEN

First orders placed for race­prepared Polish supercar

A pair of Arrinera Hussarya GTs on the Brooklands banking ijn the U.S. PHOTO: NEWSPRESS

LONDON — One year on from the debut of the Hussarya GT at Autosport International 2016, Arrinera has received its first customer orders for the race­prepared Polish supercar.

The orders have been made by customers within the EU and are the first two chassis planned for delivery as 2017 build slots get under way.

Built to FIA GT specification, the 6­litre V8 Hussarya GT completed a successful year of testing throughout 2016 at the hands of Scottish racing legend Anthony Reid.

The Arrinera Hussarya GT al­ so became the first Polish super­ car to take part in the Michelin Supercar Run at the annual Goodwood Festival of Speed in

the September.

The car will make its GT de­ but this year with both a factory team and customer cars planned.

The GT is powered by an LS7 V8 engine pushing out 500bhp and is mated to a six­speed Hew­ land sequential racing gearbox operated by paddle shifts.

Its modular steel spaceframe chassis mirrors the structures of Hurricanes and Spitfires flown

by Polish pilots during the allied air campaigns of World War 2.

It also features bespoke push­ rod suspension with Öhlins four­way adjustable dampers, Alcon brakes with 380 mm discs and six­pot mono bloc calipers all round. Bosch racing ABS and traction control are standard

equipment.

Created for gentleman drivers for ease of use, ease of mainte­ nance and low running costs, the Hussarya GT inspires confi­ dence in the driver, giving ama­ teur drivers a shallower learning curve while simultaneously re­ warding the skill of professional drivers.

The car is also designed with two racing seats making the Hussarya ideal for instruction.

Build slots are on sale for the car which is priced at $229 000, (R2,9 million before import tax) with an obligatory spares pack­ age for an additional $69 000.

Piotr R. Frankowski, Arrinera Racing’s CEO, said: “We are very excited to have received the first orders for the Hussarya GT.

“This is a great start to 2017, following a busy year of develop­ ment and track testing.

“There has been a lot of inter­ est in this car since its launch, just one year ago.

“The GT has true racing pedi­ gree and offers competitive race performance with significantly lower running costs than its ri­ vals on the GT grid. We are look­ ing forward to its race debut in the near future.” — Newspress.

Technical specification Engine: LS series V8, Engine Power Output: Above 505hp Transmission: 6­speed Hewland LLS sequential with paddle shift Brakes: Alcon brakes, with 380mm discs and 6­pot mono

Tyre maker honoured for global innovations CONTINENTAL was honoured by trade journal Tire Technology International with the Tyre Man­ ufacturer of the Year award, first presented in 2008.

With this award, the high­cali­ bre panel of 27 judges, including experts from Europe, Japan, In­ dia and the United States, hon­ oured the investments that Con­ tinental has initiated over the

past 12 months.

Among Continental’s innova­ tions that persuaded the judges were the opening in June 2016 of the High Performance Technolo­ gy Centre in Korbach, Germany; the Taraxagum project that in­ volves setting up a research cen­ ter in Anklam, Germany, for the industrialisation of natural rub­ ber from dandelion roots; and

DAGGA DOES LIMIT ABILITY TO STEER

production of the first ever truck tyre with tread made of dandeli­ on rubber.

The judges also mentioned the announcement of a research and development centre for agricul­ tural tires in Lousado, Portugal, and the expansion of Continen­ tal’s truck tyre production opera­ tions in Otrokovice, Czech Re­ public.

bloc calipers Suspension: Bespoke pushrod system with Öhlins 4­way adjust­ able dampers Aerodynamics: Honed in CFD analysis and real­world wind tun­ nel testing at MIRA FIA Homologation: Built to FIA GT3 specification

‘The Hussarya GT gives amateurs a shallower learning curve and rewards the skill of professionals.’

SOUTH Africa is on the brink of regulating medicinal cannabis and if markets here follow trends overseas, many people will start driving while stoned.

People’s lack of co­ordination while under the influence of THC was confirmed again in a driving test conducted in Massachusetts last month.

Fox25 Investigates hosted the driving test, which had four vol­ unteers who all smoke cannabis drive several practice rounds on the course that included a five­ cone slalom, a narrow turn­ around lane, a four­way stop, a high­speed straightaway with an emergency stop and lane change, as well as a reverse garage park.

The volunteers were a 36­year­ old man who moderately uses cannabis, a 56­year­old woman who smokes small amounts of medical cannabis daily; a 24­ year­old woman who is a daily recreational user and a 65­year­ old man who is a moderate user of medicinal cannabis. The test showed each volunteer’s level of cannabis tolerance coming into the test affected their ability to navigate the course. At the end of the three rounds of smoking and driving, all four volunteers showed signs of impairment.

Dr Jordan Tishler of Inhale MD in Cambridge, who pre­ scribes medical cannabis, said the results of the driving test show cannabis does affect driv­ ing ability. He agreed with the law enforcers monitoring the test that younger people who believe smoking cannabis enhances their driving abilities are delud­ ing themselves.

They said the next problem is to find a test to detect cannabis, which remains in the body for 30 days.

CHALLENGING KZN 4X4 TEAMS

In the context of its Vision 2025, Continental has since 2011 started new production plants in Hefei (China), Kaluga (Russia) and Sumter (South Carolina/ USA) and opened a High Per­ formance Technology Centre (HPTC) at the Korbach, Germa­ ny, plant and produced over 150 million passenger car and light truck tyres. — WR.

Seniors’ safety when the car breaks down HENRY SPENCER WE will all, at some stage or oth­ er, face situations where we find ourselves stranded at the road­ side. The extent to which this pla­ ces us at risk depends on the roadworthiness of both our vehi­ cles and ourselves.

But, with some seniors, a lack of self­preservation savvy can pose a problem.

Working on the premise that after many years at the wheel you by now have at least a modicum of respect for dashboard warning lights; and that you are sensitive to strange engine sounds, I will highlight a few situations you may encounter.

Oil warning lights and overheating radiators Even when the light indicates a problem in respect of oil pressure or temperature, your vehicle will probably be able to continue for

another 40 km.

So if you are alone at night in an unsafe area — carry on driv­ ing! Remember, the choice be­ tween who comes to a dead stop, you or your vehicle, is a no­brain­ er. And if you are able to continue “topping­up”, this distance can be extended. However, this would entail carrying additional water; as well as opportunities to stop in safe areas.

Whatever you do, remember to allow the radiator to cool a lit­ tle before attempting to remove the cap, as the escaping steam could cause severe and painful burns!

Fuel warning light on!

Oops! … You perhaps now recall why you pulled into the service station at Beaufort West.

Yes … you paid a visit to the loo, and really enjoyed the cap­ puccino, but perhaps you should have remembered the real reason

for stopping, your equally thirsty vehicle?

The good news is most vehi­ cles have reserve tanks that will allow you to continue for at least another 40 km, ideally at a mod­ erate speed in the highest gear.

But don’t coast downhill, your brakes and steering may sudden­ ly reduce by 90%!

Clutch failure Similarly to knowing when you have burnt the toast, so too with burnt clutches — the distinctive smell is just as pungent; reminis­ cent of smoldering bank notes, but by the time it is detected, it’s often too late!

The good news is that even with a slipping clutch, providing there are no steep gradients, you can usually continue driving.

And where the clutch fails completely, if it is in gear and on the move, do not stop until you reach a safe haven.

Flat tyres Discovering a flat tyre could re­ sult in your becoming a trifle miffed. After all you did check tyre pressures in 1850, when Howick was first proclaimed a village?

Anyway … what to do? If you are nervous of changing a tyre in that particular location, keep driving, albeit at a slower pace, until you reach a safer area. Your tyre will shred and the rim may dent, but you will be safe.

Breakdowns in unsafe areas If your vehicle does break down in a suspect area, do not regard your relationship with it as being joined at the hip.

After phoning for assistance, hide in nearby bushes and wait for assistance to arrive (this is es­ pecially important after dark).

• Henry Spencer has authored sev­ eral books on ageing. Find out more on halfmens@telkomsa.net

KZN’s second 4x4 challenge invites teams to enter with three vehicles, one that can go fast, one that can climb rocks, and one that can show and shine.

The event will again be broadcast on Ignition TV. IMAGE: SUPPLIED

WitnessWheels MOTORING

TRENDS

6

February 23, 2017

Merc rolls out eTruck

BMW INVESTS IN 3D METAL PRINTING

Daimler group prepares for cities with a zero­tolerance policy towards diesel

BMW i Ventures has announced a strategic investment in Desktop Metal, an emerging start­up with the mission to bring metal 3D printing within reach of all design and manufacturing teams.

Desktop Metal is committed to accelerating the adoption of metal 3D printing in manufacturing through the creation of innovative technology that produces com­ plex parts.

New York­based BMW i Ven­ tures is a corporate venture capital team founded by BMW Group in 2011, which provides equity fi­ nancing to high­potential start­ ups and high­growth companies dedicated to shape the future of global mobility.

Through its previous invest­ ments in the fields of e­mobility, navigation, parking, car sharing and intermodality, BMW i Ven­ tures has already entered into stra­ tegic partnerships with innovative providers such as Scoop, Zirx, RiceCell, Chargepoint, Life360, Moovit, JustPark, Chargemaster and Zendrive, Rever Moto and STRIVR. Ric Fulop, CEO and co­founder of Desktop Metal, said advances in metal 3D printing are driving innovation across a wide range of automotive applications. Uwe Higgen, managing partner of BMW i Ventures, said these inno­ vations ranged from rapid proto­ typing and printing exceptional quality parts for end­use produc­ tion, to freedom of design and mass customisation. “Desktop Metal is shaping the way cars will be imaged, designed and manu­ factured,” Higgen said.

— Wheels Reporter.

STUTTGART — This year, Mercedes­Benz Trucks is bring­ ing the world’s first all­electric heavy­duty truck to market in a small series.

The first Urban eTrucks, all with 25 ton GVW and a range of up to 200 km, will be delivered to customers this year.

Stefan Buchner, head of Mer­ cedes­Benz Trucks worldwide, said the release followed on the outstanding customer reaction the truck received at its world premiere at the International Commercial Vehicle Show last year.

“We are currently talking to around 20 potential customers from the disposal, foodstuffs and logistics sector.

“With the small series we are now rapidly taking the next step towards a series product.

“By 2020 we want to be on the market with the series gener­ ation,” Buchner said in a state­ ment.

The Urban eTruck will initial­ ly go in a low two­figure number of units to customers in Germa­ ny and later in Europe too.

The aim is to use actual appli­ cation scenarios and require­ ment profiles together with the customer to further optimise the vehicle concept and the sys­ tem configurations of the elec­ tric truck. The tests will include use in shift operation, charging times plus battery and range management.

The Mercedes­Benz electric truck takes the fight to the

MARKETS LIKE IDEA OF A ‘PEUGEOPEL’ IN a move that could shake up the global auto industry, General Motors Co and French automak­ er PSA Group announced they are in talks that could result in PSA buying GM’s European auto operations.

For PSA, owner of the Peugeot, Citroën and DS brands, acquir­ ing GM’s Opel and Vauxhall brands would give it a 16,3% share of the European passenger car market, vaulting it into sec­ ond place in the region, ahead of French rival Renault SA and be­ hind Germany’s Volkswagen AG. Any deal would have to over­ come financial, industrial and political obstacles. Germany’s industrial union IG Metall and German Economy Minister Brigitte Zypries said it was totally unacceptable that talks took place on French carmaker PSA Group buying GM’s European Opel unit without consulting German works councils or local government.

It was not clear what price GM might want for the loss­making European business, or what structure a deal could take.

Both companies cautioned in statements that no deal is certain, but investors cheered the disclo­ sure, sending shares in PSA, own­ er of the Peugeot and Citroën brands, up 3,7% and boosting GM shares by 3,5% in early New York trading.

Shares in Fiat Chrysler Auto­ mobiles NV rose 3,9% as inves­ tors speculated that one consoli­ dation play could lead to another.

— Reuters.

Mercedes­Benz’s all­electric Urban eTruck is ready for cities like Paris, London and Amsterdam, where city councils have announced all diesel vehicles will be phased out in the next four years. PHOTO: QUICKPIC American upstarts Nikola Mo­ tors, which last year December made good on their promise to launch a zero­emission truck in America in the form of the Niko­ la 1; as well as Tesla Motors, which company reportedly poached a few of Daimler’s super truck developers to realise Elon Musk Master Plan, which in­ cludes a hydrogen­powered truck.

Buchner said Daimler now

sets the standards for all these trucks with regard to electric and autonomous driving plus connectivity.

“2017 will now be our year of implementation: step by step we are developing the vehicles and systems to achieve market ma­ turity,” Buchner said.

The Urban eTruck is part of a comprehensive electric initia­ tive from Daimler Trucks. The light­duty electric truck Fuso

eCanter will be in use in a global small series in 2017. Around 150 vehicles will be handed over to selected customers in Europe, Japan and the U.S. The zero emissions from the Urban eTruck makes it a good bet in cities like Paris, London and Amsterdam, where city councils have announced all die­ sel vehicles will be phased out in the next four years.

Rapid technical development

is supporting this trend: Daimler Trucks is expecting the costs for the batteries of an all­electric truck to fall by a factor of 2,5 from 1997 to 2025 — from €500/kWh to €200/kWh. At the same time. Daimler predicts the energy density of the available batteries in this pe­ riod will rise by the same factor from 80 Wh/kg to 200 Wh/kg.

— Wheels Reporter.

Volvo investing in people to build on market share THE president of the Volvo Group’s trucks and buses in southern Africa, Torbjörn Christensson, is very bullish on South Africa’s economy in the year ahead.

Speaking at the annual busi­ ness review of Volvo commercial vehicles in Johannesburg recent­ ly, Christensson told Wheels the first month of the year had al­ ready seen a rise in orders of es­ pecially mining trucks.

Next Volvo Group Southern Africa expects to grow its market share in Africa during 2017 and beyond, through an enhanced footprint that will bring world­ class quality products and sup­ port right to customers’ door­ steps. The company already has 30 dealer sites across southern and eastern Africa, with new sites in Alrode and Angola com­ pleted in 2016 and fully opera­ tional.

New facilities are also current­ ly being developed in Pinetown, Port Elizabeth, Kenya and Zam­ bia. Volvo also has representa­ tive offices in Zambia, Ethiopia, East Africa and Angola to bring support closer to customers in those regions.

Locally, Volvo Group is repre­ sented by Volvo Trucks, Volvo Bus, Volvo Penta as well as the UD Trucks brand.

More than a thousand staff are employed by Volvo Group in southern and eastern Africa through various representative offices, brand headquarters, as well as two factories in Durban and Rosslyn, shared back office support and a regional distribu­ tion centre for parts.

“The company combines the best of two worlds: synergies by having global organisations for product development, manufac­ turing, and purchasing but still clear leadership and responsibil­ ity for each brand to make sure that customer needs are under­ stood and met throughout the entire organisation,” said Torb­ jörn Christensson, president of Volvo Group Southern Africa.

He said the company is also constantly exploring ways to de­ velop and improve the way they support their customers.

“There are high market de­ mands on new financial solu­ tions and we are therefore devel­ oping financial solutions as part of our total offering. We should

be able to make some announce­ ments in this regard during the second quarter of 2017,” ex­ plained Christensson.

Volvo Trucks Southern Afri­ ca’s 360° customer service strat­ egy has seen its CSI ratings im­ prove significantly over the past year. In the sales category, Volvo Trucks moved from third to first position with a 98,5% customer satisfaction rating.

Its service score also im­ proved to 94,86% moving the brand from 12th to fourth, while parts CSI improved to 94,46% from eight to fourth position.

The combined scores makes Volvo Trucks the leading brand in the European commercial ve­ hicle segment.

“We may do business with other companies, but people make the decisions. Trust and relations are as important as the total offer. We have branded products and services and it is with these and our representa­ tives that our customers form re­ lations. In the end, by bringing together the best of everything, from the offer to the relation­ ship, our customers will ulti­ mately reap the rewards of a

profitable and successful busi­ ness,” said Christensson.

As part of its commitment to road and driver safety, new safe­ ty features will be introduced on the Volvo Trucks Extra Heavy Commercial Vehicle range lo­ cally, ranging from adaptive cruise control with forward col­ lision warning and emergency braking, lane keeping and lane support, as well as driver alert support — all aimed at assisting the driver to operate the vehicle safely and responsibly.

These new “safety” trucks will be assembled by Volvo Trucks at its Durban factory, which was recently renovated at a cost of over R6,5 million to en­ able, among others, the assem­ bly of these specialised units.

Volvo Trucks last year sold of 1 957 units for a 15,6% market share of the local commercial ve­ hicle marke. Volvo Bus South Af­ rica increased its market share on rear engine buses to 27% and is forecasting a total market share of between eight percent and 10%.

The company invested R25 million in 2 308 people dur­ ing 2016 in its Diesel Technician

The future is so bright, Torbjörn Christensson, president of Volvo Group Southern Africa, has to wear shades.

PHOTO: ALWYN VILJOEN Apprenticeship Programme, learnerships and bursaries.

Volvo has also renewed its commitment to the NGO Star for Life, investing R8,1 million into the lives of pupis at 17 schools in Gauteng and KZN. — Wheels Reporter.

Hitachi and Honda in JV to build electric vehicles TOKYO — Hitachi Automotive Systems and Honda Motors has signed of a memorandum of understanding to establish a joint venture company for the development, manufacture and sales of motors for elec­ tric vehicles.

The two companies will now

conduct formal discussions re­ garding the establishment of the new company running par­ ralel to their existing electric vehicle businesses, both of which date back to 1999.

With environmental conser­ vation measures and regula­ tions increasing on a global

scale, the market for electric vehicles is expected to contin­ ue to grow. Based on this di­ rection, the two companies signed the MoU with the aim of using the collaboration be­ tween a vehicle manufacturer and supplier to generate tech­ nological synergy and econo­

mies of scale that will strengthen their competitive advantage and business foun­ dation for the motors at the core of an electric vehicle sys­ tem. Subsidiary operations of the new Japan­based joint venture are planned for the United States and People’s Re­

public of China, each with manufacturing and sales func­ tions. Together with these op­ erations, the new company said it plans to expand the global supply of electric mo­ tors by creating a robust re­ sponse to demand from other manufacturers. — WR.

MOTORING WitnessWheels BIKING

February 23, 2017

7

Extreme enduros kickstart Junior Enduro track now in the Big Five events in KZN KARIN VORSTER SATURDAY sees Powasol host­ ing the first of this year’s Big Five Extreme Enduros.

Serious riders are encouraged to enter the Gold class, but those just testing their riding skills should enter the Silver class and for a day of fine riding go for Bronze.

The great news is that Powasol will be including a Junior Enduro track at their Big Five events.

This will allow junior riders the opportunity to hone their endu­ ro technical riding skills.

These events will form the KZN Junior Enduro Champion­ ship. The course will be a short course of a maximum of 14 km but probably around eight kilo­ metres and will take 30 minutes or more to ride. It is going to be technical, so for the less experi­ enced riders, dads will ride as chaperones.

The KZN racing committee members and junior parents will work with the Powasol Course Setters to create this Enduro track for the 65/85 cc riders.

Bulwer Bash is next The first weekend in March is the next KZN Racing event — the Bulwer Bash.

The pits are at the Nip Inn and the course travels around, under

and over the beautiful Bulwer ar­ ea. We are again collecting sta­ tionery for the local school, as a sign of our appreciation.

We thank the local communi­ ty for allowing us to ride on their land. Riders and fans are asked to please plunder their stationery cupboards, speak to the boss at work, or bring a donation of sta­ tionery with you to the race. You will need to hand this in at regis­ tration. A cash donation will also be accepted.

All veteran riders A reminder to all riders over 50 — you need to undergo a stress ECG and submit this report to Rashaad at MSA rashaad@mo­ torpsort.co.za when applying for your licence. This stress ECG will need to be submitted with your WOW application, either before, to Carmen, or on the day at regis­ tration.

Environmats are available at Hazclean — speak to Khanya on 083 392 4589.

Scrutineering form attached — don’t tick it if you ain’t got it.

Only in Russia — Hoversurf unleashed its Scorpion­3 hoverbike this week, which is a fearsome combination of food blender, drone and motorbike with a surprisingly stable flight.

PHOTO: SCREEN GRAB

RUSSIA’S SCORPION­3 MIXES FOOD BLENDER WITH MOTORBIKE ALWYN VILJOEN THIS week’s most innovative use of the wheel goes to the Scorpion­3, by Russian compa­ ny Hoversurf.

The company this month suc­ cessfully demonstrated a proto­ type at a test facility in Moscow, with a rider steering the hover­

craft between the low beams and pillars of an underground park­ ing garage.

Hoversurf said in a statement the Scorpion can be controlled manually or autonomously like a drone, using software devel­ oped in­house. Hoversurf did not release any range or charge times for the electric­powered

vehicle yet, but said it is investi­ gating the potential of using a petrol engine to extend the range. Hoversurf said the Scor­ pion­3 will be aimed at adven­ ture and extreme sports enthu­ siasts but added the real oppor­ tunity is the market for cargo carrying drones. The company already supplies commercial

drones used for monitoring pur­ poses and carrying cargo over rough terrain, such as for Arctic and terrain reconnaissance, geo­ logical exploration, delivery of equipment to remote or danger­ ous locations, and rescue and evacuation services. Some of its designs are capable of carrying as much as 2 494 kg.

Important contacts • MSA Licence and KZN Racing Membership: https://goo.gl/ s1tqOP • MSA Online Licence: www.msaonline.co.za • www.powasolevents.co.za

Stefan van Deventer of Alfie Cox Racing KTM, in action during last year’s enduro season, shows what riders can expect in the Gold Class.

PHOTO: FILE

MINIMALIST DESIGN: To be officially unveiled at the London Motorcycle Show on Saturday is CCM’s Skunkwerx’s limited­edition Spitfire. A 600cc thumper propels the Spitfire’s 120 kg dry weight.

Only 150 models will be hand built, each selling for £7 995 (R130 200). PHOTO: CCM MOTORCYCLES

American Carl Reese (left) will attempt to break the long distance riding record in 24 hours, currently held by Pietermaritzburg’s Bushy McKelvey (right). PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Aiming to ride further than McKelvey in a day LOZ BLAIN IN a week and a half’s time, American Carl Reese will at­ tempt to break the record held

by Pietermaritzburg’s Matthew “Bushy” McKelvey, who in 2013 rode 3 256,5 km in 24 hours around Phakisa at an average speed of 136,8 km/h.

To go 3 545 km in the same time on his BMW K1600GT, around an oval track in 24 hours, Reece will not have time to dis­ mount to answer calls of nature, other than the siren call of cof­ fee, and he will ride with catheter like endurance riders do.

A builder by day, Reese spends his spare time and money plan­ ning and executing endurance driving and riding feats.

He’s the current unofficial holder of one of the most storied records in American history — the solo motorcycle “cannon­ ball” record from LA to New York City — a 38­hour, 49­min­ ute, completely illegal dash that the Guinness Book of World Records hasn’t touched since 1966.

With his fiancée Deena Mas­

tracci, Reese has also set several electric vehicle records, includ­ ing an autonomous cannonball run in which his Tesla P85D did some 96,1% of the total driving, and another oddity just to get himself into the Guinness book — the shortest non­driving time to cross the United States in an electric vehicle. There are plenty of others.

But Reese sees this as the greatest challenge he’s ever faced. The solo motorcycle 24­ hour distance record is another kind of beast altogether. Riding around a monotonous 13,7 km track with nothing but mile­ long straights and gentle, banked corners for an entire day will require superhuman physi­ cal endurance and mental clari­ ty. There’s no traffic, police or toll bridges to slow him down or break his stride. And to knock the record off, he’ll need to maintain an average speed, even including fuel stops and tyre changes.

We spoke to Reese 11 days out from his record attempt, which will go down on Saturday, Febru­ ary 25.

So what speed are you going to sit on?

My bike runs real comfortable at 204 km/h. It behaves really well, and I don’t get a lot of buffeting on my helmet at those speeds.

I’ve had it up to 155 [km/h], and it’ll float there just fine, but it’s a battle. You get this negative pressure behind your head, and you get a speed wobble in your head. It’s just not a comfortable speed over a long ride.

So I’m shooting for around the 133 km/h mark.

I just want to give myself a lit­ tle bit of room in case we need to work on the bike, but I think that’s where I’ll keep it.

My bike’s getting a little old now, I think it’s got about 27 000 miles [43 452 km] on it, so I don’t want to push it too hard, either. If BMW wants to sponsor me with a new bike, I’ll gladly go break it in before the run!

What tyres are you using for something like this?

I’m using Continental Road At­ tack 2s, EVO GT, because they recently won an award for wet traction.

There’s a 30% chance of overnight rain and 39° F [4° C] is the weather prediction as it stands now for Saturday night.

I’ve got to be ready for some slick surfaces.

One of the things I found out by going down there was that it’s very coarse.

The track is a very aged sur­ face.

It may be on purpose, so Con­ tinental can scrub tyres and see how they’re gonna wear, and what kind of longevity they can get out of them.

But that’s one thing that’s not going to benefit me, because it’s going to require that I do a cou­ ple of tyre changes to deal with that texture.

What sort of tank range will have?

About 644 km at triple digit speeds.

As for his own tank, Reese will snack on a handfuls of peanuts, and has purged his body of caffe­ ine in the lead­up to the ride so that half a cup of Java will re­ charge him when fatigue sets in after about the 16­ or 17­hour mark. — New Atlas.

WitnessWheels MOTORING

RACING

8

February 23, 2017

A faster electric Formula

DIFFUSER REPLACES REAR WING ON NEXT E­RACERS

Buemi makes Formula E racing history with wins for Renault ANOTHER ePrix, another first place for Sebastien Buemi.

Switzerland’s Buemi has made Formula E history by becoming the first driver to win three races in a row.

Victory for the Renault e.dams ace continues the perfect start to his title defence.

It was his ninth win in the all­ electric street racing series, and the 12th for the team.

That means Renault e.dams have now won half of all the For­ mula E races that have taken place.

But in front of 21 000 enthusi­ astic fans, Buemi had to work hard for his victory. From his first­ever Julius Baer pole posi­ tion, Lucas di Grassi (ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport) led away at the start, while Jean­Eric Ver­ gne slotted his Techeetah into second place.

Di Grassi was struggling with his car, and in quick succession he was passed by Vergne and then Buemi. Techeetah uses the same powertrain as Renault e.dams, but there was nothing Vergne could do to stop Buemi charging past into the lead.

Further back, Di Grassi slipped behind the impressive NextEV Nio of Oliver Turvey and the sec­ ond Renault e.dams of Nico Prost as his struggle intensified.

By the time the mandatory car change pit stop came around, Buemi was almost six seconds to the good and seemingly set for an easy win.

But the brake balance of the second car was far from his liking, and struggling to slow the car in a straight line, his pace dropped off, which allowed Vergne back into the hunt.

Di Grassi was now also a con­ tender. A slow stop for Turvey dropped him out of the podium fight, while an aggressive pass on Prost moved Di Grassi back into the top three.

With the car handling much more to his liking, he was closing in on both Buemi and Vergne, but the gap was too big for him to overcome.

Three wins in a row have in­ creased Buemi’s points lead to a huge 29 points. And after two previous disappointments at the Puerto Madero track, he was de­ lighted to take another win.

Despite never getting close enough to pressure Buemi for the win, Vergne was very pleased to take second — the first podium finish for the new Techeetah

Sebastien Buemi won the first three Formula E titles in a row in the Renault e.dams.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED team.

Another podium for Di Grassi — his 15th in total — keeps him in second place in the champion­ ship, but he knows that he and his ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport team will have their work cut out to overthrow Buemi.

For the third race in a row, Prost took fourth place for Ren­ ault e.dams.

Season one champion Nelson Piquet Jr claimed his best result since his title­winning campaign with a strong fifth for NextEV Nio, while behind him waged a fabulous battle for the remaining points positions.

The championship now moves to Mexico City and the historic Autodromo Hermanos Rodri­ guez, where round four of the 2016/17 season takes places on April 1. — WR.

The FIA Formula E has named Spark Racing Technologies as the supplier of the next generation of Formula E race cars.

For the fifth season of Formula E, which starts in late 2018, Spark Racing Technology will partner with chassis builder Dallara to develop a ‘SRT05e’ chassis under newer, stricter regulations than in seasons past. The French company promises improved aerodynamics, a reduction in weight, and more efficient use of the battery. Spark does not use a traditional rear wing but a big diffuser. Manufacturers currently participating in the series include Renault, Audi, Jaguar, Mahindra, and Citroën’s DS sub­brand, as well as start­ ups NextEV and Faraday Future. BMW and Mercedes­Benz have taken options to enter the series at a future date, while Audi has said it will expand its presence.

PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

WIN TICKETS TO SPIN BASH

QUALITY USED LOW MILEAGE ENGINES AND GEABOXES

WE OFFER DELIVERY INTO DURBAN AND PMB ON ENGINE AND GEARBOX PURCHASES

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Miika Anttila placing their To­ yota Yaris WRC on the top step of Rally Sweden’s podi­ um. Toyota last won a WRC event in 1999, when the Japa­

• Top Quality used low mileage engines and gearboxes for most makes and models of cars and light delivery vehicles • Heads • Turbos • Diffs • Lexus spares • New and Second hand • We stock local stock as well

EVERSHIN Pillay, organiser of the popular Spin Bash events, had to move his birthday Spin Bash to Masons Mill to fit in the expected crowd.

KZN’s top drivers are lined up to thrill the crowd with precision drifting and thrilling stunts, while officers from the Road Safety Directorate will educate the fans on road safety awareness.

A Wheels reader stands a chance to win two tickets, valued at R30 each, to the event. For a chance to win, e­mail what you think “alky” in Team Alky stands for to vershinpillay@gmail.com.

Winners will be drawn tonight.

Toyota Gazoo racing bags first WRC FRESH from the Dakar, South Africa’s Toyota Gazoo Racing competed in the icy WRC camp last weekend, with Jari­ Matti Latvala and co­driver

Brand New Turbos for most makes of vehicles

FOR THE LEXUS V8 ENTHUSIASTS WE OFFER

Driver standings 1. Sebastien Buemi, Renault e.dams 2. Lucas di Grassi, ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport 3. Nico Prost, Renault e.dams 4. Jean­Eric Vergne, Techeetah 5. Felix Rosenqvist, Mahindra Racing 6. Sam Bird, DS Virgin Racing Team standings 1. Renault e.dams 2. ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport 3. Mahindra Racing 4. NextEV Nio 5. Techeetah 6. DS Virgin Racing 7. Faraday Future Dragon Racing 8. Andretti Formula E 9. Venturi Formula E 10. Panasonic Jaguar Racing

EAST COAST

ENGINE IMPORTS

nese automaker withdrew from the WRC. They next race in Rally México, the third of 12 WRC rounds, from March 8 to March 12. — WR.

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