Wheel 9 June 2016

Catch on e v i l

s u

June 9, 2016

Witness

WHEELS

4 FM 0 1

L A T I CAP ays Saturd 9­10 am

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EDITOR: ALWYN VILJOEN 082 4589 332 ADVERTISING: AVIR THULSIRAM 084 278 3447

INSIDE

Russian truck builder Kamaz came second in this year’s Dakar. Plans are far advanced to prevent a repeat. — Page 7 Two KZN riders topped the podium in the VW Polo Cup races. — Page 8

This is what you child’s head will do to a car’s windscreen at less than 20 km/h.

— Page 2

Read about the car that set a new standard with this open­pore wood finish.

— Page 4

Kevin Nicks’s garden shed is street legal in the UK and has clocked 141,7 km/h, thanks to a V6 engine sending power to all four wheels.

But there are even weirder wheels being developed around the world. — Page 2

Pre-owned

The all-new Audi A4.

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Only while stocks last, terms and conditions apply.

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Ref

Year

Vehicle Description

Colour

Mileage

Special Price

11395

2015

Audi S3 Cabriolet S tronic

Red

2 277

R569 995

11410

2015

Audi A4 2.0T FSI Design S tronic

White

6 000

R499 995

11431

2015

Audi A4 1.8T S 88kW

White

28 000

R299 995

11435

2012

Audi A4 1.8T SE multitronic

Silver

76 867

R219 995

11446

2015

Audi Q7 3.0 TDI V6 quattro

Beige

7 500

R939 995

11447

2016

Audi A3 1.4T FSI SE S tronic

White

9 000

R369 995

11449

2016

Audi A4 1.8T S 88kW

White

1 000

R349 995

11453

2015

Audi S3 S tronic 3 Door

Blue

18 000

R509 995

11458

2015

Audi Q7 3.0 TDI V6 quattro

White

45 000

R549 995

11460

2015

Audi S3 Sedan quattro 210kW

White

6 500

R529 995

11461

2015

Audi A3 Sportback 1.2T FSI

Silver

7 000

R260 153

11466

2014

Audi A3 2.0 TDI SE S tronic

White

49 000

R329 995

11471

2015

Audi A6 1.8T FSI S tronic

White

10 000

R499 995

11472

2016

Audi A1 Sportback 1.0T FSI

White

2 000

R299 995

11473

2016

Audi A3 1.8T FSI SE S tronic

Red

9 000

R349 995

11474

2016

Audi A4 2.0T FSI S tronic

Red

1 000

R429 995

Audi Centre Pietermaritzburg Nathi Mncube • Sharon Mpulo • Darryl Chetty • New Vehicle Sales Manager: Prunella Naidoo Mandla Mkhize • Mark van Rijsbergen • Anwar Charfaray • Pre-owned Manager: Riaz Mahomed

BP Advertising

9 Armitage Road, Pietermaritzburg, 3201. Tel: 033 397 8800. www.audipietermaritzburg.co.za

2

WitnessWheels MOTORING

June 9, 2016

Static policing not working Law enforcers need to be patrolling roads as well as checking for expired licence discs, says AA FOR some time now the Auto­ mobile Association (AA) has been calling for more effective traffic policing, as an urgent step to addressing road carnage in our country.

According to the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), approximately 13 000 people died on the country’s roads last year.

While it is agreed that the atti­ tude of motorists generally needs significant improvement, a radi­ cal rethink is also needed among traffic law enforcement authori­ ties to address serious crashes, and road deaths, on the country’s

roads. “Road safety in South Af­ rica remains a major problem.

“Too many motorists simply ignore the rules believing that they are either above the law, will never be caught, or that they will not be harmed through their own reckless driving. If the death toll is to decrease, this attitude needs to change,” the AA said.

But, it noted, while this is im­ portant, nothing will change without more effective traffic po­ licing.

“In our opinion there is too much emphasis placed on ‘static’ policing where officers check for speeding cars or for expired li­

cence discs while stationed at the side of the road. While a zero tol­ erance approach is good, this alone simply doesn’t work as risky motorists adjust their be­ haviour until they are past these points,” said the AA. It said that the enforcement of laws against dangerous driving actions need to be prioritised by law enforcement authorities.

This included monitoring drivers who speed, but also those who overtake dangerously, drive in emergency lanes to avoid traf­ fic congestion, use electronic de­ vices while driving, or who swerve in and out of traffic with­

out regard for other drivers.

“Laws are flouted and lives are risked on the road not the side of the road, and that is where our law enforcers need to be: on the road. The areas, which are known to the police and public where laws are consistently being ig­ nored, should receive focused at­ tention,” said the Association.

The Association said apart from changing the way they op­ erate, law enforcers also needed to ensure they applied the law consistently, and fairly, to all road users. It noted that there have been calls from government for harsher penalties for certain traf­

fic offences, but it said the cur­ rent laws are more than sufficient and just need to be enforced.

It said it is unfortunate that some road violations are treated differently on a case­by­case ba­ sis instead of applying the same penalties and punishments even­ handedly no matter who is in­ volved.

In April, Transport Minister Dipuo Peters announced that in­ vestigations into several major crashes would be undertaken by her department and the RTMC, in part with a view to improving policing on roads.

The AA awaits the outcomes

of these investigations with keen interest, and how these will translate into specific policing interventions to reduce road deaths in South Africa.

“There needs to be a strong message across South Africa to all road users: the police will act if you drive in a manner that en­ dangers other road users, and there will be severe consequences for your actions. While this ap­ proach may not immediately solve the long­term problems in­ herent on our rods, we believe it is a necessary first step to saving lives,” the AA concluded.

— Supplied.

GREYHOUND DRIVERS GET TOP TRAINING AS many of our readers ride the Greyhound, Wheels asked the bus company how its drivers are trained.

The company impressed us with a long list of programmes, only a few of which are de­ scribed below.

Q: What training programmes do Greyhound drivers undergo?

A: Drivers attend a Greyhound driver training programme that focuses on vehicle pre­departure checks, defensive driving and the handling of emergency situ­ ations, etc, which is registered with the Transport Education Training Authority.

Drivers also attend additional registered driver qualification programmes as part of the Greyhound driver training and development strategy, For example, the “long dis­ tance coach/bus services” pro­ gramme includes topics regard­ ing the documentation required on passenger­carrying vehicles, amenities and equipment that benefit the passengers, luggage handling procedures, how speed and road conditions could im­ pact on the stability of the vehi­ cle and the importance of cus­ tomer satisfaction, etc.

Focus points include specific training interventions related to the operation of the coach, and safety and efficiency require­ ments stipulated by manufac­ turers and Greyhound manage­ ment.

Q: Do drivers receive any training specific to how to react or handle crisis or emergency situations during travel (such as accidents, dangerous situations, etc.)?

A: Yes, drivers follow company protocol regarding the actions to be taken during emergency situ­ ations. Drivers are briefed and kept up to date regarding pas­ senger special needs, road and weather conditions. In terms of road safety, drivers carry out ve­ hicle brake tests and emergency stop procedures, communicate on dangerous situations which arise and may use alternative routes in the interest of safety.

Q: Apart from training, are drivers assessed based on their performances?

A: Drivers are monitored in sev­ eral ways, on camera, through passenger feedback and with the aid of management tools such as vehicle tracking.

— WR.

Wear seatbelts even in the veld The above photos, sent to Wheels last weekend from readers in the Northern Cape, show how hard a passenger’s head hits a windscreen when the vehicle comes to a sudden stop while travelling at less than 20 km/h. The passenger escaped with only a swollen eye and concussion, but the men on the back of the bakkie were not so lucky, as they suffered cracked ribs and several deep bruises as their bodies hit the railings. All this at less than 20 km/h. The question now is how the head of a child standing on the front seat will look if it hits the windscreen at just 40 km/h in traffic. Wheels can only urge all to buckle up, even while crawling along.

PHOTOS: LUCAS VILJOEN

The week’s weirdest wheels from around the world A GIANT pram entertained pe­ destrians in Chicago this week.

The pram, strong enough to cradle a 130 kg man, was pushed out as a marketing stunt, dreamt up by advertising agency Foote, Cone & Belding (FCB), for baby product manufacturer Kolcraft.

The pram is not collapsable and has to be transported on the back of a truck.

FCB is one of the few media companies that can sit at the same senior table as The Witness, dating back to 1873, compared to our 1846 starting year.

Robot librarians In Singapore, robot developers at A*Star’s Institute for Infocomm Research have designing robots that can self­navigate through li­ braries at night, scanning spines and shelves to report back on missing or out­of­place books.

Gizmag reports that this au­ tonomous robotic shelf­scan­ ning (AuRoSS) platform scans RFID tags on the books and pro­ duces a report. In the morning, the human librarians can check the results and easily see which books are in the wrong spot and where they belong. There’s still a need for human labour, but it’s far less time­consuming than manu­ ally searching every shelf for mis­ placed titles.

The wheeled robot uses lasers

bers being in view.

An advertising stunt in Chicago shows how fast a certain baby food can make a child grow.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED and ultrasonic sensors to guide it through the stacks, with preci­ sion down to the centimetre.

AuRoSS has been tested in li­ braries in Singapore, where it achieved up to 99% accuracy, even with curved shelves. The re­ searchers say that the system can easily incorporate different sen­ sors beyond RFID, including cameras, Bluetooth and WiFi,

and could be adapted for use in warehouses, retail stores or in the medical technology, aerospace and automotive industries.

Self balancing ‘selfie stick’ From Burlingame, California, comes the latest version of a self­ balancing camera holder on a stick that is mounted on a small Segway­like roller.

Aimed at video makers, the self­balancing stick can take 360° videos with a self­balancing 360° camera dolly and an accompany­ ing universal 360° camera mount.

It is remotely controlled using either an iPhone 6 or an iPod Touch via LTE/4G, Wi­Fi or Blue­ tooth. This means that video can be shot without any crew mem­

Robot pedestrian Wait, don’t laugh. The day will come when the drone cannot de­ liver your pizza or latest order from Amazon (most likely be­ cause the neighbour will be shooting the pesky buzzers down), which is when you will need a robot pedestrian.

The problem is that robots have to date proven unable to navigate through a swarm of hu­ man legs.

Which is why students at Stan­ ford University in the U.S. are working on Jackrabbit, a hip­high robot that makes sense of pave­ ments.

Jackrabbit works by means of a suite of cameras and naviga­ tional sensors that allow it to ne­ gotiate outdoor pathways, streets and indoor hallways.

Since it is a “social robot”, it is programmed to observe hu­ man pedestrian etiquette and im­ itate it. This way, it’s hoped that it will eventually learn enough about the unwritten rules of the road to avoid obstacles in malls, railway stations and airports.

The team will present their re­ search at the Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition confer­ ence in Las Vegas in the U.S. on June 27.

— Wheels Reporter.

MOTORING WitnessWheels

June 9, 2016

3

Used car sales are booming Low rand sees online sites grow with cars, trucks and tractors listed as people seek relief IT is deeply unfair that our rand is so weak. For as everyone who has bought fast food overseas can testify, back home our rand buys you a whole lot more of the same burger and milkshake than it does in London.

But because of taxes and cur­ rency shenanigans our rand does not buy a whole lot of new car.

Which is why sales of used cars are rising every month.

Naamsa’s report for May shows new car sales continued

their decline, with total industry sales of only 42 907 new vehicles sold — a 10,3% fall.

“Used car sales are booming, and set to continue growing over coming months as more con­ sumers adopt the second­hand trend,” Naamsa in a statement.

As a result, Karla Levick from online classifieds OLX said on­ line sites for used cars are seeing exceptional demand.

These sites all have the inher­ ent risks that come with transact­

ing large amounts with strangers, but Levick said the higher prices people can get for their cars and the savings in dealership com­ missions are enough attraction.

She said it is not only light ve­ hicles and cars that are trading heavily on online classifieds. “We are seeing a lot more trucks and other commercial vehicles being listed, which means businesses too are moving away from buying new and rather looking for sec­ ond­hand bargains.’’

According to recent data re­ leased by OLX, the most popular car brand leading the pack on on­ line classifieds is Volkswagen, with Toyota close behind in sec­ ond place. In terms of models, the VW Golf tops the list followed by the Polo, Corolla and then the BMW 3 Series.

Simphiwe Nghona, CEO of WesBank Motor Retail, said the bank’s own data also reflects a continued shift to the used mar­ ket. “The weaker rand has result­

Foton to bring sport utility to South Africa THE Sauvana was shown by Fo­ ton for the first time at the Guangzhou Auto Show in China in 2014 and went on sale in China at the beginning of 2015.

It has been introduced into the United States using its Ameri­ can­designed Cummins engine as a major marketing tool.

The Sauvana is a hardcore, large SUV powered by the 2,8­li­ tre Cummins turbo­diesel en­ gine that is already fitted to Fo­ ton’s Tunland range of premium class pick­ups which have been on sale locally since 2012.

This engine is one of the few tested by Wheels that makes more power than claimed.

The Sauvana, which is based on the chassis and running gear of the Tunland pick­up, has been undergoing local evaluation in South Africa since early this year and is performing very well.

It is due for public launch in the fourth quarter of 2016 and is expected to be very competitive­ ly priced.

“The Foton brand is making steady progress into the South African vehicle market as we ex­ pand the range and we are confi­ dent the Sauvanna, which will compete in a major segment of the local SUV segment, will assist in growing sales volume,” said Pereira. — Supplied.

The Suavana from Foton promises to be well­priced.

PHOTO: IN4RIDE.NET

ed in continued new car price in­ flation and this has caused con­ sumers to shift to the used car market. Consequently, demand for used cars — as measured by application volumes – grew 9,5% in May.” Nghona said these supply­de­ mand dynamics have subse­ quently seen used car prices in­ crease and in May the average transaction value for a used car financed through WesBank grew by seven percent.

“In the current market con­ sumers will find themselves ei­ ther having to hold onto their cars for longer, before replacing them with a new model, or taking their budget to the used market,” said Nghona.

“This focus on affordability highlights the pressure on con­ sumer budgets. The cost of mo­ toring is on the rise, and will start playing a bigger role going for­ ward,” Ngohana warned.

— Wheels Reporter.

HYUNDAI TESTS NEW 2­LITRE HYUNDAI Motors said it has successfully tested its new 2.0 Turbo engine during it first outing in the Nürburgring 24h Race.

Head of vehicle test and high performance development Albert Biermann said the en­ durance race at the Nürburg­ ring is the toughest race in the world. “It’s the perfect en­ vironment for testing the resil­ ience of our new turbo­ charged two­litre engine with direct fuel injection under ex­ treme strain.”

Hyundai plans to use the new engine in the first N mod­ el and then in future Hyundai cars. Hyundai’s factory racing team and pit crew also in­

Testing at Nürburgring.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED stalled different suspension and shock absorbers, wheels, steering geometry for testing.

The Hyundai i30 2.0 Turbo fin­ ished in 90th position out of 160 competitors in total, im­ pressive, given Hyundai’s focus was to test a comfortable drive rather than create a hard­cornering vehicle. — WR.

CHATTERTON ROAD: 033 342 4600

2013 niSSan JuKE 1.6 acEnta

2013 Ford Eco Sport 1.0 trEnd

2008 JEEp WranGLEr 3.8L rubicon

2014 rEnauLt duStEr 1.5 dci 4X4 dynamiquE

2012 Hyundai iX35 2.0 GLS EXEcutivE auto

r199 995

r199 995

r219 995

Silver, 56 272 km, a/c, p/s, r/cd, b/tooth,fogs,alarm

Blue, 37 020 km, a/c, p/s, r/cd, e/w, mags, s/grab bal of warranty

White, 78 570 km, mags,fogs,touch screen, convertible

2011 Hyundai Santa FE 2.2 diESEL auto aWd

2013 voLKSWaGEn tiGuan 1.4 tSi b/ton trEnd-Fun (90KW)

2014 voLKSWaGEn tiGuan 2.0 tdi b/motion trEnd-Fun

2012 Ford ranGEr 3.2 tdci XLt auto d/cab

r229 995

r239 995

r269 995

r289 995

r149 995

Silver, a/c, p/s, r/cd, e/w, fogs, roof racks

r199 995

Silver, 72 200 km, a/c, p/s, r/cd, e/w

2012 toyota FortunEr 3.0 d4d auto

2014 audi q3 2.0 tdi (103KW)

r319 995

r329 995

White, 63 000 km, a/c, p/s, r/cd, e/w,n/bar, leather, Heritage edition

Silver, 52 000 km,a/c, p/s, r/cd, e/w, roof racks

White, 61 500 km, a/c, p/s, r/cd, e/w, MFS

2011 Land rovEr EvoquE 2.0 Sd4 prEStiGE White, 93000 km, reverse camera, NAV, PDC, 19” mags, Merdian sound system, New tyres

r389 995

Black, 67000 km, a/c, p/s, r/cd, e/w, n/bar, s/bar, roof racks

White, 76 125 km, a/c, p/s, r/cd, e/w, n/bar,leather

2013 iSuzu Kb 250 d-tEq d/cab

White, 98 550 km, a/c, n/bar, armadillo cover, r/bar,leather

Silver, 28 330 km, a/c, canopy, r/bar, t/bar, PDC, s/steps

2012 Land rovEr EvoquE 2.0 Si4 dynamic

2016 voLKSWaGEn amaroK 2.0 bitdi auto (132KW)

r449 995

r459 995

Burgundy, 63 540 km, panoramic roof, e/seats, xenons, nav, s/grab,leather

r299 995

White, 6 970 km, binliner, t/bar, pdc, s/grab, armadillo cover, leather

4

WitnessWheels MOTORING

June 9, 2016

Intelligence in every nook ALWYN VILJOEN lists four new standards in the E­Class that others car builders will soon follow MERCEDES­BENZ has un­ leashed the new E­Class in KZN and with it the German car build­ er set four new standards for oth­ ers to follow.

These are the exceptional con­ sumption, dynamic lights, induc­ tive phone charging and gor­ geous new open­pore wood trim finish.

Of course, for now these fea­ tures are all optional and what with the Euro and all, prepare to pay in units of R15 000 for any­ thing other than what is provid­ ed standard in the entry level E200, which sells for R707 100.

cupants to the closest thing to a concert hall experience a car can offer.

Drive Pilot For an extra R41 000, Merc will fit the driving assist package called drive pilot, a semi­autono­ mous steering system that will steer the big saloon around cor­ ners of up to 15 degrees.

Unlike with the trucks in the Daimler Group, which are fully steering themselves on highway test programmes as you read this, Merc said the legal groundwork is not yet ready for self­steering cars.

All­new diesel engine The E­Class introduces a new four­cylinder diesel unit that will quickly filter down the ranks.

Despite being only a two­litre, the diesel makes 143 kW and 400 Nm and delivers 3,9 litres per 100 kilometres, which equates to CO2 emissions from 112 grams per kilometre — my old scooter used more fuel than this!

Multifunction Telephony The E­Class also introduces Merc’s new infotainment system.

It allows mobile phones to be charged and, at the same time, connected to the vehicle’s exteri­ or aerial with absolutely no need for cables or a telephone holder.

Cables and USB ports are how­ ever still provided, as the E­Class

PEUGEOT’S ENGINE OF THE YEAR AT the 18th International Engine of the Year Awards held in Stuttgart on June 1, the 1,2 litre three­cylinder Turbo PureTech petrol engine developed by PSA Group was named Engine of the Year in the one­litre to 1,4­litre category by a panel of interna­ tional journalists.

The award received for the second time is just the latest achievement for the engine model, which is manufactured at the Française de Mécanique plant in Douvrin, France.

The little engine holds two fuel economy records. It claimed its first in Europe in 2014, with a manual transmission vehicle. Its second came in China this year, when an automatic model trav­ elled 1 878 kilometres on a single tank, achieving a record­breaking 2,93 litres per 100 kilometres.

The engine also offers the best low speed/power compro­ mise: with 230 Nm at low revs.

First launched in March 2014 on the Citroën C4 Picasso and the Peugeot 308, the PureTech engine is now fitted on over 60 different models worldwide, in­ cluding the new Peugeot 3008 unveiled on May 23, 2016. — WR.

(Top) Understated on the outside, the new E­Class comes loaded with digital intelligence.

(Above) Expect to see a lot more of this open­pore wood trim in other cars. PHOTOS: QUICKPIC is now a generation ahead of most smartphones’ ability to use the wireless, inductive charging system.

Only phones that support the Qi (pronounce “chi”) standard will work on the inductive charg­ ing pad, built into the stowage fa­ cility at the front of the centre console.

The one criticism I have of this system is that it only fits smaller mobile phones with a screen di­

agonal of up to 15,2 cm. Phablet users must move smartly along.

I initially also could not see my Sony Experia on the system, until for the first time activating the Near Field Communication (NFC) on the phone.

The Merc’s system took over and paired my phonebook, music and call lists in an eyeblink. You still have to turn Bluetooth on to use the system.

If the vehicle is equipped with

the optional Comand Online, it is also possible to use Apple’s smartphone­based infotainment system CarPlay as well as Goo­ gle’s Android AutoT. 3D listening pleasure As a fan of the late Ivan Rebroff and of late, Mongolian throat singing, I thought I had the best test for the new Frontbass system in the new E­Class.

Merc claims it delivers a

unique listening experience us­ ing the space in the cross­mem­ ber and side member of the body structure as a resonance chamber for the bass speakers and it cer­ tainly sounded like I was jostling for space with the uvela of these deep­voiced male singers with the volume turned up.

A Burmester 3D surround sound system is optionally avail­ able with 23 speakers, some in the roof, which should treat the oc­

Pads that touched me But it is the small things that im­ press, like the mini­mouse pads on the steering wheel. These are so intuitive, my right thumb was feeling for the little pad in the next car I drove. Like a smart­ phone interface, these pads mounted on the left and right of the steering wheel respond pre­ cisely to horizontal and vertical swiping movements, allowing the driver to control the entire in­ fotainment system using finger swipes without having to take their hands off the steering wheel.

Further controls for the info­ tainment system are provided in the shape of a touchpad with controller in the centre console, which can even recognise hand­ writing, and the Linguatronic voice control system.

Merc is proud to say while the new E­Class is considerably more intelligent, it is not that much more expensive, consider­ ing how much value the rand has lost to the Euro.

We can thank all the credits built up by the thousands of C­Class models exproted from the world­class factory in East London for this saving.

Merc’s PremiumDrive six­ years or 100 000 km mainte­ nance contract is included in the prices below.

Pricing and power: E 200: R707 100 (1991 cc, 135 kW/300 Nm) E 220d: R759 100 (1950 cc, 143 kW / 400 Nm) E 350d: R946 300 (2987 cc, 190 kW/ 620 Nm) • Full disclosure: Impressions gathered during a launch on in­ vite of the manufacturer.

Europe’s best­selling evee now made with greener power NISSAN has switched on a new solar farm at its biggest manu­ facturing site in Europe in the company’s journey towards In­ telligent Mobility.

Made of up 19 000 photo­vol­ taic panels, the new 4,75 MW fa­ cility is now fully operational at Nissan Sunderland Plant, as Nis­ san strives towards its twin goals of zero emissions and zero fatali­ ties.

The solar farm has been in­ stalled alongside 10 wind tur­ bines already generating clean power for Nissan in Sunderland, the European centre of produc­ tion for the all­electric Nissan Leaf and its batteries.

Colin Lawther, Nissan’s sen­ ior vice president for manufac­ turing, purchasing and supply chain management in Europe, said: “Renewable energy is fun­ damental to Nissan’s vision for Intelligent Mobility. We have built over 50 000 Nissan Leafs in Europe, and the industry­ leading new 250 km­range Leaf is now available. With 10 wind turbines already generating en­ ergy for our Sunderland plant, this new solar farm will further reduce the environmental im­ pact of Nissan vehicles during their entire lifecycle.”

Nissan began integrating re­

Ten wind turbines add green power to Nissan Sunderland Plant in the UK, where the Leaf, the top selling electric vehicle in the EU, is built.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

newable energy sources in Sun­ derland in 2005 when the com­ pany installed its first wind tur­ bines on site. These 10 wind turbines contribute 6,6 MW power, with the 4,75 MW solar farm bringing the total output of renewables to 11,35 MW in Sun­ derland.

This equates to seven percent of the plant’s electricity require­ ments, enough to build the equivalent of 31 374 vehicles.

The solar farm has been devel­ oped and installed within the loop of Nissan’s vehicle test track in Sunderland by partner com­ pany European Energy Photo­ voltaics, with 100% of the elec­ tricity generated to be used by Nissan.

Its installation comes as Nis­ san celebrates its 30th anniversa­ ry of manufacturing in the UK, having become the biggest UK car plant of all time and now sup­

porting nearly 40 000 jobs in Britain in vehicle design, engi­ neering, production, parts dis­ tribution, sales and marketing, dealer network and supply chain.

Pursuing a goal of zero emis­ sion vehicles and zero fatalities on the road, Nissan’s Intelligent Mobility vision is designed to guide Nissan’s product and tech­ nology pipeline, anchoring criti­ cal company decisions around how cars are powered, how cars

are driven, and how cars inte­ grate into society.

Recent advances in electric ve­ hicles and next generation bat­ tery technology include: • A future generation of electric vehicle batteries for the UK bat­ tery plant; • A major vehicle­to­grid trial in the UK in partnership with ener­ gy provider Enel that will see Nissan electric vehicles supply­ ing the UK’s National Grid with an efficient and flexible source of energy. A trial of 100 vehicle­to­ grid units will commence in the UK later this year. It will enable Nissan electric vehicle owners to give energy from their vehicle’s battery back to the UK grid, pro­ viding a cost effective, sustaina­ ble and reliable source of power, while helping consumers save and make money; • A new residential energy stor­ age system called xStorage devel­ oped alongside Eaton, the global leaders in power management.

The system will gives Nissan electric vehicle batteries a “sec­ ond life”; and • Confirmation that Nissan will integrate V2G technology and energy storage solutions into all of its major European offices by the end of 2017.

— Supplied.

Tailored Car Shopping

By Pieter from Maritzburg

huge help along the way, taking some of the financial pressure out of buying a car. Barons PMB is offering three fantastic deals at the moment: if you buy a Jetta, Passat, or CC, you can receive up to R50 000 trade-in or purchase assistance; if you buy a Golf GTI or SV, you can receive up to R40 000 trade-in or purchase assistance, and if you buy a Tiguan, you can receive up to R30 000 trade-in or purchase assistance. Of course, all of those deals must be financed through Volkswagen’s Financial Services, but their service is so good that you wouldn’t want to do anything else!

We all know that your car says a lot about you. From the colour to the model, from the interior to the accessories, a car is personal. The fact is, however, that getting the car that’s right for you can be difficult. Not only do you have to find the right car, you have to be able to afford it.

A good dealership knows all about helping you find the right car at the right price. If choosing your car is personal, then so is financing it.

Barons Volkswagens Pietermaritzburg has a team dedicated to financial advice and services.

Their job is to help you on your road towards owning your dream car. That road may be winding, but expert advice is like having signposts along the way.

Barons VW Pietermaritzburg can be found at 9 Armitage Road. They are committed to bringing you quality cars and excellent service at the best possible prices ALL year round! To start hunting for your dream vehicle, visit www.baronsvwpmb.co.za. And to book a test drive or service call (033) 845 3100. Open Monday – Friday 8am – 5pm, and Saturdays 8am – 1pm.

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We are giving customers the boot.

Purchase a Golf GTI or a Golf SV and receive up to R40,000* trade-in or purchase assistance.

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Visit us on www.baronsvw.co.za

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An optional cost from R1100 incl. VAT will be charged for metallic paint. *Trade-in or purchase assistance dependent on chosen model. Offers may not be used in conjunction with any other specials service or offering. Subject to bank approval. Information subject to change without prior notification. All finance offers are subject to credit approval from Volkswagen Financial Services. The advertised offer is only available as a finance deal through Volkswagen Financial Services. Offers only available through Volkswagen Financial services South Africa Proprietary Limited trading as Volkswagen Financial Services an Authorised Financial Services and Credit Provider. NCRCP6635. Terms and conditions apply. All the above is subject to price increase and valid until 18 June 2016 or while stocks last.

An optional cost from R1100 incl. VAT will be charged for metallic paint. *Trade-in or purchase assistance dependent on chosen model. Offers may not be used in conjunction with any other specials service or offering. Subject to bank approval. Information subject to change without prior notification. All finance offers are subject to credit approval from Volkswagen Financial Services. The advertised offer is only available as a finance deal through Volkswagen Financial Services. Offers only available through Volkswagen Financial services South Africa Proprietary Limited trading as Volkswagen Financial Services an Authorised Financial Services and Credit Provider. NCRCP6635. Terms and conditions apply. All the above is subject to price increase and valid until 18 June 2016 or while stocks last.

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Offer exclusive to Barons Pietermaritzburg.

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*The advised price exclude the 2 year Mastercars Warranty. The Mastercars Warranty is available as an option and is a contract between the customer, an insurer and administrator. This extended Warranty is not available for all Amarok and Light Commercial Vehicle models. Terms & conditions apply. While stocks last.

Mastercars Sales Consultants: Laurie - 082 783 8040 • Rajen - 072 228 9834 • Sanjay - 083 639 0989 Barry - 072 235 4244 • Phumlani - 073 017 1294 Visit us on www.baronsvwpmb.co.za and find us on facebook.com/BaronsPietermaritzburg

“Voted Volkswagen Dealer of the Year 2014 & 2015”

Barons

Pietermaritzburg

9 Armitage Road, Pietermaritzburg, 3201 • Tel: 033 845 3100

Purchase a Tiguan at Barons Pietermaritzburg and receive up to R30,000* trade-in or purchase assistance.

Offer exclusive to Barons Pietermaritzburg.

Visit us on www.baronsvw.co.za An optional cost from R2200 incl. VAT will be charged for metallic paint. *Trade-in or purchase assistance dependent on chosen model. Offers may not be used in conjunction with any other specials service or offering. Subject to bank approval. Information subject to change without prior notification. All finance offers are subject to credit approval from Volkswagen Financial Services. The advertised offer is only available as a finance deal through Volkswagen Financial Services. Offers only available through Volkswagen Financial services South Africa Proprietary Limited trading as Volkswagen Financial Services an Authorised Financial Services and Credit Provider. NCRCP6635. Terms and conditions apply. All the above is subject to price increase and valid until 18 June 2016 or while stocks last.

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6

WitnessWheels MOTORING BIKING

June 9, 2016

Recumbent bike changes into a trike PASSIONATE cyclist and mechanical engineer Marc le Borgne said he spent many nights thinking how to overcome the challenges of discomfort on traditional bikes and the low visi­ bility of recumbent bikes.

The Kervelo bike­trike combo is the Swede’s answer and Le Bor­ gne is now raising funds for the bike on Kickstarter.

The Kervelo bike is a direct front­wheel drive bicycle with 18­ speed gears in the front hub.

The direct drive bicycle re­ moves the chain and provides great comfort, it is efficient to ride and very simple to maintain, a vehicle that pioneer bikers would certainly love, he explains.

As with the £1 999 (R43 000) Babel bike in a roll cage, launched last year by Crispen Sinclair, the semi­recumbent position lifts the cyclist higher than most car seats and enables more efficient use of leg power.

Le Borgne is selling the Ker­ velo either as a bicycle or a tilting trike with a 40­litre insulated bag between the rear wheels. To change between bike and trike mode, the rear axles simply slides

Swedish engineer Marc Le Borgne on the semi­ recumbent bike he built to offer a safe ride and carry a heavy payload.

PHOTO: YOUTUBE SCREENGRAB off the central frame.

Le Borgne wants 25 000 Swed­ ish kroner — about R46 929 — for the trike, but he said this project will go ahead only if peo­ ple pledge at least R750 000 on Kickstarter. — WR.

Big effect from Penny Farthing’s li’l wheel IN some ways, it makes sense to put small wheels on electric scooters — they accelerate quick­ ly, and allow the vehicle to remain on the small­and­portable side.

On the other hand, they can also easily get stuck in potholes, caus­ ing the rider to fly over the han­ dlebars.

A group of Montreal­based entrepreneurs have created what they see as a good compromise, in the form of the SnikkyBike.

As can be seen, although the scooter has a li’l 16­inch motor­ ised wheel in the back, it has a full­size 700 c bicycle wheel in the front.

This arrangement is claimed to combine the fast acceleration of a small drive wheel with a larg­ er front wheel’s ability to roll over obstacles instead getting stopped by them.

Additionally, the short wheel­ base lets it stay nimble and manoeuvrable, as it needs to be in urban environments. The han­ dlebars and footboards likewise fold up when not in use, making it easier to carry and store.

Its top speed is 32 km/h, with one charge of its removable 36­

The new Harley­Davidson XG750R has been carefully designed to reflect the iconic XR750, which it is intended to replace. The Harley­Davidson Screamin’ Eagle Factory team will start by fielding one XG750R for its rider Davis Fisher. The 18­year­old GNC1 rookie, and last year’s GNC2 champion, will carry out important development work on the new motorcycle while racing it. The team’s main rider and 2013 national champion Brad Baker will continue racing the XR750 for now.

“The XG750R has shown great potential in testing and the first few races this season,” said Kris Schoonover, Harley­Davidson racing manager. “But as with any new racing motorcycle, there will be work to do. We’re excited to continue testing the XG750R in real world competition, and as we make our way through the season, we will evaluate the performance of the bike and our factory riders to see if Baker might switch to the new bike.”

Sadly, Harley said there are no immediate plans to introduce a road­legal version of the XG750R. PHOTO: HARLEY­DAVIDSON

Open bike system Bike makers and electronics manufacturers colloborate BEN COXWORTH

The SnikkyBike is a nimble new take on the Penny Farthing. PHOTO: SUPPLIED volt lithium­ion battery allowing for a range of just over 30 kilome­ tres — regenerative braking helps it reach that figure. A full re­ charge takes approximately two hours.

The SnikkyBike is currently the subject of a Kickstarter cam­ paign, where a pledge of $1 050 (R15 700) will get you one, if and when they reach production.

The planned retail price is $1 199. — Gizmag.

Fat electric scooter FROM China comes the MAD, an Italian­styled scooter on fat wheels that offers five individual motor options between 500 and 1 600 watts, along with lead­acid and lithium­ion battery options.

The fat scooters’ range is be­ tween 30 and 40 km, with the 48 V/12 Ah lead­acid battery. The lithium option adds about 16 km to the lead battery’s range, not a lot considering the extra outlay.

Top speed is 45 km/h with the 1 300­ and 1 600­watt motors.

Its Italian designers say the MAD is a versatile commuter for the right type of rider. It includes a removable seat and folding handlebars to meet various rid­ ing, transport and storage needs, and accessories like the double headlight and handlebar and sad­ dle bags increase its versatility.

The MAD hit the market in Ita­ ly in December 2015. Manufac­

Metal ode to a fast flat racer

THE more that technology ad­ vances, the greater the variety of electronic gadgets that can be installed on our bikes.

Lights are an obvious exam­ ple, but there are also electronic shifting and suspension sys­ tems, along with things like ac­ tioncams, phone chargers, and cycling computers.

As it stands right now, they’re almost all stand­alone items, re­ ceiving power independently and sometimes working to cross purposes.

Randall Jacobs and Kyle Man­ na hope to change that, with their OpenBike “connected bi­ cycle ecosystem”.

The idea behind OpenBike is that bicycle manufacturers will build the basic network into their bikes, while electronic component manufacturers will likewise make products that are compatible with the system.

Hardware­wise, it features one central battery that powers all of a bike’s electronic devices,

The world’s first OpenBike­equipped bike should be available next year. PHOTO: OPENBIKE along with internally­routed electrical wiring running from that battery to key locations, such as the handlebars.

This means that when com­ panies are designing OpenBike­ compatible components, they won’t need to include their own batteries. Likewise, consumers will only have one battery they need to check.

That battery can be removed

for recharging, although it can also be charged via a dynamo while pedalling.

Additionally, OpenBike will incorporate its own open com­ munications protocol, allowing gadgets from different manufac­ turers to “talk” to one another.

As just one example of how that could work, data such as speed and GPS co­ordinates could be relayed from a cycling

computer to an actioncam, where it would be stamped on the video.

OpenBike will also be able to access its own cloud­based serv­ er, providing Internet connec­ tivity for all the gadgets that need it.

This could greatly facilitate services such as rental bike fleet management, and bike­sharing co­operatives.

Working with Marin Bikes, Jacobs and Manna have already created a prototype bike that demonstrates some of the fea­ tures that could be accommo­ dated. It includes a headlight, tail lights, turn indicators, a brake light, a phone mount with USB charging, and ambient light sensors that cause the lights to automatically come on as the sun goes down.

A production version of that bike should be available from Marin next year. In the mean­ time, Jacobs and Manna want to develop partnerships with other bike­makers and electronics manufacturers. — Gizmag.

GPS sees Freedom Challenge rider disqualified

Italy’s fattest scooter makes no concessions to style.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED turing is handled by China’s Mai­ way Industry Co, Ltd, and prices start at €1 000 (about R17 000).

— Wheels Reporter.

ORGANISERS if the annual Freedom Challenge regret to announce having had to dis­ qualify and exit from the Race to Rhodes a rider for having a GPS with him.

Race manager Meryl Glaser told Wheels just having a GPS is clear violation of Golden Rule #5, which states no GPSes are allowed precisely to make the cycle race from Piet­ ermaritzburg to Rhodes and for some to Cape Town a real challenge. “The race director has to ensure a fair and even contest for all participants and

the only way to do so is by having one clear set of rules by which all participants must abide. The rules clearly state that you may not have a GPS,” said the organisers on the blog.

The other issue with the use of GPS is a more recent development, which sees cy­ clists saving track files and sharing them with other cy­ clists who then cycle over land without the consent of land owners.

Glaser told Wheels more than half of the Freedom Trail

goes through private land and managed conservation areas.

Traversing through these areas is governed by specific access agreements between the Free­ dom Challenge and the affect­ ed parties.

She said most of the land­ owners require notice of any riders and some parts of the trail are subject to seasonal closure or only open for the challenge.

“Instances of trespassing on private land and leaving gates open on farms are becoming more common and this puts

strain on the relations be­ tween the Freedom Challenge and the landowners, since any cyclist seen on the trail is as­ sumed to be a Freedom Chal­ lenge rider,” explained the or­ ganisers.

To ensure that drivers do not bend fences or leave gates open, the challenge this year erected many cycle bridges over fences. Casual challenge riders have been departing in small groups for a week, with the professional racers leaving from the City Hall at dawn on June 13. — WR.

MOTORING WitnessWheels TRANSPORT

June 9, 2016

State of SA’s supply chain BARLOWORLD last week host­ ed logistics managers at a supply chain foresight breakfast in Umhlanga.

Marketing executive at Barlo­ world Logistics Kate Stubbs said the industry has long outgrown the perception that logistics are all about trucks and warehouses.

She said in looking at trends in supply chains since 2003, the overriding concern logistics managers ask is what costs create value.

“Supply chain changed radi­ cally, it is not about trucks and warehouses, but managing data,” Stubbs said, adding companies who can manage to balance the opposing demands of being both hi­tech and hi­touch will do well.

“The only certainty we have is that our traditional business model won’t be the one for the future,” said Stubbs.

She warned the assembled managers the biggest threat to the logistics is a skills shortage, and pointed out the sector is not spending on training.

Another concern revealed by the annual Barloworld survey is that manufacturing is not rele­ vant to 41% of the respondents, and there is less investing in re­ search and development.

Yet, 89% of the respondents are optimistic about the future.

Stubbs said South Africa has seen a definite shift to service­ based industries since 2014.

Six in 10 respon­ dents had to adapt quite radically to meet such changes, but, just over half (51%) of the respon­ dents say the changes they made were effec­ tive.

Stubbs said the survey shows the top four of the top five concerns listed on the survey were all related to the economy and politics, which the lo­ gistics managers could do little about.

The fifth concern was about the skills shortage, which Stubbs said the sector can and should do something about.

She said a focus ar­ ea of the respon­ dents’ future strategy sees new customers, brand development as most important, but not mergers and acquisitions, which Stubbs predicted the sector will see a lot more of.

Stubbs said one ar­ ea where the sector can mature is out­ sourcing, which adds a lot of value, but hir­ ing outside help did not seem to come easy to South African companies.

Motivational speaker David Caskie emphasised that ex­ treme sports teams have shown repeated­ ly that optimism, en­ thusiasm and loyalty are more important than any other traits when recruiting for tough times. — WR.

7

Russian truck builder not taking Dakar loss lightly CC WEISS COMING off a loss to Iveco in its 2016 campaign, Russian Da­ kar staple Kamaz has designed an all­new truck pointed directly at the 2017 Dakar event.

The big, bad, blacked­out Master “Kapotnik” features a new layout and a 980­hp power­ train. Kamaz believes it will be the truck to bring back its 14th Dakar victory.

The all­new Kamaz Master leaves the tradition of forward control cabs in the past, and looks all the more rugged and powerful because of it. “The first thing you notice about the new truck is that the ride is smoother for the people in the cab, for the crew,” Kamaz­master team lead­ er Vladimir Chagin said.

“Because whenever we hit a bump or something the shock doesn’t go straight up into the spine as in the cab­over configu­

Kamaz has designed an all­new truck to win the next Dakar. PHOTO: SUPPLIED ration where you’re sitting on top of the axle. Here the shock goes into the engine so the im­

pression you get from this vehi­ cle is that you’re driving in a big SUV, only larger.”

Kamaz also believes the new cab configuration, which shifts weight off the front axle and to­

ward the centre, will improve manoeuvrability, provide better movement over sand and offer better jump landings.

“We’re now at the dawn of a new era of race trucks: cab trucks demonstrate a number of tech­ nical benefits, and an important goal for us this season is to inno­ vate as much as possible.”

Kamaz says the new Master will reach speeds close to 160 km/h “on more or less any surface”.

Those speeds come courtesy of the big, bulging 731­kW 12,5­litre diesel engine and 16­ speed ZF transmission power­ ing all four wheels. A 1 000­litre fuel tank allows the truck to drive all day and into the night.

The new Kamaz Master has now proven in Russia’s Rally Raid Gold Cup of Kagan in late April. Its next race is the Silky Way Rally in July.

— Gizmag.

Longest tunnel can train at 250 km/h The world’s longest, deepest tunnel opened last week in the Alps in Switzerland. The Gotthard Base Tunnel stretches for 57 km and sections of it are 2 300 m below the the mountain top. Adding the two main tubes that comprise the Gotthard Base Tunnel and its various shafts, cross passages and access tunnels, the mountain is actually riddled by 152 km of tunnels in total, and all of it level with virtually no gradients.

The tunnel connects Erstfeld with Bodio and will channel 325 trains a day, the bulk of which will be freight trains running at 160 km/h, interspesed by 200 km/h passenger trains. The speed of those passenger trains is expected to rise over time to a potential 250 km/h.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

8

WitnessWheels MOTORING RACING

Duminy builds character

4x4 competitors enter knockout phase

Team Pepper racers from Durban and Ballito earn their silverware PEPPER Racing’s Shaun la Réserveé from Durban took another Engen Volkswagen Polo Cup lights to flag win in the 2016 Engen Volkswagen Polo Cup as he sped to Race 2 victory in Port Elizabeth on Saturday, while the team’s Junior drivers Daniel Du­ miny and Brad Benningfield endured a tough day’s racing as they diced home 13th and 14th overall.

Durbanite La Réserveé had a diffi­ cult qualifying in the Alpine Volks­ wagen Pepper Racing Polo.

“It was a disaster — I could only manage 9th on a damp track,” Shaun explained, before delivering a great performance in the first race. “But I was very happy with my first race as I moved up from ninth to take sixth.

Ballito youngster Daniel Duminy was delighted with another positive result with the SMD Pepper Racing Polo at the end of a weekend that had him scratching his head after practice Friday evening. But come Saturday morning the 15­year old put it all to­ gether to deliver his best overall re­ sult so far in 13th. “It was a a tough

and character building weekend for me,” Daniel admitted. “But my team did a wonderful job — without them it would not have been the way it was.

Daniel, who has improved steadily since his step up to main circuit rac­ ing this year, then immediately boarded a flight back to Durban, where he was due to race a KZN kart­ ing regional at iDube Sunday in prep­ aration for the national there in two weeks time as part of his busy race schedule this year.

The weekend however went the other way for Brad Benningfield — the Johannesburg driver who is studying at Rhodes University not far up the N2 from Aldo Scribante thrilled his digs­mates who came down to support him with a brilliant fifth and fourth in qualifying, but he soon discovered the harsh reality of running up front in the cutthroat world of Polo Cup racing …

The next leg of the Engen Volks­ wagen Polo Cup is at East London on July 9, where the sponsors said they “hope to continue building on a good season so far”. — WR.

ROUND Five of the 2016 Bridgestone 4x4 Club Chal­ lenge produced some star­ tlingly difficult obstacles and numerous ‘zero’ scores at the 4x4 tracks of the Swandani Game Lodge near Cullinan.

Almost 60 teams lined up for the event, the first of four knockout rounds, some hav­ ing come from as far afield as KwaZulu­Natal.

The teams were selected from about 200 teams who had battled it out in four quali­ fying rounds held earlier in the year. Route master Sakkie Coetzee prepared some daunting obstacles that suited the short­wheelbase teams.

Top spot went to Garreth Goncalves and Chantelle van Niekerk in an Isuzu Frontier 320 V6, who earned the maxi­ mum 50 championship to set themselves up as the team to beat in the next round.

In the short­wheelbase class, Hans Strydom and Jo­ han Cilliers earned a very handy 775 points in a classic

June 9, 2016

Don’t hit the pole! Johan Bekker and Johan van den Heever garnered the most points in Bridgestone 4x4 Club Challenge in their Jimny. PHOTO: MOTORPRESS.CO.ZA SVM3000, a South African Jeep­inspired off­roader man­ ufactured in small numbers to­ wards the end of the 1980s.

Former champions, Marco

and Joe Marincowitz, clinched second place in their Merc Gelandewagen with an out­ standing 815 points. But tak­ ing the more experienced

teams to the cleaners were Jo­ han Bekker and Johan van den Heever, with 820 points, in their lightweight Suzuki Jim­ ny. — WR.

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Pepper Racing’s Shaun la Réserveé took another Polo Cup race win in Port Elizabeth. PHOTO: PAUL BEDFORD

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LAND ROVER PIETERMARITZBURG 9 Amritage Road, Pietermaritzburg Tel: 033 897 8700 A/H: Brendon 083 253 6768 Dino Scribante (Tiga), was the overall winner of the Hour Endurance Race the 2016 Investchem Formula Ford Kent Championship at Dezzi Raceway last Saturday. The scenic raceway at Marburg also hosted the fourth round of the 2016 INEX Legends Championship as part of the Historic Tour who will be hosting the event.

PHOTO: COLIN WINDELL

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