Mooi River ’ ‘lurkersce a await r 6 PAGE
ASH CAR SALES
November 12, 2015
Dealers in Superfine Exotic and Sports Cars Tel: 033 345 1971, 033 342 4717 Fax: 033 342 2900 - www.ashcarsales.co.za
Witness
WHEELS
2014 M/Benz C180 [W205]
NEW
15000km, balance m/plan, Iridium Silver/ black leather, 6 Speed manual, Rain sensor, Cruise Control, Anti-Theft System, Automatic climate control, tyre pressure monitor system, agility suspension, Audio 20 Radio/ CD, Interior light package and motion sensor, ECO start/stop function, Adaptive brake lights, 17” Alloy 5 spoke wheels, Run flat tyres, Datadot, as new
R349 995
SHAP
E
Contact Ash on 083 786 3377 (PMBurg)
550 Church Street, Pietermaritzburg 3201 PO Box 8390, Cumberwood 3235
KZN’S BEST READ ON ALL THINGS WHEELED, FROM FIAT’S NEW BAKKIE TO CLEVER SUITCASES
Mazda to shake up crossover sales WITH more people opting for smaller cars, many SUV buyers are also looking at crossovers instead, and there is no shortage of models that provide both eyecandy and gravel road ability. The Nissan Juke is still a head turner, the Fiat500X does cute. with aggro and Ford’s Ecosport is rewriting all the rules with sustained demand. But no crossover has drawn so much attention from those in the know as the Mazda CX3. Wheels can reveal this compact, but beautifully proportioned mix between sport car and ute will soon be launched in SA — and this will just add to the woes of the factory that already cannot meet demand. Car Bay in Malaysia reports the CX3 has become so popular in both Australia and the East that Mazda ran out of capacity at the Hiroshima plant and the little ute with the big presence is now also built at the AutoAlliance plant in Rayong, Thailand. It is
not yet clear from which plant the South African models will be shipped, but as Mazda states on its website, “there’s never been an SUV that can move you like this.” In Australia, where the CX3 is already sold, the writers at Car and Driver said, “The CX3 steers with precision, corners with aplomb, and scoots down the road with a verve that is almost universally absent among crossovers. “Toggle the Sport mode and the quickshifting automatic transmission takes on Porsche esque logic, downshifting as you brake for an upcoming corner. “Without question, Mazda has built the driver’s car — er, crossover — in this burgeoning segment.” Mazda states this “natural agility” comes from its Skyactiv technology, which are Mazda’s range of naturally aspirated en gines that perform as if they have variable vane turbos. A unique piston design im proves combustion to boost power and lower emissions. Re
duced friction liberates extra power, while a 421 exhaust lay out lifts efficiency. The 4cylinder engine delivers a sporty 115 kW of power and 204 Nm of torque; using as little as 6.5 litres of fuel every 100 km*. With no turbo to burn extra fu el faster comes outstanding fuel economy in petrol. Inside the cabin, Mazda’s call Bluetooth MZD Connect links the car to the Internet. It is not only a looker either. Under those pumped flanks, an extremely strong body structure integrates SRS airbags ensuring superb protection. Mazda states the confident grasp on the road that so im pressed the scribes Down Under is aided by Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) with Traction Control System (TCS). Innovative Antilock Braking System (ABS) brakes feature Electronic Brakeforce Distribu tion (EBD) which matches brak ing to vehicle load, while Emer gency Brake Assist (EBA) boosts stopping power when emergency
The Mazda CX3 is will give contenders in the crossover niche a shakeup with excellent handing and those dropdead gorgeous lines. PHOTO: SUPPLIED braking is sensed. At Barloworld Mazda in Piet ermaritzburg, the word is the CX3 is only expected at month end, but customers can already register their interest to be first
in line for when this much antici pated crossover arrives. How the new Mazda will affect the rampant sales of the Ford Ecosport remained to be seen, but in a market where sales are
generally expected to be at least eight percent down, buyers with goodcondition tradeins are king and they can expect red car pet treatment at both the Ford and Mazda dealerships. 22115
ALWYN VILJOEN
M{zd{
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2
WitnessWheels MOTORING
November 12, 2015
American car builder makes good on promise of 3Dprinted vehicles ALWYN VILJOEN I HAVE long put my head on the block by predicting our children’s children will use cars that are made around the corner, each looking as unique as its owner and sporting any number of seats, pending the owner’s needs. Now a group of American de signers at Local Motors have brought this prediction a few years closer. Local Motors first made head lines last year when it stunned the automotive industry by live printing the world’s first 3D printed car at Sema 2014. The group last week an nounced the staff are now ready to make a fully homologated se ries of cars using direct digital manufacturing, or DDM. The group plans to launch a crowdfunding campaign for peo ple to order an electric, 3Dprint ed car, the LM3D Swim, which is expected to launch in the second quarter of 2016. The price tag will be steep — $53 000, or R735 400 before im port taxes and delivery costs. For those who don’t like the beach buggy design, Local Mo tors said it plans to release several different models on the same platform throughout 2016. The company is taking a simi lar path as forged by Gordon Murray with his istream process. The Durbanschooled Murray envisages a world in which crafts men in factories a quarter the size of today’s car plants can weld
The LM3D Swim is electric, its printed in 3D, and you can reserve one for R735 400, delivery costs and import taxes excluded. PHOTO: SLASHGEAR.COM what are basically advanced roll cages, into which small cars can be built using lightweight materi als and various drivetrains. Local Motors also plan to use smallfootprint microfactories in their version of such sustainable car building vehicle develop
ment. All cars in the LM3D series will be built at a new Local Mo tors microfactory in Knoxville, Tennessee. Like the car, the offtheshelf electric drivetrain can be custom ised, with the battery pack pro tected by 10 cm of panelling in
the central tunnel. The panels are currently printed using a blend of 80% ABS plastic and 20% car bon fiber. Nearly all of the body panels and chassis are 3D printed on the LM3D — roughly 75%. Local Motors said it aims to eventually
make about 90% of the car using 3D printing. Because 3D printing allows unique shapes, Local Motors said it plans a wide range of customi zable, aesthetic features. “Cars can look radically different, but be built on the same platform.”
Customers who can afford the steep price tag for what is basical ly a plastic beach buggy will also have to take their patience pills. In comparison to Ford South Africa, which boasts sending a Ranger off the test beds at Silver ton in eastern Pretoria every two minutes 30 seconds, and Mer cedesBenz, which claims a “slow” fiveday process to build 85% of its GClass by hand, 3D printing is still painstakingly slow. It took just over two months to built a 3Dprinted car, and printing the unique version will take as long. Still, bearing in mind this process started at designing the car, this is unprecedented speed in the car making trade, as anyone who ever just tried to re stored a car will also confirm. The high price tag and long wait for delivery invite some to dismiss Local Motors as mere marketing hype. But their track record to date show this is no Generation Z flashinthepan trend, and several companies think so too. Local Motors has partnered with IBM to integrate IoT tech nology through IBM Watson in to the 3Dprinted car, Siemens’ Solid Edge to provide CAD mod elling, IDEO to renew Local Mo tors Labs, and Sabic to improve materials. As the company state on its website: “There is nothing conventional about this car, the way it’s made, or the company be hind it.” • alwyn.viljoen@gmail.com
Big weekend of family fun Dezzi’s to host some 150 drag racers at expo SA’S MOTORING champs head to the South Coast this weekend for the #AllStarsWeekend at Dezzi Raceway. The weekend’s family fun events will top drifting, dyno, soundoff, parkoff and an expo on Saturday. On Sunday, 110 drag racers are expected to compete, including an 7,8second rail dragster driven by SA’s fastest woman, Vanessa Fourie, who clocked 298 km/h at Tarlton; as well as the 1 000 kW Escourt “Door Slammer” driven by Ste phan Fouche; and an eightsec ond Corvette “Funny Car” driv en by Quintin Fourie. “We’ve also got the country’s oldest drag racer attending,” said event organiser Michelle Le wis.
“Reg Murray is 82 years old and holds three national records in three different categories.” Murray last competed in KZN 20 years ago. The drag racing antics will be joined by SA’s top drifters. A full day of stunning sideways action by more than 15 professional drivers will cloud up the original Dezzi drift track. The lineup includes Shane Gutzeit and Paulo Gouveia in their Nissan S15 Sylvia and Nis san S13 respectively. The biggest parkoff the South Coast has yet to see will be host ed by Gas Magazine and Amaz ing Glaze. Fans can expect to see over 150 of KZN’s most beautiful rides line the Dezzi Raceway. A professional dyno run by
one of SA’s top tuners, Steve Clark, will welcome over 80 of the most powerful cars to test their workmanship on the Gut zeit Clark Racing’s dyno. Joining the action will be SoundLab’s Sound Off competi tion and international trial bike champions, the Le Riche Broth ers, will be performing two daily shows. “An accessories exhibition to rival the best in the country will run across the weekend and fans attending on Saturday can ex pect static starts from both the rail dragster and the door slam mer on Saturday — it’s going to be thrilling!” said Lewis. Tickets cost just R80 per day, with free parking and under 12s get in free. — WR.
Tuning you straight HI Alwyn, Is there any way we can get motorists to use their indica tors!? Maybe the motorists who fail to show where they plan to go should all be make to ride motor cycles for their first year of mo toring. Or are indicators an op tional extra on cars these days? CHRIS STOREMAN Duzi Airconditioning cc
Dear Chris If I knew the answer, I’d be rich. Instead, my experience is that drivers who fail to indicate where they plan to go next, also fail to notice those of us who do. This can often be seen at the three main exits in the Chatterton Road circle in Piet ermaritzburg, where many driv ers are unaware that the law says those on the left have to yield to those on the right in
roundabouts. While there seems to be no foolproof way to get people to start indicating and stop tex ting, fiddling with the radio or talking on their cellphone, I daresay my old suggestion to remove all airbags and weld Shaka’s invention — the short stabbing spear — to the steer ing wheel would make drivers pay more attention to what is happening around them.
November 12, 2015
MOTORING WitnessWheels
3
For farmers
ONLY
ALWYN VILJOEN enjoys having no turbo lag when taking a Fleetline uphill ISUZU says each of the 18 bakkies it sells in South Africa is purposebuilt for a clearly defined role, and after idling up inclines and crawling through mud, I am inclined to typecast the Fleetline 250 DTEQ 4x4 as the perfect cattle farmer’s bakkie. It gives you nofrills design, but lots of power low down and all the mod cons you need to work in comfort. We worked it during the heat wave that Pieter maritzburg suffered though last week and found out that the high load bin is not userfriendly for plumbers and sparkies — but then, none of the big bakkies you can buy today are. For as I always answer when asked this question, the best bakkie you can buy for artisan’s tools and equipment is always a panel van. Panel vans come readymade with a high canopy, a low floor, the ability to carry over a ton’s payload and gear ratios that save fuel in city traffic. The problem with high load bins With their high load bins, today’s big bakkies are really only good at livestock auctions, where a load ing ramp can get the new bargains to walk onto the high load bed. Once loaded, the low gear ratios and 4x4 drive trains will then also enable the bakkies to leave the yard’s muck where other vehicles will get stuck. While built to make light of farm muck, the big Isuzu offers all the comforts you can want up front. There are big and very comfy seats, six cuphold ers with two in the coldair stream from the effec tive aircon, two 12volt sockets (one in a hidden cubbyhole that puts your phone out of sight) and a userfriendly Bluetooth setup that allows you to play the music on your smartphone using the tog gles on the radio. All the buttons are also big enough for a farmer’s thick calloused finger to stab without hitting all the neighbouring buttons too. Underneath, the suspension is oldschool blades at the back and coils up front. This means that this sixth iteration of Isuzu’s single cab will judder noticeably over cemented highway while driving empty to the auction, but settle down nicely when loaded on the way back. At a steady 120 km, (even with that load) the wind and tyre noise will, however, drown out even the hardest rock riffs. But tar roads are not what this bakkie is made for. It is on dirt where the Fleetline quietly hunkers down like a Japanese front row, ready to take any thing South Africa can throw at it.
The joys of variable vanes There is simply none of the turbo lag that bedevils the ride in other bakkies, just a smooth takeoff, all thanks to a variable geometry turbocharger that makes most of the engine’s 320 Newtons available in any gear at almost any revs. During the week I drove it up steep inclines, the new, uprated 2,5litre DTEQ turbo diesel im pressed me no end with its ability to keep the 16 inch wheels turning. Underneath and around the bakkie, the rugged black plastic bumpers and side protection were de signed in Isuzu’s school of hard knocks. Even the little wind deflectors under the Bpillar survived the worst we subjected it to, including a few mountainous middlemannetjies and one spectacular axle bender that had me worrying about riding the bakkie on its nose down an incline. Along the way, I was lucky enough to experience a spat of rain and took the Isuzu over a patch of slick, black, peaty mud. Now peaty mud, you have to understand, is not like your normal let’smakeyouslidearounda bit brown mud. As all sugar can farmers know, this stuff was made extra sticky by Satan himself in order to clog up the treads of spinning tyres until they are smooth as glass. But with four high and diff lock engaged, Satan’s effort came to naught. Afterwards, the black streaks also cleaned easily off the new cloth trim used in the base models. The price? Well … it’s more of a guideline Service intervals are 15 000 km, which gives the owner six services under Isuzu’s fiveyear or 90 000 km service plan. A fully comprehensive fiveyear or 120 000 km warranty and roadsideassistance programme take care of unplanned breakages, while a fiveyear or unlimited mileage anticorrosion warranty puts paid to the old rumours of rusting Isuzus. All Isuzu bakkie prices look high, but treat that only as the starting point of the negotiations. With the car trade caught in a slump, it is a buy er’s market out there with all GM dealers currently offering specials that will last until next week. And as new Isuzu owners will confirm, the trade ins you stand to get are legendary.
Testing the more powerful 250D’s ability to go up The Slope above Pietermaritzburg in low revs, we find a lot to like in the new Isuzu KB250 4x4. PHOTO: ALWYN VILJOEN
PURPOSE
BUILT TO IMPRESS.
RECOMMENDED RETAIL PRICE Isuzu DTEQ 250 LE 4x4 single cab R357 400.
Caddy models get sharper lines
VOLKSWAGEN Commercial Vehicles has face lifted the Caddy. Fourteen model derivatives are available on different wheelbases, with prices start ing at R222 400 for the 1,6 Crew Bus and topping out at R391 600 for the Caddy Maxi Trendline 2.0 TDI. The 1.6litre and 2.0 TDI with 81 kW are both available with a fivespeed manual transmission, while the 2.0 TDI with 103 kW has VW’s sixspeed
DSG transmission. A twoyear or unlimited kilometres warranty and a threeyear or 60 000 km Automotion Service Plan are standard. The new Caddy Trendline (including Alltrack) comes standard with a threeyear or 120 000 kilo metre manufacturer warranty and a threeyear or 60 000 km Automotion Service Plan. — Wheels Reporter.
The bakkie that’s setting the benchmark, the all-new KB 25o Hi-Rider model now available at Key Pietermaritzburg. FROM ONLY
R 299 999
*On-the-Road and Registration Fees excluded. Terms and Conditions apply. Model/s shown may differ. Errors & Omissions excepted.
Driven by you
TEL: 033 345 2542 | 2 Peter Kerchoff (Chapel Street), Pietermaritzburg
Fax: 033 394 3199 | Email: pmb@keygroup.co.za | www.keygroup.co.za
93395 ADMAKERS.COM
A striking horizontal band with integrated air vents and a new infotainment system underline the new Caddy’s modern look. PHOTO: QUICKPIC
4
WitnessWheels MOTORING
November 12, 2015
Topless Evoque finally out Land Rover dealers in KZN expect demand to outstrip supply for these exclusive convertibles AFTER teasing the world for years, Land Rover has finally un veiled the. Range Rover Evoque Convertible. The designers describe this goalmostanywhere cabrio as a “no compromise” vehicle for all seasons. It is the first Range Rov er that can shed its top, yet inside you will find all the knobs and di als that gave Range Rover its lux ury title. Gerry McGovern, Land Rover design director and chief creative officer, dismissed fears of scuttle shake, stating: “The Evoque Convertible has been engineered to meet Land Rover’s most rigor ous standards, ensuring excep tional structural rigidity, trade mark refinement, outstanding levels of safety and unrivalled breadth of capability.” Breadth of capability is the new buzzword at Landy, but whatever it means, the sturdy good looks of the Evoque in top less form will be sure to garner this fifth member of the Ranger Rover family a more than fair per centage of sales in the global SUV market, which is forecast to grow by 20% over the next five years. McGovern said Ranger Rover is pioneering an allnew SUV sec tor in the Evoque Convertible, and predicted the car will play a key role in continuing Range Rov
With the top up, the Evoque Convertible is as quiet as its hardtop version. With the roof down, it has 251 litres of boot space. PHOTO: NEWSPRESS er’s 45year success story. The fully automated roof stows in 18 seconds and can be raised in 21 seconds, even while driving up to 48 km/h. Safety hasn’t been overlooked, with a
RollOver Protection Device fea turing deployable rollover bars hidden in the rear bodywork. It deploys two aluminium bars within 90 milliseconds in the un likely event of a rollover situa
tion, to create a survival space for occupants. McGovern said that with the top up the Evoque Convertible is as quiet as the hardtop version and, bonus, with the roof lowered
Quite clever designs for wheeled cases THE second most irritating thing about flying — after the long, hot wait in the bus — is the lack of design that goes in to the wayward wheeled cases people drag behind them. Loud, unsprung and often with a mind of their own, it seems most designers of wheeled luggage are vying to create in real life the fractious sapient pearwood trunk called Luggage from Terry Pratch ett’s Discworld stories. There are two exceptions to this norm — the intrepid tri wheeled Trailpod, and the marvellously clever Space Case. The Trailpod rides on three sharply angled wheels at tached to independent axles that can be pulled over just about any surface a human can step on. The floating axles support an exoskeleton around an insulated soft cool er and can accommodate vari ous clipin bags and accesso ries to store 60 litres of stuff. When not in use, the three ribs of the exoskeleton can fold down to just 30 cm in width. Trailpod is now trying to raise money to finish develop ment and begin production. It is offering the Trailpod kit on Indiegogo with pledges start
The marvellously clever Space Case (left) tracks itself anywhere in the world, while the skeleton of the intrepid Trailpod (right) can carry the cooler bag over any surface on three slanted wheels. PHOTOS: INDIEGOGO ing at $149 (R2 132), which is $100 off the estimated retail price of $249. If the makers reach their target, shipping begins in August next year. The Space Case 1 is a carry on suitcase that is not as rug ged as the Trailpod, but al most as smart as Pratchett’s magical Luggage. It has biometric fingerprint opening for five fingerprints so that the entire family can use it, global tracking, a lift less selfweighing scale, a Bluetooth speakerphone and a battery pack that uses air lineapproved alkaline batter
ies to charge smartphones through three USB charging ports. There is also a Space Case app that shows you on your smartphone where your suitcase is in the airport. Separate compartments with waterproof zippers hold everything frequent flyers car ry, from smart dresses or din ner jackets to laptops and ca bles. The Space Case rides on four 360degree, 2,25inch rubber wheels that ensure si lent and smooth motion over rough floors. An accelerome ter detects when the Space Case is moving faster than a
human can walk and automat ically sets to aeroplane mode. In a departure from the tyran ny of obsolete design, the en tire case can be easily selfre paired, with modular parts that just screw on. There are six colours from pink to black. Shortly after launching the original pledge campaign on Indiegogo, the Space Case was 1 700% over funded on July 16. Now a sec ond campaign allows people to order a Space Case for $329 (over R4 560 at the time of print), which excludes deliv ery costs, by February 2016.
For more information on Witness Wheels advertising Contact Avir on 084 278 3447 or Avir@witness.co.za
there is still 251 litres of boot space. Land Rover said the group’s new highresolution 10,2inch touchscreen infotainment sys tem debuts in this Evoque, with
highly responsive and superfast seamless smartphone integra tion, doortodoor navigation, 3G connectivity and a premium sound system. Land Rover’s allaluminium fourcylinder petrol and diesel engines, and ninespeed auto matic transmission, power the Evoque, underpinned by Land Rover’s allterrain ability with a choice of fourwheeldrive pow ertrains, Terrain Response® sys tem, Wade Sensing and AllTer rain Progress Control, to ensure Evoque really is a convertible for all seasons, as Landy claims. The new Range Rover Evoque Convertible will be produced at Land Rover’s Halewood plant in the UK, alongside the fivedoor and coupé body styles, and goes on sale from May 2016, in more than 170 markets worldwide, in cluding South Africa. Pricing will start at £47 500 in the UK, which currently trans lates to a over a million rands in SA, excluding import taxes. But this model has been antici pated for so long that Land Rover dealerships in KZN expect to have more demand than models. Land Rover in Pietermaritzburg therefore advises customers who want to drive one of these exclu sive Evoques, to drop in and reg ister their interest early. — WR.
NEW CV JOINTS LIGHTER, STRONGER BUILDERS of drift cars and after market tuners can look forward to the local release of new, lighter CV joints from GKN Driveline. This global leader in automotive driveline technologies has developed a new family of lightweight constant velocity joint (CV joint) systems that enable rearwheel drive platforms to save more than 4kg of weight. Karl Berger, GKN Driveline senior director of constant velocity joints, said: “GKN innovations make vehi cles better to drive and more effi cient. For premium rearwheel drive programmes seeking CO2 emissions reductions, this system represents a step forward in weight, efficiency, performance and refinement for pre mium rearwheel drive cars.” GKN’s new VL3 CV joint increases torque capacity by up to 27% with no increase in packaging size.
Available in four sizes, the VL333ISM variant now has a torque capacity of 3 300Nm in a package previously capable of delivering only 2 600Nm. The VL3 CV joint system can also maintain performance while reducing package size by approxi mately seven percent. Berger said GKN has pioneered the development of CV joints for more than 60 years. “The latest inno vations offer improvements in every area of importance for automakers, including strength, endurance, effi ciency and weight, helping to pro duce a dynamic driving performance and optimising power delivery from the engine to the wheels. We have also minimised backlash, which leads to a refined driving experience.” The VL3 has recently been named as an Automotive News 2016 PACE Award finalist. — WR.
Adam gets swing top roof Opel has released a limited edition of only 150 Adam models with a swing top canvas roof, 15 mm higher road clearance, extra cladding around the sides with front and rear skid plates, as well as the whole list of features in the 1,0 Adam Glam that have sparked 120 sales of this awardwinning gem of a driver’s car each month. Opel calls the limited run the Adam Rocks, in a nod to parkour runners, and dealers will want R273 400 for it. PHOTO: QUICKPIC
A New Adventure By Pieter from Maritzburg I had an adventure this weekend. Some of my friends took me out bungee-jumping. I’ve never been great with heights, so at first I was very unhappy about hurling myself out into space. Once all the safety gear had been explained to me, though, it was fantastic. I needed to know I was safe so I could enjoy the thrill. Buying a new car is always a big adventure; and like any good adventure it should be a mixture of thrills and security. That’s why I’m excited to tell you about the brand new Passat Comfortline, which is launching at Barons Pietermaritzburg. The Passat Comfortline packs a whole lot of thrills and a whole lot of luxury into an affordable
package. Speed-sensitive power steering? Check. Automatic headlight activation? Check. Acoustic parking distance control? Check. Media system with 6.5” touch screen and 8 speakers? Check. Turbo Stratified Injection? Check. The list of features is as long as my bungee line. With Barons Pietermaritzburg’s unbeatable financial packages and after-sales service, you know you’re in good hands. So take my advice: take the new Passat Comfortline out for a spin, and have yourself an adventure! 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.
Choose one to suit your needs.
European car of the year.
Purchase a Polo hatch from R2,956* per month.
New Passat TSI 110kW Comfortline DSG from R4,999* per month.
Total Cost Incl fees & VAT
Vehicle Price
Polo 66kW TSI Comfortline
R229,300
R2,972*
72
7.65%*
6% 35% (R13,758) (R80,255)
R294,267
Polo 70kW TSI BlueMotion
R239,200
R2,956*
72
7.80%*
9% 35% (R21,528) (R83,720)
R296,548
Polo 81kW TSI Highline DSG R266,400
R3,214*
72
7.41%*
10% 35% (R26,640) (R93,240)
R324,647
Model
Vehicle Price
New Passat TSI 110kW R398,800 Comfortline DSG
-
Park Distance Control Side and curtain airbags European Car of the Year 2015
Monthly No. of Interest Rate Instalments Instalments Linked / Variable
R4,999*
36
6.68%*
Deposit
Guaranteed Future Value
Total Cost Incl fees & VAT
10.78%
R242,072
R422,025
Visit us on www.baronsvw.co.za
An optional cost of R900 incl VAT will be charged for metallic paint. Note: *Linked to FNB prime rate, currently 9.5%. Note: Offers calculated on the Polo 66kW TSI Comfortline, Polo 70kW TSI BlueMotion and Polo 81kW TSI Highline DSG range in standard specification. Instalment excludes optional extras, but includes monthly administration fee of R57. Offers may not be used in conjunction with any other special 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. 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 25 November 2015.
An optional cost of R900 incl VAT will be charged for metallic paint. Note: *Linked to FNB prime rate, currently 9.5%. Note: Offers calculated on the New Passat TSI 110kW Comfortline DSG model in standard specification. Instalment includes initiation and monthly administration fee of R57. Total Retail Price R398,800 at a Guaranteed Future Value of R242,072 based on 20 000km per annum Offers may not be used in conjunction with any other special 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. 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 25 November 2015.
• • • • •
Polo Vivo 2011 Polo Vivo 1.4 Trendline 5 Door 2013 Polo Vivo 1.4 Trendline 5 Door 2014 Polo Vivo Sedan 1.4 Trendline 2014 Polo Vivo 1.4 Trendline 5 Door 2014 Polo Vivo Sedan 1.4 Trendline 2015 Polo Vivo 1.4 Trendline 5 Door 2015 Polo Vivo GP 1.6 Comfortline Polo 2012 Polo 1.6 Comfortline 5 Door 2012 Polo 1.6 TDI Comfortline 5 Door 2014 Polo Sedan 1.4 Trendline 2014 Polo GP 1.2 TSI Trendline 2015 Polo GP 1.2 Comfortline Golf 2011 Golf GTI 2.0 FSI DSG 2013 Golf 7 1.4 TSI Comfortline DSG 2013 Golf 7 GTI 2.0 FSI DSG 2014 Golf 7 1.2 TSI Trendline 2014 Golf 7 1.4 TSI Comfortline Jetta 2012 Jetta 1.4 TSI Comfortline 2012 Jetta 1.2 TSI Trendline Up! 2015 Take UP! 1.0 55kW 2015 Move Up! 1.0 55kW Other VW 2010 Scirocco 2.0 TSI 2011 Tiguan 1.4 TSI Trend 2011 Touran 2.0 TDI Comfortline 2011 Touareg 3.6 FSI V6 2013 Volkswagen CC 2.0 TDI DSG BlueMotion 2015 Tiguan 1.4 TSI Trend 2015 Touareg GP 3.0 TDI V6 2015 Amarok Double Cab 2.0 BiTDI 4Motion Auto Other 2008 Mercedes Benz A170 2010 Audi A5 2.0 FSI Multitronic Sportback 2013 Hyundai Veloster 1.6 2013 Hyundai IX35 2.0 2015 Isuzu Double Cab KB300 D-Teq Auto 2015 Nissan Navara Double Cab 2.5 DCI
Mileage certified • Full Service history • 7-day exchange plan • Vehicle Customization • 24 Hr roadside assistance •
e&oe
Visit us on www.baronsvw.co.za
80-point mechanical check 2-year / unlimited km warranty* Vehicle History Integrity Check Balance of VW Automation Plan Professional Vehicle Reconditioning
Silver White Silver White Silver Silver White
R114 900 R119 900 R107 900 R132 900 R129 900 R149 900 R149 900
55 000 44 000 71 000 26 000 20 000 8 000 14 000
km km km km km km km
Red White White White Red
R165 900 R175 900 R148 900 R169 900 R224 000
31 000 58 000 32 000 34 000 9 000
km km km km km
Red White Red Silver White
R229 000 R219 900 R315 000 R208 900 R254 900
117 000 73 000 70 000 28 000 19 800
km km km km km
Silver White
R179 900 R155 900
57 000 79 000
km km
White Blue
R119 900 R125 000
6 000 5 000
km km
White Silver Grey Brown Black Silver Blue Beige
R199 900 R189 900 R204 900 R349 000 R279 900 R314 900 R679 000 R489 000
115 000 90 000 78 000 39 000 55 000 6 000 14 500 15 000
km km km km km km km km
Blue Grey Silver Silver White White
R109 900 R199 900 R189 900 R245 900 R379 000 R319 900
62 000 79 000 75 000 78 000 16 000 9 500
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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 - 073 744 8350 Sales Enquiries: 033 940 1445 Visit us on www.baronsvwpmb.co.za and find us on facebook.com/BaronsPietermaritzburg
Barons
Pietermaritzburg
9 Armitage Road, Pietermaritzburg, 3201 • Tel: 033 845 3100
Tiguan Trend & Fun from R299,900* incl. VAT
Tiguan TSI 90kW Trend & Fun for R299,900* incl. VAT vs Tiguan 2.0 TDI 81kW Trend & Fun for R319,900* incl. VAT The Tiguan TSI 90kW Trend & Fun standard features include:
The Tiguan 2.0 TDI 81kW Trend & Fun standard features include:
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90kW @ 5,000 r/min 200Nm @ 1,500-4,000 r/min Turbo Stratified Injection (TSI) 152g/km CO2 emissions 6-speed manual 16” Portland alloy wheels
81kW @ 4,200 r/min 280Nm @ 1,750-2,500 r/min Turbo Diesel Injection (TDI) 139g/km CO2 emissions 6-speed manual 16” Portland alloy wheels
Visit us on www.baronsvw.co.za An optional cost of R4550 incl VAT will be charged for metallic paint. Note: *Linked to FNB prime rate, currently 9.5%. Note: Offers calculated on the Tiguan TSI 90kW Trend & Fun and Tiguan 2.0 TDI 81kW Trend & Fun models in standard specification. Instalment excludes optional extras and monthly administration fee. Offers may not be used in conjunction with any other special 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. 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 25 November 2015.
New Sales Consultants
Alison Wiltshire – Sales Manager • John Brown • Merglin Rama • Menzi Ngubane Bahle Bhengu • Erica Neff • Thando Gumede • Keshnee Pillay
Sales Enquiries: 033 940 1445
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The New Passat TSI 110kW Comfortline DSG standard features include:
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WitnessWheels MOTORING
November 12, 2015
Merc lights it up Fleet operators celebrate success with the Daimler Group
A fullsize N3 Gateway map is now available at official tourists nodes on the highway. GRAPHIC: SUPPLIED
GATEWAY TO N3 AVAILABLE THE latest annual N3 Gateway map is now available at the 13 official N3 Gateway tourist nodes situated in the N3. The map shows activities and tourist attractions present ed by members of tourism asso ciations, cooperatives and mu nicipalities that have elected to
become members of N3 Gate way. First launched in 2008, the map and cartoon characters were developed by Darin Mi chau in collaboration with Des van Tonder of Des Designs and each edition has become a rare collector’s keepsake in their own right. — WR.
The real ‘Back to the Future’ U.S. company Terrafugia this week announced it is on track with its plans to build a viable flying car, but not quite as predicted for 2015 in the movie Back to the Future. The Terragugia is still far from going on sale as testing continues. PHOTO: TERRAFUGIA
MERCEDESBENZ on Monday formally announced its biggest deal yet, with 300 trucks worth close to half a billion rands sold to Imperial Logistics. Head of MercedesBenz Trucks, Clinton Savage, said that the deal is the single biggest deal yet for the group, which is why Imperial Logistics was judged most worthy, from clients in 150 countries, to receive the millionth truck built in Germany. To mark the group’s apprecia tion for the deal and formally hand over the millionth Actros truck tractor produced in Germa ny, clients and media were invited to a weeklong celebration of the power of impossibilities on the banks of the Vaal River in Van derbjilpark. A sunset cruise down the river between the Free State and Gaut eng was followed by helicopter flips to the FNB Stadium, where a massive laser light show recre ated seemingly threedimension al images of trucks, animals — even a shark eating one of several parachutists as he landed in the dark. Executive director of Daimler Trucks and Buses, Kobus van Zyl, explained the power of impossi bilities concept by referring to various highlights in the group’s recent history. These include the group introducing leased financ ing and then underwriting over a billion rand for cars and trucks in October last year, and surpris ing the geeks in Germany by mak ing telematics work in Africa. Van Zyl said that when South Africa asked for the group’s tele matic system called Fleetboard, Germany suggested pinging a truck every half hour. “In this time a truck can be sto len twice in Africa! Now one of our dealers shows realtime diesel consumption across the fleet on a screen, to show clients how Fleetboard constantly monitors each truck,” said Van Zyl. He recalled how it snowed in Pretoria when the group launched a usedtruck division, which now sells over 700 trucks a year, about a third of which go north to other African states. Van Zyl told Wheels that this percentage will improve, as Africa is a very important sales channel for all the brands sold by the group, namely Fuso, Freightliner,
Event coordinator Melissa Klein prepares for the first day of a weeklong trucking party on the banks of the Vaal River, where MercedesBenz this week treated clients and formally handed the millionth Actros truck tractor (in the background) made in Germany to Imperial Logistics, which is Merc’s most worthy client in 150 countries. PHOTO: ALWYN VILJOEN Western Star and Merc trucks. Another milestone was the in troduction of Americanstyle “nose trucks”, which fleet opera tors said were too long for South Africa’s legislation, but which now dominate the truck recovery scene and pull the longest road trains in Africa at Richards Bay Minerals.
The recent launch of the first medium trucks built in Daimler’s new plant India, which is on par with any factory in Germany, showed another impossible made possible. The many passengers using the Gautrain buses, all of which are build by MercedesBenz, is another success that the doubt
ers never saw coming. Van Zyl added that Daimler South Africa is obviously about making sales, but the process of making money starts by making magic with the best people. “We don’t want to sell the most trucks, we want to make a difference in the lives of our stake holders,” said Van Zyl. — WR.
‘Lurkers’ will make final cross country challenging at Mooi River 250 A STRONG field of 31 competi tors in cars and on quads have entered the final round of this years KZN cross country cham pionship which will be held in Mooi River this weekend. With the championship posi tions having been all but decided at the previous round in Harding, a no holds barred outlook should be expected from all the compet itors. Daniel Brookes and Gavan Gray have won the club and class a championship, but will earn some extra respect by winning on Saturday. They will have to contend with a number of crews who for one reason or another have a big score to settle. Arthur Barns has had two acci dent related retirements in a row, almost within sight of the start each time. Lance Trethewey will be out in
his monster Bat Venom and will have a point to prove considering how close he was to winning the National championship this year. After his successful season in the national cross country cham pionship, Gareth Woolridge will also be giving everyone a show with the impressive Ford Ranger that he campaigned in this years National series. The Class B championship for twolitre vehicles is certain to go the way of Rob Spencer and Kev in Theron. All they must do is ensure they reach the finish line, with second placed Marcus Taylor and Trace Price Moor the only crew with a mathematical chance of steal ing the title. Manfred Schroder, driving a Zarco, will be worth watching as he is very competi tive and generally wins or breaks. The clubman’s class has a
strong entry for this event on will be hotly contested. as will be the quad bike category. With conditions at this stage being extremely hot and dry, dust will prove to be a big problem for everyone, and to compound the problem the Mooi River area is well known for “lurkers” or rocks which line the edges, and often middle of the track. Often in the past though, or ganising an off road race has brought out the rain, so condi tions may be very different. The race will be based at the Mooi River polo cross grounds on Timm’s Farm, about an hour’s drive from Pietermaritzburg and come rain or shine, the day’s events promise petrolheads the best action all weekend. The prologue starts at 7.30 am. The main race will start at 10 am. Thanks to the six sponsors in
GRAPHIC: SUPPLIED cluding Tillit Contracting, Mav erick contracting, Inland Recov ery, KKK logistics, Brokenshas Delta Estcourt and RM trans
port. — Own Correspondent. Directions To get to Timm’s Farm, turn off
the R103 onto the P18 and follow the orange markers. Entry is free but the marshalls have to be obeyed.
November 12, 2015
MOTORING WitnessWheels
7
New technology to cut fuel consumption, CO2 emissions significantly
Merc staff proving diesel consumption and CO2 emissions can be significantly reduced with an integrated approach. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Mitsubishi SA offers ‘softer, quieter’ Triton MITSUBISHI Motors South Af congested urban areas and harsh rica (MMSA) has confirmed that offroad conditions alike. its nextgeneration Triton pick The fully revised suspension up range will be available in enables carlike ride comfort and Southern African markets from superb driving stability. Stiffer mid2016. suspension springs and expand “We are delighted to confirm ed stabilisers in front reduce the introduction of the allnew body roll, provide quicker han Triton in the local market. In dling response and ensure a safer countries where it’s already been ride when the driver is required launched, automotive journalists to make sudden manoeuvres to who have driven the new Triton avoid obstacles. The combina were extremely complimentary tion of finelytuned rear shock about the quiet carlike drive it absorbers and an extension of offers. The softer and quieter the rear leaf springs further con SUV type ride, complemented by tribute to a quieter and more the functionality of a traditional comfortable ride. load bin, prompted Mitsubishi’s The jewel in the new Triton’s engineers to label it a Sport Utili crown certainly is its newgenera ty Truck (SUT),” said Wynand tion 2,4litre turbo diesel engine. Pretorius, chief operations offi Its quick response at low revolu cer (COO) of MMSA. tions, along with the improved This is the fifth genera aerodynamic design of the new tion Mitsubishi Triton, drastically im pickup proves fuel and by far consump its most tion, re ad sponsive vanced ness and com acceler mercial ation. PHOTO: QUICKPIC vehicle to date. The sixspeed The new model manual and five has already started raking in ac speed automatic gearboxes con colades in countries where it has tribute to a smooth and nimble been introduced, including that driving experience similar to that of 2015 Truck of the Year by Auto of passenger cars. Express in the UK. This new lightweight engine The sleek and flowing design produces 133 kW and a whop of the new Triton results in a ping 430 Nm of torque and is dynamic and elegant look, as well matched to a choice of two newly as improved aerodynamic per developed transmissions result formance that contributes to ing in responsive acceleration better fuel efficiency. performance. Numerous noise The new Triton boasts a bold insulators, noise absorbing and grill framed by bixenon lights, damping materials are applied in strongly accentuated flanks and many parts of the body to further a larger load bay. “The new de reduce NVH levels. sign harks back to the popular The decision to construct the Colt, which was the topselling cylinder block from aluminium pickup in South Africa in the ear (another worldfirst from Mit ly 2000s,” said Pretorius. subishi’s engineers) resulted in a The unique Jline design that further 30 kg overall weight re was introduced on the current duction. The lighter overall body Triton range back in 2007 is re construction contributes to im tained in a more conventional proved responsiveness, excellent looking way on the new model handling and improved braking and helps give double cab pas reaction — all without compro sengers with classleading interi mising on safety considerations or length and overall comfort. or workload ability. The topof Seat shapes have been updated therange 4x4 double cab deriva with thicker side bolsters and tives will offer Mitsubishi’s tighter support for drivers to unique stateoftheart Super Se maintain a natural driving posi lect II 4wheel drive system, tion and to reduce driver fatigue which is also used in the Pajero on long journeys. and Pajero Sport ranges. This sys The Triton’s innovative design tem offers four types of driving results in a classleading turning modes including fulltime 4WD circle of only 5,9 metres and and 2WD which improves cor makes it a pleasure to drive in nering performance. — WR.
STUTTGART/ BERLIN — Using technologies available on the market, the fuel consumption, and therefore the CO2 emissions, of modern truck combinations can be reduced by a doubledigit percentage. This was the finding of a field test, the results of which were presented this week in Berlin by Daimler Trucks together with the project participants. These re sults from field tests with the name Efficiency Run will be of great significance in the future for achieving CO2 targets for road freight transport. This is because the Efficiency Run has demonstrated that fuel consumption, and therefore also CO2 emissions, can be signifi cantly reduced — also at lower cost — if optimisation efforts fo
cus not just on the engine of the tractor unit, but on the vehicle as a whole. Additional significant CO2 reductions, which could add up from factors like specific fuels, fleet operations or driver train ings, have not yet been consid ered in this field test. The series of tests was con ducted by Daimler Trucks in co operation with the leading Ger man logistics companies DB Schenker Logistics, GrosseVeh ne and Elflein. This involved gen uine freight being driven on gen uine routes under realistic condi tions. The tests were supervised in detail by the Dekra testing or ganisation, which laid down the test conditions, carried out the measurements and evaluated the results. One of the key results: The two MercedesBenz Actros
standard semitrailer combina tions that were optimised for the Efficiency Run each consumed around 12 to 14% less fuel than standard semitrailer combina tions of the respective transport companies based on their fleets in 2014. The Efficiency Run also investigated the potential of the Long Combination Vehicle — once again with a clear result. In the test, the standard Long Com bination Vehicle showed a reduc tion in consumption of around 17% compared with the standard semitrailer combination used in volumebased transport. The goal now is to adopt an integrated approach with com mercialvehicle manufacturers, body/tyre suppliers, logistics companies and, last but not least, politicians.
Daimler Trucks presented this concept together with other Eu ropean manufacturers at the 2014 IAA for Commercial Vehi cles. The objective of the integrat ed approach is to optimise the entire truck/transport system. In addition to the tractor unit, consideration is given also to the semitrailer (e.g. weights and di mensions, air resistance, light weight design), tyres (e.g. rolling resistance, air pressure, single tyres) and fuel (e.g. biofuel, natu ral gas). Yet the integrated ap proach also attaches importance to vehicle operation (e.g. driver training, cargo pooling), infra structure and the issue of fleet re newal. The Efficiency Run has now demonstrated that the inte grated approach works in real world practice. — Supplied.
Fiat joins SA’s hot bakkie race Vehicle developed in tight secrecy under codename Projecto Fiat 226
The new Fiat bakkie that is coming to SA next year, able to carry over a ton, on either 4x2 or 4x4 drivetrains. PHOTO: SUPPLIED ALWYN VILJOEN HOT on the heels of the news of Renault’s Oroch bakkie, Fiat un veiled one of the most anticipat ed onetonners yet in the bakkie world to the world’s media at the Dubai Motor Show on Tuesday. Developed in tight secrecy un
der the codename Projecto Fiat 226, the latest bakkie from Fiat is called the Fullback and will be a boon for Johan Cloete, Fiat’s new project manager of Fiat De velopment to oversee a cam paign to get more people to buy Fiat’s commercial vehicles, which includes facelift deriva
tives of the Ducato and Fiorino vans as well as the Ducato Van, Minibus and Motorhome Chas siscab. Cloete has extensive commer cialvehicle industry experience, spanning more than 40 years, having previously worked in re tail as well as at OEM level for
V JOHAN CLOETE Fiat’s new project manager, Fiat Development
“We are serious about the future viability of the Fiat Professional brand in South Africa and believe its presence can be strengthened through the LCV development programme I have been tasked with heading up.”
MercedesBenz, Freightliner, FUSO, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and most recently MAN Trucks. “We are serious about the fu ture viability of the Fiat Profes sional brand in South Africa and believe its presence can be strengthened through the LCV development programme I have been tasked with heading up,” commented Cloete. The new Fiat bakkie will come to South Africa’s shores next year on 4x2 or 4x4 drivetrains, powered by a 2,5 turbo diesel or a 2,4 petrol, both with five speed transmissions and both licenced to carry 1,1 tons. Fiat’s bakkie roots go all the way back to the 1951 Woody and follows in the highly successful tyretracks of the halfton Fiat Strada that was sold locally until 2012, as well as Fiat’s less suc cessful 2007 collaboration with Tata to build and sell a bakkie in Argentina.
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WitnessWheels MOTORING
November 12, 2015
Rotax karting at its finest 10 South Africans among 288 drivers taking part in 2015 Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals THIS week in Portimao, on the beautiful Algarve coast of Portu gal, 10 South African kart racers will take on the world’s best driv ers at the 2015 Rotax Max Chal lenge Grand Finals. This year sees the 16th running of the Grand Finals, effectively the world championship for the Ro tax karting series which has revo lutionised kart racing in the past two decades. The Rotax organis ers point out that the 288 drivers competing at the Kartodromo In ternacionale do Algarve — part of a huge motorsport complex locat ed in the Algarve’s secondlargest city — have earned their place in the finals as the top racers in 2015 in their respective countries, where some 15 000 Rotax karters raced across the globe. The Rotax series is unique in many ways, most notably that, un like many other karting champi onships, only champions, or vice champions in their countries may take part in the series. This means that the level of competition in the Grand Finals is the highest in the world, and to ensure even tighter competitions, all drivers compete in brandnew identical kart chassis with brandnew iden tical engines, supplied by Rotax of Austria — so, no special tuning or modifying. The Rotax Grand Finals 2015 got underway on Sunday, Novem ber 8 with a welcoming ceremony, with the action due to start on track at the Kartodromo today, November 10, after the drivers have taken delivery of their brand new karts via a raffle system. In addition to the karts, each driver receives a kart trolley, tyres and fu el for the weeklong competition and tools. No other race series in the world offers this level of sup port to its competitors. By a series of qualifying and elimination heats the top 34 driv ers from around the world in each of the four Rotax classes will fight for the world championships on Saturday, November 14. The Fi nals action starts early on Satur day morning, and viewers here in South Africa can follow the action via livestreaming video, by going to www.rotaxkart.com, and acti vating the video option. South Africa has an amazing record in the history of the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals, run each year since 2000. No less than 12 World titles have been won by South Africans in this ultracom petitive karting arena. Gavin Cronje won the very first Grand Finals in Peurto Rico in 2000 and since then our World Champions include Claudio Piaz
tional title rewarded the faith shown by karters in his “home town”. 2015 Africa Open Junior Max Champion Delano Fowle is just 16, but he has already logged a decade of karting experience, having be gun racing at the age of five! He began showing serious form last season when he finished second in the Western Province Junior Max series and third in the South African Junior Max Champion ship. His win in the Africa Open Championship rewarded a few years of running right at the sharp end of the field in Junior Max. • While not competing as South Africans, three young karters who are based in SA will be competing as Portuguese na tionals in the Micro Max series in Portimao. SA does not run a Micro Max series here, so these youngsters do not form part of the official SA Team. Those competing are Cameron Dias, Joshua De Paiva and Daniel Paiva. Each of the 288 competitors from around the world receive brand new karts, engines, tyres, kart trolleys and tools to compete in the 2015 Rotax Grand Finals in Portugal. PHOTO: MOTORPRESS zaMusso, Mark Cronje, Cristi ano Morgado (four titles), Wes leigh Orr (two titles), Leeroy Poulter and Caleb Williams (two titles). In the 2014 Grand Finals in Spain, South Africa won the prestigious Nations Cup, so this year’s team has a huge reputation to live up to. DD2 GEARBOX 2015 South African DD2 Champi on is Bradley Liebenberg. Bradley is only 16 years old, but this pupil at Crawford College in Lonehill, Sandton, has made his mark in a remarkably short space of time. He won championships in his rookie year in 2012, including the Africa Open championship in the Junior Max class, and in 2014 he won both the Junior Max and DD2 Gearbox national titles, at the age of 15 the youngest driver ever to win in DD2. 2015 Africa Open DD2 Cham pion Chad Maciver started kart ing at a young age and in 2007 he was SA GP Junior Champion. Since then, this 20yearold stu dent at the Vega School of Brand Leadership in Gauteng has a num ber of karting titles to his credit, including the 2012 Senior Max Regional championship and the South African Senior Max Cham pionship that same year. SENIOR MAX CHALLENGE 2015 South African Senior Max
The other Cameron Dias races karts at international level. PHOTO: MOTORPRESS
Champion Jonathan Aberdein has had a remarkable career in karting. He started just four years ago, and in 2015 he was on course to win both the Senior Max ti tles and DD2 titles in the SA Championship, before opting to concentrate on winning the Senior Max crown, which he did in fine style. 2015 Africa Open Senior Max Champion Jordan Sher ratt is 16 years old and hails from Umhlanga and he attends the Two Bridges School in Dur ban North. He started karting in the Cadet class at the age of six, and he has since won two titles in the Junior Max Class, in 2013 and 2014. This year he did not compete for a National Championship karting title as he has also embarked on a car racing career, racing a Ford Fo cus in the local Extreme Festival and a Nissan 350Z, and he is al so on a short list for a drive in the Audi TT series in Europe in 2016. DD2 MASTERS 2015 Africa Open DD2 Masters Champion Michael Stephen (34) has won a total of 11 South African Championships, seven of them in karts and four of them in production cars. He has competed extensively in in ternational karting, and in 2003 he finished fourth in the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals held at Zwartkops, near Pretoria. Since then he has made a name for himself in Pro duction Car racing, winning three SA titles for the Audi team, which he manages as well. 2015 SA DD2 Masters Champion Ronnie Baptista, known as Ronnie to his friends in the karting fraternity, won both the SA DD2 Masters title and the Regional title in 2015. It was a fine effort, after a sab batical from karting. JUNIOR MAX 2015 South African Junior Max Champion Dino Stermin is 16 years old and only started kart ing two years ago. Thus his achievement in winning the very competitive Rotax Junior
Max title is quite remarkable, as he was competing against many youngsters who have up to a dec ade of racing experience. Dino
was awarded the Driver of the Year trophy in the Western Prov ince in his very first season in 2014, and his 2015 Junior Max Na
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