Wheels 12 oct 2015

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

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Mazda2 1.5 Active Manual R188 000

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Double Cab from R370 400.

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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.

• • • • •

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6

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.

8

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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