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November 26, 2015

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Witness

WHEELS

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2014 Porsche Macan s Diesel Auto, White, 9000kms, 18 Inch Mags, PDC, Electric Front Drivers Seat, MFS, A/Con, Touchscreen Radio, Black leather interior, F1 Style Paddle Shift, Speedocruise, Climate Control, Electric Boot...AS NEW

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Sideways action at Mason’s

National drifting champion Paolo de Gouveia (left) and local sideways hero Reece Williams will be two of over 40 very skillful drivers smoking rubber at Mason’s Mill on December 6.

Entry to the event will be R50 for adults and R20 for children under 10 years old. See below for the Wheels giveway to the event. PHOTOS: FILE ALWYN VILJOEN THE thousands of sideways fans in Msunduzi stand a chance of not only seeing their faces on Fa­ cebook, but also on Ignition TV as the KZN capital hosts a Drift­ ing and Spinning Festival at Ma­ son’s Mill near Edendale on Sun­ day, December 6.

Top KZN sideways driver Reece Williamson will use the Nissan GT­R engine in his Beem­ er to show national SA drifting champion Paulo de Gouveia a trick or two.

Local drift king from Pieter­ maritzburg Garth Harwood will also join the line­up among many other contenders for the most points on the day.

Andre Karrim from Thrill Seekers has confirmed to Wheels he will be filming the day’s activi­ ties and fans for Ignition TV, which airs across Africa on Multi­ choice on Channel 189.

“Maritzburg’s drifting fans are unique in all of KZN and I look forward to meeting as many of them as possible again,” he said.

The last time Mason’s Mill fea­ tured on Ignition TV was when Thrill Seekers exposed the huge need for a safe drifting and spin­ ning venue in KZN’s capital in February, when what was sup­ posed to be a bit of tyre­burning fun between a few fellow drifters turned into an impromptu mass event, at which two independent head counts tallied more than 3 200 spectators on the banks of the old bus depot.

Even the crew of Bradley Turbo Racing came from Durban to challenge the local drivers, bring­ ing 150 fans with them.

While the Msunduzi Munici­ pality deserve a pat on the back for renting out a safe space where the city’s petrolheads can let off steam next Sunday, drivers still await the municipality’s long­ term agreement to lease the un­ used municipal land at Mason’s Mill to the drifters.

One of the drivers at the Febru­ ary event, Kurt Volmink told Wheels it was not just the stunt drivers and drifters who would use the old bus depot, but also the

extreme 4x4 drivers, drag racers and rally drivers, as well as driver trainers. “Msunduzi needs a ven­ ue where petrolheads can build a safe mecca for motorsport and advanced driver training in KZN. It will be a coup for the city, but at times we think the city officials forget the promises they are quick to make after each tragic crash in which young drivers died after us­ ing public roads to race,” said Vol­ mink.

• In Howick, meanwhile, the local business chamber’s dream to turn land adjacent to the grass landing strip at Midmar Dam into a race track is progressing steadily.

The man with the vision, Manu Naidoo, said he will be us­ ing next week’s event at Mason’s Mill to demonstrate to council­ lors the numbers of fans attracted to; and the money involved with drifting and spinning.

Naidoo said the local econom­ ic development that motorsport events can catalise is “mind bog­ gling” and Howick wants to be the first to benefit.

Can the real Gary step forward?

WHEELS earned itself an egg fa­ cial after twice misnaming Gary Stokes, Suzuki dealer principal at Fury Motors in Pietermaritzburg, Stokes and his top Suzuki SUV salesperson Petrie van der Merwe both earned a trip to Suzuki Maru­ ti in New Delhi after winning two of the six places in a competition

among Suzuki dealerships in South Africa. The pair achieved the highest sales of sport utility vehicles for a small dealership in SA during the third quarter and say they would next like to show anyone in a big SUV why Suzuki’s smaller sport utes rule.

Stokes said the visit to India

will be an eye opener, as car sales happen on a much greater scale in the world’s fourth­biggest economy.

Wheels apologises for the mis­ naming and looks forward to re­ port on the secret of the dealer­ ship’s success after the journey to India.

‘Wheels’ freebee Ten readers stand to each get a R50 ticket to the Spinning Festival at Mason’s Mill near Edendale on Sunday, December 6, by just calling 061 682 7232. First come, first served!

McCARTHY RENAULT PIETERMARITZBURG 9 Armitage Road, Pietermaritzburg. Tel: 033 940 1438

2013 Renault Stepway 1.6 45 000km, FSH, Full House

2014 Renault Koleos 2.5 Auto 4x4Full House, s/roof, Sat/Nav,PDC, bal of Service Plan & Factory Warranty

2015 Renault Duster 1.5 Dci 4x2 New Spec 6000km, Full House, Leather, Nav

WAS R109 990

WAS R299 990

WAS R259 990

R104 990

2015 Stepway 900T 15 000km, Full House

WAS R169 990

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R249 990

2015 Renault Megane 1.6 Dynamique 5 000km, Full House, Sat/Nav

2014 Renault Fluence 1.6 Expression (Demo) 25 000km, full house, bal of Service Plan and Factory Warranty

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R154 990

R234 990

R149 990

2015 Renault Clio IV 900T balance of Service Plan & Factory Warranty, Full House, Sat/Nav

2015 Renault Stepway 900T Delivery Mileage Full House, Bal of Service Plan & Factory Warranty

2015 Clio IV 900T Dynamic Delivery Mileage, Full House, Sat Nav, Balance of Service Plan & Factory Warranty

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WAS R179 990

NEW LIST R219 990

R174 990

R164 990

R204 990

2013 Suzuki Alto GLS 15 000km, Full House

2010 Hyundai Tucson 2.0 GLS Full House, Leather, Cruise Control

2015 Nissan NP200 1.6 a/c, p/s, delivery km

WAS R109 990

WAS R139 990

NEW LIST PRICE R156 990

R89 990

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2014 Nissan NP300 2.0 LWBCanopy, p/s

2014 Nissan NP300 2.0 SE LWB Canopy, a/c, p/s

2014 Ford Figo 1.4 Ambiente Full House 2013 Also Available @ R 99 900

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ALL TRADE-INS WELCOME - FINANCE AVAILABLE On Road Fees Excluded. Ts and Cs apply. E&OE. Full service history | 101-point vehicle compliance check | Vehicle integrity check | 2-year Renault assistance | 30-day guarantee www.renaultpmb.co.za Ishaad Rahiman: Nicholas Ruzaid Neil Chantel 084 274 7867 Mdluli: Mahomed: Pandaram: Senekal: Sales Manager 033 940 1439 033 940 1440 033 940 1441 033 940 1442 Ishaadr@mcmotor.co.za

2

WitnessWheels MOTORING

November 26, 2015

Ultimate value offer?

PUPILS CAN SEND DREAM CAR DRAWINGS

BRIAN BASSETT ponders on reincarnations in a Toyota Corolla Quest 1.6l

IF you have a wild imagination, an overload of creativity and are un­ der 15 years old, then Toyota South Africa Motors is looking for you.

If you like to draw, then you should enter the 10th annual To­ yota Dream Car Art Contest. The contest runs from November 15, 2015 to March 1, 2016.

The contest is held once a year, with Toyota affiliates around the world conducting a national com­ petition in three age categories namely: under eight years old, eight to 11 years old and 12 to 15 years old.

The top five contestants win prizes on a national level and the top three are subsequently en­ tered into the international com­ petition which is judged in Japan with Akio Toyoda.

This year’s theme is “Your Dream Car”.

All contestants are encouraged to showcase their imagination and draw the car of their dreams.

The car could fly, clean the envi­ ronment, save children’s lives and even create world peace — no dream is too small for this compe­ tition.

The competition will be judged by a panel which includes the To­ yota South Africa’s creative team and creative directors from Jo­ hannesburg Advertising Agency, FCB. “The Dream Car Art Contest gives Toyota a glimpse into the minds of children around the world. It allows us to see their hopes and dreams for their coun­ tries and the world at large.

“It also provides a platform for us to showcase South African tal­ ent to the world.

“This competition is held dear to our hearts and we are always excited to see what the children of South Africa have in store for us. We would like to encourage all South African children to enter.

We love seeing your dreams,” said Glenn Crompton, vice president for marketing at Toyota South Af­ rica Motors.

Entry forms will be delivered to selected schools across the coun­ try and will be available from all Toyota dealerships. In addition, all information including the poster, entry form, questionnaire and the Terms and Conditions of the com­ petition as well as the list of schools can be found on the Toyo­ ta website at www.toyota.co.za.

— Wheels Reporter.

REINCARNATION is a com­ mon theme in the South African motor industry and models which might have been phased out have their lifecycles pro­ longed and are sold into the mar­ ketplace as good value cars.

These cars always sell in num­ bers, appealing both to private buyers seeking durability and good value, as well as to fleet buyers, who look at the bottom line and the need to keep costs down without sacrificing quali­ ty.

Here I think of cars like the Volkswagen Citigolf, the Ford Figo, until recently a 5th genera­ tion Fiesta clone, as well as the Toyota Tazz, which car contin­ ued to sell on the South African market for 10 years after it had been phased out in the rest of the world.

The Toyota Quest is in many ways a reincarnation of the wild­ ly popular 10th generation Co­ rolla. Our thanks to Deon Oliv­ ier, new vehicle sales manager at McCarthy Toyota Pietermaritz­ burg for making the vehicle available to us for a short while.

Styling Buyers of the Toyota Quest usu­ ally seek a proven product backed by a recognisable badge rather than flamboyant design, although Toyota have added a little here and subtracted a little there and created a very hand­ some car reminiscent of its pre­ decessor, but still its own man and very much Toyota.

The car has tweaked head­ lights and a front end which seems to flow effortlessly up­ ward from the black front grille across the wide bonnet to a quite high roof, bolstered by high­ paneled sides. The rear is domi­ nated by redesigned tail lights and the side indicators have been shifted from the door mir­ rors to the fenders. The car also has a more elongated shape than the previous Corolla to house the enlarged boot.

Interior The interior of the Quest retains its quality feel and the seats are covered in robust cloth. The car shares its front seats with the

Buy local for the best bargain: a Quest goes through its final insepction at Prospecton.

PHOTO: QUICKPIC current Corolla promoting economies of scale. The seats are comfortable and fully adjusta­ ble. The steering is telescopic and tilt, but there is no multi­ function steering wheel availa­ ble in any of the three models in the range.

The interior is spacious and the car is a full five­seater. The driving position, as with its pre­ decessor, is very comfortable and the analogue dials, backed by digital information areas is both sufficient for the driver’s needs and can be viewed with­ out losing sight of the road.

Air conditioning is effective and the front windows operate electrically, as do the two side mirrors.

The rear bench is unfortu­ nately now fixed, but the boot behind it can take 450 litres of luggage, enough for the average family’s holiday.

The car loses an overhead console; map reading light and

sun visor vanity light and the cloth door inserts on the previ­ ous Corolla are replaced with vinyl, while the carpets are made locally, just like the car.

Most of the edited features are trivial, but I really missed the radio/CD/USB/Aux set­up, which is only available on the Plus model. Nonetheless it is easily possible to have a good system installed locally.

Safety and security Here the car performs well. To­ yota knows it will carry families.

The car has ABS/EBD, Emergen­ cy Brake Assist, dual front air­ bags, ISOFIX anchor points and remote central locking and im­ mobilizer.

Performance and handling The Quest has the 1ZR­FE en­ gine used in the current Corolla.

It is a four­cylinder, 1,6 litre pet­ rol engine driving the front wheels via an easy­changing six­

speed manual, or four­speed au­ to gearbox. The engine produces 90 kW/154 Nm, so the car has oomph. Zero to 100 km/h ar­ rives in around 10,5 seconds, while top speed is 195 km/h for the manual model and 185 km/h for the auto model.

Toyota engines are efficient and fuel consumption comes in at about 6,8 litres per 100 km.

The driving experience is pleas­ ant and refined.

The car feels substantial from behind the wheel and with the manual box, which I prefer, it is responsive and willing.

In town the ride quality comes into its own and parking at shop­ ping centres is easy, although I must say that I missed a park as­ sist function when parking the vehicle in the city centre but, once again you can have one in­ stalled at little cost.

On the highway the car per­ forms superbly.

All you have to do is to get to

know the gear ratios and at 3 000 rpm it will pass anything easily. I also took the car onto the D­roads and was pleasantly surprised. At speed on gravel or sand the Quest is absolutely sta­ ble and easy to drive. It almost encourages you to push the driv­ ing envelope.

Costs and competition The Quest is almost the ultimate good value proposition.

The list price for the entry model is R185 700; the Auto is R199 900 and the Plus R198 900.

These days the papers are full of special offers on these cars and in one case I saw a dealer offering R10 000 off the price and the promise of a spectacular deal on your trade­in. Toyota is clearly using the Quest to get new customers for the brand.

Also look at the Honda Bal­ lade, Suzuki Ciaz, Volkswagen Polo and Kia Rio sedan.

New Suzi breaks cover in Italy

Know your rights in a road block

SUZUKI has unveiled the latest version of the legendary GSX­ R1000 sportsbike at the Eicma Motorcycle Show in Milan, Italy, last week.

Suzuki said the sixth genera­ tion 2016 racer is not only the lightest, most compact and cleanest­running GSX­R ever built but — thanks to its unique VVT­I technology — but also the most powerful and hardest­ accelerating in the proud 30­ year history of the GSX­R. New from the ground up, most of the major parts and components of the redesigned GSX­R1000 have been refined, reworked and improved to keep it ahead of the pack and regain Suzuki’s King of Sportbikes crown.

The heart of the new R1 000 with its new variable valve tim­ ing makes it the most powerful GSX­R engine ever built, with increased top speed, optimised

JOHANNESBURG — The Min­ istry of Transport said there were 845 roadblocks across the country during December last year and warned it can be easy for people to find themselves unintentionally on the wrong side of the law.

Head of FNB’s Law on Call Tertius Bossert gave the follow­ ing tips on your rights when you get stopped at a roadblock.

“When you are stopped at a roadblock, the law enforcement officer will ask you for your per­ sonal details, of these you are obliged to give your name and address. Similarly, you are enti­ tled to ask an officer for proof of identity,” said Bossert.

You may not be arrested for any outstanding traffic fines, if there is no warrant of arrest for the fines. However, if you have given the officer cause to arrest you, it is not advisable to resist arrest.

In SA late next year — Suzuki’s new GSX­R1000.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED dimensions to improve corner­ ing and handling, and increased performance and rideability with the help of MotoGP de­ rived racing technology.

The new chassis is the most compact GSX­R1000 chassis ever produced, making it the

lightest and most aerodynamic in history.

“We are extremely excited that the new GSX­R1000 will ar­ rive on our shores before the end of next year,” says Stuart Baker, national sales manager for Suz­ uki Motorcycles. — WR.

Get a designated sober driver if you plan to drink.

PHOTO: ADFORUM.COM “If you are arrested, the ar­ resting officer is required to read you your rights immediately, and he must take you directly to a police station, nowhere else,” explains Bossert.

Depending on what you are arrested for, you will have the

right to apply for bail at the po­ lice station. Getting yourself out of a police station is not a complicated process, however, quality legal advice can go a long way in ensuring you’re never alone when an unexpected legal matter arises. — Supplied.

MOTORING WitnessWheels

November 26, 2015

3

KIA PLANS TO MAKE JAMS A PLEASURE

For the love of driving

KIA Motors plans to introduce a range of partially­autonomous driving technologies to its model line­up in the next five years, and is aiming to bring its first fully­au­ tonomous car to market by 2030.

Tae­Won Lim, vice president of Central Advanced Research and Engineering Institute of Hyundai Motor Group, commented: “Fully­ autonomous vehicles are still some way off, and a great deal of research and rigorous product testing will need to be carried out to make the ‘self­driving car’ a re­ ality. KIA is still in the early stages of developing its own technolo­ gies, and we are confident that the latest innovations — both partially and fully autonomous — will ultimately make driving safer for everyone.”

The new technologies current­ ly under development includes re­ mote parking and automatic highway driving with smart cruise control — both of which systems already exists — but pundits are excited about Kia’s Traffic Jam Assist. Kia said this system will help make light work of heavy congestion by tracking the vehi­ cle in front during moderate­to­ highly congested traffic condi­ tions.

The system employs a range of sensors to maintain a safe dis­ tance from the car in front and keep the vehicle within its lane.

Using TJA, drivers will find it easier — and more relaxing — to navi­ gate traffic jams on often­con­ gested roads. — WR.

Mazda’s latest roadster even closer to delivering an intuitive ride, like a horse

Going back to its roots, the new MX5 is the most compact Mazda roadster yet.

PHOTOS: QUICKPIC ers linear pull from a standstill to redline along with outstand­ ing real­world fuel economy in all Mazda models.

The best part of the Skyactiv tech is that it uses Mazda’s ver­ sion of stratified injection with dual sequential valve timing, multi­hole injectors and special piston cavities to ensure fuel and spark meet at high pressure

(13:1) and at precisely the right moment to ensure efficient and effective combustion that re­ quires no turbo to blow in extra air or higher octane to limit knock.

A lighter and more compact intake and exhaust systems also squeezes the most from the en­ gine by enhancing torque, and it does not sound half bad either.

Only one model goes on sale in South Africa, the 2.0 petrol engine that is specially tuned to make 118 kW at 6 000 rpm and 200 Nm at 4 600 rpm. A six­ speed manual transmission sends power to the rear.

The new engine is eight kilo­ grams lighter than the 2.0­litre engine for the previous model, delivering quicker acceleration

and a combined fuel economy of 6,7 litres per 100 km.

The engine adopts an alumi­ num head cover that harkens back to the first­ and second­ generation models.

Adopting a thinner material while maintaining NVH per­ formance, the new head cover minimises the amount of weight increase and present functional beauty in the engine compart­ ment.

David Hughes, managing di­ rector of Mazda Southern Afri­ ca, said this is the most compact MX5 yet, but the inside has not been stripped out to save weight.

There is a heads­up cockpit concept with stylish analogue gauges and a seven­inch display located on the dash for easy viewing of infotainment and communication­related infor­ mation, including the group’s MZD Connect smartphone con­ nectivity system, which is oper­ ated using the rotary command­ er or voice command.

A nine­speaker premium sound system is paired with a high­efficiency seven­channel hybrid amplifier to deliver clear sound.

A three­year unlimited kilo­ metre factory warranty with roadside assistance and a service plan are included with the price of R389 800. — WR. 22195

THERE is a reason why the pre­ vious three models of Mazda’s MX5 went on to become the world’s most popular roadster.

Mazda’s marketing material calls it Jinba Ittai — Japanese for the relationship between a good horse and its rider. We call it an intuitive ride. Other motoring hacks simply say the little MX5 has soul.

Whatever this elusive ele­ ment is, it has helped to shift these Mazda sportscars in num­ bers for the past 25 years, leaving other, arguably better sportscars from Japan far behind, stuck on the showroom floor.

Talking of showrooms, since Mazda and Ford agreed to sepa­ rate in South Africa, the MX5 is now available at 45 Mazda deal­ ers across the country, and Maz­ da in Pietermaritzburg is keen to show you how the group’s Skyactiv Technology performs in this little roadster.

Enthusiastic drivers can look forward to especially tuned en­ gines and transmission adapted for the front­mid engine, rear­ wheel drive layout, ideal 50:50 front­rear weight distribution with shorter overhangs, a low yaw inertia moment and the lowest centre of gravity yet as well as the redesigned chassis that will improve the MX5’s al­ ready legendary agility.

The Skyactiv tech really deliv­

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WitnessWheels MOTORING

November 26, 2015

vs The Mercedes­Benz V­Class updates the Sprinter range with all the luxuries you can find in a C­Class, but the the VW Caravelle takes the fight right back to Merc with a value offering good enough to want to make us forget how the bosses in Wolfsburg lied to the world. PHOTOS: ALWYN VILJOEN, QUICKPIC

Luxurious family luggers Whether to make a statement or get there through the mud, there is a German van for the job ALWYN VILJOEN VOLKSWAGEN Commercial Vehicles on Monday presented the sixth generation of the popu­ lar T­Series model — just in time for me to compare its top­ end family lugger, the Caravelle Highline, with the rockstar V­Class Avantgarde from Mer­ cedes­Benz.

Now, before you ask, I did not check for any hidden devices de­ signed to obscure emissions in the Caravelle, because South Af­ rican car buyers are quick to for­ give and faster to forget, even aft­ er being left high and dry by an importer, as Hyundai gratefully points out. Secondly, our local emissions limits are so high, in some some towns the smoke from VW’s diesels are actually cleaner than the air. So I focused on comparing bells and whistles.

MARKETING PRAISE SONGS Merc states its V­Class “com­ bines room for up to eight people and exemplary functionality with high­class appeal, comfort, efficient driving enjoyment and safety”, adding this makes the V­Class Avantgarde “the perfect vehicle for everyone who appre­ ciates boundless space but does not want to sacrifice style and comfort”.

VW calls its Caravelle High­ line “a unique proposition” among vans. “The core element of its versatility is the hugely vari­ able seating in the back. No mat­ ter what it has to transport or carry, the Caravelle has an answer ready to handle almost any task.”

Neither company is exagger­ ating too much either, as both vans are big, capable and about equally packed with features at entry level. Under the hood, things are however, very differ­ ent.

DRIVETRAINS

The Caravelle has a 2­litre bi­tur­ bo engine that makes 132 kW at 4 000 rpm and 400 Nm from 1 500 rpm, matched to VW’s 7­speed DSG transmission.

The top­of­the­line V 250 Blu­ eTEC V­Class has a 2.2­litre four­cylinder turbo­diesel en­ gine with two­stage turbocharg­ ing that makes 140 kW and 440 Nm from seemingly just above idle, matched to a six­ speed auto. Put foot and another 10 kW and 40 Nm pops up in “over­torque”. As a result, even I could get the flagship model to do the 0­100 km/h in under 11 seconds, which leaves the Cara­ velle far behind.

The V­Class wins under the hood with all that power, despite offering one less cog in the gears.

(A seventh gear with 7­GTronic is optional and costs R20 500.)

HANDLING Merc offers agility settings to shorten gear changes and stiffen the suspension for a drive that can get quite exhilaratingly even with the ESP on.

VW offers all­wheel­drive through its 4Motion system for those who have to get over sand or mud. The VW rides on 17­inch alloy wheels, while the Merc rolls on 17­, 18­ or 19­inch rims. The ride in both big vans benefits from smaller rims and higher sidewalls.

DRIVER ASSISTS Both the Caravelle and V­Class sport a raft of driver­assist sys­ tems, like ABS, ESP, Hill Hold Control. Both have voice recog­ nition, sat navigation system and Fatigue Detection.

The V­Class vibrates the steer­ ing wheel if you meander close to the lines, the Caravelle flashes a light and sounds an alarm to alert a tired driver. Park assist with a rear­view camera is op­ tional in the VW, costing R7 500,

compartment.

The Merc counters with a rear windscreen that can be opened and closed independently of the tailgate. This makes it a bit easier to load stuff onto the tray in tight parking spaces without opening the large tailgate.

The tray itself can carry 50 kilograms and has two reces­ ses, each of which holds an (op­ tional) removable and collapsi­ ble shopping basket.

Above: The interior of the Mercedes­Benz V­Class Avantgarde with its standard fold­out tables.

Below: The interior of the VW Caravelle Highline with its rounded tables and three­seater bench.

PHOTO: QUICKPIC

but is standard on the V­Class.

For an extra R14 500, Merc own­ ers can, however, spec four cam­ eras that generate a bird’s eye view of the V­Class, and another R11 k buys smart cruise control.

INSIDE To get inside, both vans offer electrical sliding doors. Both have seats that face front or back and both have tables.

The seats and table pillars of both are anchored to tracks in the floor so that they can be turned or shunted forwards or back­ wards. Both have 1.5 litre bottle and cup holders.

The back bench or seats in both vans move forward to in­ crease the luggage space, or back­ ward to make more leg room, with the bench in the VW moved by simply pulling a lever or loop from either front or back.

Merc and VW claim the seats are also easily removed, but you will need a strong helper to lift and carry the heavy seats should the need arise to turn your luxuri­ ous family lugger into a plain panelvan.

Both have climate control sys­ tems front and rear, but the Cara­ velle trumps the V­Class with roller sun blinds in the passenger

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

ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEMS The V­Class has Merc’s latest generation of Comand Online, which combines all audio, tele­ phone and navigation functions, and additionally offers an Inter­ net browser, the Linguatronic voice­control system and trans­ mission of traffic data in real time.

The optional Burmester sur­ round sound system with 16 high­performance loudspeakers, including a bass reflex loud­ speaker, does what it says in the handbook to deliver real listen­ ing pleasure.

In fact, this system is so good, it may be worth it to add this R10 000 optional extra to the Standard V­Class.

And a nice touch is a micro­ phone in the overhead control panel to transmit conversation between the driver and front pas­ senger to the rear loudspeakers so that the passengers sitting fur­ ther away can also hear them.

The Caravelle Highline comes standard with a 6,33­inch display coupled with a proximity sensor to sense your hand.

As it approaches the screen, functions appear on the screen and are readily available.

When functional inputs are not required, the full screen can be seen, increasing ease of visi­ bility. The display also responds to wiping and zooming gestures, as used in smartphones and tab­

lets. In the Merc, digital connec­ tion happens through a Direct Select lever with steering wheel shift paddles in the automatic models, as well as a touchpad that also allows the driver to ges­ ture at the pad, or enter charac­ ters in the same way as on a smartphone.

It has to be said the system is not intuitive, in the same way that Merc requires its automatic brake button to be pulled up to disengage and pushed in to en­ gage, but after a bit of prodding and a lot of muttering, I got things to work.

THE FINE PRINT Dealers for both brands offer guaranteed resale value if the deal is financed in­house.

As with all Mercedes­Benz passenger cars, the V­Class is in­ troduced standard with the class­leading Mercedes­Benz Premium Drive six­ year/100 000 km maintenance contract with no customer con­ tribution.

Caravelle models come stan­ dard with a three­year or 120 000 km manufacturer war­ ranty and five­year or 60 000 km Automotion Maintenance Plan. All VW vans have 15 000 km service intervals, while the Merc needs to see the mechanic every 40 000 km.

PRICING • V200 CDI Standard R695 981 • V220 CDI Standard R726 875 • 2.0 BiTDI Caravelle Comfortline DSG 132 kW R738 300 • 2.0 BiTDI Caravelle Comfortline 4Motion DSG 132 kW R770 800 • V250 BlueTEC R782 416 • 2.0 BiTDI Caravelle Highline DSG 132 kW R816 300 • 2.0 BiTDI Caravelle Highline 4Mo­ tion DSG 132 kW R848 800 • V220 CDI Avantgarde R949 175 • V250 BlueTEC Avantgarde R984 196.

Agility vs 4Motion it is tempting to let the price de­ termine the sale, but while the top Mercedes­Benz V­Class Avant­ garde cost R135 396 more thanthe top of the range, all­wheel drive Caravelle, the basic VW Caravelle Comfortline costs R42 319 more than the entry­level V­Class.

Better then to let the dealer’s trade­in and discount determine where you shop. But which one to

pick, as they are all so close? This depends on what you want to achieve with the van. If it to quietly show you have, indeed, arrived, let the Merc do the talking.

If it is to get to the farm, VW’s 4Motion will get through.

For anything else, like pupil or business transport, may we sug­ gest van buyers also check out Hyundai’s H1 or Ford’s Transit.

Get Ahead this Festive Season

By Pieter from Maritzburg The trouble with words of wisdom is that sometimes they seem to contradict one another. “Seize the Day!” says one, “Patience is a Virtue!” says another. How is a person to reconcile such conflicting good advice?

The folks at Barons PMB have an answer, combining the benefits of patience with the benefits of a go-get-’em attitude, and it’s tailor-made for the festive season.

Here it is: at Barons PMB you can purchase your vehicle in 2015, and have it delivered and registered in 2016.

What’s the point of that?

Well, by being patient and only taking possession in 2016, your first instalment is only payable in 2016 – that’s a great way to beat the usual Christmas budget squeeze.

As for seizing the day, that brings its own benefits. For one thing you beat any price increases. Better than that, your

Drive confident more often, for less.

vehicle is secured come the new year. The trouble with buying a car in the new year is that all of the factories and distribution centres close for the festive season, and when they reopen there’s always a queue. If you purchase in 2015, you’re right at the front of that queue.

So it turns out you can both seize the day and be patient, with a little help from Barons PMB! Just a word of warning: Some less-than-reputable dealers say you can take delivery this year and only register your car next year. It’s not a good idea: banks don’t like it, insurance won’t pay out if anything goes wrong, and you may even be found guilty of fraud! So do yourself a favour, and buy from the dealer with the best reputation: Barons PMB. 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.

Tiguan Trend & Fun from R3,999* per month.

2016 Registration now available.

Purchase a Polo 66kW TSI Comfortline from R1,899* per month.

Purchase a Tiguan Trend & Fun 4x2 BlueMotion from R3,999* per month.

– Guaranteed buyback** – Short term: 48 months R229,300

R1,899*

48

6.69%*

Polo 66kW TSI Comfortline

R229,300

R2,483*

48

6.94%*

Polo 66kW TSI Comfortline

R229,300

R3,065*

48

7.14%*

Guaranteed Future Value

20% 61% (R45,860) (R139,873) 10% 61% (R22,930) (R139,873) 61% 0% (R139,873)

Total Cost Incl fees & VAT

R231,025 R259,059

Polo Vivo 2013 Polo Vivo 1.6 Trendline 2014 Polo Vivo Sedan 1.4 Trendline 2014 Polo Vivo 1.4 Trendline 5 Door 2014 Polo Vivo 1.6 Maxx 2014 Polo Vivo Sedan 1.4 Trendline Tip 2015 Polo Vivo 1.4 Trendline 5 Door Polo 2012 Polo 1.6 TDI Comfortline 5 Door 2014 Polo Sedan 1.4 Trendline 2014 Polo GP 1.2 TSI Trendline 2014 Polo GTI 1.4 DSG 2015 Polo GP 1.2 Comfortline Golf 2011 Golf GTI 2.0 R DSG 2012 Golf 6 GTI 2.0 TSI DSG 2013 Golf 7 GTI 2.0 FSI DSG 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 Touareg 3.6 FSI V6 2011 Amarok Double Cab 90kW 2013 Volkswagen CC 2.0 TDI DSG BlueMotion 2015 Tiguan 1.4 TSI Trend 2015 Passat 1.4 TSI Comfortline DSG 2015 Amarok Double Cab 2.0 BiTDI 4Motion Auto Other 2008 Mercedes Benz A170 2013 Ford Kuga 1.6 EcoBoost 2013 Hyundai Veloster 1.6

e&oe

80-point mechanical check 2-year / unlimited km warranty* Vehicle History Integrity Check Balance of VW Automation Plan Professional Vehicle Reconditioning

Silver Silver White White Silver Silver

R139 900 R99 900 R132 900 R159 900 R139 900 R149 900

49 000 71 000 26 000 24 000 49 000 8 000

km km km km km km

White White White Red Red

R169 900 R141 900 R159 900 R259 000 R224 000

58 000 32 000 34 000 23 500 9 000

km km km km km

Red White Red White

R349 000 R259 000 R315 000 R254 900

68 000 132 000 70 000 19 800

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 Brown Silver Black Silver Silver Beige

R199 900 R349 000 R259 900 R279 900 R314 900 R409 900 R489 000

115 000 39 000 117 000 55 000 6 000 1 000 15 000

km km km km km km km

Blue White Silver

R109 900 R245 900 R189 900

62 000 35 000 75 000

km km km

*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

R340,900

R3,999*

72

6.86%*

11.03% R109,088 (R37,601)

R397,001

Tiguan 81kW TDI Trend & Fun 4x2 BlueMotion

R369,000

R4,199*

72

7.14%*

10.5% R137,268 (R38,745)

R439,589

Tiguan 118kW TSI Trend & Fun 4x2 BlueMotion DSG

R393,900

R4,499*

72

7.26%*

10.5% R146,728 (R41,360)

R470,685

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 model 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. **The Guaranteed Future Value is based on 20 000km p.a. 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 30 November 2015.

Mileage certified • Full Service history • 7-day exchange plan • Vehicle Customization • 24 Hr roadside assistance •

Tiguan 90kW TSI Trend & Fun 4x2 BlueMotion

R286,974

Visit us on www.baronsvw.co.za

• • • • •

Total Cost Incl fees & VAT

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 90kW TSI Trend & Fun 4x2 BlueMotion, Tiguan 81kW TDI Trend & Fun 4x2 BlueMotion and Tiguan 118kW TSI Trend & Fun 4x2 BlueMotion DSG models in standard specification. Instalment excludes optional extras, but includes initiation and 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 30 November 2015.

Trade-in assistance at Barons Pietermaritzburg.

2016 Registration now available.

Purchase any Passat, Volkswagen CC or Touareg and receive up to R60,000* trade-in assistance.

Offer exclusive to Barons Pietermaritzburg: Limited stock available.

Visit us on www.baronsvw.co.za An optional cost will be charged for metallic paint. Note: *Linked to FNB prime rate, currently 9.5%.

Note: Offers calculated on the Passat, Volkswagen CC and Touareg models in standard specification. *Trade-in assiatnce dependent on chosen model. 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 30 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

BP Advertising

Polo 66kW TSI Comfortline

Deposit

Deposit

Balloon Payment

Vehicle Price

e&oe

Vehicle Price

Monthly No. of Interest Rate Instalments Instalments Linked / Variable

Model

e&oe

Monthly No. of Interest Rate Instalments Instalments Linked / Variable

Model

2016 Registration now available.

6

WitnessWheels TRANSPORT MOTORING

November 26, 2015

Work starts at Ford Nigeria LAGOS — As part of its ambi­ tious expansion in Africa, Ford Motor Company assembled the first Ford Ranger in Nigeria this week.

The first Ranger to come off the assembly line was built in an existing facility with Ford’s Nige­ rian partners Coscharis. Ford an­ nounced it would produce Ran­ ger trucks in Nigeria in August.

Only the 2.5 petrol 4x4 dou­ ble­cab base and the 3.2 TDCi XLT 4X4 Ranger models will ini­ tially be assembled in Nigeria.

“The facility will accommo­ date one shift and will produce an initial 10 units per day for the Nigerian market, creating ap­

proximately 180 direct and indi­ rect jobs. Over time, this will gradually expand,” said Jeff Nem­ eth, president and CEO Ford Motor Company of Sub­Saharan Africa region.

“The main driver behind Ford in Africa is affordability. Africa is one of the youngest markets in the world and presents a huge op­ portunity in terms of consump­ tion,” he added.

“The buying power of the Afri­ can consumer is on the rise as the continent’s middle class increas­ es exponentially.

“Despite infrastructure chal­ lenges, Africa has demonstrated impressive returns on foreign di­

rect investment.”

Ford’s semi­knockdown (SKD) operation in Nigeria was established in partnership with the local Ford dealer group, Cos­ charis Motors Limited.

Dr Cosmas Maduka, president of Coscharis Motors, said: “We have worked hard and moved quickly to turn this dream into a reality. Today marks an impor­ tant milestone when the cogs in the wheel really start to turn, not only for Ford in Nigeria, but in general for the Nigerian industry, which is receiving a much needed boost towards industrialisation and the development of the auto­ motive industry.

“We are committed to setting the bar high, and establishing world­class, best practices in Ni­ geria that every other industrial­ ist will have to be judged by.”

The Ford Ranger trucks will be assembled at a semi­knockdown level, using body parts and com­ ponents imported from Ford’s Silverton Assembly Plant in South Africa.

“New assembly operations, even on a small scale, have posi­ tive knock­on effects in the local economy and workforce. In line with the operating procedures for Ford plants around the world, Ford will send experienced em­ ployees to Nigeria to assist with

implementing the Global Ford Production System, which focus­ es on the highest standards for safety, quality and delivery,” ex­ plained Nemeth.

Nigeria is a significant market in Ford’s Sub­Saharan Africa (SSA) region and accounts for a solid percent of the regional sales — the reason why Ford is com­ mitted to increasing market share in Nigeria, and other key African markets in the future.

A unified growth strategy for the continent, with the forma­ tion of the new Middle East and Africa business unit in 2014, has also enabled Ford to consolidate its efforts in Africa.

“Ford has taken steps to sup­ port its dealers in Africa, includ­ ing after sales support and ensur­ ing parts availability,” Nemeth said. “In addition, we are looking at training and skills transfer op­ portunities to enhance the conti­ nent’s skills base. In Nigeria, this includes a training programme co­ordinated by Coscharis Mo­ tors and the Lagos state govern­ ment including hands­on mod­ ules for technicians.

Supporting Ford’s growth and ability to service its customers, Nigeria is already home to one Quick Lane facility in Lagos with a further two planned for 2016 in Calabar and Ekiti. — WR.

Europeans vote for latest Navara bakkie THE all­new Nissan NP300 Na­ vara has won the coveted Europe­ an 2016 International Pick­up of the Year award at a ceremony in Lyon, France.

Nissan’s pick­up, already suc­ cessfully launched in several glob­ al markets, fought off stiff compe­ tition with judges praising its su­ perior on­road and off­road capabilities, strong engine per­ formance and payload capacity.

The new NP300 Navara under­ went the rigorous International Pick­up of the Year testing proc­ ess, being judged for its off­road ability, on­road performance and value for money.

It was also tested on its ability as a workhorse, which included comparing towing capabilities. .

The new NP300 Navara deliv­ ers smart comfort and refinement while maintaining the Navara’s ac­ claimed toughness with its off­ road ability, durability and load capacity. Its robust chassis intro­ duces a host of new features, in­ cluding an all­new five­link rear suspension for the double cab model and an impressive load bed, which is 67 mm longer than the previous model.

Philippe Guérin­Boutaud, cor­ porate vice president of Nissan

KEY SHOWS NEW ISUZU TO PLATINUM FLEET CUSTOMERS

The new Nissan Navara was voted Europe’s 2016 International Pick­up of the Year.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED Light Commercial Vehicles Busi­ ness Unit, said the award cele­ brates Nissan’s 80 years of bakkie expertise. Rigorous testing by In­ ternational Pick­up of the Year il­ luminated the tough and innova­ tive character of the all­new Nava­ ra. “Nissan is best known by its customers in Europe as the maker

of capable 4x4s and breakthrough crossovers. This new Navara rep­ resents the fusion of those two realms of excellence to deliver a truly breakthrough pick­up truck”, added Ponz Pandikuthira, director of Light Commercial Ve­ hicles for Nissan Europe.

“It is truly an honour to be se­

lected as the International Pick­ up of the Year by a panel of the most experienced commercial ve­ hicle journalists across Europe.

Thank you to the IPU jurors for this award and for this powerful endorsement of the new Nissan Navara’s product excellence”.

— Supplied.

KEY Pietermaritzburg launched the upgraded Isuzu to their Plat­ inum Fleet customers recently.

On site was the new Isuzu 3.0 LX double cab 4x4 auto which now features new additions that include: • Automatic gearbox; • PESS/Passive entry start sys­ tem; • DRL/Daytime running lights; and • Reverse camera coupled to a radio tuner with RDS, front load­ ing DVD player, MP3 functionali­ ty, Bluetooth Audio Streaming and Satellite Navigation.

Also tested on the 4x4 track by qualified instructors from the Isuzu academy was the brand

new 2.5 HO motor in double cab option which pumps out 100 Kw at 3 600 rpm and 320 Nm at 2 800 rpm.

This model is now available in a Hi Rider option, which is an af­ fordable option to the normal LE spec. Both the above vehicles come with ABS / EBD / BAS and ESC as standard features.

• Wheels will tomorrow take two Isuzu double cabs into Lesotho, entering at Ramatsiliso Gate — SA’s highest border post — and exiting at the notorious Onge­ luks Nek, after a weekend involv­ ing one of the most scenic mountain drives in southern Af­ rica. — WR,

When Pininfarina styles a tractor LOZ BLAIN

Inflatable ferry carries five tons Slovenia­based Hovercraft has announced an inflatable Ferryboat, which it says can be used for everything from flood rescue to transporting five tons of construction equipment, produce and animals. Prices start at just under R90 000, which includes aluminum ramps to allow loading the ferry from just about any firm surface, an electric pump that inflates the boat in minutes, a 3,7 kW electric outboard motor that is good for four knots and a solar cell to load the boat’s battery.

Hovercraft said the ferry has a five­centimetre draft, is basically unsinkable and will not tip, and expects to start shipping the Ferryboat sometime next year. Inset: The Ferryboat before it is inflated.

PHOTOS: HOVERCRAFT

CONCEPT cars and motor­ cycles are a dime a dozen. Con­ cept tractors?

They’re about as rare as hen’s teeth.

That hasn’t stopped Czech tractor company Zetor hitting the Agritechnica fair in Hannover with a pimpin’ concept that looks more Concorso D’Elegan­ za than field d’asparaguza, thanks to the help of storied Italian de­ sign house Pininfarina.

Bust out your Tiffany pitch­ fork, your Gucci overalls and your best Jimmy Choo gum­ boots, Concept Zetor by Pininfa­ rina is the only choice for fashion­ forward farming folk.

The Italian styling house, best known for its famous Ferrari de­ signs, has produced a concept tractor to inform Zetor’s future design direction. According to Zetor, the new design “shifts Ze­ tor to a more intense, emotional experience that is highly sensual, dynamic and modern”.

It looks pretty sweet in deep, rich red, although there’s no pho­ tos to show how it’ll look acces­ sorised with mud and cowdung.

The Concept Zetor by Pininfarina, based on a Zetor Crystal 160 stock tractor, which actually looks pretty good too.

PHOTO: GIZMAG It’s worth remembering that Ferrari’s famous competitor Lamborghini started out as a tractor maker itself and, in fact, still makes some pretty sweet looking farm machinery in its own right. So perhaps it’s not completely outrageous to apply high­end European styling to farm machinery. The changes ar­

en’t earth­shatteringly huge, and I’m not convinced they’re as like­ ly to sway the average farmer nearly as much as horsepower, re­ liability or practical touches.

But still, now we’ve seen a con­ cept tractor designed by supercar specialists, and that’s not some­ thing you can say every day.

— Gizmag.

8

WitnessWheels MOTORING

November 26, 2015

Hard shunting in Portugal SA team have mixed fortunes and few podiums at Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals STUART JOHNSTON

onto the 34­kart grid in the Fi­ nals is an honour, considering that all 288 drivers competing at the Grand Finals are champions or vice­champions in their re­ spective countries.

The other South Africans in the 10­driver squad suffered mixed fortunes. Jonathan Aber­ dein from Cape Town was one of the quickest drivers of all in practice in the Senior Max cate­ gory.

But, bizarrely, as he joined the circuit on his official qualifying run earlier in the week, his kart was rammed by another compet­ itor, knocking the exhaust pipe off, and as he failed to set an offi­ cial qualifying time he was out of the championship.

UMHLANGA’s Jordan Sherratt finished in third overall in the Senior Max class at the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals, the best place in the SA team that finished in second place behind the USA in Portimao in southern Portugal.

The 10­member South Afri­ can team scored 1 013 points to place second behind the USA, the winning Nation on 1 184 points.

In third place was the Nether­ lands, with no fewer than 52 countries scoring points in this most hotly contested karting championship in the world.

South Africa have an amazing record in the 16 Rotax Grand Fi­ nals held so far since 2000, our karters having won a total of 12 World titles in that time.

Last year South Africa won the Nations Cup for the first time.

Drama in DD2 Masters cate­ gory For the first 18 laps of the 20­lap DD2 Final, Port Elizabeth’s Michael Stephen was on his way to winning a 13th Rotax World title for South Africa. Stephen was fastest out of 72 DD2 Mas­ ters competitors in qualifying earlier in the week and had won two of his heats going into the final day of the event, as well as the all­important pre­final, which determines the starting order for the Final.

Stephen led from the pole in the Final and was never headed for 18 laps of the 20­lap event.

Then, in a cruelly ill­judged move, Finnish driver Antti Ollik­ ainen, who was running second,

The South African team at the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals in Portugal.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED attempted to take the lead at a corner where overtaking was clearly impossible. He collected the rear wheel of Stephen’s kart, and pushed the South African off the circuit, and effectively out of the championship. The DD2 Masters class was won by Ryan Urban of New Zealand.

The impetuous Finn was later penalised by the race stewards for causing an avoidable acci­ dent.

Stephen regained the track to finish in 11th place.

It was bitter blow for Stephen, who has won a total of three SA karting and four SA saloon car championships in a career ap­ proaching three decades in the sport.

DD2 Gearbox Bradley Liebenberg of Lone Hill, Sandton, was competing in his second Rotax Grand Final , hav­

ing been in contention in the DD2 class last year in Spain. This year he was once again at the sharp end of the 72­kart field in his category, which runs the same two­speed gearbox and four­wheeled disc­braked set­up as the karts run by the DD2 Mas­ ters drivers.

After a brilliant drive in the pre­final, Liebenberg lined up in fourth position in the Final.

But amazingly, he didn’t even

complete a single lap as he was one of a couple of front­runners caught up in a pincer­movement as half a dozen drivers fought for the same piece of track right after the start.

Again, it was bitterly disap­ pointing for Liebenberg, as well as his team­mates, family and fans watching on live­streaming television back home in South Africa.

Nevertheless, just to make it

Mini Max Although not officially part of the South African team, three karters from South Africa, but of Portuguese nationality, took part in the Mini Max challenge, a non­championship event be­ ing run at the Grand Finals for the first time and open to young­ sters under 13 years of age of Por­ tuguese or Spanish citizenship.

It was amazing to see 11­year­ old girl racer Cammy Dias of Ver­ eeniging finish an excellent fourth overall in this category, while Daniel de Paiva, also based in South Africa, finished in sixth place.

This series was such a hit that it is almost definite that Mini Max will form part of next year’s Grand Finals, and equally on the cards that the South African Ro­ tax organisers will be establish­ ing a championship for this cate­ gory in 2016, to enable our youngsters to compete.

Audi nails colours to electric mast

Toyota tests two­seat electrics

AUDI of America President Scott Keogh is committed to achieve at least 25% of U.S. sales from electric vehicles by 2025.

While other brands try to con­ tain hydrogen, Keogh presented a clear roadmap to electrification in the world’s biggest EV market.

The announcements came out of the Audi presentation at this year’s LA Auto Show.

BASED on its prediction that batteries will not be able to match hydrogen for another 20 years, Toyota has cut all its big electric vehicle projects.

But in Japan, the world’s largest car company has start­ ed trails of a small two­seater version of the i­Road, its short­range ultra­compact electric vehicle.

“With the cars on this stage, the Audi A3 e­tron hybrid plug­in and the Audi e­tron quattro electric SUV, we are, in full force, joining the electric revolution,” said Keogh.

Audi will build its position in electric vehicle technology with the launch of the A3 Sportback e­tron plug­in hybrid later this year.

It will then accelerate toward its decade­long goal of 25% electric

vehicle sales with the production version of the fully electric Audi e­tron quattro concept SUV by 2018, along with other plug­in models to come.

Audi will also help install a na­ tionwide 150 kilowatt fast charging network in the U.S. that would pro­ vide an 80% charge in only 30 min­ utes – enough for 321 km in the Audi e­tron quattro. —WR.

While currently in use as part of a Toyota test project in Grenoble, France, the two­ seater model has now re­ ceived type certification from the Ministry of Land, Infra­ structure, Transport and Tourism, making it eligible for use in Japan.

The vehicles will be loaned for periods of approximately

Volvo’s fastest S60 models a sell­out in SA

Treading lightly

Polestar is to Volvo what AMG is to Mercedes­Benz, and the Polestar S60 that recently arrived in SA became an overnight sensation with most of the 25 cars allocated to the local market were pre­sold weeks before their arrival. The S60 Polestar is the latest addition to the S60 range, making 258kW and a 0­100 km/h time of just 4,9s, this a true driver’s car. Volvo Car South Africa brought in a limited number of the MY16 Volvo S60 Polestar’s priced at R735 000 each.

PHOTO: QUICKPIC

A Range Rover driving over a paper bridge, built by British artist Steve Messam and specialist British paper manufacturer James Cropper at the Guangzhou Motor Show in China last week.

PHOTO: MOTORPRESS

one month to users who plan to use them for two­passen­ ger applications.

Toyota will assess the value of the i­Road in different ca­ pacities, including its poten­ tial to meet mobility needs that are not currently met.

Toyota still has no plans to return to big electric vehicles, however. — Wheels Reporter.

CV JOINT SPECIALISTS

for CV joints, ball joints, tie rod ends, wheel bearings.

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