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February 11, 2016
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INSIDE: SANTACO’S TAXI DRIVER OF 2016, BIKE EVENTS IN KZN, A PLUSH EURO MOTORHOME
Buy a new or a used car? A RELIABLE motor vehicle is a necessity in a country like South Africa where public transport is often unreliable and expensive. The recent massive decline in the purchasing power of the rand is driving up the price of new ve hicles. Depending on their country of origin, costs have risen be tween 2,5 and 17%; and there is little importers can do about these rises. Car purchases have further been complicated financially by interest rate rises and I read this week in a reliable financial maga zine that the country can expect a further two or three interest rate hikes this year. In the case of motorists, who have financed
motor vehicles, it is possible that their repayments will rise with the interest rate. All motorists should check on this with their banks. OH FOR ALL THAT SHINE! We all love a new car. It has not been driven by anyone else, it comes with a guarantee and dealership staff attend to your every need, while telling you what a good choice you have made. As you drive off with your bas ket filled with champagne and sweets, the salesman who sold you the car gives a sigh of relief. He can now pay his children’s school fees. You, unfortunately, have just lost a quite considera
ble amount of money in depreci ation and the longer you keep the car the less it will be worth. If you retain the car for a long period of time, say 10 years or more, it will have paid for itself and so you will be able to live with the small tradein price you will get for it. Most of us, however, get bored with the cars we drive, we lust after the turbocharged, newer model with leather seats and builtin GPS and we end up at the dealers, begging for a better trade in and hoping for a dis count or, as they say these days, trade in assistance; and the cycle starts again. Continue on page 2
BRIAN BASSETT investigates the dilemma of the SA motorist in a depressed economy
Metro Cars’ Elvis Naidoo (left) puts a preloved Polo through a 50point checklist with Brian Bassett who advises buying used cars from a reputable dealer is a sound financial decision, but do get the additional warranty and discuss any problems with the sales staff. PHOTO: ALWYN VILJOEN
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WitnessWheels INDUSTRY MOTORING
February 11, 2016
When driving is just sitting Howard Blake connects the dots in a near future in which cars are part of the Internet of things THOUGHT F1 was fastpaced? The speed of innovation in the au tomotive industry makes it look like a donkey cart race. The last few years have seen the development of disruptive new technologies that are set to change the face of society forever. Ever since the first Ford Mod el T hit markets around the world, people have been obsessing about what the car of the future might look like. While the century since the Model T’s invention has brought plenty of changes to the automo bile industry, the current crop of innovations represents a massive shift. At this year’s Consumer Elec tronics Show (CES), it became clear that the future of cars is less about horsepower and more about empowering drivers. Major motor manufacturers are seeking out ways to do this using connected technologies. The car of the future will be smarter. It will be increasingly intuitive. It will be interconnected. Imagine a world where cars are able to communicate with other cars, traffic lights, and parking bays. Imagine being able to access re altime updates on everything from the weather to the state of the road, all delivered straight to your dash. A car that can do all of the above has been the subject of science fic tion for decades. It’s thanks to the increasing amount of digital convergence — wearables and smart devices in particular — that this is becoming a realistic option.
tions, automatically correct for poor driving habits and more.
Howard Blake, founder of Blake Holdings, with the i3, BMW’s urban electric hatch that is helping reshape traffic as we know it. PHOTO: SUPPLIED The datadriven vehicle The journey towards the selfdriv ing car often grabs the headlines at CES, but there’s a lot of juicy stuff outside the bubble of driver less vehicle technology. Many of this year’s most excit ing reveals at CES spoke to the In ternet of things (IoT) and the po tential of converged technologies to radically change the way we work, live and drive. Take General Motors, which unveiled an app that allows your smartphone to interact with your vehicle. The app will allow drivers
to start the car remotely, adjust the temperature and even park the ve hicle automatically. None of these features are new in their own right, but the conver gence aspect — having access to all of this from a single point — is groundbreaking. This is just the start. As these technologies mature, we should see a wider system of inte gration, encompassing cities, in frastructure, insurance, and even retail. Connected cars are set to deliver a neverbeforeseen array of digital possibilities.
Life changing and lifesaving At CES this year, The DJI Develop er Challenge put forward a chal lenge to developers, to create a dronetovehicle system in order to speed up emergency response procedures, in hopes of saving more lives. Other top showcases included Smartwheel, a steering wheel cov er that monitors hands on the wheel to discourage texting while on the road, and BMW’s i8 Mir rorless concept, which uses a func tional camera system, designed to completely replace side and rear
view mirrors. While it is clear that smart tech nology, big data and IoT are the new ports of call for the automo bile industry, it is interesting to note that the vast majority of these new technological advances are aimed at improving safety and driving comfort. The MercedesBenz’s ‘me’ con cept is the perfect example. By collecting data on a driver’s history, a car can customise its be haviour to suit their lifestyle and habits. A car could suggest destina
The wider world So what does a converged society full of smarter, more userfriendly cars look like? Very different in deed. Cars make up such an im portant part of our lifestyles, that few aspects of society would not feel the change. Just think of the impact that a connected car, able to navigate the most optimised routes and avoid traffic, would have on urban plan ning. In another scenario, it would be possible for the insurance industry to improve their premiums, based on data collected by their custom ers’ vehicles. Could we see whole industries develop out of autonomous vehi cles, providing entertainment and marketing to a driver who no longer needs to drive? Motoring is hardly the only in dustry that will drive these changes. You can see IoT’s impact across the rest of CES – where con verged technologies are plentiful. But because automobile makers are so technologically innovative, it’s one of the industries that can best demonstrate the sheer dis ruptive power of convergence on society. The beauty of conver gence is that it opens up a universe of possibilities for innovation across all industries. Digital pioneers will be the ones who are best able to adapt to the new challenges and opportunities of this rapidly evolving society. The race to make the most of these connected technologies is on. The question is, who will be in pole position?
Buying used: is scuffed more comfy than all that shiney new bling? CONTINUED FROM 1 MAYBE SCUFFED IS COMFY? The only option to buying new is buying used and in bad eco nomic time’s car buyers will inev itably turn to the used car market, as new vehicles become less af fordable. Raymond Loewy, arguably the greatest industrial designer of the 20th century, once said that buying a used car was like buying a secondhand snake. This has not been my experi ence, but I have always bought from reliable dealers who have been around a long while and have a reputation for integrity and fair dealing. I looked around in Peterma ritzburg and found Metro Car Sales, who are celebrating their 40th year in business in the city. They came highly recom mended by a number of friends, who have done repeat business
with Metro over a number of years. I spent about an houranda half with Elvis Naidoo, their sales manager and learned how cus tomer care has resulted in a busi ness that derives 85% of its new business from referrals and re peat business. Metro buy only selected vehi cles of excellent quality. Forty percent of the stock come from the man in the street and the rest from auctions and sites like OLX and Gumtree. Vehicles are thoroughly checked and referred to the Met ro workshop if necessary. Vehicles often have extras like air conditioners, canopies, mag wheels and leather seats, which are all part of the deal. Used car buyers do not pay VAT and a used car lot has a wide variety of vehicles allowing a more choice, but Elvis says peo ple buy with their hearts and not
Buyers of used cars are best advised to ensure the seller shows the vechiel using a 50point check list. PHOTO: ALWYN VILJOEN their heads. It is even difficult to get cus tomers to test drive the car they want to buy. The Metro sales team is fo cused as much on service as on sales and they try to match the
customer with the car. There are many cash buyers, but where finance is required, customers can select any bank, as the dealership is recognised by all of them. Customers who purchase ve
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hicles out of warranty are encour aged to buy a twoyear warranty extension, which adds about R7 000 and peace of mind to the deal Once the customer leaves with his new, used car Metro retain contact and build relationships by sending its buyers a thank you card once a year and encouraging them to visit the dealership to discuss niggles or problems. I was very impressed by the whole customerorientated feel of the business. But what would I get for my money? So I was given a 2014 Volks wagen Polo auto in glorious red to drive for the weekend. The car had had its 17 500 km mileage thoroughly checked and with my dealer number plate dis played in the window I drove away. Once home I checked the bodywork thoroughly and there was nothing amiss.
The exterior and interior were like new and the car performed well both in town and on the N3. This was a vehicle I would be proud to own and at R165 000, it represented a significant sav ing on the cost of a similar new vehicle. CONCLUSIONS Buying used can be a good option at any time, but you need to shop around, see what is available. Be honest with yourself as to affordability and allow for rising interest rates and insurance costs. Buy the additional warran ty and test drive the car before you buy and discuss any prob lems with your salesperson. You take the initiative. Do not get pushed into a deal. Remember, you are also pro tected by the Consumer Protec tion Act and you should get to know it as it applies to all your purchases.
Best brake competition FISITA, the international organisation for the automotive engineering pro fession, has launched a global student innovation competition. The EuroBrake Student Innovation Competition (ESIC), sponsored by Daimler, is asking students to consider the implications for vehicle braking systems on autonomous driving. The prize is attendance at Euro Brake, in Milan, Italy and prize money
for 20 finalists in June 2016. Five finalists will be selected to present their work to the judges and the overall winner will be awarded €500 (R9 000) in prize money. Students will also tour of the Museo della Scienza e della Tecnologia “Leon ardo da Vinci” or the “Museo Storico Alfa Romeo”. • To apply, visit www.eurobrake.net/ students/esicinfo.
MOTORING WitnessWheels
February 11, 2016
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High spec but low cheque DAVE FALL pokes around the streamlined new AClass and finds this is no mom’s taxi no more R4 000 — a reverse camera anoth er measly R4 000! The flagship in the current AClass lineup sees the Mer cedesAMG A 45 4MATIC also benefiting from the model update. With a maximum output of 280 kW it accelerates from rest to 100 km/h in just 4,2 seconds. Ac cording to MB the fuel consump tion suggests 7,36,9 litres per 100 kilometres (corresponds to 171 162 g/km CO2) — but I very much doubt this in the real world! Prices have increased signifi cantly of late but that’s to be ex pected with the rand’s decline since late last year. * Observant readers (that’s you, surely?) can see that the sleek “AClass” now bears absolutely no resemblance to the original boxy model of yesteryear, one that’s still seen in droves up and down the country. “If you perchance fancy the boxy mom’s taxi with the three pointed star you’ll need to rather source a ‘BClass’ offering — a ve hicle that still has a lot going for it,” reckons the writer. Prices AClass A200d R419 200 (Auto + R18 000) AClass A220d R460 100 AClass A200 R389 200 AClass A250 R491 500 AMG A45 4Matic R683 600. 22275
FOR 2016, the AClass range from MercedesBenz has been pared down to just five offerings for the South African marketplace, sim ply representing something of a “nipandtuckjob”, if you will. Let’s be honest — why change something if it works? Back in 2012 MercedesBenz decided to radically redesign the sturdy looking, but rather boxy* outgoing AClass to something that undeniably brought the com pany muchneeded kudos in the design stakes; opening up a whole new chapter in the burgeoning compact segment right around the globe. From the front this latest ver sion features a long, sporty front and pronounced Vshape bonnet and separate headlamps, the radi ator grille with central Mercedes star features twin slats to either side of the star, as well as the addi tional air intakes. Like I said earlier, just a tweak here, a tweak there … There are two diesel and three petrol variants now up for grabs in the allnew range: A200d (100 kW/300 Nm), A220d (130 kW/350 Nm), and the A 200 What started out as a boxy mom’s taxi has morphed into this topoftherange Aclass, the MercedesBenz A 45 AMG. (115 kW/250 Nm). PHOTO: QUICKPIC The 250 Sport (155 kW/ 350 Nm) and MercedesAMG 45 4MATIC (280 kW/475 Nm) are Manual transmissions are of superb — it would definitely be my finite creature comforts, but as ev ple, should you fancy a panoramic the petrol derivatives with prices fered in most of the above deriva choice. er car manufacturers would like sunroof, it’ll cost you R12 500 for ranging from R419 200 through tives, but the 7GDCT auto ’box, As you might imagine the stan you to “customise” your purchase the privilege; metallic paint to R683 600. as MB like to call them, is simply dard spec levels featured boast in to some degree at least! For exam R2 600, fourway lumbar support
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WitnessWheels MOTORING
February 11, 2016
Regional centre for Daimler Zwartkops race track hosts world’s third commercial vehicle node, serving southern Africa PRETORIA — MercedesBenz South Africa (MBSA), along with its brand divisions Daimler Trucks & Buses and MercedesBenz Vans, strengthened its drive for excel lence and customer dedication with the opening of a Regional Centre Southern Africa (RCSA) based at the Zwartkops race track today. Dr Wolfgang Bernhard, mem ber of the Board of Management of Daimler AG responsible for Daimler Trucks & Buses, said the centre will be responsible for Daimler’s full commercial vehicles portfolio in the region, from the full offering of MercedesBenz Vans, heavyduty MercedesBenz trucks and buses as well as the uniquely suited products (trucks and buses) from Fuso. The centre will be in charge of South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Lesotho and Swaziland. “Opening our new Regional Centre Southern Africa, we are able to respond even faster to our commercial vehicle customers and their requirements. “This will help us to further tap the growth potential of this emerging region,” said Bernhard. Longterm potential Based in Pretoria, South Africa, the Regional Centre Southern Af rica will ensure highly efficient business processes and an even higher level of customer satisfac tion throughout the region. MBSA and its parent company
stronger growth rates from 2017, with the regional average back up to more than 4,5% annually dur ing 20182020. Moreover, southern Africa pos sesses large reserves of untapped natural commodities such as cop per, oil and gas. In 2015, the Daimler commer cial vehicle division sold 5,477 trucks and buses in the region. The various brands of trucks and buses sold by Daimler range from medium trucks build at the Fuso plant in India (top left) to the longest road trains in South Africa, pulled by Western Star truck tractors at Richard’s Bay Minerals, to the easyaccess buses that form part of the Gautrain transport system. PHOTOS: FUSO, ALWYN VILJOEN, MERCEDESBENZ Daimler AG said it is confident the centre will provide excellence and ultimately a competitive ad vantage to its growing number of southern Africanbased custom ers through superior products and custom value chain offerings. Kobus van Zyl, Executive Di
rector: Daimler Trucks and Buses Southern Africa said a stronger presence in the southern African markets will enable the group to react even faster and be in touch more frequently with its clients as well as the distributors in the re spective countries.
“The Regional Centre Southern Africa provides further opportu nities for all our commercial vehi cle endeavours, including sales, aftersales, marketing, client servi ces and parts,” Van Zyl said. He said southern Africa is a promising growth region for all of
Auto combo for Focus FORD has added more auto matic onelitre drivetrains models to the Focus. Called the PowerShift and EcoBoost in Ford marketing terms, the combo is now availa ble in both Ambiente and Trend specification levels for both the Focus fivedoor hatch and four door sedan. Tracey Delate, general mar keting manager, Ford Motor Company SubSaharan Africa Region, said in a statement this
brings to 14 the total number of Focus models available in South Africa to 14, including the two sizzling hot Focus ST rangetop pers. The awardwinning 1.0 Eco Boost delivers 92kW of power and 170Nm of torque. Matched to the PowerShift automatic transmission it is credited with a Ford’s tests getting a combined cycle fuel consumption of 5,5 l/100 km and a CO2 emissions rating of 125 g/km.
Daimler’s commercial vehicles. In line with the global outlook, the region is facing a tough eco nomic cycle but is still expected to grow at a rate of 3.75% in 2016. Improved external prospects and domestic policy improve ments will support gradually
Other centres The Regional Centre Southern Af rica is the third of six Regional Centres being opened for Daim ler’s commercial vehicles business around the world. Two days ago, the Regional Centre for East, Central, and West Africa started its operations based in Nairobi, Kenya. The first Regional Centre was opened in October 2015 in Dubai as Daimler Commercial Vehicles Middle East North Africa (DCV MENA). Similar bases will follow for South Asia, Southeast Asia and Latin America within the next few months. In the past, Daimler had managed these regions primarily from its group headquarters in Stuttgart. Further decentralisation will keep the business even more in tune with the market. The many years of product and servicerelated expertise pay off in this respect just as much as the broad portfolio of products of fered by the group’s various com mercial vehicles brands. — Wheels Reporter.
NEW TYRE TAX REPLACES LEVY ALWYN VILJOEN
The Focus range now has three new models using the popular 1litre auto drivetrain. PHOTO: QUICKPIC Pricing for the three automat ics start at R241 900 and go up to to R267 900, but the sales
staff in Ford in Maritzburg looks set to sweeten the deal with sweet trade ins too, — WR.
A NEW environmental tyre levy will replace the current Redisa charge for new tyres made or stored in South Africa from April 1. Redisa stands for the Recycling and Economic Development Ini tiative of South Africa and the group currently gets some R620 million a year in levies from tyre importers and manufactur ers. The finance minister last year announced in his Budget
speech that additional environ mental levies will be implement ed on a range of waste streams to help divert waste away from the landfills towards reuse, recy cling and recovery. Taking the Re disa tyre levy is, apparently, a first step in this direction, A senior economist at the leg islative research and develop ment unit of SARS, Erwin Ober meyer, confirmed to Wheels that the new tax will replace the Redi sa levy, currently at R2,30 per kilogram on each tyre sold.
A luxury hybrid for less than a bar
Take 3 on the all electric land speed record
The latest Lexus RX lineup comes in two flavours — the petrol V6powered RX 350 EX or the petrolelectric hybrid RX 450h SE. The RX 350 EX features an upgraded 3.5litre direct injection V6 that develops 221kW and 370Nm, 17kW and 24Nm more than the previous generation and drives all four wheels via an eightspeed transmission. The RX 450h hybrid develops 230kW from the engine and electric motor, a 10kW increase in combined system power over the previous generation RX 450h, it and drives all four wheels via a CVT transmission. The RX 350 EX is priced at R799 000 and the RX 450h SE costs R999 000 PHOTO: QUICKPIC
The 12metre long Venturi Buckeye Bullet 3 (VBB3) is the most powerful electric car in the world. Making 2 200 kW and 2 800 Nm using twin electric motors, the engineers backing it aims to make it go up to 700 km/h on the Bonneville Salt Flats. If successful, they will break the VBB2.5’s record of 495km/h, set in 2010. The club of engineers behind the VBB programme support sustainable mobility, quite fitting, as previous record attempts had to be postponed twice due to changing climate patterns that saw the dry salt flats turn into a shallow lake last year. Speed tests resumed last month and the VBB3 looks set to see a new all electric speed record on its third attempt. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Love is in the air. Whatever your feelings on the holiday itself, Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to think about what love means for us. Perhaps its an attraction, something that draws you to another person like a magnet. Perhaps its about trust: trusting that someone will be there for you through thick and thin. Love changes as relationships develop, as we get older… as we grow as people. It’s like owning a car. At first you’re attracted to the sleek lines, the acceleration, the smooth dashboard and
The people at Barons Pietermaritzburg understand that buying a car is a commitment and a whirlwind romance all rolled into one. They know how you want to feel about your car, because they feel it too: the folks at Barons love what they do, and they love Volkswagens. That’s why their deals, their advice, their service, is always the best: it’s because they understand that a car is more than just a machine. 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.
Anything is possible in SA’s #1 selling passenger vehicle.
0-100km in 4,2 litres.
Purchase a Polo Vivo 77kW Comfortline and receive one of these exclusive options:
Purchase a Polo TSI 66kW Comfortline from R225,900* incl. VAT and we will upgrade you to a Polo TSI 70kW BlueMotion.
Option 1: At R179,900* and receive free cruise control, ultrasonic alarm & metallic paint.
Exclusive to Barons Pietermaritzburg: Only 10 available.
Visit us on www.baronsvw.co.za
Visit us on www.baronsvw.co.za
An optional cost of R950 incl VAT will be charged for metallic paint (Unless otherwise specified). Note: *Linked to FNB prime rate, currently 10.25%. Note: Offers calculated on the Polo Vivo 77kW Comfortline and Polo Vivo 77kW Maxx models in standard specification. Price excludes optional extras unless specified. 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 20 February 2016 or while stocks last.
An optional cost of R950 incl VAT will be charged for metallic paint. Note: *Linked to FNB prime rate, currently 10.25%. Note: Offers calculated on the Polo TSI 70kW BlueMotion model in standard specification. Price excludes optional extras and delivery fee. Offers may not be used in conjunction with any other special service or offering. Subject to bank approval. Information subject to change without prior notification. All finance offers are subject to credit approval from Volkswagen Financial Services. Offers only available through Volkswagen Financial Services South Africa Proprietary Limited trading as Volkswagen Financial Services an Authorised Financial Services and Credit Provider. NCRCP6635. Terms and Conditions apply. All the above is subject to price increase and valid until 20 February 2016 or while stocks last.
• • • • •
Polo Vivo 2012 Polo Vivo Sedan 1.4 Trendline 2013 Polo Vivo 1.4 Blueline 5 Door 2013 Polo Vivo Sedan 1.6 2015 Polo Vivo 1.4 Trendline 5 Door 2015 Polo Vivo GP 1.4 Trendline 5 Door 2015 Polo Vivo GP 1.4 Trendline 5 Door Polo 2013 Polo 1.2 TDI BlueMotion 2014 Polo GTI 1.4 DSG 2014 Polo 1.2 TSI Trendline 2015 Polo Gp 1.2 TSI Comfortline 2015 Polo GP 1.2 Comfortline 2015 Polo Gp 1.2 TSI Comfortline 2015 Polo GP 1.0 TSI BlueMotion Golf 2009 Golf 6 GTI 2.0 TSI DSG 2011 Golf R 2.0 TSI 2016 Golf 1.2 TSI Trendline Jetta 2010 Jetta 1.4 TSI Comfortline 2015 Jetta 1.4 TSI Comfortline Up! 2015 Take up! 1.0 55kW Other VW 2012 Volkswagen CC 3.6 FSI DSG 2015 Tiguan 2.0 TDI 2015 Cross Caddy 2.0 TDI 2015 Golf SV 1.4 TSI Comfortline 2016 Passat 1.4 TSI Comfortline DSG 2015 Golf SV 1.4 TSI Comfortline 2011 Amarok Double Cab TDI Highline Other 2006 Hyundai Tuscon 2.0 GLS 2011 BMW X1 2.0i Exclusive 2013 Renault Sandero 1.4 2013 Hyundai iX35 2.0 Executive
Mileage certified • Full Service history • 7-day exchange plan • Vehicle Customization • 24 Hr roadside assistance •
80-point mechanical check 2-year / unlimited km warranty* Vehicle History Integrity Check Balance of VW Automation Plan Professional Vehicle Reconditioning
Silver Silver Silver White White Beige
114 900 109 900 123 900 144 900 144 900 144 900
57 000 83 000 89 000 29 500 27 000 30 000
km km km km km km
White White Red Red White Silver Blue
147 900 239 900 176 900 209 900 199 900 204 900 199 900
99 000 39 000 35 000 9 000 9 000 17 000 12 500
km km km km km km km
Silver Red White
229 900 289 900 249 900
58 000 km 64 000 km 100 km
White Red
149 900 279 900
98 000 km 6 000 km
White
109 900
28 000 km
Silver Silver Green White Grey Red Beige
219 900 315 900 299 000 309 900 399 000 309 900 289 900
68 000 6 000 19 000 7 000 3 000 6 400 89 000
White White Gold White
93 900 189 900 79 900 186 900
124 000 km 7 000 km 99 000 km 93 000 km
km km km km 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 - 073 017 0294 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
e&oe
Exclusive to Barons Pietermaritzburg.
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Option 2: At R181,400* and we will upgrade you to a Polo Vivo 77kW Maxx.
The Polo TSI 70kW BlueMotion standard features include: - Dual front and side airbags - Front fog lights - Bluetooth - Multi-function display - Electric windows, front and rear - Leather multi-function steering wheel
It’s not just a car. It’s a Golf.
Purchase Golf TSI 81kW Trendline from R3,935 per month. The Golf TSI 81kW Trendline standard features include: -
Start-Stop with Brake Energy Recuperation Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) Curtain airbags, front & rear Vehicle Price
Model
Golf TSI 81kW Trendline
-
Multi-collision brake system Electronic Park Brake with Auto-hold Air-conditioner
Monthly No. of Interest Rate Instalments Instalments Linked / Variable
R283,250 R3,935*
72
8.69%*
Deposit
Balloon Payment
Total Cost Incl fees & VAT
3% (R8,498)
35% (R99,138)
R382,427
Visit us on www.baronsvw.co.za An optional cost of R950 incl VAT will be charged for metallic paint. Note: *Linked to FNB prime rate, currently 10.25%. Note: Offers calculated on the Golf TSI 81kW Trendline model in standard specification. Instalment includes all bank charges, but excludes optional extras. 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 20 February 2016.
New Sales Consultants
Alison Wiltshire – Sales Manager • John Brown • Merglin Rama Menzi Ngubane • Bahle Bhengu • Erica Neff • Keshnee Pillay • Shika Chanderdave
Sales Enquiries: 033 940 1445
BP Advertising
Roses, candlelit dinners, chocolates… yes, it’s Valentine’s Day again. Valentine’s Day is one of those holidays that divides people: everyone has an opinion. Some love the excuse to be romantic, to go all out and make someone special feel, well, special. Others love to hate Valentine’s Day, revelling in feeling curmudgeonly. As for me… well, that would be telling, wouldn’t it?
luxurious seats. Later, as you come to know your car, you care more about reliability, knowing that your car will be there with you through thick and thin. You get a feel for how it handles, and driving starts to become a partnership between you and your car.
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By Pieter from Maritzburg
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WitnessWheels MOTORING BIKING
February 11, 2016
The world’s first stainless steel bike ‘welded’ in 3D. PHOTO: TU DELFT, MX3D
The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team will compete in the MX2 class of the FIM Motocross World Champs. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Husqvarna lines up promising riders for MX2 HUSQVARNA Motorcycles re leased the official imagery of the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team set to compete in the MX2 class of the 2016 FIM Motocross World Championship. For 2016 the team fields a strong lineup, with Great Brit ain’s Max Anstie and American Thomas Covington having their sights set on reaching the top step of the podium. Strengthen ing the team’s roster Conrad
Mewse (Great Britain) will par ticipate in the EMX 250 class of the Motocross European Championship while Yentel Martens (Belgium) will com pete in the EMX 300 class and the major beach races. Both rid ers have the status of supported riders. The team is managed by former FIM 500cc Motocross World Champion Jacky Mar tens. Aboard Husqvarna’s new FC 250 motorcycle the Rockstar En
ergy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team in MX2 will make its World Championship debut in Qatar on February 2627. Con rad Mewse will join the team at the opening round of the Moto cross European Championship in Valkenswaard, Netherlands on March 2728. Jacky Martens, Rockstar En ergy Husqvarna Factory Racing MX2 team manager, said: “We’re excited to have three ex ceptionally promising riders for
2016. “Max Anstie proved he’s one of the fastest riders in the clos ing rounds of last season. “We believe he can fight for the MX2 world championship. “We’re also glad to have Thomas Covington on board. With both Max and Thomas, as well as with Conrad Mewse in the EMX series, we have a very strong lineup and we can’t wait for the championships to be gin.” — Wheels Reporter.
Upcoming twowheeled events in KZN • Feburary 1113: BMW Riding Academy hosts free certified training at Hesketh track in Hayfields to all motorbike riders. Only 25 riders can be trained per day, so book with priya.arran@bmwdealer.co.za or 031 701 4772. • February 13: Illovu Wartburg MTB Classic, over 10 km and 25 km, starting at 5.30 am from the WartburgKirchdroff School. • February 20: Greg Minnaar Cycles’ KZN MTB Provincial DHI and Enduro Series #1, starting at 12.00 pm from St Ives with a enduro on Saturday, with a downhill race on Sunday at 10 am. More on kznmtb.co.za • February 20: Time Freight Midmar Notts Road Cycle Race Burg Wheelers, from the dam to Howick over 80 km, 60 km or 30 km routes. • February 21: Cedara MTB Classic, with short to long routes from Cedara College. Entries close on 17th. More on jowettscycles.co.za. • February 2021: Trans Drak MTB multistage race from Montrose to Swinburne. • February 21: 100’s Riders host a breakfast social in Salt Rock for all friends in the Midlands and on the coast. More info from Chris at 032 525 7460. (The venue caters for vegatarians, but beware of Minesh’s chili sauce!). PHOTO: SUPPLIED
WHITHER FOR ELECTRIC BIKES? ALWYN VILJOEN FOLLOWING the news of the first official case of techno dop ing in professional racing, a few Wheels readers who also want the benefit of a motorised pedal bike up our steep hills have asked about electric bikes in SA. Rather than take chances on the slew of dubious quality Chi nese motors one can buy online, we can recommend three dealers. In Gauteng, Ezeebike has been selling their bikes for over nine years, with some commuters re porting 1 000 km a month. Ezee has also proven their mo tor and battery kits with ultra rides on every continent, includ
ing from Durban to Cape Town via Jo’burg, the Silk Route in Chi na, the length of the Mississippi in the U.S. and three wins of the world’s largest electric bike rally, the Tour de Prestige. In Stamford Hill, Durban, the KZN Pedego dealer offers com fortable American cruisers on tyre widths that range from nor mal to fat snow treads, which are ideal for beach riding. And in Pietermaritzburg, 4x4 pimping maestro Gary Peacock has both petrol and electric units that can be fitted to any pedal bike, with guaranteed after ser vice. All three options are sure to deliver fitness and fuel savings.
Himalayan not for SA, yet After Royal Enfield last year bought the UKbased Harris Performance, the English company designed the frame of the new Himalyan LS410, a dual purpose bike making 32 Nm at 4 000 rpm from the overstroked 411 cc singlecylinder engine, which gives the 182 kg bike all the grunt it needs for easy city and cross country riding. Royal Enfield claims a range of 450 km from the 15 litre tank and will start selling the bike for under R70k in India. There are no plans, yet, to export to SA. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Printing molten metal Dutch students test first 3D stainless steel bike on cobbles ALWYN VILJOEN NOT content with having devel oped the world’s first road legal, fully solarpowered car, called Stella Lux, students at the Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) in the Netherlands have now created the world’s first stainless steel bike using a 3D printing robot. Leader of the five members, Harry Anderson, an industrial design student from RMIT uni versity in Australia who studies at Delft, explained that current 3D printing methods cannot ren der large scale objects. The group worked with a lead ing 3D printer builder in Amster dam, the MX3D company. MX3D is already using the technique to build a pedestrian bridge, but it approached TU Delft about the possibility of doing something else to demonstrate the potential of the technology. The bike’s frame was built in several main sections, which were then welded to one another by hand. Seen up close, the bike’s wire frame looks like a line of arc welds laid down and then built on by
an expert welder. The university describes the process in a statement as extrud ing resin onto horizontal or verti cal surfaces. “Those columns of resin can be curved and linked to gether as they’re being extruded, quickly hardening into modern artlike creations,” said Delft. What this means is the robotic arm places the first blob of mol ten metal, then quickly adds an other blob on top of it once it’s hardened, and continues that process until it’s created an entire metal column. “Quickly” is, however, a rela tive term, as the robotic arm took three months to print the bicycle as it appears above. By controlling the point in space at which the welds are made, it’s possible to control the orientation of the columns, even getting them to interlace with one another. No supporting materials are needed, and quite large struc tures — like an entire bicycle frame — can be created. The stu dents have since ridden their bike over the cobble stones of Delft and it is still in one piece. • alwyn.viljoen@witness.co.za
MOTORING WitnessWheels
February 11, 2016
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Luxury camping, Euro style The latest Knaus motorhome is more like the mothership, with all the gadgets R1,7 million can buy THE 2016 Knaus Sun i doesn’t have the smooth, fluid style of the Caravisio, but Knaus’s new flag ship motorhome does share some hightech inspiration with that 2013 caravan concept. Billed as the “best Knaus ever”, the luxurious motorhome is packed with features and options, including smartphone lighting control and a slideout outdoor TV with Bluetooth audio. Knaus’s new rangetopper is a 128 hp Fiat Ducatobased motor home loaded with highend de sign and tech. It measures 8,82 metres long and weighs 3 760 kg. The LED daytime run ning lamps up front are comple mented by Eurostarderived tail lights. Inside, queen and single bed floor plans each sleep and seat four people. Knaus says the Sun i was designed with a philosophy of “the best of everything and al ways a bit more than you actually need”. Nothing better exemplifies that philosophy than the innova tive optional features. Our favourite option is easily the outdoor entertainment sys tem, which includes a pullout 32 inch TV with two neatly docked sets of Bluetooth headphones. The pavementcentric Sun i won’t bring your entertainment to the remote areas that the EarthRoam er XVLTS will, but it’ll still set you up for some serious TV viewing under the sun. The outdoor TV isn’t the only innovative entertainment feature. With the available electric retrac tion system, the optional indoor television slides neatly behind the bench seating, popping out at the push of a button. It’s there when
Knaus’s new rangetopper is a 128 hp Fiat Ducatobased motorhome packed with all the features of modern cars. PHOTOS: SUPPLIED
The interior trim is luxurious, yachtstyle flooring and an imitaton slate tabletop.
The corridor past the glass shower door leads to the sleeping area in the rear.
you want it, out of sight when you don’t. Another interesting option, which Knaus declares a neverbe foreseen first, the extendable un derfloor storage bin rises 40 cm at the push of a button, bringing its contents right to you. That bin is located in a kitchen area that al so includes a threeburner stove, stainless steel sink, 190litre refrig erator, slate worktop, and a series of shelves that showcase your kitchen provisions like part of the decor. The Sun i’s central multiar ea bathroom includes a shower room, vanity sink and Dometic toilet. The shower is enclosed with rounded glass. Like the Caravisio and the Euro star that followed, the Sun i has yachtstyle flooring underfoot. Other materials include a textile ceiling liner and slatelook dining room tabletop. The Sun i has Alde hot water heating, up to 180 litres of fresh water capacity, 170 litres of waste water capacity, and two 95Ah AGM batteries. The extensive op tions list includes air condition ing, various entertainment packa ges and components, a gas oven and an alarm system. When the optional WLAN is added, the inte rior LED lighting can be con trolled via smartphone. The Sun i debuted at last year’s Düsseldorf Caravan Salon and made an appearance at the CMT show last month. It starts at €97 400 (over R1,7 million). Knaus tells us that it will show case four additional floor plans at this year’s Düsseldorf show, which starts in August. — Gizmag.
Becoming a partner of the customer helped Hino grow market share THE Hino Total Support pro gramme was the main driver for the success enjoyed by Hino South Africa in 2015, according to vice president Ernie Trautmann. The support programme has the selfexplanatory slogan of be coming a Partner of the Custom er and was rolled out globally two years ago. “We are delighted at the enthusiastic manner in which our staff and dealers have em
braced this holistic programme, which encourages the building of trust and meaningful relation ships between Hino Japan, Hino South Africa, the dealers and their customers,” said Traut mann. Sales in 2015 hit an alltime high of 4 094 units in a year in which the overall local truck and bus market fell by three percent. Hino also had record parts sales
in 2015. “We are particularly proud that we did not change our 2015 sales target during the year and stuck to the forecast set in October 2014, despite the slow down in the market. This allowed us to increase our share of the to tal market from 12,2% in 2014 to 13,4% last year. “The objective for Hino and its dealers is to stay positive this year, which is starting in an environ
ment of doom and gloom. We be lieve our customers already know they are benefitting significantly from the Hino Total Support pro gramme, driven by our pledge to stick to our promises, goals and objectives which is a good start,” said the Hino vice president. Hino SA currently has 65 deal ers and is looking to strengthen the existing network rather than add more outlets.
A new initiative for the dealers will be the introduction of a learnership programme to en courage younger people to enter the truck retailing business. It will be a oneyear development pro gramme with the focus on selling, and is a joint venture between Hi no SA and the dealers. A new strategy in aftersales will be monitoring the cause of Vehicle Off Road (VOR) cases at
the dealers so as to be able to de velop countermeasures to mini mise downtime for customers. The company will continue with its programme of holding stock of popular bus models con verted from truck chassis which proved a success in 2015. During the year, about 200 Hino truck chassis were converted into bus es, mainly of the commuter varie ty. — WR.
All welcome at Taxi Driver of 2016
Samsung pilots ‘see through’ truck system After revealing a test vehicle last year, Samsung has now deployed the commercial version of the truck in La Plata, Argentina, for extensive testing. The location was chosen as a site due to the high number of traffic accidents that occur while motorists are overtaking one another on Argentinian roads. The electronics giant will carry out four months of reliability testing, according to ZDNet, and will then begin expanding availability of the Safety Truck around the world. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
SANTACOKZN will again select its best driver based on passenger nominations, in Mkondeni, on Valentine’s Day. Santaco started the annual Best Driver of the Year campaign to encourage higher driving standards among all taxi drivers, including obeying the rules of the road, respecting commuters and avoiding negligence. The regional chair, Boy Zondi, said in a statement that one of Santaco’s major concerns is that many commuters have no alter native transport to taxis. “It then becomes imperative that as SantacoKZN, we try our utmost best to provide safe and reliable transport to all commut ers, and send a message to our drivers that we cannot tolerate negligence, namely speeding, drinking and driving, and over loading of any kind,” said Zondi. Earlier this year, commuters were invited to vote for the driver
Wheels editor Alwyn Viljoen encourages the public to attend the second Taxi Driver of the Year challenge on Valentine’s Day. PHOTO: FILE who drives safely and communi cates well with passengers, and the 10 drivers who received the most votes are now to pit their skills behind the wheel for the coveted award.
Members of the public are welcome to attend the tests, which take place at the Mkondeni Testing Grounds in Pietermaritzburg from 8 am on February 14. — WR.
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WitnessWheels MOTORING RACING
February 11, 2016
Ford vs Porsche at Le Mans ALWYN VILJOEN predicts epic racing at endurance tracks as America takes on Germany, again THE organisers of the Le Mans 24 Hours, the ACO (Automobile Club de l’Ouest), have confirmed that all four Ford GTs have re ceived a place on the prestigious entry list for the 2016 Le Mans. Fifty years on from Ford’s fa mous 123 outright victory at Le Mans, all four Ford Chip Ganassi Racing Ford GTs will compete for GTE Pro class glory at the world’s greatest motor race, which takes place on June 18 and 19. “It was great to see all four Ford GTs up there on the Le Mans entry list today [Saturday],” said Dave Pericak, Ford Performance global director, who attended Saturday afternoon’s press conference in Paris. “Newcomers are by no means guaranteed an entry, whatever their history or ambitions, so we thank the ACO for giving Ford the opportunity for a fourcar assault in June.” The Ford GT racing car is based on the allnew Ford GT supercar, which is the pinnacle product of the Ford Performance division. With stateoftheart aerodynam ics, lightweight carbon fibre con struction and a powerful and effi cient Ford EcoBoost engine, the Ford GT has been built to go head tohead with the GT establish ment — Ferrari, Corvette, Porsche and Aston Martin — as they fight for victory in the ultimate endur ance battle.
Porsche 919 Hybrid (19) team (top) Nick Tandy, Earl Bamber and Nico Huelkenberg will be looking in their rearview mirrors for the new Ford GTs (left) at Le Mans this year. PHOTOS: QUICKPIC Porsche defenders For Porsche’s third season since the return to the highly sophisti cated top category of Le Mans pro totypes, the cuttingedge 919 Hy brids have been significantly de veloped with the basic chassis structure and the powertrain con cept remaining the same. Fritz Enzinger, vice president
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Back in November, Porsche an nounced the driver lineup that goes back to 2014 would remain unchanged: World champions Ti mo Bernhard (Germany, 35), Brendon Hartley (New Zealand, 26) and Mark Webber (Australia, 39) will share the number 1 car. The number 2 sister car will be in the hands of Romain Dumas (France, 38), Neel Jani (Switzer land, 32) and Marc Lieb (Germa ny, 35). The hybrid system of the 919 combines cuttingedge downsiz ing turbo technology with effi cient fuel direct injection for the twolitre, fourcylinder combus tion engine, and uses a lithiumion battery to store electricity from the brakes on the front axle and exhaust. The 919 Hybrid produces a sys tem with power of almost 900 hp and provided Porsche with many important inspirations for the de velopment of future roadgoing sports cars. The latest example is the 800volt technology for the purely electrical powered Mission E concept car.
LMP1 said: “Independently from our sporting targets, our most im portant task is to gather know how for Porsche for future tech nologies. The WEC’s unique effi ciency regulations, with the huge technical freedom, is the right platform for the company to de velop and test innovations for road going sports cars.”
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