Wheels 22 oct 2015

The n o

t s e t a l d n a

s d r boa skaters PAGE 3

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October 22, 2015

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

Chasing the sun in Oz UKZN leads Africa’s quest for a top 10 in solar race ALWYN VILJOEN WHILE KZN enjoys a brief respite from the summer heat today, in Australia, two university teams from South Africa are chasing the Australian sun for a top 10 spot in the biennial Bridgestone World Solar Challenge.

The solar teams from the uni­ versities of KZN (UKZN) and the North West (NWU) are the first teams from Africa to compete against 47 teams from 25 coun­ tries in this historic race, which ends on Sunday after a 3 000 km route from Darwin in the north to Adelaide in the south of Australia.

With its solar roof tilted to catch the last rays after a dust storm in Australia, the University of the North West’s Sirius X25 is currently second last in the Challenger Class of the World Solar Challenge.

PHOTO: TWITTER The UKZN team named their one­seater car Hulamin, while the NWU calls their the Sirius X25.

Both are racing in the Challenger class, which UKZN co­leader Kir­ sty Veale described as the “F1 of solar car racing.”

Laying 11th among 28 teams yesterday, the tiny KZN’s team had the best shot at ending in the top 10 for Africa against some of the wealthiest universities in the world.

UKZN co­leader Dr Clint Be­

mont said while the KZN team are the underdogs, they are aiming for medals. “We hope to beat teams from some of the best Universities in the World like Stanford, Cam­ bridge, MIT and even Delft,” said Bemont.

Stella Lux sets new record In the more sedate Cruiser class, the car that is drawing the most attention is called Stella Lux, built by the students at the Eindhoven University of Technology at a ru­ moured cost of close to R30 mil­ lion. On Tuesday, the ecstatic “sparky” for Team Eindhoven, Qurein Biewenga — who schooled in Pretoria — tweeted Stella had raced a record distance of 1 500 km on a single charge, driving at an average speed of 80 km/h.

To put this record in perspec­ tive, the team’s spokesperson and one of Stella’s drivers, Liselotte Kockelkoren, said a Toyota Prius can only do 60 km on the same charge at the same speed.”

Stella Lux is the second itera­ tion of the solar car that achieved 875 km in the 2013 race and in the two years since, the Dutch stu­ dents made what they say is the world’s first family car that runs only on sun light.

SHOWING CARS, BIKES AND TRUCKS NEXT week sees Shongweni hosting the annual Car, Truck, Bike and Outdoor Expo.

The show opens with the fourth annual truck safety conference at Shongweni on Friday, October 30, from 10 am. Guest speakers will present 20 minute sessions on pressing issues in transport, as well as present certificates to drivers who competed in the Thuthukisa Abashayeli Driver of the Year competition. The KZN Department of Transport is a proud partner of the con­ ference, with Transport MEC Willies Mchunu to address the assembled fleet operators as they table issues that plague their business operations.

Mchunu has used past con­ ferences to meet with road us­ ers and give his opinion on the topics raised by the attending forum.

For more information, e­mail clydel@telkomsa.net.

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WitnessWheels MOTORING

October 22, 2015

Cars with the friendliest faces FANELESIBONGE NYAWO EVER looked at a car and realised that it was actually smiling at you, or giving you a very aggressive stare?

You were not paranoid — cars do growl or grin at you! The shape of a vehicle’s head­ lights make a “facial expression” and — until someone invents the smiley or frowny LED lights — these expressions cannot change. The car the driver chooses will permanently smiles at fellow road users, or gives them that angry look. (Which, of course, raises all kinds of questions about their drivers…)

A quick poll among the girlfriends list these as the three vehicles on our roads that look so friendly, you want to smile back at them.

#1 Mazda BT­50 Bakkie The Mazda BT­50 is the friendliest of the bunch and it’s kind of funny because it has a very huge body like those muscular guys in the gym who never smile!

#2 Toyota Corolla The Toyota Corolla Professional’s grille gives it that jagged­up smile — the one a person has a few days after a visit to the dentist!

#3 Hyundai i10 The Hyundai i10 has a not so broad but yet again not so tiny smile — it has the type of smile kids from Toddlers and Tiaras have after very tense face muscle work­out!

Soot and shroom power Candle soot to drive next­gen electric cars?

German company Bosch predicts the world will see 15% of all new vehicles hav­ ing an electrical powertrain by 2025 and is investing €400 million a year in electro­ mobility.

Their quest is to create a battery that will give 50 kilowatt hours and weigh about 190 kg. To put this in perspective, the aver­ age lead battery in today’s cars weighs about 20 kg and makes only 0,5 kilowatt hours.

A recent study shows carbon from burn­ ing a candle could be all it takes to make an inexpensive but powerful electric car battery, according to new research pub­ lished in Electrochimica Acta.

The research reveals that candle soot could be used to power the kind of lithium ion battery used in plug­in electric cars.

The authors of the study, from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Hydera­ bad, India, say their discovery opens up the possibilities to use carbon in more powerful batteries, driving down the costs of porta­ ble power.

Lithium ion batteries power many devi­ ces, from smartphones and digital cameras all the way up to cars and even aircraft.

The batteries work by having two electri­ cally charged materials suspended in a liq­ uid to produce a current. Carbon is used as one of those materials in smaller batter­ ies, but for bigger, more powerful batteries — such as those used in electric cars — car­ bon is not suitable because of its structure, which cannot produce the required current density.

In the new study, Dr Chandra Sharma and Dr Manohar Kakunuri found that be­ cause of the shape and configuration of the tiny carbon nanoparticles, the carbon in candle soot is suitable for use in bigger bat­ teries. What’s more, because the soot could be produced quickly and easily, it is a scala­ ble approach to making batteries.

“If you put a water droplet on candle soot it rolls off — that’s an observation

New lithium ion battery made of mushrooms NICK LAVARS

Artist Steve Spazuk uses fumage, a technique developed in the thirties to create images using soot from a candle or kerosene lamp. Now the soot can make better lithium batteries.

PHOTO: DISTRICTMONTREAL.COM that’s been made in the last few years. The material candle soot is made of, carbon, al­ so has electric potential. So why not use it as an electrode?” asked Sharma, author of the study. “We looked into it and saw it also shows some exceptional electro­ chemical properties, so we decided to test it further.”

When a candle burns, it gives off clouds of black soot made of carbon.

The researchers looked at the soot col­ lected from the tip of a candle flame and from the middle of the flame and compared the size, shape and structure of the carbon.

The results showed that the burning process forms nanoparticles of carbon that are 30 to 40 nanometres across and are joined together in an interconnected net­

work. They also found that the soot recov­ ered from the tip of a candle flame, which burns at 1 400° C, has fewer impurities like wax, making it perform better as an electri­ cal conductor.

Their analyses show the shape and size of the carbon nanoparticles from soot, and the way they are joined together, makes soot an effective conducting material, with a high cyclic charge­discharge (CCD).

The researchers says the technology is efficient and cost­effective. It is also scala­ ble. They now plan to develop a candle soot battery to test the technology further. They are also planning to test hybrid materials that contain candle soot to see if they can make it an even better material for batter­ ies. — Wheels Reporter.

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CAN portabella mushrooms stop lithium ion batteries from degrading over time?

Researchers at the University of California, Riverside Bourns College of Engineering, think so.

They have created a new type of lithium ion battery anode using por­ tabella mushrooms, which are inex­ pensive, environmentally friendly and easy to produce.

The current industry standard for rechargeable lithium ion battery an­ odes is synthetic graphite, which comes with a high cost of manufac­ turing because it requires tedious pu­ rification and preparation processes that are also harmful to the environ­ ment.

With the anticipated increase in batteries needed for electric vehicles and electronics, a cheaper and sus­ tainable source to replace graphite is needed. Using biomass, a biological material from living or recently living organisms, as a replacement for graphite, has drawn recent attention because of its high carbon content, low cost and environmental friendli­ ness.

UC Riverside engineers were drawn to using mushrooms as a form of biomass because past research has established they are highly porous, meaning they have a lot of small spa­ ces for liquid or air to pass through.

That porosity is important for bat­ teries because it creates more space for the storage and transfer of energy, a critical component to improving battery performance.

In addition, the high potassium salt concentration in mushrooms al­ lows for increased electrolyte­active material over time by activating more pores, gradually increasing its capacity.

A conventional anode allows lithi­ um to access fully most of the materi­ al during the first few cycles and ca­ pacity fades from electrode damage occurs from that point on. The mushroom carbon anode technolo­ gy could, with optimisation, replace graphite anodes. It also provides a binderless and current­collector free approach to anode fabrication.

“With battery materials like this, future cellphones may see an in­ crease in run time after many uses, rather than a decrease, due to appar­ ent activation of blind pores within the carbon architectures as the cell charges and discharges over time,” said Brennan Campbell, a graduate student in the materials science and engineering programme at UC Riv­

erside.

The research findings were out­ lined in a paper, “Bio­Derived, Bind­ erless, Hierarchically Porous Carbon Anodes for Li­ion Batteries”, pub­ lished in the journal Scientific Re­ ports. It was authored by Cengiz Oz­ kan and Mihri Ozkan, both profes­ sors in the Bourns College of Engineering, and three of their cur­ rent or former graduate students: Campbell, Robert Ionescu and Za­ chary Favors.

Nanocarbon architectures derived from biological materials such as mushrooms can be considered a green and sustainable alternative to graphite­based anodes, said Cengiz Ozkan, a professor of mechanical en­ gineering and materials science and engineering.

The nano­ribbon­like architec­ tures transform upon heat treatment into an interconnected porous net­ work architecture which is important for battery electrodes because such architectures possess a very large surface area for the storage of energy, a critical component to improving battery performance.

One of the problems with conven­ tional carbons, such as graphite, is that they are typically prepared with chemicals such as acids and activated by bases that are not environmental­ ly friendly, said Mihri Ozkan, a pro­ fessor of electrical and computer en­ gineering. Therefore, the UC River­ side team are focused on naturally derived carbons, such as the skin of the caps of portabella mushrooms, for making batteries.

It is expected that nearly 900 000 tons of natural raw graphite would be needed for anode fabrication for nearly six million electric vehicles forecast to be built by 2020.

This requires that the graphite be treated with harsh chemicals, includ­ ing hydrofluoric and sulfuric acids, a process that creates large quantities of hazardous waste. The European Union projects this process will be unsustainable in the future.

The Ozkans’ research is supported by the University of California, River­ side.

This paper involving mushrooms is published just over a year after the Ozkans’ labs developed a lithium­ion battery anode based on nanosilicon via beach sand as the natural raw ma­ terial. The Ozkans’ team are current­ ly working on the development of pouch prototype batteries based on nanosilicon anodes.

The UCR Office of Technology Commercialisation has filed patents.

— Gizmag.

MOTORING WitnessWheels

October 22, 2015

3

A sense of occasion BRIAN BASSETT explores lofty living in the new BMW 218i Active Tourer Sport Line WHEN BMW launched its new Active Tourer range earlier this year, it set the motoring Internet buzzing. This was the first front­wheel drive vehicle mass produced by the brand and it is equipped with BMW’s first three­cylin­ der engine.

There was much comment about the dilution of the brand, presumably be­ cause the 218 Active Tourer looks noth­ ing like the M3 and you cannot now do power slides with every BMW model in existence. BMW did, however, ac­ knowledged the fact that the owners of this people mover are far more con­ cerned with wiping baby drool off the upholstery and getting luggage into the boot, than getting sideways into a tight­ ening right­hand corner on a racetrack.

The real questions are: does it work and will you buy it? My thanks to An­ thony Ellis, new dealer principal at SMG Pietermaritzburg, for allowing me a few days with the vehicle to find out.

Styling The Active Tourer cannot be described as beautiful, but it is a practical design wrapped in a pleasant aesthetic.

The front is dominated by the trade­ mark BMW kidney grill flanked by two, swept back LED headlight pods, a cen­ trally placed BMW badge and fog lamps built into the front bumper. The car has powerful contours and dynamic lines, while the high roofline adds to its dis­ tinctive image.

Deep creases along the sides break up the scale of the sheet metal and the 17­inch alloys complete the design. The well­designed auto tail­gate can be op­ erated either by a sideways foot move­ ment or by using the car’s smart key.

In all, the design projects a sense of occasion which cannot be ignored.

Interior The Active Tourer’s transverse front­ wheel drive pays off in the interior, as there is no transmission tunnel and this adds to the interior space.

The Sport Line has contoured sports seats that are comfortable for even a

Great idea may be grounded

The new BMW 218i Active Tourer.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED bulky figure like mine and the leather upholstery and interior finishes are of the best quality with storage spaces ev­ erywhere. The rear seats will take three Springbok forwards with ease and are also adjustable to enhance boot space, which is 468 litres with all seats in place and 1 510 litres with the rear seats folded down in a 40:20:40 split.

Interior finishes are outlined in red, adding a pleasant sporty touch. The controls are vintage BMW with large easy­to­read dials and supporting digi­ tal information which makes for easy driving.

The dash is framed by a three­spoke, leather­covered, multifunction steering wheel which handles the radio, Blue­ tooth and speed­control functions.

And the centrally placed, leather­cov­ ered gear stick for the tiptronic gearbox is easy to reach and operate.

The dual­zone climate control is ex­ tremely effective and the radio, CD/aux multispeaker audio system, delivered beautifully the Bach that I played through it.

At the centre of the dash is a 6,5­inch iPod­like screen that is operated by a controller in the central stack. It brings together all the visuals for the Idrive sys­ tem and, if you have the right programs, will connect you with social media.

Safety and Security The focus of this MPV is to convey fami­

lies efficiently and safely to their desti­ nations. Not surprisingly, the Active Tourer is equipped with a wide range of technologies to ensure that you and your family arrive alive.

Besides the usual alphabet soup of ABS with EBD, dynamic stability con­ trol, seat belts for all and six air bags, there is a range of driver assists like park assist and hill start assist and the rather interesting approach warning, which warns if your distance to the vehicle in front of you is too small.

Dynamic stability control optimises directional stability and traction traffic queue assist which, when engaged, con­ trols the speed of the car in dense traffic.

So the only unknown factor in this im­ pressive raft of safety measures is the driver. The vehicle also has the usual central locking and on­board alarm, as well as child­safety locks and child­seat anchors at the rear.

Handling The 218’s most impressive party trick is the three­cylinder turbo­charged en­ gine. This is a revelation and a cutting­ edge example of what modern technol­ ogies can achieve.

The three­cylinder delivers 100 kw of power and 220 Nm of torque, with zero to 100 km/h coming up in 9,2 seconds and a top speed of 205 km/h. Combined fuel consumption for me was about six litres to 100 km.

The car is responsive, immediate, willing and seemingly unburstable, and the chassis is able to express this on road via the six­speed automatic gear­ box. In town, the car is enjoyable and gives a quiet ride, with responsive steer­ ing with good feedback.

Parking is no problem with park as­ sist. On the N3, as well as on the notori­ ous Midlands D roads, the 218 is fun to drive in a segment where some par­ ticipants are about as much fun as the morning medicine round in a geriatric ward.

The car is balanced in all conditions and the front­wheel drive is a non­ event. Sport mode changes the nature of the car, but fully loaded it has to work hard to achieve BMW­type perform­ ance. This trendy people carrier will win new customers for BMW and have the space to welcome them.

Costs and competition The entry model 218 comes in at R380 000 and the auto version will cost you around R400 000.

The range­topping 225i auto comes in at about R450 000.

You also get the extendable BMW five­year or 100 000 km motor plan and a manufacturer’s guarantee.

The competition is fierce, so also look at the Mercedes B Class, Volks­ wagen Golf SV, Peugeot 308 and Citro­ ën C4 Picasso.

NOT looking like they will make their funding goal of $100 000 (R1 323 950), a group of young engineers and designers ‘who believe passionately in sustainable transportation’, may have to shelve their Steam board, the ‘smallest and longest­ running electric skateboard with an in­wheel motor’.

Described as ‘extremely portable, the board can do 18 km on a charge, with a top speed of 35 km/h — faster than riding a bicycle.

When you do need to recharge the battery, it takes only 90 minutes. A hand­held remote controls the throttle and braking of the board with thumb slider. The farther you push the slider forwards, the faster the board will go.

Pulling the slider back sets the motor in braking mode.

The slider can move the board forwards or backwards.

THE NUMBERS: Size: 78,5×21×12 cm Weight: 4,8 kg Top speed: around 35,5 km Max rider capacity: Tested to 99 kilogrammes Drive system: in­wheel Direct drive technology range: up to 18 km (depending on the load and stability) Brake type: electronic Regenerative braking Charge time: 90 minutes Connectivity Bluetooth low­ energy Deck material: Canadian maple Wheel: 89 mm 80a Battery cycle life: over 1 000 full­charge cycles One­year warranty (drive system and remote).

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

VW PULLS OUT OF RALLY CHAMPS Futurustic strollers that follow the parents.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Top skaters chill after KDC Moses Adams shows what happens when a 360 goes wrong in mid air. Adams and skaters Allan Dams, Siphiwe Kwesha and Mikey Mendoza ended up in Cape Town last Sunday, following a road trip after the 2015 Street Skateboarding World Championships, which was held in front of capacity crowds at the Kumba Skate Park in Kimberley, from October 7 to October 10. The world’s top skaters competed for a purse of $100 000 (R1 322 165) in nine events ranging from the TopGrom African Champs to the Women’s Street Champs. The finals were broadcast live on Eversport, with street skaters Nyjah Huston and Luan Oliveira battling it out for top honours. More on kimberleydiamondcup.com PHOTO: TYRONE BRADLEY/RED BULL CONTENT POOL

Baby strollers go robotic CHARLES Bombardier’s latest idea is to update the old baby stroller.

His Mujïn concept requires no parent to push it; instead, the Mujïn will follow parents as they walk or jog. Each Mujïn will be paired with its baby and parents, to follow orders given only by the par­ ents.

Bombardier said he asked Xavier Gordillo to create images for the idea, and Gordillo took inspiration from the robotic wheelchair invented by Dean Kamen, which can also climb stairs.

In his column in Canada’s Globe and Mail, Bombardier said: “The stair­ climbing system would need to be de­ veloped further. We thought about us­ ing a system similar to the Ibot wheel­ chair and having the wheels rotate going upstairs or downstairs ... Parents would probably want to keep their hands on the Mujïn while it’s climbing or descending stairs but the Mujïn could accomplish this on it’s own too.

It would also be possible to use the Mu­ jïn like a conventional stroller.” — WR.

VOLKSWAGEN has finally confirmed the rumours that it will pull its works team from the national rally champi­ onship.

In a statement released after the Polokwane Rally on Sunday, Volkswag­ en’s Motorsport head Mike Rowe said: “Volkswagen Motorsport will, in future, focus on supporting privateer teams and the National Rally Commission as a technical partner.

“Volkswagen will also sponsor the 2016 Volkswagen Rally and support for circuit racing will continue, including an entry in the new GTC formula mooted for 2016.

“The Volkswagen Motorsport team, the drivers, navigators and all our sponsors, especially Esteq, have earned our thanks for their support, dedication and hard work over the years.”

He added that VW hopes to enjoy future partnerships with Sasol.

There is no news yet if any of the VW driving pairs, Henk Lategan and Barry White, Gugu Zulu and Hilton Auffray, and Hergen Fekken and Pierre Arries, will race as privateers. — WR.

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Ah, the good old days!

By Pieter from Maritzburg Remember the good old days? The grass was greener, the days were longer and full of magic. The shows on TV were better. Back in the good old days, we made our own fun. Young people didn’t wear such outlandish outfits. We didn’t have all these new-fangled inventions. Times were simpler, healthier, cheaper.

On the other hand, I wouldn’t want to live without the benefits of the modern world. I need my smartphone, my DSTV (especially in the rugby season), my high-speed internet. I like modern music; I like the latest movies. The present is a good place to be.

It’s a quandary, isn’t it?

New Polo GTI. Anything is possible in SA’s #1 selling vehicle.

The folks at Baron’s Pietermaritzburg have managed to bring the past and the present together. What do I mean? Well now you can get a brand New Polo Sedan, with all the latest accoutrements and luxuries, at lower-than-2014 prices!

It turns out you really can have the best of both worlds!

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.

2014 prices in 2015.

Ultimate Performance = Ultimate Confidence.

Polo Vivo 1.4 55kW Conceptline Purchase any New Polo Sedan at lower-than-2014 prices. from R1,698* per month.

The Polo Vivo 1.4 55kW Conceptline standard features include:

The New Polo Sedan prices including VAT.

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Power steering Anti-lock brake system (ABS) Air-conditioning

R1,698*

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Polo Vivo 2010 Polo Vivo 1.4 3 Door 2012 Polo Vivo 1.6 Trendline 2014 Polo Vivo Sedan 1.4 2014 Polo Vivo 1.4 Trendline 5 Door 2014 Polo Vivo Sedan 1.4 Trendline Tiptronic 2014 Polo Vivo Sedan 1.4 Trendline 2015 Polo Vivo Sedan GP 1.4 Trendline Polo 2012 Polo 1.6 Comfortline 5 Door 2012 Polo 1.2 TDI BlueMotion 2014 Polo GP 1.2 TSI Trendline 2014 Polo Sedan 1.4 Trendline 2014 Polo Sedan 1.4 Trendline 2014 Polo GP 1.2 TSI Trendline 2015 Polo GP 1.2 Comfortline 2015 Polo GP 1.2 TSI Comfortline Golf 2013 Golf 7 1.4 TSI Comfortline DSG 2014 Golf 7 1.4 TSI Comfortline 2014 Golf 7 1.4 TSI Comfortline DSG 2015 Golf R 2.0 TSI DSG Jetta 2012 Jetta 1.2 TSI Trendline 2012 Jetta 1.2 TSI Trendline Up! 2015 Take Up! 1.0 55kW 2015 Take Up! 1.0 55kW 2015 Move Up! 1.0 55kW Other VW 2011 Touareg 3.6 FSI 2011 Tiguan 1.4 TSI Trend 2015 Tiguan 1.4 TSI Trend Other 2010 BMW 118i 2011 Honda Jazz 1.3 Comfort Auto 2012 Hyundai i20 1.4 2015 Isuzu Double Cab KB300 T-Teq Serengeti Auto

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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 Vivo 1.4 55kW Conceptline model in standard specification. Instalment excludes optional extras, but includes monthly administration fee of R57 and initiation fee of R1,140. 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 29 October 2015.

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

White Silver White White Silver Silver Beige

R85 900 R119 900 R109 900 R129 900 R139 900 R132 900 R159 900

97 000 84 000 71 000 26 000 20 000 23 000 17 700

km km km km km km km

Red Blue White White Silver Blue Red White

R165 900 R129 900 R169 900 R154 900 R159 900 R169 900 R226 900 R234 900

31 000 120 000 34 000 32 000 16 000 22 000 9 000 1 000

km km km km km km km km

White White Silver Grey

R219 900 R254 900 R274 900 R545 000

73 000 19 800 19 000 5 000

km km km km

White White

R159 900 R155 900

79 000 88 000

km km

White Silver Blue

R121 000 R125 000 R125 000

6 000 4 500 5 000

km km km

Brown Silver Silver

R349 900 R189 900 R314 900

39 000 90 000 6 000

km km km

Grey White White White

R129 900 R119 900 R109 900 R419 900

105 000 34 000 85 000 17 500

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• Rajen • Sanjay • Barry • Phumlani Sales Enquiries: 033 940 1445 Visit us on www.baronsvwpmb.co.za and find us on facebook.com/BaronsPietermaritzburg

Barons

from R190,400

Pietermaritzburg

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

An optional cost of R900 incl VAT will be charged for metallic paint. Note: *Linked to FNB prime rate, currently 9.5%. Note: Offers calculated on the New Polo Sedan range in standard specification. Price excludes optional extras, service delivery, licensing and registration. 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.

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Not just tough, smart.

m warranty 3 Year / 120 000k intenance plan ma m 0k 5 year / 60 00

Purchase any Amarok Double Cab from R437,400* incl. VAT at Barons Pietermaritzburg and receive

towards settlement on your existing vehicle, buy accessories for your new vehicle or both.

Visit us on www.baronsvw.co.za An optional cost of R1600 incl VAT will be charged for metallic paint. Note: *Linked to FNB prime rate, currently 9.5%. Note: Offers calculated on the Amarok Double Cab range in standard specification. Price excludes optional extras, service delivery, licensing and registration. 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 29 October 2015.

New Sales Consultants

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Monthly No. of Interest Rate Instalments Instalments Linked / Variable

1.4 Trendline

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Multi-Point-Injection (MPI) Driver and passenger airbags 14” Steel wheels

2015

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6

WitnessWheels MOTORING

BIKING

October 22, 2015

For hard­riding thrills Honda’s 2015 VFR800X Crossrunner focuses on performance and technology HONDA’S premium adventure sports tourer has evolved substantially for 2015, with a host of upgrades designed to de­ liver more hard­riding excitement.

It features more mid­range torque and top­end power from its upgraded V4­ VTEC engine, sharper adventure styling plus refined ergonomics and longer trav­ el suspension, new wheels and brakes.

Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) system, ABS, full LED lighting, five­stage heated grips, self­cancelling indicators and a height­adjustable seat are all fitted as standard.

1. INTRODUCTION The VFR800X Crossrunner, which went on sale in 2011, was the first model in Honda’s Crossover ‘X’ range. It com­ bined the VFR800F sports touring plat­ form and an upright, adventure­orient­ ed riding position to create a multi­pur­ pose motorcycle with a soulful V4 motor providing power and feel.

The 2015 VFR800X Crossrunner, in­ corporating many elements from the new 2014 VFR800F, pushes the Cross­ runner concept forward, with a clear fo­ cus on performance and technology. Its revised engine and chassis, HSTC, LED lights, refined, more upright riding posi­ tion and sharper styling improve both function and form to create a practical all­purpose motorcycle.

Yoichi Inayama, large project leader (LPL) VFR800X Crossrunner, said: “For this development of the VFR800X Crossrunner, we wanted to create a pre­ mium motorcycle with a ready­for­ac­ tion feeling, for customers to use with maximum enjoyment every day. The styling demanded beautifully functional parts, and light proportions with mini­ mal fairings.

“Our new VFR800X Crossrunner has fulfilled these goals and follows the VFR tradition: it has an array of advanced technologies.

“For us, it gives a craving to ride every­ day and we hope it brings the same fun and good spirit to our customers.”

2. MODEL OVERVIEW Core of the VFR800X Crossrunner is its 90° V4­VTEC DOHC 16­valve engine.

It packs boosted low and mid­range

rider, it compares front and rear wheel speed differential when turning (via the ABS wheel sensors) and calculates when to cancel indication.

A redesigned LCD dash uses a reverse display against white LED backlight. The speedometer/tachometer are located to­ gether. There’s also a gear position indi­ cator, fuel consumption and cruising range indicator, clock, ambient tempera­ ture gauge and twin trip meters. An indi­ cator is included for the five­stage heated grips. The VFR800X Crossrunner will be available in three colour options: Candy Arcadian Red, Matt Gunpowder Black Metallic and Pearl Glare White.

3.2 CHASSIS Agile handling is key to the VFR800X Crossrunner’s philosophy as it has to clip Alpine apexes as well as ride through city streets. The Crossrunner’s suspen­ sion is similar to the 2014 VFR800F but the 43 mm Honda Multi­Action System (HMAS) telescopic fork features an ex­ tra 25 mm travel and offers stepless spring preload adjustment plus rebound damping adjustment.

The HMAS gas­charged rear shock operates through Pro­Link and offers hy­ draulically adjusted spring preload, 28 mm more travel and raised ground clearance to 165 mm.

The 2015 Honda VFR800X Crossrunner.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED torque for fluid drive, plus improved top­ end power compared to the previous model, and features a new 4­2­1­1 ex­ haust similar to the new VFR800F. In addition, the VFR800X Crossrun­ ner rider now benefits from the Honda Selectable Torque Control system (HSTC), similar to that fitted to its big­ brother VFR1200X Crosstourer. If the system senses an imminent loss of rear­ wheel traction it reduces torque to allow the tyre to grip.

Two levels of HSTC are available (plus off) and mode selection appears on the LCD instrumentation.

The evocative aluminium twin­beam frame features a revised subframe while the single sided aluminium swingarm —

another VFR signature piece — is stiffer and lighter. Visually identical to the VFR800F, the VFR800X Crossrunner’s suspension has longer travel, 25 mm in the two­piece telescopic forks and 28 mm in the rear shock. ABS is fitted as standard and the front 17­inch hollow­ cast aluminium wheel is fitted with dual 310 mm discs, worked by radial­mount four­piston calipers.

The VFR800X Crossrunner is a true VFR, a motorcycle designed for hard­ riding fun, but with style, comfort and practicality.

3. KEY FEATURES 3.1 STYLING AND EQUIPMENT Purely a street­focused machine, and

with a strong hint of VFR800F around the ‘X’’ signature white light LED head­ light, the VFR800X Crossrunner’s over­ all design follows a theme of tough so­ phistication.

Seat height can be adjusted to either 815 mm or 835 mm to help suit a wider range of riders. Combined with the com­ fortable seat and foot­peg positioning, the wide new 683 mm handlebars put the rider firmly in control. The VFR800X Crossrunner is easy to handle in all situations and quick to respond to more aggressive rider input, thanks to the extra leverage and low yaw inertia.

The VFR800X Crossrunner features Honda’s self­cancelling indicator sys­ tem. Designed to work unnoticed by the

The curious case of the all­terrain electric scooter C.C. WEISS IF you wanted an automobile to drive over sand, dirt and rock, as well as pave­ ment, you’d probably start and end your search at models with 4WD. So why shouldn’t the same apply to your scooter selection?

The eGroov scooter uses an all­wheel electric drive to keep you rolling forward and a modular hardware set to keep you comfortable.

If we were writing a list of “top vehi­ cles we’d like to take off road”, we think we’d run out of ink long before making it to “modestly powered electric scoot­ er”.

But the minds behind Paris­based startup eGroov Mobility Systems think there’s a place for a scooter that can go anywhere, over any type of terrain, with the quiet, peaceful operation that only an electric drive brings.

The eGroov reminds us a bit of the Daymak Beast without the suspension and solar power and with an extra elec­ tric motor over the standard model (Daymak does have a dual­motor model in the Beast D).

The eGroov has a 250­watt motor in each wheel, providing all­wheel drive

that helps it tackle pavement, dirt and even sand and mud. Those massive tyres are sure to help in those mixed environ­ ments.

The eGroov can be equipped with one or two 12 Ah, 36 V lithium­ion batteries for about 15 to 20 km of range with a single battery and about double that with two.

Its top speed is 25 km/h in either case.

With a payload capacity of more than 120 kg, it can carry an average­sized per­ son and all the cargo that rider could possibly expect to take on a scooter ride.

The single­ or dual­battery pack is in­ tegrated under the floorboard, helping to keep a low centre of gravity. The bat­ teries can be removed for charging by lifting the floorboard or charged directly on the scooter. Charging takes five hours per battery.

The basic eGroov comes as a 55­kg stand­up scooter with the aforemen­ tioned power and performance specs, adjustable handlebars and dual disc brakes. The modular eGroov+ is more of a versatile workhorse, packaging the same mechanicals with a seat and cargo box. That box can be swapped out for other sold­separately accessories, in­ cluding a child seat and a surfboard car­

3.3 ENGINE The VFR800X Crossrunner’s 782 cc, liquid­cooled 16­valve DOHC 90° V4­ VTEC engine serves up improved per­ formance and generates more low­to mid­range power and torque. Boosted peak power of 78 kW (106 PS) is deliv­ ered at 10 250 rpm and the increased torque output through the bottom and mid­rpm ranges is immediately noticea­ ble. Peak torque of 75 Nm is delivered at 8 500 rpm.

4. SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE (VAT INCLUSIVE) The new VFR800X is available at all au­ thorised Honda wing dealerships coun­ trywide. The pricing includes a two­year unlimited mileage warranty and one­ year roadside assistance.

Price: VFR800X R141 990.

— Supplied.

“The single­ or dual­battery pack is integrated under the floorboard, helping to keep a low centre of gravity.”

The eGroov scooter uses an all­wheel electric drive to keep you rolling forward.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED rier. The eGroov+ has a listed weight of 65 kg.

EGroov Mobility Systems is trying to raise money on Kickstarter, offering the

standard eGroov at pledge levels start­ ing at €1 690 (R25 048) and the eGroov+ (with seat and cargo box) starting at €2 190. The start­up esti­

mates retail pricing at €2 190 and €2 590, respectively. Both Kickstarter pledge levels include a single battery, while a second battery can be added for €290. If all goes according to plan, eGroov will begin deliveries next year.

The eGroov looks handy for very spe­ cific uses, like carrying a surfboard over a few kilometres of beach to your favour­ ite break, but it looks too huge and heavy to be a versatile urban commuter and way too underpowered, rigid and slow to be a fun off­roader.

Does this 2WD electric scooter make your list of useful off­road/on­road mo­ bility solutions, or does it leave you scratching your head?

S DE AL ER BO KT OB

RENAULT CLIO 55kW AUTHENIQUE 5DR OPTION 1: 0% Deposit Installment (incl. fees)

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*Excludes delivery costs and metallic paint. Terms and conditions apply. Pictures for illustrative purposes. Subject to finance approval through our finance partners

Andries (Sbu) Hadebe 033 940 1434

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8

WitnessWheels MOTORING

RACING

October 22, 2015

Perel gets double win David Perel, the talented racer and website builder from Cape Town who is living the dream as a Lamborghini race driver in the Italian GT Championship, recorded a double win over the weekend after starting from pole position on the second day with a 15­second handicap from his first day’s win. ‘Totally dominated at Mugello. We just managed second in the champs by victory count­back. Overall very proud. Thank you to everyone who supported me during the season, no words for my gratitude,’ Perel tweeted.

PHOTO: TWITTER Kirsten Landman is the first woman in the world to receive a gold finisher’s medal at the Sea to Sky. PHOTO: IRINA GORODNIAKOVA

Fearless racing

by Binder

A good year for SA’s Kirsten Landman

Vicious day of racing sees Binder recover from being clipped by a rider THE weekend’s Moto3 during the Aus­ tralian Motorcycle Grand Prix was more vicious than normal, with South Africa’s Brad Binder competing alongside almost 20 riders.

Several crashes, including one from log leader Danny Kent for Leopard Racing, soon reduced the field to a leading group of six riders, with Binder still looking comfortable. But with nine laps to go, the boytjie from Kempton’s Australian GP al­ most ended in the kitty litter after a rider clipped Binder’s front brake, sending him wide at turn one. But South Africa’s Red Bull KTM Ajo rider did what he does best — racing fearlessly to come back from be­ hind and grab third place on the podium from Jorge Navarro for Estrella Galicia by 0.009 of a second. This is his third podi­ um place this year and places Binder in seventh for the Moto3 at Sepang in Ma­ laysia.

Binder said it was not an easy race. “I was riding in the leading group when, with nine laps remaining, someone touched my front brake going into the first corner and I had to run wide.

“Luckily, I was able to continue riding and push hard to latch back onto the front group. Other than that, the race went well overall, but I’m a little disappointed be­ cause I thought I could definitely finish first or second. I pushed very hard on ev­ ery lap, even after going off­track, but eventually I was slipstreamed almost at the finish line for second.

“I have to thank the team because the bike was fantastic, with amazing han­ dling. I’m sure I could have done better

South Africa’s Brad Binder worked hard for his third podium place this year.

PHOTO: RED BULL KTM AJO and I’m a little sour about the result, but that’s racing. I’m glad to be back on the podium and eager for more at Sepang.”

— WR.

V BRAD BINDER

“I have to thank the team because the bike was fantastic, with amazing handling.”

THE Red Bull Sea to Sky is unique: three days of racing in beautiful terrain on the shores of the Turkish Riviera.

Each day has a different format and ter­ rain, making this one of the toughest and most enjoyable races for hard en­ duro riders the world over.

This year saw the first opportunity for Brother Leader Tread KTM rider Kirsten Landman to make it to the Turkish event so we caught up with her upon her return to SA. Q: “Sea to Sky is quite a new event in the grand scheme of things and the 2015 race was the sixth edition. You are the first woman in the world to re­ ceive a gold finisher’s medal. How does that make you feel?”

Kirst: “Wow, after all the trials and tribulations over the past few years and the bad luck I had at Romanics this year, it was good to have a strong result, especially on an international scale.

“It’s a good feeling to know the hard work and dedication is paying off in the form of such a result. I still can’t explain exactly how I feel in words.

“The support from South African fans has been amazing and I would like to thank everyone for the messages of support.”

Q: “We can safely say that this is your career high point so far. What has led you to this? What made you want to ride dirt bikes? Did you realise as a little girl you wanted to be a dirt biker or did a family member steer you to it?”

Kirst: “My dad grew up with dirt bikes and my uncle and cousin rode. My cousin and I are close in age so obvi­ ously I wanted a go too. At the time, I was very into my swimming and was trying out for the provincial team so my dad said if I made the team, he would buy me a dirt bike. I was eight.

I got into the team and I was given a peewee 80 and ever since then I have been motorbike gaga! The progression went from there to ATVs and then fi­ nally I got and RM85, then an RM125, my first real dirt bikes and I started en­ tering the local club hare­scrambles.

“I will never forget how good it felt to place fourth, then third, then I actu­ ally started to beat them.

“I never looked at it as a career path, it was mostly a passion that I shared with my dad.

“Once my schooling was complete, in fact the next year, I took a gap year.

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I got picked up by a team and started competing on a national level doing Enduros. Then in 2012, what a terrible year, that was the year I DNF­ed at the Roof at my first attempt and I had loads of stupid injuries that slowed my development down, I really thought, ‘well this is as far as I go with racing’ because I hadn’t shaped at all. That was when the legend of SA Off Road and Enduro racing, Daryl Curtis, intro­ duced me to my now team manager, Franziska Brandl of KTM SA. Having lost my ride, KTM were looking for a woman rider. It was like a fairy tale, I met the boss and within days was signing a contract.”

Q: “Tell us about that year.

Kirst: “I was having a good year until halfway through the season when I had a high­speed crash at the Desert Race and well let’s just say it wasn’t pretty.

I had to be medevac’d and had some bad injuries. I don’t regret the crash as it made me hungrier to succeed and I feel I grew as a person and as a racer.

I learnt to live in the now as you never know when it will all be taken away from you. The bulk of the remainder of that year was spent mending.”

Q: “And last year was good wasn’t it?

Kirst: “Yes, it so was! I got my first taste of Hard Enduro when I went to Romanics. What a challenge and what an honour it was. Then after that was the Roof at the end of the year which I finished, the whole year felt like every time I raced I improved.

Q: “So tell us, what’s next?”

Kirst: “It’s Roof of Africa time! We

will take the race step by step, I don’t want to create too much expectation and pressure as Roof is after all the mother of all hard enduros.”

Q: “Would you make a switch in the national enduros to possibly E2 or E1 going forward?”

Kirst:” Well the standard in SA Endu­ ro is really high, my team­mates Bou­ verie, Teasdale and Young are testa­ ment to this.

“I am have no delusions that I’m as quick as those guys. Speed is not my strong side, I prefer technical stuff and the endurance side of hard enduro. So for now, I haven’t really decided. Silver would be my immediate choice but maybe a stint on the 250F is on the cards. But I have tasted success on the 250 Freeride and that’s going to be my first choice for hard enduro.”

Q: “There are some rumours that there will be a hard endure championship in SA in 2016. Would you be interested?”

Kirst: “Definitely. I want to do as much hard enduro as I can and my goal would be to finish all the rounds and again pave the way for woman in our sport as the first woman finisher.”

Q: “What message would you give to young riders and young girls specifi­ cally who are starting out?”

Kirst: “It sounds like a cliché, but live your dreams, don’t let go of them, they can be achieved. Doubt is part of life, but when you fall down and things are tough, never give up. Always push for what you want. Don’t let anything hold you back. You’re on this planet once, make it count.” — WR.

MECHANICAL REPAIRS TO ALL MAKES OF VEHICLES Contact SIVA: 033 397 0199 OR 084 432 9904 E-mail: sivengineering@gmail.co.za