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THE WITNESS
OCTOBER 22, 2020
WHEELS
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Santa Shoeboxes need filling
Mahindra PickUp for miners
Ford Motor Company Southern Africa (FMCSA) announced it will continue its partnership with the Santa Shoebox Project to deliver the one-millionth shoebox with a bright red Ford Transit. The company is happy to be back on the road in support of the Santa Shoebox Project. Santa Shoebox is a voluntary initiative that has delivered Christmas magic to South African children since 2006. The project relies on the efforts of those more fortunate to make sure that, between October and December, tens of thousands of underprivileged children have some festive fun to look forward to. For these disadvantaged children, opening a gift that includes just the basic essentials is enough to instantly bring a wide smile to their faces. To ensure every donation holds its own unique story, each Santa Shoebox is tracked by the Santa Shoebox app — available free on Apple and Android. This year, the project encourages everyone to get involved. The success of the Santa Shoebox Project can largely be attributed to its personal nature: donors give gifts of essential items and treats to children whose names, ages and genders are known. Eight items that must be in the box are a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, a wash cloth, sweets, a toy, school supplies and an outfit of clothing — all new, unused and age-appropriate. The only criteria for any extra items is that it must fit in a normalsized shoebox. Visit www.santashoebox.org.za to start a pledge. — WR.
SUZUKI, TOYOTA LEAD CARS’ 2020 COTY FINALISTS The sixth annual #CarsAwards this year sees slight changes to the 13 segments in which motoring journalists at the popular website will judge new models for sale in SA. “We made some revisions to the categories to make sure that they are in line with what South Africans are shopping for in the new vehicle market, but also factored in which segments had seen significant activity in terms of new launches,” says consumer experience manager at Cars.co.za, Hannes Oosthuizen. “We also consider pricing movements, to make sure that our categories remain relevant to the consumer.” Whereas Volkswagen had the most semi-finalists (7) last year, the 20/21 Coty nominations are led by Toyota and Suzuki, each with five models listed for the award, followed by VW, with four contenders. BMW and Volvo have three models each. Marques that did not have nominations among the finalists last year, but have one each this time round are Citroën, Honda, Isuzu, Land Rover and Subaru. The models are listed on cars.co.za — WR.
The Mercedes-Benz (left) showed the abilities of the EQC 4x4 Squared concept in Germany, while General Motors launched the first of several Hummer models in Detroit.
Electrifying bakkies Three new electric offroaders show battery-powered vehicles can wade and climb anywhere ALWYN VILJOEN While the world awaits delivery of the first Tesla Cybertruck and all-electric F150, three manufacturers last week demonstrated the offroad abilities of their all-electric, all-wheel-drive vehicles in the U.S. and Germany. Rivian, builders of the world’s most powerful all-electric bakkie, submitted a “bone stock” R1T double-cab to the most extreme test, the Rebelle Rally. The Rebelle Rally is the first women’s offroad navigation rally in the U.S., covering more than 2 000 km through some of the toughest terrain in California and Nevada. The two-person teams have to triangulate their exact position across the trackless desert using only a map and compass. No GPS, Internet, radios or even binoculars. As on the Dakar, the navigator has to chart a route that avoids steep dunes and cliffs, while the driver has to avoid blowing a tyre or getting stuck. Two-time champions, Emme Hall and Rebecca Donaghe, entered the R1T over the eight-day desert race, driving their first all-electric vehicle in a race. Tongues firmly in their cheeks, they named their team “Killer Watt” and the 14 000-Nm bakkie “Vivan The Rivian”, but the R1T did not rebel against such feminisation and performed faultlessly, finishing sixth overall. Rivian said in a statement on Tuesday their engineers are proud of the prowess their stock standard prototype 4x4 showed against the other entries with their custom suspension, rock rails, shocks and aftermarket tyres. The only add-on in the R1T was a one-way audio channel with 4Gequipped data logger to provide the en-
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an impressive 562 km. The Hummer is not cheap. The base model, which only arrives in 2024, will retail at over R1,3 million (some $80k) in the States, but rich drivers who can’t wait that long can already buy the first electric Hummer Edition 1, which has three motors making a combined 745 kW and costing over R1,85 million ($112 595).
Emme Hall and Rebecca Donaghe plotting a course for the all-electric, 14 000 Nm, R1T Rivian through the Nevada desert using only map and compass. gineers with real-time feedback of the big bakkie’s battery status, thermal data, suspension status and charge performance. Power Innovations also provided mobile charging stations to fast charge the vehicle while others refueled. “Rebelle Rally provided the perfect real-world laboratory — one that just happened to be incredibly exciting to follow. The rally concluded this past Saturday and our ‘bone stock’ pre-production R1T finished in sixth overall. “More than just where we placed, this was about how much we learned. We leave the rally energised to capture the feedback to continue refining the
R1T before customer deliveries start next June. And we already have our sights set on next year’s rally,” said Rivian in a statement. All-wheel-steer comes to Detroit General Motors launched the all-electric 2022 GMC Hummer EV Edition 1 in Detroit Tuesday. Unique among production vehicles, the Hummer EV has four-wheel steering, enabling the big vehicle to match the turning circle of a small hatchback. Adaptive air suspension allows variable ride height and, this being an SUV aimed at well-heeled doomsday preppers, the battery pack is not protected
by a mere skid plate, but by GM’s “underbody armour system”. The chest-puffing marketing aside, the electric Hummer does boast numbers that gives its owners good reason to stand far from their elbows. GMC says that the top-performance Edition 1 will be able to accelerate to 60 mph in approximately three seconds. The lesser models in SUV and bakkies shape coming out next year are not expected to be much slower. The battery pack, made with LG Chem, delivers some 200 kWh. A 10minute fast charge adds 160 km of range. The claimed range for a full pack is
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Xprez for courier deliveries Mahindra also stripped out the highriding KUV100 hatchback to create the Xprez delivery hatch. The delivery hatch retains the KUV100’s dual front airbags and ABS brakes with electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), but has no rear seats. Instead, a laser-cut steel mesh separate the load area from the two front seats. The Xprez can carry 350 kg, and a fire extinguisher comes standard with its sales price of R174 999. The Xprez shares the best-in-class low maintenance and repair costs, as validated in the annual AA Kinsey Report. “In recent years, we have seen a rapid growth in online retailing and general delivery services. “This has only accelerated during the lockdown, as we have become more comfortable with our new online lives and the option of ordering in,” said Gupta. “We have also seen many people start small businesses and side-hustles to replace or supplement their pre-Covid careers, with many of these entrepreneurs looking for a reliable, affordable and spacious delivery vehicle.” Big side doors and very wide rear hatch door allows the Xprez’s load bay to swallow 1 350 litres of cargo, making it possible to transport odd-shaped objects and standard delivery boxes alike. In keeping with best practice, the side and rear windows are blocked out to discourage any prying eyes, with additional metal barriers fitted to the inside of these windows. — WR.
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A Square rival for the G-wagon In Germany, Mercedes-Benz teased what the planned electric G-Wagen will be able to do when it demonstrated the EQC 4x4 Squared concept’s abilities in quarry. The EQC 4x4 Squared uses the body shell and powertrain from Merc’s EQC 400. EQ stands for “Electric Intelligence” and the EQ 400 is being build alongside petrol models at Merc’s Bremen plant in Germany. The EQC 4x4 Squared is set to become the three-point star’s electric SUV flagship, with upgraded suspension and axles that rival that of the G-Wagen. The 4x4 Squared sits about 20 cm higher than the EQC, giving the concept over 29 cm ground clearance. It also boasts approach and departure angles of 31,8 degrees and 33 degrees, respectively. That’s better than the current G-Class, which has 28 degree shallower approach and departure angles. Mercedes also quoted a breakover angle of 24,2 degrees, which helps prevent the centre of the vehicle from getting hung up on obstacles. The EQC 4x4 Squared can also drive its electric battery pack through just under half-a-metre of water (41 cm). • alwyn.viljoen@witness.co.za
Mahindra has unveiled two vehicles clad for specific commercial use. The S6 PikUp bakkie now has a factory-fitted Mining Specification package at a very competitive R405 999. The mining package includes a heavy-duty external roll-over protection, the necessary red, white and yellow decals, a roof-mounted light bar and a reverse buzzer. Other unique additions to this specification include a rubberised load bin with cargo net, stop blocks, wheel nut indicators and heavy-duty seat covers. Mahindra has also added a fire extinguisher, First Aid kit and Covid-19 kit. The equipment was designed by the team at Mahindra’s head office in Pretoria and supported by their Special Fitment Centre near Kempton Park and their assembly facility in Durban. Rajesh Gupta, CEO of Mahindra South Africa, said by developing and fitting the regulated equipment directly, Mahindra not only saves fleet buyers time, but ensures that the fitment is perfect for the local environment. It also means that Mahindra can provide a full warranty on workmanship and equipment. The S6 specification level has cruise control and air conditioning fitted as standard.
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Honda turned heads with its SUV e:concept at the 2020 Beijing Motor Show, which indicates the styling direction for the first Honda-branded, mass-produced EV. While Honda aims for petrol-electric hybrids to make up twothirds of its global sales by 2030, the Japanese company told Green Car Reports that the e:concept is planned exclusively for the Chinese market, which has been the world’s best-selling plugin electric passenger car market for five years running. In an interview earlier this year, CEO Takahiro Hachigo said he did not expect global demand for EVs to increase significantly for some time. PHOTO: HONDA
KZN local Brett Swanepoel (pictured) delivered a stunning double victory to take the 2020 SA Cross Country Motorcycle Championship at Mid-Illovo over the weekend. Saturday’s first race saw the Pepson Plastics Husqvarna 250cc OR2 rider arrive home a minute and a half clear of KZN compatriot Bradley Cox’s 200cc OR3 Brother Leader Tread KTM. Another OR2 lad Davin Cocker was third on his Pepson Husqvarna. Charan Moore took Moto1 honours on a KTM and Matthew Wilson’s Husqvarna High School. Wade Blaauw won the Seniors and Wayne Farmer took the Masters. Sunday’s finale counted as a separate national round. Swanepoel upped the ante to take the win from OR2 rival Jarryd
Coetzee by over two minutes. OR3 winner Bradley Cox was third to wrap up that class title ahead of open class OR1 winner Calvin Hume. OR3 runner-up Cocker was next home from OR2 trio Ian Rall, Taki Bogiages and Gareth Cole. Charan Moore followed next, he was second in class to wrap up
the OR1 title. Matthew Wilson once again took High School honours, as did Wade Blaauw Seniors and Wayne Farmer Masters honours. Brett Swanepoel took the overall title from Jarryd Coetzee. Bradley Cox, Charan Moore and Davin Cocker. — Motorsport Media.
DOMINANT DISPLAY BY CAPE KARTERS AT KILLARNEY The 2020 South African National Rotax Max Challenge karting championship wrapped up at Killarney in Cape Town on Saturday. Cape Town’s 2019 SA Troy Dolinschek upset the highly competitive under-15 Junior Max form book with a dominant four-win victory for the day over Jozi lad Muhammad Wally and KZN kid Troy Snyman (pictured) as Wally took the title and the Grand Final Junior ticket. Another Cape kid, Joaquin de Oliveira, stormed to four straight under-13 Mini Max wins over KZN lad Troy Snyman and Reza Levy. Jozi lad Ghazi Motlekar won the championship. Cape karter Jurie Swart won three DD2 heats to take the day as fellow Capetonian Sebastian
Boyd clinched the title from KZN star Rob Whiting. Both drivers earned tickets to the Rotax Max Grand Finals in January. Pretoria driver Nicholas Verheul had already wrapped up the over30s DD2 Masters title but still took three heat wins to clinch the Cape
victory too. Capetonians Tate Bishop and Charl Visser shared out the Senior Max wins with KZN driver Shrien Naidoo as double winner on the day. Bishop took the SA title and the Senior tickets to Portugal’s ‘Olympics of Karting’. Cape Town karter Reese Koorzen came out on top of a close threeway fight to take under 11 Micro Max for the day over Jozi visitors Mohammed Moerat and Caleb Odendaal, who took the championship to claim that ticket to Portugal. And Jack Moore won two brilliant races in a magnificent day of baby Bambino racing to take the day from race 3 winner Rafael da Silva and final heat victor MJ Thekiso. — Motorsport Media.