August 27, 2020
THE WITNESS
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13
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‘Enforce the laws first’ Drunk driving: ‘0% won’t solve issue’ Sleek new Roma turns heads Ferrari last week launched the new Roma virtually and the dealership in Umhlanga invites Tifosi keen to see the latest model from the iconic stable to make an appointment. With only one demo model currently on show in South Africa and a left-hand steer at that, no test rides are given, but fans will know the V8 engine that has won the International Engine of the Year four years in a row gives the light new Roma the best weight/power ration in its segment, thanks to Ferrari’s new generation models’ body shell and chassis that incorporate the latest weight reduction and advanced production technologies.
Merc ups the handling bar among luxury multipurpose vehicles ALWYN VILJOEN DADS looking for the ultimate family car need look no further than the new V-Class V300d. Mercedes-Benz launched the V-Class in South African in 2015, and Mercedes-Benz said the luxury van has since then been exceeding sales targets globally, as well as within South Africa. The 2019 facelift added a striking front-end design with a streamlined cockpit inside. On Tuesday, Merc introduced the V300d to range. Mercedes-Benz hopes to take the MPV segment to even greater heights. Nadia Trimmel, vice president of Mercedes-Benz Vans South Africa, said the V300d builds on the strengths of this multi-purpose vehicle for families, leisure adventurers and business customers alike, adding more choice, luxury and individuality to the segment. NEW ENGINE, NEW TRANSMISSION The V300d is equipped with the fourcylinder OM 654 engine, with a two-litre displacement and boasts 176kW of power complimented by 500Nm of torque making it the new top performer in the segment. In the acceleration phase, the V 300 d can deliver an additional 30Nm of torque in addition to the 500Nm. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in up to 7.9 seconds and reaches a top speed of 220 km/h. The 9G-TRONIC automatic transmission is standard for all V300d variants. The Dynamic Select switch allows the driver to switch between “Comfort” and “Sport” drive programmes and customise the gear shifting characteristics. The “Manual” mode allows the driver to shift manually using the direct select steering wheel paddles. THREE MODELS The V300d comes in three finishes, all with the V-Class’s a high-quality interi-
The interior of the V300d is sumptuous, with the latest multipurpose vehicle from Mercedes-Benz setting new standards in ride comfort and handling for a big van. PHOTO: MOTORPRESS or and exterior finishing. At the top end, the Exclusive line comes standard with the highly sought after customisation options such as the panoramic sunroof, rear climatised seats and centre console with a built-in drinks cooler. To complement the high level individualisation the V-Class customers enjoy, the Night Package is available exclusively for the V300d. A first time feat for the V300d models, the Night Package is available in combination with AMG line and without. The trim elements are adjusted accordingly and include black exterior mirrors in obsidian lack, black anodised beltline trim and AMG front bumper with black trim. As with all other V-Class models, the V300d comes standard in a seven -seat configuration but this can be customised to a six or eight-seater, depending on the customer’s needs. Leather seats can be changed from the standard Black Leather, to Tartufo Brown Leather, or Silk Beige Leather at no extra cost. For the driver, Intelligent LED lights
impress with their practical application in real driving by adjusting the headlamp range when oncoming traffic is detected. The Adaptive Highbeam Assist system continuously adapts based on the road condition. This car comes packed with every little thing you can imagine, including an Easy-Pack electric tailgate, 19-inch Alloy Wheels, and a tyre pressure monitoring system. SAFETY All safety aspects synonymous with the brand and that customers have grown accustomed to, have been carried over to the V300d variants. Safety highlights include the Driver Assist package that features Pre-safe, Lane Keeping Assist and Blind Spot Assist and Active Brake Assist. In addition to the Driver and CoDriver airbags, Thorax Airbags for driver and co-driver and the front window airbags from A-B pillar come standard, and additional Window airbags that extend from the A-D pillar can be ordered as an option. Child locks on the rear doors ensure
that the electric rear sliding doors do not open while on the van is moving. TELEMATICS Mercedes-Benz User Experience, or MBUX, replaces the previous Comand Online system across the V-Class model range. The system includes a 10.25 inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, Smartphone integration for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Mercedes-Benz hard-disk navigation. The standard Burmester sound system also comes standard on all V300d models. The 16-speaker surround sound system brings impressive sound to every seat in the V-Class thanks to the multichannel surround sound technology. The integrated voice amplification system also ensures that the driver and front passenger can converse comfortably with rear passengers, regardless of the distance between them. PRICING V300d Avantagarde R1 440 203 V300d Avantagarde AMG R1 515 183 V300d Exclusive R1 645 880
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CHANGING traffic laws relating to drunk driving is meaningless and will be ineffective if current laws that regulate alcohol and driving are not properly implemented and enforced first. This is the view of the Automobile Association (AA) following the announcement by Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula on the proposal to reduce the legal Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) limit for drivers to zero percent. The association says drinking and driving can be more effectively combated by reducing the allowable alcohol limits for drivers, and that the courts should impose tougher sentences on offenders. The current enforcement of drunk drivers will not stop those who regularly exceed the limits because there are simply no consequences for their actions. The AA says a zero BAC limit is not going to change this behaviour. Although South Africa’s current Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) limit of 0,05% is not out of line with world standards, the crisis on South Africa’s roads demands a tougher approach. The AA is proposing that the 0,05% limit be reduced to 0,02%, which is in place in many countries. The AA notes that the proposed move to reduce the legal limit to zero does not take into consideration the fact that some medications, such as cough syrups, may contain alcohol. In these cases drivers may find themselves with criminal records for taking one dose of this medication when it will have no material effect on their driving ability. “Reducing the blood alcohol limit to zero will not solve the problem of road deaths in South Africa if it is not supported by a thorough, scientific diagnosis of the problem of drunk driving with proper statistics which back such a move. Behavioural change is needed to solve this problem and that requires proper enforcement of existing laws, and more intensive education of the dangers of drunk driving, both of which do not currently occur,” says the AA. It says current analyses of drunk driving in South Africa are fragmented and disparate, with no conclusive findings besides those which call for greater research on the matter — a move the AA supports. “But we cannot have a situation where the government is guessing to what extent alcohol is a contributor of road
deaths with no actual plan to deal with the road safety crisis in South Africa as a whole other than to amend the law. This approach amounts to dealing with the issue of drunk driving without first addressing the issue of current enforcement and lack of education,” says the association. “It is our view that people who drink and drive will not alter their behaviour because there are no consequences so they’re willing to take that gamble of being caught. Ensuring proper law enforcement should be the first step before amending laws. If law enforcement doesn’t change how it operates now, how will changing the law make a difference?” asks the AA. The AA says apart from these concerns, the overall safety of roads in South Africa should enjoy priority before amendments such as these are made. “Pedestrian safety remains a huge concern but little is being done to deal with this problem. Road safety requires a total approach, which deals with vehicle safety, pedestrian safety, and more education on road safety.” The AA says it stands by its support of the wide-ranging proposals by the Traffic Law Enforcement Review Committee last year to improve traffic law enforcement in the country. It says implementing these recommendations and not focusing on one element of road safety, such as drunk driving, is needed to deal more effectively with the country’s annual road fatalities, which it says amount to a national disaster every year. “There are practical, workable plans on the table to improve traffic law enforcement which were compiled by experts and traffic officers themselves. Yet there are those who seem intent on focusing on one aspect of road safety — drunk driving — as a panacea for road fatalities. It is, in effect, putting a band aid on a gaping wound with the hope that it will stop the flow of blood. It won’t,” concludes the AA. Meanwhile, the AA reminded that the validity period of driver’s licences has now been extended to the end of January 2021, Vehicle licence discs, temporary permits and roadworthy certificates that expired between March 26 and May 31 are currently valid only until Monday, August 31, regardless of the difficulties peope are experiencing getting open offices to renew these licences. The AA is lobbying for an extension for licence discs. — WR.
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Renault has launched the Duster TechRoad, which slots in between the entry level Expression and more luxurious Dynamique models. While riding on striking new 17-inch Diamond Cut wheels, the TechRoad is all about getting out there and dirty. Roof rails; front and rear skid plates; a boot that swallows 478 litres with the split rear bench folded down and a 210mm ride height all add to the TechRoad’s ability to take the family camping. Two models are on sale with two or all-wheel drive, both driven by Renault’s frugal 1.5 dCi mated to 6-speed Dual-Clutch EDC automatic gearbox. The TechRoad 4x2 sells for R316 900 and the 4x4 retails for R350 900. PHOTOS: QUICKPIC
Ford has added a 2-litre XLT 4x4 to the Everest range. Shifting gears with Ford’s 10-speed automatic transmission, the 4x4 is always in the right gear to make the most of the engine’s 132 kW and 420 Nm. The high-tech transmission incorporates Progressive Range Select (PRS), which gives the driver the ability to lock out gears from the automatic shifting range. This provides greater control when driving in slippery conditions, when towing or climbing steep gradients. The 2-litre Everest XLT 4x4 sells for R679 400, which includes Ford’s four-year or 120 000km warranty, three years’ roadside assistance and a six-year or 90 000km service plan, with 15 000 km service intervals.
Calling all contractors and suppliers THE N2 and N3 upgrade project liaison committees of the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) are calling all current and prospective suppliers and subcontractors to apply to be accredited and registered on the subcontractor and supplier database. Sanral is committed to transforming the engineering and construction sectors through community development projects on the N2 and N3 upgrades project. The sub-contractors and suppliers are invited to register on the
database for construction work on the 80 km section between Pietermaritzburg and Durban, as well as the N2 corridor between Amanzimtoti and Umdloti. These upgrades will include the widening of the N2 and N3 carriageways, and the reconfiguration of most major interchanges along the routes. Sanral’s regional manager in the eastern region, Dumisani Nkabinde, said: “The database is intended to ensure that the companies registered will get tender notices and [will] further assist to give main contrac-
tors appointed by Sanral for the upgrades an indication of the available expertise within the areas to plan packages for the intended transformation targets.” Due to the length and estimated cost of the upgrades, the sections will be split into packages. For inquiries and registration forms, contact N2 upgrade project liaison officer at 083 283 6153 or 082 931 3041. Or e-mail N2ProgramPLO@nra.co.za Closing date is September 4 at 12.30 pm. No submissions will be considered after the deadline.
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