Wheels 9 April 2015

JAGUAR’S BICYCLE FOR COBBLES ­ P3

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April 9, 2015

Witness

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KZN’S BEST READ ON TRANSPORT LAWS, CARS, BIKES, TRUCKS … AND A 4X4 SKATEBOARD

Child seats long overdue everywhere KZN should follow Western Cape’s example ALWYN VILJOEN

EXPENSE NO LONGER AN EXCUSE In KwaZulu­Natal, there is as yet no such plans from Public Transport’s Policy and Planning divi­ sion. One of the reasons why parents are still al­ lowed to transport their children without any pro­ tection was the high cost of car seats.

But in an article published last year, the presi­ dent of Childsafe and head of trauma at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, Profes­

People who can afford to put petrol in the car can afford a child safety seat, even a second­ hand one sor Sebastian van As said this is no longer an ex­ cuse. “For 20 years there has been no seatbelt law for children under the age of three. It was an indictment of our country, and was probably done for people who could not afford to buy child safety seats. But now, with the cost of petrol being what it is, people who can afford to put petrol in the car can afford a child safety seat, even a second­hand one.”

BUYING A USED BABY SEAT Claire Cobbledick, head of marketing for Gum­ tree South Africa, says that second­hand car seats are a more affordable alternative to buying a new seat but warns that they have to meet certain safe­ ty guidelines.

There are currently over a thousand used car seats for sale on the classifieds platform. “The cost of a used car averages at about R300 to R500, but there are also pricier car seats. Typically, these are multi­functional and can double as feeding chairs and such.”

Cobbledick advises buying seats not older than five years old. “Safety measures improve all the time and some seats may actually have been re­ called. Sometimes you will find expiration dates stamped on the seats. Do your research to deter­ mine if a seat has been recalled.”

HOW EFFECTIVE ARE CAR SEATS? Research in the U.S. by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found that car seat use reduces the risk of death among ba­ bies by 71% and for toddlers under four by 54%.

Booster seats cut the risk of serious injury by 45% for children aged between four and eight years compared to seatbelt use alone, the CDC claims. For drivers and front­seat passengers, wearing a seatbelt halves the risk of fatal injury and cuts the risk by up to 75% for back­seat pas­ sengers, according to the World Health Organisa­ tion (WHO).

The right thing to do: Strap in your baby, because accidents do happen.

PHOTO: AMAZON.COM

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Visit us on www.baronsvwpmb.co.za An optional cost of R900 incl VAT will be charged for metallic paint. *Linked to FNB prime rate, currently 9.25%. Note: This special is valid at Barons Pietermaritzburg until the 20 April 2015 or while stock lasts.

Offers may not be used in conjunction with any other special service or offering. All offers to purchase are subject to finance approval through Volkswagen Financial Services. VWFS contract will need to be signed by 20 April 2015 for the special to be valid. Information subject to change without prior notification. Offer excludes optional extras, on the road costs, metallic paint and delivery fee unless specified. Actual models may differ from images shown.

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HOW DOES SOUTH AFRICA MEASURE UP? The National Road Traffic Act has no specific reg­ ulations covering children under the age of three, and no rules against children above the age of three sitting in the front seat.

Yet statistics show that road fatalities are the single greatest cause of death in children under the age of 12, and, according to the MRC, most of them were not buckled up.

In 2010, the MRC found that nine out of 10 back­seat passengers (including children) were not properly restrained.

Across the country, just 59% of drivers bother to wear seatbelts, according to the WHO. Meanwhile Eliott said that further research in the Western Cape showed that just 10­15% of front­seat passengers belt up, while the number of those in the back seat who wear seatbelts is “negligible”.

Yet it is passengers, not drivers, who are more likely to be killed in an accident on our roads.

The highest number of road accident fatalities is among passengers — who accounted for 37% of all road deaths in 2009/10, according to figures from the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC).

The figures show that pedestrians accounted for 34% of deaths, while drivers themselves made up 29% of fatalities during the period.

V PROFESSOR SEBASTIAN VAN AS President of Childsafe

e&oe

CAPE TOWN — The Western Cape government last week proposed to make car seats for children mandatory in all cars driving in that province.

This would include visitors from KZN, driving either on their own or in rental cars.

Emma Thelwell for News24 found out why par­ ents need policing. Overall, the statistics are grim.

Road trauma kills more than 17 000 people in South Africa every year — and for every death, four people are seriously injured, with paralysis, brain damage, severe burns and dismemberment common.

But according to the Western Cape govern­ ment, it is children that are “bearing much of the brunt of the carnage”.

Hector Eliott, chief director for road safety co­ ordination at the Department of Transport and Public Works for the Western Cape government, told News24 that though it is the law in South Africa to wear seatbelts, for children under the age of three there is no legislation.

Eliott said: “The Western Cape government is extremely concerned about this and is in the process of trying to change the legislation.”

2

WitnessWheels MOTORING

April 9, 2015

Don’t abandon your car There is always a better solution, and you could be liable for the cost of storage CARS left abandoned at repair work­ shops are an inconvenience that work­ shop owners face around the country.

Les Mc Master, chairperson of the Motor Industry Workshop Association (Miwa), says that annually, some work­ shops have over 25 vehicles abandoned at their workshops. “As you can imag­ ine, having to deal with this issue can be onerous to the workshop,” he said.

“As with any premises, space is valua­ ble and these cars take up the equivalent of say 15 to 18 square metres each. If you equate that to what you would pay for a storage unit of similar size you are

looking at over R700 rental fee per day per vehicle. Along with the space issue, there is security to consider, movement costs (such as fuel needed to move the vehicle) and additional insurance costs,” said Mc Master.

He says that general maintenance has to be done on the vehicles to ensure the workshop doesn’t start looking like a scrap heap. “A professional image is im­ portant for workshops, so ensuring these abandoned cars are not neglected becomes an additional concern for the workshop owners.”

So why do car owners abandon their

vehicles? Affordability of repairs, is the simple answer, says Mc Master.

“We are living in a time of an ever­ tightening economy so unfortunately car owners are only repairing their vehi­ cles when something breaks ...

“Also, there can be a knock­on effect as one broken part affects several oth­ ers. The reality is that car owners will bring in their vehicles for repairs and then not have the money to pay for them, so leave their cars abandoned at the workshop.”

He says that what the car owners of these abandoned vehicles may not real­

ise is that they may be liable for the stor­ age costs.

“The repair workshop is well within its rights to include a storage fee rate in the contract signed by the vehicle owner, stipulating that a daily charge may accrue if the vehicle is abandoned.

If the customer does not claim the vehi­ cle and a financial institution repossess­ es the vehicle, the car owner will be lia­ ble to the financial institution for all costs associated with the vehicle, in­ cluding the storage fees accrued,” he said.

Mc Master believes that regular

maintenance at the required intervals is one way to reduce the amount of abandoned vehicles. He also urges car owners to request quotes upfront and to speak to their mechanic about com­ municating clearly should additional work be required once the vehicle is stripped.

“Use a reputable workshop, like a Mi­ wa­accredited workshop, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Discuss your op­ tions with the mechanic — there will al­ ways be a better solution than abandon­ ing your vehicle,” he said.

— Supplied.

Merc wins three trophies at World Car Awards Rob Moran, director of Mercedes­Benz USA Communications, Christoph Horn, head of Global Communication Passenger Cars Mercedes­Benz, and AMG boss Christian Bokich, with the trophies that Mercedes­Benz won in three categories in the prestigious World Car Awards 2015. The C­Class won the World Car of the Year 2015 Award. The S­Class Coupé was voted World Luxury Car 2015, while the Mercedes­AMG GT sports car picked up the award for World Performance Car 2015.

Mercedes­Benz was the only automobile manufacturer to make it into the final round of the awards with five vehicles. This performance is unprecedented in the 11­year history of the World Car of the Year Awards and serves to reflect the tremendous popularity of the Stuttgart­based brand among its customers.

The international jury for these prestigious awards is made up of 75 renowned automotive journalists. Mercedes­Benz has found favour with the jury in previous years too: in 2014, the S­Class won the category World Luxury Car. In 2012, the S 250 CDI BlueEfficiency was the winner in the category World Green Car, while the same award was taken back in 2007 by the E 320 BlueTEC. PHOTO: QUICKPIC

Engines made from plastic DAVID SZODNY

leader and manager of the research area RECENT govern­ Lightweight Power­ ment requirements train Design at Nas. for greater fuel effi­ “The cylinder casing ciency have led to weighs around 20% lighter cars hitting less than the equiva­ the market, but lent aluminium com­ there’s only so much ponent and costs the that can be shaved off same.” the body and chassis.

Fraunhofer said To find further that using plastic al­ weight reductions, a so has the advantages Fraunhofer project of reduced fuel con­ group is developing sumption, less noise ways of building en­ and less engine heat. gine cylinder blocks However, achieving that are partly plas­ Fraunhofer project group’s this meant overcom­ tic. engine is made from ing problems with Lighter engines fibre­reinforced plastic heat and vibrations. that can do the job of suitable for injection He said that in are­ their heavier cousins moulding instead of as subject to high have been around aluminium. thermal and mechan­ since the first alu­ PHOTO: SUPPLIED ical loads they used minium engine metal inserts to blocks were made in the sixties. Going strengthen the wear resistance. a step further with plastic has been Other problems the project faced on the drawing boards since the eight­ were getting the plastic to bond well ies, but plastic parts able to withstand with and expand like metal, redesign­ engine heat and stress could only be ing engine parts to keep heat away made in small volumes and at great from the plastic, and making the plas­ cost. The approach taken by the tic rigid yet also capable of withstand­ Fraunhofer project group for new ing contact with oil, petrol, glycol and drive systems (Nas) was to create an water coolants. The project settled on experimental engine using fibre­rein­ a glass­fibre reinforced phenolic resin forced plastic suitable for injection of 55% fibres and 45% resin that uses moulding instead of aluminium. granulated thermoset plastics in an “We used a fibre­reinforced com­ injection­moulding process. posite material to build a cylinder cas­ Fraunhofer said that a prototype of ing for a one­cylinder research en­ the engine will be shown at Hannover gine,” said Lars­Fredrik Berg, project Messe this month. — Gizmag.com.

Big bucks for the Dominator Australia’s 800 Watt all­wheel­drive skateboard — the Dominator 3200 Pro, in action. It has a 36 V lithium battery giving a riding time of about 1,5 hours at its full speed of 42 km/h, or up to three hours at lower speeds. But the asking price of over R20 000 (AUD$2 250) will deter most local buyers.

PHOTO: LOZ BLAIN/GIZMAG.COM

MOTORING WitnessWheels

April 9, 2015

3

The X1 turbo diesel returned a combined cycle is 5,8 litres per 100 km despite some spirited driving.

PHOTO: BMWOFBRIDGEWATER.COM

Unlimited Action BRIAN BASSETT spends Easter with the classy and capable new BMW X1 X Drive 2.0 d auto M Sport THE BMW X1 is a luxury compact crossover produced by BMW since 2009.

Designed by the internationally­ known designer Richard Kim, it comes in S Drive, a rear­wheel drive 2x4 and X drive, an all­wheel drive version. Des­ ignated a Sports Activity vehicle (SAV)

by BMW, production followed its debut at the Paris Motor Show in 2008. To date a total of over 160 000 cars have been sold.

South Africans do not like station wagons but love SUVs. They adore the high driving position — the feeling of power a large vehicle gives them and the fact that they can climb the pavement when fetching the kids from school.

The X1 ticks most of these boxes, but also offers a feeling of elegance and style which not many bigger SUVs provide.

In fact it blurs the lines between hatch, estate and SUV very well.

Design The front end of the X1, with its split kidney grille, aggressively styled double round headlights with optional bi­xe­ non technology and LED accent lights is typically BMW.

Ascending lateral lines, a long­wheel­ base and short overhangs add to the dy­ namic new look, while the redesigned bumpers in body colour and inserts along the side skirts emphasise an ener­ getic personality.

Clearly visible auxiliary indicators are integrated into the exterior mirrors and the characteristic L­shaped rear lights and centrally­placed BMW badge result in a crisp feel to the rear end with its wide, easy­opening tailgate.

The double­spoke, 19­inch, light­al­ loy wheels, which come as standard on the M sport derivative I drove, give the external design a businesslike air which is easily recognisable in any parking lot.

In fact if bling is your thing go for the optional X­Line package at R7 100.

Interior The X1’s interior will feel familiar to any­ one who has ever owned a BMW. The quality of the finishes is of the best and the comfortable, adjustable leather seats have a fine, handcrafted feel to it.

The usual central console contains the i­Drive controller, the automatic gear lever, air­conditioning, radio, CD, Bluetooth and Aux controls, terminat­

ing in a centrally placed screen, which will give you a wide variety of details relating to your journey, as well as good quality maps showing your route, if you have the optional GPS package.

The driver is faced with the BMW three­spoke, leather­trimmed, multi­ function steering wheel, which operates a wide range of functions reflected on your screen. Gauges are clear and easily read and the cruise control is simple to operate and disengaged with a press on the accelerator.

The interior is very versatile and there clever storage spaces and cup holders all over the place. The vehicle seats five adults comfortably. The rear, adjustable bench seats fold forward in 40:20:40 fashion should you want to slip in a surfboard. The rear luggage compartment grows from 420 litres to 1 350 litres with the rear seats folded and it is functional and easy to use.

Safety and Security The X1 has a 5­star NCAP rating and a wide range of safety features, some of which are optional extras. The car has run­flat tyres and a tyre pressure monitor, as well seatbelts for all five pas­

sengers, and six airbags. Also included are the Dynamic Stability Control, Hill Decent Assist and Cornering Brake Control, which stabilises the car while braking. Performance Control assists when cornering and Dynamic Stability Control including Brake Assist, which recognises the risk of skidding before it occurs and stabilises the car in milli­ seconds.

The headlights are adaptive and swivel on corners. The vehicle I drove had bi­xenon headlights which were brilliant on country roads but these are an extra. The high safety levels do how­ ever make the X1 an ideal mom’s taxi.

Performance and Handling The performance of the X1 depends largely on which model you buy and there are 11 derivatives to suit all tastes and pockets. The XDrive 2,0 litre diesel automatic M Sport which I drove fea­ tures twin­power turbo technology, which BMW say offers more power for less fuel consumption.

The four­cylinder diesel engine is linked to an eight­speed automatic gearbox, which pushes out 135 kW of power and 270 Nms of torque.

The 0­100 km/h mark comes up in 7,8 seconds and top speed is about 220 km/h. Fuel consumption in the combined cycle is 5,8 litres per 100 km — a figure all the more remarkable for the fact that I did some spirited driving.

The X1 is, like all BMWs, a driver’s car. It handles crisply in town and parks easily.

On the highway it cruises comforta­ bly at 120 km/h and will pass any long, lumbering truck with ease.

The car I drove had low­profile tyres thus restricting me to wet B Roads, where it did well, but with appropriate tires I believe it will take you and family virtually anywhere you want to go.

Costs and the competition The entry­level X1 will cost you about R410 000, while the range topping 28i costs R555 000. The model I drove comes in at R500 000, but it is a BMW so the options list is long and expensive.

There is a three­year 100 000 km manufacturer’s guarantee and a five­ year 100 000 km motor plan, extendi­ ble to 200 000 km or seven years.

Also look at the Audi Q3, Mercedes GLA and Volvo V40 Cross Country.

Robo car drives across U.S. in nine days BRITISH­based auto­firm Delphi has completed a journey from San Francis­ co to New York with its self­driving car.

The trip, announced in March, cov­ ered nearly 5 500 km and took nine days.

Delphi says it is the first U.S. coast­to­ coast trip ever taken by an automated vehicle.

Delphi’s Roadrunner car set off with a group of engineers from Treasure Is­ land in the San Francisco Bay on March 22.

The subsequent journey took it through 15 states and the District of Co­

lumbia. The Roadrunner was faced with a wide variety of driving situations to navigate during the trip, including traf­ fic circles, construction zones, bridges, tunnels, aggressive drivers and differing weather conditions.

Four engineers took turns to sit in the driving seat, and once had to take control over a section of road under construction, but Delphi says the car undertook 99% of the drive in fully au­ tomated mode. The vehicle is equipped with numerous technologies in order to drive autonomously.

These include six long­range radars,

four short­range radars, three vision­ based cameras, six Lidar sensors, a localisation system, intelligent software algorithms and a full suite of Advanced Drive Assistance Systems.

The systems installed help with activ­ ities like collision mitigation, object de­ tection, forward collision warnings and lane departure warnings.

Over the course of the trip, nearly three terabytes of data was collected from the Roadrunner’s systems.

The data collected will help Delphi to continue developing safety technolo­ gy. — Gizmag.com.

Jaguar’s bike designed to soften cobbles JAGUAR has joined the ranks of car builders who also produce bicycles.

But unlike the exercises in design by the likes of Mercedes­Benz and Volks­ wagen, Jaguar’s innovation partnership with bicycle manufacturing experts, Pinarello has resulted in the world’s first bespoke frame built for very challenging terrains for Team Sky’ riders.

The Pinarello Dogma K8­S bicycle, which all eight Team Sky riders debuted at the Tour of Flanders on Sunday, pos­ sesses a new lightweight suspension system (DSS 1.0, Dogma Suspension System) and flexible flat carbon chain

stays to create a pioneering suspension pivot in the rear triangle to ensure per­ fect riding comfort over rough terrains.

Pinarello’s priority was to create an innovative frame that could improve rider isolation from the challenging road surfaces and help reduce rider fa­ tigue.

Taking key insights from the pioneer­ ing aerodynamics and technology­lead­ ing work on the Dogma F8, Jaguar’s en­ gineers have applied their advanced aer­ odynamics knowledge and experience in ride and vibration analysis, to help create an overall performance increase

of 4,6% and 50% improved comfort for the riders over rough terrains from the previous Dogma K model.

The reigning UCI World Time Trial Champion Bradley Wiggins said: “I’ve never ridden anything like it on cobbles before, which is the most extreme ter­ rain you can ride a bike on.

“The way it feels, its aerodynamics, stiffness, and improved flex in the rear, is game­changing for cycling.”

He added it is the first time a bike has been made to meet “the demands of the cobbles”.

— Newspress.com.

Delphi’s self­driving Audi made the 5 500 km coast­to­coast trip between San Francisco and New York in nine days.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED The Dogma K8­S frame weighs 900 g and has a bespoke lightweight suspension system and a flexible flat carbon chain that keeps the rider and the power on the level when racing over cobble stones.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

4

WitnessWheels MOTORING

April 9, 2015

World Endurance Champs

INGOLSTADT — The 2015 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) starts on Sunday at Silverstone in the UK, with two Audi R18 e­tron quattro cars ready to reclaim the title the marque won in 2012 and 2013.

Six drivers in Audi Sport Team Joest will race the new hybrid sports car, which has seen some 10 000 test kilo­ metres, and a brief run out in the official FIA WEC Prologue on the last weekend in March.

This race saw a Nissan GT­R flip and summersault over a fence, where it land­ ed on spectators, killing one and injur­ ing several. That race was stopped.

Head of Audi Motorsport Dr Wolf­ gang Ullrich said the Prologue at Le Castellet did allow Audi to see its oppo­ nents in action for the first time this

season. “Everyone is thoroughly pre­ pared — even though nobody put their cards on the table there. Our aim is to win again at Silverstone, like we did in 2012 and 2013.”

There, the spectators witnessed the racing premiere of a new generation of the Audi hybrid sports car. The combi­ nation of a V6 TDI engine with e­tron quattro hybrid drive is more powerful and more efficient than ever before.

The two­fold amount of energy — four megajoules — is available in the electric drive system while the diesel en­ gine delivers an output of more than 410 kW. Combined with clearly im­ proved aerodynamics and new develop­ ments in the chassis, the Audi R18 e­tron quattro runs faster than before but uses even less fuel.

Plenty of diversity is awaiting the drivers at Silverstone. The circuit on the former airfield used to be famous for its high speeds. Now, numerous narrow sections complement the track config­ uration, resulting in an unusual combi­ nation that forces the engineers to make compromises in setting up the cars.

A comparison: The R18 e­tron quat­ tro runs through turn four called “The Loop” in first gear at a little less than 80 km/h, whereas it achieves more than 270 km/h in the “Maggots” section in seventh gear. The drivers have to shift up into a higher gear 18 times and down­ shift again 18 times per lap — which amounts to 36 gear changes around the 5 891­kilometre track.

The 2012 Silverstone winners, Mar­ cel Fässler/André Lotterer/Benoît Trél­

Silverstone this year presents the racers with an unusual combination of turns and gear changes, and, again, the Audi R18 e­tron quattro looks like the one to beat.

uyer, will be entering the race in car number 7 on Sunday at 12 pm local time.

They have won the Le Mans 24 Hours three times and were World Endurance Champions in 2012.

A year later, Loïc Duval decided this title in his favour together with his then team­mates Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish.

He is sharing car number 8 at Audi with Lucas di Grassi and Oliver Jarvis, who will be competing in his home round at Silverstone.

Jarvis lives in Burwell just 130 kilome­ tres away from the race track and is con­ testing his first full FIA WEC season.

In the season opener, Audi will be rac­ ing in an important growth market.

With approximately 158 800 deliver­

ies, the company recorded an 11,8% in­ crease in sales in the United Kingdom compared with the previous year. In the past 10 years, the brand even doubled its deliveries there.

Within Europe, the United Kingdom is Audi’s second­largest market follow­ ing the German domestic market.

In total, Audi’s LMP race cars have clinched five victories at Silverstone, two in the FIA WEC and three in other sports car racing series between 2004 and 2008. In addition to the WEC vic­ tory — accounting for 24 points in the Championship — the race this year will be about winning the Tourist Trophy as well.

The British motorsport trophy has been awarded since 1905.

— Newspress.com.

No longer just a hatch for your Average Joe KYLE VENKTESS WITH the sportier­looking Hyundai i20 1,4 manual comes a slight perform­ ance enhancement to match.

No longer can this vehicle be seen as just your Average Joe, the new i20 has stepped up the game with a more mas­ culine approach. The new design defi­ nitely gives the older “timid” model more of an appeal of the target market.

The facelift and Golf 7­ type brake lights endow the new i20 with a bit more to show­off on the road and offer­ ing something that really does look good on the road from all angles.

For the younger driver — more prone to damaging eardrums from night clubs and deafening headsets — the standard sound system in the vehicles is miles ahead of other models from the manu­ facturer, and indeed the competitors.

On the performance end, the 74 kW and 153 Nm from the 1,4 mill will not offer the speed youngsters will look for

from a vehicle such as the Ford Fiesta ST or VW Polo GTi, but the engine is capable of sustaining legal speeds with­ out too much of a high­rev when head­ ing to a flat surface — for example head­ ing down the N3 toward Peacevale, be­ tween Pietermaritzburg and Durban.

On the interior of the vehicle, Hyun­ dai offers pretty much what you would expect from a youthful vehicle such as this one — Bluetooth, auxiliary and USB connectivity are all available.

While on the outside the vehicle is seemingly more compact, the i20 can carry a load — even the dear mother­in­ law won’t be disappointed on the back seat with the grocery shopping in the boot. Hence for the young driver who do not suffer a need for speed, all three 1,20 models offer value for money. i20 Prices from: R184 900 for the 1,2 manual R207 900 for the 1,4 manual R217 900 for the 1,4 automatic

Not the i20 we can buy, this WRC model nevertheless shows how the Hyundai has taken off. This is Thierry Neuville storming to a second place in the Swedish Rally in round two of the FIA World Rally Championship, in his Hyundai i20 WRC, for his fourth podium for the new team.

PHOTO: QUICKPIC

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

Africa Bike Week HOG riders will again converge on Margate for the annual Africa Bike Week from April 24 to 26.

Due to safety reasons and to ad­ dress previous problems of conges­ tion on the beach road, bike access to this area will be limited. Should you wish to take your bike into the official event zone there is a R250 per bike registration fee payable online or at the Sasol garage when entering Mar­

gate from Shelly Beach. Payment is valid for the entire event if you wish to ride in and park in this area (Beach Road only).

Registration and payment of the R250 fee for safe parking is optional, with public parking also available behind the Margate Hotel. Online reg­ istration can be made on the Harley­ Davidson Facebook page.

— Wheels Reporter.

Pietermaritzburg set to be the centre for motor enthusiasts.

I would love to take said time traveller to visit the Bespoke Volkswagen Dealers at Barons Pietermaritzburg too. Speaking of which I am sure people will be coming to Pietermaritzburg from Durban and the Drakensberg for ‘cars in the park.’ Why not visit Barons Pietermaritzburg while you’re in town?

By Pieter from Maritzburg All my fellow motor enthusiasts will undoubtedly have Goosebumps over the fact that the 40th annual “Cars in the Park,” hosted right here in our beloved Pietermaritzburg, is just a week away!

I can’t wait. With vehicle models dating back as far as 1975 it’s sure to be a treat.

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.

Amazing how far we have come since then. Imagine stepping in a time machine in 1975 and finding yourself seated in a modern day Volkswagen, complete with the quality and reliability of das Auto Engineering and the fuel efficiency and economy of BlueMotion Technology.

Adventure calls.

Made to meet life’s challenges.

m warranty 3 Year / 120 000k vice plan ser m 0k 00 90 / ar 5 ye

m warranty 3 Year / 120 000k intenance plan ma m 0k 00 90 / r 5 yea

New Jetta TSI Comfortline from R3,222* per month

Tiguan TSI 4x2 Trend & Fun for R299,900* incl. VAT

The New Jetta TSI Comfortline standard features include: -

The Tiguan TSI 4x2 Trend & Fun standard features include: -

-

BlueMotion Technology 90kW @ 5 000rpm 6-speed manual Brake Assist system

Anti-Spin Regulation (ASR) 16” Portland alloy wheels Anti-roll bar front and rear Electronic engine immobiliser

90kW @ 5 000rpm 6 speed manual Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) with Brake Assist and Electronic Differential Lock (EDL) Model

New Jetta TSI Comfortline

-

Air conditioner Hill hold control Driver and passenger front air bags Cruise control

Interest Rate Monthly No. of Vehicle Price Instalments Linked / Instalments Variable

R292,400

R3,222*

72

6.44%*

Deposit

Balloon Payment

10% 38.1% (R29,240) (R111,404)

Total Cost Incl fees & VAT

R343,386

Visit us on www.baronsvwpmb.co.za Visit us on www.baronsvwpmb.co.za

2013 2013 2014 2015 2015 2015

Polo Vivo Sedan 1.4 Trendline Tiptronic Polo Vivo 1.6 Trendline 5 Door Polo Vivo GP 1.4 Trendline 5 Door Polo Vivo GP 1.6 Comfortline Polo Vivo GP 1.6 Comfortline 5 Door Polo Vivo GP 1.6 Comfortline 5 Door

Silver Silver Red Silver White White

R132 900 R139 900 R149 900 R159 900 R159 900 R169 900

44 000 40 000 9 000 1 500 1 000 1 000

km km km km km km

2011 2013 2014 2014 2015 2015 2015 2015

Polo 1.6 Comfortline Polo 1.4 Trendline 5 Door Polo GTI DSG Polo 1.4 Trendline Polo Sedan 1.6 Comfortline Tiptronic Polo 1.2 TSI Comfortline Polo 1.2 TSI Highline Polo 1.2 TSI Trendline

Red White Silver Silver Silver Silver Red White

R149 900 R152 900 R279 900 R152 900 R239 900 R229 000 R239 000 R185 900

62 000 25 000 9 500 16 000 1 400 1 000 3 000 900

km km km km km km km km

2011 2012 2012 2015 2015

Golf 6 GTI 2.0 TSI Golf 6 GTI DSG Golf GTI DSG Golf 7 2.0 TDI Highline DSG Golf 7 1.4 TSI Comfortline DSG

Grey Black White White Silver

R259 900 R279 900 R279 900 R329 900 R319 900

90 000 59 000 66 000 23 000 3 500

km km km km km

2014

Amarok Double Cab DSG 132kW

Silver

R429 000

9 500

km

2010 2012 2012 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2015

Scirocco 2.0 TSI Jetta 2.0 TDI Jetta 1.4 TSI DSG Tiguan 1.4 TSI BlueMotion Passat 2.0 TDI DSG VW Transporter Single Cab TDI Kombi 2.0 TDI 21st Century Beetle 1.2 TSI Touareg 3.0 TDI BlueMotion Tiptronic

Silver White Beige Grey White White Silver White White

R242 900 R229 000 R199 000 R289 900 R329 900 R249 900 R359 000 R249 900 R839 000

45 000 81 000 58 000 9 000 15 000 7 000 22 000 8 000 2 000

km km km km km km km km km

2008 2010 2011 2013

Opel Corsa Lite Sport Audi A3 1.8 TFSI Sportback Ford Bantam 1.4 TDCI Audi Q5 2.0 TDI Quatro

Grey Blue Grey Silver

R59 900 R169 900 R114 900 R335 000

94 000 88 000 70 000 78 000

km km km km

Polo

Golf

Amarok Other VW

Other

*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 After hours: Laurie: 082 783 8040 • Rajen: 072 228 9834 Sanjay: 083 639 0989 • Barry: 072 235 4244 • Phumlani: 073 017 1294 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

It’s not just a car. It’s a Golf.

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

m warranty 3 Year / 120 000k vice plan ser m 0k 00 90 / 5 year

Golf TSI Comfortline from R3,420* per month Model

Interest Rate Monthly No. of Vehicle Price Instalments Linked / Instalments Variable

Deposit

Balloon Payment

Total Cost Incl fees & VAT

Golf TSI Comfortline

R306,200

R3,420*

72

6.51%*

10% 37% (R30,620) (R113,294)

R359,507

New Golf 2.0 GTI DSG

R422,800

R4,888*

72

7.27%*

10% 37% (R42,280) (R156,436)

R508,404

Buy a Golf 2.0 GTI DSG from Barons Pietermaritzburg at R4,888* per month.

Visit us on www.baronsvwpmb.co.za An optional cost of R900 incl VAT will be charged for metallic paint. Note: *Linked to FNB prime rate, currently 9.25%. Note: Offers calculated on the Golf TSI Comfortline and New Golf GTI DSG in standard specifications. Excludes optional extras. Instalment includes delivery, initiation and monthly administration fee of R57. Subject to bank approval. Information subject to change without prior notification. All finance offers are subject to credit approval from Volkswagen Financial Services.

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 April 2015.

New Sales Consultants

Alison Wiltshire – Sales Manager 082 783 8855 • John Brown – 082 645 4396 Merglin Rama – 083 382 4589 • Menzi Ngubane – 073 534 8545 Bahle Bhengu – 082 337 5825 • Erica Neff – 082 858 7749 Thando Gumede – 078 969 8072 • Keshnee Pillay – 073 372 1452

BP Advertising

• • • • •

An optional cost of R900 incl VAT will be charged for metallic paint. Note: *Linked to FNB prime rate, currently 9.25%. Note: Offers calculated on the New Jetta TSI Comfortline in standard specifications. Excludes optional extras.

Instalment includes delivery, initiation and monthly administration fee of R57. Subject to bank approval. Information subject to change without prior notification. All finance offers are subject to credit approval from Volkswagen Financial Services. 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 April 2015.

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Polo Vivo

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

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• • • • •

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An optional cost of R2150 incl VAT will be charged for metallic paint. Note: *Linked to FNB prime rate, currently 9.25%. Note: Offers calculated on the Tiguan TSI 4x2 Trend & Fun in standard specifications. Excludes optional extras.

Instalment includes delivery, initiation and monthly administration fee of R57. Subject to bank approval. Information subject to change without prior notification. All finance offers are subject to credit approval from Volkswagen Financial Services. 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 April 2015.

6

WitnessWheels MOTORING

April 9, 2015

Battle of the SuperTrucks Freightliner SuperTruck claims to be 115% more freight­efficient than a baseline 2009 truck BEN COXWORTH BACK in 2009, the U.S. Department of Energy issued its SuperTruck Chal­ lenge. The programme provided fund­ ing for truck manufacturers to design and build a prototype vehicle that was at least 50% more freight­efficient than a baseline 2009 truck.

Daimler Trucks North America re­ cently unveiled its response — the Freightliner SuperTruck. It goes be­ yond the 50% figure, with a claimed efficiency increase of 115%.

The truck was created through a col­ laboration between Daimler­owned companies Freightliner, Detroit En­ gines, Mercedes­Benz and Fuso.

Much of its increased efficiency is due to better aerodynamics. This was achieved partly through a very stream­ lined tractor that includes features such as adjustable ride height, rear wheel fair­ ings, articulated side extenders that bridge the gap between tractor and trailer, and ventilation slats in the grille that close when the vehicle is travelling at highway speeds.

That streamlining proceeds back to the trailer, where side skirts channel air past the wheels and away from the un­ derside, while rear fins keep turbulence from building up in the space behind the trailer. As a result, the SuperTruck is a claimed 54% more aerodynamic

Freightliner’s new SuperTruck, designed to meet the U.S. Department of Energy­issued SuperTruck Challenge for better efficiencies.

PHOTO: GIZMAG.COM than the baseline truck.

A lot of emphasis was also placed on using lightweight materials, and reduc­

ing friction. This includes a tractor frame design that requires fewer cross­ members, a lighter rear suspension, and

custom Michelin tyres made with a rub­ ber compound that decreases rolling re­ sistance. Utilising these approaches and

others, a total of 318 kg was shaved off of the tractor.

Perhaps not surprisingly, the Super­ Truck also has a hybrid diesel/electric drive system. As a means of boosting its battery power, however, it utilises a waste heat recovery system which har­ vests thermal energy from the hot ex­ haust.

The custom­designed low­friction 10,7­litre engine, meanwhile, manages an impressive 50% brake thermal effi­ ciency (which was another stated goal of the SuperTruck Challenge).

Other efficiency­boosting features that were additionally incorporated in­ clude rooftop solar panels on the trailer that can independently power its cargo­ cooling system; an exhaust aftertreat­ ment system that allows the engine to run at higher temperatures and pres­ sures; and a GPS­based predictive sys­ tem that shifts gears and adjusts speed, based on the upcoming terrain.

The 115% figure was arrived at based on a five­day, 500 km round trip route on Texas Interstate 35 between San An­ tonio and Dallas, at a weight of 29 484­ kg GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) and a speed of 104 km/h. Its actual fuel efficiency on that trip was 19,3 litres per 100km, which is reportedly about twice what most trucks are able to attain un­ der similar conditions.

— Gizmag.com.

Car nuts Down Under

The Mercedes 300SL Gullwing is remembered for its unusual upward­opening doors. Powered by a 3,0­litre straight six, the 300SL inspired Mercedes’ SLS AMG sportscar in 2010.

Last week’s Australian Motoring Festival displayed a series of cars — from the late 1800s to recent must­haves. This Shelby GT500 is one of the newer legends.

PHOTOS: NICK LAVARS/GIZMAG.COM

A Messerschmitt fitted with a ski rack.

The 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air has been described as America’s favourite car.

The original Godzilla — the 1991 Nissan GT­R R32.

The original 2CV was designed to carry two farmers and 50 kg of potatoes at speeds up to 60 km/h .

MOTORING WitnessWheels

April 9, 2015

7 Canadian camper builders Roadtrek has revived the full­length aisle for campers to preserve the easy access of a van’s double rear doors.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Like a walk down the aisle Roadtrek’s Zion has no furniture in the the rear, allowing access via the double rear doors CC WEISS CANADIAN camper van specialist Roadtrek has launched the all­new Zi­ on, a compact camper built atop the Ram ProMaster. The Zion’s open interi­ or layout accommodates gear like bicy­ cles and kayaks in a wide centre aisle, then serves as a roomy home away from home at camp. The camper van seam­ lessly combines feature­packed shelter with toy­hauling utility, no racks or trailers necessary.

How to get you, your spouse or best friend, and all your favourite sports gear into the great outdoors for a long week­ end or week­long vacation?

It’s a question that gets answered with a lot of innovative camper designs, from small, light­weight trailers like the Mogo Freedom, to truck modules like the XPCube, right on up to bus­sized RVs with sports car­engulfing drawers, like those from Volkner and triple­axled

expedition vehicles with hydraulic bike lifts ala the Global XRS 7200.

Roadtrek proposes something sit­ ting smack in the middle of those small and XXL extremes: a camper van with an extended centre aisle designed for gear­carrying utility. Unlike Roadtrek’s other Class B motorhomes, based on vans like the Mercedes Sprinter, the ProMaster­based Zion does away with the rear furniture, allowing the centre aisle to extend right to the double rear doors.

This provides easy loading for your camping gear. The extended centre aisle isn’t a brand­new feature, but Roadtrek tells us that it’s been a long time since it’s offered a camper van with such a layout, so it’s essentially revived the fea­ ture for the Zion.

It’s easy to see how the full­length centre aisle adds utility and versatility when compared to more crowded, cosy camper van interiors, like those seen on

the other members of Roadtrek’s line­ up. Similar to the adjustable rear seat on the Volksleisure or removable camp­ er modules of the Bett Mobil, the Zion’s accessible load floor strikes a balance between comfortable, fully equipped camper and practical, stuff­haulin’ van.

Based on Roadtrek’s description of early sales, it appears to be a popular balance.

“We had orders from our dealers al­ most instantaneously,” VP of sales Paul Cassidy said of introducing the Zion in December. “The Zion hit the market with so much intensity that dealers are writing deals with retail customers without having seen one.”

Beyond its full­length centre aisle, the Zion is a fully equipped camper van with a permanent bathroom with show­ er; kitchen with standard 5 cu ft (141,5­lire) refrigerator, propane stove and microwave; and up to 1 189 litre of storage capacity. It sleeps three on a

combination of optional single front bed and king­size bed converted from the dual sofas in back.

The rear king bed stretches over the center aisle, meaning you’ll have to keep bicycles or other gear outside or other­ wise stored at night. The Zion’s stan­ dard equipment list shows that the van is designed for keeping comfy on the road. The list includes an 11 000­BTU roof­mounted air conditioner, a 36 000­BTU instant hot water system and a(3,7 m) power exterior awning. Al­ so standard is a 25­litre propane tank, 400 A AGM battery and 2 000 W in­ verter, 138­litre water tank, and over 114­ litre of gray/black water holding.

Options include a generator, 200 W solar charging system and 22­inch HD TV. The base Ram ProMaster features a 280­hp 3,6­litre V6, Uconnect 5.0 in­ fotainment system, standard back­up camera and stability control suite.

Roadtrek introduced the Zion at the

National RV Trade Show last December and began production earlier this year.

The camper starts at $86 931 (R1 030 000).

The ProMaster should prove a natu­ ral for American camper van conver­ sions. Introduced at the 2013 Chicago Auto Show, the van is based on the Fiat Ducato, the much­awarded undefeated champion of European camper van con­ versions. According to Fiat Profession­ al, two out of every three European camper van conversions is a Ducato.

The ProMaster may not have the same level of success as the Ducato, giv­ en that U.S. Type B motorhome (camp­ er van) sales lag far behind larger Type A and Type C models, but it should prove a viable competitor to campers based on Mercedes Sprinters, Ford Transits and other more established vans. Manufacturers including Winne­ bago have also launched ProMaster­ based campers. — Gizmag.com.

FAW’s new medium­weight Tiger will be ‘true­blood’ South African FAW Vehicle Manufacturers SA (Pty) Ltd has started ramping up production of a new FAW medium­weight truck range, dubbed the “Tiger”, to be intro­ duced onto the local and southern Afri­ can markets in May. Building on their impressive record of “firsts” this will again mark a mo­ ment in FAW’s local history when they start full production of the Tiger range at the Coega­based production plant.

Yusheng Zhang, CEO of FAW Vehi­ cle Manufacturers SA, says: “FAW con­ tinues its trendsetting path in local truck manufacture. Not only have we managed to produce our FAW trucks at the best quality levels, comparable — if not better — than our FAW parent company in China — but we’ve been able to do so in a very short period con­ sidering our plant became fully opera­ tional from July last year only. Since our Body Building Facility was commission in January we have also been building tipper bodies from SKD packs imported from our parent plant in China, and pro­ viding finished tipper trucks to our growing pool of customers.”

While the first FAW “full­bodied” tippers roll off the lines at the assembly plant and body shop, the production team is already assessing the viability of producing drop­side bodies for their

range of robust and durable vehicles spanning the heavy and extra­heavy commercial vehicle ranges on offer in Southern Africa.

“The FAW Tiger will be a ‘true­ blood’ South African, built locally and uniquely engineered for the African en­ vironment.

“For the introductory phase we will commence with a five­ton payload dropside body, which will provide for the lowest cost per ton on the market.

“The Tiger will carry all the hall­ marks that FAW trucks stand for — strength, reliability, easy operation and most importantly — delivering on the promise of a ‘truck built for Africa, in Africa’.

FAW’s management team said the ra­ tionale for introducing a medium­ weight range is to satisfy customer re­ quest for a vehicle as durable and rugged as FAW heavy and extra­heavy trucks, but with the dimensions to handle a dif­ ferent working environment, calling for smaller sized vehicles.

“This new FAW Tiger may have been bred in China, and trained through in­ ternational partners, but in South Afri­ ca it will find its true home,” said Zhang.

He said details of the drivetrain will be made public later, but stressed it will be the best fit for SA. — Supplied.

FAW’s Tiger is heading to South Africa in May. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

8

WitnessWheels MOTORING

April 9, 2015

Close combat in local rally Mere seconds separate riders and drivers in first round of KZN rally club championship DEBRA DE WIT KZN’s 2015 rally season started in Dal­ ton last weekend with the first of nine rounds that saw nine cars and six quad bikes race each other on the smooth sugar cane tracks.

Less than 50 seconds separated the top three rally finishers and mere sec­ onds the quad bike riders.

Proving you can’t buy experience, multi­national and regional champion­ ship winner, Pietermaritzburg’s Chris De Wit and navigator Brian Clifton set the pace from start to a winning finish, Dean Redelinghuys and Amon Meyiwa placed as the second car.

Tony Ball in his single seater off­road bat was mere seconds behind Redeling­ huis throughout the event.

Ball usually competes in a Golf, but his new navigator Wade Harris was competing in the nationals with the Ford Racing Team.

Bertus Labuschagne and Peter Chad­ wick placed fourth overall.

The event welcomed two new teams, both in Toyota Conquests. Enjoying the fast thrill of official rallying for the first time were Pietermaritzburg’s Derek Ridge and brother Andrew, and Dur­ ban’s Bryan Vaughan and Yari Brun­ nings.

The quad bikers thrilled spectators with their impressive machines and times. Matthew Hendey on his Yamaha 450 kept up with De Wit in the rally car throughout the event to post an im­ pressive win amongst the quad entrants and a second overall for the day. Gail Mitchell also impressed on her quad.

Dean Redelinghuis and Amon Meyi­ wa were the most impressive drivers of day, posting some very competitive times and showing vast improvement on their previous form.

Vaughan Robinson and Edward Standen.

ABOVE: Tony Ball raced without his navigator but still placed second overall in the first round of the KZN rally club championships. Nine cars and six quad bikers were entered into the race.

Chris de Wit and Brian Clifton.

PHOTOS: DES HEAD

BELOW: Gail Mitchell impressed all riders with her determination in the race.

PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

Lower fees for local rally KZN regional championship sadly came to an end a few years ago as there were not enough competitors to conform to the rulings, but a club championship was formed.

Events are still run under MSA con­ trolling but under far more lenient ruling which allows for a more cost­ effective racing which will hopefully attract more competitors. The criteria is a car/bakkie with a roll bar or roll

cage, regulation seat belts, helmets and a few other bits and pieces like fire extinguisher, medical board and kit in the car. The second round of the nine­round regional championship will be on April 25.

Supporters can join kznrally on Fa­ cebook for all the details and direc­ tions to the events. Anyone interest­ ed in finding out more about com­ peting can leave a message there.

Reigning Supadrift champ Paolo Gouveia from KZN in action in Kimberley at the Easter weekend.

PHOTO: SADRIFT. CO.ZA

Extreme bag jumping One of the crowd­pullers at this year’s Rand Show is extreme bagjumping, pioneered by Sevensevensp orts. The premise of the 30­ minute, high­ impact show is simple — combine fearless stunt riders and jumpers with extreme heights and a stunt airbag.

Riders link a towrope to a motorbike to make enough speed to jump six metres high over distances up to 18 metres.

PHOTO: QUICKPIC

Drifting around the Hole THE second round of the Supadrift championship was hosted in Kimberley over the Easter weekend, with 24 cars competing on a wet and rainy day and on a water­logged track.

KZN sent across its delegation in the form of the Puren brothers Gavin and Brendan, Nick Frey and Paolo Gouveia as well as the Port Shepstone­based Carl Werner and Shane Gutzeit.

Gavin struggled to get his Soarer tuned as it had gearbox and clutch issues. He eventually took second place in the Silver Cup and Brendan took the honour of first blood after introducing the back end of his BMW to the walls of MonsterMob — which was repaired in typical drifter fash­ ion with cable ties and duct tape.

Werner, unfortunately, could not com­

pete due to clutch issues, while Dezzi Rac­ ing’s Gutzeit qualified in second place.

Due to the track’s length, the V8­powered cars had a much easier time of things.

Local drifter Otto Graven dominated from the get go, stomping his authority on the other drivers and showing them that this was literally his back yard. Pilot­ ing his awesome Sascar V8­powered monster, he pretty much drove circles around everyone and everything, blind­ ing everyone in clouds of tyre smoke.

It is almost impossible to explain the spectacle of his green S15 unless you’ve heard this machine run, and fans cannot wait to see this car run on other tracks around the country. Supadrift next heads back to Zwartkops Raceway for round three of the series. — sadrift.co.za.

CV JOINT SPECIALISTS

Licence waived for female riders KZN’s all­girl adrenalin junkies ShredBet­ tys invite all lady riders to come try out some off­road racing with KZN’s top lady riders.

Motorsport SA waived the license fee

for the female riders in the next X­Coun­ try race in Underberg on the May 17, re­ ducing the entry fee from R450 to R150.

All lady entrants can pit under the Shredbettys gazebo with free 32Gi and

mechanic to help out with any bike problems. There will be marshals along the route to help out if need be.

Riders on the podium each get Bat­ tech Limited Edition Pink X­Ring heavy

duty race chains.

For more info and to enter e­mail in­ fo@shredbettys.co.za or phone us at 082 796 5497. More on ShredBettys at www.shredbettys.co.za. — WR.

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

339 GREYLING STREET Pmb. 033 342 9174/75