October 21, 2021
THE WITNESS
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11
WHEELS
www.witness.co.za
Chinese companies HT Aero and XPeng’s two-seat eVTOL aircraft, called the X2, aims to show how drivers can fly over city traffic from as early 2024.
HT AERO AIMS TO DRIVE AND FLY IN X2 The Hyundai Palisade (left) and Toyota Land Cruiser 300 (right) are unlikely competitors in the South African arena, both offering a sumptuous driving experience over almost any terrain, but the Hyundai does it at almost half the price of the Toyota, and is available on dealer floors, instead of on a waiting list.
ALWYN VILJOEN
A palace on wheels
Following on the 13th annual air show in China, HT Aero, an urban air mobility company backed by Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer XPeng, has secured over $500 million to advance its goal of developing a true flying car by 2024. Large venture capital firms flocked to be first to get a share in the company, with names that include IDG Capital, Sequoia China, Eastern Bell Capital, GGV Capital, GL Ventures, and Yunfeng Capital. “We believe that the flying vehicle sector will be a trillion-dollar market,” stated Guangfu Cui, partner of IDG Capital. “The rapid technological evolution of batteries, autonomous driving, and materials science, provide the synergies needed to create a new paradigm for flying cars.” This week, HT Aero’s founder and
Hyundai’s Palisade is the ‘ultimate umalume car’ ready to take the family on off-road trips Hyundai Motorsport took their third victory of the 2021 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) with first and third podium finishes in the Rally de España over the weekend. Driving the big, smooth Palisade, courtesy of Hyundai SA, this week, I found these double podium results so inspiring that I started taking the scenic route via gravel routes on the school run. En route I again formed the opinion that this big sport ute offers South Africans all the luxuries that Americans take for granted, at a price that blows away all the competitors, as reported in Wheels after a brief drive during the local launch of the Palisade. I said then and still maintain that any family looking for a seven seater that
can do it all, needs to look no further than the Palisade. This is big praise, but based on a big heap of trips done in other people movers, from the SsangYong Stavic to the Mercedes-Benz Vito and V-Class, to the six-seat Fiat Multipla. But even bigger praise awaited from the teens fetched after those scenic school runs. “Tjo, sir, this is the ultimate umalume car,” said the Grade 10 pupil as he adjusted the back rest in the third row and settled in behind the tinted windows “to ride like a rock star”. The Grade 6 pupil was especially impressed by the left and right buttons that collapse either backrest of the middle row seats forward, as well as the hot and cold settings to cool or warm the
AUTO SALES REMAIN STEADY
BAIC SA launch B40 Plus, say it’s perfect for any terrain
The latest data from Lightstone Auto’s shows vehicle sales have remained steady and is still tracking above pre-Covid levels, despite the impact of the Level 4 Lockdown in July. Lightstone Auto’s data also indicates the vehicle brands/makes that have held steady as consumer favourites. The Ford Ranger remains the most popular vehicle in the used market, with Toyota Hilux, VW Polo and BMW 3-Series making up the top four. The VW Polo Vivo has dropped off the top ten, as have the Ford Fiesta, the Toyota Fortuner and the Ford EcoSport. The Isuzu KB has moved from eighth spot to fifth, the Nissan NP 200 from ninth spot to sixth, and newcomers Merc C Class, Audi A4, Chev Utility and Hyundai i20 make up the last four positions. Double cabs lead the top 10 most popular new vehicles sold this year are led by the Toyota Hilux, and the Ford Ranger, with the VW Polo Vivo and VW Polo still SA’s most popular sedan and hatch. — WR.
NARESH MAHARAJ
Top 10 popular new vehicles (January 2020 to July 2021) Toyota Hilux — 45 283 Ford Ranger — 26 181 VW Polo Vivo — 22 432 VW Polo — 19 623 Toyota Hi-Ace — 18 292 Isuzu D-Max — 16 929 Nissan NP200 — 16 001 Toyota Fortuner — 13 139 Ford EcoSport — 9 532 Renault Kwid — 8 694 Top 10 popular used vehicles (January 2020 to July 2021) Ford Ranger — 26 813 Toyota Hilux — 20 463 VW Polo — 18 231 BMW 3-Series — 14 005 Isuzu KB — 8 467 Nissan NP200 — 7 316 Mercedes-Benz C-Class — 6 623 Audi A4 — 5 342 Chevrolet Utility — 4 935 Hyundai i20 — 4 179
NEW ROAD LEGISLATION The Minister of Transport has republished the draft amendment to the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) Regulations, 2007 in Government Gazette Nr. 45291 on October 8, 2021 for comments. This is a follow-up gazette on the draft regulations published for comment on September 3, 2021. Comments may be submitted until November 7, 2021. See the Government Gazette for details. Meanwhile, the Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA) have issueed a statement on October 1 indicating that the AARTO roll-out for the first 67 municipalities will start December 1, 2021. — WR.
BAIC SA are breaking boundaries in more ways than one, with the launch of the B40 Plus. At the outset, I was thoroughly impressed with the aesthetically pleasing looks of the SUV. It is sporty, it is trendy and has to be one of the best SUV’s I have driven recently. But good looks must match performance. So I got into the B40 Plus and it put me through my paces on the most unforgiving terrain. I waded through river pools, over loose slate on steep declines and inclines, over terrain that saw the SUV up in the air with just the front wheels on the ground, and then some. Yes, the 4x4 performance did match its ruggedly handsome looks. Not only did the off-road ability inspire the design, but practicality and functionality were at the forefront of consideration when this vehicle was being created. The B40 PLUS which has its roots in the military, has over 60 years of heritage to draw on. It has been tested in almost every condition, altitude, terrain, and application over this time, leading to the claim that it was born in the battlefield and perfected in the real world. Mr Hu, Vice President of Marketing Operations for BAIC South Africa said “BAIC SA is proud to add the B40 PLUS to the model line-up. We believe this vehicle will be well received by the market and will find quite a following among consumers that want to stand out in a crowd.” Design and Interior The design of the B40 PLUS is bold and imposing. The styling echoes the confidence of the driver, with aggressive bumpers and wheel arches. The vehicle commands presence, whether it’s in the city or showcasing its prowess
butts sitting on the middle row. The space for groceries behind the third row of seats is narrow but high, giving one 509 litres to stack all the bags, but a pull on the straps will flatten both third row backrests to increase the load bay to 1 297 litres for the second row and a maximum of 2 447 litres with all folded down. This, by the way, is more room than a double cab bakkie’s load bin under a canopy. A cargo net keeps all the bags in place and a full size spare gives confidence on gravel roads. My rally-inspired sojourns showed gravel is where the Palisade’s all-wheel drive system is happiest and I found the big SUV can go up all the places I normally reserve for 4x4 bakkies.
The proven 2,2-litre turbo diesel makes 142 kW at a low 3 800 rpm and 440 Nm between 1 750 to 2 750 rpm. Linked to an eight-speed automatic transmission with a multi-plate torque converter, the Palisade is indeed a smooth ride fit for a rock star, whether in the city, bush or on a highway. The Palisade is the only car close to a million rand in the local Hyundai stable, but if you try and buy everything inside the Palisade from the competition, prepare to pay at least another half a million more. The price includes Hyundai’s seven-year or 200 000km warranty and seven-year or 105 000km service plan. By comparison, Toyota offers a three-year or 100 000 km warranty and nine services with service set
annually or at 10 000 km on the new Land Cruiser 300, dubbed the LC300. The LC300 starts at R1 283 200 for the GX-R 3.3D, with the top end petrolpowered GR-S 3.5T listing for R1 842 900 and its 3,3-litre diesel makes 225 kW and 700 Nm. But this is academic, as Toyota is struggling to meet demand around the world, with LC300 waiting lists now measured in years and local dealers “temporarily restricting” any more orders. Meanwhile, the Palisade is the surprising newcomer in the all-wheeldrive segment that is ready to go most places the LC300 can, despite riding 30 mm lower and because the Palisade “just adds lightness” by weighing 560 kg less than the LC300. — WR.
more than ample for those muddy challenges. The approach angle is a generous 37 degrees, departure angle of 31 degrees and rampover angle at 23 degrees. The selectable 4WD system with mechanical central transfer case and rear differential lock allows the driver to control how the engine is powered, dependent on the terrain, conditions and requirements. Safety and Security The B40 PLUS comes standard with a host of active and passive safety features to ensure your adventure is on your terms. Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) and Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) are standard across all models, while some models also feature Electronic Stability Programme (ESP), Emergency Brake Assist (EBA), Traction Control System (TCS), Hill Ascent Control (HAC) and Hill Descent Control (HAC). Mr Hu, Vice President of Marketing Operations for BAIC South Africa, with the new B40 plus. PHOTO: NARESH MAHARAJ off-road. The front of the B40 PLUS is striking, with the iconic 5-slot grille design that is inspired by the Great Wall of China. The chrome and black accents on the exterior contrast the vehicle’s body colour, adding visual interest. This is also echoed in the interior of the B40 PLUS. The bold design features include imposing headlights with Daytime Running Lights (DRL) as well as front and rear fog lamps. The red tow hooks are a confident design characteristic on the B40 PLUS, while making it easy to pull, tow or rescue travel companions in other vehicles.
City Hunter It doesn’t matter if you’re travelling city streets or exploring the hidden paths, you get to do it in comfort and style in the B40 PLUS. The considered cabin is modern, sleek and contains all the appointments you would need in an SUV, from Dual Zone Air Conditioner, 6-speaker audio system, colour-coded interior trim, chrome accents and to top it all off, reclining rear seats. There are also features like the reverse camera, Park Distance Control (PDC), and customisable Multi-Information Display (MID), to keep the driver in complete control of their landscape. The ground clearance of 210mm is
Engines The B40 PLUS is available in 2.0 litre Petrol Turbo or 2.0 litre Turbo Diesel. The choice is yours over how you power your adventure. The petrol engine kicks out 160kW @ 5500 r/min while the diesel pushes out 110kW @ 4000 r/min and 350Nm of torque at 1800-2800 r/ min. BAIC is offering five models of the B40, starting with the Plus in either diesel or petrol, with the City Hunter in the middle and Champion at the top. The pricing is competitive, starting at R549 500 and going up to R629 500 for the top-of-the-range offering. All B40 PLUS models are sold with a 5-year/120,000km warranty. Service plan options are available, with service intervals at 15 000km or 12 months for both the petrol and diesel models.
WHEELS EVENTS • October 30: The Natal Recreational Club stages a test run at Edgar’s place next to E+C charcoal outside Dalton. Spectators are welcome in terms of amended Covid-19 regulations, which allows up to 2 000 spectators at outdoor sporting events arranged by recognised sporting bodies. Details from Dean Redelinghuis at 083 657 1526. • November 13: The VSCC remembers fallen members and motorsport colleagues from KZN who have passed away due to either their age, illness or some even the dreaded Covid on Re-
Ford Ranger has launched a Special Edition of the Raptor model in South Africa and production in limited numbers will ensure exclusivity. Much has been writtten about the Raptor’s rally-ready suspension which allows stunts like the jump shown and we will not rehash those stats except to say the Raptor is what all bakkies want to be when they grow up. And to ensure that this is not just the rally racer’s toy, but practical for city use too, a lockable Mountain Top black roller shutter, previously seen on the limited-edition Ranger Thunder, comes as standard fitment. Inside the Ranger Raptor Special Edition’s double cab is very nice. Red stitching on the steering wheel, seats and door cards replace the blue stitching used on the normal Ranger Raptor. A Special Edition-only Raceway Grey instrument panel adds further exclusivity, also finished off with red stitching. Emphasising its sporty demeanour, the instrument cluster incorporates distinctive red needles for the dials.
Ford’s 2.0-litre Bi-Turbo diesel engine makes 157 kW and 500 Nm, more than sufficient to get the bakkie airborne. PHOTO: QUICKPIC I’m what the polite call petite, but the sports seats, which are trimmed in Technical Suede for maximum grip, hugged me tight and provided optimum support over the shakes of a steep 4x4 route and the faster bits over a gravel track which at times had me grip the steering wheel in a white knuckle death grip. The steer-
ing wheel itsels incorporates perforated leather hand grip sections, paired with Raptor DNA lightweight magnesium paddle shifters for crisp gear changes. The Raptor logo is featured in the bezel of the steering wheel and a motorsport-inspired “on-centre” marker – a red stripe at the top-
middle of the steering wheel – gives you confidence to know where the wheels are pointing. The Ranger has been South Africa’s top selling used vehicle — note, vehicle, not just bakkie — for several months running and a lot of demand is based on the Raptor’s reputation. The Raptor basically became a halo model for the brand, designed not to sell in large numbers, but to show what Ford can do. Doreen Mashinini, General Manager for Marketing at Ford South Africa said, “The new Ranger Raptor Special Edition adds even more dramatic style to this trend-setting model which remains unequalled in the popular bakkie segment two and a half years after it was launched in South Africa.” Priced at R965 300 compated to standard Raptor Ranger’s R920 300, this is not a cheap bakkie, but buyers aleady have to join the waiting list. The price includes a four-year or 120 000 km comprehensive warranty and a six-year or 90 000 km service plan is included which covers six services.
membrance Saturday at the Vintage Sports Car Club on Oribi Road in Pietermaritzburg, starting at 1 pm. More details from Rex Boreham at 082 835 1293.
KZN rider on Honda Quest Danie de Kock is the only rider from KZN who made it onto the list of 14 finalists who will ride out on the Honda Quest True Adventure 2021 from November 1 to 10 in the Northern Cape’s Richtersveld, Namakwa Eco Trail, Tankwa Karoo and Cederberg. The finalists were whittled down from 28 semifinalists during an extensive 3-day bootcamp which required the contestants to do theoretical and practical tests, varying from African geography quizzes to mechanical tasks against the clock. The winning team will be crowed champions of Honda Quest True Adventure 2021 and get to keep the bikes on which they contested the 2 500-km adventure ride. PHOTO: ALWYN VILJOEN
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president, Deli Zhao, said in a statement the company plans for its flying car to be used both on land and in the sky in the next three years. “Our next-generation model will be a fully integrated flying vehicle and automobile, designed for both low-altitude air travel and road driving. We are planning for an official roll-out in 2024,” Zhao said. Witness Wheels has been reporting on China’s electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) prototype aircrafts since 2013 and during this time, HT Aero claims it has conducted over 15 000 successful crewed test flights. Its most recent model is the fifthgeneration, all-electric X2, a two-seat multicopter with a battery that gives 35 minutes of flying time, which is long enough to fly over most cities at the craft’s cruising speed of 130 km/h. • alwyn.viljoen@witness.co.za
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