July 6, 2017
July 6, 2017
Witness
• Speccialist repairers of BMW, Mercc, Audi & Volvo. • Gearbox, engine, brake overhauls. • Your best alternative to the main dealler workshop. • Software Upgrades 131 Mayyors Walk Rd, Pmb. T: 033 34 45 0831 F: 086 23 35 9530 E: imtech h@telkomsa.net Mon - Frri, 7:30 am to 5pm.
THE WITNESS
A SMALL crossover, which I drove courtesy of Mazda last week, reminded me of the cars I drew during my Stan dard 4 biology lessons. My mate Theo and I emptied many a red and blue Bic pen sketching The Ultimate Car, instead of paying atten tion to how flowers are put together. Our middleclass working dads drove Cortinas, Cressidas or VW Combis. It says a lot about the total lack of design back then that the boxy Combi had the more ergo nomic design of the three, and then only a little at that. Theo and I set out to create the ultimate car that would be all things for boys. Consequently the interior was crammed with buttons to operate rocket launchers and milkshake dis pensers. The bulging lines hid propel lors for those submarine excursions; there were jet thrusters for when a really big jump was needed; and ejector seats were of course standard on all six seats. That the CX3 from Mazda reminded me of The Ultimate Car we created dur ing those biology lessons is high praise indeed. Yes, it does look a little like someone washed the Mazda CX5 without read ing the instructions first, so that it shrunk into the CX3. But it’s all good, for the slight shrink age means that the odd niggle I had in the bigger CX5, like a starting button placed out of sight behind the steering wheel, is exactly where your finger wants it in the CX3.
Aircon Power Steering Airbag Navigation
R124 900
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ALWYN VILJOEN sees the light in the Mazda CX3 as it met (almost) his every driving desire The Mazda CX3 is far more than a shrunken CX5 and it takes this Japanese manufacturer a lot closer to its aim to be on par with BWM and Audi in terms of driving pleasure. PHOTO: MAZDA
This is true for all the buttons in the smaller crossover, which like the CX5 combines all the best practices from other cars in to a really engaging driving experi ence — one that I dare say now puts this Japanese car builder’s standards a lot closer to BMW. The active driving display — a re flective plastic disk above the binacle that shows the speed limit and current speed — was the first thing I missed as I returned to my own car. The second was the Sport setting, which pushes the engine 1 000 revs higher than in the Economy setting. For while the CX3 can no doubt con sume 6,5 l/100 km in Economy mode, I for one did not feel compelled to save fuel in this little SUV.
Instead, I put foot at every opportunity, with the CX3 a very willing ac complice, which is why I saw the light on the N3 while returning from King Shaka Airport at night. (No, really officer, this car is so smooth, I felt I was doing 110 km!) Mazda said every aspect of the CX3 was engineered “to heighten the thrill of the drive” and for once, this is not just advertising hype. While the natu rally aspirated twolitre petrol engine’s work rate of 115 kW and torque of 204 Nm are respectable rather than im pressive, it is the low revs at which these numbers are delivered that make driv ing the CX3 so engaging. Independent suspension at the rear
also works much better to keep the wheels con nected to the road than the torsion beam still used on other cars. The driver’s seat fitted my average body type like a glove, and the rear seats proved as comfortable, although the kneespace is cramped and the almost any other small crossover out there has a bigger boot, thanks to the sensible fullsize spare wheel. There is also a rather naff feature that I soon learnt to like. At speed, when corners are be ing clipped, the CX3 speakers emit a brief, bass droning noise from the side closest to the line being approached, all to warn you to keep to the straight and narrow. With practice, one can mix this droning into your Bluetoothcon nected music like a proper DJ. The one feature I really struggle to like in any new Mazda is the group’s iStop system, but there is a button to
cancel this at the start of every drive. Now, before I get angry letters, I am fully aware that automatic shut down can save up to 20% of your fuel that would otherwise just be idled out dur ing stopstart traffic. But this is the one function in all modern Mazdas that does not yet feel like it anticipates your every driving de sire. Instead, it is always off when you want it on to take a gap. For the rest, I have to hand it to Maz da’s engineering team — their CX3 brings rare imagination to the small crossover ute. In fact, if they add a milkshake dis pensing button and perhaps some jet thrusters, the CX3 will be right up there with the impossibly good car Theo and I imagined as nerdy 11yearolds. Prices for the six CX3 models on sale in SA start from R284 800 and go up to R380 600 for the topspec auto model. To my mind, the Active auto hits the sweet spot at R302 100. All models come with a threeyear unlimited kilometre warranty, a three year service plan and three years of roadside assistance.
Ishaad Rahiman Pre O Pre Owned wned McCarthy Renault Pietermaritzburg
KZN’S TOP DRIVERS VIE FOR SELECTION THOUSANDS of fans are expected again when KwaZuluNatal’s best spinners and drifters will be vying for selection to Team KZN at Mason’s Mill on Satur day. Coorganiser of the event Reece Will iamson told Witness Wheels that 50 drivers are expected for the spinning trials while 30 drivers will compete in the driftkhana. The KZN team will in clude 15 members. He said all the top drivers are keen to be part of the KZN team to challenge other provinces in the near future. Spinners will be select ed on their crowdpleasing stunts, many of which happen outside the moving vehicle, while the drifters will compete in the popular driftkhana. Of the 15 top drivers that will be selected, five will be reserves. Williamson said he is already working on challenging a team of drivers from Johannesburg. In good news for the city’s tourism, Williamson said the pro ducers of eTV’s recent reality show So You Think You Can Spin have agreed the old bus depot at Mason’s Mill is an ideal venue to host such a challenge.
MERCEDES Mzansi has given its EClass range some additions that will have the competition on the ropes. The E63s AMG 4Matic+ is called “the most powerful EClass of all time”. Don’t believe it? Well, how about 450 kW/850 Nm from a 4.0litre BiTurbo V8 ensuring the E63s sprints from rest to 100 km/h in 3,4 seconds on to a top speed limited to 250 km/h. If that’s not enough, opt for the driv er’s package, aka steroids pack, with the limit set at 300 km/h. The 4Matic+ badge means this monster has an all wheeldrive system putting all those rampaging “horses” on tar. Should the (skilled) driver need some tail happi ness, a Drift Mode is readily available, where power is sent only to the rear wheels for some tyreshredding antics. The AMG uses Merc’s Speedshift MCT sports transmission to shift between the nine gears in milliseconds, with the quad exhausts emitting a raspy boom with each gear change. With family and the motherinlaw as passengers, the Air Body Control air
E43 AMG 4MATIC The AMG E43 4Matic gives its buyer AMG engineering but with the value of the normal EClass. The diamond grille
The entry fee for the day is R70 for adults and R40 for children. • alwyn.viljoen@witness.co.za
MIDLANDS 4x4 DRIVERS SHOW HEART
For R1 165 800, the MercedesBenz AMG E43 4Matic will park itself in your garage, and make you the owner of the most powerful EClass yet, despite the understated design. PHOTO: SUPPLIED with chromed pins, large openings in the front apron, quadflow exhaust tailpipes and those stunning 20inch black alloys, ensure the E43 looks the part. The interi or gets the well laid out cabin from the standard EClass, with black nappa leather, red stitching on its leather fin ishes and the flatbottomed steering wheel giving an AMG look to the E43. Two tubestyle round dials, a 4,5inch multifunction colour display, a race tim er and a 280 km/h scale in chequered flag design conjure up a sports car feel. Powering the AMG E43 4Matic is a 295 kW/520 Nm 3,0litre V6 BiTurbo motor resulting in a sprint from 0100 km/h in a claimed 4,6 seconds, on to a top speed limited at 250 km/h. Fuel claims are 8,2 l/100 km. The 9G Tronic sends power to the road through an AMGtuned, rearbiased 4Matic drive. The Air Body Control air suspen sion and AMG Dynamic Select systems allow buyers to choose between a sports oriented suspension or an aircushioned supple suspension. Mercedes used this model to demonstrate Remote Parking Pilot, where the owner can park remote ly his or her car using a smartphone while standing outside the car (option
One of the posters advertising Saturday’s selection of Team KZN. GRAPHIC: SUPPLIED
A 2014 file photo from the Midlands 4x4 Club, with Steven Swanepoel (left) and Neville Louw guiding Lisa Coleman in her Suzuki Jimny down ‘Onderbroekvuilmaakpas’ in Lesotho. PHOTO: MIDLANDS4X4.CO.ZA
THE intrepid members of the Midlands 4x4 Club can take pride in having rais ing over R11 500 at two functions re cently, which was handed over at bi monthly club meeting to the recipients. The club raised over R4 600 by mak ing and selling bacon and egg rolls dur ing the Jade Sky Hike Walk on Sani Pass, every cent of which went to the Sunshine Fund. “We as a small club are very proud and very grateful to the sponsors for the donated food, and our members, who even bought their own rolls,” said chairperson Otto Krüger. Mandy Tyrer thanked the members for being on the mountain every year. “You really made a difference, and I loved the banter on radio,” Tyrer said.
suspension in Comfort mode brings a supple ride. Shift the AMG Dynamic Se lect to Sport+ or Race and the suspen sion firms up for agility and road hold ing that will thrill any driver. The exterior is unmistakably AMG with bulges everywhere to ensure no one mistakes this for anything but the big daddy of all EClass. MultiLED headlights and 20inch wheels come standard with 21inch wheels optional. Inside, the E63s gets sports seats that hold you in all the right places but if you can add some randelas, you get stunning AMG Performance Seats. The interior is premium class with a leatherlined dash, door panels and a flatbottomed steering wheel. The pan oramic sunroof creates an airy feel inside while the Burmester 3D surround sound is just EPIC but pricey. On the subject of price, R1 868 400 will allow the well heeled to park this 450 kW monster in their garage.
Cell: 084 4 274 7867
• alwyn.viljoen@witness.co.za
E Class gets a shot in the arm
SIBONELO MYENI
15
2017 Renault KWid Demo
WHEELS
Just add milkshake
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ally available in other EClass models as well). By remote or not, R1 165 800 will ensure you park one of these in your garage.
Air Body Control (air suspension) are available as options, tuning the suspen sion between Comfort, Sport and Sport+ depending on driver mood.
ECLASS COUPÉ RANGE Also launched locally was the EClass Coupé, with sexy design lines not far off its bigger brother the SClass Coupé, es pecially from the back. The front gets power domes on the bonnet with the optional Multi Beam LEDs completing the sexy look. The four frameless, fully retractable side windows create the side highlight. The coupé’s sloping roofline flows into the sexy rear with twin tailpipes and LED rear lights. Wheel sizes range from 17 inches to 20 inches. The interior carries over the function al layout from the sedan but with air vents in turbine engine design. Optional highresolution 12,3inch display screens give the cabin a hitech feel, while touch control buttons on the steering wheel allow intuitive operation of the multimedia system. The ECoupé is a generously sized fourseater with front seats in a sporty design. The Dynamic Body Control and
STANDARD ITEMS Because in the German stables, any ex tra item adds a big chunk to the price, it is important to know what comes standard with the EClass. All four EClass models come stan dard with the 9GTronic automatic transmissions. The AvantGarde design comes stan dard on all models. The 220, 200, 300 drive through the rear wheels, while the 400 comes stan dard with the Allwheeldrive 4Matic. The ECoupé comes standard with the Direct Control suspension, a wider front track for more cornering agility.
At the 4x4 demonstration rides dur ing the recent Cars in the Park in Ash burton, Cheryl Mcpherson also corralled the drivers into raising funds for cancer sufferer Nombiso Khosa (16). Mbiso and his mom Vickey were there to braai with the club members. The club’s next events are on July 21, at Tembe Elephant Reserve, and on Au gust 9, when the women get to drive on their 4x4 day at Kwahumbe near Eston. The Midlands 4x4 club holds a social braai on the first and third Friday of each month (public holidays and club trips allowing). Krüger invited all visitors to the club, which espouses responsible 4x4 driving. Contact the club at www.midlands4x4.co.za — WR.
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TruckX offers discounts, new lorries and expert views TRUCK owners and fleet operators will do well to attend the annual TruckX, held for the first time at the new Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit in Jo hannesburg on July 12 and July 13. Road Freight Association’s Cather ine Larkin told Witness Wheels that this is South Africa’s premier trucking event and it will have something for everyone in trucking and fleet man agement. Volvo will launch its affordable mediumduty trucks from India, the Eicher brand, on July 12 and the company has rented the dynamic handling track to host rides, said
Mark Diab, director of sales and mar keting for Eicher. Halfway Toyota Fourways is offering discounts to TruckX visitors on two products in its fleet vehicle lineup. “Show participants will save up to R50 000 on all Hilux double cabs,” said Vicky van den Heever, marketing assistant. “Visitors who purchase any new Hilux double cab will get R50 000 off the price to structure the deal to suit their pocket.” Tracking software and telemetrics company Ctrack will demonstrate its latest fleet management software
and view live feedback of activities happening on the dynamic test track. Forklift operators interested in con verting to using Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) can inspect several CNG vehicles on display by CNG Holdings. CEO Stephen Rothman said some of the CNG users have reported a monthly saving of over 20% after converting their forklifts from LPG to CNG, said Rothman. Road Eye Systems will introduce its Mobileye 630 collision avoidance device and its Shield+ system for trucks. Insurance companies offer a 15% premium discount for anyone
installing a Mobileye in their vehicles. On July 13 the expo hosts industry experts from Vodacom, Sasol, Master Drive, VSC Solutions and the Road Transport Management System to discuss current hot topics in logistics operations, including truck safety and compliance, clean fuels, training and telematics. Topics will include trends in mobil ity, data management, leadership and an AARTO/freeway update. Standard Bank and Ctrack by In seego, have proven their commitment to TruckX by taking on sponsorship for the fourth time in 2017.
For more information on the TruckX exhibition, contact Sarah on sarah.h@satp.co.za. For conference inquiries visit www.truckx.co.za or call Faith Matura on 011 803 2040.
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