November 7, 2019
THE WITNESS
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WHEELS
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Hyundai’s new Atos brings a solid drive and long warranty to the entry-level hatch arena ALWYN VILJOEN SPARE a thought for Stanley Anderson, sales and operations director at Hyundai Automotive South Africa. The last time he marketed the littlest car from Hyundai, the rand was at R6,50 to the U.S. dollar. These days, you need over R14 to buy that “lil’ piece of paper coated in cholorophyll” that Ray Charles sung about, which means the little Atos these days costs quite a bit more to import from Korea — just shy of R160 k. THE COMPETITORS This price pits the Atos squarely against South Africa’s four most affordable hatches, namely the: • Renault Kwid 1,0 Dynamique: R150,900 (50 kW, 91 Nm) • Suzuki Celerio 1,0 GL: R158,400 (50 kW, 90 Nm) • Datsun Go 1,2 MID: R158,400 (50 kW, 104 Nm) • Hyundai Atos 1,1 Motion R159,900 (55 kW, 99 Nm) • Tata Bolt 1,2 XMS: R159,995 (66 kW, 140 Nm) TESTED ON SA’S WORST ROADS Deon Sonnekus, general manager: corporate communications at Hyundai SA, pointed out Hyundai is only one rally away from winning the 2019 manufacturer’s title in the World Rally Championship. The little Atos is not a rally racer — it weighs 866 kg, which gives it a power to weight ratio of only 63 Watts per kg. But the relatively heavier body also delivers a more planted ride than the Kwid, if not quite as spirited a drive as the Go. This ride has been refined over 1,104 million kilometres of gruelling tests on Durban’s steep and winding tar roads, Piet Retief’s steep, rocky dirt roads, Nelspruit’s sand roads and in Johannesburg high altitude, slow-moving traffic. These tests and Hyundai’s rallybred standards mean the Atos handles well, even when a handbrake turn is needed. (And at Wheels, we can always
Brits not ready for robot cars A LACK of trust in safety technology and an emotional “attachment” to car ownership are two key road blocks to a future of vehicle sharing and self-driving cars. According to a new study, it could be at least 10 years before autonomous vehicles and the sharing of them will become the norm in society. This, combined with a perceived lack of prestige in not owning a vehicle, suggests that the majority of today’s motorists aren’t yet ready for mobility concepts of the future. The study “Being Driven: A study on human adoption of autonomous vehicles” by Neckermann Strategic Advisors, in collaboration with specialist agency 7th Sense Research UK Ltd, found that humans are today not ready to make a “double leap of faith” when considering future personal transportation. The survey called over 3 000 UK residents. With the automotive and tech industries looking toward the greater integration of autonomous technology into mainstream cars, the new survey illustrates the path required for buyers to embrace the concept of self-driving cars. One of the study takeaways highlights that an increased communication of the benefits of autonomous vehicles is vital to combat the fear of the unknown and inspire the greater level of trust required for widespread end-user acceptance. The survey revealed that 75% are not comfortable with, or undecided, about future adoption of autonomous vehicles, along with strong resistance to a future of shared car ownership. The study also shows that 60% of respondents favour a private use, private ownership model as being the most appealing way of accessing autonomous transport. This is at odds with the previous industry assumption that shared ownership would form the core of future mobility. Co-author of the study, Lukas Neckermann, said consumers need to be inspired by the benefits of autonomous vehicles, instead of being flummoxed by the technology. — WR.
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Mahindra has taken the next step in its South African growth story with the opening of a Special Fitment Centre in Gauteng. Located in the Motorvia Distribution Centre in Kempton Park, the new Mahindra Special Fitment Centre will be home to over 20 technical specialists. It will give Mahindra South Africa the capability to introduce locally designed and tested Special Edition models and unique variants to meet specific customer requirements. The opening of the new Special Fitment Centre follows a year after Mahindra opened its Assembly Facility in Durban, where it builds the complete range of Mahindra bakkies.
Left: Loyiso Gumede, curator of the Albert Luthuli museum in Groutville with the Hyundai Atos, which leaves its owners with a bit of money for a road trip to explore KZN and find venues like the museum, or 2+1 bunny chow at Emsamu Fast Food (above), or the ‘makowe’ mushrooms that are harvested during November and sold next to the N2. (right). PHOTOS: ALWYN VILJOEN find a reason for a handbrake turn to be needed.) WHERE THE MONEY WENT Hyundai SA’s CEO Niall Lynch is confident the extras that Anderson had arm-wrestled the Koreans to add as standard in the Atos, will help the hatch to sell very well in the five-door, entrylevel hatch — SA’s fastest selling car segment. The latest sales figures back Lynch’s confidence. Over 230 Atos models have already been sold in KwaZulu-Natal in the two weeks before the official launch. This compares to average monthly sales of 190 for the Kwid and 286 for the Go. Gideon Janse van Rensburg, operations director of HSA in KZN, puts these impressive sales figures down to three areas where the Atos trumps the
competitors: • a seven-year, 200,000 drivetrain warranty and a 1-year or 15,000km service plan; • the latest in infotainment and touch screens; and • solid build quality with two airbags and ABS. HOW THEY COMPARE Among entry level hatches in SA, the Tata Bolt offers the most compelling buy on paper, with a two-year or 30 000 km service plan, a five-year or 100 000 km warranty and a willing 1,2 turbo that makes an impressive 140 Newtons. But Mzansi ain’t buying it. This is because — as was the case with the three French cars in South Africa — fewer dealers offered poor service, which is a sure why to ruin a brand for a long time in a new market.
Renault’s saviour, Xavier Gobille, is now working his magic to fix the dealer problems to sell more Peugeot and Citroën vehicles in South Africa. Tata does not yet have such brand rebuilding efforts, which is a shame, as the Bolt does offer its owners the toughest of tough from India. The Celerio is another good offer, trumping the Atos with electric windows at the back and electric mirrors too. But the entry level Celerio lacks even an FM radio and Suzuki also saved on the service plan. This is exactly how the pensioners like it and why older buyers have helped Suzuki dealers achieve another record sales month in October. That leaves the Renault Kwid and Datsun Go. That R9 k extra for the Atos compared to the entry level Kwid buys you a one-year, 15 000 km service
plan, an infotainment system with touch screen as opposed to a radio with knobs, a multi-functional steering wheel that controls the audio and Bluetooth, and a body that is 7,5 cm wider. In a small car, 7,5 cm make a big difference for big people. The Datsun Go is the closest rival for the Atos in terms of power, weight, size and infotainment, only missing out on the multifuntional steering wheel and the service plan that Hyundai offers. On paper, there is very little to choose between the Atos and either the Go or Kwid, but on tar, or dirt, the littlest Hyundai’s extra shoulder room, heavier body and longer warranty add up to make the small Korean the smart money’s choice. • alwyn.viljoen@witness.co.za
Calling all enthusiasts to the Invernettie Rallysprint ALWYN VILJOEN THE Prepsol Invernettie Rallysprint on November 24 will be the Natal Motorcycle and Car Club’s final event of the year 2019, and “social racers” are most welcome. Hosted on the Invernettie farm near the South Coast town of Umzinto, the Invernettie has been the battle ground for many KZN rallies since the mid 1970s and the slippery sugar cane roads have caught out many a crew. The event will cater for rally cars, offroad cars, quad motorbikes and offroad motorbikes on an 8,5 km stage through plantations and sugarcane fields. The route will be run six times — three clockwise and three anti-clockwise. Racing starts at noon and ends around 5 pm. Affordable entry fees make local rallysprints ideal events for amateur racers to stretch the legs of their stock Anthony Ball told Wheels racers in standard cars, quads or bikes, with marshalls to regulating the ‘red mist’ and medics on standby. the “sweeper” or social class are very welcome at the club’s rallysprints. He with a smooth surface and no jumps. from MotorSport SA at about R120. Natal Motorcycle and Car Club’s secresaid the route on the Invernettie farm Entry is R400, and bikers must get • Riders and drivers who want to enter tary Annette Stow at 031 700 1993 duris perfect for stock standard vehicles, a so-called “WoW”, one-event licence the social class must please contact the ing business hours.
KZN racers chasing double points in finals at Dezzi’s COLIN WINDELL WITH double points on offer in each of the heats on the final day of racing for the 2019 season, action at the picturesque South Coast circuit will be fast, furious and a treat for spectators at Dezzi Raceway, Oslo Beach, on Saturday. TWO WHEELS With a brilliant victory recently to secure the SA Supersport Championsip title for the second time, Blaze Baker moves his attention back to Dezzi’s, where he has a chance, albeit mathematical, of taking the KZN Road Racing Club honours in the 300 Class. Malcolm Rudman (M-Projects Kawasaki 400) has a healthy lead in the 300 Class with 336 points to the 256 of Baker (Actum/Band-It Yamaha 300) — but if Baker wins and Rudman fails to score, the tables could be turned. Third place honours should go to
young Red Bull Rookie, Drew Gates (Ross Champion KTM RC390) with both Nicolai and Jessie Conci (Helluvafast Yamaha R3) out for the rest of the year with injuries. In the 300 Masters Class Shaun du Preez (KTM Durban KTM RC390) heads the pack from Gona Pillay (Actum/Band-It Kawasaki 400) with Mark Desmond Samuel (DES Engineering Kawasaki 300) lurking in the wings waiting for any mistakes from the lading pair. In Formula Extreme Class A, Rudman has the title pretty much sewn up, but this is unlikely to stop Jay Baxendale (Yamaha R6) from claiming the top step of the podium for the day with both Clinton MasseyHicks (Carshop.co.za Honda CBR600) and Hein Etzel (Argotek Yamaha 1000) chasing third place or better. However, Hein Etzel will certainly be keeping his mind focused on ensuring his Super Motards title where he leads the series on 331 points from his brother, Karl, on 215 with
Ryan Matchett (191) chasing second place. In Formula Extreme Class B it is Stanley Ndlela who leads on 200 points from Johan Basson (134) and Craig Tarlington (118). FOUR WHEELS In a contest where the final outcome is simply too close to call, Elton Fuchs in the super fast Mtrac Super Modified VW Golf is probably an even money favourite for the outright win and the title in the class, chased by Shiren Rajpaul, Ronald van Rensburg and Pierre-Richard Potgieter. In the Modified Class B, Dane Thompson (Panel and Paint VW Golf) won the last meeting, ahead of Greg Ogilvie and Tim Kinsey, while Class C saw a three-way tussle between Marc Ganachaud (VW Polo), Gary Brown and Jannie Petzer. Always exciting to watch, the Retro brigade will see a resurgence of the battle between Reg Sutton (Rob Steel Ford Escort), Meredith Willis and Manfred Schroder — with a pos-
The Japanese Ministry of the Environment and Kyoto University have built a gull-winged car using plant-based cellulose nanofibre (CNF) in the bodywork and interior. Made from wood chips that have been boiled in chemicals to remove lignin and hemicellulose, CNF weighs 80% less than pressed steel used in cars, but offers five times the strength. A number of Japanese automakers, including the world’s biggest car builder, Toyota, are investigating if CNFs can be made cheap enough to include in mass production vehicles.
sible dark horse in this race being the VW Beetle 2000 of Rodney Potgieter. This car had its first outing recently and teething problems that cropped up then should be sorted enough to make this car a real challenger. Although the GT Class belongs to Duncan dos Reis (Pirellie Porsche), he will still be under pressure from the very rapid Lawrence Smith Porsche and Durban’s former world karting champion, Cristiano Morgado in the Nissan 350Z. The massive Modified Production car category remains a full-on fight in each of the four classes to decide the champions for the year and, with upwards of 30 cars going full chat into the first corner, anything can — and probably will — happen.
In August, the Bosch Africa Mobility Solutions team launched a competition to find Africa’s best smart mobility start-ups who are looking to solve Africa’s mobility problems. The judging panel selected the top 11 start-ups from seven countries in Africa. The top 11 faced-off with the judging panel in the last round, with the winners being Hello Tractor, founded by Jehiel Oliver from Nigeria; and BuuPass, founded by Wyclife Omandi from Kenya, each winning $15 000 and a three-month accelerator programme from Bosch. Hello Tractor is a digital platform and a farm equipment sharing application that connects tractor owners and smallholding farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa. BuuPass works with transport operators to provide digital solutions that seamlessly facilitate convenient and reliable movement of commuters.
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• Racing starts at 10 am and entry fee is R100 for adults, R50 for teens and pensioners and kids under 12 enter free.
Flicker of hope from new car sales WHILE the South African economy failed to meet its Gross Domestic Product forecast this year, new vehicle sales managed to build on September’s stability and provide some level of optimism to the motor industry during October. The new vehicle market remained positively flat last month, 0,2% up year-onyear to 51 978 units, according to results released by the National Association of
Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa). But this is the first time sales have breached the 50 000-a-month barrier, providing some small hope of recovery during the final quarter of 2019. Toyota was the top seller, recording its highest sales month with a total of 13 694 vehicles sold in October, effectively claiming a 26.3% market share. The
evergreen Hilux led the sales with a 4 377 models sold — the second best total sales since the record-breaking 4 770 units that were sold in June. Suzuki dealers also recorded their best sales month yet, with 1 629 sold, 46,6% better than October last year. Suzuki said it is also proud to have three finalists in the upcoming Cars.co.za Consumer Awards. — WR.
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