May 9, 2019
Witness
WHEELS
NEW MODELS Mercedes-Benz released three new C63 AMG models, a sedan, coupé and cabriolet, selling from R1 546 600 to R1 728 700 with shaper dynamics and more power from the 4.0-litre V8 — 375 kW at 55006250 rpm and 700 Nm at 2000-4500 rpm. With two turbochargers to fuel the fire, petrol consumption is not exactly low at 10,4 l/100 km on the combined cycle. But then fuel saving is not high on AMG drivers’ priorities. Matching the claimed sub-four seconds from zero to 100 km/h in the C63 S is what owning an AMG is all about. Features like nine gear ratios, adaptive damping, nine-stage traction control and six drive settings that range from ‘Slippery’ to ‘Race’, and a tuned AMG exhaust system with a variable flap are all just cherries on top of such sumptuous acceleration. PHOTO: MOTORPRESS
ADVERTISING: AVIR THULSIRAM ON 084 278 3447
… NOW YOU’RE MOTORING
Licensed to drive Is it an offence to drive with an expired driver’s licence card or permit? ALWYN VILJOEN
Europe’s International Van of the Year — the Opel Combo Cargo Van — is now available in SA. Two models are on sale, a standard and a long wheel base, for R311 700 and R350 400 respectively. Both are powered by Opel’s proven 1.6 turbo diesel engine that wrings 20 km from each litre. The price includes a three-year or 120 000 km warranty and roadside assistance and a three-year or 60 000 km service plan. Services on the diesel are every 15 000 km or annually. PHOTO: QUICKPIC FAW launched the 6.130 FL medium truck, built for southern and central African markets at its factory in Coega. Based on the popular FAW 8.140, the new 6.130 has shortened chassis and 3.5-ton payload. It is powered by a 2.8-litre Cummins Euro 3 engine, linked to a six-speed transmission that makes the most of the engine’s 310 Nm from 1 600 rpm. The FAW 6.130 medium duty truck can be ordered from 36 FAW dealers, fitted with a drop-side, tautliner, tipper, rollback or insulated body. Customers can also order the chassis for R245 000 and fit it with their own body, with a gross combined mass (GCM) of 10 tons. PHOTO: FAW Oxford-based electric bike builder Electric Assisted Vehicles Limited (EAV) plans to launch its P1 in July to meet the growing demand for delivery of parcels ordered online. EAV said the last mile delivery market is growing at over 18% a year. The 75 kg cargo bike can carry 150 kg, excluding the rider. A thumb throttle accelerates to bike to 10 km/h, at which point the pedalling can begin to increase the speed to 24 km/h. This is a blistering pace compared to inner city vehicle speeds that average 8 km/h. The company said in a statement the cost of last mile deliveries in fossil fuel vehicles can total over a quarter of a parcel’s total cost, which their cargo bike cuts to give online retailers the edge over slower, more expensive and polluting van deliveries. PHOTO: EAV
EAST COAST IENGINE MPORTS QUALITY USED LOW MILEAGE ENGINES AND GEABOXES
WE OFFER DELIVERY INTO DURBAN AND PMB ON ENGINE AND GEARBOX PURCHASES
Brand New Turbos for most makes of vehicles
NOW WITH OUR OWN IN HOUSE WORKSHOP FOR ALL YOUR FITMENT REQUIREMENTS
FOR THE LEXUS V8 ENTHUSIASTS WE OFFER
• Pre-Wired Lexus V8 1UZ VVTI complete with automatic gearbox • Pre-Wired Lexus V8 3UZ VVTI complete with automatic gearbox • Brand new and second hand original spares and service parts • Our pre-wired original OEM mnagement is ready for installation with only 6 wires to connect • All units are bench tested
WE HAVE A LARGE VARIETY OF ENGINES AND GEARBOXES TO CHOOSE FROM
Our friendlly sales teaam is equippedd to deaal withh all enquiiriess annd havve a weaalth of knowleddge in the mootoring fielld. We pride ourselvess in deliivering exceptionnal serrvi rvice and products to our clliennts and therefforre have a stringent quality check process in placee to make sure thaat every ry prodduct complies with our requirements and is in top order.
Craigh: Dianne: Ntuthuko:
035 789 0464 035 789 0754 084 357 1082 071 677 0799 062 633 4755
Of these three pieces of paper, South African drivers only need one, thanks to the fact that the National Road Traffic Act expressly states that a driver’s licence as recorded in the green ID book never expires, unlike the driver’s licence cards, which expire every five years. PHOTO: ALWYN VILJOEN to the expiration of a driving licence.” “What’s interesting is that Regulation 108 (5)(b) states that ‘The holder of a driving licence card may apply for a new card in the manner contemplated in regulation 109 and the new card shall be authorised and issued in the manner contemplated in regulation 109(3)’.
“The word ‘may’ suggests that the holder of a driving licence has a choice as to whether to renew the card or not. “The regulations furthermore do not expressly state that it is an offence if a holder of a driving licence fails to renew the driving licence card,” said Paans.
Mahindra tractors and farm implements in Mzansi MAHINDRA entered its fourth business line in South Africa with the launch of its range of farming equipment. The announcement was made last week at a gala event in the North West province, and introduced the entire range of farm equipment, including Mahindra tractors and implements, Sampo Combines, and Hisarlar implements — sourced from India, Turkey and Finland. Speaking on the occasion, Arvind Mathew, chief of International Operations at Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. said, “At Mahindra, we’ve made humanity’s innate desire to rise our driving purpose: we challenge conventional thinking and innovatively use all our resources to drive positive change in the lives of our stakeholders and communities across the world, to enable them to Rise. “We have been expanding our global operations and South Africa is a key market for us. We have embraced South Africa as our home outside India and have already established a strong presence in the automotive business and have seen initial success in generators and construction equipment businesses. We feel this is the right time for us to introduce our wide range of farm solutions here.” Rajesh Gupta, CEO of Mahindra South Africa added, “Mahindra is the world’s largest tractor manufacturer by volume and many of our models are designed for markets that demand tough
and efficient solutions which are also effortless to operate in harsh conditions. Our initial market study shows that these attributes are in high demand in South Africa as well and we trust that it will find favour with our customers. “The South African farmers have been supportive to us, they have been using our bakkies on various applications and this has motivated us to widen our product offering to the farming community.” Mahindra is already assembling its Pik Up-range in Durban and also offers its TLBs under the Mahindra EarthMaster brand and a comprehensive range of industrial diesel-powered generators, under the Powerol brand. As part of its commitment to provide nationwide sales and service support, Mahindra has partnered with MB Plant SA (MBSA) to use its network of urban and rural outlets. MBSA is a division of the international MB AfroAsia Group, with operations in more than 20 countries. Mahindra 6000 and 7500 tractors Taking centre stage at the announcement was Mahindra’s range of tractors, which include two models in the 7500 series and three in the 6000 series. The range stretches from the 40 KW Mahindra 6060 to the powerful Mahindra 7590, with its 70 KW diesel engine. The 7500 series tractors are equipped with a heavy-duty cast iron chassis, come in both two-wheel and
The 40 kW, 6060 4WD is one of five Mahindra tractors now on sale in South Africa. PHOTO: MAHINDRA four-wheel drive options and twospeed power take-off systems (PTO). Power is delivered to the wheels through Mahindra’s proprietary Easy Shift synchromesh gearbox. All 7500 models feature a four-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine with intercooler. In the 6000 series, the four-cylinder turbodiesel engine has been optimised to provide an extremely flat torque curve, which allows for maximum productivity in both PTO and draft applications. Both the 7500 and 6000 series have dedicated left-hand synchronised reversers that provide smooth control for maximum productivity during intensive loader and headland operations.
The rear axle has large oil cooled disc brakes and heavy-duty inboard planetary reduction units for strength, safety and reliability. All models mentioned above come with a standard 2 years / 2500 hours powertrain warranty and service kit. A luxury cab model with power shift transmission is currently undergoing homologation and will join the product range soon. Rounding off Mahindra’s range of agricultural products is a wide range of implements from tilling equipment to seeders and planters, fertilisers spreaders and harvest equipment. The full range will be show at the Nampo Harvest Festival in Bothaville, on May 13 to 15. — WR.
KZN SPINNERS WIN BATTLE OF PROVINCES
• Top Quality used low mileage engines, gearboxes & Lexus parts • Heads AFFORDABLE • Turbos ENGINE • Diffs • Lexus spares • New and Second hand
Tel:
ONGOING delays in driver’s licence deliveries following a strike at the stateowned licence printing works last year have readers asking whether it is an offence to drive with a driver’s licence card or temporary licence that has expired. Jakkie Olivier, the CEO of the Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI), says the question was also raised by one of its members. The topic was reported on in Automobil by Roxanne Paans, a candidate attorney in the litigation department at Barnard Incorporated in Centurion. Paans refers to the National Road Traffic Act (NRTA) 93 of 1996 which states that the period of validity of a driving licence shall be indefinite, unless such a licence has been suspended or cancelled in terms of the Act. “The confusion is created by the fact that the NRTA does not seem to clearly differentiate between a driving licence and a driving licence card,” she said. The NRTA and the National Road Traffic Act Regulations are two important pieces of legislation, which regulate the rules of the roads in South Africa. “According to the regulations a driving licence card shall expire five years from the date on which it was ordered from the card production facility. “The regulations make no mention of the expiration of a driving licence, but expressly state that the validity of a driving licence shall be indefinite. “The uncertainty therefore created by the regulation is whether the expiration of a driving licence card also leads
So is it an offence or not? The closest indication that the driving of a motor vehicle with an expired driving licence card constitutes an offence in terms of the NRTA is found in section 12 which says: “12 No person shall drive a motor vehicle on a public road — (a) except under the authority and in accordance with the conditions of a licence issued to him or her in terms of this Chapter or of any document deemed to be a licence for the purposes of this Chapter; and (b) unless he or she keeps such licence or document or any other prescribed authorisation with him or her in the vehicle.” “The NRTA and its regulations do not expressly state whether a driving licence card is a ‘document deemed to be a licence’. “It seems that there is no express indication that the expiration of a driving licence card is tantamount to the expiration of a driving licence and this question definitely warrants further and indepth investigation,” said Paans. She suggests that in order to avoid the risk of a fine it is advisable that drivers of vehicles are at all times in possession of a driving licence card which has not yet expired. Olivier agrees. “While it may seem like a hassle renewing your driver’s licence card every five years, if you make it a to-do item before the expiration date it can be done relatively easily. “Along with servicing your vehicle at regular intervals, make it a priority to renew your driver’s licence card,” he said.
Unit 1 No 13 Betastraal Street Alton, Richards Bay Fax 086 459 6725 sales@eastcoastengines.co.za
Kurt Volmink (third from right) led 10 drivers of Team KZN Spinners to the Battle of the Provinces hosted in Kimberley over the Easter weekend. Drivers from Gauteng, Northern Cape and Free State lined up on the start to collect points in the popular driftkhana format, which pits two cars against each other and the stopwatch. They have to execute five precision manoeuvres including slides, tyre bouncing and high-speed reverse parking into a tiny parking area. Perfect execution at each of the five obstacles collects 20 points and drivers have only 90 seconds to complete the course, with blocking not only allowed but demanded by the fans. Volmink said he is very proud of Team KZN Spinners, four of whom collected the full 100 points to help earn the win, and thanked the Northen Cape hosts who arranged and funded the competition.
CV Joint speCialists
for CV joints, ball joints, tie rod ends, wheel bearings.
341 GReYlinG stReet Pmb. 033 342 9174/75
WHEELED EVENTS IN MAY • May 17-18: Berg 400 from the Waffle Hut near Winterton. Entry is free and KZN fans can follow Neil Woolridge Racing’s Ford Rangers and KZN racers Lance Trethewey and Adriaan Roets in the Special Vehicle category, in the
South African National Cross Country Series after they took the overall lead with their BAT when claiming the Mpumalanga 400 victory at Dullstroom recently. • May 19: KZN Racing Xcountry at Vir-
ginia Trails in Mid Illovo. • May 25-26: KZN Motor Racing hosts drag races at Mkuze Airport from 8.30 am to 4 pm. Entry R60 for adults, R30 for children under 12. • May 26: Cars in the Park
FIA president, Jean Todt (left), and Transport Minister Dr Blade Nzimande look equally apprehensive in the Navya Shuttle, a robot taxi that is currently being demonstrated at Sun City. PHOTO: AA
First robot taxi arrives at Sun City THE 2019 Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) conference held at Sun City last month quietly introduced a fully autonomous, all-electric minibus to shuttle delegates from the parking lot to the conference centre. Wheels has reported on a slew of robot minibuses being tested around the world, but the Navya Autonomous Electric Shuttle is the first such autonomous, driverless, fully electric, commercially available minibus to be demonstrated in South Africa. With neither a steering wheel nor pedals, the Navya Autonomous Electric Shuttle uses effective guidance and detection systems that combine various types of advanced technology. Data from sensors, cameras, GPS and odometry is merged and interpreted by deep learning programmes on-board the vehicle. Through this technology, the Navya Autonomous Electric Shuttle moves about efficiently, and makes proficient decisions without any driver. The joint Mobility and Sport Conferences were held for the first time in South Africa at the invitation of the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA), with the support of Motorsport South Africa (MSA). Safer than human drivers The FIA has long acknowledged that autonomous transport technologies can change the act of driving and the perception of mobility. This demonstration in South Africa is one of the first trials on the African continent where the road mortality rate is almost 50% higher than the world average, and 85% to 95% of the fleet consists of used vehicles. FIA president Jean Todt welcomed the initiative and encouraged authorities to adopt strategies for automation to address these mobility challenges. “Autonomous transport can have an important impact in tackling some of the pressing issues that local and regional authorities are facing, particularly in the areas of road safety, congestion and air quality”, Todt said. Chair of the AASA Sikkie Kajee said SA faces huge challenges in terms of mobility and the Navya shows how technology could solve problems on SA’s lack of reliable, safe public transport. — WR.
NEW VENUE FOR SPINNING, 4x4
BOBO Hadebe, owner of the Olwandle Guest Lodge, will host the opening of the Mshazi Motoring Sport and Arena Park on Mepho Road, KwaNgcolosi at Inanda Dam on May 18. Events include a spinning demo by Team Thrill Seeker from Durban, while DJ Wisenation will keep the music pumping. Coorganiser Reece Williamson said the aim is to make Mshazi the venue of choice for extreme handling events and 4x4 challenges. Entry is free for the opening day. More from Bobo Hadebe on 082 578 2775.