April 12, 2018
Witness
WHEELS
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Unexpectedly peppy Peugeot’s 208 GT Line exceeds standards set by the original hot hatch, the 205 GTI ALWYN VILJOEN THE “GT” should have been sufficient warning. Ditto the low profile tyres and the big exhaust. But I had preconceived notions that a puny little three-cylinder engine, with has less cubic capacity than the motors in most milkshake makers, would not bring all the boys to the yard in which the Peugeot 208 is parked. I was wrong. They came in droves, in all ages and sexes. The pensioner who drives a BMW, the life partner who loves her Clio; and the petite motorbike rider all agreed — this Pug clears off! (Only, they used a rather more fricative verb.) The wee mill makes 118 Nm from only 2 750 rpm. This is exactly like a toddler benchpressing 118 kg. The beautifully engineered engine can deliver this power at a work rate of 60 000 Watts, which is like that toddler doing lighting fast repetitions with the 118 kg. Small wonder this mill has an Engine of the Year award to its name. Peugeot claims this PureTech engine delivers 5,8 l/100 km in the city, but at no stage during an all too short week of testing did any of the drivers above feel inclined to go light on the right foot to get even close to this. The 0 to 100 km run got done in just over 10 seconds with my heft and a bit of a head wind, and top speed is a claimed 190 km/h. That is about three times too fast for KZN’s rural roads, but never mind, for the five cogs in this Pug have ratios that play best between traffic lights. On the open road, our consumption did go to over 20 km per litre, even up Field’s Hill, which should get close to 1 000 km from the 50-litre petrol tank. That is twice what most people drive a month. Peugeot is also proud of the new i-Cockpit, which it says “enhances style and ergonomics”, but the bike rider and life partner had a bone to pick on the seat ergonomics. Both stand just over an old-fashioned five feet in their socks and their petite frames found the built out frames of the 208’s special GT Line bucket seats get in the way of snappy gear changes. Paying R10 000 more would get
Tribute in the snow MAIN: To celebrate World Land Rover Day on April 30 — exactly 70 years since the original Land Rover was first shown to the world at the 1948 Amsterdam Motor Show — the brand this year had snow artist Simon Beck walk out a 16,5 km-long Defender outline in knee-deep snow 2,7 km above sea level against the slope at La Plagne in the French Alps. The unique image is a tribute to the moment when the engineering director of Rover, Maurice Wilks, first sketched the shape for the original Land Rover in the sand of Red Wharf Bay and proposed the idea to his brother, Spencer, Rover’s managing director. The forward-thinking design was christened the ‘Land Rover’, the outline of which we now recognise as the Defender. INSET: Beck said making snow art requires endurance, accuracy and strength — all attributes shared with the Defender, adding: ‘this must be the most recognisable piece of art I’ve ever made.’ PHOTO: SOURCED
SOLDIERS TEST E-BIKE
The 208 GT Line lives up to and exceed the standards set by the original hot hatch, the Peugeot 205 GTI (inset). PHOTOS: PEUGEOT them an equally snappy automatic box. The seats fitted the pensioner and myself very well and we got to enjoy how this Pug lives up to all the heritage of the original hot hatch from the 1980s — the Peugeot 205 GTI. Unlike those super light, foil-wrapped, 80s death traps, the new 208 comes with five-star
safety and active driver assist systems to make the 17-inch Caesium alloy wheels grip more and squeal less. Active safety systems include ABS antilock brakes with electronic brake force distribution (EBD) and emergency brake assist (EBA), while passive features include dual
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front and curtain airbags, inertia reel seat belts, and front and rear head restraints. Luxuries include a trip computer, electric power steering, air-conditioning, electric front and rear windows, a height-adjustable driver’s seat, height and reach-adjustable steering wheel, and a refrigerated glove compartment makes sure that every journey will be an enjoyable one. The sound system includes both Bluetooth and USB connectivity. Also standard on the GT Line are an electrochromatic rear-view mirror, auto-activating headlights and rain-sensing windscreen wipers. An automatic bi-zone climate control system ensures a comfortable airconditioned trip whether it be around the city or to a distant destination. Another feature is the “Peugeot Mirror Screen”, which allows your
compatible smartphone to communicate with the car, allowing you to display compatible apps on the seven-inch touchscreen and manage them using the vehicle controls. Pricing includes a three-year/100 000 km warranty and three-year/45 000 km service plan, which won’t frighten the Kia and Hyundai competition, but which will have the Japanese and German competitors take note. Add to this that a fast little French hatch endows the driver with instant style, and one can see why 40 people bought a 208 model last month, despite the recommended retail prices being on the steep side compared to the other fast hatches.
TOP brass from over 10 armies and security companies tested electric bicycle maker Bultaco Brinco prototypes Personnel ranging from Spain’s Second Air Support Deployment Squadron (Seada) to U.S. Marines Corps converged to ride the different versions of the Bultaco Brinco, including those of the Army line, of which the Seada has already acquired some units, as well as the prototypes of future projects focused on defence and security. The different units participated in the exercises dressed in their respective uniforms, and two military professionals were even equipped as if on a real mission, with a vest and protective helmet. Bultaco technicians said the final feedback from the soldiers could not have been more positive. Commander Manuel García de Consuegra, at the Morón Air Base, said: “The Bultaco Brinco is something completely different, highly suitable as a response unit for base patrol and surveillance.” The representative of the local police in Utrera added: “Personally, I would implement it in my city. I give it a 10.” Similar impressions were conveyed by the sergeant of the Civil Guard: “I found it versatile and dynamic. I think it has potential. In addition, it does not pollute, which is something essential for us.” Jorge Bonilla, vice-president of sales and marketing at Bultaco Motors, said one of the aims in bringing the 1958 Bulto bike brand back to life was to become a Nato-approved supplier, confirming the reliability of the Bultaco Brinco. The company has now achieved this status and is a supplier of special fleets intended for professional use. Bonilla said the new Bultaco uses a proprietary motor and “hitherto unknown battery duration” that will continue to build on the bike’s racing heritage. — Witness Reporter.
Peugeot 208 prices: Active: R224 900 ALLURE BVM: R239 900 208 GT-Line: R269 900 208 GT-Line auto: R279 900 • alwyn.viljoen@witness.co.za
EAST COAST
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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
• Top Quality used low mileage engines and gearboxes for most makes and models of cars and light delivery vehicles • Heads • Turbos • Diffs • Lexus spares • New and Second hand • We stock local stock as well
INDULGE YOUR ADVENTUROUS SIDE AT PRIME MINUS 4%* If your more adventurous side chooses the scenic route, Terrain Response lets you carry on. Inside, clever 5+2 seating offers room for either more explorers or 1,698 litres of stowage for more provisions. Little wonder Discovery Sport is considered one of the most versatile compact SUVs on the road, or off it come to that. Land Rover Pietermaritzburg 9 Armitage Road, Bird Sanctuary 033 897 8860 pietermaritzburg.landrover.co.za
*Finance available through Land Rover Financial Services, a product of WesBank - a division of FirstRand Bank Ltd. An Authorised Financial Services and Registered Credit Provider. NCRCP20. Initiation and monthly service fee may be applicable. Land Rover Financial Services offer only on base model 2.0 D 132kW SE and 2.0 D 132kW HSE and does not include any additional specifications. T’s & C’s apply. Finance subject to approval.
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Soldiers and medics were all impressed by the new electric Bultaco electric bicycle. PHOTO: BULTACO
EVEE WARNING SOUNDS ALWYN VILJOEN AS rider of the first full-electric scooter in KZN, I soon discovered if people can’t hear your scooter, they also don’t see you or your scooter. Which is why several cities around the world are now prescribing that the quietly buzzing but fastmoving electric vehicles must have some form of warning sound. German company SoundRacer has surveyed over 400 people in North America and Europe to find out what sound they wanted on their electric car, bike or even forklift. Almost 50% asked for a petrol engine sound and 20% specifically asked for the roar of V8 engine. SoundRacer said a realistic engine sound has the best warning effect on pedestrians. They also fitted an electric fork lift with the noise of a big diesel engine, which had staff moving out of the way instead of stepping into the operator’s path. The company is now selling a plug and play unit for electric vehicles that comes pre-loaded with six car sounds: a Shelby V8; a Lamborghini V10; a Ferrari V12; a Lexus LFA V10; a Suzuki GSX and a Classic American V-Twin Harley Davidson. The evee-operator can switch between any of the six sounds with the click of a button. SoundRacer AB has sold 150 000 units during the past seven years CV Joint and said its sound sysspeCialists tem can be installed in for CV joints, ball joints, even the smallest electie rod ends, wheel bearings. tric vehicles. 341 GReYlinG stReet • alwyn.viljoen@ Pmb. 033 342 9174/75 witness.co.za