August 15, 2019
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Go see, and be seen ALWYN VILJOEN stretches out and says ‘yes please’ to another slice of cheese in the V-Class PEOPLE who sell yachts recommend the length of the deck should equal in feet the age of the owner. Problem is, by the time most people get around to buying boats, they have seen at least 30 summers. But a thirtyfoot yacht has a really cramped cabin, and the sensible choice is a 50-footer. A stripped out 50-foot yacht goes for about R15 million these days. For that money, you get a hole in the water that sucks in your money in return for all the violent seasickness you can handle. Much better then to spend just a million rand on a land yacht, such as the facelifted V-Class Mercedes-Benz launched in the Western Cape last week. From the outside, the boxy shape of V-Class looks like it should compete against any other panelvan, but open the door and you are reminded again not to judge a book by its cover. This V-Class shares the drivetrains that made the Vito and Sprinter so popular, but the cabin is all about luxurious travel. Together, the blend of commercial van reliability in front and luxury fit for a lounge’s TV commercial in the rear has ensured that the previous generation V-Class has been SA’s best seller, with some 64 000 units sold worldwide just last year. “This marriage between practicality, safety, lifestyle and luxury have given us complete market dominance in SA,” said Nadia Trimmel, vice-president of Mercedes-Benz Vans South Africa. She added there is a V-Class for everyone, be it road tripping families, or VIP office shuttles, with five models, ranging from the “entry level” V200 auto to an AMG line. At the heart of the V-Class is Merc’s proven, four-cylinder OM 651 diesel mapped to deliver three outputs. The V 200d develops 100 kW and 330 Nm. The V220d generates 120 kW and 380 Nm. The top-of-the-line V250d makes 140 kW and 440 Nm. This is enough oomph to propel the V250d from 0 to 100 km/h in 10 seconds. No other van comes close. Phiwe Konjelwayo, the new product and marketing manager, said what impressed her most about the facelifted fan was not the power, or the new bumper, nor the new rims or luxury massaging seat, but how easy it is to park the 5,140-metre van in narrow
The first generation Williams battery weighed 320 kg and packed the equivalent of some 2 000 smartphone batteries that stored 200 kW. The second generation stores 250 kW, which lasts for 100 km at full throttle.
WHAT RANGE IN ELECTRIC RACE CARS? Peter Clinton-Parker asked how do electric racing cars manage to do a full race without a battery recharge? To his knowledge, most electric car batteries only last approximately half an hour. Obviously, a race car would not be able to carry extra batteries due to the extra weight, so what do they do to get around this issue?
While the drivetrain is economical and the suspension supple, the Mercedes-Benz V-Class is not about what is under the hood, but riding in the rear, where the optional features include the fold-out table shown, as well as seats with leg rests and a massage function. parking slots. And so it should be, for 5,14 metres is shorter than South Africa’s best selling vehicle, the 5,330 metre Toyota Hilux, or its competitor, the 5,354-metre Ford Ranger. The vehicle height remains under the two-metre mark, ensuring the V-Class fits in regular garages as well as multi-storey and underground car parks without any roof scrapes. But back to the money. Trimmel said the good news is the prices for the five models are only three percent up on the previous model range, with more spec is now standard. Not standard is the reclining seat that massages your back while it blows hot or cool air through vents in the chair. I did not get to sit on one of these sumptious seats during the launch — they do cost the price of a small used
car — but from other massaging seats in the Merc stable, it will turn any drive into a spa-like treatment. DOING THE VOMIT COMET TEST The V-Class is rear-wheel driven, which Merc said “enables the class-leading MPV to negotiate a wide range of surfaces with ease”. To prove the point, we drove up and over the Bain’s Pass in pouring rain. Again, I did not experience the smooth power and agility through the twisties behind the wheel. Instead, I bravely tested whether my sensitive stomach could avoid road sickness while not only reading, but also eating a creamy Brie in the back as my colleagues slalomed around corner after corner. Riding in the minibuses to school,
doing homework while munching cheese triangles, was a sure-fire way to induce biliousness, but the suspension in the V-Class is in another class and everyone involved was relieved to hear my innards experienced only equanimity. Active safety features like Crosswind Assist and brake assist optional Highbeam Assist Plus makes the V-Class a breeze to drive on the open road or in traffic. Trimmel said to ensure the V-Class facelift successfully takes over the reins from its predecessor, Mercedes-Benz Vans South Africa is offering all V-Class facelift customers a complimentary top-up to a six-year or 100 000 km maintenance plan. The V-Class faces its stiffest competition not from the free people movers
in other stables, but the Vito, which also offers Merc’s leading finance or rental packages, but for a lot less. V-CLASS PRICES V200d (100 kW, 330 Nm).......R913 951 V220d (120 kW, 380 Nm)......R955 518 V250d (140 kW, 440 Nm)....R1 027 686 V220d Avantgarde...................R1 247 819 V250 Avantgarde.....................R1 292 474 COMPETITION Ford Transit Custom 2,2TDCi (92 kW, 350 Nm)....................R500 200 VW Kombi 2,TDI Trendline (75 kW, 250 Nm) .....................R583 700 Hyundai H1 2,5CRDi Elite (125 kW, 441 Nm).....................R664 900 Vito Tourer Pro (100 kW, 330 Nm)......................R710 074 • alwyn.viljoen@witness.co.za
THOUSANDS OF BLANKETS GIFTED
Ex-hijacker tells how they follow victims from malls
CUSTOMERS at Tiger Wheel & Tyre have to date donated 15 000 blankets in the company’s “Your Journey, Your Drive” campaign. The campaign, which ends on Saturday, offers special prices on tyres and the opportunity to have a blanket donated in the vlient’s name. Group retail marketing manager Natashe Taylor said she had much positive feedback from customers who were delighted to take part in the campaign. Gift of the Givers will continue to distribute the thousands of blankets to children, elderly, homeless and physically handicapped people. — Witness Reporter.
THE latest Stats SA Victims of Crime Survey shows SA has on average one hijacking every 15 minutes. To help motorists combat this scourge, Dialdirect reported the answers reformed hijacker “Bra T” gave when he was recently interviewed by anti-crime activist Yusuf Abramjee on Crime Watch on eNCA. According to Bra T, a team of four hijackers — often numbed out by alcohol and drugs — will steal as many as five or six cars per day. He said hijackers get a “shopping list” and prefer to target people on their way back from shopping malls, as they usually carry cash or cards that could be an added “bonus”. Hijackers will follow their target at a distance, striking at a traffic light.
‘RETRO ROOF’ CALLING ALL CARS
KZN Road Racing hosts full grid of cars in retro races
They often bump into their victim to get them to exit their car. If you are involved in a bumper-bashing, drive to a police station or busy area to check for damage. Driveways are also a prime hijacking hotspot, where hijackers typically box in a victim before the access gate is completely open. Maanda Tshifularo, head of Dialdirect Insurance, offers these tips to limit hijackers’ chances: • Always be aware of your surroundings and look out for anything suspicious. The highest danger period is when you are arriving at a destination. • Wherever you are, focus on your environment, make eye contact with the pedestrians around you. • Slow down when approaching a red
traffic light so that you don’t have to come to a complete stop before the traffic light turns green. Give yourself enough space to move off when you have to stop to avoid being boxed in. • Remain vigilant while filling up with fuel. Keep doors locked and windows closed and watch for movement, especially in your car’s blind-spot. • Use your GPS to avoid getting lost — lost drivers are soft targets. • Inform someone at your destination about your time of arrival. • If you suspect that you are being followed, make a couple of false turns, then drive to the nearest police station. • If you are at all unsure of whether the car trying to pull you over is actually a police vehicle, switch on your car’s hazard lights and drive to the nearest
police station. • When arriving home, remain parallel to your driveway in the road while opening your gate. • Ensure your driveway and gate are well lit. • Check the back seat before getting into the car, even if you left it locked. “In the worst-case scenario, if you are confronted by a hijacker, try to remain calm and do not argue,” says Tshifularo. “If you’re asked to get out of the car, use the hand closest to the seat belt to unclip it, and don’t make any sudden gestures. “Avoid eye contact, comply with the hijacker’s requests and don’t be a hero — remember your life is worth more than your car,” he said. — WR.
COLIN WINDELL MOTUL Retro Roof of Africa will call back the past on September 21 with a return to legendarry event’s format of cars and bikes racing. Run over a single 250 km loop with outlying refuelling points where teams can either send crews into the mountains to refuel their competitors, or riders can send fuel to each point with an organiser’s truck to refuel themselves as it was back in the day, estimated speeds should be similar to those of classic Roof of Africa races, which average about 60km/h. More about the Motul Retro Roof of Africa at roofofafrica.co.ls/retroroof. — WR.
9 COUNTRIES IN SPIRIT OF AMAROK DRIVERS from nine countries are competing in the fifth edition VW’s annual International Spirit of Amarok competition near Bloemfontein in the Free State. The precision 4x4 driving contest, which started yesterday, is for the first time held in both left or righthand drive, 3,0 V6 4MOTION Amarok bakkies. Managed by racing legend Sarel van der Merwe, the competition runs until Saturday. Medals will be awarded to the top three countries; as well the top three teams overall, while the overall winning team will be awarded the coveted Wolf Trophy. — WR.
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THE Pietermaritzburg based Retro Racing fraternity (pictured) has upped its game to provide a full grid of 30 cars with a number of new drivers and some vistiors from Johannesburg for the next round of the KZN Road Racing Club championships at Dezzi Raceway, Oslo Beach, on Saturday. Mike Gaines will make his debut in the Adrian Moore Ford Escort 1.6L, while Graham Keir and brother Trevor will make their debuts in a pair of Datsun GX Coupés. The Johannesburg visitors are Alan Poulter (Volvo), Francesco Lombardi and Roger Houston in Alfa Romeos, Chris Carlisle-Kitz in a Ford Corsair and Jannie van Rooyen in a VW Scirocco. With no race meeting scheduled during July, this fifth round meeting of the KZN Road Racing Club Championships at Dezzi Raceway should be a humdinger. Having had enough of watching his wife having fun on the track, Jannie Petzer now joins Charmaine in the Modified Category that again should produce a hectic tussle between Elton Fuchs (Mtrac VW Golf), Andrew Strike (Toyota Chaser) and
WINNING WITH WHEELS, IN KUWAIT DILLIGENT readers will now that 115 years ago, then Witness editor Horace Rose was on the first car journey from Pietermaritzburg to Durban. Or as Rose described it, “eastwards towards the horizon where the dawn marched gloriously”. Since 1904, we have added many milestones, but this week saw our first reader from Kuwait. While visiting family in KZN for Eid, 11-year-old Muhammed Shaik (pictured) took a chance on entering a reader competition in Witness Wheels and his name was one of three drawn to win Mustang-branded prizes — in his case, the cap on his head.
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Dieter Ziesing (BMW) in the Super Modifieds. These front riders can expect to be harried by the Class A contingent of Pierre-Richard Potgieter (PSPerformance VW Golf) Ronald van Rensburg (Hendok VW Golf) and Shiren Rajpaul (Goldwagen VW Golf). In Class B, watch for some close encounters of the racing kind between John Montanari (Oval Office VW Golf), Peter Blofield (Boss Marine VW Golf), Richard Loynes (VW Polo) and Rob Prece (Dubcorp VW Golf). On two wheels the most frenetic action is guaranteed in the 300 Class, where Malcolm Rudman (M
Projects Kawasaki 400) will have to fend off Blaze Baker (Band-IT/Actum Yamaha R3), Jesse Conci (Band-IT/ Actum Yamaha R3) and Nicolai Conci (Helluvafast Yamaha R3). Young Jesse Conci had a dramatic race day at the last meeting, when he fell during the CBR150 race and scampered out of harm’s way just moments before Sanjiv Singh crashed into his stricken Honda. Singh escaped with relatively minor inuries but the Honda was destroyed. Conci has however used the the long break between events to rebuild the machine. In the Sports and Super GT category the action will revert to a fight
between the 21 SNVL Racing Porsche 996 GT3 of Duncan do Reis and the Cruz Clean Energy Porsche 991 GT3 of Lawrence Smith with Stuart Kidgell in the Ultima 3680 always a factor. The Backdraft Lexus Roadsters of Brian Martin and Mike McLoughlin should be back from endurance racing duty to take on two sprint heats — McLoughlin still the holder of the fastest ever lap around the Dezzi circuit. Race day starts with qualifying from 7 am and racing getting under way at 10 am with 18 races scheduled for the day. Entry fee is R100 per person.
Wheeled events Saturday: KZN Wheels will host a breakfast run via Thornville to Hennie’s Place, all cars and bikes welcome. Departure is at 8 am from the KFC parking lot at Armitage Rd in Pietermaritz-
THE short answer, the 2018 Formula E season used two cars to circumvent the electric batteries’ short ranges. Instead of changing batteries or carrying extra weight, the drivers pulled up and stepped (some with more agility than others) from the car with the flat battery into the car with a charged battery, while the pit crew stood around or took photos. (Formula 1 fans say on top of the loss of the ear-splitting sound track provided by screaming V12 engines, the loss of the high speed mechanical ballet provided by pit crews as they change four wheels and refuel a car in less than five seconds is just too much to bear.) The longer answer is that Williams, the supplier of batteries to Formula E, now supplies 250-kW batteries that go the full distance on any of the 12 city circuits. This distance ranges from 80 and 100 km, which is long enough for most daily commutes, but not long enough to remove range anxiety. Which is why commercial car builders are already packing batteries that
go much further than a Formula E race car. Hyundai, Jaguar and Tesla are all setting a benchmark of over 300 km. (Although any steep hill en route eats a lot of this range.) Even the small electric cars these days go at least twice the distance of a Formula E race. The cute Honda e does 200 km while Mini, which this week announced it will not have petrol engines after 2023, has a 32,6-kwh battery pack, good for 260 km in city traffic. Mini and its Chinese partner Great Wall Motors next plan to build electric Minis for Chinese buyers, with batteries sized at 35 kWh or 50 kWh to give a range of at least 300 km. Motorists can also buy off-theshelf kits to convert their oil burners into coal-burners. The latest offering is from French start-up Transition One, which company offers an 18kWh battery pack that has been tested to deliver a range of 180 km in Renault Twingo. Transition One said it will be able to complete each conversion in about four hours once production is up and running. The 120 kg kit fits the topselling small cars in Europe, including the Fiat 500, Citroën C1, Peugeot 107, Toyota Aygo, and VW Polo. Chances of their bolt-on pack taking off here is low, however, as the kit sells for a steep €8 500 (over R143 700). • Send your questions to: Alwyn.Viljoen@witness.co.za
burg. A pre-ride meet and greet will be held tomorrow night at the VSCC at 120 Oribi Road, with slides of previous rides. Book space at the breakfast table at Hennie’s on 082 556 0812.
CV Joint speCialists
August 23-24: The second annual Zane Rencken Tribute Rally takes place at Dalton, with points counting towards the national rally championships. • alwyn.viljoen@witness.co.za
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