MILLIONS FOR BUCKETS OF RUST P4
ASH EXOTICS
February 12, 2015
Dealers in Superfine Exotic and Sports Cars
Witness
Tel: 033 345 1971, 033 342 4717 Fax: 033 342 2900 - www.ashcarsales.co.za
WHEELS
2013 VW AMAROK 2.0 TDI TRENDLINE 6-SPEED MANUAL
(90 kW) d/cab 4x2 diesel, 38 000 km, bal. of factory warranty and service plan, bin liner, 1-owner, tonneau cover, chrome roll bar, chrome side bars, chrome. bull bar, bonnet protector, upgraded 18” mags, hill hold, tow bar, mud flaps, smash and grab, fogs.
R329 995
BANK FINANCE ARRANGED • Contact ASH on 083 786 3377 (PMBurg)
534/550 Church Street, Pietermaritzburg 3201 PO Box 8390, Cumberwood 3235
KZN’S MOST INTERESTING READ ON CARS, TRUCKS, BIKES … AND FULLBODY AIRBAGS
Racers to march for land Petrolheads to petition Msunduzi Council to officially use Mason’s Mill ‘Pretty please Msunduzi, can we have a safe race venue?’ ask (from left) Sade Crowe, Nazleigh Henry, Shanté Easthorpe, DemiLeigh Long and Shezlynne Henry, all from Woodlands. PHOTO: ALWYN VILJOEN ALWYN VILJOEN
0% Deposit deal.
Polo Vivo 1.4 55kW Conceptline from R1,999* per month The Polo Vivo 1.4 55kW Conceptline standard features include: -
Team Kyle drifter Thamy Ncboso says the old bus depot at Mason’s Mill is central for drifting fans from Imbali or Northdale and and attracts fans from as far as Durban. PHOTO: ALWYN VILJOEN “Sunday’s crowd shows the council the city needs a venue like this and if the petrolheads know it is their area, we will get together to turn this into a safe mecca for motorsport and advanced driver training in KZN. “It will be a coup for the city, but we need some one to cut the red tape now!” said Volmink. • Will the old bus depot at Mason’s Mill be a good home for motorsport in PMB? Send your com ments to alwyn.viljoen@witness.co.za
55kW @ 5,000rpm Fuel-injected 5-speed manual Air conditioning Driver and passenger airbags Power steering Model
Vehicle Price
Polo Vivo 1.4 55kW Conceptline
R143,800
-
Monthly No. of Instalments Instalments
R1,999*
72
Height and reach adjustable steering column Digital clock and trip recorder 3 cup holders (1 in front 2 in rear console) Body colour bumpers
Interest Rate Linked / Variable
Deposit
Balloon Payment
Total Cost Incl fees & VAT
7.4%*
0%
R50,330
R194,275
Visit us on www.baronsvwpmb.co.za An optional cost of R900 incl VAT will be charged for metallic paint. Note: *Linked to FNB prime rate, currently 9.25%. Note: Offers calculated on the Polo Vivo 1.4 55kW Conceptline model in standard specifications. Information subject to change without prior notification. All finance offers are subject to credit approval from Volkswagen Financial Services. Instalment includes initiation and monthly administration fee of R57. Volkswagen Financial Services a division Volkswagen Financial Services South Africa (Pty) Ltd Authorised Financial Services and Credit Provider. NCRCP6635. Terms and Conditions apply. All the above is subject to price increase and valid until 20 February 2015.
Barons Pietermaritzburg
9 Armitage Road, Pietermaritzburg, 3201 • Tel: 033 845 3100 New Sales Consultants: Alison Wiltshire – Sales Manager 082 783 8855 • John Brown – 082 645 4396 Merglin Rama – 083 382 4589 • Menzi Ngubane – 073 534 8545 • Bahle Bhengu – 082 337 5825 Erica Neff – 082 858 7749 • Thando Gumede – 078 969 8072 • Keshnee Pillay – 073 372 1452
e&oe
PETROLHEADS are planning to ditch their cars for an oldfashioned march to remind the Msun duzi council of the huge public need for a safe place to race. Wheels last year reported on Msunduzi Munici pality’s aim to provide the thousands of drifters, spinners, rally drivers and fans in KZN’s capital with a venue where they can host the many late night events currently taking place illegally on the city’s streets. While there has been a little development since then, the gears have been grinding very slowly and one of the town’s foremost drifters, Kurt Vol mink, feels the town fathers and mothers now need reminding of exaclty how big and urgent “the hunger” is for a safe place to race. Wheels witnessed this hunger firsthand last Sunday morning when we arrived at Mason’s Mill for what was supposed to be a bit of tyreburning fun with a few fellow drifters. But word got out and as the morning went on, the little gathering of petrolheads turned into an impromtu mass event where two independent head counts tallied more than 3 200 spectators on the banks of the old bus depot. The crew of Bradley Turbo Racing came from Durban to challenge the local okes, bringing 150 fans with him. There was even a social media TV crew, Thrill Seekers from River Horse Valley, who interviewed the fans and filmed the likes of teenager Sandile Bhengu, who had walked in from Imbali and showed how he can imitate car sounds. With free entry, no crowd control, no public toilets, no ambulances and only a few fire extin guishers, Volmink was a worried man as the crowd grew and grew. The drifters quickly marshalled to keep the fans away from the pits and out of the way from their stunts and then proceeded to give all their ribald fans the show they had braved the 32° Celsius day for. As they performed their daredevilry, the banks resounded with catcalls, as well as applause in genuine appreciation for the more difficult frontwheel drive stunts. Volmink told Wheels the huge attendance on Sunday has now inspired him to arrange a march during March with fellow drifters. “Our aim is to hand a petition to the Msunduzi Municipality to speed up the allocation of Ma son’s Mill for petrolheads to stage safe events. He stressed it was not just “us okes who do stunt drifting”, but all petrolheads who would be able to use the area in the old quarry, including “the extreme 4x4 blokes, the guys who spin, the drag racers and the rally drivers”.
2
WitnessWheels MOTORING
February 12, 2015
Top performing dealers recognised General Motors South Africa (GMSA) named its top performing dealers in its annual Dealer of the Year awards evening in Sandton, Johannesburg this week. Depending on the size of the dealership, dealers compete in three different categories: major, medium and small. To be considered for the award dealers have to achieve at least 100% in all areas relating to the business. The Major Dealer of the Year award went to Bates Port Shepstone, with Jacksons Queenstown and Eastvaal Motors Standerton receiving Dealer of the Year awards for medium and small dealership categories respectively. The Top Major GMSA Financial Services Dealer award went to Key Pinetown, with the medium and small accolade being awarded to Westvaal Mashishing and Eastvaal Motors Standerton, respectively. Seen here celebrating their win are, from left, Brian Olson, GMSA vice president of vehicle sales, service and marketing, Johan Olivier from Eastvaal, Standerton, Mario Spangenberg, president, GM Africa, Noel Allchin from Bates Port Shepstone, Mark Wilson from Jacksons Queenstown (front) and Ian Nicholls, vice president GMSA operations. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Radical vs tried and tested Nissan to emulate Audi with its anywheeldrive LMP1 for the 2015 Endurance Championship ALWYN VILJOEN WHEN Audi introduced its radical quattro drivetrain to racing in the 1980s, they quickly rewrote all the record books. Nissan now plans to emulate Audi with its anywheeldrive contender for the 2015 World Endurance Champion ship, which includes the prestigious 24 hours of Le Mans. Nissan showed its radical race car to the world at the opening of America’s Super Bowl season. To fit in the power of all 2 000 horses they were aiming for at the start of the design, the Japanese engineers had thrown away the rule book for this one. The traditional midengined, rear wheel drive layout simply cannot put down such power. At the end, neither could the LMP1’s frontengined allwheel drive layout, as the horsepower is now reduced to a still hefty team of 1 250 horses, which translates to over 930 kW, all of which can be released like a stick of exploding dynamite. Autosport quotes the British techni cal director of the GTR LM project Ben Bowlby as saying the car’s frontaxle kinetic hybrid system allows the driver to make the most of the energy retrieved from the threelitre twinturbo V6 and flywheels “It’s all about how fast you release the energy — think about a stick of dynamite,” he said. “We want to release the energy very quickly to get the car back up to speed very quickly because it’s nice to spend lots of time at high speed. “The key is to store the energy and then release it very quickly and that’s what makes our system very competi tive, providing us with a good amount of power from the ERS, which we can add to the internal combustion engine’s driving power.” The power comes from a twinturbo
The elements of the Nissan attack: a carbon fibre body, hollow flanks, a tiny but powerful V6 and a flywheel that can send explosive power to any or all four wheels. PHOTO: SUPPLIED charged 3,0litre V6 working in con junction with an electric drive system. To put all that power down the front tyres are made wider five inches wider than the nineinch rear tyres. The frontmounted engine and gear box push the cabin far back, so that the exhaust outlets emerge in front of the windscreen. It remains to be seen whether the flames that belch from any highrevving engine when not under load will blind the racer or thrill the fans. Under the driver’s feet a Kinetic Ener gy Recovery System, (Kers) captures and sends the car’s momentum through a collection of reduction gears to a
weighted flywheel. Kerssystems normally convert the kinetic energy to electricity, storing it in a battery or capacitor, but Nissan said its flywheel hybrid system saves the deadweight of batteries and can release the energy quicker. Bowlby told Road and Track another trick up the LMP1’s air intakes is just that — the air intakes. Instead of having the air go in and vent over the front wheels to be forced around the car as is the case in midengined cars, the air just rushes straight through the LMP1. This dramatically improves the three metre long car’s ability to slip through
the wall of air that dams up in front of a speeding car while also reducing its fuel consumption. Nissan global head of marketing and brand strategy Roel de Vries said while they will be the rookies at Le Mans and respect the likes of Audi as “the best in the world” Nissan is nevertheless ready to take them on with its radical race car. “This is innovation that excites,” said Shoichi Miyatani, president of Nismo, Nissan’s motorsports and performance division. “Sustainability is at the top of our agenda and the technical regula tions for Le Mans give us the freedom
to pursue new ideas in this area. Our record at Le Mans is third place overall so we have unfinished business there. We want to win and we have the knowl edge to do that — for our customers, our employees and our fans. The competition is exceptionally strong and we are excited by the challenge.” Whether all the innovation will triumph over the tried and tested only time will tell, and this writer for one has his alarm set for 4 pm on June 13, when the LMP1 gets its classic test against the petrol Porsche and diesel Audi racers at the Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, France.
MOTORING WitnessWheels
February 12, 2015
3
Buying at auction BRIAN BASSETT explores a rapidly growing and popular way of buying cars TWENTY years ago car buyers bought vehicles largely from car dealers, either new or used, or from adverts in newspa pers. In the last decade, however, the auction has become an increasingly popular method of buying used cars, as it is both exciting and a chance to obtain bargains. A number of large motor auctioneers have been established in the Durban area for many years. As Pietermaritzburg has grown, both local and Durbanbased car auction houses now hold monthly auctions here, giving local buyers a chance to bid on the vehicles they want and enjoy the exciting auction atmosphere, as well as enhancing their opportunity to obtain a bargain. There is, I find, still some reticence to buy at auction because it is not a fa miliar environment to most car buyers. Be prepared If you plan to attend a car auction with the intention of buying a car, go well prepared. First of all decide on what type of ve hicle you and your family need. We all would like the red Ferrari F430, but in practice our families require an SUV, or a fiveseater saloon, which does not drain our savings into the petrol pump. Also decide how much you can af ford, remembering that the instalment on your loan is only half of your real monthly cost. Auction environments often encourage bidders to bid more than they can afford. So stick to your ceiling, there will always be another car like the one you want and it may go for less, as prices at auctions depend on the demand by those who are bidding on the day and nothing else. Remember too that you will be re quired to pay a buyer’s commission on the price of the vehicle you buy, so check this out thoroughly.
specific time after purchase, so arrange finance beforehand, or investigate the onsite finance arrangements that the auction house has and see whether these suit you. The beauty of auctions is that you do not only have to bid on one car. If you do not obtain one you like you may want to bid on another and, who knows, you might get better value.
A Burchmore’s auction in progress. PHOTO: SUPPLIED Buy a catalogue All auctions have a catalogues. Buy one and check out the vehicles for sale carefully. Go to the venue and check each vehicle in which you are interested thoroughly. There are no test drives at auction. If you do not know that much about cars, admit it to yourself and take a
friend who does. Let him check the vehicle thoroughly. Remember there will be no chance for an AA test, as these vehicles are sold “Voetstoots”, what you see is what you get and at auction the Consumer Protection Act will not protect you. Everyone usually knows someone who has a book that lists the recom
mended retail and wholesale vehicle prices for a particular year. Get hold of one if you can and see what the vehicle on which you want to bid will cost in the trade. It is usually a good thing not to pay more than 10% above these prices, less if you can. Auction houses will require that you settle the cost of the vehicle within a
Registering to bid Auction houses require that bidders register beforehand. Some charge for registration and will return the registration fee to you at the close of proceedings. At registration you receive a card on which is printed a number and you use the card to bid. If you win the bid the auctioneer will take down your number and you will use it when you take delivery of the vehicle. Remember, when the hammer comes down the car is yours, there is no chang ing your mind — so be certain it is what you want and need. Auctions are not only fun but offer the chance of real bargains. Everything depends on who is bid ding on the day. If not many people feel strongly about the car you like, odds are you will get it at a good price but, if there is a bidder who really wants the car you are keen on, he will probably drive up the price to the point where you should no longer be interested. Recently a friend bought a 2011 Hon da Civic at auction. It had 28 000 km on the clock and he paid only R120 000 for it. He had, however, attended three pre vious auctions at the same auction house and only bought when he was sure he was getting a bargain. Auctions are a great way to buy and sell cars but remember the adage “let the buyer beware” and you will do well. • See page 4 for the auction of the Baillon Collection.
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WitnessWheels MOTORING
February 12, 2015
Modern metal archeology
Billed as ‘the greatest ever barnfind’ the Baillon Collection went under the hammer in Paris this week. Described as a modern archaeological find, the auction of 61 rare classic cars has made headlines around the world since December. Despite most of the cars having suffered 50 years of neglect, all fetched more than their estimated prices, with the whole Baillon Collection fetching over R330 million. Seen here in a sad state is one of the sleekest cars ever built, the 1949 TalbotLago T26 Grand Sport Saoutchik. Despite the rust, it sold for R22,2 million. PHOTOS: GIZMAG.COM
Out with the fluidic lines and in with the linear for that more understated, classic look: the new Hyundai i20. PHOTO: QUICKPIC
Old money in new i20 ALWYN VILJOEN
This 1956 A6G Maserati Grand Sport fetched R26,2 million.
A 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California Spider sold for $18,45 million (R213 million), making it one of the top five most expensive cars yet auctioned.
HYUNDAI’S new i20 does not look new. Instead, its bulky, more linear design hints of old money. Designed with what can only be de scribed as Hyundai’s new retro look, the new i20 does away with the fluidic lines that have set the Korean brand apart from its rivals. Instead of impressing on the outside, one of the key goals for the design team was to ensure the new i20’s perceived interior quality was among the very best in the segment. And for once, none of the KZN mo toring hacks at the regional launch could moan about hard plastics, as highgrade Thermal Plastic Olefin (TPO) is used inside the i20. The soft tothetouch material is highly durable and maintains a premium look and feel even after frequent use. Pianoblack in serts, in addition to chrome detailing around the air vents and gearshift lever, complete the oldmoney look inside. The new i20 has either a 1 197 cc
(61 kW/115 Nm) or a 1 368 cc (74 kW/133 Nm) fourcylinder petrol. The entry level 1,2 comes only with a fivespeed manual, while the 1,4 has ei ther a fourspeed auto box or a six speed manual gearbox. Shift accuracy and snapin feel has been improved with the addition of a guide plate inserted in the control shaft coupling. Since its launch in 2005, 68 031 i20 models have been sold in SA, making this SA’s second most popular hatch aft er the Volkswagen Polo. Hyundai SA’s marketing director Stanley Anderson said 400 i20s are already impressing customers at Avis as rental cars. And we all know how tough rentals cars have to be, so the new i20 has what it takes. Hyundai’s five year or 150 000 km warranty is standard. (Impressions gathered at a launch
sponsored by the manufacturer.) The prices: 1,2 Motion Manual R184 900 1,4 Fluid Manual R204 900 1,4 Fluid Automatic R214 900
WIN WITH WHEELS ONE reader stands a chance to win this Hyundaibranded leather folio that holds many credit cards and even phablets. For a chance to win, answer what is the least number of gears available in the i20 drive train options? Email your answer to alwyn. viljoen@witness.co. za. The winner will be announced in the next edition of Wheels.
VW’s new little up! is set to be a hit with trendy young generation SIBONELO MYENI SLOTTING below the popular Polo Vivo, the threedoor up! is surprisingly large from outside, with compact dimensions. It’s unmistakably a VW in design with a smiley face, bold lights and it’s that image that will make this car a hit with the trendy young generation. On the side, it features 14inch wheels with the option of 15/16inch alloy wheels. The back features a slick boot inte grated with the rear window. Colour choices include a mix of tradi tional and trendy options, however, the red with a glass roof works best. Inside it belies its compact dimen sion, seating four adults with ease in a clearly laid out and functional cabin. Typical VW, there is a long list of op tions ranging from parking sensors, high end audio system with sub woofer, panoramic sunroof, cruise control, fog lights. The spec comes in two levels, the entry level Take and the top spec Move. The up! features a onelitre threecyl inder credited with 55 kW/95 Nm mo
tor, linked to a five speed manual gear box driving the front wheels. It’s claimed to consume 4,7 l/100 km, fig ures easily attainable during our drive. The engine has less weight to push and therefore feels sprightly and on the power boil. Handling was safe, however, it excels in feeling like a bigger car in the same way the Polo feels like a premi um car. Safety has been prioritised with multi airbags (front and side), ABS and use of high strength material for crash safety. With the way buyers can individ ualise the up!, VW surely has a winner on its hands. The up! comes standard a 12year an ticorrosion warranty as well as a three year or 120 000 km manufacturer war ranty. Service intervals are 15 000 km. (Impressions were gathered at a launch sponsored by the manufacturer.) • Tune in to Sibonelo Myeni on Ukhozi FM on Thursday mornings to hear it all from the horse’s mouth. Prices: 1,0 55 kW Take up! R133 500 1,0 55kW Move up! R140 500
Smiling for you, VW’s new up! makes the most of its tiny platform. PHOTO: QUICKPIC
A Volkswagen Special for your Special Valentine. Only at Barons Pietermaritzburg. best suit your Valentine. That’s the kind of thoughtfulness that will make him/her feel extra special.
By Pieter from Maritzburg If you want your Valentine to feel special then you need to take advantage of Barons Pietermaritzburg’s Volkswagen Valentine’s Specials. The Bespoke Volkswagen Dealers at Barons Pietermaritzburg are at it again; finding ways to ensure the Quality and Reliability of Das Auto Engineering and the Fuel Efficiency and Economy of BlueMotion Technology is accessible to everyone.
Love, hugs and kisses Me Barons VW Pietermaritzburg can be found at 9 Armitage Road. They are committed to bringing you quality cars and excellent service at the best possible prices ALL year round! To start hunting for your dream vehicle, visit www.baronsvwpmb.co.za. And to book a test drive or service call (033) 845 3100. Open Monday – Friday 8am – 5pm, and Saturdays 8am – 1pm.
What makes Barons Pietermaritzburg’s specials especially special is that as well as offering the best possible deal on a New Volkswagen, they will still do what they do best: Tailor it to suit your budget and needs. So you get to choose the specs, based on your budget, which will
0% Deposit deal.
It’s not just a car. It’s a Golf.
Polo Vivo 1.4 55kW Conceptline Golf TSI 77kW Trendline from R1,999* per month from R3,490* per month
Model
Vehicle Price
Polo Vivo 1.4 55kW Conceptline
R143,800
Monthly No. of Instalments Instalments
R1,999*
72
The Golf 7 TSI 77kW Trendline standard features include: -
Power steering Height and reach adjustable steering column Digital clock and trip recorder 3 cup holders (1 in front 2 in rear console) Body colour bumpers
-
6-speed manual Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Anti-Spin Regulation (ASR) Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) ESP (Electronic Stability Programme) with Brake
Interest Rate Linked / Variable
Deposit
Balloon Payment
Total Cost Incl fees & VAT
Model
Vehicle Price
7.4%*
0%
R50,330
R194,275
Golf 7 TSI 77kW Trendline
R270,200
-
Driver and passenger front airbags with knee airbag for driver Climatic air conditioner 15” Lyon alloy wheels Start-Stop with Brake Energy Recuperation
-
Monthly No. of Instalments Instalments
R3,490*
60
Interest Rate Linked / Variable
Deposit
Balloon Payment
Total Cost Incl fees & VAT
8%*
15% (R40,530)
35% (R94,570)
R303,957
Visit us on www.baronsvwpmb.co.za
An optional cost of R900 incl VAT will be charged for metallic paint. Note: *Linked to FNB prime rate, currently 9.25%. Note: Offers calculated on the Polo Vivo 1.4 55kW Conceptline model in standard specifications. Information subject to change without prior notification. All finance offers are subject to credit approval from Volkswagen Financial Services. Instalment includes initiation and monthly administration fee of R57. Volkswagen Financial Services a division Volkswagen Financial Services South Africa (Pty) Ltd Authorised Financial Services and Credit Provider. NCRCP6635. Terms and Conditions apply. All the above is subject to price increase and valid until 20 February 2015.
An optional cost of R900 incl VAT will be charged for metallic paint. Note: *Linked to FNB prime rate, currently 9.25%. Note: Offers calculated on the Golf 7 TSI 77kW Trendline in standard specifications. Instalment includes delivery, bank initiation and monthly administration fee of R57. Subject to bank approval. Information subject to change without prior notification. All finance offers are subject to credit approval from Volkswagen Financial Services. Volkswagen Financial Services South Africa Proprietary Limited trading as Volkswagen Financial Services an Authorised Financial Services and Credit Provider. NCRCP6635. Terms and Conditions apply. All the above is subject to price increase and valid until 20 February 2015.
Polo Vivo
Mileage certified Full Service history 7-day exchange plan Vehicle Customization 24 Hr roadside assistance
• • • • •
2011 2011 2012 2013 2013 2013 2014 2015
Polo Vivo 1.6 Trendline 5 Door Polo Vivo 1.4 5 Door Polo Vivo 1.6 GT 3 Door Polo Vivo 1.4 Trendline 5 Door Polo Vivo 1.4 Trendline 5 Door Polo Vivo 1.6 Trendline 5 Door Polo Vivo 1.4 Trendline 5 Door Polo Vivo 1.6 Comfortline
Silver Black Black Beige White Silver Silver Silver
R124 900 R95 900 R139 900 R129 900 R129 900 R139 900 R132 900 R159 900
75 000 52 000 65 000 30 000 26 000 40 000 19 000 1 500
km km km km km km km km
2012 2013 2013 2014 2014 2014
Polo 1.4 Comfortline 5 Door Polo 1.4 Comfortline 5 Door Polo 1.4 Trendline 5 Door Polo 1.4 Comfortline 5 Door Polo GP 1.2 TSI Highline DSG Polo GP 1.2 TSI Highline
Grey Grey White Silver Blue White
R145 900 R169 900 R152 900 R179 900 R235 000 R175 000
63 000 34 000 25 000 6 500 6 000 8 000
km km km km km km
2012 2014
Golf GTI DSG Golf 2.0 TSI R DSG
White White
R298 900 R549 000
66 000 10 000
km km
2012 2014 2015
Amarok Double Cab BiTDI 4Motion 132kW White Amarok Double Cab DSG 132kW White Amarok Double Cab 4Motion Tiptronic 132kW Silver
R349 000 R449 000 R469 000
48 000 13 000 1 000
km km km
2009 2010 2011 2012 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014
Kombi 1.9 TDI Scirocco 2.0 TSI Scirocco 2.0 TSI Sportline Jetta 1.4 TSI DSG Tiguan 1.4 TSI BlueMotion Tiguan 1.4 TSI BlueMotion Touareg 3.0 TDI V6 BlueMotion Tiptronic Passat 1.8 TSI DSG Passat 2.0 TDI DSG
Silver Silver Silver Beige Grey White White White White
R119 900 R259 900 R279 000 R199 900 R299 000 R319 900 R749 000 R299 000 R339 000
105 000 45 000 18 500 58 000 6 500 4 000 5 000 4 000 8 000
km km km km km km km km km
2010 2010 2011 2011 2012 2012 2014
Ford Figo 1.4 Trend Opel Corsa 1.4 Essentia Nissan Qashqai 2.0 Acenta Yaris Zen 3 BMW 118i F20 Tiptronic Urban Line Audi A3 1.8 TFSI Sportback BMW 320D F30 Sportline
Beige Silver White Silver Beige White White
R79 900 R109 900 R178 900 R105 900 R204 900 R199 000 R379 000
127 000 65 000 86 000 57 000 60 000 100 000 20 000
km km km km km km km
Polo
Golf
Amarok
Other VW
Other
*The advised price exclude the 2 year Mastercars Warranty. The Mastercars Warranty is available as an option and is a contract between the customer, an insurer and administrator. This extended Warranty is not available for all Amarok and Light Commercial Vehicle models. Terms & conditions apply. While stocks last.
Not just tough. Smart.
80-point mechanical check 2-year / unlimited km warranty* Vehicle History Integrity Check Balance of VW Automation Plan Professional Vehicle Reconditioning
Mastercars Sales Consultants After hours: Laurie: 082 783 8040 • Rajen: 072 228 9834 Sanjay: 083 639 0989 • Barry: 072 235 4244 • Phumlani: 073 017 1294 Visit us on www.baronsvwpmb.co.za and find us on facebook.com/BaronsPietermaritzburg
Barons Pietermaritzburg 9 Armitage Road, Pietermaritzburg, 3201 • Tel: 033 845 3100
Amarok Double Cab 2.0 BiTDI 132kW Highline 4Motion Automatic from R4,992* p.m. The Amarok Double Cab 2.0 BiTDI 132kW Highline 4Motion Automatic standard features include: -
132kW @ 4000rpm 8-speed automatic Alloy wheels – Aldo 17” with anti-theft wheel bolts Model
Amarok Double Cab 2.0 BiTDI 132kW Highline 4Motion Automatic
-
ESP (Electronic Stabilisation Programme) with brake assistant and Hill Start/Hill Descent Assist
Interest Rate Monthly No. of Vehicle Price Instalments Linked / Instalments Variable
R518,700
R4,992*
72
5.73%*
Deposit
Balloon Payment
17.9% 35% (R92,847) (R181,545)
Total Cost Incl fees & VAT
R540,990
Visit us on www.baronsvwpmb.co.za
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Visit us on www.baronsvwpmb.co.za
An optional cost of R1600 incl VAT will be charged for metallic paint. Note: *Linked to FNB prime rate, currently 9.25%. Note: Offers calculated on the Amarok Double Cab 2.0 BiTDI 132kW Highline 4Motion Automatic in standard specifications. Instalment includes delivery, initiation and monthly administration fee of R57. Subject to bank approval. Information subject to change without prior notification. All finance offers are subject to credit approval from Volkswagen Financial Services. Volkswagen Financial Services South Africa Proprietary Limited trading as Volkswagen Financial Services an Authorised Financial Services and Credit Provider. NCRCP6635. Terms and Conditions apply. All the above is subject to price increase and valid until 20 February 2015.
New Sales Consultants
Alison Wiltshire – Sales Manager 082 783 8855 • John Brown – 082 645 4396 Merglin Rama – 083 382 4589 • Menzi Ngubane – 073 534 8545 Bahle Bhengu – 082 337 5825 • Erica Neff – 082 858 7749 Thando Gumede – 078 969 8072 • Keshnee Pillay – 073 372 1452
BP Advertising
55kW @ 5,000rpm Fuel-injected 5-speed manual Air conditioning Driver and passenger airbags
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-
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The Polo Vivo 1.4 55kW Conceptline standard features include:
6
WitnessWheels MOTORING
February 12, 2015
Groundswell of support for flying car
The Transition is not the world’s first flying car, but with its automatically folding wings, this one looks ready to go more maintstream than any of its clumsy predecessors. PHOTO: SUPPLIED ALWYN VILJOEN WHEELS first reported about Terrafugia’s Transition two years ago, and the group of engineering students behind this
flying car have not been resting on their laurels since. Carl Dietrich, founder and CEO, last week thanked the public for the support shown to help bring the Transition to
market as a Light Sport Aircraft (LSA). In an open letter Dietrich said if the Federal Aviation Administration in the U.S. agrees with the public sentiment, he was confident many more people would
be able “to benefit from the increased level of safety and convenience that only the Transition can provide”. Terrafugia cofounder Samuel Schweighart said the flying car could be
Lay rubber, literally Looped elastic allows mini racer to travel 152 metres at speeds of 48 km/h BEN COXWORTH WHEN you were a kid, did you ever have one of those toy race cars that was pow ered by a woundup rubber band? If you did, chances are it wasn’t quite as striking as Cirin. Modelled after mid 1950s Formula 1 cars, the oneoff mini racer features stateoftheart construc tion, and five metres of looped elastic that allows it to travel 152 metres at speeds of up to 48 km/h. Cirin was designed by students Max Greenberg, Sameer Yeleswarapu and Ian Cullimore at the Art Centre College of Design in Pasadena, California. They created it to compete in the school’s Formula E Race, an annual event in which teams from around the world pit their custommade rubber bandpowered miniature cars against one another. The car’s mechanical layout was arranged using SolidWorks software, after which several physical prototypes were built and tested. Construction of the final version’s onepiece main body was sponsored by 3D printing company SolidConcepts, and involved using laser sintering to selectively melt successive layers of nylon powder. Its “biotruss” structure was inspired by the internal structure of birds’ wing bones. Offering a high strengthtoweight ratio, this design not only allows the unibody to withstand the high torsional stress delivered by the tightlywound elastic, but it also meant that the car could be assembled using hardly any fas teners. The single elastic band that powers Cirin is wound into 203 mm loops, and runs within a carbon fiber tube between two eye bolts — one located at the car’s nose, and the other in the geared drive mechanism at the rear axle. That band is manually wound by re moving the nose cone, and then held
Champion rubber band car: printed in 3D and able to reach 48 km/h over the length of oneandahalf soccer fields. PHOTO: SUPPLIED tight until gotime via a servo motor. A second servo is used for the steering system, which (along with braking) is controlled by radio remote control.
Cirin reportedly cost over $500 (R5 800) to build, and that doesn’t include the 3D printing donated by SolidConcepts.
It also didn’t win the race, incidental ly, although the team did pick up the design, build, and approach award. — Gizmag.com.
ready by next year. The company is based in Boston, where readers of the Boston Business Journal last year voted the Tran sition their favourite tech development in 2014, ahead of umbrellas and cupcakes.
Toyota takes a dig at Tesla THE trade journal Ward’s Auto reports Toyota’s senior vicepresident for U.S. op erations Bob Carter dissing Tesla during ad hoc com ments he made at the J.D. Power Automotive Summit in San Francisco last week. In the U.S., meanwhile, Toyota has now logged 16 000 “handraisers”, or consumers who have signed up to learn more about the Mirai — which will go on sale during the second half of this year. With regard to electric car maker Tesla, however, Carter said he had been “disappointed” in com ments by CEO Elon Musk that hydrogenpowered cars should be called “foolcell vehicles”. “If I had all my eggs in one basket,” Ward’s reports him saying, “I might be making the same comments.” In his published remarks, which did not contain the Tesla criticism, Carter also said of the fuelcell car: “In reality, Mirai IS an electric vehicle. But the electricity is produced onboard … ver sus off the grid.” And, he added, “In other words … the Toyota Fuel Cell System in the new Mir ai … is simply … a better battery.” — Wheels Reporter.
MOTORING WitnessWheels
February 12, 2015
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Ice from the skies The hailstorms that damaged thousands of cars in KZN were not the worst, nor the last ALWYN VILJOEN WHILE terrific, the recent hailstorms over KZN’s capital were not the worst assessors had seen; and the good news is car owners who need to get quotes for repairs still have a few weeks to do so. Jack Callaway, owner of KZN Insurance Assessors who used to own a panel beater shop in Pietermaritzburg, advised car owners who suffered damage to get emergency repairs, like windscreens, done as soon as possible, but added as long as they had notified their insurance compa ny within a three days they had a claim pending, they could wait a couple of weeks before getting quotes for the remainder of the repair work. “But the job won’t get any cheaper after the rush,” he warned. Callway, who is a member of the Institute of Motor Assesors in South Africa, said if the repair value exceed 70% of the car’s retail value, the insurer will typically write the car off. Pietermaritzburg is not alone in suffering huge hail storms. The entire edge of the escarpment along the eastern seaboard gets hail this time of the year. This is good news for panel beaters in Pietermaritzburg, who were still quoting to repair hail damage from January when the heavens sent down a second fusillade of enormous hail stones on Friday, February 6. Unlike the first storm, which had caused exten sive damage to the area around the UKZN campus, this second hail storm erupted over the centre of town, hitting the car dealerships especially hard. Hyundai’s regional director in KZN, Gideon
Typical hail damage to a car’s back windscreen in Pietermaritzburg from the storm last week. PHOTO: ALWYN VILJOEN
Car owners must notify their insurance company within three days of a pending claim, then get windscreens repaired as soon as possible, but have a couple of weeks to get have the repair work done. Janse van Rensburg, told Wheels the dealership in Pietermaritzburg suffered hail damage to some 40 vehicles. At MercedesBenz, more than 100 cars were
nicked or hammered. At BMW, two dozen new Beemers suffered dents and at Honda, new cars fresh off the truck got hit. Thousands of private motorists also had their
cars dented, lights cracked and windscreens or sunroofs smashed. Polling the panel beaters in KNZ’s capital on Monday, we witnessed as queues of impatient motorists streamed into town to get quotes to re place lights and windscreens. Sweating staff walked the pavements in the 33° Celsius heat to collect quotes, most saying they had averaged over 300 quotes per person for the day. By noon they were using blank folio pages to jot down emails, this being quicker than filling in the proforma forms. Sunita Harrilall from Auto Hail Raven panel beaters on Boom Street estimated it would take up to June to repair the damage from this second storm, not counting the damage from the earlier hail storm. “It can take about 10 days to repair a car, if no panels have to be cut and bonded or — in special cases — welded. I estimate it is going to take our industry four, maybe five months to repair the thousands of cars that were hit in the two storms,” she said. At Dent Boss on Greyling Street, people were patiently waiting their turn for a quote on the red car seats mounted in the foyer. Phones were ringing off the hook as the staff worked their way down the line. All were warily watching as cumulonimbus clouds sent hot, moist air at speeds up to 176 km/h vertically into the supercooled blue skies along the escarpment, where the water will condense in to yet another fusillade of ice from the skies.
Fullbody airbag for bikers The first ‘fullbodied’ tippers built at FAW’s body shop facility, next to the Coegabased assembly plant. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
FAW starts own body shop FAW Vehicle Manufacturers SA has started the new year with another milestone added to its already remarkable track record. The truck manufacturer has officially started up its own body shop facility, adjacent to the Coegabased assembly plant, in order to build its own truck bodies. Yusheng Zhang, CEO of FAW Vehicle Manufac turers SA, said the plant came on stream only six months ago. “Now we are also building our first tipper bodies from SKD packs imported from our parent plant in China.” While the first FAW “fullbodied” tippers roll off the assembly plant and body shop, the production team are already assessing the viability of producing dropside bodies for their range of robust and durable vehicles spanning the medium, heavy and extraheavy commercial vehicle ranges on offer in Southern Africa. Other bodies, such as mixer drums, may also be assessed and considered in the future. The layout of the truck bodybuilding facility has been designed in accordance with environ mental recommendations and standards. The build and logistics flow is highly efficient and costeffective. The ergonomics for employees are such that
much of the work is done standing upright, as unnecessary bending or crouching has been avoid ed wherever possible. Once the tipper body is carefully fitted, the com pleted vehicle is prepared for the paint shop. With the all the required hydraulics and the body fitment complete the FAW vehicle is primed, painted and finished through the impressive paint shop, and parked in the drying and final inspection lanes. FAW Vehicle Manufacturers SA is one of few local OEMS to have built a largescale truck bodybuilding shop, together with an appropriate paint shop facility on this magnitude. It is equipped using the latest and best global technology for longlasting truck body paint and finish. High on the list of priorities are the SHEQ prin ciples — Safety, Health, Environment and Quality — and FAW allows no compromise on any of these, as skilled employees in this region of the Eastern Cape are a prime consideration. “Keeping our employees safe and comfortable are key to our retention programme and important as we invest in their training and upskilling,” affirmed Zhang. At present the company projects that it will build approximately 100 tipper bodies in the first quarter of 2015. — Supplied.
CC WEISS LAST week’s Wearable Technologies Confer ence in Munich showcased the future of cutting edge wearable design. While much of the exhibitor area was dedicat ed to usual suspects like performancetracking sensors and wearable cameras, there was one de sign that immediately stood out. Still just a rough concept in need of partners, the iGel protective system proposes a fullbody airbag suit for pro tecting motorcyclists, bikers, skiers, and other hobbyists and professionals. Currentgeneration wearable airbags, including the Alpinestars TechAir Street airbag system that won a Wearable Technologies Inno vation World Cup award at the conference, use sensors to detect a crash and inflate in millisec onds, protecting the vital bones and organs of the upper body with a layer of cushioning. In concepts like the Safety Sphere, we’ve seen that some designers think the protection level could be dialled up a lot higher. It may not look quite as dramatic as the Safety Sphere, but the iGel protective system, a project headed by German trauma surgeon Dr Wolfgang MüllerAdam, envisions a similar level of protec tion. Instead of a limited inflatable vest around the torso, the iGel system would use up to 20 individual nitrogenactivated airbags to protect
the head, torso and lower body. Inspired by the hedgehog’s ability to roll into a protective ball, MüllerAdam also imagines the actuation of the system pushing the torso and lower body into a fetalstyle ball, further helping to mitigate against injury. Just imagine the difference between flailing around and smashing into the ground or another vehicle without any protection versus rolling into the crash or fall as an airbagcovered ball. Like other airbag systems, the iGel would use a series of microelectromechanical system (MEMS) smart sensors to detect crashlevel for ces and automatically inflate around the wearer. The iGel is an intriguing vision for the future of protection, but there’s a lot of work to do to turn this concept into a product that works as advertised and is comfortable to wear in reallife scenarios. Given the proper backing, MüllerAdam be lieves it will take about one to two years to ready a simple, lowspeed iGel protective system, simi lar in aim to ActiveProtective’s system, for use by the elderly and others at risk of falling. We’re still at least three to four years away from the more technical highspeed motorcycle version. In addition to the elderly and motorcyclists, iGel mentions equestrians, skiers, construction workers and soldiers as possible target demo graphics for the technology. — Gizmag.com.
This wearable fullbody airbag is the vision of a German trauma surgeon who was inspired by a hedgehog’s ability to tuck into a ball. PHOTO: iGEL SYSTEMS
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WitnessWheels MOTORING
February 12, 2015
Rally gets power stage Exciting knockout format to be part of National Rally Championship in Scottburgh RALLY fans can expect a spectator friendly route for the opening round of the 2015 SA National Rally Championship in Scottburgh the last weekend of February. The organisers have also added a power stage on the Saturday, February 28. The “power stage” will be staged at Isontevideo, next to the Scott burgh airport, and will see the running order being reversed with the slower competitors running the stage first. Be sides the inverted grid there will also be a knockout (or rather a knockoff) competition. At the end of the stage a hot seat area will be demarcated adorned with a couch where competitors setting the fastest time for the stage will sit in waiting. As the faster cars negotiate the stage and the stage times tumble, the crews setting the previous fastest time will move down the couch until literally be ing knocked off the bench … In the end only the stage winners will remain on the couch. According to deputy clerk of the course Jimmy Dewar, the route for the “power stage” is right next to the air port runway, so there will be ample parking and vantage points for specta tors. “We will be running this stage three times during the course of Satur day, the final time as the ‘power stage’. “To make it even more exciting there is a spot in the stage where the cars will get airborne. Prizes and trophies will be awarded to the teams entertaining the crowds with the longest and most spec tacular jump,” said Dewar. Another change this year is that the participating crews will have two opportunities to reconnoitre the route ahead of the rally. According to Richard Leeke, presi dent of the National Rally Commission
Mark Cronjé and Roger Houghton will be hoping for better results than this crash when the champion pair return to the KZN for the first leg of the National Rally Championship at month end. PHOTO: ALWYN VILJOEN
and clerk of the course for the Tour Natal Rally, rudimentary pace notes will be made available to competitors, but they will be allowed to do two recon naissance runs before the event. “This will give the crews enough op portunity to refine their pace notes for the event,” said Leeke. The top eight seeded drivers in the two principal categories of the SA Na tional Rally Championship — the four wheel drive S2000 and the twowheel drive S1600 class — will draw their starting positions for the event.
Dewar added that this year’s route for the Tour Natal Rally will be quite similar to last year’s with a centralised service park and the first three stages after the start at the Scottburgh Country Club to be repeated — for a total of six stages on day one. On the second day, another five spe cial stages will be run on the fast loose gravel roads in the sugarcane farm lands of the South Coast for a total of 11 stages over a distance of about 400 km. “While entries only close at the end of this week we expect the crème of
South African special stage rally teams to gather for the traditional opening round in the Scottburgh area of KwaZu luNatal,” said Dewar. “We have already received some entrants for the new NRC2 class for older fourcylinder two wheeldrive cars, and also expect some entries for the new challenge and entrylevel series. We look forward to an exciting and suc cessful event.” There will be eight rounds in this year’s series with a team’s seven best results counting towards the
championship. — Supplied. SA Rally Championship weekends February 27 28: Tour Natal RallyKZN April 1718: Sasol RallyMpumalanga May 1516: Secunda Motor RallyMpuma langa June 1920: Toyota Gauteng / BelaBela Gauteng/Limpopo July 1718: Volkswagen Rally Eastern Cape August 1415: Cullinan RallyGauteng September 1829: Toyota Cape Rally Western Cape October 1617: Polokwane RallyLimpopo
New DL650XT joins VStrom range The Suzuki DL650XT VStrom retails for just under R95k. PHOTO: QUICKPIC
Honda spruce up VFR800F Honda has updated the VFR800F with sharp contemporary new lines. The bottom and midrange power of the 782 cc V4VTEC engine have been boosted and the VTEC transition softened for linear smoother power through the revs. Traction Control System is now standard and — unique to Honda — the indicators stop themselves when the front and rear wheel speed difference indicates a straight line. Recommended retail price is R142k PHOTO: SUPPLIED
SUZUKI SA has added a new 650XT derivative to its popular VStrom adventure motorcycle range. The newcomer joins the standard DL650A VStrom and its more powerful DL1000 VStrom stablemate. The new DL650XT is powered by a 645 cc DOHC fourstroke Vtwin engine de signed for broad torque delivery at low CV JOINT to medium engine speeds. The 90degree SPECIALISTS Vtwin’s distinctive beat is an unmistak able aspect of the XT’s overall character. for CV joints, ball joints, The DL650XT VStrom is available tie rod ends, wheel bearings. from all authorised Suzuki SA motorcycle 339 GREYLING STREET dealers nationwide at a recommended re tail price of R94 950. — Supplied. Pmb. 033 342 9174/75
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