Witness Wheels 12 March 2015

THREE WAYS TO GET A SPARK ­ P3

CARS WANTED

March 12, 2015

Exotic,luxury and supercars WANTED FOR CASH must be low mileage and mint condition, email pics and brief description to ashgani@telkomsa.net

Witness

WHEELS

ASH EXOTICS

Dealers in Superfine Exotic and Sports Cars Tel: 033 345 1971, 033 342 4717 Fax: 033 342 2900 - www.ashcarsales.co.za 534/550 Church Street, Pietermaritzburg 3201 • Ash 083 786 3377

KZN’S BEST READ ON BIKES, BUSES, CARS, TRUCKS … AND SERIOUSLY PRICEY BICYCLES

First enduro sees hot and dusty racing KZN dirt bikers off to a healthy start with many new names to challenge the top riders lowed his runner­up result up with a victory on the second day.

MYDDLETON Dam area outside Creighton in Defending champ William “Wild Will” Gillitt, KZN last weekend hosted SA’s top riders in the now also racing under the AgriSales Peak Yamaha first two rounds of the Liquorland Creighton Racing banner, rounded off the podium on each WFO National Enduro. day — he was only 14 points behind Engelbrecht Hosted in sunny, but dusty conditions, the on day two and 43 points behind his team­mate WFO Club sent the competitors around different on the first day.

Special Stages over the two days, keeping all the The top 10 saw many new names this season, riders guessing. KTM’s Travis Teasdale won the which set the scene for some exciting racing in E1 for 200 cc bikes against 23 talented riders. the Senior Class championship for the rest of the Behind Teasdale came Brett Swanepoel year.

(Proudly Bidvest Yamaha) with two runner­up Both the Master Class and High School Class results, while Brandon Warwick­Oliver (Liquor­ saw double winners at the end of the weekend’s land Racing Yamaha) and Kyle Flanagan (Ihobe racing. Master Class newcomer Hilton Hayward International KTM) both claimed a third place (Proudly Bidvest Yamaha) scored a double Flanagan finished fourth during victory, as did the defending High round one (Saturday, March 7), but School Class champion Enduan Warwick Oliver suffered from Bester (KTM Centurion Liqui cramps resulting in him falling Moly Racing). back to sixth place on the second Behind Hayward, his team­ day. mate, Denzil Torlage, and Garth In the E2 Class, the defending Prost (Husqvarna Factory Racing) champ, Wade Young (Brother both claimed a second and third Leader Tread KTM), won after place result. what he described on Twitter as Bester opened his defence of his “a great weekend’s racing up in title with two wins, but he will have Creighton”. to keep an eye on his fellow pupils Young, who has been competing as less than a minute (60 points) in Europe since December, was vi­ separated those on the podium. siting his home town in Paddock Daniel van Zyl (Yamaha) claimed after he couldn’t get a visa for the a second and a third, while Dean UK in time to compete in the Lindsay (D&H Engineering Works Tough One Extreme Enduro that Wade Young enjoys the Yamaha) was the runner­up on the also took place this past weekend. hot weather in SA. first day and fourth on the second Young’s team­mate, Scott Bou­ PHOTO: MEGAN ELS day. The Silver Class Challenge po­ verie, also made a welcome come­ dium looked the same after both back after being injured since the middle of the days with the young Matatiele pupil Lloyd Kirk 2014 season.

(Pa Ma Racing Yamaha) claiming two victories Altus de Wet (Altus de Wet Racing Sherco) followed by Reghardt van Nieuwenhuizen (KTM) finished 20 points behind Bouverie on day one and Oliver Santoro (KTM). and only 14 points behind him on day two. After With two of the six rounds of the 2015 Liquor­ the race, De Wet tweeted to thank his crewman, land National Enduro Championship now some­ Shaun Duckham, for keeping his bike running. thing of the past and the first valuable points in In the Senior Class championship chase, the the bag, competitors will have to plan carefully same three riders finished on the podium — they for the next two rounds that will take place in just swopped places after two days of close racing. the space of two weeks — the traditional KEI En­ Jody Engelbrecht (Yamaha) celebrated his re­ duro is back and will take place on April 18 in turn to the national series with a victory on the the East London area in the Eastern Cape, while first day and a second place on the second, while the La Mont National Enduro is happening on Bruce May (AgriSales Peak Yamaha Racing) fol­ May 2 at Ashton in the Western Cape.

Wheeled events in KZN • 100s Riders pre­ride social takes place at the VSCC on Oribi Road in Pietermaritzburg tomor­ row evening from 6.30 pm for 7 pm.

Neville and Jean Henderson will host the club’s ride to Blue Haze Country Lodge at the Wagen­ drift Dam near Estcourt, via Kamberg on Sunday, March 15, departing from the parking lot at KFC

on Chatterton Circle at 8 am, with a comfort stop and breakfast at at Nottingham Road Service Sta­ tion at 10.30 am. Cost is R75 per person. Inquir­ ies: Neville Henderson at 074 898 6248.

• March 27 and 28: The revamped Donaldson Cross Country Championship starts the off­road racing season in Harrismith.

Just slide it in so: Underberg’s Bruce May (Team AgriSales Peak Yamaha) is now tied for the Senior Class lead after a victory and a second place at in last weekend’s Liquorland Creighton WFO National Enduro.

PHOTO: MEGAN ELS

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2

WitnessWheels MOTORING

March 12, 2015

Buses a vital govt service Operators warn service­delivery protests will increase if cheap public transport fails to run Seen at the bus conference held in Pretoria last week were Freda Cooper (second from left) with the Sekalis, who transport shoppers from the Eastern Free State to Gauteng, (from left) Joyce, Matshidiso, Lerato Sekali and Thabang Sekali.

ALWYN VILJOEN NATIONAL bus operators last week repeated the message they give each year at the annual Southern African Bus Operators Association confer­ ence, but for 2015 they added ser­ vice­delivery protests into the mix.

Addressing the operators on transformation in the bus industry, costing expert Philip van Ryneveld warned if bus operators did not get the increased subsidies they need to continue supplying cheap and safe transport, the current average of three service­delivery protests a month in Gauteng could treble to nine.

Van Ryneveld said this pattern could repeat along bus routes every­ where in South Africa.

Earlier Deputy Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga told the assembled operators South Af­ rica’s public transport challenges are compounded by serious service backlogs “as a result of years of ne­ glect and underinvestment” in pub­ lic transport.

“A recent report by the Financial and Fiscal Commission (FFC) con­ cluded that South Africa’s transport system problems are largely charac­ terised, and should be acknowl­ edged, as service­delivery back­ logs,” said Chikunga.

He said to address these backlogs will take a significant amount of time and said “injection of funds alone will not be adequate to solve our public transport problems”.

He said just throwing money at the problem will not solve the back­ logs as South Africa already subsi­ dised about 60% of a bus ticket compared to 30% or less in Europe and zero percent in most African states.

He said the solution for SA’s pub­ lic transport challenges goes be­ yond funding and includes issues such as spatial development plan­ ning, proper management and proper planning,” said Chikunga.

Lisa Seftel, former director of transport in the City of Johannes­

PHOTO: ALWYN VILJOEN

burg, said lack of clear leaders who can get mandates, ongoing instabil­ ity and lack of input from the taxi industry can still take the whole public sector down.

Several bus operators com­ plained during forum discussions that illegal taxi operators were “stealing” their clients away, while the ongoing planning showed no signs of coming to an end.

UK Automobile Association’s business development director Ja­ son Vallint said this was a real con­ cern, as the UK’s statistics show buses to be much safer vehicles than any other mode of road transport.

Van Ryneveld said the current view by conventional bus operators, namely that rapid bus transport programmes will erode their busi­ ness, must shift.

He said bus rapid transport with its gross contracting payment mod­ el is not feasible on South Africa’s traditionally long bus routes, on which all the passengers typically travel to the same destination on re­ turn journeys.

Similarly, these long route opera­ tors would not survive in the shorter routes of cities, which has a business model that require passengers to constantly get on and off the bus.

Head of KZN’s Department of Transport Sibusiso Gumbi sent sta­ tistics that showed only five percent of bus routes were owned by by “Af­ ricans”.

Several operators from KZN chal­ lenged this statistic, saying KZN was 100% transformed, with all public transport owned by people of African descent.

“Instead of worrying about BEE, our province should think about lowering the licence fees for heavy commercial vehicles.

“KZN’s licensing fees are the highest in SA and where possible, all operators register their buses and trucks in neighbouring province to save tens of thousands a year,” said a bus operator, who asked to remain anonymous.

• alwyn.viljoen@witness.co.za

Schools get 5 300 new bicycles ON March 5, 300 school children in Umvoti, KwaZulu­Natal, became proud recipients of Qhubeka Buffa­ lo Bicycles, thanks to generous do­ nations from the 50 Mile Ride event organisers and other supporters who contributed towards Qhube­ ka’s #GiveHope campaign.

The bicycles were handed over as part of the Bicycle Education Empowerment Programme (Beep) implemented by World Vision South Africa and Swiss counterpart World Vision Switzerland, in partnership with Qhubeka (World Bicycle Relief’s programme in South Africa).

The aim of Beep is to help children get to school faster and more safely by providing them with bicycles, which reduces their com­ mute time by up to 75%.

A member of

SMG

THE RECIPIENT SCHOOLS WERE: • Vikindlala Primary School; • Mgwempisi Primary and Second­ ary School; • Mashingizela Secondary School; • Mvoti School; and • Busana Secondary School Children sign a two­year study­ to­earn contract that requires them to improve their class attendance

and academic performance. At the end of the contract, the bicycles be­ come their property.

A bicycle supervisory committee is set up at each recipient school and is represented by teachers, pupil governing body members and par­ ents.

The bicycle supervisory commit­ tee’s role is not only to select benefi­ ciaries but also to enforce the two­ year service­to­own contract which governs the use of the bicycle.

All this was explained to the chil­ dren at the bicycle­distribution cer­ emony held at Busana Secondary School. In attendance were parents, school staff and members of the lo­ cal community who were there to celebrate as the children enjoyed their first rides on the new bicycles.

THANKS TO DONORS AND FUNDRAISERS The bicycles handed over were fund­ ed by generous Qhubeka supporters — 230 by the organisers of the 50 Mile Ride in southern Cali­ fornia, U.S., 65 by people who con­ tributed funds towards Qhubeka’s 2014 year­end #GiveHope cam­ paign, and five through individuals who raised funds or donated to Qhubeka. — Copy supplied.

MOTORING WitnessWheels

March 12, 2015

3

The family man’s commute BRIAN BASSETT experiences largesse after giving lifts in the Honda Ballade 1,5 Trend Auto DESIGNING a sub­compact family s­ aloon is not easy, as it needs to be all things to all people.

So it will be good­looking to stimu­ late pride of ownership, peppy so that the owner can feel like a race­car driver occasionally, spacious to take the family on holiday in comfort and to accommodate all their luggage, as well as economical, so that the school and office run can be undertaken without destroying the monthly budget.

The Honda Ballade, which has been around since 1980 and is now in its fifth generation, is sold as just such a vehicle and I am grateful to Gary Stokes of Honda Fury Pietermaritzburg for allow­ ing me a few days with the vehicle to find out whether this is, in fact, so.

Styling The Ballade has quite a rakish feel to its design. The front end is aggressive with a centrally mounted badge flanked by twin sets of dual headlights. In the Elegance spec, the car also has a pair of fog lamps mounted low down on the front end, which seems to round off the face of the vehicle.

The car has strong lines at the side which gradually open to the rear, leading the eye naturally to the wrapa­ round tail­light clusters linked by a chromed strip across the rear of the vehicle, above which is mounted the Honda badge.

The whole design is neatly and cleverly executed, and made me feel that it had been given intellectual as well as engineering consideration.

Interior The Honda name is synonymous with build quality and the Ballade is an ex­ ample of this.

The plastics are robust and the seats are covered with a quality cloth which can be cleaned easily. The doors are wide so that oldies like me can move in and out without any inconvenience.

The seats at the front are fully adjusta­ ble, as is the steering wheel, so the driver will not be uncomfortable.

I managed to round up three members of the iconic Fatpack who accompanied me on a pilgrimage to Notties and even paid for the beer

gear selection — to mention but a few.

Safety and security The Ballade is equipped with the usual ABS and EBD, as well as emergency brake assist, vehicle stability assist, hill start assist, and six front, side and cur­ tain air bags, seat belts for all and a high­ mounted brake light at the rear.

The Ballad also has remote, keyless entry, auto speed­sensitive locking and selective door opening. There is also an alarm, as a last line of defence should anyone break in.

The luggage space in the Ballade is a generous 536 litres, enough to swallow all your family’s holiday clobber.

PHOTO: QUICKPIC

Attempting to link a cellphone to any Honda without reading the manual will earn you a fail. In our book, only a GWM Steed 6 has a more obdurate system.

PHOTO: ALWYN VILJOEN (although I was told not to expect this again for a while).

Everybody was impressed with the rear space and, at the end of the run, much later in afternoon, we all agreed that a journey to Johannesburg in the vehicle would be quite comfortable for four adults. The luggage space is gener­

ous at 536 litres and will easily carry your family’s holiday clobber.

Buttons ready to hand The dashboard on the Trend spec I drove is simple, with all dials being placed close together in front of the driver.

There is no multifunction steering, wheel and controls are hand operated.

However, everything is readily to hand and, once I became used to them, they were easy enough to manage.

The Trend also has Bluetooth and an Eco button, which puts the vehicle into a more fuel­efficient mode, which should help get the passenger out of the foul mood the Honda’s Bluetooth set­ up will put them in.

Another of the passengers, Wheels editor Alwyn Viljoen, advises fellow Luddites who want to play music off a digital device to pack an aux­cable and just link direct.

Viljoen said any attempt to link a cell­ phone to any Honda requires reading the manual, or you will earn a fail.

If you intend keeping the car for a long while, you should look at the Ele­ gance spec, which is around R25 000 more, but offers everything from auto­ matic transmission to front fog lights, multifunction leather­covered steering wheel, touch­screen display, cruise con­ trol, rear­view camera and paddle­shift

Handling The Ballade is a family sedan and I ex­ pected somewhat muted handling, but was surprised by the fact that it is a lively car, which responds well to fairly aggres­ sive driving.

The engine is a 1,5­litre I­Vtec, which is available in five­speed manual or sev­ en­speed automatic gearboxes.

The drive train delivers 88 kW of power and an impressive 145 Nm of torque, so that power is always available and driving on the N3 is no problem.

The car handles well in town and is a pleasure to park while shopping. With smaller engines, an automatic gearbox always enhances driving pleasure and, if I were buying the car I would certainly elect the auto box.

Fuel consumption is around seven li­ tres per 100 kms, while 0­100 km/h will take you 12 seconds in the automatic and top speed is around 176 km/h, at which speed the car is quite stable. Not, of course, that I would ever drive at that speed.

Costs and the competition The entry level Ballade is about R200 000, while the 1,5 Elegance auto will cost you about R236 000.

Remember, there are special deals offered sometimes and you should con­ sult the Internet before buying.

The car has a 100 000 km or three­ year manufacturer’s guarantee and a four­year or 60 000 km service plan.

This area of the market offers many choices and you should also have a look at the Volkswagen Polo, Kia Rio, Hyun­ dai Accent and Toyota Corolla Quest, to name just the top sellers.

Three ways to get a Chevrolet Spark AMIL UMRAW

New highlights in trusted Outlander Mitsubishi has given the Outlander ‘mild revisions’ for the 2015 model year. Highlights include Bluetooth with hands­ free voice control, an electric tail gate, a rear­view camera linked to rear parking sensors, a radio­CD­MP3­USB audio system with a touch­screen interface and an on­board entertainment system for rear passengers, a keyless operating system, leather upholstery, heated front seats, an electric driver’s seat, dual­zone automatic air­ conditioning system, cruise control, a multi­info trip computer, automatic lights and rain sensors, an electric glass sun roof and 18­inch alloy wheels.

The new 2015 Outlander 2,4 GLS Exceed retails for R439 900, including VAT, with a three­year or 100 000 km warranty and a five­year or 90 000 km service plan.

PHOTO: QUICKPIC

LOOK up the Chevrolet Spark and the first thing you will see is how many car experts rate this little hatch.

At Car magazine, the Spark is now the “Budget Car” for both 2014 and 2015. Over in the U.S., the Insurance In­ stitute for Highway Safety last year list­ ed the Spark as the only sub­compact car to have passed its small overlap front crash test, which replicates what hap­ pens when the front corner of a vehicle collides with an object at 64 km/h.

And having driven the lively little 1,2­litre engine with two other hefty blokes on board, I think the Spark Cam­ pus, which sells for R119 500, is not only a good buy, but an excellent rental, and even better, it will make a fantastic win.

For a chance to win a Spark, you can buy as many raffle tickets as you like from the Msunduzi Hospice at any of their promotions — the next one is at the Hayfields Mall this weekend.

The draw happens only later this year, but you can meanwhile rent a Spark from Key Group in Pietermaritzburg for a R300 a day — 200 km included and the lowest rates per kilometre thereafter.

Unlike other car rental companies,

Stand a chance to win a Chevrolet Spark 1,2 through Msunduzi Hospice.

PHOTO: ALWYN VILJOEN/SCREEN GRAB Key’s price don’t go up if you are in a hurry for a set of wheels to make it to that appointment with, for example, the Msunduzi Hospice in Pietermaritz­ burg on their volunteer day tomorrow, from 10 am to 11.30 am for new volun­ teers and from 3 pm to 4 pm for schools/ community service.

Witness Wheels support the Msunduzi Hospice in its work and we

invite all readers who can work with crafts; assist in the shops, help keep our gardens beautiful; provide reception or transport Hospice Daycare patients — among other activities — to attend the open days.

The open day takes place at 200 Zwartkop Road, Prestbury, and tea will be served.

RSVP and inquiries: 033 344 1560.

4

WitnessWheels MOTORING

March 12, 2015

Diesel for the future VW boss explains future impacts current issues will have on car builders Ernst Prost, MD and owner of Liqui Moly Worldwide.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Oil maker also big on charity ALWYN VILJOEN WHILE launching its range of lubri­ cating products in Johannesburg last week, German boss of Liqui Mo­ ly pledged R10 from every can of mo­ torbike oil would go towards feeding children in South Africa.

This is on top of the R1 from each purchase of a Liqui Moly product that already goes towards the com­ pany’s philanthropic programmes and local motor sport sponsorships.

Locally, Liqui Moly supports the Legends Series for 2015; female drift­ er Clare Vale; and rally champion Guy Botterill; Super drift, the Endu­ ron class in the Historic series; Fran­ co Scribante and George Avocomid­ es in the Historic series; Pablo Clark Racing with Jaki Scheckter; the WCOC in Western Cape and nu­ merous other teams and riders that will be announced at a later date.

There are now4 000 products in Liqui Moly’s line­up, ranging from engine oils, additives as well as vehi­ cle care and service products.

Modern engine oils are high­tech and very specialised for certain models and certain engine types.

Additives protect the engine and save money in wear and tear, plus servicing and repairs. Vehicle care products preserve the value of the vehicle and service products assist when it comes to repairs General manager in SA Melicia Labuschagne said Liqui Moly has the right engine oil for every vehicle on the planet.

“On the local front we are the ex­ clusive lube supplier to Subaru, Beta, Hyosung, and MV Augusta,” she said . “And even then there are dif­ ferences; a manufacturer permit means that the oil fulfils certain min­ imum requirements. Liqui Moly goes beyond these minimum re­ quirements and develops oils that, for example, have a higher cleaning performance than is demanded by the manufacturer.”

The company has a free app on its website to enable mechanics and private owners to choose the right oil for their vehicle. More on www.liqui­moly.co.za.

Liqui Moly’s GM in South Africa Melicia Labuschagne.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

VOLKSWAGEN is paying very close at­ tention to the issues in the automotive industry that are already changing the role of the automobile.

These issues are electric cars, the dig­ italisation of vehicles, and the impact of social change on factories and retail.

Speaking on the eve of the Geneva International Motor Show, Professor Dr Martin Winterkorn, CEO of Volks­ wagen Aktiengesellschaft, said VW’s “forward­looking ‘Future Tracks’ pro­ gramme is the umbrella for all of these activities”.

He pointed out that thanks to sensor technology and connectivity, the group already has the largest networked fleet in the world on the road, adding that the automaker also has the world’s larg­ est low­CO2 fleet, with the present line­ up including 57 model variants that al­ ready meet the 95 gram target.

The company already offers the wid­ est range of electromobility solutions in the automotive industry as well, with nine electric vehicles and plug­in hy­ brids.

Winterkorn said VW now employs 46 000 researchers and developers as well as over 10 000 IT experts, all of

CEO of Volkswagen Professor Dr Martin Winterkorn stresses all the talk about emissions is not just a lot of hot air, but will drive future car are designed from the wheels up.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED whom are working on the mobility of the future such as alternative drive con­ cepts or the digitalisation of vehicles and factories.

“We are an innovation think tank that develop technologies that point the way well into the future,” he said.

Winterkorn also reiterated that “Volkswagen is committed to its envi­ ronmental goals”, commenting that the present low level of oil prices would not change that: “Oil will not be as cheap as it is at the moment for ever. The CO2 limits apply irrespective of fuel prices.

And, more importantly, this is about our responsibility for protecting the cli­ mate.

“That is why our approach to drive diversity is the right one.”

With reference to the decision by the French government to outlaw diesel en­ gines in Paris in the near future, Winter­ korn stated that ever more efficient pet­ rol and diesel engines are indispensable.

“Let me be very clear about one point: those who talk down diesel are jeopardising CO2 targets.”

He went on to say that the car manu­ facturer is positioning itself at the fore­ front of automotive change with its for­ ward­looking “Future Tracks” pro­ gram. To remain a strong contender in competition with Asia and the U.S., Winterkorn called on industry in Eu­ rope to “show even more courage and even greater innovative strength.

“But there is also a need for greater openness and stronger backing from politics and society.”

Volkswagen invested €11,5 billion (R150 billion) in research and develop­ ment last year, more than ever before and more than any other company worldwide. — Witness Reporter.

Foton readies for the sauna that is SA’s SUV market FOTON Auto South Africa is currently evaluating a medium­ to large­size SUV based on its Tunland premium one­ton pick­up for possible introduction to the local market.

The SUV, which has been named Sau­ vana, was shown for the first time at the Guangzhou Auto Show last year.

The Sauvana, which is Foton Auto’s first foray into the increasingly popular SUV market, is due to go on sale in Chi­ na early this year and will then be rolled out to international markets.

Designed and developed under the code name U201, the Sauvana is a body­ on­frame design which offers rear­ wheel or all­wheel drive options to seat five or seven occupants, depending on the model.

There is a choice of two turbo­ charged engines, a Cummins ISF diesel 2,8 litre and a Euro V compliant, direct injection, petrol two­litre, with the availability of five­ and six­speed manu­ al gearboxes or a six­speed automatic transmission. No final decision has been made on a power train if the Sauva­ na is launched in SA. The diesel engine developed in a joint venture by Foton and Cummins which is fitted to the Tunland range of vehicles has proved to be strong and reliable and is performing exceptionally well in terms of its durability. The Foton Sauva­ na SUV uses a twin wishbone independ­

Reading between the lines, Foton looks set to export its Sauvana to its 36 dealers in SA in the near future.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED. ent front suspension and a five­link control system for the solid rear axle for a comfortable and stable ride.

Foton is clear with its intent of pro­

ducing a luxury SUV and a decision is expected soon as to whether or not the Foton Sauvana will be introduced to the SA market.

Foton vehicles are currently sold through 36 sales and service outlets in South Africa, backed by Imperial and Bidvest. — Wheels Reporter.

EVOQUE CONVERTIBLE BEING TESTED UNDERGROUND IN CROSSRAIL TUNNELS LAND Rover has confirmed the world’s first premium compact SUV converti­ ble will go on sale in 2016 by releasing a unique underground testing film.

Forty metres below the streets of London, UK, the first prototype of Land Rover’s new Range Rover Evoque Con­ vertible was granted exclusive access to the 42 km network of Crossrail tunnels for a development test with a difference.

Engineers were allowed the opportuni­ ty to drive the disguised Evoque Convertible with its roof lowered in complete privacy.

The short film begins with the high­ ly­capable convertible being lowered in­ to the tunnel network by crane, before negotiating a range of obstacles through the 6,2 metre diameter tunnel.

Murray Dietsch, director of Land Rover Programmes said: “The tunnels are still under construction, so we had a unique opportunity to explore the vehicle’s all­terrain ability in uncharted territory.”

The Range Rover Evoque is no stranger to subterranean adventure. At its launch in 2011 the five­door variant was driven through Edge Hill Tunnel in Liverpool, UK — the first tunnel in the world to be bored beneath a major city.

Land Rover will announce further de­ tails about its exclusive new premium compact SUV Convertible later this year. It will be built alongside the five­ door and coupe Evoque at Land Rover’s Halewood plant in the UK and will be on sale in 2016. — Supplied.

Land Rover is making an underground movie with a disguised Evoque Convertible.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

How treating yourself to a brand New Volkswagen can treat you to savings all-year-round.

By Pieter from Maritzburg Bespoke Volkswagen Dealers at Barons Pietermaritzburg and treat yourself to a tailored deal on a brand new Volkswagen, complete with Das Auto Engineering and BlueMotion Technology. It’s the treat that will keep on treating you to savings all-year-round!

The Bespoke Volkswagen Dealers at Barons Pietermaritzburg are known as such because they tailor deals on Volkswagens to suit your budget and needs – resulting in the best possible prices all-year-round. The quality and reliability of Das Auto Engineering reduces maintenance costs all-year-round too. Then there’s a not-so-little-something called BlueMotion Technology; a uniquely Volkswagen innovation that promotes fuel efficiency and economy – a benefit you will also experience all-year-round.

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.

So, here’s the kicker: If you want to actually SAVE money all-year-round, you should head to the

It’s not just a car. It’s a Golf.

Live confident. Drive confident.

5 Year 90 000km Service Plan

3 Year 45 000km Service Plan

Golf TSI 77kW Trendline from R3,505* per month

New Polo TSI 66kW Comfortline from R2999* per month

The Golf TSI 77kW Trendline standard features include:

Vehicle Price

Golf TSI 77kW Trendline

R270,200

-

Monthly No. of Instalments Instalments

R3,505*

60

The New Polo TSI 66kW Comfortline standard features include:

Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) ESP (Electronic Stability Programme) with Brake Assist and EDL (Electronic Differential Lock) 15” Lyon alloy wheels Start-Stop with Brake Energy Recuperation

-

Multi Collision Braking System Hill-hold Assist Electronic stability control (ESP) incl. ABS with brake assistant, ASR, EDL and EDTC

Interest Rate Linked / Variable

Deposit

Balloon Payment

Total Cost Incl fees & VAT

Model

Vehicle Price

8%*

14% (R37,828)

35% (R94,570)

R304,857

New Polo TSI 66kW Comfortline

R221,200

-

Monthly No. of Instalments Instalments

R2999*

15” Tosa alloy wheels Electric mirrors Alarm with ultrasonic interior monitoring 3 year / 120 000km warranty Interest Rate Linked / Variable

Deposit

Balloon Payment

Total Cost Incl fees & VAT

7.65%*

R2999

R79,596

R295,542

72

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 New Polo TSI 66kW Comfortline 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 March 2015.

Polo Vivo

Mileage certified Full Service history 7-day exchange plan Vehicle Customization 24 Hr roadside assistance

• • • • •

2013 2013 2014 2015 2015 2015

Polo Vivo Sedan 1.4 Trendline Tiptronic Polo Vivo 1.6 Trendline 5 Door Polo Vivo 1.4 Trendline 5 Door Polo Vivo 1.6 Comfortline Polo Vivo 1.6 Comfortline 5 Door Polo Vivo 1.6 Comfortline 5 Door

Silver Silver Red Silver White White

R132 900 R139 900 R149 900 R159 900 R159 900 R169 900

44 000 40 000 9 000 1 500 1 000 1 000

km km km km km km

2013 2013 2014 2015 2015 2015 2015

Polo 1.4 Trendline 5 Door Polo 1.2 TDI BlueMotion 5 Door Polo GTI 1.4 DSG Polo Sedan 1.6 Comfortline Tiptronic Polo 1.2 TSI Comfortline Polo 1.2 TSI Highline Polo 1.2 TSI Trendline

White White White Silver Silver Red White

R152 900 R174 900 R274 900 R249 000 R229 000 R239 000 R185 900

25 000 48 000 11 800 1 400 1 000 3 000 900

km km km km km km km

2012 2012 2015 2015

Golf 6 GTI DSG Golf GTI DSG Golf 7 2.0 TDI Highline DSG Golf 7 1.4 TSI Comfortline DSG

Black White White Silver

R299 900 R298 900 R349 900 R319 900

59 000 66 000 23 000 3 500

km km km km

2014

Amarok Double Cab DSG 132kW

White

R449 000

13 000 km

2010 2012 2012 2014 2014 2014 2014 2015 2015

Scirocco 2.0 TSI Jetta 2.0 TDI Jetta 1.4 TSI DSG Tiguan 1.4 TSI BlueMotion Passat 2.0 TDI DSG VW Transporter Single Cab TDI 21st Century Beetle 1.2 TSI Touareg 3.0 TDI BlueMotion Tiptronic Tiguan 2.0 TDI

Silver White Beige Grey White White White White Silver

R259 900 R229 000 R279 000 R299 000 R329 900 R249 900 R259 900 R799 900 R339 000

45 000 81 000 58 000 6 500 15 000 7 000 5 000 1 000 5 000

km km km km km km km km km

2008 2010 2011 2012 2012 2013 2014

Opel Corsa Lite Sport Audi A3 1.8 TFSI Sportback Ford Bantam 1.6i XLT Mercedes Benz C180 Merdedes Benz C200 Avantgarde Ford Kuga 1.6 Ecoboost BMW 320D F30 Sportline

Grey Blue Grey White Silver White White

R69 900 R169 900 R119 900 R245 000 R259 900 R299 000 R379 000

94 000 88 000 70 000 42 000 69 000 44 000 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.

Tough gets you across rivers and over mountains.

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

5 Year 90 000km Service Plan

Amarok 2.0 BiTDI Highline Automatic 4x2 from R5,417* per month Model Amarok 2.0 BiTDI Highline Auto 4x2

Interest Rate Monthly No. of Vehicle Price Instalments Linked / Instalments Variable

R467,700

R5,417*

72

9.25%*

Deposit

Balloon Payment

10% 35% (R46,770) (R163,695)

Total Cost Incl fees & VAT

R553,706

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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 Golf TSI 77kW Trendline 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 March 2015.

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 2.0 BiTDI Highline Auto 4x2 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 March 2015.

New Sales Consultants

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6

WitnessWheels MOTORING

March 12, 2015

Merc canters in with new goods Company optimistic about Fuso Canter Bus and Midi Bus The last UB40 will serve as a bush ambulance, to transport fragile and often seriously hurt baby rhinos.

PHOTO: QUICKPIC

LAST UD40 TO AID RHINOS

The pure bus chassis makes it body builder­friendly as it comes with shock absorbers, a six­speed manual gearbox, front and rear leaf spring suspension, all resulting in the OF 917 RF being comfortable not only for the passengers but also for the driver.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED FUSO Trucks SA and Mer­ cedes­Benz Bus & Coach — both wholly owned by Daimler AG — are optimistic about the future of their recently launched products, the Fuso Canter Bus and the Mercedes­ Benz Midi Bus, built on the OF 917 RF chassis.

With Fuso continuing to grow its range, the latest Canter Bus has impressed not only its customers but also an array of industry experts.

Godfrey Hani, head of FU­ SO Trucks SA, said the bus was the first commercial vehicle to receive the Automotive Re­ searchers and Journalists’ Conference’s Car of the Year Special Award ín 2013.

This was followed in Ireland by the accolade of Best Energy Efficient Product Award being bestowed on this impressive vehicle.

Rich in a 52­year­old heri­ tage associated with reliability and performance, the Canter Bus continues to apply Fuso’s long­standing global branding to the future of transport tech­ nology in South Africa. “The Canter Bus is indicative of our pioneering spirit of always

Transport editor Alwyn Viljoen tests the comfort of the seats in a Merc bus.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED moving forward for our cus­ tomers and society. As we con­ tinuously refine the Canter — including the bus — so it re­ mains at the forefront of the transport industry, we ensure that we do this in consultation with all our stakeholders,” said Hani.

“As a vehicle that is set to dominate the transport indus­ try, the Canter Bus offers new­ ly developed drivetrains. Our Fuso designers and engineers

went beyond the ordinary and put everything they know about power train technology and efficiency into the new Canter Bus,” added Hani.

The Canter Bus’s new 4P10 twin camshaft, four valves per cylinder, turbocharged and in­ tercooled four­cylinder diesel engine is coupled to an advanced DUONIC six­speed, dual­clutch automated manu­ al transmission — the only dual­clutch transmission available in a bus.

What the Canter Bus does extremely well is to maximise efficiency and lower the total cost of ownership while being one of the most practical vehi­ cles to own and operate. With the combination of the 4P10 engine and DUONIC trans­ mission, fuel­efficiency targets are achieved. The Eco mode further improves efficiency; the dual clutch provides a soft shift that needs no mainte­ nance and achieves the lowest shift shock in its class.

As one of the smoothest­ running, easiest­to­drive bus­ es on the market, the Canter Bus offers a significant in­ crease in the length of the ser­

vice intervals up to 25 000 km in some applications and a two­year unlimited kilometre warranty bumper to bumper also contributes significantly to lower cost of ownership.

In the same Daimler stable as the Fuso Canter Bus is the new Mercedes­Benz OF 917 RF, a raised­floor bus chassis with a front­mounted 170 hp engine with a nine­ton Gross Vehicle Weight.

The MidiBus chassis will be equipped with 22 to 40­seater bus bodies, ideal for the com­ muter and coach segments.

Produced at the Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV) plant in the southeastern Indi­ an city of Chennai, the Mer­ cedes­Benz OF 917 RF bus chassis was built not only to be comfortable for passengers, but also for the driver.

“The new Mercedes­Benz OF 917 RF bus chassis is the perfect example of what hap­ pens when Daimler’s trusted expertise is combined with our valued customers’ inputs: the perfect product,” said Dirk An­ sorge, head of Mercedes­Benz South Africa Bus & Coach.

— Supplied.

For more information on Witness Wheels advertising Contact Avir on 084 278 3447 or Avir@witness.co.za

UD TRUCKS recently present­ ed the last UD40 produced at its Pretoria assembly plant to the Rhino Orphanage in Lim­ popo, as part an effort to con­ serve and protect rhinos for generations to come.

The suitably camouflaged UD40 will be utilised as a bush ambulance, to transport these very fragile and often se­ riously hurt baby rhinos to a place of safety. The truck will be fitted with a range of veteri­ nary equipment and will be able to move up to three baby rhinos at a time, while being cared for by a dedicated vet.

The Rhino Orphanage is a registered non­profit compa­ ny based in the Limpopo province, founded by Arrie van Deventer in 2012. The or­ phanage is the first specialist, dedicated, non­commercial centre that cares for orphaned or injured baby rhinos with

the only aim of releasing them back into the wild.

“Seeing that the legendary U41 range is now extinct, so to speak, we wanted to help the Rhino Orphanage prevent a living legend, the rhino, from going extinct as well in a very practical way,” said Rory Schulz, managing di­ rector of UD Trucks Southern Africa. “We believe the Ulti­ mately Dependable UD40 will support the Rhino Orphan­ age’s efforts in protecting rhi­ nos for generations to come.”

According to Van Deventer, UD Trucks and its staff truly have hearts of gold. “This do­ nated UD40 is greatly valued and will go a long way in sup­ porting our activities to save baby rhinos from certain death. Thank you to everyone at UD Trucks who played a part in assembling and donat­ ing this very special vehicle.”

Don’t have a self­driving car? No problem, Audi’s Ray Robot promises to park your car and retrieve it.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

AUDI CALLS IN ROBOT RAY AUDI is testing parking ro­ bots at its factory in Ingol­ stadt. Called Ray Robots, the low slung crab­like robots can move cars from the produc­ tion line to a temporary stor­ age area and sort the cars based on their shipping desti­ nations.

This enables plant workers to load them onto railway wagons with a minimum of fuss. The company is looking at other potential applica­ tions for the robots, too.

“The autonomous trans­ port of our automobiles could allow us to eliminate long walking distances for our em­ ployees and to improve the er­ gonomics of their work,” said board of management mem­ ber for production Professor

Hubert Waltl. “Systems like this also have the potential to increase the efficiency of our processes significantly.”

The Ray Robots are pro­ duced by Serva Transport Systems and are already de­ ployed at Düsseldorf Airport in Germany as an automated concierge service.

The versions in use at Audi have a frame measuring six by three metres, and sensors that determine the position and dimensions of a car. The car is then lifted by its wheels to a height of 10 cm and moved to a storage space allocated by the system’s control software.

The robots can even move long cars that measure up to 5,3 metres in length.

— Wheels Reporter.

MOTORING WitnessWheels

March 12, 2015

Insanely pricey bikes

7

The trouble with cycling

Artisans show their skills at the North American Handmade Bicycle Show BRIAN PAXTON BEN COXWORTH EVERY year, artisan bicycle builders from all over the world descend upon a different U.S. city to show their wares at the North American Handmade Bicycle Show.

This year, we travelled to Louisville, Kentucky, to take in the event. We de­ cided to begin our coverage with a very eye­catching one­of­a­kind bike that was built especially for the show, by Copenhagen­based Cykelmageren.

Besides its swoopy, pointy stainless steel frame, one of the most unique fea­ tures about the bike is its handlebars.

Instead of the usual horizontal rub­ ber grips, its are oriented vertically, and made from a composite that has a mar­ ble­like appearance. That same material is used to finish the sculpted custom wheel hubs.

The brake levers take the form of ca­ bles strung in front of those grips, cov­ ered with stacked steel rings – to acti­ vate the brakes, you just pull in one on one of those cables.

The custom­made shifters, mean­ while, utilise an arrangement of chains and gears located on the underside of the bars.

These ultimately link up to tradition­ al shifting cables, one of which leads to a vintage rear Campagnolo derailleur that’s been modified to work with mod­ ern indexed shifting.

Cykelmageren owner/designer Ras­ mus Gjesing estimates that the bicycle weighs about 15 kg. While it’s hard for him to say exactly how much it might

(Top) The Sarto 18K comes with gold plating and crocodile leather, but it is not the most expensive pedal­powered machine at the North American handmade cycle show. That dubious honour goes to the pointy Cykelmageren, designed by Rasmus Gjesing (right).

PHOTOS: GIZMAG.COM cost to buy, he did tell us that it’s insured for R1,8 million.

Crocodile leather and gold plating Because they’re made in small batches by hand, most of the bikes at the North American Handmade Bicycle Show are ... well, they ain’t cheap. One in particu­ lar, the Italian­made Sarto 18K, had a price tag of $27 000 (R325 285) when you could still get one. What would you get for that price? Gold and crocodile skin, for starters.

Yep, all of the gold­coloured bits that you see on the bike are in fact plated with 18­karat gold.

One of those pieces, a circular medal­ lion located at the front of the top tube, bears the initials of that specific bike’s individual owner — the 18K was made­ to­order, and its production run was limited to just 25 units.

The handlebars, chain stay and sad­ dle, meanwhile, are clad in black croco­ dile skin leather.

Its frame and pretty much all of its

main structural components are made of carbon fibre, resulting in a weight of just 9 kg. The mechanical components are mainly Campagnolo, with Campy’s Super Record EPS system electronically shifting gears.

The 18K is an entry in a contest cur­ rently under way at NAHBS, where judges will decide upon the best hand­ made Campagnolo­equipped bike. If only that contest was for the best croco­ dile­equipped bike, its win would be a sure thing.— Gizmag.com.

Cayenne motorcycle dealers throw down the gauntlet THE sales team at Kyalami do not just want to sell their MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR and Dragster 800 RR. Instead, they want to prove they are the best and have issued a challenge to this effect to retailers of all other bikes.

MV Augusta SA sales manager and co­owner of Cayenne World Craig Langton said the sales team are all keen riders, led by sales manager Clinton Seller, who is the current SA national champion. “They are all aware that the new three­cylinder MVA 800 RRs will match and beat all the larger 1 000 cc four­cylinder competitors.

“We will accept any challenge from our competitors, what the 800 RRs may, and I say may, lack in top­end they will make up in their light weight and handling,” said Langton.

The best thing about the two RR mo­ torcycles is the new MVICS 2.0 system, which optimises engine response at any rpm, adjusting output and further im­ proving the already impressive stride of

tronic assistance not only in the gear selection phase but also when down­ shifting.

It works in the Sport and Custom maps as long as the speed is above 30 km/h. It revolutionises one’s ap­ proach to riding. First and foremost, it optimises shifting times when riding sportily: at the same time it increases comfort if you are using the bike in the city or for touring. Last but not least, the Brutale 800 RR is even more atten­ tive to ergonomics: the seat has been reshaped to be more comfortable, func­ tional and attractive.

There are six models of the MV Agus­ ta 800s, all on sale at Cayenne dealers.

Retailers of the MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR have laid down a challenge to other sellers of what they deem lesser bikes.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED the MV Agusta three cylinder models.

The EAS 2.0 quickshifter is part of

the standard equipment that makes the RR units so exclusive: it provides elec­

MV Agusta 800 prices: • Rivale 800 Sport R149 900 • Brutale 800 R149 900 • Stradale 800 (New) R169 900 • Brutale Dragster 800 R169 900 • Brutale 800 RR R189 900 • F3 800 FAS/ABS R179 900. — WR.

World’s ‘best folder’

• Reprinted from the Mbendi newsletter with the permisison of the author.

New hog for city riding Harley Davidson has launched the Street 750 motorcycle for R90k in Cape Town. Built for the city commute, this lil’ hog has a liquid­cooled, 749 cc, over­bored engine designed to match the demands of stop­and­go traffic with instant throttle response through six gears. Dealerships offer a special with balloon payments (which this newspaper discourages) or 12% interest over 72 months.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

SOMETIME last week the wind blew a large green sheet of plastic into my garden.

As I put it in my box of recycling I noticed a label indicating that the plastic had originated with a syn­ thetic lawn company.

Now, where had I seen that name before? And then I remembered that I’d seen it while out riding on my bicycle just a few days previously.

I had been slowly cruising through the backstreets of a leafy lo­ cal suburb when my eye was taken by two small signs that had been erected on the verge in front of a house. The first was for the synthetic lawn company. The verge itself was pretty scruffy, with weeds and bare patches, so clearly the plastic lawn had been installed behind the front wall where I could hear the sound of kids happily playing. The second sign was for a well­known garden de­ sign and landscaping company.

As I rode on, I momentarily had visions of all the trees and plants in the garden likewise being replaced with rubber trees and plastic flowers that never shed their leaves and which bloomed all year round in all sorts of weather.

The “greenie” in me was immedi­ ately indignant. Instead of planting trees, shrubs and grass which could soak up carbon dioxide and help clean the atmosphere, here this landscaper was using artificial plants made in dirty chemical plants from hydrocarbon feedstocks.

And the children happily romping on the lawn and who probably think milk comes in bottles from the supermarket would be even further removed from nature.

For a second, I felt like turning in my tracks and ringing the doorbell so I could give the property owner a piece of my mind.

Then another green side of me ap­ peared. I suddenly realised that nev­ er again would that secluded garden witness a diesel­powered lawn mow­ er bursting into action in a puff of fumes.

And, if indeed, the trees had been replaced with artificial arbours, then no longer would the lilt of the leafblower waft across the neigh­ bourhood.

No precious water would be need­ ed to keep the plants healthy and green. I found myself wondering how much energy the owner would save in a year. And what about all those chemical fertilisers he’d used heretofore?

How long would it take for him to offset all the carbon that went in­ to making the raw materials and fin­ ished plants and then transporting them to their final resting place?

That’s the trouble with riding a bicycle. You see things you would never notice from a car and then you have time to conduct imaginary de­ bates with yourself about the small things that provide a pointer to where our big world is going — or not.

Canadian Peter Boutakis calls his the best folding bike in the world. Dubbed the Helix bike, the folded frame rolls on both wheels when pulled using the seat as an ergonomic handle and it measures only 584x635x229 mm. This means it will fit into the boot of any hatchback on sale today.

A titanium frame means the bike weighs only 9,5 kg.

PHOTO: HELIX

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8

WitnessWheels MOTORING

March 12, 2015

Electrifying rides for SA Billed as the Teslas of the two­wheeled world, the Zero bikes will provide thrills at low cost ALWYN VILJOEN CAYENNE World is awaiting the arrival of the first shipment of new Zero Electric motorcycles from the U.S. Cayenne World told Wheels they will be introducing three Zero models, the DS Dual Sport, the S Street Fighter and the high performance SR model, early in May. It took just over two years, but Craig Langton, sales director and co­owner of the Cayenne Group, said the deal is finally done and Cayenne has been appointed the official importer of Zero Electric motorcycles, the perfect commuter for South Africans.

Billed as the Teslas of the motorbike world, the electric drivetrains are pow­ erful enough to out­accelerate anything on the road today.

Former Pietermaritzburger Craig Marshall, now executive director of Electric Motorcycles Africa in Cape Town who pioneered the Zero bikes in South Africa in 2008, said each Zero is a blast to drive.

Marshall welcomed the Cayenne deal, saying the group brings the financial muscle to make Zero bikes more affordable in South Africa. He has sold 14 in five years, and told Wheels each one is still “absolutely mind blow­ ing to ride”.

“I’ve been commuting on a Zero since 2009 from Somerset to Cape Town. It costs me six cents per kilome­ tre and just simplifies biking because there are so few moving parts.

SPINNING BLOCK OF LEVITATING ICE MAKES POWER

V CRAIG MARSHALL pioneer importer of Zero bikes to SA

It costs me six cents per kilometre and just simplifies biking …

Zero electric motorbikes, billed as Tesla’s on two wheels, will out­accelerate anything in the morning commute but cost a lot less to run. Three models arrive at Cayenne in May. PHOTO: SUPPLIED “But because all the torque is availa­ ble from zero revs, the Zero bikes deliv­ ers a thrill each time,” said.

Asked what the Zero SR feels like with 144 Nm from the start, Marshall said it does the 0 to 100 km/h run in three

seconds flat. “This is one bike we demo only in eco mode,” Marshall told Wheels.

Driven with verve, the batteries of the Zero bikes have a range of up to 250 km plus on one charge, and the batteries

can be charged anywhere from a normal household plug. While overnight charging is recommended, one can do short distances on a two­hour charge.

Andy le May, owner of Ewizz electric scooters in Cape Town, said the best

part of the Zero electric motorbikes are that they will prove cheaper to operate than a car or even a medium to large motorcycle with a petrol engine.

Langton said Cayenne’s finance part­ ner Motor Finance Corporation, a divi­ sion of Nedbank, will support the new Zero with repayment options of R1 950 per month over 72 months, with a three­ year guaranteed buyback, a five­year or 160 000 km warranty and a free service plan. Cash prices for the bikes will be confirmed when they land next month.

To book a test ride, call Zero South Africa at Cayenne World at 011 244 1900.

Audi unleashes its latest R8 LMS GT3 racing beast

COLIN JEFFREY FUTURE missions to Mars may well be powered by carbon dioxide­fuelled en­ gines, thanks to a recent prototype de­ veloped by Northumbria and Edinburgh universities.

Exploiting a phenomenon known as the Leidenfrost effect, researchers hope that their engine could be powered by the vast amount of dry­ice deposits found on the red planet, thereby reduc­ ing the need to transport fuel on inter­ planetary missions.

The new type of engine proposed by the researchers takes advantage of the Leidenfrost effect, which is commonly observed when beads of water dropped onto the face of a hot frying pan appear to canter across its surface. The phe­ nomenon is exaggerated when the sur­ face is composed of ridges, where the droplet effectively propels itself across the top of those ridges.

To create a prototype engine using this effect, the research teams were able to levitate a circular block of dry ice above a heated aluminium surface, where it floated on a pillow of evaporated gas va­ pour over a circular pattern of ridges, in effect creating a turbine. This meant that when the dry ice was subject to the Lei­ denfrost effect, instead of simply rolling across and off the surface, it rotated in a circle. With a series of magnets and copper coils attached, the block of ice acts as an electric motor to create an alternating current. This is the first time that the Leidenfrost effect has been used to produce any useful form of energy, explained Dr Gary Wells, a re­ search fellow in the department: Physics and Electrical Engineering at Northum­ bria University. On Mars, the aluminium plate will be heated using waste heat and exploit the low boiling point of frozen car­ bon dioxide. — Gizmag.com.

The new Audi R8 LMS racer not only meets the new GT3 safety standards that are set to be introduced in 2016, but meets the crash test requirements for the much lighter Le Mans prototypes.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED THE brand new Audi R8 has only been out for a matter of weeks, but Ingol­ stadt’s engineers have already turned it into a GT3 racer.

The R8 LMS racer not only meets the new GT3 safety standards that are set to be introduced in 2016, but meets the crash test requirements for the much lighter Le Mans prototypes.

To achieve this, Audi has modified the car’s front crash structure and used carbon fibre–reinforced polymer (CFRP) for the rear structure.

A big part of the LMS’s safety pack­

age is the Audi Protection Seat PS 1, which is connected directly to the chas­ sis for greater stiffness and can be easi­ ly accessed through the roof by medics if the car is involved in an accident.

Despite the weight that comes with this extra safety equipment, the new R8 LMS is 25 kg lighter than the outgo­ ing car. This is thanks to the use of alu­ minium in the car’s spaceframe and CFRP for structural reinforcement.

Powering the R8 LMS is a lightly modified version of the road­going R8’s 5,2­litre V10, which produces

430 kW (585 hp). It is built on the same assembly line as the standard car’s mo­ tor, and Audi claims that its scheduled rebuild intervals of 20 000 km sets the standards in racing. As part of the new R8 LMS package, Audi has fitted the car with wishbones specifically de­ signed for racing, while the six­speed transmission has been developed to be significantly lighter.

Audi has also replaced the old car’s electronics system with a new MS 6.4 system that takes care of engine man­ agement, traction control and gear­

shift mapping.

Alongside the motor and electronic upgrades, the new LMS is the first R8 to be fitted with a fully lined undertray and integrated rear diffuser — an ad­ vance that allows the rear wing to work more effectively.

The new R8 LMS will race in the 24­hour races at the Nürburgring (May 16­17) and at Spa (July 25­26), while quattro GmbH, which develops and assembles the race cars, will begin to take customer orders in the second half of the year. — Gizmag.com.