Wheels_22_Oct_2015
KwaZulu-Natal's best read on all things wheeled, from solar cars to cracked skateboards.
KwaZulu-Natal's best read on all things wheeled, from solar cars to cracked skateboards.
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The<br />
latest on<br />
boards and<br />
skaters<br />
PAGE 3<br />
<strong>Oct</strong>ober <strong>22</strong>, <strong>2015</strong><br />
Witness<br />
WHEELS<br />
ASH CAR SALES<br />
Dealers in Superfine Exotic and Sports Cars<br />
Tel: 033 345 1971, 033 342 4717<br />
Fax: 033 342 2900 - www.ashcarsales.co.za<br />
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Chasing the sun in Oz<br />
SHOWING<br />
CARS, BIKES<br />
AND TRUCKS<br />
UKZN leads<br />
Africa’s quest<br />
for a top 10<br />
in solar race<br />
ALWYN VILJOEN<br />
WHILE KZN enjoys a brief respite<br />
from the summer heat today, in<br />
Australia, two university teams<br />
from South Africa are chasing the<br />
Australian sun for a top 10 spot<br />
in the biennial Bridgestone World<br />
Solar Challenge.<br />
The solar teams from the universities<br />
of KZN (UKZN) and the<br />
North West (NWU) are the first<br />
teams from Africa to compete<br />
against 47 teams from 25 countries<br />
in this historic race, which<br />
ends on Sunday after a 3 000 km<br />
route from Darwin in the north to<br />
Adelaide in the south of Australia.<br />
With its solar<br />
roof tilted to<br />
catch the last<br />
rays after a<br />
dust storm in<br />
Australia, the<br />
University of<br />
the North<br />
West’s Sirius<br />
X25 is<br />
currently<br />
second last in<br />
the Challenger<br />
Class of the<br />
World Solar<br />
Challenge.<br />
PHOTO:<br />
TWITTER<br />
The UKZN team named their<br />
oneseater car Hulamin, while the<br />
NWU calls their the Sirius X25.<br />
Both are racing in the Challenger<br />
class, which UKZN coleader Kirsty<br />
Veale described as the “F1 of<br />
solar car racing.”<br />
Laying 11th among 28 teams<br />
yesterday, the tiny KZN’s team<br />
had the best shot at ending in the<br />
top 10 for Africa against some of<br />
the wealthiest universities in the<br />
world.<br />
UKZN coleader Dr Clint Bemont<br />
said while the KZN team are<br />
the underdogs, they are aiming for<br />
medals. “We hope to beat teams<br />
from some of the best Universities<br />
in the World like Stanford, Cambridge,<br />
MIT and even Delft,” said<br />
Bemont.<br />
Stella Lux sets new record<br />
In the more sedate Cruiser class,<br />
the car that is drawing the most<br />
attention is called Stella Lux, built<br />
by the students at the Eindhoven<br />
University of Technology at a rumoured<br />
cost of close to R30 million.<br />
On Tuesday, the ecstatic<br />
“sparky” for Team Eindhoven,<br />
Qurein Biewenga — who schooled<br />
in Pretoria — tweeted Stella had<br />
raced a record distance of 1 500<br />
km on a single charge, driving at<br />
an average speed of 80 km/h.<br />
To put this record in perspective,<br />
the team’s spokesperson and<br />
one of Stella’s drivers, Liselotte<br />
Kockelkoren, said a Toyota Prius<br />
can only do 60 km on the same<br />
charge at the same speed.”<br />
Stella Lux is the second iteration<br />
of the solar car that achieved<br />
875 km in the 2013 race and in the<br />
two years since, the Dutch students<br />
made what they say is the<br />
world’s first family car that runs<br />
only on sun light.<br />
NEXT week sees Shongweni<br />
hosting the annual Car, Truck,<br />
Bike and Outdoor Expo.<br />
The show opens with the<br />
fourth annual truck safety<br />
conference at Shongweni on<br />
Friday, <strong>Oct</strong>ober 30, from 10<br />
am. Guest speakers will<br />
present 20 minute sessions on<br />
pressing issues in transport, as<br />
well as present certificates to<br />
drivers who competed in the<br />
Thuthukisa Abashayeli Driver<br />
of the Year competition. The<br />
KZN Department of Transport<br />
is a proud partner of the conference,<br />
with Transport MEC<br />
Willies Mchunu to address the<br />
assembled fleet operators as<br />
they table issues that plague<br />
their business operations.<br />
Mchunu has used past conferences<br />
to meet with road users<br />
and give his opinion on the<br />
topics raised by the attending<br />
forum.<br />
For more information,<br />
email clydel@telkomsa.net.<br />
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2013 Suzuki Alto GLS15<br />
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2 Witness<strong>Wheels</strong> MOTORING<br />
<strong>Oct</strong>ober <strong>22</strong>, <strong>2015</strong><br />
Cars with the friendliest faces<br />
FANELESIBONGE NYAWO<br />
EVER looked at a car and realised that it was<br />
actually smiling at you, or giving you a very<br />
aggressive stare?<br />
You were not paranoid — cars do growl or<br />
grin at you! The shape of a vehicle’s headlights<br />
make a “facial expression” and — until<br />
someone invents the smiley or frowny LED<br />
lights — these expressions cannot change. The<br />
car the driver chooses will permanently smiles<br />
at fellow road users, or gives them that angry<br />
look. (Which, of course, raises all kinds of<br />
questions about their drivers…)<br />
A quick poll among the girlfriends list these<br />
as the three vehicles on our roads that look<br />
so friendly, you want to smile back at them.<br />
#1 Mazda BT50 Bakkie<br />
The Mazda BT50 is the friendliest of the bunch<br />
and it’s kind of funny because it has a very<br />
huge body like those muscular guys in the gym<br />
who never smile!<br />
#2 Toyota Corolla<br />
The Toyota Corolla Professional’s grille gives it<br />
that jaggedup smile — the one a person has a<br />
few days after a visit to the dentist!<br />
#3 Hyundai i10<br />
The Hyundai i10 has a not so broad but yet<br />
again not so tiny smile — it has the type of<br />
smile kids from Toddlers and Tiaras have after<br />
very tense face muscle workout!<br />
Soot and shroom power<br />
Candle soot<br />
to drive<br />
nextgen<br />
electric cars?<br />
German company Bosch predicts the<br />
world will see 15% of all new vehicles having<br />
an electrical powertrain by 2025 and<br />
is investing €400 million a year in electromobility.<br />
Their quest is to create a battery that will<br />
give 50 kilowatt hours and weigh about<br />
190 kg. To put this in perspective, the average<br />
lead battery in today’s cars weighs<br />
about 20 kg and makes only 0,5 kilowatt<br />
hours.<br />
A recent study shows carbon from burning<br />
a candle could be all it takes to make<br />
an inexpensive but powerful electric car<br />
battery, according to new research published<br />
in Electrochimica Acta.<br />
The research reveals that candle soot<br />
could be used to power the kind of lithium<br />
ion battery used in plugin electric cars.<br />
The authors of the study, from the Indian<br />
Institute of Technology (IIT) in Hyderabad,<br />
India, say their discovery opens up the<br />
possibilities to use carbon in more powerful<br />
batteries, driving down the costs of portable<br />
power.<br />
Lithium ion batteries power many devices,<br />
from smartphones and digital cameras<br />
all the way up to cars and even aircraft.<br />
The batteries work by having two electrically<br />
charged materials suspended in a liquid<br />
to produce a current. Carbon is used<br />
as one of those materials in smaller batteries,<br />
but for bigger, more powerful batteries<br />
— such as those used in electric cars — carbon<br />
is not suitable because of its structure,<br />
which cannot produce the required current<br />
density.<br />
In the new study, Dr Chandra Sharma<br />
and Dr Manohar Kakunuri found that because<br />
of the shape and configuration of the<br />
tiny carbon nanoparticles, the carbon in<br />
candle soot is suitable for use in bigger batteries.<br />
What’s more, because the soot could<br />
be produced quickly and easily, it is a scalable<br />
approach to making batteries.<br />
“If you put a water droplet on candle<br />
soot it rolls off — that’s an observation<br />
Artist Steve Spazuk uses fumage, a technique developed in the thirties to<br />
create images using soot from a candle or kerosene lamp. Now the soot can<br />
make better lithium batteries.<br />
PHOTO: DISTRICTMONTREAL.COM<br />
that’s been made in the last few years. The<br />
material candle soot is made of, carbon, also<br />
has electric potential. So why not use<br />
it as an electrode?” asked Sharma, author<br />
of the study. “We looked into it and saw<br />
it also shows some exceptional electrochemical<br />
properties, so we decided to test<br />
it further.”<br />
When a candle burns, it gives off clouds<br />
of black soot made of carbon.<br />
The researchers looked at the soot collected<br />
from the tip of a candle flame and<br />
from the middle of the flame and compared<br />
the size, shape and structure of the carbon.<br />
The results showed that the burning<br />
process forms nanoparticles of carbon that<br />
are 30 to 40 nanometres across and are<br />
joined together in an interconnected network.<br />
They also found that the soot recovered<br />
from the tip of a candle flame, which<br />
burns at 1 400° C, has fewer impurities like<br />
wax, making it perform better as an electrical<br />
conductor.<br />
Their analyses show the shape and size<br />
of the carbon nanoparticles from soot, and<br />
the way they are joined together, makes<br />
soot an effective conducting material, with<br />
a high cyclic chargedischarge (CCD).<br />
The researchers says the technology is<br />
efficient and costeffective. It is also scalable.<br />
They now plan to develop a candle soot<br />
battery to test the technology further. They<br />
are also planning to test hybrid materials<br />
that contain candle soot to see if they can<br />
make it an even better material for batteries.<br />
— <strong>Wheels</strong> Reporter.<br />
For more information on Witness <strong>Wheels</strong> advertising<br />
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or<br />
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New lithium ion battery<br />
made of mushrooms<br />
NICK LAVARS<br />
CAN portabella mushrooms stop<br />
lithium ion batteries from degrading<br />
over time?<br />
Researchers at the University of<br />
California, Riverside Bourns College<br />
of Engineering, think so.<br />
They have created a new type of<br />
lithium ion battery anode using portabella<br />
mushrooms, which are inexpensive,<br />
environmentally friendly<br />
and easy to produce.<br />
The current industry standard for<br />
rechargeable lithium ion battery anodes<br />
is synthetic graphite, which<br />
comes with a high cost of manufacturing<br />
because it requires tedious purification<br />
and preparation processes<br />
that are also harmful to the environment.<br />
With the anticipated increase in<br />
batteries needed for electric vehicles<br />
and electronics, a cheaper and sustainable<br />
source to replace graphite is<br />
needed. Using biomass, a biological<br />
material from living or recently living<br />
organisms, as a replacement for<br />
graphite, has drawn recent attention<br />
because of its high carbon content,<br />
low cost and environmental friendliness.<br />
UC Riverside engineers were<br />
drawn to using mushrooms as a form<br />
of biomass because past research has<br />
established they are highly porous,<br />
meaning they have a lot of small spaces<br />
for liquid or air to pass through.<br />
That porosity is important for batteries<br />
because it creates more space<br />
for the storage and transfer of energy,<br />
a critical component to improving<br />
battery performance.<br />
In addition, the high potassium<br />
salt concentration in mushrooms allows<br />
for increased electrolyteactive<br />
material over time by activating<br />
more pores, gradually increasing its<br />
capacity.<br />
A conventional anode allows lithium<br />
to access fully most of the material<br />
during the first few cycles and capacity<br />
fades from electrode damage<br />
occurs from that point on. The<br />
mushroom carbon anode technology<br />
could, with optimisation, replace<br />
graphite anodes. It also provides a<br />
binderless and currentcollector free<br />
approach to anode fabrication.<br />
“With battery materials like this,<br />
future cellphones may see an increase<br />
in run time after many uses,<br />
rather than a decrease, due to apparent<br />
activation of blind pores within<br />
the carbon architectures as the cell<br />
charges and discharges over time,”<br />
said Brennan Campbell, a graduate<br />
student in the materials science and<br />
engineering programme at UC Riverside.<br />
The research findings were outlined<br />
in a paper, “BioDerived, Binderless,<br />
Hierarchically Porous Carbon<br />
Anodes for Liion Batteries”, published<br />
in the journal Scientific Reports.<br />
It was authored by Cengiz Ozkan<br />
and Mihri Ozkan, both professors<br />
in the Bourns College of<br />
Engineering, and three of their current<br />
or former graduate students:<br />
Campbell, Robert Ionescu and Zachary<br />
Favors.<br />
Nanocarbon architectures derived<br />
from biological materials such as<br />
mushrooms can be considered a<br />
green and sustainable alternative to<br />
graphitebased anodes, said Cengiz<br />
Ozkan, a professor of mechanical engineering<br />
and materials science and<br />
engineering.<br />
The nanoribbonlike architectures<br />
transform upon heat treatment<br />
into an interconnected porous network<br />
architecture which is important<br />
for battery electrodes because such<br />
architectures possess a very large<br />
surface area for the storage of energy,<br />
a critical component to improving<br />
battery performance.<br />
One of the problems with conventional<br />
carbons, such as graphite, is<br />
that they are typically prepared with<br />
chemicals such as acids and activated<br />
by bases that are not environmentally<br />
friendly, said Mihri Ozkan, a professor<br />
of electrical and computer engineering.<br />
Therefore, the UC Riverside<br />
team are focused on naturally<br />
derived carbons, such as the skin of<br />
the caps of portabella mushrooms,<br />
for making batteries.<br />
It is expected that nearly 900 000<br />
tons of natural raw graphite would<br />
be needed for anode fabrication for<br />
nearly six million electric vehicles<br />
forecast to be built by 2020.<br />
This requires that the graphite be<br />
treated with harsh chemicals, including<br />
hydrofluoric and sulfuric acids,<br />
a process that creates large quantities<br />
of hazardous waste. The European<br />
Union projects this process will be<br />
unsustainable in the future.<br />
The Ozkans’ research is supported<br />
by the University of California, Riverside.<br />
This paper involving mushrooms<br />
is published just over a year after the<br />
Ozkans’ labs developed a lithiumion<br />
battery anode based on nanosilicon<br />
via beach sand as the natural raw material.<br />
The Ozkans’ team are currently<br />
working on the development of<br />
pouch prototype batteries based on<br />
nanosilicon anodes.<br />
The UCR Office of Technology<br />
Commercialisation has filed patents.<br />
— Gizmag.
<strong>Oct</strong>ober <strong>22</strong>, <strong>2015</strong> MOTORING Witness<strong>Wheels</strong> 3<br />
A sense of occasion<br />
BRIAN BASSETT<br />
explores lofty<br />
living in the new<br />
BMW 218i Active<br />
Tourer Sport Line<br />
WHEN BMW launched its new Active<br />
Tourer range earlier this year, it set the<br />
motoring Internet buzzing. This was<br />
the first frontwheel drive vehicle mass<br />
produced by the brand and it is<br />
equipped with BMW’s first threecylinder<br />
engine.<br />
There was much comment about the<br />
dilution of the brand, presumably because<br />
the 218 Active Tourer looks nothing<br />
like the M3 and you cannot now do<br />
power slides with every BMW model<br />
in existence. BMW did, however, acknowledged<br />
the fact that the owners of<br />
this people mover are far more concerned<br />
with wiping baby drool off the<br />
upholstery and getting luggage into the<br />
boot, than getting sideways into a tightening<br />
righthand corner on a racetrack.<br />
The real questions are: does it work<br />
and will you buy it? My thanks to Anthony<br />
Ellis, new dealer principal at<br />
SMG Pietermaritzburg, for allowing<br />
me a few days with the vehicle to find<br />
out.<br />
Styling<br />
The Active Tourer cannot be described<br />
as beautiful, but it is a practical design<br />
wrapped in a pleasant aesthetic.<br />
The front is dominated by the trademark<br />
BMW kidney grill flanked by two,<br />
swept back LED headlight pods, a centrally<br />
placed BMW badge and fog lamps<br />
built into the front bumper. The car has<br />
powerful contours and dynamic lines,<br />
while the high roofline adds to its distinctive<br />
image.<br />
Deep creases along the sides break<br />
up the scale of the sheet metal and the<br />
17inch alloys complete the design. The<br />
welldesigned auto tailgate can be operated<br />
either by a sideways foot movement<br />
or by using the car’s smart key.<br />
In all, the design projects a sense of<br />
occasion which cannot be ignored.<br />
Interior<br />
The Active Tourer’s transverse frontwheel<br />
drive pays off in the interior, as<br />
there is no transmission tunnel and this<br />
adds to the interior space.<br />
The Sport Line has contoured sports<br />
seats that are comfortable for even a<br />
The new BMW 218i Active Tourer.<br />
PHOTO: SUPPLIED<br />
bulky figure like mine and the leather<br />
upholstery and interior finishes are of<br />
the best quality with storage spaces everywhere.<br />
The rear seats will take three<br />
Springbok forwards with ease and are<br />
also adjustable to enhance boot space,<br />
which is 468 litres with all seats in place<br />
and 1 510 litres with the rear seats folded<br />
down in a 40:20:40 split.<br />
Interior finishes are outlined in red,<br />
adding a pleasant sporty touch. The<br />
controls are vintage BMW with large<br />
easytoread dials and supporting digital<br />
information which makes for easy<br />
driving.<br />
The dash is framed by a threespoke,<br />
leathercovered, multifunction steering<br />
wheel which handles the radio, Bluetooth<br />
and speedcontrol functions.<br />
And the centrally placed, leathercovered<br />
gear stick for the tiptronic gearbox<br />
is easy to reach and operate.<br />
The dualzone climate control is extremely<br />
effective and the radio, CD/aux<br />
multispeaker audio system, delivered<br />
beautifully the Bach that I played<br />
through it.<br />
At the centre of the dash is a 6,5inch<br />
iPodlike screen that is operated by a<br />
controller in the central stack. It brings<br />
together all the visuals for the Idrive system<br />
and, if you have the right programs,<br />
will connect you with social media.<br />
Safety and Security<br />
The focus of this MPV is to convey fami<br />
lies efficiently and safely to their destinations.<br />
Not surprisingly, the Active<br />
Tourer is equipped with a wide range<br />
of technologies to ensure that you and<br />
your family arrive alive.<br />
Besides the usual alphabet soup of<br />
ABS with EBD, dynamic stability control,<br />
seat belts for all and six air bags,<br />
there is a range of driver assists like park<br />
assist and hill start assist and the rather<br />
interesting approach warning, which<br />
warns if your distance to the vehicle in<br />
front of you is too small.<br />
Dynamic stability control optimises<br />
directional stability and traction traffic<br />
queue assist which, when engaged, controls<br />
the speed of the car in dense traffic.<br />
So the only unknown factor in this impressive<br />
raft of safety measures is the<br />
driver. The vehicle also has the usual<br />
central locking and onboard alarm, as<br />
well as childsafety locks and childseat<br />
anchors at the rear.<br />
Handling<br />
The 218’s most impressive party trick<br />
is the threecylinder turbocharged engine.<br />
This is a revelation and a cuttingedge<br />
example of what modern technologies<br />
can achieve.<br />
The threecylinder delivers 100 kw of<br />
power and <strong>22</strong>0 Nm of torque, with zero<br />
to 100 km/h coming up in 9,2 seconds<br />
and a top speed of 205 km/h. Combined<br />
fuel consumption for me was about six<br />
litres to 100 km.<br />
The car is responsive, immediate,<br />
willing and seemingly unburstable, and<br />
the chassis is able to express this on<br />
road via the sixspeed automatic gearbox.<br />
In town, the car is enjoyable and<br />
gives a quiet ride, with responsive steering<br />
with good feedback.<br />
Parking is no problem with park assist.<br />
On the N3, as well as on the notorious<br />
Midlands D roads, the 218 is fun<br />
to drive in a segment where some participants<br />
are about as much fun as the<br />
morning medicine round in a geriatric<br />
ward.<br />
The car is balanced in all conditions<br />
and the frontwheel drive is a nonevent.<br />
Sport mode changes the nature<br />
of the car, but fully loaded it has to work<br />
hard to achieve BMWtype performance.<br />
This trendy people carrier will win<br />
new customers for BMW and have the<br />
space to welcome them.<br />
Costs and competition<br />
The entry model 218 comes in at<br />
R380 000 and the auto version will<br />
cost you around R400 000.<br />
The rangetopping <strong>22</strong>5i auto comes<br />
in at about R450 000.<br />
You also get the extendable BMW<br />
fiveyear or 100 000 km motor plan<br />
and a manufacturer’s guarantee.<br />
The competition is fierce, so also<br />
look at the Mercedes B Class, Volkswagen<br />
Golf SV, Peugeot 308 and Citroën<br />
C4 Picasso.<br />
Great idea may<br />
be grounded<br />
NOT looking like they will<br />
make their funding goal of<br />
$100 000 (R1 323 950), a<br />
group of young engineers<br />
and designers ‘who believe<br />
passionately in sustainable<br />
transportation’, may have to<br />
shelve their Steam board,<br />
the ‘smallest and longestrunning<br />
electric skateboard<br />
with an inwheel motor’.<br />
Described as ‘extremely<br />
portable, the board can do<br />
18 km on a charge, with a<br />
top speed of 35 km/h —<br />
faster than riding a bicycle.<br />
When you do need to<br />
recharge the battery, it<br />
takes only 90 minutes. A<br />
handheld remote controls<br />
the throttle and braking of<br />
the board with thumb<br />
slider. The farther you push<br />
the slider forwards, the<br />
faster the board will go.<br />
Pulling the slider back sets<br />
the motor in braking mode.<br />
The slider can move the<br />
board forwards or<br />
backwards.<br />
THE NUMBERS:<br />
Size: 78,5×21×12 cm<br />
Weight: 4,8 kg<br />
Top speed: around 35,5 km<br />
Max rider capacity: Tested<br />
to 99 kilogrammes<br />
Drive system: inwheel<br />
Direct drive technology<br />
range: up to 18 km<br />
(depending on the load and<br />
stability)<br />
Brake type: electronic<br />
Regenerative braking<br />
Charge time: 90 minutes<br />
Connectivity Bluetooth lowenergy<br />
Deck material: Canadian<br />
maple<br />
Wheel: 89 mm 80a<br />
Battery cycle life: over<br />
1 000 fullcharge cycles<br />
Oneyear warranty (drive<br />
system and remote).<br />
PHOTO: SUPPLIED<br />
VW PULLS OUT OF<br />
RALLY CHAMPS<br />
Top skaters chill after KDC<br />
Moses Adams shows what happens when a 360 goes<br />
wrong in mid air. Adams and skaters Allan Dams, Siphiwe<br />
Kwesha and Mikey Mendoza ended up in Cape Town last<br />
Sunday, following a road trip after the <strong>2015</strong> Street<br />
Skateboarding World Championships, which was held in<br />
front of capacity crowds at the Kumba Skate Park in<br />
Kimberley, from <strong>Oct</strong>ober 7 to <strong>Oct</strong>ober 10. The world’s top<br />
skaters competed for a purse of $100 000 (R1 3<strong>22</strong> 165) in<br />
nine events ranging from the TopGrom African Champs to<br />
the Women’s Street Champs. The finals were broadcast<br />
live on Eversport, with street skaters Nyjah Huston and<br />
Luan Oliveira battling it out for top honours. More on<br />
kimberleydiamondcup.com<br />
PHOTO: TYRONE BRADLEY/RED BULL CONTENT POOL<br />
Baby strollers go robotic<br />
CHARLES Bombardier’s latest idea is<br />
to update the old baby stroller.<br />
His Mujïn concept requires no parent<br />
to push it; instead, the Mujïn will follow<br />
parents as they walk or jog. Each Mujïn<br />
will be paired with its baby and parents,<br />
to follow orders given only by the parents.<br />
Bombardier said he asked Xavier<br />
Gordillo to create images for the idea,<br />
and Gordillo took inspiration from the<br />
robotic wheelchair invented by Dean<br />
Kamen, which can also climb stairs.<br />
Futurustic<br />
strollers<br />
that follow<br />
the<br />
parents.<br />
PHOTO:<br />
SUPPLIED<br />
In his column in Canada’s Globe and<br />
Mail, Bombardier said: “The stairclimbing<br />
system would need to be developed<br />
further. We thought about using<br />
a system similar to the Ibot wheelchair<br />
and having the wheels rotate<br />
going upstairs or downstairs ... Parents<br />
would probably want to keep their<br />
hands on the Mujïn while it’s climbing<br />
or descending stairs but the Mujïn<br />
could accomplish this on it’s own too.<br />
It would also be possible to use the Mujïn<br />
like a conventional stroller.” — WR.<br />
VOLKSWAGEN has finally confirmed<br />
the rumours that it will pull its works<br />
team from the national rally championship.<br />
In a statement released after the<br />
Polokwane Rally on Sunday, Volkswagen’s<br />
Motorsport head Mike Rowe said:<br />
“Volkswagen Motorsport will, in future,<br />
focus on supporting privateer teams<br />
and the National Rally Commission as<br />
a technical partner.<br />
“Volkswagen will also sponsor the<br />
2016 Volkswagen Rally and support for<br />
circuit racing will continue, including<br />
an entry in the new GTC formula<br />
mooted for 2016.<br />
“The Volkswagen Motorsport team,<br />
the drivers, navigators and all our<br />
sponsors, especially Esteq, have<br />
earned our thanks for their support,<br />
dedication and hard work over the<br />
years.”<br />
He added that VW hopes to enjoy<br />
future partnerships with Sasol.<br />
There is no news yet if any of the<br />
VW driving pairs, Henk Lategan and<br />
Barry White, Gugu Zulu and Hilton<br />
Auffray, and Hergen Fekken and Pierre<br />
Arries, will race as privateers. — WR.
PIETERMARITZBURG<br />
PRE-OWNED<br />
<strong>2015</strong> KIA CERATO KOUP A/T DEMO<br />
100 km<br />
<strong>2015</strong> KIA SORENTO 2,4 PETROL DEMO<br />
M/T, 5seater<br />
2013 KIA SPORTAGE 2,0 AUTO AWD<br />
44 000 km<br />
<strong>2015</strong> KIA K2700 TIPPER DEMO<br />
R334 995<br />
R384 995<br />
R284 995<br />
R249 995<br />
2009 TOYOTAFORTUNER 3,0 D4D MANUAL<br />
162 700 km<br />
2013 TOYOTA FORTUNER 2,5 D4D MANUAL<br />
59 000 km<br />
2012 SUBARU LINEARTRONIC XV 2,0<br />
70 300 km<br />
2009 VW TIQUAN 2,0 TDi SPORT AND<br />
STYLE-TRIPTRONIC<br />
R199 995<br />
R289 995<br />
R<strong>22</strong>9 995<br />
R189 995<br />
2012 AUDI A5 2,0 FSi STRONIC<br />
QUATTRO<br />
74 531 km<br />
2011 AUDI 1,4 TFSi<br />
AMBITION 3-DR<br />
60 000 km<br />
2011 AUDI A5 COUPÉ 2-DOOR 3,0 TDi<br />
TIPTRONIC QUATTRO<br />
105 000 km<br />
2009 AUDI A5 COUPÉ 2,0 TFSi<br />
TIPTRONIC<br />
80 200 km<br />
R284 995<br />
R179 995<br />
R289 995<br />
R239 995<br />
2008 MERCEDES C180 CLASSIC A/T<br />
ELEGANCE<br />
118 270 km<br />
2011 TOYOTAHILUX RAIDER 3,0 D4D<br />
99 400 km<br />
2011 BMW 118I 1SERIES MANUAL<br />
125Kw<br />
63 000 km<br />
2012 BMW X1 SDRIVE 2,0i A/T<br />
73 609 km<br />
R159 995<br />
R264 995<br />
R<strong>22</strong>4 995<br />
R249 995<br />
2011 KIA SPORTAGE 2,0 -MANUAL<br />
2013 VW POLO CROSS 1,6 -MANUAL PETROL<br />
79 800 km, silver 43 000 km<br />
2014 MAZDA 31,6 SPORT DYNAMIC<br />
2012 CITROEN DS3 THP 1,6 SPORT<br />
27 082 km 97 635 km<br />
R199 995<br />
R189 995<br />
R179 995<br />
R139 995<br />
2013 KIA RIO 1,2 HATCH<br />
49 541 km<br />
2013 CORSA UTILITY 1,4 SPORT<br />
53 410 km, blue<br />
2012 PEUGEOT 308 1,6 COMFORT<br />
45 560 km<br />
2013 DUSTER 1,5 DCi 4x4 DYNAMIQUE<br />
<strong>22</strong> 100km<br />
R139 995<br />
R149 995<br />
R134 995<br />
R199 995<br />
324 Hoosen Haffejee (Berg) Street. Tel: 033 345 3692 •Shan: 082 457 4253 •www.kiapmb.co.za<br />
T’s&C’sApply
By Pieter from Maritzburg<br />
Ah, the good old days!<br />
Remember the good old days? The grass was greener, the days were longer and full of magic. The shows<br />
on TV were better. Back in the good old days, we made our own fun. Young people didn’t wear such<br />
outlandish outfits. We didn’t have all these new-fangled inventions. Times were simpler, healthier,<br />
cheaper.<br />
On the other hand, I wouldn’t want to live without the benefits of the modern world. I need my<br />
smartphone, my DSTV (especially in the rugby season), my high-speed internet. I like modern music; I<br />
like the latest movies. The present is a good place to be.<br />
It’s a quandary, isn’t it?<br />
The folks at Baron’s Pietermaritzburg have managed to bring the past and the present together. What<br />
do I mean? Well now you can get a brand New Polo Sedan, with all the latest accoutrements and luxuries,<br />
at lower-than-2014 prices!<br />
It turns out you really can have the best of both worlds!<br />
Barons VW Pietermaritzburg can be found at 9 Armitage Road. They are committed to bringing you<br />
quality cars and excellent service at the best possible prices ALL year round! To start hunting for your<br />
dream vehicle, visit www.baronsvwpmb.co.za. And to book a test drive or service call (033) 845 3100.<br />
Open Monday – Friday 8am – 5pm, and Saturdays 8am – 1pm.<br />
Anything New Polo is possible GTI. in SA’s #1 selling vehicle. 2014 prices in <strong>2015</strong>.<br />
Ultimate Performance = Ultimate Confidence.<br />
Polo Vivo 1.4 55kW Conceptline<br />
from R1,698* per month.<br />
The Polo Vivo 1.4 55kW Conceptline standard features include:<br />
- Power steering<br />
- Multi-Point-Injection (MPI)<br />
- Anti-lock brake system (ABS)<br />
- Driver and passenger airbags<br />
- Air-conditioning<br />
- 14” Steel wheels<br />
Model<br />
Polo Vivo 1.4<br />
55kW Conceptline<br />
Vehicle Price<br />
Visit us on www.baronsvw.co.za<br />
Monthly<br />
Instalments<br />
No. of Interest Rate<br />
Instalments Linked / Variable<br />
R147,900 R1,698* 72 6.99%*<br />
Deposit<br />
11%<br />
(R16,269)<br />
Balloon<br />
Payment<br />
37.5%<br />
(R55,463)<br />
An optional cost of R900 incl VAT will be charged for metallic paint. Note: *Linked to FNB prime<br />
rate, currently 9.5%. Note: Offers calculated on the Polo Vivo 1.4 55kW Conceptline model in standard<br />
specification. Instalment excludes optional extras, but includes monthly administration fee of R57 and<br />
initiation fee of R1,140. Offers may not be used in conjunction with any other special service or offering.<br />
Subject to bank approval. Information subject to change without prior notification. All finance offers are<br />
subject to credit approval from Volkswagen Financial Services. Offers only available through Volkswagen<br />
Financial Services South Africa Proprietary Limited trading as Volkswagen Financial Services an Authorised<br />
Financial Services and Credit Provider. NCRCP6635. Terms and Conditions apply. All the above is subject to<br />
price increase and valid until 29 <strong>Oct</strong>ober <strong>2015</strong>.<br />
Total Cost Incl<br />
fees & VAT<br />
R177,694<br />
e&oe<br />
Purchase any New Polo Sedan<br />
at lower-than-2014 prices.<br />
The New Polo Sedan prices including VAT. 2014 <strong>2015</strong><br />
1.4 Trendline from R190,400 from R182,809<br />
1.6 Trendline from R213,000 from R196,459<br />
1.4 Comfortline from R205,500 from R199,189<br />
1.6 Comfortline from R<strong>22</strong>6,100 from R210,109<br />
1.6 Comfortline Tiptronic from R240,200 from R<strong>22</strong>3,759<br />
Exclusive to Barons Pietermaritzburg: Includes 3 year / 45 000km service plan.<br />
Visit us on www.baronsvw.co.za<br />
An optional cost of R900 incl VAT will be charged for metallic paint. Note: *Linked to FNB prime rate,<br />
currently 9.5%. Note: Offers calculated on the New Polo Sedan range in standard specification. Price<br />
excludes optional extras, service delivery, licensing and registration. Offers may not be used in conjunction<br />
with any other special service or offering. Subject to bank approval. Information subject to change without<br />
prior notification. All finance offers are subject to credit approval from Volkswagen Financial Services.<br />
Offers only available through Volkswagen Financial Services South Africa Proprietary Limited trading as<br />
Volkswagen Financial Services an Authorised Financial Services and Credit Provider. NCRCP6635. Terms<br />
and Conditions apply. All the above is subject to price increase and valid until 29 <strong>Oct</strong>ober <strong>2015</strong>.<br />
e&oe<br />
• Mileage certified • 80-point mechanical check<br />
• Full Service history • 2-year / unlimited km warranty*<br />
• 7-day exchange plan • Vehicle History Integrity Check<br />
• Vehicle Customization • Balance of VW Automation Plan<br />
• 24 Hr roadside assistance • Professional Vehicle Reconditioning<br />
Not just tough, smart.<br />
Polo Vivo<br />
2010 Polo Vivo 1.4 3 Door White R85 900 97 000 km<br />
2012 Polo Vivo 1.6 Trendline Silver R119 900 84 000 km<br />
2014 Polo Vivo Sedan 1.4 White R109 900 71 000 km<br />
2014 Polo Vivo 1.4 Trendline 5 Door White R129 900 26 000 km<br />
2014 Polo Vivo Sedan 1.4 Trendline Tiptronic Silver R139 900 20 000 km<br />
2014 Polo Vivo Sedan 1.4 Trendline Silver R132 900 23 000 km<br />
<strong>2015</strong> Polo Vivo Sedan GP 1.4 Trendline Beige R159 900 17 700 km<br />
Polo<br />
2012 Polo 1.6 Comfortline 5 Door Red R165 900 31 000 km<br />
2012 Polo 1.2 TDI BlueMotion Blue R129 900 120 000 km<br />
2014 Polo GP 1.2 TSI Trendline White R169 900 34 000 km<br />
2014 Polo Sedan 1.4 Trendline White R154 900 32 000 km<br />
2014 Polo Sedan 1.4 Trendline Silver R159 900 16 000 km<br />
2014 Polo GP 1.2 TSI Trendline Blue R169 900 <strong>22</strong> 000 km<br />
<strong>2015</strong> Polo GP 1.2 Comfortline Red R<strong>22</strong>6 900 9 000 km<br />
<strong>2015</strong> Polo GP 1.2 TSI Comfortline White R234 900 1 000 km<br />
Golf<br />
2013 Golf 7 1.4 TSI Comfortline DSG White R219 900 73 000 km<br />
2014 Golf 7 1.4 TSI Comfortline White R254 900 19 800 km<br />
2014 Golf 7 1.4 TSI Comfortline DSG Silver R274 900 19 000 km<br />
<strong>2015</strong> Golf R 2.0 TSI DSG Grey R545 000 5 000 km<br />
Jetta<br />
2012 Jetta 1.2 TSI Trendline White R159 900 79 000 km<br />
2012 Jetta 1.2 TSI Trendline White R155 900 88 000 km<br />
Up!<br />
<strong>2015</strong> Take Up! 1.0 55kW White R121 000 6 000 km<br />
<strong>2015</strong> Take Up! 1.0 55kW Silver R125 000 4 500 km<br />
<strong>2015</strong> Move Up! 1.0 55kW Blue R125 000 5 000 km<br />
Other VW<br />
2011 Touareg 3.6 FSI Brown R349 900 39 000 km<br />
2011 Tiguan 1.4 TSI Trend Silver R189 900 90 000 km<br />
<strong>2015</strong> Tiguan 1.4 TSI Trend Silver R314 900 6 000 km<br />
Other<br />
2010 BMW 118i Grey R129 900 105 000 km<br />
2011 Honda Jazz 1.3 Comfort Auto White R119 900 34 000 km<br />
2012 Hyundai i20 1.4 White R109 900 85 000 km<br />
<strong>2015</strong> Isuzu Double Cab KB300 T-Teq Serengeti Auto White R419 900 17 500 km<br />
*The advised price exclude the 2 year Mastercars Warranty. The Mastercars Warranty<br />
is available as an option and is a contract between the customer, an insurer and<br />
administrator. This extended Warranty is not available for all Amarok and Light<br />
Commercial Vehicle models. Terms & conditions apply. While stocks last.<br />
Mastercars Sales Consultants: Laurie• Rajen • Sanjay • Barry • Phumlani<br />
Sales Enquiries: 033 940 1445<br />
Visit us on www.baronsvwpmb.co.za and fi nd us on facebook.com/BaronsPietermaritzburg<br />
3 Year / 120 000km warranty<br />
5 year / 60 000km maintenance plan<br />
Purchase any Amarok Double<br />
Cab from R437,400* incl. VAT<br />
Visit us on www.baronsvw.co.za<br />
at Barons Pietermaritzburg and receive<br />
towards settlement on your existing vehicle, buy<br />
accessories for your new vehicle or both.<br />
An optional cost of R1600 incl VAT will be charged for metallic paint. Note: *Linked to FNB prime rate,<br />
currently 9.5%. Note: Offers calculated on the Amarok Double Cab range in standard specification. Price<br />
excludes optional extras, service delivery, licensing and registration. Offers may not be used in conjunction<br />
with any other special service or offering. Subject to bank approval. Information subject to change without<br />
prior notification. All finance offers are subject to credit approval from Volkswagen Financial Services.<br />
Offers only available through Volkswagen Financial Services South Africa Proprietary Limited trading as<br />
Volkswagen Financial Services an Authorised Financial Services and Credit Provider. NCRCP6635. Terms<br />
and Conditions apply. All the above is subject to price increase and valid until 29 <strong>Oct</strong>ober <strong>2015</strong>.<br />
e&oe<br />
BP Advertising<br />
Barons Pietermaritzburg<br />
9 Armitage Road, Pietermaritzburg, 3201 • Tel: 033 845 3100<br />
New Sales Consultants<br />
Alison Wiltshire – Sales Manager • John Brown • Merglin Rama • Menzi Ngubane<br />
Bahle Bhengu • Erica Neff • Thando Gumede • Keshnee Pillay<br />
Sales Enquiries: 033 940 1445
6 Witness<strong>Wheels</strong> MOTORING BIKING<br />
<strong>Oct</strong>ober <strong>22</strong>, <strong>2015</strong><br />
For hardriding thrills<br />
Honda’s <strong>2015</strong> VFR800X Crossrunner focuses on performance and technology<br />
HONDA’S premium adventure sports<br />
tourer has evolved substantially for <strong>2015</strong>,<br />
with a host of upgrades designed to deliver<br />
more hardriding excitement.<br />
It features more midrange torque and<br />
topend power from its upgraded V4<br />
VTEC engine, sharper adventure styling<br />
plus refined ergonomics and longer travel<br />
suspension, new wheels and brakes.<br />
Honda Selectable Torque Control<br />
(HSTC) system, ABS, full LED lighting,<br />
fivestage heated grips, selfcancelling<br />
indicators and a heightadjustable seat<br />
are all fitted as standard.<br />
1. INTRODUCTION<br />
The VFR800X Crossrunner, which went<br />
on sale in 2011, was the first model in<br />
Honda’s Crossover ‘X’ range. It combined<br />
the VFR800F sports touring platform<br />
and an upright, adventureoriented<br />
riding position to create a multipurpose<br />
motorcycle with a soulful V4 motor<br />
providing power and feel.<br />
The <strong>2015</strong> VFR800X Crossrunner, incorporating<br />
many elements from the<br />
new 2014 VFR800F, pushes the Crossrunner<br />
concept forward, with a clear focus<br />
on performance and technology. Its<br />
revised engine and chassis, HSTC, LED<br />
lights, refined, more upright riding position<br />
and sharper styling improve both<br />
function and form to create a practical<br />
allpurpose motorcycle.<br />
Yoichi Inayama, large project leader<br />
(LPL) VFR800X Crossrunner, said:<br />
“For this development of the VFR800X<br />
Crossrunner, we wanted to create a premium<br />
motorcycle with a readyforaction<br />
feeling, for customers to use with<br />
maximum enjoyment every day. The<br />
styling demanded beautifully functional<br />
parts, and light proportions with minimal<br />
fairings.<br />
“Our new VFR800X Crossrunner has<br />
fulfilled these goals and follows the VFR<br />
tradition: it has an array of advanced<br />
technologies.<br />
“For us, it gives a craving to ride everyday<br />
and we hope it brings the same fun<br />
and good spirit to our customers.”<br />
2. MODEL OVERVIEW<br />
Core of the VFR800X Crossrunner is its<br />
90° V4VTEC DOHC 16valve engine.<br />
It packs boosted low and midrange<br />
The <strong>2015</strong> Honda VFR800X Crossrunner.<br />
PHOTO: SUPPLIED<br />
torque for fluid drive, plus improved topend<br />
power compared to the previous<br />
model, and features a new 4211 exhaust<br />
similar to the new VFR800F.<br />
In addition, the VFR800X Crossrunner<br />
rider now benefits from the Honda<br />
Selectable Torque Control system<br />
(HSTC), similar to that fitted to its bigbrother<br />
VFR1200X Crosstourer. If the<br />
system senses an imminent loss of rearwheel<br />
traction it reduces torque to allow<br />
the tyre to grip.<br />
Two levels of HSTC are available (plus<br />
off) and mode selection appears on the<br />
LCD instrumentation.<br />
The evocative aluminium twinbeam<br />
frame features a revised subframe while<br />
the single sided aluminium swingarm —<br />
The curious case of the<br />
allterrain electric scooter<br />
C.C. WEISS<br />
IF you wanted an automobile to drive<br />
over sand, dirt and rock, as well as pavement,<br />
you’d probably start and end your<br />
search at models with 4WD. So why<br />
shouldn’t the same apply to your scooter<br />
selection?<br />
The eGroov scooter uses an allwheel<br />
electric drive to keep you rolling forward<br />
and a modular hardware set to keep you<br />
comfortable.<br />
If we were writing a list of “top vehicles<br />
we’d like to take off road”, we think<br />
we’d run out of ink long before making<br />
it to “modestly powered electric scooter”.<br />
But the minds behind Parisbased<br />
startup eGroov Mobility Systems think<br />
there’s a place for a scooter that can go<br />
anywhere, over any type of terrain, with<br />
the quiet, peaceful operation that only<br />
an electric drive brings.<br />
The eGroov reminds us a bit of the<br />
Daymak Beast without the suspension<br />
and solar power and with an extra electric<br />
motor over the standard model<br />
(Daymak does have a dualmotor model<br />
in the Beast D).<br />
The eGroov has a 250watt motor in<br />
each wheel, providing allwheel drive<br />
that helps it tackle pavement, dirt and<br />
even sand and mud. Those massive tyres<br />
are sure to help in those mixed environments.<br />
The eGroov can be equipped with one<br />
or two 12 Ah, 36 V lithiumion batteries<br />
for about 15 to 20 km of range with a<br />
single battery and about double that<br />
with two.<br />
Its top speed is 25 km/h in either case.<br />
With a payload capacity of more than<br />
120 kg, it can carry an averagesized person<br />
and all the cargo that rider could<br />
possibly expect to take on a scooter ride.<br />
The single or dualbattery pack is integrated<br />
under the floorboard, helping<br />
to keep a low centre of gravity. The batteries<br />
can be removed for charging by<br />
lifting the floorboard or charged directly<br />
on the scooter. Charging takes five hours<br />
per battery.<br />
The basic eGroov comes as a 55kg<br />
standup scooter with the aforementioned<br />
power and performance specs,<br />
adjustable handlebars and dual disc<br />
brakes. The modular eGroov+ is more<br />
of a versatile workhorse, packaging the<br />
same mechanicals with a seat and cargo<br />
box. That box can be swapped out for<br />
other soldseparately accessories, including<br />
a child seat and a surfboard car<br />
another VFR signature piece — is stiffer<br />
and lighter. Visually identical to the<br />
VFR800F, the VFR800X Crossrunner’s<br />
suspension has longer travel, 25 mm in<br />
the twopiece telescopic forks and<br />
28 mm in the rear shock. ABS is fitted<br />
as standard and the front 17inch hollowcast<br />
aluminium wheel is fitted with dual<br />
310 mm discs, worked by radialmount<br />
fourpiston calipers.<br />
The VFR800X Crossrunner is a true<br />
VFR, a motorcycle designed for hardriding<br />
fun, but with style, comfort and<br />
practicality.<br />
3. KEY FEATURES<br />
3.1 STYLING AND EQUIPMENT<br />
Purely a streetfocused machine, and<br />
with a strong hint of VFR800F around<br />
the ‘X’’ signature white light LED headlight,<br />
the VFR800X Crossrunner’s overall<br />
design follows a theme of tough sophistication.<br />
Seat height can be adjusted to either<br />
815 mm or 835 mm to help suit a wider<br />
range of riders. Combined with the comfortable<br />
seat and footpeg positioning,<br />
the wide new 683 mm handlebars put<br />
the rider firmly in control. The<br />
VFR800X Crossrunner is easy to handle<br />
in all situations and quick to respond to<br />
more aggressive rider input, thanks to<br />
the extra leverage and low yaw inertia.<br />
The VFR800X Crossrunner features<br />
Honda’s selfcancelling indicator system.<br />
Designed to work unnoticed by the<br />
The eGroov scooter uses an allwheel electric drive to keep you rolling<br />
forward.<br />
PHOTO: SUPPLIED<br />
standard eGroov at pledge levels starting<br />
at €1 690 (R25 048) and the<br />
eGroov+ (with seat and cargo box)<br />
starting at €2 190. The startup estirier.<br />
The eGroov+ has a listed weight of<br />
65 kg.<br />
EGroov Mobility Systems is trying to<br />
raise money on Kickstarter, offering the<br />
rider, it compares front and rear wheel<br />
speed differential when turning (via the<br />
ABS wheel sensors) and calculates when<br />
to cancel indication.<br />
A redesigned LCD dash uses a reverse<br />
display against white LED backlight. The<br />
speedometer/tachometer are located together.<br />
There’s also a gear position indicator,<br />
fuel consumption and cruising<br />
range indicator, clock, ambient temperature<br />
gauge and twin trip meters. An indicator<br />
is included for the fivestage heated<br />
grips. The VFR800X Crossrunner will<br />
be available in three colour options:<br />
Candy Arcadian Red, Matt Gunpowder<br />
Black Metallic and Pearl Glare White.<br />
3.2 CHASSIS<br />
Agile handling is key to the VFR800X<br />
Crossrunner’s philosophy as it has to<br />
clip Alpine apexes as well as ride through<br />
city streets. The Crossrunner’s suspension<br />
is similar to the 2014 VFR800F but<br />
the 43 mm Honda MultiAction System<br />
(HMAS) telescopic fork features an extra<br />
25 mm travel and offers stepless<br />
spring preload adjustment plus rebound<br />
damping adjustment.<br />
The HMAS gascharged rear shock<br />
operates through ProLink and offers hydraulically<br />
adjusted spring preload,<br />
28 mm more travel and raised ground<br />
clearance to 165 mm.<br />
3.3 ENGINE<br />
The VFR800X Crossrunner’s 782 cc,<br />
liquidcooled 16valve DOHC 90° V4<br />
VTEC engine serves up improved performance<br />
and generates more lowto<br />
midrange power and torque. Boosted<br />
peak power of 78 kW (106 PS) is delivered<br />
at 10 250 rpm and the increased<br />
torque output through the bottom and<br />
midrpm ranges is immediately noticeable.<br />
Peak torque of 75 Nm is delivered<br />
at 8 500 rpm.<br />
4. SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE<br />
(VAT INCLUSIVE)<br />
The new VFR800X is available at all authorised<br />
Honda wing dealerships countrywide.<br />
The pricing includes a twoyear<br />
unlimited mileage warranty and oneyear<br />
roadside assistance.<br />
Price: VFR800X R141 990.<br />
— Supplied.<br />
“The single or<br />
dualbattery<br />
pack is<br />
integrated<br />
under the<br />
floorboard,<br />
helping to<br />
keep a low<br />
centre of<br />
gravity.”<br />
mates retail pricing at €2 190 and<br />
€2 590, respectively. Both Kickstarter<br />
pledge levels include a single battery,<br />
while a second battery can be added for<br />
€290. If all goes according to plan,<br />
eGroov will begin deliveries next year.<br />
The eGroov looks handy for very specific<br />
uses, like carrying a surfboard over<br />
a few kilometres of beach to your favourite<br />
break, but it looks too huge and heavy<br />
to be a versatile urban commuter and<br />
way too underpowered, rigid and slow<br />
to be a fun offroader.<br />
Does this 2WD electric scooter make<br />
your list of useful offroad/onroad mobility<br />
solutions, or does it leave you<br />
scratching your head?
RENAULTCLIO 55kW<br />
AUTHENIQUE 5DR<br />
OPTION 1: 0% Deposit<br />
Installment(incl.fees)<br />
R2 520 pm<br />
(inc.VAT)<br />
*Special Price: WASR182 900<br />
R159 900 (incl.VAT) SAVER23 000<br />
Rate: Deposit: Period:<br />
10,5% 0% R0 72 Months<br />
Balloon Payment: Balloon %<br />
R55 965 35%<br />
Total Cost of Finance:<br />
R237 405<br />
OPTION2: 10% Deposit<br />
Installment(incl.fees)<br />
R2 <strong>22</strong>0 pm<br />
(inc.VAT)<br />
BOKTOBER DEALS<br />
*Special Price: WASR182 900<br />
R159 900 (incl.VAT) SAVER23 000<br />
Rate: Deposit: Period:<br />
10,5% 10% R15 990 72 Months<br />
Balloon Payment: Balloon %<br />
R55 965 35%<br />
Total Cost of Finance:<br />
R251 805<br />
RENAULTSANDEROEXPRESSION<br />
WITH AIRCON<br />
OPTION 1: 0% Deposit<br />
R1 995 pm<br />
(inc.VAT)<br />
*Special Price: WASR139 900<br />
R125 500 (incl.VAT) SAVER14 400<br />
Rate: Deposit: Period:<br />
10,5% 0% R0 72 Months<br />
Balloon Payment: Balloon %<br />
R43 925 35%<br />
Total Cost of Finance:<br />
R187 565<br />
OPTION2: 10% Deposit<br />
R1 760 pm<br />
(inc.VAT)<br />
*Special Price: WASR139 900<br />
R125 500 (incl.VAT) SAVER14 400<br />
Rate: Deposit: Period:<br />
10,5% 10% R12 550 72 Months<br />
Balloon Payment: Balloon %<br />
R43 925 35%<br />
Total Cost of Finance:<br />
R170 645<br />
*Excludes deliverycosts and metallic paint. Terms and conditions apply.Pictures forillustrativepurposes.Subjecttofinanceapproval through our financepartners<br />
Andries (Sbu) Hadebe<br />
033 9401434<br />
Darryl Smith<br />
033 9401435<br />
Hector Mkhwanazi<br />
033 940 1436<br />
Gerard Chetty<br />
033 940 1437<br />
Yagan Padayachee<br />
084 555 7456<br />
*Terms and conditions apply. Repayments calculated on balloon of 35%, over 72 months, at 10,25% linked interest rate with )% deposit. Subject to bank approval. Excludes mandatoryon-road charges<br />
and metallic paint. Vehicles depicted may differ to actual models. While stocks last. Above offers available for the month of June <strong>2015</strong>. E&OE.<br />
McCARTHY RENAULTPIETERMARITZBURG<br />
9Armitage Road •Tel: 033 940 1433 •www.renaultpmb.co.za
8 Witness<strong>Wheels</strong> MOTORING RACING<br />
<strong>Oct</strong>ober <strong>22</strong>, <strong>2015</strong><br />
Perel gets double win<br />
David Perel, the talented racer and website builder from Cape<br />
Town who is living the dream as a Lamborghini race driver in<br />
the Italian GT Championship, recorded a double win over the<br />
weekend after starting from pole position on the second day<br />
with a 15second handicap from his first day’s win. ‘Totally<br />
dominated at Mugello. We just managed second in the champs<br />
by victory countback. Overall very proud. Thank you to<br />
everyone who supported me during the season, no words for my<br />
gratitude,’ Perel tweeted.<br />
PHOTO: TWITTER<br />
Fearless<br />
racing<br />
by Binder<br />
Vicious day of racing sees Binder<br />
recover from being clipped by a rider<br />
THE weekend’s Moto3 during the Australian<br />
Motorcycle Grand Prix was more<br />
vicious than normal, with South Africa’s<br />
Brad Binder competing alongside almost<br />
20 riders.<br />
Several crashes, including one from log<br />
leader Danny Kent for Leopard Racing,<br />
soon reduced the field to a leading group<br />
of six riders, with Binder still looking<br />
comfortable. But with nine laps to go, the<br />
boytjie from Kempton’s Australian GP almost<br />
ended in the kitty litter after a rider<br />
clipped Binder’s front brake, sending him<br />
wide at turn one. But South Africa’s Red<br />
Bull KTM Ajo rider did what he does best<br />
— racing fearlessly to come back from behind<br />
and grab third place on the podium<br />
from Jorge Navarro for Estrella Galicia by<br />
0.009 of a second. This is his third podium<br />
place this year and places Binder in<br />
seventh for the Moto3 at Sepang in Malaysia.<br />
Binder said it was not an easy race. “I<br />
was riding in the leading group when,<br />
with nine laps remaining, someone<br />
touched my front brake going into the<br />
first corner and I had to run wide.<br />
“Luckily, I was able to continue riding<br />
and push hard to latch back onto the front<br />
group. Other than that, the race went well<br />
overall, but I’m a little disappointed because<br />
I thought I could definitely finish<br />
first or second. I pushed very hard on every<br />
lap, even after going offtrack, but<br />
eventually I was slipstreamed almost at<br />
the finish line for second.<br />
“I have to thank the team because the<br />
bike was fantastic, with amazing handling.<br />
I’m sure I could have done better<br />
South Africa’s Brad Binder worked<br />
hard for his third podium place this<br />
year.<br />
PHOTO: RED BULL KTM AJO<br />
and I’m a little sour about the result, but<br />
that’s racing. I’m glad to be back on the<br />
podium and eager for more at Sepang.”<br />
— WR.<br />
Kirsten Landman is the first woman in the world to receive a gold finisher’s medal at the Sea to Sky.<br />
PHOTO: IRINA GORODNIAKOVA<br />
A good year for SA’s Kirsten Landman<br />
THE Red Bull Sea to Sky is unique:<br />
three days of racing in beautiful terrain<br />
on the shores of the Turkish Riviera.<br />
Each day has a different format and terrain,<br />
making this one of the toughest<br />
and most enjoyable races for hard enduro<br />
riders the world over.<br />
This year saw the first opportunity<br />
for Brother Leader Tread KTM rider<br />
Kirsten Landman to make it to the<br />
Turkish event so we caught up with<br />
her upon her return to SA.<br />
Q: “Sea to Sky is quite a new event in<br />
the grand scheme of things and the<br />
<strong>2015</strong> race was the sixth edition. You<br />
are the first woman in the world to receive<br />
a gold finisher’s medal. How does<br />
that make you feel?”<br />
Kirst: “Wow, after all the trials and<br />
tribulations over the past few years and<br />
the bad luck I had at Romanics this<br />
year, it was good to have a strong result,<br />
especially on an international scale.<br />
“It’s a good feeling to know the hard<br />
work and dedication is paying off in<br />
the form of such a result. I still can’t<br />
explain exactly how I feel in words.<br />
“The support from South African<br />
fans has been amazing and I would like<br />
to thank everyone for the messages of<br />
support.”<br />
Q: “We can safely say that this is your<br />
career high point so far. What has led<br />
you to this? What made you want to<br />
ride dirt bikes? Did you realise as a little<br />
girl you wanted to be a dirt biker or<br />
did a family member steer you to it?”<br />
Kirst: “My dad grew up with dirt bikes<br />
and my uncle and cousin rode. My<br />
cousin and I are close in age so obviously<br />
I wanted a go too. At the time,<br />
I was very into my swimming and was<br />
trying out for the provincial team so<br />
my dad said if I made the team, he<br />
would buy me a dirt bike. I was eight.<br />
I got into the team and I was given a<br />
peewee 80 and ever since then I have<br />
been motorbike gaga! The progression<br />
went from there to ATVs and then finally<br />
I got and RM85, then an RM125,<br />
my first real dirt bikes and I started entering<br />
the local club harescrambles.<br />
“I will never forget how good it felt<br />
to place fourth, then third, then I actually<br />
started to beat them.<br />
“I never looked at it as a career path,<br />
it was mostly a passion that I shared<br />
with my dad.<br />
“Once my schooling was complete,<br />
in fact the next year, I took a gap year.<br />
I got picked up by a team and started<br />
competing on a national level doing<br />
Enduros. Then in 2012, what a terrible<br />
year, that was the year I DNFed at the<br />
Roof at my first attempt and I had<br />
loads of stupid injuries that slowed my<br />
development down, I really thought,<br />
‘well this is as far as I go with racing’<br />
because I hadn’t shaped at all. That<br />
was when the legend of SA Off Road<br />
and Enduro racing, Daryl Curtis, introduced<br />
me to my now team manager,<br />
Franziska Brandl of KTM SA. Having<br />
lost my ride, KTM were looking for a<br />
woman rider. It was like a fairy tale,<br />
I met the boss and within days was<br />
signing a contract.”<br />
Q: “Tell us about that year.<br />
Kirst: “I was having a good year until<br />
halfway through the season when I had<br />
a highspeed crash at the Desert Race<br />
and well let’s just say it wasn’t pretty.<br />
I had to be medevac’d and had some<br />
bad injuries. I don’t regret the crash<br />
as it made me hungrier to succeed and<br />
I feel I grew as a person and as a racer.<br />
I learnt to live in the now as you never<br />
know when it will all be taken away<br />
from you. The bulk of the remainder<br />
of that year was spent mending.”<br />
Q: “And last year was good wasn’t it?<br />
Kirst: “Yes, it so was! I got my first<br />
taste of Hard Enduro when I went to<br />
Romanics. What a challenge and what<br />
an honour it was. Then after that was<br />
the Roof at the end of the year which<br />
I finished, the whole year felt like every<br />
time I raced I improved.<br />
Q: “So tell us, what’s next?”<br />
Kirst: “It’s Roof of Africa time! We<br />
will take the race step by step, I don’t<br />
want to create too much expectation<br />
and pressure as Roof is after all the<br />
mother of all hard enduros.”<br />
Q: “Would you make a switch in the<br />
national enduros to possibly E2 or E1<br />
going forward?”<br />
Kirst:” Well the standard in SA Enduro<br />
is really high, my teammates Bouverie,<br />
Teasdale and Young are testament<br />
to this.<br />
“I am have no delusions that I’m as<br />
quick as those guys. Speed is not my<br />
strong side, I prefer technical stuff and<br />
the endurance side of hard enduro. So<br />
for now, I haven’t really decided. Silver<br />
would be my immediate choice but<br />
maybe a stint on the 250F is on the<br />
cards. But I have tasted success on the<br />
250 Freeride and that’s going to be my<br />
first choice for hard enduro.”<br />
Q: “There are some rumours that there<br />
will be a hard endure championship in<br />
SA in 2016. Would you be interested?”<br />
Kirst: “Definitely. I want to do as<br />
much hard enduro as I can and my goal<br />
would be to finish all the rounds and<br />
again pave the way for woman in our<br />
sport as the first woman finisher.”<br />
Q: “What message would you give to<br />
young riders and young girls specifically<br />
who are starting out?”<br />
Kirst: “It sounds like a cliché, but live<br />
your dreams, don’t let go of them, they<br />
can be achieved. Doubt is part of life,<br />
but when you fall down and things are<br />
tough, never give up. Always push for<br />
what you want. Don’t let anything hold<br />
you back. You’re on this planet once,<br />
make it count.” — WR.<br />
MECHANICAL REPAIRS TO<br />
ALL MAKES OF VEHICLES<br />
V BRAD BINDER<br />
“I have to thank the team<br />
because the bike was fantastic,<br />
with amazing handling.”<br />
Follow us<br />
on<br />
@WitnessKZN<br />
CV JOINT<br />
SPECIALISTS<br />
for CV joints, ball joints,<br />
tie rod ends, wheel bearings.<br />
341 GREYLING STREET<br />
Pmb. 033 342 9174/75<br />
Contact SIVA:<br />
033 397 0199 OR 084 432 9904<br />
E-mail:<br />
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