Wheels_2015_11_05

New 

Passat 

shorter, 

smarter 

PAGE 4 

November 5, 2015 

Witness 

WHEELS 

550 Church Street, Pietermaritzuburg 

Tel: 033 345 1971/033 342 4714 

Fax: 033 342 2900 

Email: ashgani@telkomsa.net 

www.ashcarsales.co.za 

WE STOCK: Passenger and Performance 

Vehicles, Supercars and Commercial Vehicles. 

We’ll sell it to you at the best price. We’ll buy it 

from you, no amount too big. 

ADVERTISING: AVIR THULSIRAM ON 084 278 3447 

… NOW YOU’RE MOTORING 

The 

automatic 

Clio is the 

one for 

those who 

want to 

stand out 

in the 

crowd, 

without 

any tremble 

in the left 

knee. 

PHOTO: 

ALWYN 

VILJOEN 

Automatic 

exclusivity 

guaranteed 

Which vehicle is best for both the 

school run and a first varsity car? 

STEP LIVELY NOW! Vicechancellor of the University of KwaZuluNatal (UKZN) Professor 

Albert van Jaarsveld steers a human powered pedal bus, which was developed by finalyear 

mechanical engineering students at the UKZN Howard College Campus in Durban. The 

students demonstrated the bus during the annual mechanical engineering open day held at 

the college campus. Each saddle adjusts to accommodate shorter or taller students. The 

pedal bus can easily be converted to ride on the many unused railways in South Africa, 

which opens the door to public transport that is both cheap and healthy. 

PHOTO: RAJESH JANTILAL 

Renault CLIO 

All passion. Fewer pedals. 

Now available in AUTOMATIC 

ALWYN VILJOEN 

IT used to be that my peers asked 

me which wedding I was going 

to go to. 

Soon after it was baby showers. 

Fastforward 15 years and the 

question became which automatic 

car to buy that won’t make 

them look old before their time. 

The asker is as often male as 

is female, divorced or still cuddling 

up to the spouse, and those 

babies now have to be carted 

about between showers. 

When I asked why the new car 

has to be automatic, they answer 

they are tired of having to change 

gears on the dreaded, slowmoving 

school run. 

TWO FEET FOR TWO PEDALS 

So which wheels will save the 

trembling joints without causing 

the bank manager to have the 

tremors? 

First off, it has to be a hatch, 

this being the one vehicle shape 

that offers the lowest fuel consumption 

with the most versatility 

for family use, up to providing 

the offspring with a first car 

for varsity. 

When it comes to hatches 

with automatic transmission, 

the South Africans’ default 

choice was a Honda Jazz. 

An excellent allrounder, the 

Jazz enjoys a deserved reputation 

for reliability, but these days, this 

reputation comes at a price — 

R232 700 for the barebones 

Comfort and R277 400 for the 

better specced Dynamic. 

At the other end of the scale, 

select VW dealers are offering 

SA’s bestselling (if rather 

bland) Polo with six automatic 

gears at a current special of 

R179 300. 

Priced in the middle of these 

two extremes is the Fiesta, which 

has been turning heads with 

snappy design and features like 

voice command for the Sync 

software inside. 

The rest of the industry are 

agog at Ford’s ability to hold prices 

in check despite a weakening 

rand. The top spec Fiesta Trend 

Powershift, for example, retails 

for a very reasonable R215 900, 

including a fouryear or 

60 000 km service plan. 

JUST EXTEND A FINGER 

Compared to this, the new Clio 

Dynamique looks dear at 

R234 900 with a threeyear, 

45 000 km service plan — until 

you add the aspiring student’s 

demand for a dash of exclusivity. 

VW last month moved 3 170 

Polos and Ford sold 1 005 Fiestas, 

but only 575 people took 

ownership of a Clio. 

Then there are the ergonomics. 

I have in my time owned 

both Renault and Ford models, 

and while they were both effective, 

I found the little touches are 

executed just a little better in the 

French car, like the togglecontrol 

for the radio that is mounted 

behind the steering wheel. 

To turn up the volume or 

change a track, there is no need 

to release your thumb’s grip on 

the wheel to press a button on 

the front of the steering wheel. 

Just extend the index finger to 

turn up the sound, which is excellent 

across the range, thanks 

to a Bass Reflex system. 

A seveninch touch screen 

connects a phone and stream audio 

via Bluetooth. Hill Start Assist 

is standard, there is an ECO 

mode to save fuel in city traffic, 

and when the city gets too big, 

there is Satnav with 2D or 3D 

display to find your way. 

Renault’s little threecylinder 

turbo has not won Engine of the 

Year like that in the Fiesta and 

is not as feisty as the Ford’s, but 

it’s 66 kW and 135 Nm gives it 

adequate performance. Around 

town, 121 of these Newtons are 

available from 1 650 revs, meaning 

the autobox can just cruise 

at fuelsipping revolutions. 

Equipped with Stop and Start, 

this results in Clio reporting excellent 

fuel consumption. 

TRADEIN IS WHERE IT’S AT 

To give a final answer to my 

peers then, it is a really a tough 

call opting for an auto between 

the Fiesta and Clio. 

My final answer is to check 

what the dealers will give on 

tradein. In the battle for a sale, 

the staff at McCarthy Renault 

Pietermaritzburg assured me 

they give the best assessment 

possible on your old jalopy. And 

with Clios currently recording 

just over half the sales of the 

Fiestas, the French car of course 

comes with exclusivity builtin. 

Standard on-board navigation 

88kW F1-inspired turbo engine 

Automatic Gearbox (EDC) 

Not only does the NEW Renault Clio EDC have amore powerful engine but 

it now also comes with adynamic automatic gearbox which makes driving 

through traffic ajam. Test drive the Clio EDC now to reignite your love for 

the city life. 

Renault Clio 88kW turbo EDC Expression 5dr at R234 900. Retail price is in 

accordance with 22 October 2015 price list. Price excludes “on the road” 

costs. Terms and Conditions apply. Features and model-specific and may vary. 

McCarthy Renault •9Armitage Road 

Tel: 033 940 1433 

Darryl Smith 033 940 1435 •GerardChetty 033 940 1437 •Andries (Sbu) Hadebe 033 940 1434 

•HectorMkhwanazi 033 940 1436 •Yagan Padayachee 084 555 7456 

www.renault.co.za 

WARRANTY 

5YEAR 

150 000 km

2 WitnessWheels MOTORING 

INDUSTRY 


Too many dud tyres in Dbn 

Bridgestone Tyre Check finds unacceptably high levels of underinflation and worn tread 

BRIDGESTONE’S longrunning 

Tyre Check project has released 

data from its recent survey 

held in Durban. The event was 

the fifth of its kind to be undertaken 

in KwaZuluNatal since 

2007. Bridgestone’s team of tyre 

specialists set up shop in the car 

park of the Ballito Lifestyle Centre, 

and surveyed 1 000 tyres on 

250 vehicles. 

“Unfortunately, the results 

were not encouraging,” said 

Bridgestone general manager of 

marketing, Tony Burns. “The 

survey showed that tyre condition 

and maintenance are at their 

lowest levels in Durban since we 

started the Tyre Check surveys 

eight years ago.” 

Tyres surveyed by the Bridgestone 

team are recorded as “fine” 

if they are within an inflation 

pressure band of 180 kPa to 290 

kPa. Tyres with higher inflation 

pressure are recorded as overinflated 

except where they are in accordance 

with the vehicle’s manufacturer 

specification. Four percent 

of tyres in the Durban survey 

were overinflated. Tyres which 

are below 180 kPa are classified 

as underinflated, and divided into 

three categories depending on 

how low their pressures are. In 

Durban, nine percent of tyres 

were found to be “low”, two percent 

“very low” and three percent 

“dangerously low”. 

“This is the highest percentage 

of tyres we have yet seen in 

the ‘dangerously low’ category at 

a Tyre Check event,” Burns commented. 

“Usually it is less than 

one percent. The previous high 

of 2,4% was also recorded in 

Durban, in 2014.” 

The Bridgestone Tyre Check 

team also checks for tyres which 

are worn beyond legal limits or 

have damage that makes them 

unsafe. Usually, fewer than eight 

percent of tyres are identified as 

needing replacement. In the Durban 

survey though, fully 18% of 

tyres were either unsafe or due 

for replacement, the highest percentage 

seen in a Tyre Check survey 

since 2008. 

“The picture painted by the 

Durban survey raises two concerns,” 

Burns commented. 

“Firstly there is widespread neglect 

of tyre maintenance, with 

nearly one in five motorists not 

checking tyre pressures regularly 

enough,” he explained. “Secondly, 

there is a substantial number 

of vehicles driving on damaged 

or worn tyres, increasing the risk 

of blowouts or loss of control in 

wet weather,” he added. 

He reminded motorists to 

check tyre pressures at least every 

two weeks using an accurate tyre 

gauge and to inspect each tyre 

while doing inflation checks. 

“Regular tyre checks can help 

drivers improve tyre life and fuel 

economy,” he explained. “Also 

drivers will be able to detect tyre 

damage or wear problems before 

they affect driving safety,” he 

concluded. — Supplied. 

THE WHEELS GO ROUND AND ROUND AT SHONGWENI 

Just a little longer, dad! Richard Galvin rolls his eyes 

with baby Renny on arm as his son, sevenyearold 

Brody, learns how to lower the floor of the bus. 

Proving even the Uber generation loves a classic, DeveshenBobby said he would love to drive a veteran car like this 1959 

Rover 90. He was one of the many people at the Shongweni Truck, Car, Bike and Outdoor Expo last weekend, and was 

surprised to learn how low the sale price was on the Natal Rover Owner Association website (www.nroa.co.za). 

PHOTOS: ALWYN VILJOEN 

Model Kathryn King, who worked hard to hand out fliers 

extolling the strengths of FAW trucks, seen here with 

another bargain for people who have to shift payloads. 

Sipho Magwaza, an offical at the Africa Gospel Church, is 

praying for the day when he can drive in Scania luxury to 

meetings. 

The Bowmans aim to manage the number one crane 

and aerial platform supplier by 2017 by manufacturing 

its own lifting platforms through Lift And Shift and 

keeping prices down. Seen here taking a skyselfie on a 

12metrehigh Challenger skylift are Bianca Homeier, 

John Henry Bowman and Kathryn Steynberg — the KZN 

representatives of Lift and Shift. 

PHOTO: SUPPLIED 

Fuel leak sees a recall of bikes 

KIA DONATES MOTOR FOR STUDY PURPOSES 

KTM is recalling its EXC, SX and 

Freeride bikes of different model 

years for a check at authorised 

KTM dealers. 

KTM discovered during routine 

testing that deviations in the 

manufacturing process of the 

supplier of the aluminium fuel 

pump nut can result in unsufficient 

sealing and cause uncontrolled 

fuel leakage on 250, 350, 

450 SXF/XCF/EXCF and EXC 

Six Days bikes of model year 

2016. 

Deviations in the manufacturing 

process of the molded fuel 

hoses of the motorcycles 250, 

350, 450 SXF MY2016 as well 

as 250 and 450 SXF Factory Edition 

MY2015, can cause problems, 

including fuel leakage at the 

bends or at the ends. 

Market monitoring has shown 

that there can be problems with 

the tank breather in individual 

cases on Freeride 350 MY2012 

2016 and Freeride 250 

R MY20142016 models. Fuel 

may escape in extreme riding situations. 

In extreme cases, the leaked fuel 

may cause damage or even a 

fire in the three cases referred to. 

In a limited number of cases, 

problems with the Freeride models 

have been reported. Beyond 

this, no more damage of this type 

is known in the market. 

All owners of affected and already 

delivered vehicles will be 

informed in writing by KTM. 

More information, or the information 

whether the respective 

motorcycle is affected by the recall, 

can be gathered at KTM 

dealers. 

The abovementioned reviews 

can only be implemented by an 

authorised and qualified KTM 

dealer. The needed checks are 

free of charge. 

KIA Motors Umlazi recently handed over a Kia Optima engine to Chief Ngonyama Technical 

School in Ozwathini, north of Durban. The KIA engine will assist pupils with the required 

practical training portion of mechanical technology in the school workshop. The Chief 

Ngonyama Technical School, which opened in 1998, is a nofee comprehensive technical 

school that serves mostly indigent pupils from deep rural areas. 

PHOTO: MOTORPRESS

November 5, 2015 MOTORING WitnessWheels 3 

CHERY’S FEATUREPACKED HATCH WITH SWAG 

SSANGYONG’S KORANDO GETS A LOT MEANER 

Chery South Africa, which markets a number of attractive and affordable small to midsize 

cars and an SUV, has just launched a special edition model that is the answer for 

those — particularly in the younger set — who are looking for a stylish car that makes a 

statement about its owner as being independent, sporty and a person with an active 

lifestyle. The attractive new addition to the range is based on the trendy, J2 midsize 

hatchback. It has been named the Swag and is a featurepacked hatch with real 

attitude that will stand out from the crowd. Importantly it is also affordable at a price 

of R154 900 including VAT. 

SsangYong launched a new Korando, with only a petrol engine but a lot of spec, 

including 17inch wheels and Bluetooth handsfree telephony. The 2,0litre engine is 

credited with 110 kW of maximum power at 6 000 rpm, linked to a torque peak of 

197 Nm at 4 000 rpm. The gearbox is a sixspeed manual powering the front wheels. The 

retail price is R324 995, which includes a fiveyear or 150 000 km warranty, AA roadside 

support for the same period, and a fiveyear/100 000 km service plan. 

PHOTO: QUICKPIC 

Built for the young at heart 

BRIAN BASSETT leaves the herd behind by putting foot in the latest version of a motoring icon 

WHEN Sir Alec Issigonis 

sketched his initial idea for the 

Mini on the back of a tablecloth 

in 1956, his revolutionary compact 

design was a perfect response 

to a world in turmoil. 

The car was a huge success. By 

the time John Cooper completed 

production in 2000 and the 

brand went to BMW, over 

4,5 million had been produced. 

It is described as the most brilliant 

motoring package in history 

and was voted the second most 

influential car in the 20th century 

after the Model T Ford. For allowing 

us to spend a week with the 

Mini Cooper S Hatch we are 

grateful to Ian Grieg, sales manager 

at SMG Rocks in Umhlanga. 

Its overthetop interior is what sets the Mini Cooper S (inset) apart from all the other hatches out there. 


STYLING 

The Mini Cooper S Hatch is still 

the basic box shape with wheels 

at the corners, but the original 

proportions have been reinterpreted 

and are now irresistibly 

eyecatching, effortlessly contemporary 

and well built. 

The sloping bonnet ends in a 

front grill with big air intakes and 

is flanked by LED headlight modules 

and fog lamps built into the 

front bumper. 

The electric side mirrors are 

colour coded and, at the sides, 

deep creases break the scale of the 

metal and lead the eye to the rear 

tailgate, which is dominated by 

large tail light modules and centrallyplaced 

double exhaust outlets 

flanked by rear fog lamps, 

while a centrally placed Mini 

badge on a black background reinforces 

the car’s overall identity. 

The design is finished off with 

chrome door handles and petrol 

cap and 18inch chrome spoke silver 

alloys — no problem finding 

this car in a parking lot. 

INTERIOR 

The Mini is easy to access and not 

as low as it appears. The interior 

is pure theatre. The speedometer 

and halfmoon shaped rev counter 

are in front of the driver, 

flanked by a petrol gauge which 

consists of a series of stepped orange 

lights. The centre of the 

dash is occupied by the Mini Centre 

Instrument with its 22,4 cm 

display screen, surrounded by an 

LED lighting panel which tells 

you which driving mode you are 

in. 

The screen handles driving information 

and the radio/CD/ 

AUX/iPod, as well as the huge 

range of BMW connect services 

with supporting Apps and GPS, 

providing of course you have 

these extras on the car. A large 

knob and buttons between the 

passengers operates all the functions. 

The shift gate has a surrounding 

ring which allows you to 

change driving modes and sport 

mode alters the car’s character. 

The controls are framed by a 

threespoke, leathercovered 

multifunction, fully adjustable 

steering wheel which handles the 

multispeaker HarmanKardon 

radio, as well as speed control and 

telephone functions, while the 

centrallyplaced, leathercovered 

gear lever is tactile and enjoyable. 

The rear seats will take two 

adults for short distances 

only. 

The front seats 

themselves are 

fully adjustable 

sport seats 

covered in durable 

cloth, with a leather 

option. The boot offers 211 litres 

of space with rear seats in place 

and 731 litres with the rear seats 

folded in 60:40 fashion. 

SAFETY AND SECURITY 

The Mini has a 4 star NCAP rating 

and offers the entire range of 

safety features you would expect 

fro m a BMW from ABS with 

EBD to child seat anchors, 

a whole 

range of driver 

assists and traffic 

driving aids; 

and of course 

the usual seat 

belts. There is also 

an onboard security 

and alarm system and keyless 

entry. 

PERFORMANCE 

The Mini Cooper S Hatch is essentially 

a GoKart made to look respectable 

with some fine design. 

Detroit Electric’s SP:01 takes on Telsa, BMW i8 

The fourcylinder, twolitre engine 

delivers 141 kW and 300 Nm 

and in a car the size of a shoe, this 

makes for exciting driving. 

The needle goes to 100 km/h 

in about 6,8 seconds while top 

speed is around 235 km/h. A sixspeed 

gearbox, a short, rigid chassis 

supported by direct, responsive 

steering, delivering immediate 

feedback makes superb 

handling at speed. 

City driving is fun, leaving the 

herd behind at traffic lights and 

weaving in and out of traffic 

queues. Parking is no problem 

and for once I enjoyed reversing 

into a city centre bay. 

Even with four adults on board 

and shopping in the boot the car 

is immediately willing and responsive. 

On the N3 passing long 

trucks is a pleasure, with the car 

accelerating from 80 km/h. Fuel 

consumption in the combined 

cycle after a heavy footed week 

was about 7,3 l/100 km. 

The Cooper S is not just for the 

young, but for anyone whose 

heart leaps at the thought of going 

out each day to a car which 

delivers a funky and fun driving 

experience. 

COSTS AND COMPETITION 

Nothing good is ever cheap and 

the Cooper S Hatch is no exception. 

Prices start at around 

R372 000 and there is a long and 

expensive options list. 

The car comes with a fiveyear 

or 100 000 km manufacturer’s 

warranty, as well as a threeyear 

or 75 000 km maintenance plan. 

There is no direct competition, 

but have a look at the Fiat 500 

Abarth, Alfa Romeo MITO and 

Audi A1 Sportback. 

DETROIT Electric finally 

made good on its promise to 

give Tesla and the BMW i8 

some serious competition in 

SP:01. 

Billed as the lightest and 

fastest twoseat pureelectric 

sports car in the world, the 

first model last week rolled off 

the assembly at the UK plant 

in Leamington Spa. 

Detroit Electric’s office in 

the Netherlands will now market 

the R1,7 million sportscar 

to rich drivers looking for 

something different in Asia 

and Europe. The twoseater 

cabin is made from carbon 

fibre bolted onto an aluminium 

chassis from a Lotus Elise. 

The 0100 km/h run takes 

place in less than four seconds 

with a top speed of 249 km/h. 

The car’s 210 kW electric motor 

has a singlespeed automatic 

transmission as standard, 

with the option of twinspeed 

automatic or sixspeed 

manual transmissions. 

Power comes from what 

Detroit claims to be the most 

energydense automotive battery 

pack in the world, offering 

over 140 Wh/kg, benefitting 

range while keeping overall 

vehicle weight low. The 

battery is built into the chassis 

as a stressed member, adding 

stiffness to enhance handling 

and safety. — WR. 

Two of the 

world’s lightest 

and fastest twoseat 

pureelectric 

sports 

cars being 

tested in the 

UK. 

PHOTO: 

SUPPLIED



Mazda rotary is back 

Nissan’s 

futuristic 

Leaf front 

and rear. 

PHOTO: 

SUPPLIED 

The rotary is back, and with it, Mazda at its best, in the RXVision sports car concept. 


Mazda shows next generation spinning engine at Tokyo 

The LFFC 

flagship is 

a hybrid 

that shows 

where 

Lexus is 

aiming at. 

PHOTO: 

SUPPLIED 

ALWYN VILJOEN 

WHILE the Lexus LFFC flagship concept 

took centre stage at this week’s Tokyo 

Motor Show and Nissan’s futuristic 

Leaf showed how forthcoming technologies 

will revolutionise the relationship 

between car and driver, it was Mazda’s 

old rotary engine in the RXVision that 

ation SkyactivR rotary engine. 

Rotary engines feature a unique construction, 

generating power through the 

rotational motion of a triangular rotor. 

Overcoming numerous technical difficulties, 

Mazda succeeded in commercialising 

the rotary engine, fitting it in 

the Mazda 110S in 1967. 

As the only automaker to massprohad 

the petrolheads salivating. 

Mazda said the rotary engine is a symbol 

of the company’s “never stop challenging” 

spirit and the RXVision represents 

a vision of the future that Mazda 

hopes to one day make into reality; a 

frontengine, rearwheel drive sports car 

with exquisite, Kodo designbased proportions, 

all powered by the nextgener 

duce the rotary engine, Mazda continued 

efforts to improve power output, 

fuel economy and durability, and in 

1991 took overall victory at 24 Hours 

of Le Mans with a rotary enginepowered 

race car. 

Over the years, the rotary engine has 

come to symbolise Mazda’s creativity 

and tireless endeavour in the face of difficult 

challenges. While mass production 

is currently on hold, Mazda has 

never stopped research and development 

efforts towards the rotary engine. 

The next rotary engine has been 

named SkyactivR, expressing the company’s 

determination to defy convention 

with the latest technology, just as it did 

when developing Skayctiv technology. 

European car of the year. 

New Passat TSI 110kW Comfortline 

DSG from R4,999* per month. 

The New Passat TSI 110kW Comfortline DSG standard features include: 

- City Emergency Braking 

- Adaptive Cruise Control 

- Digital instrument cluster with 

Active Info Display 

Model 

New Passat TSI 110kW 

Comfortline DSG 

Vehicle Price 

Visit us on www.baronsvw.co.za 

Monthly 

Instalments 

No. of Interest Rate 

Instalments Linked / Variable 

- Park Distance Control 

- Side and curtain airbags 

- European Car of the Year 2015 

An optional cost of R900 incl VAT will be charged for metallic paint. Note: *Linked to FNB prime 

rate, currently 9.5%. Note: Offers calculated on the New Passat TSI 110kW Comfortline DSG 

model in standard specification. Instalment includes initiation and monthly administration fee of 

R57. Total Retail Price R398,800 at a Guaranteed Future Value of R24,2072 based on 20 000km 

per annum Offers may not be used in conjunction with any other special service or offering. 

Subject to bank approval. Information subject to change without prior notification. All finance 

offers are subject to credit approval from Volkswagen Financial Services. Offers only available 

through 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 15 November 2015. 

Barons Pietermaritzburg 

9 Armitage Road, Pietermaritzburg, 3201 • Tel: 033 845 3100 • Sales Enquiries: 033 940 1445 

For more information on Witness Wheels advertising 

Deposit 

Guaranteed 

Future Value 

Total Cost Incl 

fees & VAT 

R398,800 R4,999* 36 6.68%* 10.78% R242,072 R422,025 

e&oe 

Contact Avir on 084 278 3447 

or 

Avir@witness.co.za 

BP Advertising 

The new Passat is 2 mm shorter but has more interior space and features the 

first headup display as standard in a VW.. 


Volkswagen’s new Passat is 

shorter, lighter and smarter 

THE shorter, lighter Passat that made its 

debut last year in Paris has arrived in 

SA. 

It is the first VW with standard headup 

display and active info display. 

From the driver’s perspective, the projected 

data appears to be located two 

metres in front of the Passat. 

This reduces eye fatigue by reducing 

the number of times drivers have to refocus 

as they do not have to shift their 

gaze back and forth between the instruments 

and the street nearly as often. 

The headup display is activated by a 

separate control next to the rotary light 

switch. 

As with 

Audi, navigation 

information 

on the instrument 

cluster 

can be 

shown in either 

2D or 3D views 

on a 12,3inch 

display, and its 

1,440 x 540 

pixel resolution 

enables extremely 

precise, 

highquality 

graphics and interactive display of all details. 

In Navigation mode, for instance, the 

speedometer and tachometer are relocated 

to the sides to make more room 

for the map, and information on driving, 

navigation and assistance functions can 

be integrated into the graphic areas of 

the speedometer and tachometer as 

needed. 

Data that is displayed on the centre 

console via the infotainment system, 

such as phone contact pages or CD covers, 

can also be shown in the Active Info 

Display in the Passat. The new generation 

of infotainment devices is characterised 

by better system performance, 

backed by eight speakers front and rear. 

Four models are available, each covered 

by a threeyear or 120 000 km 

manufacturer warranty and fiveyear or 

100 000 km Automotion Maintenance 

Plan. All models have a 12 year anticorrosion 

warranty and service intervals are 

15 000 km. — WR. 

Prices 

1.4 TSI Comfortline 110kW Manual R378 800 

1.4 TSI Comfortline 110kW DSG R398 800 

1.8 TSI Highline 132kW DSG R444 200 

2.0 TSI RLine 162kW DSG R476 800

By Pieter from Maritzburg 

I had an adventure this weekend. Some of my friends took me out bungee-jumping. I’ve never been 

great with heights, so at first I was very unhappy about hurling myself out into space. Once all the 

safety gear had been explained to me, though, it was fantastic. I needed to know I was safe so I could 

enjoy the thrill. 

Buying a new car is always a big adventure; and like any good adventure it should be a mixture of 

thrills and security. That’s why I’m excited to tell you about the brand new Passat Comfortline, which 

is launching at Barons Pietermaritzburg. 

The Passat Comfortline packs a whole lot of thrills and a whole lot of luxury into an affordable 

A New Adventure 

package. Speed-sensitive power steering? Check. Automatic headlight activation? Check. Acoustic 

parking distance control? Check. Media system with 6.5” touch screen and 8 speakers? Check. Turbo 

Stratified Injection? Check. The list of features is as long as my bungee line. 

With Barons Pietermaritzburg’s unbeatable financial packages and after-sales service, you know 

you’re in good hands. So take my advice: take the new Passat Comfortline out for a spin, and have 

yourself an adventure! 

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. 

Choose one to suit your needs. 

European car of the year. 

Purchase a Polo Vivo hatch 

from R2,125* per month. 

Model 


Vehicle Price 

Interest Rate 

Monthly No. of 

Linked / 

Instalments Instalments 

Variable 

Deposit 

Balloon 

Payment 

An optional cost of R900 incl VAT will be charged for metallic paint. Note: *Linked to FNB prime rate, currently 9.5%. 

Note: Offers calculated on the Polo Vivo hatch range in standard specification. Instalment excludes optional extras, but 

includes monthly administration fee of R57. Offers may not be used in conjunction with any other special service or 

offering. Subject to bank approval. Information subject to change without prior notification. All finance offers are subject 

to credit approval from Volkswagen Financial Services. Offers only available through 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 15 November 2015. 


fees & VAT 

Polo Vivo 1.4 Conceptline R147,900 R2,125* 72 8.36%* 0% 36% (R53,244) R206,208 

Polo Vivo 1.4 Blueline R154,400 R2,217* 72 8.38%* 0% 36% (R55,584) R215,178 

Polo Vivo 1.4 Trendline R163,900 R2,343* 72 8.41%* 0% 36% (R58,788) R227,459 

Polo Vivo 1.4 Eclipse R172,300 R2,470* 72 8.43%* 0% 36% (R62,028) R239,879 

Polo Vivo 1.6 Comfortline R177,500 R2,544* 72 8.45%* 0% 36% (R63,900) R247,054 

Polo Vivo 1.4 Trendline Tiptronic R179,300 R2,569* 72 8.45%* 0% 36% (R64,548) R249,538 

Polo Vivo GT 1.6 R184,900 R2,649* 72 8.47%* 0% 36% (R66,564) R257,266 

Polo Vivo 1.6 Maxx R187,300 R2,683* 72 8.47%* 0% 36% (R67,428) R260,578 

e&oe 

New Passat TSI 110kW Comfortline 

DSG from R4,999* per month. 

The New Passat TSI 110kW Comfortline DSG standard features include: 

- City Emergency Braking 

- Park Distance Control 

- Adaptive Cruise Control 

- Side and curtain airbags 

- Digital instrument cluster with 

- European Car of the Year 2015 

Active Info Display 

Model 

New Passat TSI 110kW 

Comfortline DSG 

Vehicle Price 


Monthly 

Instalments 



Deposit 

Guaranteed 

Future Value 

An optional cost of R900 incl VAT will be charged for metallic paint. Note: *Linked to FNB prime rate, currently 

9.5%. Note: Offers calculated on the New Passat TSI 110kW Comfortline DSG model in standard specification. 

Instalment includes initiation and monthly administration fee of R57. Total Retail Price R398,800 at a 

Guaranteed Future Value of R24,2072 based on 20 000km per annum Offers may not be used in conjunction 

with any other special service or offering. Subject to bank approval. Information subject to change without 

prior notification. All finance offers are subject to credit approval from Volkswagen Financial Services. Offers 

only available through 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 15 November 2015. 


fees & VAT 

R398,800 R4,999* 36 6.68%* 10.78% R242,072 R422,025 

e&oe 

• Mileage certified • 80-point mechanical check 

• Full Service history • 2-year / unlimited km warranty* 

• 7-day exchange plan • Vehicle History Integrity Check 

• Vehicle Customization • Balance of VW Automation Plan 

• 24 Hr roadside assistance • Professional Vehicle Reconditioning 

Polo Vivo 

2011 Polo Vivo 1.4 Blueline 5 Door Silver R99 900 91 000 km 

2011 Polo Vivo 1.4 Trendline 5 Door Silver R104 900 63 000 km 

2013 Polo Vivo 1.4 Trendline 5 Door White R119 900 44 000 km 

2014 Polo Vivo Sedan 1.4 Trendline Silver R107 900 71 000 km 

2014 Polo Vivo 1.4 Trendline 5 Door White R132 900 26 000 km 

2014 Polo Vivo Sedan 1.4 Trendline Silver R129 900 20 000 km 

2015 Polo Vivo 1.4 Trendline 5 Door Silver R149 900 8 000 km 

Polo 

2012 Polo 1.6 Comfortline 5 Door Red R165 900 31 000 km 

2012 Polo 1.6 TDI Comfortline 5 Door White R175 900 58 000 km 

2014 Polo Sedan 1.4 Trendline White R154 900 32 000 km 

2014 Polo Sedan 1.4 Trendline Silver R159 900 16 000 km 

2014 Polo GP 1.2 TSI Trendline White R169 900 34 000 km 

2015 Polo GP 1.2 Comfortline Red R224 000 9 000 km 

Golf 

2011 Golf GTI 2.0 FSI DSG Red R239 900 117 000 km 

2012 Golf GTI 2.0 FSI DSG White R259 000 122 000 km 

2013 Golf 7 1.4 TSI Comfortline DSG White R219 900 73 000 km 

2013 Golf 7 GTI 2.0 FSI DSG Red R319 900 70 000 km 

2014 Golf 7 1.2 TSI Trendline Silver R208 900 28 000 km 

2014 Golf 7 1.4 TSI Comfortline White R254 900 19 800 km 

Jetta 

2012 Jetta 1.4 TSI Comfortline White R169 900 60 000 km 

2012 Jetta 1.4 TSI Comfortline Silver R179 900 57 000 km 

2012 Jetta 1.2 TSI Trendline White R155 900 79 000 km 

Up! 

2015 Take UP! 1.0 55kW White R119 900 6 000 km 

2015 Take UP! 1.0 55kW Silver R119 900 4 500 km 

2015 Move UP! 1.0 55kW Blue R125 000 5 000 km 

Other VW 

2010 Scirocco 2.0 TSI White R199 900 115 000 km 

2011 Tiguan 1.4 TSI Trend Silver R189 900 90 000 km 

2011 Touran 2.0 TDI Comfortline Grey R204 900 78 000 km 

2011 Touareg 3.6 FSI V6 Brown R349 000 39 000 km 

2013 T5 Kombi 2.0 TDI LWB White R349 000 83 000 km 

2015 Tiguan 1.4 TSI Trend Silver R314 900 6 000 km 

2015 Touareg GP 3.0 TDI V6 Blue R679 000 14 500 km 

Other 

2010 Audi A5 2.0 FSI Multitronic Sportback Grey R199 900 79 000 km 

2013 Hyundai Veloster 1.6 Silver R189 900 75 000 km 

2013 Hyundai IX35 2.0 Silver R245 900 78 000 km 

2015 Isuzu Double Cab KB300 D-Teq Auto White R389 900 16 000 km 

*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. 

Mastercars Sales Consultants: Laurie - 082 783 8040 • Rajen - 072 228 9834 • Sanjay - 083 639 0989 

Barry - 072 235 4244 • Phumlani - 073 744 8350 Sales Enquiries: 033 940 1445 

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- Offroad Mode with Hill descent 

- Bi-Xenon with LED Daytime running and - Start-Stop system with Brake-energy 

Dynamic cornering lighting 

Recuperation 

- Park Distance Control, front and rear 

Model 

The Touareg 3.0 V6 

TDI Luxury 

Vehicle Price 


Monthly 

Instalments 



Deposit 

R822,500 R10,939* 72 9.5%* (R65,000) 

Balloon 

Payment 

35% 

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An optional cost of R4550 incl VAT will be charged for metallic paint. Note: *Linked to FNB prime rate, 

currently 9.5%. Note: Offers calculated on the Touareg 3.0 V6 TDI Luxury model in standard specification. 

Instalment excludes optional extras, but includes monthly administration fee of R57. Offers may not 

be used in conjunction with any other special service or offering. Subject to bank approval. Information 

subject to change without prior notification. All finance offers are subject to credit approval from 

Volkswagen Financial Services. Offers only available through 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 

15 November 2015. 


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6 WitnessWheels TRANSPORT 

MOTORING 


Audi goes loco 

for lower carbons 

Three commercial vehicles used by Germany’s top car makers 

BIG, BUT NOT THIRSTY 

ALWYN VILJOEN 

IN July Merc announced its plans 

to build a bakkie, while BMW 

went one better and started testing 

its first electric truck on short 

routes in Munich. 

Now Audi has seen both 

BMW’s lil’ lorry and Merc’s ute, 

and raised the stakes with a massive 

hybrid locomotive. 

Yep, you’d be forgiven for 

thinking the traditional German 

truimverate have gone loco, or at 

least mad for the heavy stuff. 

Granted, Audi did not build its 

locomotive. But then, neither 

does Merc plan to build its bakkie 

from scratch — a Nissan NP300 

will donate the chassis. And 

BMW got a German automotive 

service provider, the Scherm 

group, and the Dutch manufacturer 

Terberg to build that Beemer 

truck. (And could they really 

not make it look any better than 

the average luggage pullers we 

see at airports?) 

Audi opted to contract the 

world’s leading train puller Alstom 

to match a locomotive to 

the needs of its factory. After all, 

Volkswagen already uses Alstom, 

so they must be good, right? 

Ralf Materzok, managing director 

in charge of locomotive 

services at Alstom in Germany, 

said in a statement: “Alstom is 

pleased to count Audi amongst 

our H3 customers, after Deutsche 

Bahn and Volkswagen. The 

benefits of our newly developed 

shunting locomotive platform 

are multiple: the H3 is environmentally 

friendly, compact and 

powerful in terms of tractive 

force on starting. On top of this, 

the innovative hybrid traction allows 

us to reduce energy cost significantly.” 

In the same statement, Johann 

Schmid, operations manager for 

Audi’s industrial railroad at Ingolstadt, 

said the Alstom locomotives 

would save more than 

half the 20 litres of diesel trucks 

used per hour, as the generator 

of the hybrid locomotive needs 

only nine litres per hour to charge 

the battery pack. 

Living the dream of every 

model train set builder, Schmid 

BEEMER TRUCK ALSO FRUGAL 

AT the BMW plant, Jürgen Maidl, head of logistics at BMW Group, 

said their 40ton truck has a range of about 99 km per charge. 

The truck is currently transporting vehicle components — such as 

shock absorbers, springs and steering systems — over stretches of 

less than two miles across Munich seven times a day. 

Maidl said compared to a standard diesel engine truck, the 

electric truck will save 11,8 tons of carbon dioxide per year — the 

equivalent of the emissions produced by driving one of BMW’s 

more efficient cars around the world almost three times. 

There is now word from Merc on how much their envisaged 

NP300 Merc bakkie concept will save. 

Audi’s plant at 

Ingolstadt will 

save lots of 

diesel each 

day with a 

hybrid 

locomotive. 

PHOTO: 

SUPPLIED 

BMW is 

justifiably 

proud of the 

emission 

savings its 

electric truck 

has compared 

to diesel 

trucks. Pity no 

designers were 

involved in its 

exterior 

appearance. 

PHOTO: 

SUPPLIED 

gets to play on 18 km of railway 

at the plant, managing the unloading 

of 15 goods trains as they 

arrive with pressed parts, engines 

and transmissions, as well complete 

Audi cars from other plants. 

He said a single plant locomotive 

carries out up to 75 shunting 

manoeuvres every day. The new 

locomotive runs for up to two 

hours on its battery pack inside 

the plant buildings. The batteries 

can be recharged with CO2free 

electricity when the train is 

parked, but while rolling a big 

dirty diesel generator loads those 

Watts. 

Still, it uses less diesel and 

emits about half the CO2 of a 

normal diesel locomotive, saving 

the plant up to 60 tons less CO2 

each year. 

Audi said this is another step 

towards making the Ingolstadt 

factory CO2neutral. 

Bus of the year promises scenery and safety 

Amid gloomy truck sales figures, the staff at 

Scania in KZN have reported a steady rise in 

numbers this year, thanks to aggressive marketing 

to show how much fuel the advanced European 

trucks will save fleet operators using older tech, 

and backed by finelytuned financing. 

PHOTO: ALWYN VILJOEN 

FACELIFTS FOR CHEV UTE 

Chevrolet 

has updated 

its 

bakkie 

with two 

limited 

editions 

— the 

UteWorking and the 

Surf. 

Only 200 of the UteWorking models will be built, 

all with a cab protector around the rear window and 

a rubberised load box. A tuner/CD is now standard. 

Aimed at the other extreme of the Ute buyers 

profile is the Utesurf, which comes with a tubular 

stainless steel sport bar and a roof rack/spoiler combination 

which makes it simpler and safer to carry 

lifestyle accessories. 

Only 400 of the Utesurf models will be built, each 

with fivespoke alloy wheels with a tuner/CD and air 

conditioning as standard. 

The bakkies are sold with either Chev’s proven 1,4 

petrol engine that develops 132 Nm at 3 200 rpm, or 

its punchy 1.8 (77 kW/161 Nm). We recommend the 

1,4 as the more frugal. 

The prices include a 5year/120 000 km warranty 

and a 5year/unlimited mileage anticorrosion warranty. 

— WR. 

Prices 

UteWorking 1.4 R154 400 

Utesurf 1.4 R159 200 

ASPIRANT TRUCKING BOSS 


THE bus of the year in Europe, 

Iveco’s Magelys, is all about seeing 

out. The roof has side windows 

to provide a truly panoramic 

view and give a feeling of spaciousness 

to passengers. 

Iveco said its Magelys family 

meets the many needs of transport 

companies in the tourism 

and line markets, with either a 

12,2metre body or a longer 

12,8metre version. Two models, 

the Magelys Line and Magelys 

Pro, also cater for different budgets. 

Illustrating the flexibility of 

the design, the winner of the International 

Coach of the Year 

2016, tested in Bulgaria, was fitted 

with all required devices for 

the emerging coachline business 

following German and now 

French deregulations. 

In that respect, the vehicle was 

presented on the base of the most 

equipped version, i.e. on Magelys 

Pro, with the following additional 

equipment: wheelchair lift 

with dedicated door and a demountable 

table arrangement 

that enabled drivers to board a 

disabled passenger without having 

to remove seats, 46 Kiel 

leather seats, toilets, three motorised 

LCD monitors, connectivity 

with WiFi, 220 V and USB 

plugs, GPS and road camera. 

Unique among the candidates, 

the Magelys does not utilise EGR 

(exhaust gas recirculation) to 

control the engine exhaust emissions, 

relying solely on SCR (selective 

catalytic reduction) to accomplish 

this. 

In addition, the Iveco Cursor 

9 unit has a capacity of only 8,7 

litres, yet delivers 294 kW and 

1 700 Nm at 1 250 rpm. 

It is matched to the ZF AS 

Tronic automated transmission, 

delivering a very comfortable 

drive. 

Fuel consumption is reduced 

by up to 10% compared with Euro 

V, helped by a 200 kg weight 

reduction and optimised aerodynamics. 

The Magelys is protected 

against corrosion with a cataphoresis 

treatment for a longer 

lifetime, and has all of the latest 

safety features like LDWS and 

AEBS, and includes a selfsupporting 

structure that complies 

with the rollover test R66/01. 

This international regulation ensures 

that the coach structure remains 

secured for passengers in 

case of a rollover accident. 

— WR. 

Eish, tough one: Luynada from Edendale wonders 

which is best, driving a truck, or riding a bike? 

PHOTO: ALWYN VILJOEN

2015 Nissan NP200 1.6 

Delivery Mileage 

a/c, p/s 

SAVE R27 000 NEW LIST R157 100 

R129 900 

2014 Ford Figo Ambiente 

59 000 km 

R109 900 

2013 

Also available at 

R99 990


RACING 


Castrol Team Toyota take clean sweep with Atlas Copco 450 win 

HAVING already wrapped up 

the title for the 2015 Donaldson 

CrossCountry Championship 

on the previous round, 

Castrol Team Toyota’s Leeroy 

Poulter and navigator Rob 

Howie (Toyota Hilux) put the 

cherry on top this weekend, by 

winning the Atlas Copco 450, 

the final round of the 2015 season. 

The newly crowned champions 

qualified in second place, 

less than two minutes behind 

former champions and teammates 

Anthony Taylor and 

navigator Dennis Murphy, but 

went on to take the win by six 

minutes during the main race. 

This result gives Castrol Team 

Toyota a clean sweep for the 

year, having won every qualifying 

race as well as every round 

of the year. 

Just 34 seconds separated 

second through to fourth place 

as the teams blasted through 

the final timing point of the 

2015 championship, having 

produced the year’ most exciting 

and closely fought race. 

Lance Woolridge/Ward 

Huxtable wrapped up a solid 

weekend for the Ford Performance 

team in fifth place, resulting 

in three Rangers finishing 

in the top five overall Production 

Vehicle results. 

After the heartbreak of 

leading last year’s event until 

an electrical fault stopped their 

charge almost within sight of 

the finish line, former Production 

Vehicle champions Chris 

Visser and Japie Badenhorst 

powered their Ford Ranger to 

the runnerup position following 

a punishing 430 km route 

staged in the gold mining belt 

The Ford performance team who helped Chris Visser and Japie Badenhorst (inset) power 

their Ford Ranger to the podium in the year’s last cross country race over the weekend. 

PHOTO: COLIN MILEMAN 

on Gauteng’s West Rand. 

It was a good race for the 

madeinMaritzburg Fords in 

general, with the exfactory 

Ranger of Australians John 

Purshouse and Murray Hynes 

earning a commendable 10th 

place overall. 

Team principal Neil Woolridge 

said: “This was a great 

way to end what has been a difficult 

season for us. We set out 

firstly to finish the race and 

secondly to secure a podium 

result, and we achieved both of 

these objectives. 

“What was really encouraging 

is that all of our cars were 

on the pace throughout the 

race, and the entire event was 

dictated by the exceptionally 

tough terrain. 

“There simply wasn’t any 

room to make a mistake, and 

just a single puncture could put 

you out of the running completely.” 

Woolridge thanked Ford, his 

team, the sponsors and fans for 

supporting and encouraging 

the team throughout what has 

been “a very challenging year”. 

— Wheels Reporter. 

KZN duo bag S1600 honours 

Pace and consistency of defending champs Botterill and VacyLyle pay handsome dividends 

CHARMAINE FORTUNE 

IT was a tough season and a tight 

battle in Class S1600 of the 

South African National Rally 

Championship, but in the end 

the pace and consistency of defending 

class champions Guy 

Botterill and Simon VacyLyle 

paid handsome dividends. 

The KwaZuluNatal based Yato 

Tools Toyota Etios duo won 

their second consecutive S1600 

championship after scoring four 

wellearned victories, a third and 

fifth position and retiring from 

two events in the eight rounds of 

the 2015 season. 

The year did not start particularly 

well for the pair, as a puncture 

and brake problems forced 

them to settle for a distant third 

in their home event, the Tour Natal 

Rally, in March. 

The first event of season was 

won by Paulus Franken/Henry 

Kohne (Manitou Group VW Polo) 

who capitalised on the extreme 

bad luck of fellow Capetonians 

Ashley HaighSmith and 

Damian van Ass (Castrol Ford Fiesta) 

who were forced to retire 

two kilometres from the end with 

a broken wheel on their car. 

They eventually finished over 

a minute ahead of Matthew Vacy 

Lyle/Schalk van Heerden (Fragram 

Tools Toyota Etios), Botterill 

and Simon VacyLyle’s 

Durbanbased driver Guy Botterill and Simon VacyLyle drove 

their Yato Tools Toyota Etios to a second consecutive S1600 

championship this year. 

PHOTO: FILE 

teammates. 

The treacherous conditions in 

the Sasol Rally in Mpumalanga 

saw a high attrition rate in S1600, 

but Chad van Beurden/Nico 

Swartz (Jem Sport VW Polo) 

gave good account of themselves 

by finishing first in the class and 

eighth overall, beating log leaders 

Franken/Kohne by more than 

two minutes. 

However, Franken and Kohne 

was still leading the class on 28 

points, followed by VacyLyle/ 

Van Heerden and Van Beurden/ 

Swartz a further 2,5 points adrift. 

Botterill bounced back in the 

Secunda Motor Rally in Mpumalanga, 

delivering an impressive 

performance to win the class in 

style, more than a minute ahead 

of Richard Leeke Jr. and Rikus 

Fourie (ATS Ford Fiesta R2), and 

finishing a fine sixth overall. 

Third in class after a steady run 

was VacyLyle/Van Heerden in 

their Etios, but Marko Himmel/ 

Francois Schoombee (North 

Panelbeaters VW Polo R2), while 

competing under Superally rules, 

showed some good sportsmanship 

by stopping to assist Nico 

Higgs/Etienne Lourens after 

their VW Polo caught fire in a 

stage. 

Botterill and VacyLyle celebrated 

their second consecutive 

class victory in the BelaBela Motor 

Rally, followed by Van Beurden/Swartz 

(now in a Jem Sport 

Ford Fiesta R2) and Matthew VacyLyle/Van 

Heerden. 

This moved them to the top 

of the leader board with 43 points 

— four clear of VacyLyle/Van 

Heerden, with Van Beurden/ 

Swartz third on 33,5 and Franken/ 

Kohne down in fourth position 

on 28,5 — only 1,5 points clear 

of Leeke/Fourie. 

However, the waterlogged and 

shortened Volkswagen Rally in 

the Eastern Cape saw the demise 

of most frontrunners, while 

Franken and Kohne stayed out of 

trouble, securing the class win 

ahead of VacyLyle/Van Heerden 

— the only other team in the class 

to see the chequered flag. 

This also meant that after five 

rounds completed earlier points 

leader Simon VacyLyle’s brother, 

Matthew, and copilot Van 

Heerden had moved to the top 

of the log on 51 points, followed 

by Franken/Kohne on 44,5 

points. 

Unfortunately VacyLyle/Van 

Heerden’s class lead did not last 

long, as in the next event, the Imperial 

Toyota Tshwane Rally, they 

rolled out of the rally in spectacular 

fashion, virtually destroying 

the Fragram Tools Etios. 

Meanwhile their teammates 

Botterill/Simon VacyLyle did 

not put a wheel wrong in their 

dice with Van Beurden/Swartz, 

gaining another victory to again 

lead the class (59 points) — only 

2,5 points clear of Tshwane Rally 

runnersup Franken and Kohne. 

Still in striking distance, with 

two events remaining in the 2015 

championship, was Matthew VacyLyle/Van 

Heerden on 52 

points, followed by Van Beurden/ 

Swartz (45) and Leeke/Fourie 

(34). 

Botterill/VacyLyle all but 

wrapped up the season in the penultimate 

event, the Toyota 

Cape Dealer Rally, winning the 

class by a huge margin over teammates 

Matthew VacyLyle/Van 

Heerden in a borrowed Fragram 

Tools Toyota Etios. 

All that now remained for the 

pair (on 75 points) was to finish 

sixth or higher in the final event, 

the Polokwane Motor Rally, in order 

to secure the championship. 

They were now 11 points clear 

of VacyLyle/Van Heerden, with 

Franken/Kohne only 7,5 points 

further in arrears and Van Beurden/Swartz 

fourth on 45 after sitting 

out the Cape round. 

The Polokwane event saw 

Namibians Marko Himmel/Gert 

Nienaber making a strong return 

by winning the class, followed by 

HaighSmith, also making a return 

with Patrick Brides as codriver, 

and Leeke/Fourie. 

However, by finishing fifth in 

class Botterill and VacyLyle did 

enough to secure their second 

consecutive championship, as 

well as the S1600 drivers’ and 

navigators’ titles. 

The 2015 NRC4 Challenge for 

older S2000 fourwheel drive 

twolitre rally cars wasn’t that 

well supported, but with one 

event left one of three crews 

could still win the challenge — 

Piet Bakkes/Shaun Visser (Accident 

Guru Toyota Auris), Wilro 

Dippenaar/Kes Naidoo (Northern 

Panel Beaters Toyota Auris) 

and Theuns Joubert/Mari van der 

Walt (Salom Agri Toyota Auris). 

Dippenaar/Naidoo did not enter 

the Polokwane event, and 

with Bakkes/Visser retiring from 

the event it was Joubert/Van der 

Walt, who drove a steady rally to 

finish sixth overall, to win the 

challenge and the 2015 Class 

NRC4 series. 

CV JOINT 

SPECIALISTS 

for CV joints, ball joints, 

tie rod ends, wheel bearings. 

341 GREYLING STREET 

Pmb. 033 342 9174/75

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