Issue 56 | 5 December 2013 www.autolive.co.za LAUNCHED TODAY!

COMING TO SOUTH AFRICA! After half a century, we fi nally get a right-hand-drive Mustang! Full Story On Page Two

Jeff Nemeth on the A potted pony-car Desmond Tutu? Ferrari 458 Speciale, new Mustang history Page 7 McLaren P1 Page 2 Page 4 Page 11 Subscribe for free @ www.autolive.co.za Page 2

Editor Stuart Johnston Mustang’s Global Sally – Yes, [email protected] General Manager it’s coming to South Africa! Roger Houghton [email protected] AutoLive can confi rm Sales today that the 2015 Kieran Rennie model-year Ford Mustang [email protected] will be coming to South Address Africa! This follows the Suite 106B, MISA Centre global launch of the new 12 Fir Street, Northcliff Mustang in many parts of Johannesburg, 2195 the world just a few hours Tel ago (the offi cial media +27 (0)83 450 9255 release from Ford was Fax embargoed until 6 am Rather than publish a pic of Ford SA CEO Jeff Nemeth here, +27 (0)86 505 8957 South African time today, we thought we’d publish a pic of his very own ‘71 convertible Website December 5, 2013). Mustang, which he drives in South Africa! www.autolive.co.za 50th anniversary of the car on April middle of the grille and the tri-lights © 2013 WCM Media CC BY STUART JOHNSTON 17, 2014. at the back, and the cut-outs on the “We will be getting the car here side. So, rest assured, it’s a Mustang”. Production in South Africa 2015, so there is And there is a defi nitely a V8 ver- Marketing Support Services Big news for South African Mustang still a little wait for us,” Ford Motor sion on the way here too, which will +27 (0)12 346 2168 fans is that for the fi rst time in the Company South Africa’s President please the 500 or so enthusiasts who [email protected] car’s production history, just shy and CEO Jeff Nemeth told AutoLive own previous-generation versions of of 50 years, the car will be built in this week. Presumably this extra this American icon. Layout and Typesetting right-hand-drive form. Th is opens wait for local Ford fans will be due to Nemeth says he can’t say for sure Sharon Bredenkamp the way for the fi rst offi cial large scale the special tooling up to build right- why the Mustang has never been pro- importation of Mustangs to South hand-drive models. duced in right-hand-drive form until Disclaimer Africa by Ford Motor Company (see “Mustang has such a long herit- now, as this is his “fi rst right-hand- While reasonable precautions have background story starting on page age, and every time we redesign it we drive market.” But he adds: “I’m just been taken to ensure the accuracy 4), since the world’s fi rst “pony car” keep the design cues,” added Nemeth. glad they’re doing it now! Better look- was launched to a delirious public on “So yeah, there’s a big change to the ing out the windscreen than in the of the advice and information given April 17, 1964. appearance and it now has independ- rear-view mirror on that one.” to readers, neither the Editor, the Unconfi rmed at the time that this ent rear suspension for the fi rst time, Nemeth concedes that the big Proprietors, nor the publishers was written, is the news that while and a 2,3-litre EcoBoost engine has thrust to make many models more can accept any responsibility for the all-new-completely re-designed been added to the range for fuel econ- “global”, rather than region-specifi c any damages or injury which may Mus tang will be labelled as a 2015 omy, and it’s an all-new platform. But under the current Ford management arise therefrom. model, there is a plan for the new it’s still unmistakably Mustang, with car’s on-sale date to coincide with the the trapezoidal grille, the pony in the continued on next page Subscribe for free @ www.autolive.co.za Page 3

continued from previous page thing she hears this big roar from the ga- Editor’s Note rage. And when my kids want to go for regime is undoubtedly part of this strat- ice cream, they always nag me to use the egy to go right-hand-drive with the new Mustang. Th en I come out of the store IT’S BEEN A GOOD YEAR Mustang. “But the Mustang is such an and there are fi ve or six people hanging Th e South African motor in- iconic brand for Ford, and we’ve had such around it!” dustry can look back on 2013 as an improvement in our brand equity Nemeth confi rms that for South the third most successful year in around the world in the past few years, Africa, we will be getting both the new its history in terms of the number for instance with the one-litre EcoBoost 2,3-litre EcoBoost turbocharged engine, of cars sold. Well, the fi nal stats engine winning so many international with direct injection, as well as a V8 ver- aren’t out yet, but with growth awards, that it was just the right time to sion here in South Africa. In other markets this year running at over three per take the Mustang global.” a V6 will also be available. cent, that achievement should be Will the new Mustang be eminently “I can’t give the horsepower ratings yet attainable, barring a disruption of aff ordable, as it was when it was launched on the 2,3-litre EcoBoost engine. But I’ve seismic proportions in December. in 1964 and has pretty much remained so driven cars with that engine fi tted, and I It would have been a lot better without the serious seven-week ever since? can say that people won’t believe the kind strike that occurred in the second-half of the year, but hopefully “It’s too early for specifi c South of performance that engine delivers.” government and the unions will pay heed to our industry heads, African pricing. It’ll be a great value, that AutoLive is keen to try that new en- both local and global, who are serious when they warn that as I can confi rm. People that want a Mustang gine, in the interests of fuel economy, re- supplier in the global chain of automotive commodities, and will feel that it will be within their reach.” ducing global warming, and because all marginal one at that in terms of global perspectives, no special Nemeth in fact owns a Mustang as the EcoBoost engines we’ve sampled so far concessions will be granted if we can’t deliver the goods, and on his private car, a 1971 convertible. “It’s have been amazing. But, sorry folks, when time too. like a time machine. Every time my wife it comes to Mustangs, just on pure princi- Th at we are so much part of the global industry these days is asks me to go pick up bread or milk, next ple, make ours a V8 please! ■ indicated by the introduction of electric cars here, fi rst by Nissan with its Leaf, with BMW to follow shortly with its i3. While these initiatives are to be lauded in terms of their global responsibility, Toyota’s First Car to Reach a Million Units AutoLive cannot help but feel that to pay such a premium for an Produced in South Africa electric car here is largely for reasons of making a statement of the I-am-so-cool, I-even-care-about-the-planet variety. Th is follow’s on the recent production of While the 1 millionth Corolla will Yes, we care about the planet, but as long as our electricity is the 1-millionth Hilux bakkie. fi nd pride of place next to the 1 millionth generated largely by coal, the impact on the environment is not Team members at Toyota South Africa Hilux in Toyota’s museum at its Sales that much better than using a petrol- or diesel-fueled car. Yes, Motors celebrated in late November as and Marketing Head Offi ce in Sandton one can take the route of installing solar energy systems, but they the 1 millionth proudly-South African- the Prospecton Plant is busy preparing are very expensive. And to make the money required to purchase manufactured Corolla rolled of the pro- the manufacturing facility for the start them takes lots of energy-expenditure! Read planetary exploita- duction line at the company’s Prospecton of production of the new Corolla, which tion for that one! Plant in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. was revealed at the recent Johannesburg Personally, I am all for the hybrid solution as practised by an Th e white Toyota Corolla that came International Motor Show in October. increasing number of manufacturers today, where a small fossil- off the production line on Wednesday “It is very symbolic that the Corolla fuel engine can generate enough energy to adequately power a car 20 November 2013 caps six years of produc- reaches this milestone now,” says Dr Johan and replenish a battery that can in turn power an electric engine tion in which the Corolla was produced in van Zyl, President and CEO of Toyota to assist that small engine to make the car, a single car mark you, both left and right hand drive variants and South Africa Motors. “It not only cele- useable for city driving and trips to wherever you like. exported to regions including Eastern and brates a very successful production run for Western Europe, the Caribbean and Africa. the tenth generation world’s favourite car, Th e Corolla was fi rst introduced in but it heralds the introduction of the new South Africa in 1975 and soon became Corolla in 2014.” Stuart Johnston, South Africa’s best-selling family vehicle. It “Th e Corolla benefi tted from our Editor has been produced at Toyota’s Prospecton R8 billion investment programme (fi rst [email protected] plant since SA introduction, while its lo- announced in 2008), which modernised cal content was gradually increased and the plant and introduced a state of the art the range widened to include left and right paint plant. With the new Corolla we hope hand drive models for various export mar- to start our next round of investment and kets. Th e model has been through a num- look forward to sharing this plan when our ber of complete restyles in its history here, fi rst new generation Corolla models roll off with a new version due next year. the line,” says Dr Van Zyl. ■

To advertise in contact Kieran Rennie on 083 225 9609 or email on [email protected] Subscribe for free @ www.autolive.co.za Page 4

It’s Been a Long Time Coming…..

BY STUART JOHNSTON More than 22 000 Mustangs were sold on that ran a test on a fastback version fi tted with a 289 very fi rst on-sale day. And from an initial sales cubic inch (4,7-litre) V8 and recorded a sub nine- forecast of 100 000 units for that fi rst year, Ford second 0-100 km/h time (okay the fi gures were in About half a century in fact. When Ford’s Mustang ending up selling 417 000 Mustangs in the fi rst 12 mph back then) and a top speed of about 180 km/h. arrives here for general sale in 2015, power-hun- months, and within two years of production, sales Th e importation tax of R1 000 in those days gry South Africans will fi nally be able to do what had reached the one million mark. put the landed price of a brand new Mustang here Americans with a yen for high style could do on It was the most successful new-model introduc- at around R3 500, not a bad deal considering that April 17, 1964. And that was, walk into a dealership tion of any car and it remains so today half a cen- a Mercedes 220 saloon cost about the same, and and order a brand new machine that coined the tury later. Yes, Ford Mustangs have been in produc- a Jaguar Mk II 3,8 cost R3 910. Yes, even with the term “pony car”. tion ever since, through a great number of variants. import tax, Mustangs were relatively aff ordable, Except, the reality wasn’t so simple on that Actually, it isn‘t strictly true that South Africans although of course you were stuck with a left -hand- landmark day. In Garland, Texas, some 15 custom- have always been denied the chance to own a Ford drive car here, as Mustangs have never been avail- ers bid on the same Mustang, and the winning bid- Mustang. Back in December 1964 Ford South able in right-hand-driver, except via conversion der slept outside the dealership overnight, waiting Africa launched “Operation Mustang”. You could specialists. Until now, that is! for his check to clear and the dealership doors to buy a brand new Mustang, including the recently- Th e initial Car test also reported that the Mustang open at 8 am. introduced fastback version, through a Ford dealer- caused its own mini riot here in South Africa. “On its Elsewhere, a truck driver was said to be so dis- ship, but at a heft y price! Th is was because of the tax fi rst night on display in the Mother City (Cape Town) tracted by the sight of a new Mustang, that he drove legislation in place to protect local car production his vehicle through the showroom window! here. In its February 1965 edition, Car magazine continued on next page

The Mustang that started it all. This is the very fi rst series, in 1966 guise. A ‘65 Mustang racer built to Shelby GT350 specs, and Note horizontal bar grille, rather than mesh grille of the ‘64–65 models. journalist driver Thomas Falkiner.

GET THE PERFORMANCE EDGE With over 110 years of experience, nobody understands oil quite like Castrol does. The Castrol Professional range is specifically formulated to meet the advanced technical needs of today’s vehicles.

LEADING CAR MANUFACTURERS USE AND RECOMMEND CASTROL Subscribe for free @ www.autolive.co.za Page 5

continued from previous page Th e Shelby GT350, by the way, in its 1965 and Th e movie from the year 2000, Gone in 60 Seconds 1966 form, was very much a race car for the road, starring Nicholas Cage, used a modernised custom crowds of up to 500 people besieged the showroom with a fi tted roll cage, no rear seat, dropped sus- version of the 390 GT, in that it had more modern where the three cars held the limelight,” noted then- pension, and almost zero exhaust silencing. It was Halibrand-style alloy wheels and various body mods, Editor Cedric Wright. “And by midnight 20 excited extremely quick too, and needed a skilled driver including a lower front valance and stylised lights motorists had booked Mustangs for importation.” to operate it. Th e cars were built by famous Cobra behind the grille. Th at movie, however, gave rise to a And 80 orders were placed countrywide with Ford creator Carol Shelby at his Venice Beach ware- world-wide rekindling of interest in pony-cars as seri- by the end of December 1964. house in Los Angeles, and they were initially all in ously collectible items, and the Mustang as driven by Th at special brand-promotion deal from Ford white with blue racing stripes. Later, more sanitised Cage was called “Eleanor”. Recreations of this silver SA remained pretty much a one-off . Yet over the Shelby versions were produced from 1967 to 1970, icon abound, you can even buy “Eleanor” kits, and succeeding decades, Ford Mustangs have been im- but none approached the fi rst two year production well-done examples are selling at prices of well over ported here in limited numbers, including some of the GT350 for sheer raw appeal. R1-million today, the best for twice that amount. seriously collectible examples. Th ere have been Th e fi rst-generation ‘64-and-a-half Mustangs Th e original purity of the ’64-to-’66 Mustang some genuine fi rst-series Shelby Mustangs seen through to the end of 1966 remain the most collect- design logically gave way to the bigger-is-better phi- here, including a very rare Hertz Shelby GT350H able apart from the Shelby models. Next up are the losophy as is the wont of car manufacturers the world example. 1967 to 69 cars, especially the limited production hot over (with the notable exception of Porsche with its Yes, Hertz the rental people, in a crazy marketing versions such as the Boss 302 and Boss 429 examples. 911). Th us, from 1967 onwards, the Mustang began to ploy, actually off ered potent Shelby Mustangs for rent- Th e world’s most famous Mustang, as used in the get heavier, until it became rather bloated in its guise al in the US in 1966, all of them being painted black car-chase epic in the movie Bullit and driven by Steve from 1971 to 1973. But power remained a priority, with gold striping. And the writer personally saw one McQueen, was actually a 1968 Mustang 390 GT, and of them here in Randburg just a couple of years ago. not a Shelby Mustang as many people surmised. continued on next page

Genuine ‘68 Shelby GT500 pictured at the Coca Cola Dome, By ‘73, Mustangs like this Mach 1 were getting a bit on the hefty Randburg, a few years back side of things. Subscribe for free @ www.autolive.co.za Page 6

continued from previous page Ford dealerships, notably Novel Ford in Paarl, of- have been unable to import any left -hand-drive fered special supercharged Saleen versions of this models here since the late 1990s, it means that aft er and as already mentioned, the Boss 429 version avail- car, and very nice they were too! a lapse lasting close on two decades, Mustangs will able from Ford dealers featured a seven-litre V8. In 2005 the ‘Stang made a very real return to its once again be available, and better still, through Aft er the fuel crises of late 1973, however, the true heritage as a sports coupe, and this model has Ford dealerships, with all the warranty and service Mustang went into a serious decline from a perfor- been in basic production with numerous updates back-up benefi ts that this implies. mance enthusiast’s point of view, with (yikes!) four- until now. Performance has been seriously in place Total Mustang production fi gures since April cylinder versions being sold, the car known as the for the past couple of years with a Shelby version 1964 have now surpassed nine-million, making it Mustang II. Th e V8 engine was reinstated as an op- once again on off er that features a 5,4-litre super- one of the most successful nameplates in Ford’s his- tion a year later, but the Pinto-based car looked more charged V8, capable of 300 km/h-plus performance tory. Not bad for a car that was in essence a restyle like a Ford Cortina than a Mustang, or even a Ford and mind-boggling acceleration. job on the humble 1959 Falcon “compact car” plat- Capri, which in fact was Ford of Europe’s answer to Th anks to the boundless enthusiasm of certain form, using mechanical components that were read- the American-built Mustang, and a car that sold well enthusiasts, Mustangs of this era have in fact been ily available from Ford’s other mainstream product here, in right-hand-drive form from 1969 until 1973. available locally in very limited numbers, thanks lines at the time, like the mid-sized Fairlane. Back in the USA, a return to more traditional to specialist operations fi tting special right-hand- It was the use of those “cooking” mechanicals roots came in 1979, with the Mustang looking drive conversions to the cars and thus having them that made the Mustang so successful; as it came in more, but not fully, like a pony car again, and this ratifi ed for local sale. at a Price below 2 500 US dollars back then, aff ord- basic shape endured until the next-gen car released But until now, Ford in the US has rested the able by anyone in the market for a new car. It will in 1994, with the Mustang evolving once again into idea of building a right-hand-drive model. Th at be interesting to see what sort of pricing Ford South a proper performance model. Some South African all offi cially changes today. And as South Africans Africa can manage here. ■

A Mustang II, highly prized by its owner despite its Cortina-like Some lhd modern Mustangs did make it to South Africa. looks. Many were fi tted with four-cylinder engines, but this one Presumably this one is awaiting an rhd conversion. It’s pictured has a V8. next to a 1970 model at Nasrec.

With a range of quality products guaranteed nationally, you will always fi nd there’s so much more to Midas.

www.midas.co.za Subscribe for free @ www.autolive.co.za Page 7

People

Mahindra Gives SA it’s Vote of Confi dence

Th e Mahindra Group has given a vote of confi - Group views the business potential of the African dence to doing business in South Africa and on the continent. African continent with the decision to hold its 2013 I am encouraging the various divisions of the annual Blue Chip company conference in Cape group to evaluate business opportunities on this Town this year. continent. Th is is a region already recording signifi - Th e two-day event, attended by 500 of the cant economic growth, with huge promise for the senior managers of the diverse group, is the com- future as it develops.” pany’s major annual event for strategic planning Th e closing address for the conference was deliv- for the future. ered by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the Nobel Peace In his opening address at the Cape Town Prize recipient in 1984, who is a champion for devel- International Conference Centre on Monday, opment of the African continent and its people. December 2, the chairman and managing direc- In South Africa, Mahindra is already involved tor of the Mahindra Group, Anand Mahindra, in the automotive, information technology (IT) and said: “Th e fact that we are holding this very im- aerospace industries, while many of the Mahindra portant corporate conference in Cape Town sig- Group companies are already active in business nifi es the importance with which the Mahindra ventures in various African countries. ■ Desmond Tutu and Anand Mahindra.

John Edmeston new – Cartrack.

John Edmeston on the Evolution of Tlematics:

“Insurance telematics for driver risk assessment by insurance companies is a growing application of telematics services, and what we believe will be- “The thing about the McLaren MP4-12C is Jeannie D, attractive presenter for Top come the de facto standard for managing driver risk that it’s as good at 60 km/h as it is at over Billing and a popular travel TV show , has on our roads,” explains John Edmeston, Managing 280 km/h” says Ian Gorsuch, McLaren’s been appointed brand ambassador for Director of Cartrack. MD of Middle East and Africa, in South Aston Martin. “I learned to drive when I “As an individual, insurance telematics simply Africa to attend the 10th birthday part of was nine years old on a farm with my dad mean that you can qualify for personalised insur- the Daytona Group last week. “It’s down as teacher. Cars are my passion, for me ance premiums for your vehicle based on your ac- to that suspension, which has four-wheel they’re right up there with shoes. My dad tual individual risk profi le, rather than the broad articulation due to the fact its design has said, treat the accelerator and the brake dictates of an average risk pool,” adds Edmeston. ■ eliminated anti-roll bars. pedal like a violin.” Subscribe for free @ www.autolive.co.za Page 8 /1 6375

Give any Italian Job the Perfect Getaway.

Simply post them on Gumtree. As South Africa’s favourite online classifieds site, we get over 6 million* monthly visits, reach more buyers and are driven to sell anything on wheels.

Subscribe for free @ www.autolive.co.za Page 9

Hino Flagship Midrand Dealership

Th e McCarthy Group has a new fl agship dealer- ship in Gauteng. It is Hino Midrand, which has been relocated to a large new site near the existing McCarthy Toyota and Lexus outlets. Th is is part of an ongoing programme by Hino dealers countrywide to build new facilities or up- grade existing dealerships. Almost half the dealers have been or are involved in projects of this nature between 2010 and 2014 with a total investment of more than R100-million. Th e McCarthy-owned Hino Midrand opera- tion has been around for more than 25 years, but for much of this time it was a satellite of the major Hino dealership in Selby and was basically a parts and service operation until a new, fully-fl edged Hino Hino’s new dealership in Midrand. facility was built in 2005 and this outlet was Hino Dealer of the Year in 2007. will also be undertaken and the dealership off ers SA. Hino Midrand will off er a 24/7 parts supply and “We rapidly outgrew that facility and early this other specialised services such as wheel alignment emergency breakdown facility. year construction started on a 10 000m2 site to erect and balancing, air-conditioner gassing and repair Th e current staff complement is 34 people, but our new state-of-the-art dealership that is planned as well as brake repairs. additional employees are being recruited which will to be viable for the next 20 years,” explained Hennie Sales of new trucks are currently running at a bring the total to almost 40. de Villiers, the general manager of Hino Midrand rate of 20-25 a month with strategies in place to in- Hennie de Villiers worked for Toyota SA and the divisional managing director for all six crease that rate. Trucks (the forerunner of Hino SA) for 14 years Hino dealerships in the McCarthy Group. “Total A fully-fl edged parts operation is being devel- as sales and dealer development manager, before cost was R20-million.” oped as in the past most parts sales have contin- joining McCarthy eight years ago to manage a pas- Th e workshop has 16 double work bays and ued to go through the Selby dealership. Parts are senger and light commercial dealership in Gezina, there are three 22m pits with the target being to delivered to Hino Midrand four times a day from Pretoria, before being appointed to his current posi- service 20-30 trucks a day. Th e servicing of trailers the McCarthy parts hub and twice a day from Hino tion at Hino Midrand. ■

Lexus Stars in 2013 Ipsos Quality Survey

Th e “absolute star” of the 2013 Ipsos Quality Survey interviewed three months aft er purchasing their ve- Th e LCV segment was dominated by Toyota in with the absolute lowest problem count – was the hicles to ascertain which, if any, problems have been winning best overall LCV brand, best local plant Lexus IS with an impressive low score of 11 prob- experienced in the fi rst three months of ownership. and best double cab brand. Isuzu is at the top of the lems per 100 vehicles. Th e research company has Th e score is calculated as Problems per 100 vehicles Single Cab category in 2013. ■ been running this survey for the past nine years, which is a globally recognised approach. previously under the Synovate banner. Th e Lexus IS’s top score saw it beat out the Best Brands Mercedes-Benz C-Class with 12 pp100, followed by “Th is year marks a slight shift in the category the Audi A3 on 13 pp100 and the Mazda2, also on awards for passenger vehicles as there are a few 13 pp100 (problems per 100 vehicles). brands who have not appeared recently, or be- Top performing passenger car brands this year fore, represented in many of the Gold categories,” included Mazda, Audi and Chevrolet with fi rst states Patrick Busschau, Automotive Business Unit places in more than one segment. Th e Light com- Director at Ipsos. “Th ere is no clear dominance by mercial vehicle (LCV) segment was dominated by one brand across the categories.” Mercedes-Benz Toyota and Isuzu with the leading model in LCV wins Gold for best local plant, Lexus for best pre- being the Isuzu KB Diesel Single Cab. mium brand and Mazda for best volume brand. Th e study is the largest survey of its kind in “Th is is great for the automotive industry and re- South Africa and forms part of Ipsos’s Syndicated introduces some new competition. Some of the Automotive Research – a study into vehicle product other brands have caught up to the traditional quality as well as sales and service transactions. Th e benchmarks in product quality and this bodes well study collectively talks to over 10 000 South African for the industry as well as the consumer,” com- Lexus’s IS model came out tops in the vehicle owners annually. Respondents for PP100 are ments Busschau. Ipsos 2013 Quality Survey. Subscribe for free @ www.autolive.co.za Page 10

Prado Gets a Revamp

Toyota’s revered Land Cruiser Prado has ben- materials, detailing and features. efi tted from a facelift , with bolder exterior styl- Under-the-skin fettling comprises upgrades ing, handy interior enhancements and handling to the electronically-modulated Kinetic Dynamic refi nements for 2014.South Africa’s top-selling Suspension System (KDSS) to enhance handling manufacturer celebrated the upgrades by invit- and ride comfort characteristics. ing a strong contingent of motoring media to Finally, Toyota has amplifi ed functionality by pro- Namibia to drive the Prado in challenging terrain viding additional driver guidance aids such as Blind earlier this week. Spot Monitoring and a Tyre Infl ation Warning sys- Revised Prado in natural habitat. Ringing the exterior changes is an extensive tem on the VX and Trailer Sway Control (standard redesign with a deeper front bumper, heritage-in- across the range) that assists when towing by negat- “Land Cruiser Prado has become renowned spired grille and newly styled alloy wheels that rein- ing the possible unpleasant consequences of cross- in the 4WD market for its blend of rugged perfor- force the Prado’s toughness, reliability and legend- winds or bumpy roads. mance and premium features. ary off -road prowess. Toyota SA Motors Senior Vice President of “Th e latest improvements will enhance Prado’s Interiors too have benefi ted from comprehen- Sales and Marketing, Calvyn Hamman, says the rock-solid reputation as one of the world’s tough- sive upgrades that raise quality, convenience and upgrades will reaffi rm the Land Cruiser Prado as est and most reliable 4x4s while off ering the cachet, ease of use with new multi-media audio systems as one of the most technically advanced and easy-to- comfort and on-tar performance that are important well as a redesigned dashboard featuring improved use 4WD vehicles in the world. to today’s customer,” Hamman says. ■

LEXUS LF-NX Turbo Nears Production, as Illustrated by a Concept at Tokyo

Th e LF-NX Turbo, show at the recently-opened 255/50R20 rubber with 255/45ZR20, giving the ve- advanced high-tumble port, fan spray fuel injec- Tokyo Motor Show, is a follow on from the LF-NX hicle a more sporting appearance with a wide, con- tion, D-4S and VVT-i combustion technologies. Its HV premium compact cross-over that made its de- fi dent stance. design sees the exhaust manifold integrated into the but at Frankfurt in September. Th is is a cue that tur- In the cabin the performance potential is ex- cylinder head, and it is fi tted with a twin-scroll tur- bocharged engines are indeed on their way in future pressed in the red illumination for principal con- bocharger with an active wastegate valve. Lexus models. trols, meters, navigation screen and Remote Touch By optimising the exhaust gas temperature, Th e new version is similar to the example Interface, touch tracer and touchpad controls. the exhaust manifold delivers high performance, shown in Frankfurt, but with detail changes to the fuel effi ciency and low exhaust emissions, while the exterior and interior, to highlight the performance Powertrain turbo operates eff ectively across the widest possible of the two-litre turbo engine. Th e LF-NX Turbo concept is equipped with Lexus’s rev range. Th e revised frontal treatment sees the Lexus fi rst turbocharged petrol engine. Th e unit is said to be engineered for fast throttle spindle grille gain a smoked chrome trim and the Th e 2.0-litre, four-cylinder unit features Lexus’s response, yet effi cient fuel economy. ■ addition of a narrow, black mesh lower air intake above a matt chrome chin spoiler. Th e eff ect is to reinforce the crossover’s lower centre of gravity and sportier performance. Th e wheel arches and lower rocker panel have a high-gloss black paint fi nish and the upper rocker panel molding is fi nished in matt chrome. Th e smoked chrome eff ect of the grille is repeated in the glazing surrounds and the upper surface of the door mirrors. At the rear, a new lower bumper design is underscored by a full-width aerodynamic dif- fuser with a matt chrome fi nish. Th is is fl anked by highly sculpted chrome exhausts, shaped to echo the styling the of the vertical air intakes in the front wings. Th e concept gains a stronger alloy wheel de- sign and a change in tyre size, replacing the HV’s Futuristic concept crossover nevertheless has strong Lexus DNA. Subscribe for free @ www.autolive.co.za Page 11

Ferrari 458 Speciale is alive and sideways in South Africa

BY STUART JOHNSTON Th e engine in the 458 Speciale is rated as the most powerful production V8 from Ferrari to date. It makes 445 kW at 9 000 rpm, and 540 Nm Th is is the special part about the new 458 Speciale. of torque. Th is is impressive indeed from a natu- It has such clever traction control that it allows you rally aspirated production motor! It employs a dual to hang the tail way, way out, until the car senses clutch transmission with reworked control logic for you are getting to the point of no return. Th en, like lightening swift shift s. the brilliant driver you and I know we both are, the By the way, that drift ing toy is known as Side Slip car sorts out the over-steer for you by braking the Angle Control (SSC) Price? About R4,65-million. requisite wheels, adjusting the torque on the elec- tronic diff erential, and backing off the throttle ever McLaren’s P1 so slightly. So you can still hang it out, continue It was a week for Supercars for AutoLive. No sooner your drift ! had we absorbed the sight and the sound of the In fact, when you get back from your track Ferrari 458 Speciale, than we were drinking in the Rear view iof the 458 Speciale is special. day at Kyalami, you’ll swear you caught that full- glamour of the Daytona 10th birthday party, the on-opposite lock drift through Sunset Bend all by highlight of which was the reveal of the incompa- Th e result is a 675 kW thing of beauty, rear- yourself! rable P1. wheel-drive, with a V6 twin-turbo and an electric “We set the benchmark 20 years ago when we motor giving constant on-demand torque, 900 ... the Speciale is special, and built the F1, designed by Gordon Murray,” said Newton meters of it. what’s more it is one of the best McLaren’s Ian Gorsuch, regional director for Africa Top speed is rated at just under 350 km/h, with looking Ferraris since the P3/4 and Middle East. He was referring to the potent a 0-100 km/h time of 2,8 seconds. 6-litre BMW-engined V12, designed by South Just 375 will be built and three have been con- prototype racer series of 1966. African-born Murray, that was the world’s fastest scripted for South Africa, two of which have been supercar in 1992, and went on to win the Le Mans delivered to customers. As the cars are all left -hand- Yes, the Speciale is special, and what’s more it 24 Hour endurance race outright a few years later, drives, they are imported here under a special car- is one of the best looking Ferraris since the P3/4 in a version that was remarkably close to the road- net, which stipulates that they must be returned to prototype racer series of 1966. In fact, there is more going version. their country of origin (UK) within two years of than a little P4 to that rear spoiler, which for me “Now with this car”, continued Gorsuch, “we purchase. makes the car. Th at and those side tendrils just fore co-opted the world’s best engineers in aerodynamics, And how much is that purchase price? Gorsuch of the rear wheel arches give it gravitas. and in chassis and engine design, and in the beautiful only quotes pounds sterling, and reveals that you And yet the weighting of the design is so per- shape of the car. And the beauty of it all was, we gave are looking 900 000 of those, in what is a very strong fect, too, for a mid-engined car. Th e special wheels, them no price constraints.” currency! ■ too, of the Speciale, make it extra meaty. Th anks to various carbon bits and pieces it is a bit lighter than the standard 458 too. It in fact con- tinues the racer-for-the-road theme that was started with the Stradale versions of the 360 and the 430.

Speciale’s dark-hued wheels are purposeful, as are carbon ceramic brakes. The P1 attracted intense interest at the reveal a week ago. Subscribe for free @ www.autolive.co.za Page 12

The Autolive Sales Team

Kieran Rennie heads up the advertis- Kieran, who also does some writing ■ Market research companies ing sales team on AutoLive. Kieran for this publication on an occasional ■ Business management consult- recently joined our band of petrol- basis, having already covered a num- ants heads, and his pleasant but focussed ber of local launches. ■ IT companies personality, as well as his attention to You can mail Kieran Rennie at ■ Fleet management companies detail, makes him the ideal member [email protected], or call ■ Suppliers of workshop equip- of our front-line squad. him on 083 225 9609. ment Kieran has been involved in the ■ Car care companies Kieran Rennie motor industry for almost as long Who should advertise ■ Panel beaters and dent removers Cell: 083 225 9609 as he can remember, his father hav- in Autolive? ■ Auction houses E-mail: [email protected] ing been a dealer principal at an ■ Companies looking to recruit ■ Courier companies East Rand Mazda dealership some employees for specialist posi- ■ Service providers in the fi nance ■ Printers years ago. tions in the motor industry. and insurance industry ■ Accounting fi rms Kieran also cut his teeth as a ■ Companies looking for fran- ■ Vehicle tracking system suppli- car salesman during his career, but chisees ers AutoLive advertising rates are very most of his working life he has been ■ Companies looking for dealers ■ Organisers of exhibitions and cost eff ective and we are able to involved in the music and entertain- for new vehicle brands or to conferences. make up advertisements at reason- ment business. While making music expand an existing dealer ■ Tyre fi tment centres able rates. Th e rate card is avail- he also found time to build his own network. ■ Suppliers of car care products able under “Advertising” on the Lotus 7-based sports car. ■ Automotive marketing consult- ■ Suppliers of automotive re- AutoLive website. ■ “Getting involved in AutoLive ants placement parts is like a return to my roots,” says ■ Training organisations ■ Roadworthy testing centres www.autolive.co.za

Subaru’s Superb Forester

BY STUART JOHNSTON car. It’s a CVT that acts like an automatic, shift - ing up and down like an automatic in steps, and holding high-revs as an automatic would when Just one of the amazing things about Subaru is the hard on the throttle. Except that in the Forester’s fuel consumption claims they make. With their case, it holds the same high revs – above 6 000, range-topping 2,0-litre petrol turbo, XT model, and simply keeps on accelerating! So, no droning fi tted with the Lineartronic CVT gearbox, they away for this baby. claim 8,5-litres per 100. Well, in something that in Subaru claim an eminently respectable our experience is unique, we achieved an overall 210 km/h top speed for this 177 kW SUV and again consumption fi gure signifi cantly better than the I am sure that is a genuine fi gure, as is the sea level claimed fi gure. Th e slurpability factor, running 95 0-100 km/h time of 7,5 seconds. Great car, the Forester two-litre petrol octane, worked out at an average fi gure of 8,0 li- Th e cabin, like all Subarus, is devoid of gim- Turbo CVT. tres/100 with this car! micks, almost plain by modern standards. Th is Th at’s an exceptional consumption fi gure for again has always been so with Subaru. It’s in the SUVs on its 2012 Euro NCap safety test, with maxi- even a hot performance hatchback. Considering mechanical realm that this company spends its mum side barrier crash marks and ditto for pedes- that this car has a large frontal area, all-wheel-drive money, and its ability on bad rutted roads is re- trian leg protection. and a CVT, it speaks wonders for the technology of markable in the way it soaks up bumps. On hitting Looks? Ja, it looks kind of strange, kind of cute this company. But then, we’ve always known that a stretch of dirt near Pretoria I found myself actu- from the outside. It comes in eight colours, and Subaru prizes technology above all else and this lat- ally looking for potholes to test its acumen, and it with Subaru’s three-year/100 000 km warranty and est rendition of the Forester is no diff erent. came out tops. Subaru Assist. Maintenance plan extensions are Th e ride and handling of this car is one of the By now you get the feeling I’m a fan. Th e car available at extra cost. best of all all-terrain SUVs. It imparts brilliant is safe too, with seven airbags standard across all Talking of cost, this is the most expensive, at steering feel and accuracy, and a feeling of being fi ve models that start with the Vehicle Dynamics R529 000. But the least expensive of the fi ve mod- in control at all time. And far from being annoy- Control that makes it extremely hard to “lose it” on els, hardly an under-equipped vehicle, weighs in ing, the CVT is actually a seriously good gearbox, any kind of surface, a limited slip rear diff . In fact at R329 000. Would I buy one if I had the readies? again the best CVT I’ve ever experienced on any the Forester scored the highest possible marks for Yeah, bring it on. ■ Subscribe for free @ www.autolive.co.za Page 13

Nissan’s Leaf – A Maiden Voyage and Other Musings

BY STUART JOHNSTON Chang told us that the young people of today the fossil fuel category of energy exploitation. Not to put owning things low on their list of priorities. Top mention rather impactful on the environment. of their wish lists are visiting all sorts of countries. Yes, this electric car thing is a complex one In view of this, the trend towards bicycle sharing when it relates to South Africa, and the problems and car sharing in European countries makes sense. we face: Massive wage and living standard discrep- Would it work here? Hmm, you’d have to chain ancies, driving standards that make bicycle riding your (rented) bicycle to the wall, and that would (not to mention sharing) a risky business if applied include the wheels, the gear lever, the saddle and, to the CBDs of any of our major cities. A population come to think of it, you’d have to chain up the chain that numbers such a large number of criminals that too. And the wall! both bike-sharing and car-sharing schemes imme- diately become high-risk enterprises too. ... people have no idea you Th en there is the whole macro-energy debate are sneaking up on them. regarding the research and development of electric cars, and how much energy has been expended in bringing them to market. And the fact that huge re- We also saw projections from Nissan on how the Leaf serves of oil are constantly being unearthed all over Trends analyst Dion Chang painted a could indeed pay for its rather heft y price premium the planet. rather idyllic future picture at the Nissan (R460 000 including the charger) over a period of And yet… Leaf launch. three to fi ve years, thanks to the fact that electrical Th e Nissan Leaf drives along quite nicely. In fact energy is still a lot cheaper than fossil fuel energy. And it is a very smooth ride, with handling more nimble I’d driven in the Leaf at the Johannesburg Inter- of course, a whole lot more environmentally friendly. than one would expect, as batteries have become national Motor Show in October as a passenger, Except one of the facts avoided in this discussion much more effi cient and thus lighter and Nissan en- and two weeks ago I had the chance to drive the car was the fact that most of our electrical energy in this gineers (like VW with their e-Up!) have packed the for myself on a launch-package day that included a country is generated by the burning of coal, which visit to the house of Nissan’s fi rst customer for this could also be generally categorised as falling into continued on next page silent, odourless car, one Greg Ball. Greg is a man who lives “off the grid”. I thought that maybe meant he was like a super drop-out, isolating himself from radio, television, cell phones and the internet. No, no the grid that people-in- the-know were referring to as we neared his abode near Kyalami was the one related to Eskom. Greg supplies all the power for his impressive Waterfall Estate home with solar energy and he has a compa- ny that does the same sort of thing for other home- owners and business. Very impressive too. So he was a natural for a Nissan Leaf, as it fi ts right into the ethos of his personal mission and his business and will no doubt serve as a mobile bill- board for his energy-sustainable installations. And with a charger installed for his Leaf at his home, a full “tank of juice” won’t be costing him anything! At a later lunch break at a similarly eco-friendly dwelling near Kyalami, we were treated to an inter- esting pre-nosh talk by Dion Chang, future-trends guru for a number of trendy companies who like to stay abreast of these things. Nissan’s Leaf pictured outside the home of the fi rst SA Leaf owner, Greg Ball, in Kyalami.

To advertise in contact Kieran Rennie on 083 225 9609 or email on [email protected] Subscribe for free @ www.autolive.co.za Page 14

continued from previous page overtakes. It feels a little low on energy above the being recouped over a period of between three to 120 km/h mark. fi ve years. But that doesn’t take into account the fact batteries low down in the chassis between the wheels, I enjoyed the car, for its novelty value and its that, for a car like the Qashqai for instance, which where they aff ect the handling of the car least of all. unobtrusiveness, although you have to watch things has similar passenger space, you can buy one for Th e acceleration is not bad, equivalent to in the suburbs or in parking lots as people have no R260 000, a full R200 000 cheaper than a Leaf. between a 1400 to a 1600 petrol engine being idea you are sneaking up on them. Th ere again, Th e insurance on a Qashqai will be a lot cheap- driven rather hard. And of course there is no en- modern cars are so quiet mechanically these days, er. And as for fi nance charges, well, you’ll save your- gine noise to speak of. At highway speeds, you that the diff erence between petrol and electric pow- self some R4 000 a month on the petrol model if you can cruise comfortable in the 120 km/h region. er as far as noise is concerned is not too great. buy these over 54 months with a 10 per cent deposit. I would suggest it would be handy (and safer) to Th e cost is a biggie. Th e fuel-costing compari- And you’ll have a car that you can hop into and run have a top speed closer to the 150 km/h mark to son (make that energy-costing, bub) Nissan gave to Durban in, even if you forgot to put it on charge enable a reserve of power to execute swift highway at the launch shows the purchase price premium overnight. ■

when it’s suggested that a 1.4 motor can comfortably, the JHB offi ces of Sanral,) the handsome sedan purposefully and reliably power a family car. Th at is handled the hurdles with unfl ustered ease. Th e until you put them behind the wheel of an upstart Chevy also has a solid list of standard equipment Chevy’s like the Chevrolet Cruze 1.4T LS. including multi-function leather steering wheel, It’s been an impressive year for GM, and their cruise control, air-con and iPod/USB connectors 2013 swan song, available in sedan and hatch vari- to mention but a few. Leather seats, climate control Chase ants, does not disappoint. At least, not if we’re talk- and an electric sunroof are listed as competitively ing performance and fuel economy. Replacing the priced options. 1.8LS in the current range, the new Cruze appar- So what’s the downside I hear you ask? Standing ently hits 100km/h in less than 10 seconds with a on a GM showroom fl oor on its own, I’d say there BY KIERAN RENNIE claimed top speed of 200km/h. Th e power delivery isn’t one. It shares the fl oor, however, with the re- is smooth and as with most modern turbo’d cars, cently released Astra sedan and that changes things. the lag is almost nonexistent. Th e little mill never Th e Opel is better. Th e fi t and fi nish are of a higher Th e year is 2003. Th e setting is a Friday night boozer sounds as though it’s trying, it just seems extreme- standard and the interior materials feel more ex- or a Monday morning coff ee break. Th e protago- ly capable. Th e 6 speed manual box is solid and pensive. And, subjective as styling may be, I think nists are any small group of motoring enthusiasts. smooth. We’re told the combined cycle fuel con- the Astra looks cooler too. Th e Astra 1.4T (same en- Th e supposition: In less than ten years, a main- sumption fi gures are 5.8litres/100km. While it may gine) Essentia is around R6 000 more expensive than stream manufacturer’s 1400cc engine will produce be tough achieving those exact numbers in real life, the R244 700 asked for the sedan (R242 100 for the 103KWs and be off ered with a 5yr/120 000km facto- with a motor this size used judiciously, you’ll cer- hatch) and, given the choice, I’d gladly pay it. ry warrantee. Th e resultant and unanimous laugh- tainly get close. GM says it plans to be one of the top 10 global ter would probably have been heard drowning out Other plus points include impressive handling brands by 2020. I’ve driven six of their latest off er- the intro music to the debut episode of Mythbusters. and ride quality. On a pot-holed patch of road be- ings this year and based on the smile each one of Fast forward to today. An unconvinced smirk is tween Bedford and Grahamstown in the Eastern them has given me, I’d say they stand a very good still the default response from the old-school thinkers Cape (which looks as if it’s being maintained by chance of achieving that goal. ■

A 1,4 Turbo engine makes traversing level crossings a cruise in the Cruze. Subscribe for free @ www.autolive.co.za Page 15

Snippets

FUEL ECONOMY RULES available for occasional control, albeit with a com- Fuel economy is now a far bigger consideration fortable time allowed for the transition. ■ when buying a car in the US, despite the com- paratively low cost of fuel in that country. A recent survey showed two out of three US car buyers are SAAB RISES FROM ASHES prepared to sacrifi ce performance for fuel econo- Saab, the other Swedish car maker, which went my, while reliability still remains the biggest factor into bankruptcy in 2011, is back in produc- when buying a new vehicle. Interestingly 48% of tion under its new Chinese owners, National the 3 000 consumers surveyed said they were will- Electric Vehicle Sweden. Th e fi rst 9-3 mid-size ing to pay more for a vehicle that is environmen- sedan came off the assembly line at the begin- tally friendly. ■ ning of December, more than two years since the Trollhattan plant closed in April 2011. It is pow- ered by a 2-litre turbocharged petrol engine, but SCHREYER HONOURED the new owners hope to be off ering an all-electric Peter Schreyer, the German chief design offi cer at version in 2014. Major market is seen as China. ■ Hyundai and Kia has been given the prestigious Honorary Golden Steering Wheel awarded for out- standing achievements in the automotive industry CONTI TYRES INVEST by two major publications in Germany, Auto Bild Port-Elizabeth-based Continental Tyres has an- The man who has made Kia and Hyundai magazine and Bild am Sonntag. nounced a plan to invest more than R100-million visually desirable. Peter Schreyer. Previous, high-profi le recipients of the award in- in SA next year to expand and diversify its tyre clude Ferdinand Piech (Volkswagen), Alan Mulally manufacturing capacity. It hopes to become a bid are Anthony Lauter and Stephen Watson, of (Ford) and Norbert Reithofer (BMW). Schreyer is hub for speciality tyres, particularly in the under- GAS Sports. ■ only the second designer to win this award in the 31- ground mining industry, for the sub-Saharan and year history of Golden Steering Wheel. Th e other was global markets. Th is year Continental invested four Giorgetto Giugiaro in 1995. times its annual capital investment budget in SA TOUGH TASK Other Golden Steering Wheel award winners and next year’s programme equates to a seven-fold Th e 2014 Dakar Rally in South America is a little for 2013 are: VW Golf (small/compact car), Audi increase. ■ over four weeks away and the release of the entry A3 (middle class), Mercedes-Benz s-Series (upper/ list and start numbers confi rms that the Toyota luxury), BMW X5 (SUV), Jaguar F-Type (coupe/cab- Imperial South Africa Team of Giniel de Villiers/ riolet), Citroen Picasso (vans) and BMW i3 (Green MASERATI TURNS 100 Dirk von Zitzewitz and Leeroy Poulter/Rob Howie Steering Wheel. ■ Maserati, the famous Italian sports car maker, are in the company of the world’s top rally raid turned 100 this week with a healthy outlook and an teams as they take on the world’s longest and tough- order book for 23 000 cars worldwide. Maseratis are est cross country race. DRIVERLESS VOLVOS now sold in 70 countries, including SA. ■ Th ere are fi ve former champions at the top Swedish motor manufacturer Volvo has announced of the start order, including De Villiers and Von it plans to have 100 driverless cars on the roads of Zitzewitz, who won the fi rst South American ver- Gothenburg in 2017. Th ey will drive on about 50km POPULAR CHINESE SUV IN SA sion of the Dakar in 2009 and will carry #302 on of typical commuter arteries, including motorways Th e top-selling domestic SUV in China, the GWM their Toyota Imperial Hilux. Th ey fi nished a re- and congested centre city roads. Volvo says that H6, has arrived in SA. It has won numerous acco- markable second in this year’s Dakar Rally aft er whoever is at the wheel must still be expected to be lades in its home market and regularly sells 20 000 claiming third place in Toyota Motorsport South units month. It has been launched with a 2-litre Africa’s fi rst attempt in 2012. turbo diesel engine at a price of R329 900 and later Leading the fi eld from the start in Rosario, a 1.5-litre turbocharged derivative will be added to Argentina on January 5 will be defending champions the range at a price of R294 900. ■ Stéphane Peterhansel and Jean Paul Cottret of France in a MINI (#300). Peterhansel has won the Dakar 11 times, six on a motorcycle and fi ve in a car. Next WORLD SUPERBIKES FOR SA? away will be Nasser Al-Attiyah of Qatar and Spanish A round of the World Superbike Championship co-driver Lucas Cruz, winners in 2011, who will be is likely to return to South Africa aft er a break in a MINI (#301). De Villiers, competing in his 11th of three years. A race at the Phakisa circuit in Dakar, and Von Zitzewitz will start third ahead of the Free State appears on the 2014 FIM calendar 2010 winner Carlos Sainz of Spain and German co- subject to a contract being signed between the driver Timo Gottschalk in a an American-built buggy promoters and the SA organising team, which re- (#303). Spaniard Nani Roma, winner of the 2004 bike Look Ma, no hands! A driverless Volvo is quires fi nancial guarantees and the circuit being category before switching to cars, and French co-driv- in your future. approved by FIM inspectors. Th ose behind the SA er Michel Perrin will start fi ft h in a MINI (#304). ■ Subscribe for free @ www.autolive.co.za Page 16

Snippets

Dakar rookie Poulter and Howie, competing in kilometres of special stages – 13 in all – to test the his third Dakar aft er fi nishing 10th with Duncan mental and physical strength of the crews. ■ Vos in his rookie year in 2011, will start in 23rd po- sition in the second Toyota Imperial Hilux (#323). South African privateers Th omas Rundle and PEUGEOT BACK TO DAKAR Juan Mohr, who earned a free entry into the rally It seems as though Peugeot will be back at the Dakar when they won the Dakar Challenge in this year’s Rally in 2015. Th e French company, which won the Toyota 1000 Desert Race in Botswana, will start Le Mans 24 hour race a few years ago and smashed 103rd in their fi rst Dakar in the ex-Toyota Motorsport the record for the Pikes Peak hill climb in the US, Hilux in which De Villiers and Von Zitzewitz fi n- won the Dakar Rally four years in a row between GWM’s H6 was a hit at JIMS in October. ished second this year. Th ey will carry #404. 1987 and 1990 and it now seems it wants to return Now it’s arrived in SA at a competitive Ahead of the 450 competitors representing with a dream team. Th e drivers mentioned for this price. 50 nationalities in cars, trucks, motorcycles and project are 11 times Dakar winner – on both two quads lies a daunting route of some 9 500 kilome- and four wheels – Stephane Peterhansel and nine has retired from rallying to compete in the World tres through Argentina, Bolivia (bikes and quads times world rally champion Sébastien Loeb. Touring Car Championship for Citroën aft er driv- only) and Chile. It is the longest, highest and hard- Peterhansel will again drive a Mini in the ing the Peugeot 208 T16 up Pikes Peak far quicker est Dakar Rally in the past 10 years with some 5 000 2014 Dakar Rally in South America, while Loeb than anyone in history earlier this year. ■

Motorsport

Global Touring Car Series Deserves to Succeed But There are Still Questions to be Answered, Huge Challenges to be Met

BY STUART JOHNSTON Mustangs, Camaros, Jaguars, whatever, but they Pointing out how this would work, Shaun really looked like refugees from oval circuit racing Duminy, one of the movers and shakers behind in some hick town, with none of the sophistication GTC, explained how the bodies are in fact sectioned Th ere were a couple of defi ning moments at the that a top-fl ight race series demands here. down the centre line, in the vicinity of the B-Pillar, launch of the Global Touring Car Africa Series at and then wrapped over the chassis, and either Zwartkops Raceway last week, a proposed new se- ... the bodies are in fact sectioned shortened or extended slightly to achieve an equi- ries scheduled to kick off in mid-2014 with at least down the centre line, in the vicinity table fi t. Hmm. A good idea, and presumably GTC 12 cars, and hopefully a lot more. has checked to see if this is possible from a practical Th e fi rst moment came when the covers were of the B-Pillar, and then wrapped fi t point of view. peeled back from the car, as its appearance is truly over the chassis, and either Th en we come to the biggest challenge facing sensational, with both brilliant detailing and a shortened or extended slightly GTC, and that is that, currently, it runs a Ford-derived sense that yes, it is a real car. to achieve an equitable fi t. V8, presented as a “GTC 5,0 litre” in the media info Th e second moment came when Gary Formato, sheet. Are the public going to buy into something that one of the top racing drivers in our country, opened looks like a BMW but has a Ford motor? and shut the real doors on the car. Th ey are real, be- Okay, so this one has a genuine Ford Focus body. I feel it’s a huge challenge from a conceptual cause the body is that of a steel Ford Focus, wrapped Did this mean we would have a series of 10 or 20 viewpoint. From a practical viewpoint it makes around the tubular race chassis of the car. Fords racing each other? GTC has had the chas- sense, as it makes the cars easy to police if they all So, no squiggling into the seat via a slot in a sis of the race car designed so that it will accept a run the same V8. But I reckon it would be great to fi breglass jelly-mould body, as has been the case number of production bodies currently available open things up to run V8s from Audi, BMW, Lexus, with the V8 Series that has spearheaded the decline in South Africa. Th e bodies that come to mind in- Mercedes, Chevrolet and others. If you run a GM in modifi ed racing in our country for the past dec- clude those of Opel, BMW, Mercedes, Audi, VW, body you run a Chev, if you run a Lexus IS250 body, ade and more, simply because those V8 series cars Renault, and others with a sporting following you run a Lexus V8. And so on. were basically tubular hot rods with bodywork thanks to readily available performance variants that no-one could relate to. Yeah, they were called of their model range. continued on next page Subscribe for free @ www.autolive.co.za Page 17

continued from previous page and the manufacturers serves no real purpose any- teams. Th e franchising idea that GTC have in place way. Why should manufacturers have any say in is good, and there are enough people with enough Sure, this would make policing the formula whether a car is homologated for racing or not? If a money to buy and run these cars, which apparent- more diffi cult, to get performance parity. But to get car is homologated for road use here, that should be ly go for about R1,5-million. A top-fl ight rally car the public to buy into it, I believe the badge on the good enough for the organisers to allow it to race in costs a hell of a lot more than that, and there are bonnet has to refl ect the engine under the hood. If a production series. more than a dozen of them around, and many of the doors slam shut, then so does the bonnet open And this isn’t a production series here, this them are self-funded with no direct manufacturer wide, and when enthusiast in the pits peer into the GTC gig, it’s a race-car series with genuine produc- involvement. engine bay, they want to see a BMW badge on the tion bodies. valve covers as well as the nose. So, GTC are already saying they will run their Constitutionally, I don’t think any Of course, this then brings up the problems series with dedicated, paid offi cials to travel around manufacturer has the right to prevent relating to manufacturer involvement. Already I the country with the series, so that wherever they you from doing what you like with am hearing talk that such and such a manufacturer set up shop and race, the offi cials for the races are would refuse to “allow” one of its car bodies to be clued up on the series rules. I say, extend this to a a piece of machinery you own. associated with GTC. technical team that will be able to homologate ver- sions of the cars with a number of diff erent V8 en- Also, get a commentator that really knows his ... I believe the badge on gines and body-shells, and arrive at some way of oats and get him to not only do the TV voice- the bonnet has to refl ect the getting performance parity for the cars before they over, but provide proper commentary at each arrive at the track. and every GTC round at the tracks. And get the engine under the hood. You get mobile dynamometers these days, for franchisees to club together and help fi x poor usage at car shows and the likes, where okies with old Kyalami’s PA system while they are at it, and And I say, this is nonsense! Since when did manu- Turbo RX7s and the like impress their buddies with mow the lawn too! facturers have the “right” to dictate whether their power read-outs of 500 kW and more. Get one of As for that third defi ning moment? It came cars could be raced or not. If I buy a Lexus body- these to travel around to the races, and check the on lap two of the demonstration run by Gary shell from some scrapyard and a V8 engine from power outputs before and aft er races. Run the cars Formato in the car that had just been unveiled. some supplier of three-year-old used Japanese to a weight limit that enables them to accommodate Man, it sounds good! Man it looks good on the stock, and I want to screw that into the GTC chassis fat drivers and engines that are slightly more heft y track. Man, it behaves well, it looks like a real car, that I already own, I say, screw it. Screw them all than their competitors. not a V8 pipe car with suspension geometry from a home, nice ‘n tight. Boom. Go racing. Yes, there will be ways beach buggy! And it oversteers too. And it’s small Constitutionally, I don’t think any manufac- around making such and such a variant faster, and agile enough to promote real racing, real over- turer has the right to prevent you from doing what but that’s what racing is all about too, fi nding that taking. Th e potential for excitement is huge, the you like with a piece of machinery you own. Th is extra edge that your buddy doesn’t know about. relevance to cars we can relate to is (almost) there. so-called liaison between Motorsport South Africa And oh, forget about the manufacturers running Here’s hoping. ■

The GTC V8 unveiled. Yes indeed, this looks like the real thing. Subscribe for free @ www.autolive.co.za Page 18

Working Wheels

Limited Edition Hardbody Nissans Celebrate a Quarter of a Century of Nissan’s “hard” Nameplate

Celebratory Limited Edition versions of the and special features to set them apart from the rest ‘tough-as-nails’ Nissan NP300 Hardbody 1-ton of the range, as well as the tried-and-trusted 2.5-li- bakkie are due to enter the market towards the tre turbocharged diesel engine and 4x2 drive trains. end of October 2013 in South Africa. Th e spe- Th e new Nissan NP300 Hardbody 2.5 TDi cial versions commemorate 25 years of con- Silver Anniversary Limited Edition Single Cab de- tinuous sales of the iconic ‘Hardbody’ name. rivative includes over R15 000 worth of accessories Built locally at Nissan South Africa’s Rosslyn man- and detail changes, including “Silver” Anniversary ufacturing plant in Pretoria, the ‘Hardbody’ badge branded leather seats, rubberized load box, black was applied to NP300 to engage with the agricultur- nudge bar, black running boards, leather door pan- al, construction, mining and SMME sectors within els, “Silver Anniversary” branded carpet set and South Africa as well as across borders. tinted windows. NP300 Hardbody Product Manager at Nissan Th e Double Cab version includes all the value- South Africa, Vishaan Naidoo says the new Limited added extras of the single cab, along with an inte- Editions in the NP300 Hardbody range are an ex- grated DVD and satellite navigation system with re- pression of the proud heritage and proven capabil- verse camera. “Silver Anniversary” branded leather ity which the nameplate has in the country. “In seats, silver nudge bar, leather door panels, tonneau Hardbody Special Edition, celebrating 25 keeping with the NP300 Hardbody’s reputation cover, Bluetooth hands free mobile connectivity for years of the touch bakkie nameplate. for reliability, durability and most importantly its cellphone use and audio streaming, USB and iPod attractive cost of ownership, we have created the connectivity – all of which equates to almost R30 standard, along with the rest of the NP300 Hardbody “Silver Anniversary” Limited Edition models which 000-worth of extras. range, with a class leading 6-year/ 150 000 km war- feature a host of functional additions and unique Both special edition models continue the strong ranty.Pricing on the Silver Anniversary Limited touches, while retaining a very attractive price reputation for long-lasting reliability and come as Edition models is as follows: “For 25 years the Nissan NP300 Hardbody

1-ton pickup has been a signifi cant part of the South Nissan NP300 Hardbody Silver Anniversary limited edition Price incl. VAT African motoring landscape, so it is only fi tting that we celebrate this important milestone appropriately.” Silver Anniversary 2.5 TDi Single Cab 4x2 R255 000 Available in single or double cab body styles, the Nissan NP300 Hardbody Silver Anniversary Silver Anniversary 2.5 TDi Double Cab 4x2 R335 000 Limited Editions each feature unique accessories

simplifyingCOMMUNICATIONS

Wilken Communication Management was established in 1997 with the major focus of
its operations being the South African WCM can provide services from strategic motor industry. planning, to product launches, media brie-ngs,
event management, .eet vehicle management, Over the years it has developed into a one- and ongoing public relations campaigns. It also stop communication and marketing service has a publishing arm which can produce provider specialising in this industry. newsletters, magazines and coffee table
books. It is staffed by some of the most
experienced people in the marketing and For more information contact: Jacques Wilken communications environment of the South
- [email protected] African motor industry.

237 Rigel Avenue Waterkloof Ridge, Pretoria, 0181 Tel +27 (0)12 460 4448 Fax +27 (0)12 460 4514 www.wilkencomm.co.za Subscribe for free @ www.autolive.co.za Page 19

Working Wheels

Hino Uses Tokyo Motor Show to Showcase New Technologies and Stress Global Expansion

Hino, the leading Japanese truck and bus manu- hybrid technology to develop environmen- facturer, used the recent 43rd Tokyo Motor Show tally friendly trucks and buses. to promote its global expansion strategy as well as One of the vehicles shown in public its new technologies, especially those pertaining to for the fi rst time was the Hino Poncho alternative power sources and developing environ- Mini, an electrically-powered com- mentally friendly vehicles. munity bus with a seating capacity Th e slogan for the display was “Transporting for 11 people and storage capacity your tomorrow worldwide,” which communicated for a large volume of luggage. both messages. Th e Poncho was built off a One huge dump truck got over the message of light-duty commercial vehicle how Hino in Japan was now developing special vehi- platform with a compact front cles for use in overseas markets. Th is extra heavy duty wheel drive system that can be 700-Series tipper is of unprecedented size in Japan adapted to both buses and trucks. Th e with a GVM of 50 000kg and can carry a payload of batteries are located under the fl oor but it still Cute Hino Ponchomini 11-seater bus. 35 tons that would require three heavy duty trucks has an ultra-low fl oor layout that makes for easy en- in its home market. Th is eight-wheeler is targeted at try and egress. South Africa has no plans to introduce this model overseas mining operations where it is required to Another vehicle making its world premiere to the local market at this stage due to the compara- operate in harsh conditions. It is powered by a 13-li- was the mid-size Melpha plug-in hybrid bus. Th e tively high cost. tre engine and uses a 16-speed manual gearbox. show model was equipped as a mobile health clinic Th e sixth vehicle on display on the Hino stand Hino has successfully used the Dakar Rally to which can also serve as an emergency power source was the latest S’elega large touring coach with a host demonstrate the brand’s reliability and durabil- during times of disaster the 100 litre tank can be of the latest safety technology, including a pre-crash ity in demanding conditions in Africa and South refuelled to provide continuous electric power for safety system which uses the brakes automatically America and on display in Tokyo was the vehicle extended periods using a combination of a genera- to mitigate collision damage. driven by veteran Yoshimasa Sugawara in the 2011 tor and lithium-ion batteries. Additional safety equipment on this 46-seater event. Th is brand-building strategy continues in Th e bus can run on electric power alone in ur- bus includes a driver support system to prevent January 2014 when two new 500-Series Hino trucks ban areas and for short-distance travel, while the rear-end collisions, a lane departure warning sys- will aim for Hino’s 23rdconsecutive fi nish in this diesel-electric hybrid mode takes over for long dis- tem and a driver monitor which detects the direc- gruelling endurance event. tance travel and hill climbing. Th e batteries can be tion the driver’s eyes are facing as well as the open- In terms of new technologies Hino sees a bright charged from an external source as well as by the ing and closing of the eyes and alerts the driver future for electric and hybrid trucks and buses and onboard generator. when his or her attention strays from the road. had several examples on display. Another hybrid model on display at the Tokyo Th ere were also technical exhibits that show- Hino has been at the forefront of commercial Show was the 300-Series truck which is already cased examples of Hino’s advanced safety technolo- vehicle environmental technology since it launched proving popular in the US and Australia as well as gy and concepts of scenes in which next generation the world’s fi rst commercially available hybrid bus on its home market. It is powered by a combination environmentally friendly vehicles are employed, be in 1991 and the company continues to be a pace- of a 5.1-litre diesel engine and 36kW electric motor they pure electric vehicles, diesel-electric hybrids or setter. It uses its clean diesel engine technology and with 1.9kWh nickel-metal hydride batteries. Hino fuel cell vehicles. ■

Hino 700 Dump Truck. Hino Selega Tour Bus. Subscribe for free @ www.autolive.co.za Page 20

Car Carrier Strike Impacts on November Sales

Supply disruptions due to the car carrier Industry strike, the eff ects of a slowing Exports: Industry new vehicle exports during November, 2013 at 27 154 ve- economy and a moderation in consumer demand had probably been the main hicles equated to a decline of 1 366 units or a fall of 4.8% compared to the 28 520 contributors to the lower sales numbers in November. vehicles exported in November last year. Th is was due to the lagged eff ects of the Aggregate domestic new vehicle sales for the month at 50 806 units showed September and October, 2013 automotive Industry strike and the current disrup- a decline of 2 459 vehicles or 4.6% from the 53 265 units sold in November last tions, experienced by some exporters, as a result of the ongoing industrial action year. Export sales had also declined year on year by 4.8%. in the car carrier Industry. Overall, out of the total reported Industry sales of 50 768 vehicles, about Domestically, expectations of lower economic growth and above- 42 183 units or 83% represented dealer sales, 8.5% represented sales to the vehi- infl ation new vehicle price increases would contribute to a more diffi cult cle rental Industry, 3.2% to Industry corporate fl eets and 5.3% to government. trading environment and further moderation in sales growth momentum. During November, 2013 a total of 34 267 new cars were sold which represented a Despite a less promising outlook for the automotive sector, the year as a relatively steep decline of 2 164 units or fall of 5.9% compared to the 36 431 new cars whole would still represent the second or third best year on record in terms sold in November last year. A total of 12.1% of these car sales were to the rental industry. of domestic sales. Domestic sales of industry new light commercial vehicles, bakkies and Th e prevailing low interest rate environment should lend some support to mini buses at 13 719 units during November, 2013 refl ected a decline of 610 units the domestic market together with replacement demand, the highly competi- or a fall of 4.3% compared to the 14 329 light commercial vehicles sold during tive trading environment, attractive incentives and high technology new model the corresponding month last year. introductions. ■

South African Vehicle Sales Figures at the End of November 2013

TOTAL MARKET OVERALL TRUCK AND BUS MARKET

YTD 2013 603 968 YTD 2013 28 532

YTD 2012 584 213 YTD 2012 25 975 Increase of 9.8% YTD 2013 and YTD 2012 Increase of 3.4% between YTD 2013 and YTD 2012 NOVEMBER 2013 2 820 NOVEMBER 2013 50 806 OCTOBER 2013 2 707 OCTOBER 2013 56 932 NOVEMBER 2012 2 505 NOVEMBER 2012 53 265 Increase of 12.6% between sales in November 2013 and November 2012 Decrease of 4.6% between sales in November 2013 and November 2012 TOTAL VEHICLE EXPORTS PASSENGER CAR MARKET YTD 2013 255 861 YTD 2013 417 557 YTD 2012 258 224 YTD 2012 409 576 Decrease of 0.9% between YTD 2013 and YTD 2012 Increase of 1.9% between YTD 2013 and YTD 2012 NOVEMBER 2013 27 154

NOVEMBER 2013 34 267 OCTOBER 2013 24 187

OCTOBER 2013 40 088 NOVEMBER 2012 28 520

NOVEMBER 2012 36 431 Decrease of 4.8% between exports in November 2013 and November 2012

Decrease of 5.9% between sales in November 2013 and November 2012 PASSENGER CAR EXPORTS (YTD)

LIGHT COMMERCIAL VEHICLE MARKET 2013 143 449

YTD 2013 157 879 2012 142 573 Increase of 0.6% between YTD 2013 and YTD 2012 YTD 2012 148 662 LIGHT COMMERCIAL VEHICLE EXPORTS (YTD) Increase of 6.2% between YTD 2013 and YTD 2012 2013 111 283 NOVEMBER 2013 13 719 2012 114 614 OCTOBER 2013 14 137 Decrease of 2.9% between YTD 2013 and YTD 2012 NOVEMBER 2012 14 329

Decrease of 4.3% between sales in November 2013 and November 2012 continued on next page Subscribe for free @ www.autolive.co.za Page 21

continued from previous page TOTAL VEHICLES BY MANUFACTURER FOR NOVEMBER 2013

RSA EXPORT TRUCK AND BUS EXPORTS (YTD) TOYOTA 11 894 5 791 2013 1 129

2012 1 037 VOLKSWAGEN GROUP SA 7 765 7 567

Increase of 8.9% between total truck and bus exports YTD 2013 and YTD 2012 FMC 5 602 2 599

NOTE: These fi gures include fi gures for Associated Motor Holdings (AMH) and Great GMSA 5 042 3 95 Wall Motors (GWM). MERCEDES-BENZ SA 2 794 3 336 ASSOCIATED MOTOR HOLDINGS – THE FIGURES REPORTED BY AMH FOR NOVEMBER 2013 ARE: NISSAN 2 657 1 313 SMALL CARS (1 400CC OR LESS) 2 744 BMW GROUP 1 985 5 917 MEDIUM CARS (1 400 – 2 500CC) 1 624 RENAULT 1 332 0 LARGE CARS (OVER 2 500CC) 104 HONDA 816 88 4X4 RECREATIONAL VEHICLES (SUV) 349 CHRYSLER SA 789 21 LIGHT COMMERCIAL VEHICLES 467

MEDIUM COMMERCIAL VEHICLES 16 JAGUAR LAND ROVER 552 0

TOTAL 5 304 TATA 533 3

Great Wall Motors FIAT GROUP 407 5 In addition GWM (Great Wall Motors) reported an aggregate sales fi gure for November 2013 of 500 units (136 passenger cars and 364 light commercials) and are also included SUZUKI AUTO 386 0 in these fi gures. PCSA 341 0 Figures courtesy of SA Department of Trade and Industry and RGT SMART UD TRUCKS 323 0

MISUBISHI MOTORS SA 267 44

MAHINDRA 237 0

VOLVO CARS 200 3

VOLVO TRUCKS 196 6

MAN 194 23

PORSCHE 167 0

SCANIA 128 32

IVECO 115 9 Honda’s Brio sold a total of 275 units in November, a big boon for this company making a strong comeback. SUBARU 109 0

FAW TRUCKS 47 0

JMC 38 0

RENAULT TRUCKS 27 1

POWERSTAR 26 1

VOLVO BUS 14 0

FERRARI 9 0

BABCOCK 6 0

MASERATI 4 0

SUB TOTAL 45 002 25 154

AMH & AAD 5 304

GWMSA 500

INDUSTRY TOTAL 500 806 27 154 As down-sizing gathers momentum, GMSA sold 495 Sparks in November. Figures courtesy of SA Department of Trade and Industry and RGT SMART Subscribe for free @ www.autolive.co.za Page 22

MARKET TOTALS BY MANUFACTURER FOR NOVEMBER 2013

LIGHTCV MEDIUMCV HEAVYCV EXTRA HEAVYCV BUS PASSENGER <3501KG 3501-8500KG 8501–1500KG >16500KG >8500KG

RSA EXP RSA EXP RSA EXP RSA EXP RSA EXP RSA EXP

TOYOTA 6 387 980 5 143 4 811 205 0 128 0 31 0 0 0

VOLKSWAGEN GROUP SA7 1167 56752601230000000

FMC 3 38302 2192 59900000000

GMSA 2 094532 5883351757127058000

MERCEDES-BENZ SA2 0453 33640024408703500280

NISSAN 88201 7751 31300000000

BMW GROUP1 9855 9170000000000

RENAULT 1 322010000000000

HONDA 816880000000000

CHRYSLER SA789210000000000

JAGUAR LAND ROVER538014000000000

TATA 192 0 202 0 64 3 41 0 24 0 10 0

FIAT GROUP 3461473141000000

SUZUKI AUTO38600000000000

PCSA 2610690110000000

UD TRUCKS 00006301370123000

MISUBISHI MOTORS SA19912683200000000

MAHINDRA 800157000000000

VOLVO CARS20030000000000

VOLVO TRUCKS00000000196600

MAN 00000018214420321

PORSCHE 16700000000000

SCANIA 00000000112171615

IVECO 00007636332310

SUBARU 10900000000000

JMC 00650150000000

FAW TRUCKS 00004011032000

JMC 0030080000000

RENAULT TRUCKS0000000027100

POWERSTAR 0000000026100

VOLVO BUS 0000000000140

FERRARI 900000000000

BABCOCK 000000006000

MASERATI 400000000040

SUB TOTAL 29 310 17 978 12 888 9 093 987 14 555 5 1 161 48 101 16

AMH & AAD4 82104670160000000

GWMSA 1360364000000000

INDUSTRY TOTAL 34 267 17 978 13 719 9 093 1 003 14 555 5 1 161 48 101 16

Figures courtesy of SA Department of Trade and Industry and RGT SMART Subscribe for free @ www.autolive.co.za Page 23 Picture Page

Alan Poulter’s rebuilt, giant-killing race Volvo 122S. In the background is The Editor’s road-going 122S with period 1966 rally detailing, such as wide rims, spots and headlight guards.

Christie Jensen will do you a personalised watercolour of your favourite ride, like this gorgeous split-window VW Kombi. Contact her on [email protected].

This was Chrysler’s initial answer to the Mustang, the Barracuda. This is a mildly customised ‘66 example.

Beautiful Mk I Cortina Station Wagon with Lotus-type detailing. Magnifi cent detailling on the Chevy V8 fi tted to this Ultima sports But, err, check out that genuine fl uff on the dashboard. car at The Classic Car Show this past Sunday. Subscribe for free @ www.autolive.co.za Page 24 Back Page Slow Cruising in the Big City with an Aston

BY STUART JOHNSTON that you take out to wring within a millimetre of Or, easing up at the kerb near one of the es- your ever-whitening knuckless. tablished banks in our fi nancial capital, Egoli, the Rather you select “Eco” on the engine-and- city of gold, otherwise known as Jozi. I felt a bit like It was a cool experience. Nippy, in fact at 4.15 am, chassis-management menu and cruise it, content James Bond’s eccentric uncle as I watched the cam- the call time for my shoot with Ignition TV, present- in the knowledge that if you want to push it, there era crew from Ignition go to work on all the body- ing an Aston Martin Rapide S. is almost a century of motoring knowhow beneath work details, a grey light now illuminating the walls Th e car arrived while I was outside the TML you to make your progress as rapeed or as gentle as of some old fi nancial institution in the background. building in Rosebank with the sky still black as you’d wish. I mean, this is not a young buck’s car, it’s a four- night. It’s boomerang-shaped headlight spread Th e ride. Hmm, it’s good, it has electronic seater with a long wheelbase with a ridiculously made for a dramatic entrance, and I sat there for a damper modulation, but I felt that the chassis it- powerful engine and the dramatic, yet reassur- spell familiarising myself with the cosseting cock- self could do with a bit of stiff ening over certain ing looks to bring the security guards out onto the pit, all leathers and textures and stitchings, and pi- ruts and grooves that the roads presented to us as streets even at 4.45 am and strike up a conversation, ano-black wood and metal embellishers and hewn- we crossed the Nelson Mandela Bridge (or was it instead of shooing us away. from –precious-metal gearshift paddles and things. the Queen Elizabeth one, I can’t remember if we But what, may I ask, is the purpose of such a Not that much diff erent from other luxury cars, just turned off left ) and headed for my old schoolboy car? Besides cutting a dash on arrival somewhere, much more expensive-looking. haunts of Loveday and Fox and Harrison, all those although these days if you go to the theatre you’d Th e Rapide S is not really a hot version of the street names I learned when coming into Jo’burg to have to park way down in the bowels of some under- Rapide introduced in 2007, but merely a restyled go to the movies as a teenage rebel without a pause. ground parking lot, so you may as well take the more Rapide, with ever-so-slightly more power. About And later to those wonderfully atmospheric pubs manoeuvrable Mini or equivalent for such a chore. 405 kW, reportedly, from its V12 mill displacing that reeked of a much more esteemed and brilliant Talking of manoeuvrability, that nose on the just shy of six-litres. Th is is the four-door Aston, rebel, Herman Charles Bosman the writer’s writer, Rapide S is so long, with such an overhang, you need you understand. Herman long since deceased and the pubs with to stop easing forward towards the kerb way before I woofl ed through the early-morning-night to- their mahogany bar counters and brass now sadly you think you are running out of room. wards Jo’burg in this mega-expensive Aston, trying turned into Chinese plastic goods storage houses. And what else? Well, in sport mode the steering to get a feel for the chassis, but not pushing too hard Th e Rapide S is not rebellious in any sense. It’s tightens up, the power and induct ion noise sharp- as the streets were still slick from the dew and the a four person conveyance, meant to waft you trans- ens up and the car starts to come alive. But for a full spewings of a thousand taxis, not to mention rubble continent with contemptuous ease. At least that’s report on what it’s like, I would have to drive it to here and there. the way I imagine it will be put to best use. Eating Upington, I’m afraid. Francois the director and Sipho the camera- up the kilometres between Upington and Botswana In the mean time, I still think I’d opt for a su- man had decided the shoot shalt be in down-town at a rate to make nonsense of speed limits. Ditto for percharged Range Rover or a G-Class Merc with Jo’burg, to get a kind of hewn-from granite back- some of those roads you dream about in the eastern an AMG spec or similar, rather than a low-slung drop for this car. Not the ideal place to explore its or western Cape. Smooth, fast sweeps, no potholes, four-seater like this. One that doesn’t really have speed potential of some 300 km/h, perhaps, or its no farmers in bakkies or lorries driven by half- space for four proper people. And costs about grip, but then again, the Rapide isn’t the sort of car comatose victims of our economy to contend with. R3-million. ■