Autodealer News Feed

Toy Run gets bigger- cars and cyclists welcome too

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 07:57:47 +0200

The annual Gauteng Toy Run, which was established 28 years ago, will spread its wings this year to include cars and bicycles as well as motorcycles and will now take place over two days – November 27 and 28 – instead of only on the Sunday.

A 35km training run for cyclists will take place from 07:30 on the Saturday and car enthusiast clubs will deliver toys to the MTN Expo Centre, Nasrec, between 10:00 and 15:00. The traditional mass motorcycle ride will take place from various starting points in the province to the Expo Centre on the Sunday morning.

“We are delighted at the big increase in interest in the Toy Run in Gauteng this year and the fact that we will have even more toys and educational equipment to distribute to underprivileged children,” said an executive of the organisers, the Motorcycle Toy Run Company, Graeme Cartwright.

The first Toy Run was staged in Johannesburg in 1982 by the Italian Motorcycle Club in an effort to uplift the image of motorcyclists by encouraging them to help underprivileged children. Since then the Toy Run has gone national and an estimated 70 000 motorcyclists take part in mass rides to more than 25 locations around the country on the last Sunday of November each year.

More than 40 000 motorcyclists are expected to take part in the Johannesburg event, starting out from six different venues around the city between 08:45 and 10:00 and riding to the MTN Expo Centre. They will use the N3 and N1 highways and will provide an amazing spectacle for onlookers.

The starting points will be: Centurion Lifestyle Centre (North), Steeledale (South), Carnival City (Far East), Greenstone Mall (East), Brightwater Commons (West) and Westgate (Far West). (Go to www.toyrun.co.za for more information on the Gauteng Toy Run and go to www.toyrun.org.za for information on other Toy Run events scheduled around the country on the same day).

This year the SAPS Widows’ and Orphans’ Fund will be arranging entertainment to raise funds for recently orphaned children who have lost a police officer parent who died in the course of duty. Besides live entertainment there will be stalls selling a variety of goods and full catering will be available on the site. Additional entertainment this year will include drifting demonstrations, helicopter flips and displays of classic cars and motorcycles, with more attractions still being finalised.

Families who come to the MTN Expo Centre by car will have secure parking areas and they will also be directed on separate routes to the venue so will not be caught up in the mass ride of motorcycles.

In addition there will be a separate event for off-road motorcyclists at Dirt Bronco’s near Krugersdorp on the same day, with more than 3 000 motorcycles and quads expected to participate.

No entry fee is charged provided each motorcyclist, car driver or cyclist brings an educational pack or toy. (A selection of gifts and educational packs will be on sale at the entrance with the cooperation of Makro). Gifts are required for children from babies to 18 years-of age, with preference for educational packs, while toiletries will also be welcomed by the older children.

The items collected in Johannesburg – the target this year is more than 50 000 items – will be distributed to worthy welfare organisation by service clubs such as Rotary, Lions, Round Table, Ladies Circle, Rotary Annes and Rotaract, as well as the Salvation Army.

“We are looking to a record turn-out this year as we aim to make World Cup year a very special time for the underprivileged children we will be able to provide with gifts during the festive season,” concluded Graeme Cartwright.

Ferrari escapes draconian penalty

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 06:22:20 +0200

No further action against Ferrari would be taken following a decision by the World Motorsport Council it was announced on Wednesday.

Ferrari was slapped with a $ 100 000 fine for supposedly issuing team orders to its drivers Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa. The fine remains but Ferrari has essentially escaped with a very small slap on the wrist.

The statement from the body reads:-
On 25 July 2010, at the Grand Prix of Germany, the Stewards of the meeting found an infringement by the Scuderia Ferrari to the prohibition of team orders interfering with a race result and then decided to impose a fine of $ 100 000 and to forward the dossier to the World Motor Sport Council for further consideration.

Premature arrival for new Astra

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:44:38 +0200

General Motors South Africa has announced that the all new Opel Astra is set for an earlier than expected arrival in South Africa. Initially scheduled for launch in the early part of 2011, the new Astra is now expected at local dealers within the coming weeks.

A clean sheet design from Opel engineers the new Astra has a sporty, coupé-like, profile with full five-door functionality and seating for five adults.
The all new design incorporates a host of safety features, some a first in class for this ‘C’ segment competitor.

Initially GMSA is expected to offer a choice of the latest 1,4 and 1.6 litre turbo charged and 1,6 litre natural aspirated ECOTEC engines matched to either a 5-speed or 6-speed manual transmission. These latest technology powerplants from Opel are both leaner and greener than their predecessors and offer a good balance between performance and economy.

GMSA engineers have been running in country verification tests on early versions of the Astra in preparation for its launch later this month. These verification tests included testing in a climatically controlled chamber designed to simulate real world conditions to ensure the vehicles can withstand South Africa's tough environment and challenging driving conditions. The two vehicles tested thus far have accumulated a total of 100 000 km during durability testing around SA and 960 hours of testing.

Together with the clean sheet design for the Astra comes a quality enhancement associated with new levels of manufacturing precision. The Astra engineering team was charged with designing a vehicle that offers the latest in technology and vehicle dynamics but also optimises the opportunities for quality enhancement presented by the latest in manufacturing technologies.

Opel’s advanced “FlexRide Chassis” with “Drive Mode Control”, a fully adaptive chassis control system unique to the new Astra, is expected to be offered on at least one model in the range.

Flexride Chassis, controlled by the DMC module, offers effective electronic control of the vehicle dynamics for a significantly enhanced driving experience in terms of ride and handling and vehicle safety. The system continuously monitors 11 inputs in different driving situations to optimise the performance of the chassis. FlexRide offers two selectable driving modes, “Sport” and “Tour”. In addition the DMC module will recognise the style of driving and react accordingly.

An important component of the FlexRide system is Continuous Damping Control. CDC constantly monitors and adjusts the suspension for optimum stability, driving satisfaction, and comfort. This happens at a frequency of 100 times per second. The system assists in reducing pitch under heavy braking and also acts to limit roll of the vehicle induced by steering inputs with a firmer damping characteristic introduced in concert with rapid steering inputs.

Curbing hooliganism the FIA way

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:34:43 +0200

In a clear move to curb wayward driving on public roads, the FIA today announced this clause, clearly one created after Lewis Hamilton’s antics during the weekend of this year’s Australian Grand Prix.

"The FIA, both in its motor sport and mobility roles, has a strong interest in promoting road safety. Competitors at FIA events must act as ambassadors for the sport, be aware their conduct on the road must be exemplary and respect road safety rules. A proposal to amend the international sporting code will be submitted to the FIA General Assembly to clarify that any holder of an International Super Licence must also be in possession of a current road driving licence.

Additionally, the Code will be amended to clarify that if an International Super Licence holder is involved in a serious road traffic offence recognised by a national police authority, the FIA, depending on the severity of the case, may issue a warning or refer the matter to the International Disciplinary Tribunal, which may temporarily or indefinitely withdraw the competitor’s International Super Licence."

2011 Formula One calendar announced

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:25:58 +0200

The 2011 F1 calendar gets one extra race next year with the addition of India to the championship.

The 2011 Formula One World Championship calendar is confirmed as follows:

13/03 Bahrain

27/03 Australia

10/04 Malaysia

17/04 China

08/05 Turkey

22/05 Spain

29/05 Monaco

12/06 Canada

26/06 Europe

10/07 Great Britain

24/07 Germany

31/07 Hungary

28/08 Belgium

11/09 Italy

25/09 Singapore

09/10 Japan

16/10 Korea

30/10 India

13/11 Abu Dhabi

27/11 Brazil

The FIA also announced that the entry to next year’s grid would remain at 12, assuming of course that no team falls by the wayside between now and then.

The official schpiel reads:-

Following the press release of 19 March 2010 calling for expressions of interest to participate in the 2011 and 2012 seasons of the FIA Formula One World Championship, a number of interested parties expressed their interest.

It was considered that none of the candidates met the requirements to be granted an entry into the Championship. Consequently, the allocation of the 13th team will not be granted.

These kids have the right stuff

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 14:37:49 +0200

The Honda NSF 100 Junior Trophy competitors attended a training camp in Polokwane over the weekend 27 to 29 August.

Learning new skills, techniques and racing tips from the SA Motorcycle Racing Academy’s guest coaches, the 18 youngsters were divided into two groups and under the watchful eye of Bikefin Honda’s top motorcycle racer and current SA Superbike Championship leader, Lance Isaacs; Red Bull 125 GP Rookie front runner, Brad Binder, and Bikefin Honda Supersport rider, Brent Harran, they learnt the art of racing these purpose-built HRC machines.

The pre-teens were instructed on correct racing lines, braking points, entry and exit corner speeds, cornering techniques - as well as honing their television interview skills.

On Saturday September 4, the Honda stars of tomorrow got to put what they’d learnt into action at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit, where a battle royal developed between title protagonists - nine-year-old William Friend and Keanu Feio (13) - both of whom are scheduled to represent South Africa at the World Finals in Spain towards the end of October.

Other riders in the thick of it at Kyalami included Themba Kumalo, Dorren Loureiro, Sylvano de Aguiar, Tristan Bagley, Dylan Barnard, Troy de Klerk, Caedon Walker, Ndumiso Ngcezula, Luyanda Mdanda and Jenna Eekhout.

The final event in the 2010 Northern Regions Motorcycle Championship takes place at the Zwartkops Raceway in Pretoria on Saturday November 13.

The SA Motorcycle Racing Academy can be contacted at nforbes@iafrica.com or nharran@vodamail.co.za

The Stig- replacing him no problem according to Castrol

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 12:39:22 +0200

There’s been much harrumphing from the Top Gear team following the identity of track hero, the Stig after it emerged that the famed driver is fact Le Mans Series driver Ben Collins.

Top Gear need not panic though. Since Ben currently sits 768th in the Castrol Driver Rankings, the world’s most comprehensive driver rankings, there are in fact hundreds of other drivers who could happily qualify as replacements.

Castrol has applied the same expertise and passion it uses in the development of its oils to create the Castrol Driver Rankings – using expert analysis and highly advanced technology to measure and rank the performance in every single race of over 2000 drivers, across 47 major motorsport series every year.
While Collins is a well experienced driver with a long list of motor sport achievements away from the TV show, the Castrol Driver Rankings could help Top Gear bosses find another talented driver who could replace Collins as the helmeted track star… if they choose to.

Currently led by Sebastian Vettel, the Castrol Driver Rankings include all of the major motorsport series including Formula 1, the World Rally Championship and the World Touring Car Championship. Whilst the likes of Lewis Hamilton (4th) and Sebastien Loeb (2nd) might not be able to find time to be the Stig, there are plenty of other drivers further down the list that do have the right credentials.

For example, at 95 is Jamie Green, DTM driver and former winner of the McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year award in 2002. Relatively unknown to the average Top Gear watching fan, but someone who’s got a great record across a range of series, perfect for testing all the cars that visit the Top Gear track.

Collins has been driving for the RML Group in the Le Mans Series this season. Two appearances have netted two solid results. In the 1000km of Algarve the team secured a victory in the P2 class and then at the Hungaroring he finished in 4th in class. The team currently sits 2nd in the P2 championship.

The next race in the series is at Silverstone, the team’s home track. Collins is expected to take part in the race, where a win could secure a championship victory for the team.

New Astra?

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 09:48:17 +0200

These are the first official pictures of Opel’s GTC Paris Concept, which gives the strongest hint yet to the Astra Sport Hatch’s successor and which will debut on September 30 at the Paris Motor Show.

At 4.46 metres, the GTC Paris offers ample space for five people, yet still maintains a svelte and sporting appearance. Adams’ team has maximised ‘tension’ in the design by limiting the amount of lines in the car’s profile, and leaving the impression that the car’s highlights and surfacing are ‘pressed’ on to the concept’s 21-inch wheels.

Opel's signature blade mimics that on the Insignia and creates a fine, tense crease along the rocker panel. This combines with a second line running from the door handle to the rear of the car, emphasising both a fine undercut and broad shoulder.

A third line following the silhouette of the roof is finished in fine brushed aluminium accentuating the window graphic and leads to a sharply accented integrated spoiler.
Slim, eagle-eye shaped headlamps, flanked by LED running lights with chrome surrounds dominate the front of the GTC Paris. A sharp centreline crease runs down the bonnet (a trademark styling cue from Vauxhalls of yore) and leads to a dramatically low trapezoidal grille incorporating a chrome emblem bar.

Auf Wiedersehen M5 und M6!

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 09:39:37 +0200

BMW has announced the end of production of the BMW M6 Coupé and the BMW M6 Convertible. In total 14,152 of these high-performance sports cars were built: 9,087 units of the Coupé, which launched in 2005; and 5,065 Convertible models, presented the following year.

With the departure of these two models and the fourth-generation BMW M5, production will now also cease for the unique V10 high-rev engine.

The stand-out feature of this engine, developed exclusively for the BMW M5 and BMW M6 models, is power delivery that is both dynamic and smooth even at higher loads. Output is developed from a 5-litre displacement split between ten combustion chambers, with the two banks of cylinders cranked at 90 degrees to one another. The engine delivers maximum output at 7,750 rpm, with engine speed eventually peaking at 8,250 rpm, and it has maximum torque of around 520 Nm. In addition to the high-rev concept, a number of other technological details – electronically-controlled individual throttle valves, an ionic current control system and lateral force controlled oil supply – were also directly derived from motor racing.

Its power-to-weight ratio of 3.37 kilograms per kW is another key indicator in the profile of the BMW M6 Coupé. Moreover, its performance characteristics are additionally supported by sevenspeed SMG Drivelogic and Launch Control for maximum acceleration from a standing start, the speed-sensitive variable M differential lock, and model-specific chassis technology, including Electronic Damper Control (EDC) and compound brakes. Standstill to 100 km/h acceleration time is an estimated 4.6 seconds. The BMW M6 Convertible takes approximately 0.2 seconds longer.

The total combined figures for the fourth-generation BMW M5 exceed even those of its predecessor model, which was in production for six years. With that it has secured the current high point in the success story of the BMW M5, the first generation of which established the vehicle segment of high-performance saloons at its introduction in 1984.

Audi Revises TT range

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 11:21:30 +0200

The revised Audi TT is now available in South Africa. With more efficient engines, a rationalized range and higher standard specification levels, the latest TT range is poised to continue its sales success in South Africa.

The new 2.0T FSI AVS (Audi Valve-lift System) engine in the TT is setting an elevated standard for driving performance, reduced fuel consumption and class leading levels of CO2.

In order to streamline the TT offering the TT 3.2 V6 models have been discontinued world-wide. In addition the TTS will no longer be offered in South Africa, while the TT RS will also be available for the first time in S tronic, early in 2011./

Available in both hard-top Coupé and soft-top Roadster guises, the revised TT is powered by Audi’s latest generation 2.0T FSI engine, with Six-speed manual or six-speed S tronic transmission available.

Powered by a new version of Audi’s multiple Engine of the Year Award 2.0T FSI engine, the new TT range offers Audi’s Audi Valve-lift (AVS) system which manages to a claimed 14% improvement in fuel consumption and high torque (350 Nm) across wide speed range.

Power output is rated at around 155 kW from 4 300 – 6 000 r/min and approximately 350 Nm of torque from 1 600 r/min to 4 200 r/min. When fitted to the six-speed manual Coupé, it consumes roughly 6,6-litres per 100 km in the combined cycle and produces about 154 g/km of CO2 emissions

Against the clock, the six-speed manual Coupé does 0-100 km/h in a claimed 6,6 sec (6,7 sec for the Roadster) and has a top speed of an estimated 245 km/h (242 km/h for the Roadster).

The six-speed S tronic quattro Coupé dispatches 0-100 km/h in around 7,2 sec (7,4 sec for the Roadster) and has a top speed of approximately 243 km/h (240 km/h for the Roadster).

Visually the latest Audi TT is easily differentiated from its predecessor. Numerous S Line styling enhancements are now standard, including a more aggressive front bumper and air intakes, revised rear bumpers and new alloy wheels.

The interior maintains the TT’s driver-orientated cockpit design, The Roadster maintains Audi’s classic soft-top design which reduces weight and the vehicle’s centre of gravity. This improves handling as well as the packaging of the roof mechanism.

The Audi TT Product Improvement is available immediately at Audi dealers.

Recommended Retail Pricing (incl. VAT and CO2 Tax):

Coupé:
2.0T FSI manual (154 g/km)                                                R423 730
2.0T FSI S tronic (164 g/km)                                               R440 680
2.0T FSI quattro® S tronic   (169 g/km)                             R527 155

Roadster:
2.0T FSI manual (156 g/km)                                                R459 420
2.0T FSI S tronic (168 g/km)                                               R476 560
2.0T FSI quattro® S tronic   (172 g/km)                             R562 940