Autodealer News Feed

Honda Civic to race in touring cars

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:22:48 +0200

HONDA announced that the Honda Civic will race in the FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC).

“We have made a decision,” said Honda CEO, Takanobu Ito, “to enter into the WTCC with the European Civic. We will develop a totally new engine for this project and we are all excited about starting this new challenge.”

For this project, Honda has formed a joint partnership with Mugen and JAS Motorsport. Honda R&D is developing a bespoke racing engine, while Mugen will manufacture and maintain it. JAS Motorsport will develop the race car, using the new Honda Civic 5-door produced in Honda’s manufacturing plant located in Swindon (UK).

The racing engine is a 1.6-litre 4-cylinder direct injection turbo-charged petrol engine, developed in accordance with FIA’s Super 2000 regulations.
Honda’s ambition is to join the WTCC as early as this season, with a string of “inaugural rounds.” Discussions are currently being held with the FIA, but these rounds would include Japan (21 October 2012 at Honda’s Suzuka circuit), followed by China and Macau. Honda will then enter a two-car team, managed by JAS Motorsport, into every race in the 2013 championship season.

This activity is being run independently to the Honda Racing British Touring Car Championship winning team. Three-time BTCC champions, Matt Neal and Gordon ‘Flash’ Shedden will be behind the wheel of the race-prepared Team Dynamics version of the new Civic and lining up on the grid at Brands Hatch on 1 April for the first race of the 2012 season.

Racing has always been a fundamental element of Honda’s DNA. In the late 1950s Honda first entered the Isle of Man TT and then Formula One in the 1960s. The FIA WTCC is the next chapter in Honda’s on-going commitment to world motor sport and provides a perfect platform to demonstrate its racing spirit to Honda’s numerous fans around the world.

Stop Wastage

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:16:55 +0200

Dear Editor,

I refer to the article by Gerhard Horn on the toll roads (Week 4). I really hope we have won but somehow I think they may still come back and bite us.

I would also like to voice my opinion and advise that tolling the life arteries out of the Gauteng economy - the powerhouse of the South African economy - is sheer madness!

Whether first world, or developing, any country needs a good road communication system that expands in line with its population growth; this is essential in order to maintain economic growth and job creation. In this regard we have been way behind.

Improvement to our highway system in Gauteng is long overdue. Modernization of the highway system should be the government’s priority and at government’s cost. After all, a good, free highway/communication system will also entice foreign investment and it’s good for national pride. All that is required, is for government to stop wasting the millions it has! One source of revenue to cover the highway improvement cost is already in place.

You may recall, five years ago the Natis computer crashed and to alleviate the congestion, a once-off charge of R30 was introduced. Now some five years later, the surcharge is still there and of course has kept up with inflation. It now stands at R36.

As per your article, some 3.9 million vehicles are registered in Gauteng, so where does this staggering amount of R140 million go to each year? Motor vehicle licence fees are supposed to be used for road maintenance! Well here’s another R36 per vehicle just waiting to be used for such a project.

Come on fellow South Africans, let’s not be conned, paying for the highway improvements - even via a fuel levy - is not acceptable! For once, we should all unite and march with Cosatu if necessary.

Gus Arico

Periodic Increases

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:13:30 +0200

Dear Editor,

As if the present climate is not bad enough for us overburdened motorists, here’s something for everyone to check - the amount of tax and periodic increases on fuel is shocking but what about this: My previous road tax on my 2002 Audi 1.9TDi was R360; this year it’s R420. My previous road tax on my 1996 Pajero 2.8TDi was R555 and this year, R684; an average increase of 20 per cent!

I asked the teller why so much and she replied: “They do it every year.” I asked to speak to someone for a better explanation and was given a phone number (011 891 0001), then referred to another number (011 490 1586) then referred to another number (011 958 9206) - which number was unobtainable.

It looks as though the toll roads are going to be paid for anyway with this sort of increase. Can you or your readers shed any light on why the increases are so high?

Steve Hulse

Corrective Action

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:10:22 +0200

Dear Editor,

In response to Gerhard Horn’s article (Week 4) do we actually know - in advance - what effect on inflation this e-tolling will have on South Africa?

Each time a petrol company fills the tanks at one of its filling stations in the Gauteng area only .01cents per litre goes towards recouping the astronomical figure of R20 billion. This must be paid to Sanral at the end of each and every month. After three months, review this situation to see what adjustments will be necessary. The cost in actual administration fees should be very limited.

In the meantime, government can look into the situation to find out how they came to dish out R20 billion and if need be, take corrective action against the specific parties concerned.

At 40/60 cents/km this most certainly will be a major contributing factor towards South Africa’s inflation. Gauteng represents 35 per cent of South Africa’s GDP and the other eight provinces are very much dependent on Gauteng.

Hans Cochlovius

Toll Riots

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:05:20 +0200

Dear Editor,

Ten out of 10 to Gerhard Horn and his article on the toll roads (Week 4).
Gauteng’s people are sick and tired of paying and paying until we only have an empty purse to show for our trouble.

We will not pay the toll fees and that’s it! Government allowed Sanral to hi-jack the roads that belong to us, the citizens, and now we must pay for it? Forget it! It is the government’s duty to provide roads as part of the infrastructure.

What alternative roads do they have to offer? None! Is that fair? So, if you cannot afford to pay the toll fees, you’re not allowed to travel on Gauteng roads? What about all the unemployed citizens? Where are they supposed to get the money from to pay? Re-think your strategies government and Sanral.

This is not going to happen or you will have a hell of a riot on your hands!

Sick and tired citizen

The Brits are back in town

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:01:15 +0200

THE BRITISH Empire may have ruled much of the old world through its spread of colonial empires. But after taking a nasty beating during the recent recession, it’s lost a lot of the clout it once had and in the meantime, it’s also lost a lot of its automotive brands.

For instance, Jaguar is now owned by Tata Motors. The British automotive marque, Mini, is owned by BMW and the latest victim? Morris Garages or MG as its fondly known was consumed by the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation Group (SAIC).

But truth be told, it was either this, or these icons disappear into the pages of time. And I for one would rather drive a Chinese MG than no MG - and that’s exactly what I did.

Return of MG

MG returned to South Africa in a rather low-key affair and I’m sure a lot of you are saying: “What? MG’s back?” The answer to that is: “Yes!” And it has been for a few months now, with about ten dealerships countrywide and countless promises that this time MG is here to stay.

It didn’t take long before I found myself behind the wheel of different MG6 derivative, courtesy of MG East Rand. Currently the MG6 is the only vehicle on offer in the MG stable but it does come in fastback and sedan styling with a host of different spec levels.

Admittedly, at first glance, the design of the sedan may not appeal to everyone, but there is something alluring about the fastback.

Penny pinching a pastime of the future

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:54:32 +0200

SO IT’s a new month and as sure as your monthly salary gets paid into your account, the petrol price increases. We’ve barely recovered from the festive season with many of our credit cards probably still sitting in the red, but the cost of fuel has already risen for the second time this year and it’s only February!

And boy, at 34 cents a litre, it’s a hefty one! This means that for 95 octane in Gauteng, motorists now have to cough up R10.95 a litre. Meanwhile, diesel motorists enjoy a one or two cent decrease - depending on the grade.

But the question is: When will it stop and will there ever be stability in what is a very volatile market? The answer: Probably not! Analysts warn of further increases in the near future, thanks to the unpredictable oil price and the unstable Rand.

I remember when the price of fuel really started to climb in about 2003. Every few months the price would reach record highs and I recall the panic as people started to flog off their big gas-guzzling V8s and settle for petite compact cars. This, as we all tried to manage our monthly fuel bills and as we know, when the price of fuel goes up, so does everything else. So how do we survive? Well, besides tightening our belts and dipping into our children’s varsity funds it’s not going to be easy and rockier times a wait.

However, we are not alone and this is a worldwide epidemic with some countries hit harder than others. The steady increase of oil and petrol affect both business and the private consumer, but just how well does South Africa fair against its neighbouring states?

Diesel upgrade for popular Chevys

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:38:43 +0200

THE CHEVROLET Sonic is a hard car to fault. We recently spent some time behind the wheel of the 1.4-litre LS model and came away impressed with the standard equipment and refinement of the vehicle. The only flaw we could find on an otherwise great hatch was the asthmatic engine. It may not be a problem for some people, but those seeking a bit more gusto would have been best advised to look elsewhere.

Chevrolet recently solved that problem with the addition of a diesel engine to its range. At first glance it’s not that impressive; an oil burner with a displacement of 1.3-litres? Not exactly the stuff performance dreams are made of.

You soon dispose of this initial prejudice when you get behind the wheel. Peak power stands at 70kW, but it’s the torque figure of 210Nm that really makes a difference. There was a time when a small diesel car could be outrun by a hamster in a ball, but that time has gone. As it currently stands, the diesel Sonic is the pick of the range. Still not convinced? Then consider the fact that if it’s driven in a frugal manner, it will deliver an average fuel consumption of a little over 4.5 litres/100km.

The Sonic diesel is only available in a 6-speed manual, but it suits the car just fine. As with other models in the line-up, the diesel is trimmed in LS specification. This means you get all the basic necessities of any modern car, as well as some nice-to-have luxuries as an added bonus.

BMW's manic M5

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:29:50 +0200

In 1984 BMW started a revolution. At that time blistering performance was strictly limited to vehicles with two doors and two seats. This meant a guy with a wife and two kids had to move around at a snail’s pace like the rest of us, longing to be behind the wheel of his sports car he keeps for special occasions. Performance driving was something to be explored over weekends, when the missus and kiddies could amuse themselves at home while Dad went on the hunt for a mountain pass.

Obviously, something had to be done. So BMW decided to slide the engine from its M1 supercar under the hood of a humble 5 Series and so the M5 was born. Five generation later, we have the angriest saloon to ever carry the fabled badge. It has a 4.4-litre V8 engine with the M TwinPower Turbo package. The result is a staggering 412kW and 680Nm of torque.

That kind of power leads to unbelievable performance. The dash to 100km/h is dispacthed in 4.4 seconds and if you specify your car with the M Driver’s Package (who wouldn’t) it will keep on going to 305km/h. That’s not just fast for something with four doors and a boot – that’s fast, period!

Even with all this power, BMW still managed to improved on fuel consumption. The new M5 cuts fuel usage by 30 per cent compared to the previous generation. The combined consumption stands at 9.9 litres/100km, thanks to smart technologies like Auto Start/Stop and Brake Energy Regeneration.

Power is transferred to the rear wheels via the seven-speed M Double Clutch Transmission Drivelogic with traction-optimised automatic gear selection and Launch Control. For added control, or if you simply prefer doing things yourself, there are also shift paddles behind the steering wheel.

The M5 retains its outstandingly agile handling, thanks to an innovative rear axle differential with Active M Differential. This electronically controlled multi-plate limited-slip differential enables fully variable distribution of drive between the rear wheels to optimise traction and stability in dynamic lane- change manoeuvres.

Kia reveals latest concept car

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:42:17 +0200

KIA UNVEILED its latest concept, based on the Soul city car at the Chicago Auto Show.
Powerful, dynamic and aggressive, Kia’s new concept car displays the distinctive design direction that the South Korean manufacturer is taking. Track’ster is intended to be the sporting representation of Kia’s Soul B-segment SUV.

Kia’s innovative and hugely successful urban crossover, the Soul, was originally created in the California Studio, the birthplace of the Soul’ster convertible concept that is currently under final assessment for production. Soul has been a hit with US consumers and in 2011 more than 102 000 were delivered to owners.

California studio Chief Designer Tom Kearns and his team have designed the Track’ster concept car in keeping with the Soul’s rebellious, individual and urban character.
Currently, there are no plans for Track’ster to enter production.