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In October, at this year’s Paris motor show, Lotus is set to unveil a raft of new models.
Chief amongst these will be a new premium level car to compete with the likes of Porsche’s 911 and Ferrari’s 458.
It is a badly kept secret that this new ‘large’ Lotus will essentially revive the Esprit – if not in name, most definitely in spirit (excuse the pun).
Despite these range expansion plans, Lotus is not in great shape though.
Despite boasting some of the most impeccable engineering available, Lotus caters for a very small market niche of committed customers.
A product portfolio of hardcore cars - which eschew most comfort and convenience features - has made the brand a darling of the automotive press corps and neutral observers, but has hardly shored up sales volumes.
With a new management team in place Lotus has been given a timeframe by holding company Proton in which to dramatically increase sales or face termination.
The company’s new boss is former Ferrari man Danny Bahar. In an attempt to gear the brand for its readmission into the premium performance car segment, Bahar has issued termination letters to all European Lotus dealers.
This move allows all dealers a two and a half year run of their current agreement with Lotus.
If they wish to continue retailing Hethel’s cars any agreement will be subject to a strict list of Lotus mandated improvements. Essentially this state of affairs means if you wish to retail Lotus products in future you’ll need to be in possession of a pretty swanky dealership, requiring considerable investment.
"Our future plans and product strategy are very exciting," said a Lotus spokesperson, "and we need a dealer network that can meet the demands of that strategy."
Lotus remains the only manufacturer able to call upon a motorsport heritage which includes an Indy 500 win, F1 World Championship and WRC title. Bahar is intent on chasing down sales by capitalising on this unique motorsport heritage - and only wants a calibre of dealer onboard who can share his vision.
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The luxury sales race is tightening as Audi, BMW, and Mercedes are duking it out for top honors.
So far, it's been a bloody campaign. Audi and BMW have been in a constant war of words (with billboards, commercials and dealership shenanigans) but in terms of sales, the Bavarian is king. For the first half of the year, BMW managed to sell 585,755 vehicles while Audi moved 554,950 units.
Watching quietly in the background, Mercedes had an ace in the hole - the new E-Class. Strong demand caused June sales to surge to a record setting 113,300 units, which pushed their yearly sales total to 556,700. This means the tri-star brand outsold their four-ringed competitor by 1,750 units - a slim margin, but one they'll gladly take.
More interestingly, despite the economic downturn, all three brands posted increased year-to-year sales (over 2009): Audi climbed 19.1%, Mercedes soared 15.2%, and BMW gained 14.1%. Audi's stellar performance was prompted, in part, by strong demand in China which has overtaken Germany as the brand's most important market.
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The team at German tuning outfit RDX Racedesign have created a sporty and dynamic package for the Volkswagen Scirocco. Using thermoplastic for new body parts, the company did their best to keep weight low.
For the Scirocco, the company developed an aerodynamic kit that includes a new, TUV-certified front spoiler, subtly redesigned sidesills with grille elements built in at the rear, and a rear bumper extension with diffuser and mesh. Also added at the back is a new TUV-certified roof spoiler.
All of the body parts combine for a cost of €686. However, it may be worth spending the extra €49 for the darkened headlight covers, which look terrific against the dark three-door. All of the parts are available on any trim level Scirocco, and the company lets dissatisfied buyers return any parts within two weeks of delivery.
With the relatively low price, and the two-year warranty, there will certainly be several Scirocco customers giving a call to RDX Racedesign.
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1727
Citroën has announced plans to offer WiFi internet connectivity on the C3, C3 Picasso, C4, C4 Picasso, C5, C6 and DS3.
Priced from £545 (including installation and a VAT of 17.5%), the 'WiFi On Board' system creates a wireless network in the vehicle. To do this, users install a 3G or 3G+ SIM card (which is available from all major internet / cell phone providers) and turn the device on.
While everything seems simple enough, Citroën decided to make the system unique by adding a roaming override function. When traveling, the device can deactivate itself - when roaming - to prevent users from racking up excessive data charges.
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REVOZPORT has unveiled a new styling package for the Volkswagen Golf R.
Dubbed the Razor R, the package features a ventilated hood, a revised grille, a front splitter, and aggressive side skirts. Other goodies include a modified rear bumper, a rear diffuser, a rear spoiler, and carbon fiber mirror casings.
All components are constructed out of carbon fiber (except the hood, which is a carbon / Kevlar composite) and are now available for order.
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German tuning firm Abt Sportsline will be revealing a new package of upgrades for the Audi A1 on July 28. The company says they will release spec sheets, photos, and an online configurator shortly after.
Look for the A1 to get significant performance upgrades, as the company says the vehicle "flies out of the blocks," according to a press release. The vehicle will receive new "suspension components, dynamic aluminium wheels and other sports accessories," the company says.
To help get customers excited for the launch, the tuning firm will post three different designs versions of the car on their Facebook page. Fans can vote on their favorite design from July 28 to August 11. Designs to be presented include the "cool Aloha," the "evil High Voltage," and the "funny and charming ... Klecks."
You will be able to see photos and get details of the tuning job right here as soon as they become available.
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Ohio-based engineers at Switzer Performance have released a new version of their P800 kit capable of working with the 997 Turbo's Tiptronic transmission. The transmission, normally only capable of handling up to 522 kW, was totally rebuilt and modified to handle more power.
"When we released our P800 kit for the 997 Turbos, which makes over 597 kW, we were forced to limit sales to manual-transmission cars," said company chief Tym Switzer in a press release. "This didn't satisfy the customers who wanted the kind of ultimate straight-line performance that the Tiptronic can offer, and, to be frank, it didn't satisfy us."
For the project, they added more friction surfaces to improve power delivery, improved shift speed with a new valve body, eliminated transmission slips with more clutches, and reprogrammed the entire transmission control unit software. The result is a Tiptronic 997 Turbo that sprints from 0 to 100 kph in 2.8 seconds, even when using standard air pressure, tires, and fuel.
Final calibrations are still being made to the package. The transmission itself could wind up on other Porsche tuner models as well, with Switzer believing that TechArt and 9ff may have an interest in the project.
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Porsche's new CEO Matthias Mueller has work to do if he's going to achieve the sales goal the storied sports car maker has set for itself.
When Mueller, 57, takes over as CEO of Porsche AG on October 1, his first assignment will be to revive Porsche's entry-level segment which is facing declining sales. Sales are down 12 percent in the nine months through April for the Boxster and Cayman models combined. In February, Porsche introduced the Boxster Spyder with a starting price of €53,100 ($66,900).
Porsche wants to expand its sales from 100,000 units a year currently to 150,000 units globally by 2013. To do that, Porsche will double the number of models in its lineup from four to eight. It may do that by adding an entry-level model below the Boxster as well as a small SUV based on the VW Tiguan.
"We have to make progress with Porsche. Mueller is the right person to deliver it," said VW Group CEO Martin Winterkorn at a press event earlier this week.
Mueller was formerly the head of product management at VW's Audi brand up until 2007. He's currently in charge of product planning and management at VW Group.
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Ford has unveiled a new range of aftermarket accessories for the 2011 Fiesta.
Exterior options include a spoiler, a four-piece body kit (which consists of a front air dam, side skirts and rear valance), 'tattoo' vinyl graphics, and side wraps with designs like bubbles, flames and ninja blades.
Inside, owners can outfit their car with an illuminated gear knob (which displays what gear is selected), illuminated door sills, LED cup holder lights, and an armrest.
On the functional side, there's a kayak carrier, a bike carrier, and a roof rack.
While some of those options are a tad extreme, the most popular choices are the Interior Protection Package (with all-weather floor mats and a rear cargo area protector), the Exterior Protection Package (which has splash guards and a rear bumper protector), and the Illuminated Interior Accessory Package which features the aforementioned sill plates and gear knob.
According to Sam De La Garza, Fiesta brand manager, "The Fiesta already offers customers a range of options to make it their own, from unique exterior colors to interior seating combinations, but with the addition of our accessory options, consumers can take Fiesta personalization to the next level. Each of the accessories adds a unique flavor to Fiesta, and everybody agrees they can find an accessory or graphic that matches their personality."
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Stricter traffic management measures will be implemented on Sunday to ensure that fans arrive on time for the World Cup closing ceremony and final match, Gauteng transport MEC Bheki Nkosi said on Wednesday.
"This will enable us to facilitate smooth movement of fans, including VIPs, to the stadium," Nkosi told a media briefing in Sandton.
The new measures would involve closing certain roads around Soccer City Stadium - where the final match would be played, parts of the N1 highway, Sandton and Pretoria.
"A number of heads of state will also be attending the closing ceremony and final game of the World Cup," he said.
"Only vehicles with authentic accreditation will be allowed to travel in the areas affected by road closures."
Nkosi said that at the start of the tournament there had been "serious" traffic congestion on some of the routes leading to Soccer City. This was because many people had used their own vehicles to get there.
"This led to challenges besetting traffic flow and it became a logistical nightmare to control traffic.
"Logistically, it is just not possible to accommodate thousands of cars on the roads leading to the stadium in a short space of time," he said.
Public transport
Nkosi encouraged fans to instead use public transport, including trains, the Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit system and minibus taxis, which would be allowed to drop them off at the stadium.
"We urge fans who have park and walk tickets to travel to the stadium early before the roads are closed."
Lucky Mabasa of the provincial community safety department said officers from the Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni metro police departments would work with SA Police Service members in soft road blocks in various areas of the province.
All soft road closures would be done at the N1 onramps from 2.30pm to 4.30pm on Sunday. Cars would be directed to various diversion routes.
"Police will be assisting residents, who absolutely have to be on the roads, to get home on soft blocked roads."
The N1 would be open as soon as the operation is ceased.
In Sandton, which will be the most affected area, roads would be closed between 1pm and 5.30pm.
No parking
Fifa and SA Football Association delegates, as well as some VIPs, would arrive between 1pm and 3pm at Fifa headquarters in Sandton. Only drop-offs would be allowed on the streets around the Fifa offices during that time. No parking would be allowed.
"The Johannesburg metro police department's breakdown will be on site to remove illegally parked cars.
"There were a lot of traffic challenges in Sandton on the day of the opening game of the World Cup. These measures will help avoid them on Sunday."
Any motorist who disobeyed the special World Cup traffic regulations would have their vehicle impounded and could be fined.
He said there would be "sufficient" officers on the roads and around the stadium "to ensure that things go smoothly".
Nkosi said despite "some minor glitches" at the start of the World Cup, "we can proclaim that the entire organisation of the tournament had been a very successful operation".
The Netherlands will play Spain to decide who takes the World Cup trophy on Sunday.
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Toyota will reportedly extend the development cycle on new models in the latest attempt to address quality problems dogging the manufacturer.
Blaming the carmaker’s rapid expansion in the past decade for the recent squalls that have blighted Toyota’s long-standing reputation for quality, the company’s executive vice president Takeshi Uchiyamada told journalists on Wednesday that 1 000 engineers had been dispatched to deal with quality issues.
The team, including 100 “devil’s advocate” engineers, has swelled by 50% and product engineers now have an extra month to complete the development of vehicles.
"It's important for our engineers to look at a vehicle and see how customers might use it in ways that haven't been reflected in our testing," Uchiyamada said.
Autonews.com reports that the new teams will be more “neutral” in response to potential problems, adopting an “early detection, early resolution” policy.
Katsutoshi Sakata, general manager of the new design quality innovation division said, “In the past, we were not paying sufficient attention to the customer's viewpoint.
Often, our R&D people believed our technology was correct. We need to take a more objective standpoint, with a calm eye to detect problems more readily.”
However, Uchiyamada also placed some of the blame for Toyota’s quality issues on miscommunication between outside suppliers and contract engineers and said the carmaker would bring more engineering work in-house.
“It is not just ‘supply to spec' and let the suppliers produce the part,” Uchiyamada said. “When we outsource, we would like to check the thinking of the suppliers' design, how they manufacture and how they do evaluation.”
Toyota has in the past months been hit by image-damaging recalls affecting millions of its cars, including the bread-and-butter Corolla model.
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The SA National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) raised an additional R543 million under its domestic medium term note programme, which carries a full government guarantee, by tapping into its HWAY20 and HWAY23 bonds.
In a statement on Wednesday, Sanral said this was its sixth bond auction for 2010.
Including the R9,95 billion raised without a guarantee, Sanral had now raised R18.2bn of bonds for the expansion and upgrade of toll roads, particularly the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project.
"Construction on the roads will resume from July 12 2010 and is expected to be completed in October 2010," Sanral said.
Absa Capital and Rand Merchant Bank were appointed as joint lead arrangers and market makers on Sanral's JSE-listed domestic medium term note programme.
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Tuners at German firm Hofele-Design have released a new body kit, suspension, exhaust and braking upgrades for the Panamera. The Porsche Panamera Rivage GT 970 features remodeling all around the exterior, as well as refinements to the car's interior.
The full featured body kit replaces stock Panamera parts with a new front bumper with large air vents, the grille from a Cayenne Turbo, and the Panamera Turbo's LED daytime running lights and turn indicators. A new set of side skirts is also installed, which leads to the rear spoiler and replacement rear bumper with integrated rear diffuser. A central fog light has also been installed at this position. The diffuser is flanked on either side by two of the quad-tipped exhaust pipes, with a performance muffler of stainless steel, and tuned for a sporty sound.
Buyers will be encouraged to pick up the 10 x 22-inch K-Series five-spoke single piece silver wheels, but can also choose the Reverso or Prado double-spoke models. 9 x 20 Prado five double-spoke wheels in glossy black, white, matte black, and silver are also available.
Behind the wheels lies a six-piston red caliper brake set with cross-drilled and vented 370 x 35mm discs. Potentially, the company can outfit the car with a four-piston, 342 x 34mm set of brakes instead, and they acknowledge that other disc diameters may also be possible.
Engineers also fit an electronic lowering system, which brings the car down as much as 40 mm. The three-stage system works at speeds up to 80 km/h, and has a kill switch that brings the car back to its original height.
Inside, customers will be pleased with the bi-color quilted leather, available in many color choices, and on any seating configuration. The matching leather can be used for the door inserts as well. The company's team may also be able to cover other items on the car in the material, if desired.
Pricing on the Porsche Panamera Rivage GT 970 was not revealed.
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Unichip has unveiled a new performance package for the Land Rover Discovery 2 / Defender TD5.
Dubbed the Sport Conversion, the package consists of an Owen Developments Garrett turbocharger and a Unichip ‘U-Connect' ECU. These modifications enable the 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine to produce 131 kW and 378 Nm of torque - an increase of 37 kW and 85 Nm.
According to the company, over 271 Nm of torque is available between 1700-4200 rpm which makes it "perfect for towing or off road use." More importantly, extensive testing has found the conversion actually improves fuel economy thanks to "extra mechanical and electronic efficiencies realized by the Unichip Europe conversion."
The package will be available for all Discovery Series 2 TD5s (produced between 1998 and 2005) and manual-equipped Defender TD5s.
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Michael Macht is on his way out as CEO of the Porsche AG. Macht will be replaced by Matthias Mueller, 57, who had been in charge of product planning and management for Volkswagen and the VW Group.
Macht, 49, is being shuffled inside the VW Group, and will become a member of the board at Volkswagen in charge of car production. He replaces Jochem Heizmann, 58, who will take over commercial truck production at the firm.
All of the executive changes begin on October 1.
As the new chief of Porsche, Mueller will be tasked with making the luxury brand's full integration into Volkswagen smooth following Porsche's disastrous attempt to take over VW. Under the leadership of former CEO Wendelin Wiedeking, Porsche accrued so much debt when attempting to acquire VW, that they needed their former target to bail them out.
Mueller will draw off his experience working with different brands under the VW Group umbrella to accomplish an easy transition for Porsche. He will also attempt to breathe new life into Porsche's product offerings, which could include bringing the Porsche 918 hybrid convertible to market.
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A new special edition Aston Martin is now available for order from the UK automaker. The Aston Martin V8 Vantage N420 has a trimmed weight, and features a new sports exhaust system.
The weight reduction comes from the use of carbon fiber at the diffuser, side strakes, splitter, and seats. In total, 27 kilograms was shaved off the stock 1,630-kg V8 Vantage Coupe.
Other features include wide side sills, black mesh vents, dark tailpipes, and 10-spoke glossy black alloy wheels. The interior is fitted with an Iridium package, with contrast-stiched upholstery, a choice between an Alcantara or leather wheel, and graphite instrumentation.
The name of the car is taken from the 313 kW 4.7-liter engine that kicks out up to 470 Nm. Official acceleration details were not revealed, but look for the 0-60 mph time to be around 4.5 seconds.
Workers will begin assembly of the Aston Martin V8 Vantage N420 later this month.
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Dutch carmaker Spyker Cars used internal funding rather than external debt to pay General Motors the final $24 million purchase price for Sweden's Saab, ending concern over how it would foot the bill.
Niche carmaker Spyker, which has never made a profit, took over the larger Saab from GM earlier this year and is now working to revive the flagging brand. The final instalment of the purchase price had been due on July 15.
Spyker Cars said it made the payment without increasing its external debt or issuing new shares, adding the internal funding became available after the acquisition of Saab Great Britain Limited by Spyker on May 31.
A Spyker Cars spokesman said the company paid the final instalment to GM using cash from Saab Great Britain.
"Saab Great Britain is a wholly own subsidiary of Spyker Cars and has given an inter company loan to Spyker," spokesman Mike Stainton said.
Further concern had been sparked about the company's ability to fund the final part of the deal after it said in February it still needed to secure financing for the $24 million payment.
Spyker Cars had said it intended to fund the payment primarily through senior debt and that it had pledged assets to GM as security for the final payment.
"The early payment of the second and last instalment underlines our desire to finalise the transaction with GM as soon as it was possible, enabling management to fully focus on the future of the group," Spyker Cars Chief Executive Victor Muller said in a statement.
Spyker spent $400 million buying the iconic Swedish brand Saab, $74 million of which was paid in cash for Saab, including $25 million borrowed from a Muller investment vehicle and $25 million from an issue of shares, largely to GEM Global Yield Fund Ltd.
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The North West provincial government has launched a road maintenance programme set to benefit 8 000 poor households.
The programme Itirele, meaning “do it yourself”, is the work of the provincial Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport and will be rolled out across the province in July as part of the expanded public works programme. About R60 million has been budgeted for the programme that will see rural inhabitants earning at least R520 for working eight days.
Work conducted on identified roads will include regular maintenance of drainage systems, felling of overgrown tree branches that obstruct views of the road, removal of litter and weeds, and repairs to minor potholes.
Similar road maintenance programmes have previously been launched in other provinces, and based on their success, the model could be rolled out for large-scale infrastructure development, too.
“We have achieved significant results through similar road maintenance programmes such as Zibambele and Siyatentela in other provinces,” Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele said.
“We will systematise this approach as we build bridges, roads and other infrastructure throughout the country and in the process create sustainable jobs.”
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Margins on auto sales may not be what they are in the United States or Europe, but China is now the world's largest auto market and GM's biggest market by volume too.
GM posted record sales in China for the first half of 2010, with a 48.5 percent increase in sales over the same period last year. GM sold 1,209,138 units in the country for the first six months of 2010, vehicles it builds in concert with its Chinese partners, compared to unit sales of 1,069,577 in the United States.
GM sales were buoyed by the popularity of models such as the Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Cruze and new Chevrolet Sail. GM's Buick is also one of the fastest-growing brands in China.
GM now ranks second in China, behind Volkswagen, in unit sales. China is also now VW's largest market. Last year, China overtook the United States as the world's largest vehicle market, albeit, after the U.S. experienced a precipitous drop in car sales due to the financial crisis of 2008-2009.
For the first five months of this year, vehicles sales in China were 7.1 million compared to 4.6 million in the U.S.
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In an attempt to capture a larger number of sales in the competitive European wagon category, the new Volvo V60 has been launched as the sporty five-door version of the all-new S60. The car is being offered with eight different engines in an attempt to lure at least 50,000 new customers annually.
The V60 is available with four inline-four petrol engines, including two 1.6-liter units that produce up to 240 Nm of torque and either 112 or 134 kW, and two 2.0-liter models that produce either 151 kW and 300 Nm or 179 kW and 320 Nm.
Its range-leading inline-six is a 3.0-liter unit that kicks out 227 kW and up to 440 Nm. This powerful engine gets the car from 0-100 km/h in 6.6 seconds, with an electronically-limited top speed of 250 km/h.
Diesel offerings include a 86 kW, 270-Nm 1.6-liter inline-four, and two inline-five workhorses. The first is a 2.0-liter model that kicks out 122 kW and up to 400 Nm, while the top diesel model churns out 153 kW and up to 420 Nm.
"Many of the customers who had an advance look at the new V60 during the development process feel that its attitude is at least as sporty as that of the all-new S60," said Volvo Design Director Peter Horbury.
To make the car look sportier, it has been given a coupe-inspired roof, sculpted styling at the front, and a bulging "shoulder" to keep with Volvo's design language. The car will be sold on a new dynamic chassis in Europe, though some markets will get a choice between a touring chassis and the European standard with its stiffer dampers.
Collision avoidance, pedestrian detection, all-wheel drive, tight steering, stability control, traction control in the corners, and an advanced brake system are all included for the driver's benefit. Fold-flat seating is not only used at the back, but also with the front passenger seat, which means loading long objects through the 1,095mm-wide tailgate. Total load capacity is 430 liters.
Look for pricing of the new Volvo V60 to be announced soon.
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Engineers at Meister Werke Design + Technik, also known as MWDesign, have developed a new Z car based on their experience in luxury automotive tuning and love for all types of design work. The MWDesign Project E89 Z4 3.5, which company founders Lewis Fan and Michael Wong call the "Slingshot", has an upgraded engine control unit that allows for 298 kW and up to 569 Nm of torque.
From their workshop in Vancouver, Canada, the tuning team paid close attention to the car's airflow, adding an intercooler, diverter valves, and charge pipe from Stett Performance, as well as a stepped up intake filter and an Eisenmann Black Series quad exhaust with midpipe. Adjustable swaybars were also added, along with adjustable swaybars, new springs, and better shocks. Toyo Proxes tires wrap around new 8.5x20-inch front, 10x20-inch rear forged wheels.
The exterior of the car has been modified with serveral carbon fiber parts, including front splitters, quad rear diffuser, and accenting, were fitted to the vehicle. Even though the car has a new front and rear spoiler, the original kidney grille remains to show everybody its still a BMW at heart.
Interior modifications were kept to a minimum. However, painted roll bars and a new wind deflector were put in place.
Pricing on the MWDesign Project Slingshot based on the E89 BMW Z4 was not disclosed.
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Bugatti has unveiled the Veyron 16.4 Super Sport - its promised 882 kW version of the Veyron model - which has now set a new land speed record of over 430 km/h.
On Saturday afternoon (July 3) at the Volkswagen Group's Ehra-Lessien track near Wolfsburg, Germany, the Veyron Super Sport set an average top speed rating of 431,072 km/h. Piloted by Bugatti test driver Pierre Henri Raphanel, with German inspection officials (TÜV) keeping watch, the car topped out once at 428 km/h and second time at 434 km/h. A representative of the Guinness Book of Records was on hand to witness the new world record.
"We took it that we would reach an average value of 425 km/h, but the conditions today were perfect and allowed even more," said Dr. Wolfgang Schreiber, Bugatti's chief engineer, in the press release.
The 882 kW and 1,500 Nm of torque of the Super Sport represents a 147 kW and 250 Nm increase over the standard Veyron. Bugatti engineers achieved the power upgrade by using four enlarged turbochargers on the 8.0 liter, 16-cylinder engine along with larger intercoolers. The Veyron Super Sport also gets a chassis tuning with a higher main-spring travel, strengthened stabilizers and racing-grade shock absorbers.
The street prowling version of the Veyron Super Sport, though, will be electronically limited to 415 km/h.
The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport will make its first public appearance at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in California in August.
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A BMW driver was arrested for travelling at 206 km/h, Johannesburg metro police said on Monday.
"He was going home after being at a club," said Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar.
The driver was one of 12 motorists arrested for speeding on the N1 in Midrand over the weekend.
Another driver was arrested for driving with false number plates on a BMW car.
All those arrested would appear in the Randburg Magistrate's Court shortly.
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Used vehicle price inflation continues to rise, a study released on Monday showed.
According to consultancy TransUnion's Vehicle Pricing Index (VPI), the first-quarter trend of falling new vehicle price inflation and rising used vehicle price inflation continued into the second quarter of 2010.
The index showed that the rate of new vehicle price inflation this year declined further from 7.4% in the first quarter of 2010 to 3.9% in the second quarter of the year.
This continued fall, said the VPI, reflected the fact that despite increases implemented by major manufacturers, the quantum was often less than 2%.
The consultancy's CEO Mike von Höne said the modest increases could be attributed to continued rand strength as well as a desire by manufacturers to support the improving new vehicle sales figures.
"While new vehicle price inflation continues to fall, used vehicle price inflation is sustaining its upward trend on the back of continued relative strength in demand for used vehicles over new vehicles," Von Höne said.
The absolute level of used vehicle price inflation increased to 5.6% in the second quarter, from 4.5% in the first quarter.
"Data received from TransUnion's dealer returns process indicate that dealers are beginning to carry more stock of used vehicles again as the overall sentiment in the vehicle market continues to improve," Von Höne said.
Meanwhile, the ratio of used to new vehicle finance agreements had come down from its high of 2.4 to one last year to its current ratio of 1.73 used cars to one new.
The present ratio is still substantially in favour of used vehicles, Von Höne said.
"Interestingly, the absolute level of used vehicle price inflation is higher than the absolute level of new car price inflation for the first time in five years (since March 2005)."
He said this might be an indication that the relative value gap between new and used cars was closing fast.
"The question is: are these the first concrete signs that the momentum in favour of new vehicles is building again?"
Von Höne remained optimistic that the outlook for the rest of 2010 would remain positive, with no dramatic changes expected from the current trend.
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Sportec has announced plans to introduce an upgraded SPR1 M at the Salon Privé Motor Show in London.
Dubbed the SPR1R, the car features composite (carbon / Kevlar) body panels, a flat carbon fiber under floor, an active suspension, carbon ceramic brakes, and a roll cage. While this is all standard on the SPR1 M, the SPR1R weighs 50 kilograms less and has an adjustable traction control system (which doubles as a data logger and lap timer).
Under the hood, the bi-turbo 3.6-liter engine continues to produce 631 kW and 869 Nm of torque. It enables the car to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 3.0 seconds, 0-200 km/h in 8.6 seconds, and 0-300 km/h in 18.9 seconds. If you keep your foot planted, the SPR1R will eventually exceed 380 km/h.
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1705
Your German-designed, American-made BMW may get a Spanish accent courtesy of Mexico.
According to a recent report, the company is considering investing $1 billion (€798,912,800) into Mexican suppliers who would build parts for the X5, X6, and next-generation X3. BMW sees this as a logical move because all three models are produced (or going to be produced) at the company's Spartanburg plant in South Carolina.
As you have probably guessed, BMW is considering the investment to cut production costs. Labor rates are relatively cheap in Mexico, compared to the U.S. and Germany, and the company wants to lower expenses nearly $4.9 billion (€6,131,253,575) by 2012.
Speaking with Automotive News, spokesperson Mathias Schmidt stated "BMW has the goal of significantly raising its purchasing volumes in the NAFTA region." He added the company currently buys parts from more than 60 suppliers in Mexico.
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1704
The European Automobile Manufacturer's Association has agreed on a set of standards for the plugs and sockets needed to recharge electric vehicles. The unified standard will allow Europe to more quickly develop an infrastructure capable of handling the vehicles, with several all-electric models scheduled to come to market over the next few years.
The organization, also known by the abbreviation ACEA for its French name, counts many of the world's largest automakers amongst its membership. BMW, Daimler, Fiat, Jaguar Land Rover, Porsche, PSA Peugeot Citroen, Renault, Volkswagen and Volvo are all part of the group. The European divisions of Ford, General Motors and Toyota are also members, as well as several commercial vehicle manufacturers.
"We want to avoid a situation where customers have to carry a multitude of charging cables to use their vehicles in different cities, regions and countries, just as we see today with items like mobile phones," said ACEA Secretary General Ivan Hodac in a statement to Automotive News.
Standards already agreed upon by the group only relate to overnight and slow-charging of vehicle batteries. The body's members have not yet been able to reach accord about quick charges, considered a more difficult and controversial issue because of the research and development still needed for a solution, the group said.
Because of the group's global membership, the ACEA's European standard could become a worldwide standard.
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1703
The Bimmer lovers at 5post.com have managed to get their hands on images of the M Sport Package for the 2011 BMW 5-Series (F10).
As expected, the sedan is outfitted with M sports suspension, M aerodynamics package which include revised bumpers, new wheels (available in 18- or 19-inches), modified side skirts, and chrome exhaust tips. Inside, the cabin has a M leather sport steering wheel, M gear lever, M footrest, sports seats with Alcantara/ fabric, anthracite BMW Individual roof lining and 'aluminum hexagon' trim.
As we have previously reported, the M Sport Package will also be offered on the 2011 5-Series Touring (F11). It will feature all the aforementioned equipment as well as 560 liters (19.8 cubic foot) of cargo capacity.
Market launch for both sedan and wagon begin in September.
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1702
In a surprise move, Mercedes will introduce the facelifted 2011 CL-Class at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
The updated model features a revised grille, modified bumpers, restyled headlights (with integrated LED daytime running lights), LED fog lights, new tail lights, and a sportier exhaust system. Inside, there doesn't appear to be any updates besides the addition of wood trim above the COMAND controller.
Despite the minor styling revisions, there are big changes under the hood. The CL550 4Matic gets the new twin-turbo 4.6-liter V8 BlueDIRECT engine with 320 kW and 700 Nm of torque. It allows the luxo-coupe to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 4.9 seconds. Likewise, the CL63 AMG is outfitted with the new 5.5-liter biturbo V8 which produces 400 kW and 800 Nm of torque. The CL600 boasts a twin-turbo 5.5-liter V12, with 380 kW and 829 Nm, which enables it to run from 0-100 km/h in 4.5 seconds. The other V12 model, the CL65 AMG, has 463 kW and 999 Nm of torque.
Besides the styling and performance upgrades, the 2011 CL has improved technology. Goodies include Active Lane Keeping Assist, Active Blind Spot Assist, Attention Assist, Night View Assist Plus, and Active Body Control with crosswind stabilization.
Look for the 2011 CL to start arriving at U.S. dealerships this fall.
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1701
The announcement on petrol prices for July has been postponed, the Central Energy Fund said on Friday.
"The Minister of Energy has approved that the fuel price changes in July 2010 only be effected on July 14," the CEF said in a statement.
"The final price adjustments to be effected on July 14 will be announced on July 9," the statement said.
Last month it was decided that fuel prices would be stabilised during the Fifa World Cup and the fuel price change would not be effected on July 7 as would usually have been the case.
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1700
New vehicle sales for June in every segment of the market generally exceeded industry expectations which had anticipated some moderation, the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of SA (Naamsa) said on Friday.
Releasing the data for last month, it said that aggregate industry sales at 39 931 units had registered an improvement of 6 849 units or 20.7% compared to the 33 082 vehicles sold during the corresponding month in 2009.
"The improvement should however be viewed in relation to the exceptionally depressed sales prevalent this time last year as a result of the impact of the global financial and economic crisis at the time."
Naamsa said that at the halfway mark in calendar 2010, aggregate industry sales remained 23.9% ahead of the corresponding six months in 2009.
Aggregate export sales had also registered strong volume growth during June 2010 as well as for the first six months of the year in relation to the very low base figures of the corresponding period in 2009.
Overall, out of the total Naamsa reported industry sales of 33 946 vehicles, 89.5% or 30 369 units represented dealer/retail sales, 4.0% represented sales to the car
rental industry, 3.6% represented industry corporate fleet sales and 2.9% sales to government.
Aggregate industry new car sales during June 2010 at 26 810 reflected an improvement of 5 501 units or 25.8% compared to the 21 309 new cars sold by the industry during June 2009.
"The new car market has continued to perform well with the selling rate of new cars per day remaining relatively robust," Naamsa said.
Commercial vehicles
Sales of industry new light commercial vehicles, bakkies and minibuses at 11 222 units during June 2010 reflected an improvement of 975 units or 9.5% compared to the 10 247 units of the corresponding month last year.
However, the upward momentum in the new light commercial vehicle sales cycle slowed compared to previous months.
"Moreover, the June 2010 light commercial vehicle sales number registered a slight decline compared to the previous month of May 2010."
Sales of vehicles in the medium and heavy truck segments of the industry also recorded gains and at 735 units and 1 164 units, respectively, recorded an increase of 242 units or 49.1%, in the case of medium commercials, and a gain of 131 units or 12.5%, in the case of heavy trucks and buses compared to the corresponding month last year.
However, medium and heavy commercial vehicle sales registered a slight decline compared to sales during the previous month of May 2010.
Export sales of South African produced vehicles during June 2010 at 20 434 vehicles registered a gain of 8 666 units or an improvement of 73.6% compared to the 11 768 vehicles exported during June last year when export sales had been particularly depressed as a result of the global financial crisis.
With half of 2010 accounted for, new vehicle exports at 106 766 units registered an improvement of 26 310 vehicles exported or 32.7% compared to the 80 456 export sales during the corresponding six months of 2009.
The decline in interest rates since the end of 2008, stable new vehicle prices, an improvement in loan finance approval rates - as well as pent up replacement demand - had continued to contribute to the recovery in domestic sales.
"Patchy" recovery
However, rising uncertainty about the sustainability of the global economic recovery, coupled with increased volatility in financial markets, could impact negatively on volume growth over the medium term, Naamsa said.
"Additionally, other economic performance indicators, such as the Purchasing Managers Index and subdued private sector credit extension, suggest that domestic economic recovery remains patchy and fragile."
The first six months of 2010 had been characterised by relatively strong sales domestically.
Over the balance of the year, however, the rate of growth in the new vehicle sales cycle was anticipated to moderate and, at this stage, aggregate domestic sales for 2010 were projected to expand by about 15% for the year.
Export sales were projected to grow by up to 30% - provided the global economy continued in a modest recovery phase and managed to avoid a double-dip recession.
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1699
Lexus South Africa has launched a “special service campaign” to address a material defect affecting the engine valve springs on its pre-facelift LS460 models.
This follows news of yet another global recall to hit Lexus and its Japanese parent company, Toyota. Toyota SA has confirmed that none of its products are affected by the latest round of recalls.
However, the owners of 246 pre-2010 LS460 models are requested to check their cars in at their nearest dealers to have the engine valve springs replaced. Material defects in the valve springs have been identified and the fix is considered a precautionary measure by Lexus.
The LS460 was facelifted in South Africa in January this year and was in May subjected to a recall to correct potential steering problems. The 2010 LS460 and the LS600h L recently introduced in the country, remain unaffected by the latest recall.
Concerned owners are again urged to contact their nearest dealers or call 0800 220 000.
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1698
Engineers at Russian firm Status Design have come up with a new package for the Ferrari 430. The company says their SD SU35 body kit gives the car a look that is superior to other design changes.
This is a point that will no doubt be argued by many. Beginning with the Scuderia Red and Racing Grey colors seen on the F430 Scuderia, the tuning firm added a series of parts made from carbon fiber. This includes a new hood, sidesills, rear spoiler, and mirrors.
They used a Scuderia front bumper, with an integrated carbon fiber spoiler, and a Scuderia rear bumper, with a carbon fiber diffuser. The signature wheels are also installed, though the Titanic Dark Blue color of the wheels looks odd against the charcoal-colored carbon fiber parts. Behind the wheels are new ceramic disc brakes.
Power on the Ferrari F430 SD SU35 is increased from 360 kW to 386 kW through new engine software. Top speed on the car is listed at 325 km/h. However, with a Novitec Rosso supercharger, power can be upgraded further to 515 kW. A new sports exhaust was also added.
Pricing for the SD SU35 Ferrari F430 kit was not revealed.
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1697
Alsa Automotive Engineering, based in Abu Dhabi, have tuned the BMW X6 M to an impressive 533 kW. The company's CEO, Mohammed Al Sayegh, says the over-700 horsepower figure was obtained with no modification to the engine's displacement, unlike the 526 kW X6 M tuned by German outfit Nowack Motors.
"[Nowack Motors] have produced that by making the car a 4.8 liter instead of keeping it at its 4.4 liter engine capacity," Al Sayegh told WCF.
The tuning package, which includes upgraded turbo compressor wheels, is also available for the X5 M. The new turbo components increase pressure up to 1.8 bar, but engineers did not stop there. Modifications were also made to the engine control unit, along with the installation of high-flow catalytic converters and straight pipes.
The result is an increase in horsepower of over 32 percent. Torque is also upgraded to a maximum of 945 Nm. The SUV is now capable of sprinting from 0-100 km/h in 3.8 seconds, and on to 200 km/h in 14.6 seconds total. Alsa Automotive claims a 325 km/h top speed.
"We are the first and only company to have successfully modified the turbo's so that the car can run higher boost on stock engine," Al Sayegh said.
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1696
Sport-Wheels has unveiled a new performance package for the Volkswagen Golf VI R.
Under the hood, the company installs a revised ECU and a high performance exhaust system with 83mm tips. These modifications enable the 2.0-liter TSI engine to produce 243 kW and 450 Nm of torque - instead of 199 kW and 350 Nm.
To improve the Golf's handling, Sport-Wheels added an adjustable KW suspension and 20-inch Ultraleggera HLT wheels which weigh a combined 12 kilograms less than the standard 19-inchers.
Last but not least, the car can be wrapped in foil.
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1695
Audi CEO Rupert Stadler says his company is well on its way to surpassing BMW as the global number one luxury automaker. In an interview with Automotive News, Stadler says he is still optimistic that his firm can overtake BMW by 2015.
The rosy outlook is buoyed by a large amount of early interest in the entry-level Audi A1, and Audi's recent "leap" past Mercedez-Benz in total sales.
Thus far, Audi sales are more than 20 percent higher in 2010 than the same January to May period in 2009. The firm has sold 450,000 vehicles to date, including efficient versions of the A3 and A4, as well as the all-new A8. Expansion in China could mean that 200,000 cars get delivered to that country this year alone. Meanwhile, sales in the United States have thus far improved by 30 percent.
Stadler hopes the momentum continues with the release of the Audi A7 later in the year, and the all-new Q3, due out in 2011.
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1694
Implementation of the Administrative Adjudication of the Road Traffic Offences (Aarto) Act will be delayed for a couple of months, the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) said on Wednesday.
RTMC acting chief executive officer Collins Letsoalo said the delay was to ensure the legislation was effective when it was implemented.
A proclamation repealing the previous implementation dates gazetted earlier this year, was signed by President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday.
Letsoalo said law enforcement officers' role in the World Cup had hampered preparations for the implementation of the project.
Communication, training
Problems with communication and educating the public on their rights, duties and obligations had also been identified during a pilot implementation of the legislation in Tshwane and Johannesburg.
Other issues of concern were training people to use the system and effective performance of the system when uploading infringement information.
Aarto was to have been introduced in Ekurhuleni, Ethekwini, Nelson Mandela Bay and the City of Cape Town on July 1. It is already in operation in Tshwane and Johannesburg.
Its postponement will affect the implementation of the demerit system scheduled to be implemented in April next year.
"No one wants to lose their license because of glitches in the system," said Letsoalo.
He denied that the RTMC had bowed to pressure to postpone.
Interdict
The Western Cape had threatened to seek an urgent interdict to stop implementation because of loopholes and unreadiness. Other provinces and municipalities had indicated that they were not ready for implementation.
Describing the cost of the postponement as "loss of life", Letsoalo said he was alarmed that the interdict threat.
There had been discussions where it was agreed that there might be a postponement as the July 1 implementation date was "not doable", he said.
Letsoalo said the postponement should not be seen as a deviation from the government's commitment to promoting road safety.
He said the delay would be about two or three months, and that Aarto would be implemented during this financial year.
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1693
South Africa's economic powerhouse is the third worst city in the world to commute in, a global survey which measures the emotional and economic cost of congestion has found.
The survey - the IBM Commuter Pain Index - found the only cities worse than Johannesburg in this regard are Mexico City and Beijing.
IBM surveyed 8 192 motorists in 20 cities on five continents, the majority of whom say that traffic has gotten worse in the past three years.
Key findings of the study show that 57% of all respondents say that roadway traffic has negatively affected their health.
The Index reveals a tremendous disparity in the pain of the daily commute from city to city.
Developing cities
For example 96% in New Delhi and 95% in Beijing say that roadway traffic has negatively affected their health.
In Sweden the corresponding ratio is much lower, with only 14% of Stockholm drivers surveyed saying that traffic negatively affected their health, work and school performance.
In fact Stockholm had the least painful commute of the cities studied, followed by Melbourne, Houston and New York City.
The extreme congestion in many of today's developing cities is a relatively recent phenomenon, having paralleled the rapid economic growth of those cities during the past decade or two.
By contrast, the traffic in places such as New York, Los Angeles or London developed gradually over many decades, giving officials more time and resources to address the problem.
Zoaib Hoosen, Public Sector Director, IBM Sub-Saharan Africa said: "Traditional solutions such as building more roads will not be enough to overcome the growth of traffic in these rapidly developing cities, so multiple solutions need to be deployed simultaneously to avoid a failure of the transportation networks."
"New techniques are required that empower transportation officials to better understand and proactively manage the flow of traffic," he concluded.
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1692
Ford Motor Company of South Africa has announced plans to produce the new Puma diesel engine are well underway, following a R3billion investment to expand its production facilities and the opening of a new Training Centre.
Most of the recent construction has been centred around the Struandale facility in Port Elizabeth where a new Puma assembly hall was constructed alongside the existing RoCam hall. The existing production and assembly lines for the RoCam engine were also revamped.
Construction of the 1 750m2 Puma facility was completed in the middle of June and more than 100 machines imported for the engine programme are currently being installed in the new facilities.
Puma production is expected to fire up in April 2011 and annual capacity at the engine plant will amount to 220 000 sets – 75 000 for assembly at the Silverton plant outside Pretoria, where a new compact bakkie will be produced from early 2011, while the balance will be exported.
Training
In addition to the changes to the engine plant, a new training centre has also been opened for the benefit of current Puma workers and new staff contracted to the project. Three specialist technicians will provide training in pneumatics, hydraulics, electrical, and engine assembly.
Ford's Struandale plant holds ISO 9001:2008 quality certification, as well as the maximum Level 8 rating from Ford's Powertrain Organisation.
"However, the level of technology and sophistication employed in the advanced new-generation Puma engine, as well as the equipment used to manufacture and assemble it, demands that we take the competence and skills of our employees to an entirely new level,” Wallace Yearwood, plant manager of the Ford Struandale Engine Plant, said.
"In the process, we will develop a highly skilled team that are able to not only maintain our impeccable existing quality standards, but raise them to new heights in order to deliver truly world-class engines and components to our customers around the world," Yearwood concluded.
“The official opening of the new plant and Training Centre proves that the Engine Plant team is more than up to the task, meeting the strict deadlines for the new buildings, and the upgrading of the existing facilities to world-class levels," said Joe Hinrichs, president of Ford Asia Pacific and Africa.
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1691
South African diplomatic staff owe more than £ 600 000 (about R6.8 million) in unpaid traffic congestion charges to the British government, according to a list available on that country's parliamentary website on Tuesday.
In response to questions submitted to the House of Commons, the British Foreign Office revealed that 57 diplomatic missions owed more than £100 000 (about R1.1m) each in traffic congestion charge fines.
South Africa's diplomatic staff alone racked up 6 333 fines for not paying the charge since its introduction in February 2003.
The charge aims to reduce congestion and emissions by encouraging people to use public transport instead of cars in parts of the busy capital.
Motorists or residents pay £8 (about R91) a day in advance to drive through designated areas. A closed circuit television system monitors the number plates of vehicles in those areas and records whether the fee has been paid. Those who have not paid are fined £120.
Paying within 14 days of the fine halves the amount. The charge accumulates according to how long it has gone unpaid and eventually bailiff's fees are added.
The fees and the fines go towards upgrading the city's transport infrastructure.
The British government raised more than £137m (about R1.5bn) for the financial year 2007/8 while at the same time reducing the number of cars on the designated roads by about 70 000 a day.
On the list of countries owing more than £100 000, South Africa came second to Tanzania, which had accumulated 7 203 unpaid congestion charge fines amounting to £753 520.
Zambia had 3 355 fines outstanding, Zimbabwe 3 038, Mauritius 2 370, Namibia 2 362, Swaziland 2 267, Mozambique 2 035, Lesotho 1 927 and Botswana 1 623.
South Africa did not feature on the list of countries owing more than £10 000 (about R114 000) in national non-domestic rates bills (NNDR), the charge for maintaining services such as street cleaning, lighting, maintenance and fire services.
According to the reply by Foreign Secretary William Hague, the majority of diplomatic missions in Britain pay the NNDR requested from them, but at April 1, and after a gentle reminder by letter, the list of missions owing more than £10 000 was topped by Bangladesh which owed £80 612 (about R919 000).
Eight of the 12 countries listed were African, with South Africa's economically-challenged neighbour Zimbabwe owing £93 414 (about R1 064 980).
Unpaid traffic fines
South Africa's diplomatic staff also accumulated 21 unpaid parking fines last year amounting to £2 060 (about R23 485).
Also on the list were the United States, with 26, France with 118, Russia with 162 and Germany with 29. Kazakhstan had failed to pay 1399 fines.
Diplomatic staff enjoy immunity from prosecution in terms of the Vienna Convention and this means they also do not have to pay certain taxes.
However, the British government and the company that runs the congestion charges scheme reject the argument by some diplomatic staff that the charge is a form of tax, preferring to liken it to a highway toll.
Foreign secretary William Hague also listed diplomats who had been apprehended for crimes, but who were immune from prosecution.
In 2005, one person from the South African diplomatic corps was apprehended for theft and robbery of a motor vehicle and driving without insurance.
In 2006, one person from the South African diplomatic corps was apprehended for attempted robbery, one for robbery, and one for driving under the influence of alcohol.
In 2007, one case of domestic assault was recorded. No other criminal incidents were recorded as committed by South African diplomatic staff after that.
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1690
Commercial companies should take the lead on compulsory third party insurance for motorists, the Automobile Association (AA) suggested last Tuesday.
The AA had a long standing public policy stressing the necessity of third party insurance to mitigate damages incurred by vehicle crashes, AA public affairs head Gary Ronald said.
In response to a parliamentary question last week, Transport Minister S'bu Ndebele agreed that third party insurance needed to be looked at in a South African context, especially considering that only about 35% of cars on South African roads were actually insured.
"The hindrance for compulsory third party in South Africa is affordability with regards to insurance plans as we would first need to accumulate a fund to pay out third party claims, a fund which at this stage does not exist," Ronald said.
"There then begs the question of where this fund would originate, from the government or from commercial industry bodies.
"If all motorists were to pay a compulsory fee of say R50 per month, of the 960 000 crashes we have per year, the fund would be bankrupt before we began, hence the need for seed capital to the fund to make third party payouts viable," he said.
The South African Insurance Association was currently doing research into how compulsory third party insurance could be initiated.
"At this stage, the AA would recommend letting the commercial companies take the lead on the issue, possibly looking at capping the claim amount on third party for the initial roll out phases," Ronald said.
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1689
Audi has clearly rejected speculation its name might soon appear above a formula one garage door.
It has been reported for some time that the German carmaker's parent Volkswagen could be interested in entering the sport as an engine supplier.
VW's motor racing boss Kris Nissen said a month ago: "Within the group, for sure, (the branding) could be Audi, it could be Porsche and might also be Volkswagen."
But Audi's sporting boss Wolfgang Ullrich is not interested, according to the German news agency SID.
"We believe formula one and Audi do not fit, so long as the technology has no relevance to the development of our production cars," he said.
Audi prototype sports cars finished first, second and third at the recent Le Mans 24 hour race, and the marque also competes in the premier German touring car series DTM.
"The technologies are closely related to those used by our clients, so they directly benefit from our motor racing. In F1 that is not currently the case," Ullrich insisted.
And despite recent and current efforts to reduce the costs in formula one, top teams still require more than EUR 150 million to be competitive.
But in DTM, the budgets are under about 30m, and "the new regulations for 2012 aim to reduce the budgets by about 50 per cent," he said.
"So, the DTM continues to be the benchmark in cost-versus-benefit," said Ullrich.
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1688
To celebrate the retirement (aka impending death) of the BMW M V10 engine, Nowack Motors has unveiled a specially modified M5.
Dubbed the N635S 5.8 Hans Nowack Edition, the car features two bespoke intake air collectors, which are painted to match the exterior of the car, and a remapped ECU. More importantly, the company replaced all the internal engine components with specially designed high performance parts. This enables the 5.0-liter V10 to produce 528 kW. While no additional performance specifications were given, the "N635S 5.8 Hans Nowack Edition" will likely accelerate from 0-100 km/h faster than you can say its entire name.
Since the HNE is just an engine makeover, all current M5s / M6s can be converted into a N635S 5.8 Hans Nowack Edition. Furthermore, since every engine is brand new after conversion, the company offers a 12 month warranty without a kilometer limitation.
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1687
BMW has unveiled three new carbon fiber accessories for the M3 coupe, sedan, and convertible.
Designed to match the carbon fiber roof on the M3 coupe, the rear deck lid spoiler, mirror caps, and front splitter are constructed of "ultra-rigid" carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP). Each piece has been specially designed to reduce lift, minimize drag, and reflect ultraviolet radiation (to prevent fading).
All the parts come with a 2-year / unlimited mileage warranty, but if they are installed before a customer takes delivery of a new M3, they are covered under a 4-year / 50,000-mile warranty.
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1686
Honda will be sending a facelifted version of the high-volume Honda Accord to the U.S. for the 2011 model year. The revisions will be seen on both the coupe and sedan.
Engine choices are relatively unchanged, though engineers with the Japanese automaker worked to reduce friction in engine parts. Along with revisions to both the car's gear ratios and aerodynamics, the car has an improved fuel economy rating. This translates to a ten-percent reduction in fuel use with the two four-cylinder engines, and a five-percent reduction for the range-leading 3.5-liter 202 kW V6 engine.
Changes to the car's exterior include a new front bumper meant to make the vehicle look more aggressive. This will surely be debated by Honda fans, who may very well be disappointed with the look. The Accord also gets new taillights, as well as new wheels for V6 buyers.
Inside, new features like a rear-view camera, USB input, memory seats, new cloth fabric choices, and paddle shifters can be found. Aside from the facelift, the automaker is also selling a new Special Edition trim for the sedan. The SE includes heated leather seats, leather-covered steering wheel, and lumbar support for the driver.
The 2011 Honda Accord facelift will hit the U.S. market in mid-August. You can read more about the car in the press release below. Pricing has not yet been announced.
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