http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=843
Toyota Motor said Monday it was developing anti-drunk driving equipment that would lock the ignition of a vehicle if high levels of alcohol are detected in the driver.
The system features a hand-held breathalyser, equipped with a digital camera, that detects alcohol consumption and photographs the driver's face for identification, a company statement said.
If the driver tests positive, the system either warns him or her, or locks the vehicle's ignition depending on the level of alcohol detected, Toyota said.
The carmaker is conducting tests with affiliate truck maker Hino Motors, and will install the equipment in selected trucks and other vehicles of fleet customers that include companies and government organisations.
The device will alert fleet administrators if the driver is detected with excessive alcohol levels, Toyota said.
Nissan Motor is currently developing similar equipment. In the United States, certain states earlier this year passed legislation requiring drunk driving offenders to install breathalyser ignition locks in their cars.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ferrari dealership row settled?
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=844
A Cape High Court judgement has left Viglietti as the sole Ferrari dealer in South Africa.
The judgement, handed down by Western Cape High Court Judge Allie J last Wednesday, dismissed Rosso Sport Auto’s application for leave to appeal Viglietti’s termination of Rosso’s retail agreement.
Viglietti is the official importer of Ferrari for South Africa.
The judgement brings respite to a dispute which has been more than a year in the making. It also leaves import, and local distribution and retail authority of Ferrari supercars to Viglietti - and only Viglietti.
Allegations, Machiavellian posturing and judgement
The scope of the disagreement between Rosso Sport and Viglietti became apparent during three court dates this year.
Before the first court date on January 26 this year, Rosso alleged its customer base was being subverted by Viglietti.
The Ferrari importer was allegedly neatly depositing rather chunky Ferrari vehicle deposits (between R50 000 – R100 000 per car) into its business account instead of keeping the fund in a separate customers' trust account.
Rosso Sport, as the sole Ferrari dealer for all of South Africa outside the Western Cape, was desperate to prevent Viglietti from cancelling its distribution agreement and setting up shop in Gauteng, where most Ferraris (obviously) are sold.
The initial judgement on 26 January went in Rosso Sport’s favour, preventing Viglietti from selling Ferraris in Gauteng and the northern territories of South Africa.
Curiously, Viglietti runs one of the world’s few standalone Maserati dealerships in Bryanston, Gauteng, and has been doing a brisk trade since June of 2008.
Court papers highlight why Viglietti was keen to cancel its agreement with Rosso Sport and set-up its own dealership in Gauteng.
The documents detail Rosso owed Viglietti a rather princely sum of R20 million, outstanding money for six cars ordered by 18 December 2008. Some of money was still outstanding by January 21, which subsequently saw Viglietti and Rosso Sport in court by 26 January.
One of the most contentious points of dispute was Rosso’s unhappiness about vacillating invoice prices, which Viglietti blamed on exchange rate volatility – something most Eurozone-sourced import products are afflicted by.
A July 15 court appearance judgement went in favour of Viglietti, when it was found the Ferrari importer’s termination of Rosso Sport Auto’s dealership agreement to retail Ferraris was valid.
Rosso Sport filed a motion for leave to appeal the July 15 judgement, which was refused last Wednesday.
Gauteng customers catered for
The current state of affairs leaves Viglietti as the sole Ferrari dealer in the country, which probably won’t surprise supporters of the fabled Italian brand, as the Viglietti brothers have been retailing and serving Italian exotics for nearly 35 years.
As things stand, 78 Roeland Street, Cape Town, is very much the home of Ferrari South Africa in all respects.
Loyal Gauteng region customers can expect to have their supercars serviced at Viglietti’s Maserati dealership in Bryanston until a new Ferrari facility, also to be located in Bryanston, is opened. This project is rapidly nearing completion.
Finally, then, peace of mind for Ferrari customers? Hopefully.
Ferrari buyers and owners don't want hassles about who is selling their cars to them. Especially in a high risk market, like South Africa, where altitude, heat, deteriorating road conditions and lucky-packet fuel quality are enough of a headache for supercar owners already.
They just want superlative levels of service.
In fact, the only thing a Ferrari customer should be worried about is whether to turn the Manettino dial to the naughty side when approaching traffic circles on the way home from work or not.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Opel Astra I styling kit by Irmscher
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=845
Irmscher, the semi-official in-house tuner specialising in Opel products will present a new styling kit for the new-generation Astra at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show. The advantage that Irmscher has over others is that its components are much more closely integrated with the final product. The same goes for this outfit.
The exterior features a new front spoiler lip, a radiator grille panel with design rail in stainless steel or carbon look, seamlessly merged side skirts and an agile-looking rear roof spoiler. To improve handling and simultaneously enhance looks Irmscher fitted an air diffuser and lowered the suspension by 30mm. Twin elliptical tailpipes provide an extra satisfactory beat to the sound. New "Turbo Star" 18-inch wheels with 225/45x18 tyres were used but bigger 20s will be available not long after the car's launch.
Inside Irmscher used custom leather for the seats, the door panels and the central armrests. Aluminium is utilised for the door-locking pins and the pedals while the sills are made from stainless steel.
This kit was announced in May and will be sold in Germany from the 17th of September.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment