http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1240
Vehicle manufacturers and dealers may feel relieved at the signs of improvement in new motor-vehicle sales, but in the parts supply chain the hard times are far from over.
Last year 11 companies in the sector closed their doors. There are now 20 000 fewer workers than a year ago and more losses are expected, says Stewart Jennings, president of the National Association of Automotive Component & Allied Manufacturers.
These manufacturers were the worst hit of the whole South African manufacturing sector, he says.
Not a single company in the sector is currently making money.
Higher material costs have long been cited as the biggest challenge for South Africa's component manufacturers, because these comprise - depending on the exchange rate - between 75% and 85% of the total cost of the vehicle.
India and China are 20% to 40% more competitive in terms of price when it comes to materials. For Europe this is 10% to 20%, contingent upon the exchange rate, says Bill Stephens, general manager of communications for Volkswagen South Africa.
Evan Dold, vice-president of global sales and the supply chain at General Motors South Africa, says that when prices of material sourced locally are compared with the lowest prices at which it can be obtained elsewhere in the world, South African suppliers have a 30% to 40% competitive disadvantage on a particular basket of spares.
According to Jennings, the short-term solution lies in a competitive exchange rate.
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Pools lead to potholes according to JRA
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1241
Swimming pool backwashing is one of the causes of potholes on suburban roads, the Johannesburg Road Agency (JRA) said on Monday.
Vandalism and "ageing infrastructure" were other challenges in the face of "diminishing budgets", the JRA said.
"These actions impact negatively on our plans, since we then have to divert budgets meant for new services into addressing the challenges caused by vandalism and theft," it said.
The flooding of roads and dangerous, unclosed manhole covers were being caused by people misusing infrastructure.
Storage space
"Our manholes are used as storage space by homeless people and hawkers during the day, leading to manholes being left open and becoming a danger to the general public.
"The dumping of building rubble and household waste in the storm water drains and on the river banks... leads to clogging of the drainage system, resulting in flooding during heavy storms," JRA said.
Theft was also an issue, with cables, manhole covers and even the globes of traffic lights being stolen.
Another problem was the digging up of roads to create speed bumps in areas where communities felt drivers were going too fast.
JRA said it was prosecuting people who had dug up roads in Soweto.
Safety
It asked the public to help by refraining from causing damage with swimming pools and litter, and to report to the JRA people who abused infrastructure.
"[The] JRA will not tolerate any criminal act on our assets as these undermine the safety of the road users.
"We appeal to communities to support us in the fight against criminal activities on our assets, by reporting all such acts."
JRA said it was launching a project called Letsema to help it tackle deteriorating roads.
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All New 2010 Nissan Patrol Revealed
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Using the same platform as the 2011 Infiniti QX56, the four-wheel-drive SUV is expected to sell 20,000 units annually in its fifth decade of sales in the Middle East.
Renault/Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn unveiled the car on stage at the Emirates Palace Hotel. Referencing the car's history, he said, "We know the demands of this market, and we know of its climate."
It is for this reason that the company is trying to position the off-road capable SUV as a "Hero of All Terrain." It uses a 294 kW 5.6-liter V8 direct-injection petrol engine producing up to 560 Nm of torque. The engine is mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission.
"We are sensitive to the loyalty of Patrol owners, so our engineers have been thorough in crafting this new model," Ghosn said. Still, that did not change designers from changing certain aspects. They changed the front grille while softening the exterior look.
Inside, they tried to give passengers more space and comfort. Leather, aluminum, and wood grain are featured in the interior. Wider seats at front, with more legroom for second- and third-row passengers rounds out the package.
The 2010 Nissan Patrol should be available soon. It will also be sold as the Nissan Safari in some markets.
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Audi RS 6 Sport and RS 6 Exclusive Limited Edition
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1243
Audi has unveiled the limited edition RS 6 Sport and the RS 6 Exclusive.
The Sport edition has extended leather upholstery (instrument-panel and center console) and RS 6 floor mats. If you want additional equipment, you can order the exclusive package. It features "seat upholstery, controls, door trim inserts, (a) front center armrest, and door armrests" in unique leather. Buyers can also specify a custom paint job from the extensive quattro GmbH color palette.
Both packages come with carbon fiber engine dressing, a special sports suspension, an individually numbered badge, and 20-inch wheels.
Like the standard RS 6, power comes from a twin-turbo V10 with 426 kW and 650 Nm of torque. 0 to 100 km/h takes 4.5 seconds and the top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h.
Production will be limited to 500 units.
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Toyota rules out electronics as problem for recall
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According to the Japanese automaker, the sticking accelerator problem for which it has had to recall several models globally is not due to any electrical faults.
In a report by the Wall Street Journal, Toyota commissioned California engineering firm Exponent to study the problem. The Journal obtained a copy of the study conducted by Exponent which found that no electronics issues were related to the problem.
The Wall Street Journal quotes from the report:
"Exponent has so far been unable to induce, through electrical disturbances to the system, either unintended acceleration or behavior that might be a precursor to such an event, despite concerted efforts toward this goal."
Toyota commissioned the independent study in order to counter claims that it wasn't doing enough to fix the problem of unintended acceleration and that the defect was linked to its electronics. Toyota has issued a recall to fix floor mats and gas pedals which may cause the throttle to get stuck.
"We have no indication that the electronic throttle is an issue. We are not the only ones with electronic throttles," said Don Esmond, senior vice president of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. at a dealer's even in Florida.
Toyota has had to recall about 8.5 million cars worldwide due to the defective gas pedals.
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Toyota Previews 2010 RAV4 Facelift and Auris HSD
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Toyota plans to unveil a production version of the Toyota Auris HSD at the Geneva Motor Show. The new four-door is a follow-up to the concept model shown off at the Frankfurt Show last September.
Look for HSD, or Hybrid Synergy Drive, to potentially become a new sub-brand for Toyota. The Auris represents the first step in the automaker's plan to offer a hybrid version of each of their models "by the early 2020s," according to a press release.
The Auris HSD will be built in Burnaston, England. The car will go on sale in Europe by summer.
Appearing next to the hybrid is a new facelifted version of the Toyota RAV4. The SUV has a new hood with more aggressive styling as part of a less-bulky front. Headlights look less conventional, and foglights are now integrated into the new bumper. The new chrome grille is a nice touch. Toyota did not provide photos of the 2010 RAV4's interior, but the company says it is "more refined."
At Geneva, Toyota will also unveil the Prius Plug-in for the first time in Europe. Hopefully, the car's brakes will be in good shape. The show will also feature Euro debuts of the FT-EV concept, and the FT-86 concept.
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Honda Civic Type R MUGEN 200 Limited Edition
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1246
The car takes its inspiration from Honda specialty tuner MUGEN Euro's Type R. The series will be limited to only 200 units.
The Civic Type R Mugen 200 comes with Honda's i-VTEC engine with 148 kW and will feature MUGEN tuning parts such as front and rear bumpers and skirts, 19-inch alloy wheels, a limited slip differential, a MUGEN badge (at the back) and plaque with the edition number. The car comes dressed in Championship White contrasted with the gloss-black side mirrors.
The car will be a mostly domestic creation, with MUGEN being based in Northampton and the car being built at Honda's Swindon plant.
The Honda Civic Type R Mugen 200 goes on sale in April in the UK. Additional MUGEN tuning parts will also be available at specified UK Honda dealers.
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Avus Tuning Package for BMW M3 E92
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German tuners Avus Performance have released a new package of modifications for the BMW M3 coupe. The firm's engineers attacked the goal of making an "even sportier" version of the sports car.
Working from their complex east of Berlin in Strausberg, engineers attempted to optimize the suspension and exhaust. They created a new front lip spoiler, rear deck lid spoiler, and rear diffuser from carbon fiber, before using the material on parts of the interior.
The show car rides on matte gunmetal wheels measuring 9x20 in the front and 10.5x20 in back. However, customers are not limited to this alone. The ADV.1 wheels may be purchased "in any size and [several] colors."
Avus Performance's kit should be available soon.
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German tuning boss missing in Johannesburg
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1248
One of the world’s foremost aftermarket speed merchants, Uwe Gemballa, has gone missing in Johannesburg.
Gemballa, who’s Leonsburg-based tuning company is globally renowned for its outlandish (and record breaking) supercar conversions, has not been reachable since his arrival in South Africa last week.
Under the radar or missing?
Since leaving his native Germany last Monday on a business trip to Johannesburg, the 51-year old tuning legend has gone missing.
As a man usually in perpetual contact with his various customers on a day-to-day basis with regards to their respective custom cars, his sudden silence has been particularly vexing.
Curiously, Gemballa does not have a well known presence in the local market. One can only surmise Uwe was hoping to initiate contact with local distributors for his range of supercar go-faster kits.
German authorities are in contact with local police in an effort to locate Uwe and establish his safety. Due to the serious nature of the case, authorities are not divulging any of his original local travel plans.
Petrolheads the world over hope Gemballa is on a wildlife spotting jaunt of epic proportions, where mobile phone signal strength is negligible in some rural parts of South Africa. The converse would simply be unconscionable.
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