http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1603
After a hiatus of roughly seven months, Gonow returns to South Africa under new distributors who have a new game in mind.
The manufacturer, which started production in 2003 with a range of light commercial vehicles, now exports fully-built up vehicles from four manufacturing sites within China to 80 countries around the world. It has an annual production capacity of 385 000 units.
Through its new distributor, Vermillion Holdings, the carmaker aims to import and distribute a range of automotive products to South Africa and the rest of the SADC region.
Six new dealers are lined-up – four in the major centres in South Africa, and one apiece in Botswana and Zambia. Vermillion envisions that 16 dealers will eventually represent its four brands in a multi-franchise arrangement.
LCVs first to market
For now, the Gonow range gets top billing. Its facelifted single- and double-cab LCVs will be re-introduced to the market. The LCV range benefits from a new common-rail turbodiesel engine (the 2.2 petrol and 2.8 turbodiesel engines are Isuzu-based), completely new interior trim, a new tail light cluster and “overall body panel and build quality improvement”.
Two specification levels are offered, with Standard being more workhorse-oriented, while the Luxury spec is meant to appeal to the leisure buyer.
New product comes with a three-year/100 000 km warranty provided by the factory. Vermillion will provide technical support for the vehicles, with assistance from the manufacturers and it will provide warranty support for the existing Gonow car park in South Africa.
The range available from July 2010 will include the LCV mentioned above along with an SUV and a minivan. In 2011, the range will be expanded to include new generation pick-up, SUV and minivan models.
Vermillion promises new owners will see the benefit of improved communications between the local company and the Chinese parent company, manifesting in continuous technical support and dealer-level training.
Gonow was first launched in South Africa in July 2007 and the previous importer failed in October 2009, ostensibly due to its inability to buck the economic downturn. Vermillion, which will later include Meiya (formerly imported by McCarthy), Hafei and another as-yet unnamed manufacturer in its profile, believes it has a better chance of surviving where others have failed.
It will need to overcome buyer cynicism based on the previous Gonow (and the collective Chinese) experience, but what the re-introduction of these brands signal is just how important the South African market is considered to Chinese expansionists.
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Ferrari 458 Italia by Oakley Design
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1604
British tuning firm Oakley Design has just released a new package of upgrades for the Ferrari 458 Italia. Limited to a small series of five individually-numbered units, the tuned vehicle sees aerodynamic changes, a few cosmetic changes, and a remapped engine computer.
The ECU may be the most minor of otherwise significant alterations. Power is boosted by ten percent from 419 kW to 461 kW, while torque is bumped up five percent from 540 Nm to 567 Nm.
When combined with the other modifications, the engine computer's upgrade is a robust revision. A larger carbon-fibre air intake box, larger ram air feeds and larger diameter white silicon pipes with Oakley Design logos connecting the air boxes to the intake all contribute to improved throttle response and increased output as described by the ECU upgrade.
Aerodynamics are improved with a front spoiler that "adds 45kg of downforce" to the front end at speeds of 241 km/h. 25kg of downforce is added at the back, and at the same speed, thanks to the added rear spoiler with a Gurney flap. At the same time, airflow is improved with the central radiator vent, radiator exhausts next to the headlights, stylized side sills, and new rear and underbody diffuser.
New 9.0Jx20-inch front, 11.0Jx20-inch rear OZ Racing wheels with Pirelli Trofeo tires have also been installed. Combined with a 65kg weight reduction thanks to the carbon fiber mods, which includes a new roof panel, the car is capable of faster sprints and better top speed.
The Oakley Design Ferrari 458 Italia reaches 100 km/h in 3.0 seconds, a 0.4-second improvement. The car tops out higher than 330 km/h. Those wanting the Oakley Design tuning kit, but not able to get one of the five limited edition models, can purchase parts individually from the firm.
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Mansory Panamera Turbo with 507 kW power pack
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1605
Swiss tuning firm Mansory has released a new upgrade kit for the Porsche Panamera Turbo. The tuned version gets a big 36-percent increase in power and torque.
Now with 507 kW and up to 700 Nm of torque, up from the standard 368 kW, the car sprints from a standstill to 100 km/h in 4.0 seconds, a 0.2 second decrease. In turn, the car's top speed jolts up to 328 km/h from 303 km/h.
The power improvements begin with a remapped engine control unit, but Mansory did not stop there. They also added bigger turbos to the all-wheel drive car, as well as a new sports exhaust.
Other features on the car include LED daytime runners built into the new front fascia, a carbon fiber hood, wider flares, and redesigned side skirts. A new carbon fiber diffuser matches a new lightweight rear spoiler. Also included are 9x22-inch front, 10x22-inch rear forged wheels wrapped in Dunlop SP SportMaxx tires.
Full leather interior, wood or carbon trim, and aluminum pedals are also added, along with a new sports steering wheel. The Mansory Porsche Panamera Turbo is now available for order.
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VW and Proton partnership talks collapse
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1606
Talks between Volkswagen and Malaysian automaker Proton have broken down without the two sides coming to an agreement on a partnership, according to multiple published reports. The decision by Volkswagen to pull out of talks in favor of "other priorities" led to a drop in Proton's stock by over five percent.
This is actually the second time the German automotive conglomerate and Proton held meetings. The two sides first discussed the development of a strategic partnership in October 2004, with talks fizzling-out in January 2006 before totally collapsing by November 2007.
The dive in Proton's shares during Asian stock trading appears to demonstrate investor uncertainty in the company's ability to grow and develop. "Proton's need for a strategic partner to leverage on to enter the global export market is crucial at this juncture before Proton gets further left behind by the competition," firm OSK Research told Forbes.
Proton is still in collaboration with Mitsubishi on certain projects.
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