“Covid-19 has necessitated our brand to find new and innovative ways to communicate with our customers as well as launch our exciting range of products,” said Martina Biene, Head of the Volkswagen Brand.

New member to the family

“We are very excited to debut the T-Roc in South Africa through a digital event which will be a first for the South African automotive industry, Biene added.

READ | Volkswagen goes black with a special edition T-Roc

The T-Roc will complete VW’s T-SUV range locally which currently consists of the T-Cross, Tiguan, Tiguan Allspace and the Touareg. It slots between the T-Cross and the Tiguan in Volkswagen’s SUV range.

At its South African debut, the German brand will announce the T-Roc model line-up that will be available in the local market, Namibia and Botswana. Detailed specifications and retail pricing of the new SUV will also be announced.

Volkswagen South Africa’s social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter), will provide media and customers with detailed information of the digital premiere of the model closer to the date of the event.

It will officially be launched in South Africa, Namibia and Botswana from November 2020.

The Suzuki Ignis was introduced exactly three years after it was first launched to wide acclaim, notching up nominations as a 2018 SA Car of the Year finalist, the Drive360 Car of the Year and international awards such as the 2018 Urban World Car of the Year Runner-Up and Scottish Compact Car of the Year.

Design language

It features a refreshed look, which brings it in line with Suzuki’s iconic SUV design language, also seen on models such as the S-Presso, Vitara and Jimny.

READ | Thank you Suzuki for turbocharging the Swift Sport

The S-emblem on the front grille is now flanked by four chromed square slots. It fills the space between the front lights to create a bright bar from edge to edge between the front fenders, especially on the GLX-model, where the surrounding grille face also has chrome accents.

As before, the GLX-models feature wrap-around daytime running lights with projector style LED headlamps. GLX models also have added roof rails and flared wheel arch extensions to help it stand out, especially since the Ignis has a standard ground clearance of 180mm.

It also incorporates fog lights.

All models have colour-coded side mirrors, while the GLX specification level also includes integrated turn signals and the ability to electrically fold back.

Big on the inside

All models offer a 60:40 split rear seats, 260-litres of boot space and ample interior space for five occupants. It also offers luxuries, such as an audio system with USB and Bluetooth connectivity, steering controls, electric windows and central locking and a multi-information display across the range.

All models further offer safety features such as dual airbags, ABS brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and ISOFIX child anchor points. Security is taken care of by a standard alarm and immobiliser combination.

Those who do decide to upgrade to the higher GLX specification level will find an extended list of additional features, including a touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto built in. The large touch screen doubles as a reverse camera monitor, while the reverse camera is supplemented by rear parking sensors.

The Ignis will further offer customers large car luxuries such as keyless entry with a Push-button start, climate control, chrome or silver highlights on the parking brake, door handles and shift knob.

Not your average

As before, all versions of the Ignis are fitted with the brand’s popular K12M 1.2 litre petrol engine with variable valve timing and multi-point fuel injection.

This engine delivers 61kW at 6 000rpm and 113Nm at 4 200rpm, which, combined with a kerb weight as low as 860kg, means that the Ignis is no slouch in city driving or on the highway.

The engine is mated to a five-speed manual gearbox, with the option of Suzuki’s newest generation automated manual transmission on the GLX model.

New colour combinations available

Suzuki has added a number of new colours and colour combinations.

Customers have the choice of silver or blue cabin accents, depending on the exterior colour, and the option of new two-tone colour combinations.

The colour palette has increased to include: Arctic White Pearl Metallic, Silky Silver Metallic, Glistening Grey Metallic, Turquoise Blue Pearl Metallic and Midnight Black with Pearl Finish.

Two-tone combinations now include Stargaze Blue Pearl Metallic with Black combination, and Lucent Orange with Black Metallic.

The Ignis is available immediately and will be offered with a 2-year / 30 000 km service plan and Suzuki’s promotional 5-year / 200 000 km mechanical warranty, which includes roadside assistance.

While there are have been occasions where officials abuse their power, the majority are simply doing their job to reduce the strain that a massive amount of infections will place on the country.

Avoid conflict

“If you need to go grocery shopping, go to the shop that is closest to you and minimise your time on the road. If you do you encounter a roadblock on one of these errands, simply explain what you’re doing and don’t immediately become confrontational,” says Eugene Herbert, managing director of MasterDrive.

READ | Sharing the road with emergency vehicles during the lockdown
 
“If you are travelling to work, make sure your employer has provided you with a Form Two permit and keep it in your car at all times. Do not abuse the permits to do things that you shouldn’t either.

“Additionally, make sure you follow other rules set out for travel: limit car occupants to two, wear a face mask if you didn’t isolate with your passengers or if an officer approaches your car,” he adds.

Unfortunately, social media abounds with videos of people who appeared to be mistreated by officials.  “In some instances, it could be true but in other instances the video shows one side of the confrontation. Ultimately, the majority of officials are upstanding and law-abiding and should you not give them reason to mistreat, you will not be mistreated in the majority of instances.

“If, however, you are immediately confrontational or annoyed with the restrictions, the chance of it ending badly are higher. Just like any other person, these officials are simply doing their job. If you provide information and the documents quickly and efficiently, the interaction will be over quickly. Certain responses will inevitably elicit certain reactions.”

If you remain suspicious of authorities, there are certain things you can do to safeguard yourself without conflict. “You are within your right to request identification from the officer at the start. You are also within your right to film the interaction, however, this could change the atmosphere between yourselves. Rather consider having your camera ready in case things go bad but avoid greeting an official with a camera in their face. 

“If you feel threatened or discriminated against at a roadblock, you can call 10111. Do not lose your temper and remain calm at all times. Remain compliant with the officer, even if you feel you are being treated unfairly. You can lodge a complaint with the IPID at a later stage. If you become aggressive, an officer could arrest you. If you can avoid this altogether and raise the issue later through formal channels, the whole incident will be much less stressful and even traumatic.”
 
Remember, this is a stressful time for South Africans. 

“While you can’t control what a police officer does, you can control your reaction. Remain calm and don’t incite the situation especially if it is already volatile,” says Herbert. 

World first ClearSight Ground View – the realisation of Land Rover’s transparent bonnet concept previewed on the Discovery Vision concept six years ago, makes this fantasy a reality.

‘See through’ the bonnet

Available now on the new Land Rover Discovery Sport and Range Rover Evoque, ClearSight Ground View displays a camera view of the front underside of the vehicle onto the large central touchscreen – in normal circumstances this area would be invisible to the driver, but Ground View allows drivers to virtually ‘see through’ the bonnet.

READ | New technology in Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles is there to clear the air

Cameras in the front grille and on the door mirrors project a feed onto the central touchscreen to show what is ahead of and underneath the front of the vehicle with a virtual 180° view.

Helping the driver maintain visibility when negotiating extreme terrains as well as high city-centre kerbs, this is yet another technological evolution that makes the new Discovery Sport and Evoque ideal for traversing the urban jungle, the actual jungle and everything in between.

It is offered in conjunction with the optional 360° Surround Camera and makes driving the Discovery Sport or Evoque on or off-road even more satisfying.

The system uses four digital cameras around the vehicle to provide a bird’s eye view of the exterior, almost as if a drone was hovering a few metres above.

A clearer view

It also has the capacity to display multiple views of the exterior at the same time to help get in and out of tight parking spaces and make negotiating tricky situations much easier.

Land Rover’s ClearSight technology also extends to the interior rear view mirror in new Discovery Sports and Evoques. The new smart rear-view mirror transforms into an HD video screen at the touch of a button.

Featuring an additional camera placed in the antenna roof pod at the rear of the vehicle, a video feed is displayed on an embedded digital display in the mirror, providing a much wider 50° and therefore improved field of view.

Designed with a protective lip to prevent mud and water soiling the lens, there is also a hydrophobic coating that repels water spray. In the unlikely occurrence that the camera is ever obscured, drivers can change back to a traditional rear view mirror at the flick of a switch under the mirror unit.

By displaying a rear-facing camera feed onto the mirror, the driver’s view remains unrestricted by passengers or large items in the back, while also delivering clearer visibility in low light conditions.

The ClearSight interior rear view mirror is included as standard equipment on HSE variants of both vehicles and on the First Edition version of the Evoque, and is available as an option on all other models. 

These latest visibility-enhancing features ensure the new Land Rover Discovery Sport, Range Rover Evoque and soon-to-be-introduced New Defender meet the digital demands of the entire family, delivering greater convenience, confidence and safety.

To a degree, drivers should accept that often these bike riders take dangerous risks.

Defensive driving principles

“Additionally, the opportunity to make up for lost income also places pressure on the riders. While it can be frustrating, don’t become annoyed with them but exercise patience and defensive driving to ensure that both the riders and yourself stay safe on the roads,” says Eugene Herbert, managing director of MasterDrive, Eugene Herbert.

“A month without takeaway food and a lack of little else to do is creating increased demand.

“Avoid the South African tendency to treat anything smaller than a car with less respect than other road users. Give riders the same following distance that you would other vehicles, even more if they are riding recklessly, respect their right of way and be courteous,” he adds.

“You should already be double-checking before crossing an intersection but as more riders race around be aware of riders treating a right hand turn as a slipway rather than a stop. Another tendency of these riders is to quickly cross a lane or an intersection when it may not necessarily be safe. Assume a delivery bike rider will cross your lane and automatically slow down. 

“If you see a delivery rider weaving in and out of traffic rather give them some extra room. Extra following distance gives you time to suddenly stop or react appropriately. 

“If one is riding too closely behind you, rather switch lanes if possible. At dusk, it might be particularly difficult to see these riders so be on the lookout on popular routes such as in suburbs. Do not speed and even keep an ear open for the sound of their bikes,” Herbrt adds.
 
As the process of returning to work and a new way of life starts, be mindful of the pressure everyone faces.

However, there are ways to prevent its value from decreasing more than absolutely necessary. There are a number of key factors that affect the resale value of cars with the aim of helping you get the best value when the time comes to sell or trade yours in.

Retail price

This is the recommended sale price, not inclusive of the extras on the vehicle nor the consumer demand. Dealerships incur costs of running businesses such as marketing, insurance, vehicle reconditioning and repairs, facility overheads and staff remuneration.

READ | Even at one-year old, the Renault Kwid remains a good proposition

Naturally, a dealer needs to factor some profit into vehicle prices, so retail values are normally at the higher end of the scale. This is the price you can expect to pay when acquiring a new vehicle.

Any additional aftermarket extras can void the warranty of the vehicle. Therefore, it is advisable to rather purchase additional accessories directly from the dealer to avoid this.

Trade/market price

Is always lower than the retail value, it’s the recommend trade price for a vehicle in good condition – these values may also vary in line with vehicle demands. This is the value that should be considered when trading in or selling your vehicle.

Depreciation

The reduction in the value of an asset over time, due to factors such as mileage and wear and tear.

Doing some homework ahead of committing to a purchase can pay off down the line when it’s time to sell a car. Consider the historic market demand of a vehicle, for example, is the two-door or four-door model more popular? Is automatic preferred to manual? Diesel or petrol?

Used car websites can be extremely valuable for researching which vehicles are the most popular and which have held their value more over time.

Consider exterior color and interior trim options. Where luminous orange and acid green may be desirable on a supercar, it may not be on a budget hatchback. Likewise, beige cloth seats might pose a problem when it’s time to sell later on, whereas black leather might be more appealing. Keep in mind that generally neutral colours sell better.

Variables such as mileage and car condition will also affect resale value. It can be tempting to consider a bargain deal on a particular vehicle because it has high mileage, however this could prove a costly error down the line as the vehicle will likely require ongoing maintenance, especially if you drive it often, and it may be worth far less when you want to resell it one day. It is also important to ensure the vehicle is serviced as per the manufacturer’s stipulated service intervals. The franchised dealer must have the necessary training to best keep the car in running order.

One of the first things a dealer looks at when assessing the trade in value of a vehicle is the odometer reading, and if it’s very high you can expect relatively low offers.

Another element that a dealer looks at, is whether the vehicle had regular maintenance with consistent service trips. This will reassure the dealer that the vehicle has been taken care of and that there is less likely a risk of finding anything wrong with the inner workings of the vehicle.

Keeping your car clean and in tip-top shape is probably the best way of ensuring it retains value over the years. That small scratch might not be a big deal now, but accumulating many small scratches will detract from a car’s appeal when it’s time to sell. Do your best to keep the appearance and mechanical condition of your car as clean and neat as possible during your ownership cycle.

Lastly, try to resist overdoing it with aftermarket accessories. Part of the joy of owning a car is making it your own, often with personal style additions. However, this can have an extremely negative impact on its resale value, especially when some custom add-ons are permanent.

You may see your oversized rims, outrageous body kit and banging stereo system as improvements, but it’s almost guaranteed that the next owner or more importantly, the dealer where you ultimately trade in, may not.

Owning and driving a car should be a fun and rewarding experience. By being aware of the factors above, and maintaining the condition of your car, the rewarding experience can last right up until the day you sell or trade your vehicle in.

Squadra Corse, which was established in 2012 by Team Principal Mpho Elijah Gumbi, has a vision of achieving success within motorsport by growing the sport to include, but not limited to, young black drivers.

Facilitating the progress

The partnership between Volkswagen Motorsport and Squadra Corse will see Volkswagen Motorsport making two of its Polo GTI racing cars available to the racing team to facilitate the progress of their drivers from karting to national circuit racing and in particular in the very competitive Oettinger Polo Cup.

READ | VW convert its PE Plant into temporary Covid-19 medical facility

In addition, Volkswagen Motorsport will provide Squadra Corse with funding which will help to keep the team sustainable.

The Squadra Corse model starts off drivers in the karting circuit. The organisation has children as young as five years competing in the karting division and the age groups go up to 18 years of age.

Squadra Corse also has drivers competing in the main circuit in the Super Hatch as well as in the national Oettinger Polo Cup with driver’s Nathi Msimanga (16) and Reaobaka Komane (18) who are challenging the championship in the Volkswagen Polo GTI’s.

“Volkswagen Motorsport, through its Motorsport Academy will nurture the young drivers to become competent and successful racing drivers. They will also receive coaching, not only on driving, but on media relations, nutrition as well as fitness,” says Mike Rowe, Head of Volkswagen Motorsport.

Under level 4 lockdown, however, there are strict rules governing how this can be done.

Strict rules still apply

Eugene Herbert, the managing director of MasterDrive, says the main regulation is the reduction of the number of people in a car to three.

READ | Toyota SA helps the taxi industry fight COVID-19

“Other legal requirements include wearing masks and leaving after 5am due to curfew. Another important regulation is to have a permit that allows you to travel to work.

“Yet, even with these restrictions in place, travelling in a vehicle with people that you have not been in lockdown with, still exposes you to a higher risk of contracting the virus. Consequently, each person should follow additional procedures to further reduce this risk,” Herbert adds.

Here are a few tips:

• If you are able to, travel to work by yourself rather than carpool. The considerable decrease in the petrol price will also assist with this.
• If this is impossible, agree between yourselves to sanitise the car daily.
• Require passengers to complete a risk questionnaire daily. If any person starts to show symptoms or displays high risk, arrange for them to see a doctor.
• If there are only two people in the car, the passenger should sit in the back not the passenger seat.
• Keep sanitiser in the car for the driver and passengers.
• Request all passengers to put their belongings in the boot.
• Ensure proper ventilation in the vehicle by keeping the windows open.

For ride-share drivers

• Uber or similar rideshare drivers must sanitise the car after each client. 
• If you transport a client that does not declare their risk or does not follow the recommended guidelines, you are within your rights to refuse service.
• These drivers should monitor their own health as well and if you display symptoms, see a doctor before resuming work.
• Place signage in your vehicles requesting passengers to follow the correct hygiene etiquette.

While not travelling with other people is often impossible, ensuring you take every possible precaution to mitigate the risk is not.

“Protect yourself, your family and your colleagues by following the basic rules and recommendations,” Herbert concludes.

The design used for this prototype is taken from the Maserati Eldorado, the iconic single-seater driven on its debut in Monza in 1958 by Stirling Moss himself, at the ‘Trofeo dei due Mondi’.

The champion’s collection

It is very fitting that the Trident Brand has chosen the date of 13 May to recall the great British driver, since there is no doubt that his victory in the Monaco F1 Grand Prix on 13 May 1956, at the wheel of the Maserati 250F, stands out amongst the many trophies in the champion’s collection.

Moss led the race from the first to the last of the 100 laps around the demanding Monaco circuit. Maserati’s day of triumph was completed by taking third place as well.

Moss, who recorded 16 victories in 66 starts in Formula 1 Grand Prix racing, is one of the most successful drivers never to have won the world title. He came within a whisker of the crown on more than one occasion, finishing in second place on four occasions, and third in three championships.

‘King without a crown’

For this reason, he was known as the ‘king without a crown’. In the 1956 season and some 1957 races, Moss drove a Maserati 250F, beaten only by Juan Manuel Fangio. Moss’s Argentinian rival took his 1957 title at the wheel of another 250F, confirming the reliability and superiority of the Modena-built car.

Through this MC20 prototype with Stirling Moss’s ‘signature’, Maserati wishes to commemorate one of the greatest names in the annals of world motorsports, who wrote some of the finest pages in its own racing history. The list of Maserati cars driven by the British driver also includes the Tipo 60 Birdcage, Tipo 61 and 300 S.

The choice of a prototype of the MC20 to dedicate to Sir Stirling is no coincidence. Through this model, the Trident Brand aims to underline its sporting vocation, and above all return to a leading role on the racing circuits, after the latest world championship won in 2010 with another extraordinary car, the MC12.

The arrival of the MC20 is an important event for the Modena-based company, not only because of the racing comeback, but also because it will be the first car to adopt a new engine 100% designed, developed and produced by Maserati itself.

Designed to improve air quality, the feature reduces allergens, airborne bacteria and associated odours. The system electrically charges air particles, ionises them and in turn removes pollutants and other harmful particles. By functioning with the climate control system, the vehicle can constantly purify the air, making for a healthier and more enjoyable drive.

An intricate system

The system uses a condenser inside the vehicle to collect moisture from the air.

READ | Jaguar Land Rover’s software-over-the-air now available as standard

These water molecules are then electrically charged, or ionised, to trap contaminants like allergens and bacteria when dispersed through the climate control system.

The benefit of using a moisture based-system means the contaminants are better secured, making them less likely to escape the filter media. Without ionisation these particles would flow freely throughout the cabin, even through the cabin pre-filters which are fitted to most modern vehicles today.

Clearing the air

Jaguar Land Rover is also taking the technology a step further with the planned introduction of a new Cabin Air Ionisation with PM2.5 filter system.

This feature is an upgrade of the previous version with an even stronger filtration system to help prevent particulate matter less than 2.5mm in size from entering the cabin.

An Air Quality Sensor, which is already a feature in existing systems, continuously scans the external air entering the vehicle to assess its relative quality, and, if it detects harmful pollutants it will automatically engage the climate control system’s recirculation setting.

In areas of extremely poor air quality the system may engage recirculation for a sustained amount of time resulting in a build up of CO2 inside the cabin which could potentially affect driver alertness. A CO2 Management feature will then selectively reopen the recirculation door to let fresh air in and return balance to the cabin air environment. 

Another handy feature is an Air Purge which activates the fans and recirculation function of the climate control system remotely in order to “freshen” the cabin’s air prior to entry. This function can be controlled in two ways – timed or remote. Drivers can either set a Timed Departure within the vehicle’s infotainment system before exiting the vehicle after a journey, or use their Remote InControl app to engage Air Purge from their smartphones ahead of entry to their vehicle.

Cabin Air Ionisation with PM2.5 will be introduced in some Jaguar Land Rover models in South Africa by the end of 2020 and will be available in all vehicles by the beginning of 2021.