VIVACIOUS VAUXHALL VXR8 LAUNCHED IN UK

Vauxhall, the UK’s Opel brand, is up to its old tricks again. The company has introduced an almighty VXR8 model at an entry price of £49 500 (R534 000) including VAT. It is available through only six dealerships in the UK, making it very exclusive. As if the price alone wasn’t enough to convince us of that.




The VXR8 is rear-wheel-driven and uses a 6.2-litre V8 engine for its power. Power, in case you were interested, is a massive 317kW and torque peak is 550Nm. Vauxhall says it will sprint from 0 – 100km/h in about 5 seconds and top off at 250km/h.

SAFE AUDI A1 COULD COST AN ARM AND A LEG

Audi’s A1 is set to be launched in South Africa at the end of January 2011. The small, short premium hatch is Audi’s answer to cars like the Alfa Romeo Mito and the Citroen DS3. Good news for those who’ve already put their names down is that it has received a five-star rating at the Euro NCAP safety tests, which means it is one of the safest cars not only in its class, but in the world in general.




Possible bad news is that prices will not be low. In Europe these cars start at around €15 800 which is about R145 000 in direct currency exchange rate. With additions such as government taxes and import duties we will probably see an entry-level A1 1.2 TSI coming in at at least R190 000.

OLD BMW DESIGN HORSE RETURNS TO STABLE

Karim Habib will take on the post of Head of Exterior Design BMW Automobiles, replacing Anders Warming. The 40-year-old designer already spent the first 10 years of his career working for the BMW Group, during which time he was responsible for the current BMW 7 Series range and the BMW Concept CS. Habib now returns to the Group following an absence of two years.


On completing his studies in California, Karim Habib held various posts in interior and exterior design before being appointed Team Leader, Advanced Design for the BMW Group. Following two intervening career years, he now returns to head the Exterior Design BMW Automobiles department.

“I’m really delighted about coming back to the BMW brand and being given the opportunity to help shape the future of BMW as part of an outstanding team,” says Habib.

“Karim Habib is an excellent designer who has already made a major contribution to the BMW design with the current BMW 7 Series. I look forward to resuming our collaboration,” comments Adrian van Hooydonk, Director of BMW Group Design.



STORY BY BMW

TOYOTA THE RAIN MAKER

What started as a recent informal discussion between staff of Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) and service suppliers escalated in a matter of days to a massive water collection effort for the drought stricken Beaufort West area.

This initiative was completed today (14 December 2010) when a Hino 700 truck, loaded with the first load of 30 000 litres of water, arrived in Beaufort West. The water is transported in 5 litre bottles and strapped onto pallets for easy delivery.


“We were all touched by the images and news of the extreme drought that is affecting our fellow South Africans in Beaufort West and we soon decided that we would do something,” says Jenny Maré, General Manager: Corporate Affairs at TSAM.

According to Maré a further load of 8 000 litres would be delivered by Hino trucks on their regular distribution runs to various Toyota dealerships in the area. TSAM was supported by donations from Volition and Barloworld Logistics, two service suppliers to the company.

“We are fortunate that we have the widest representation in the country and our parts delivery team travels through the area every day. We will load the remaining water bottles, including extra water donated by our suppliers and staff on these delivery vehicles and it should reach Beaufort West before the end of the week,” says Maré.

The large Hino 700 left Johannesburg at 16h00 on Monday 13 December and arrived in Beaufort West before 10h00 on Tuesday 14 December.

The distribution of water will be supported by the staff at Toyota’s Beaufort West dealership, who have engaged with local authorities to expedite the delivery of the first load of water.

“At our dealership we stopped washing our vehicles more than a year ago to preserve water. This is in line with Toyota’s environmental policy. We are extremely thankful for the water delivered to our beautiful town and believe that this will help many households amidst this crippling drought,” says Arno Greyling, dealer principal at Beaufort West Toyota.

Although the ad hoc donation of 38 000 litres of water is TSAM’s response to a unique situation, it represents the heart of the company and its efforts to support the communities which has supported it over the past five decades.

In the weekend before the launching of Toyota’s water donation drive, TSAM’s employees loaded several Toyota vehicles with 200 gifts donated by staff for delivery to previously disadvantaged children.
The institutions that benefitted from this employee programme, called the Toyota Toy Story, are Acres of Love, Msawawa, Thuthuzela and Mantsedi. These institutions care for, amongst others, children with special needs, Aids orphans and abused and neglected children.

“We are very open to the needs of the community in general. Apart from the various development, schooling and upliftment projects we often support urgent needs. As an example we recently donated the use of two Hilux 4x4 bakkies to the Pilanesberg Nature Reserve to support their fight against rhino poaching,” says Maré.



STORY BY TOYOTA

MONSTER MINI RALLY CAR UNVEILED

The Monster Energy X-raid Team unveiled the exciting new MINI All4 Racing at its rollout in Trebur, near Frankfurt.

X-raid’s MINI All4 Racing will take part in the 33rd Personal Dakar Argentina-Chile from January 1st-16th, 2011. The new car has a power output of 235kW and 700Nm of torque and has impressed team driver Guerlain Chicherit from the outset.


"The first short test drive was exciting for me and the team and also quite promising,” enthused Chicherit. “I'm really looking forward to the test in France next week now. With the powerful engine and unique handling characteristics of the MINI All4 Racing, we have a good chance in the 2011 Dakar."

X-raid team director Sven Quandt is also delighted after the rollout of the new model: "Our team has succeeded, despite the very short development time. We have a vehicle off the ground, which will be competitive.

“The MINI All4 Racing offers exceptional handling, greater ease of service and, thanks to our cooperation with BMW Motoren GmbH on the engine side; we have increased engine performance and efficiency.”

After the somewhat unusual unveiling in snowy conditions, the MINI All4 Racing will undergo extensive testing in France on December 13th-14th. Chicherit and French co-driver Michel Périn will then give the new car its competitive debut on the Dakar Rally, starting on New Year’s Day in Buenos Aires.

Vital Evolution 7

It sounds like a bad straight to VHS movie, but Vital Evolution 7 is actually a highly customized Mitsubishi GTO/3000GT. With a paint job that looks like an experimental safety car from the 70's, it's isn't exactly stealthy. Also, I doubt covering the rear window in plastic aids rearward visibility. Or is legal for that matter. At least you don't have to worry about the giant wing blocking your vision in the rear view mirror.

Reverse Nephrectomy

Just in case people might not recognize it as a BMW, it's always good to install extra dual kidney grilles.