Car-to-car communication system by Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz will be the first automaker to offer car-to-car communication technology, a system which allows vehicles to communicate with other vehicles and infrastructure. The system will hit the market by the end of this year.

Mercedes Benz Car-to-car communication expands the telematic horizon

Set to launch later this year, the Mercedes-Benz car-to-car communication technology is another form of enhanced safety and convenience feature from the manufacturer. According to Mercedes, this system will also enable drivers to receive early notifications about potential dangers so they can take appropriate actions and avoid critical situations.

With the introduction of Car-to-X technology, we are once again reaffirming our tradition as a safety pioneer, and demonstrating that we are continuing to bring innovations to the roads with benefit for both our customers, and also other road users, said Prof. Dr Thomas Weber, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG responsible for Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development.

For example if an emergency vehicle is approaching from behind. With car-to-car communication, an alert will be sent to your vehicle before you see or hear that emergency vehicle. Even things like wrong-way drivers or dangerous weather conditions will be transmitted to drivers through their car communication systems.

In addition to enhancing safety and convenience, Car-to-X technology can also contribute to making mobility more efficient by using the highly precise information on traffic conditions available via Car-to-X communication. For example, to improve the flow of traffic by controlling traffic light signals.

Furthermore, Car-to-car communication technology is able to significantly expand the scope of existing vehicle sensors, such as radar or camera systems. It enables motorists to see around corners or beyond obstacles, thereby helping to reduce the blind spots from which existing sensor systems suffer.

Through the integration of Car-to-X technology in the Drive Kit Plus and the Digital DriveStyle app, Mercedes Benz is set to create ideal conditions to enable many of their customers to benefit from Car-to-car communication technology, since the technology is to be retrofitted in many Mercedes-Benz vehicles.

SEAT Leon Verde plug-in hybrid prototype revealed

Spanish automaker SEAT has unveiled a new plug-in hybrid prototype based on the new Leon hatchback. The SEAT Leon Verde prototype is described as the culmination of a four year research embodiment of the Cenit Verde project.

SEAT Leon Verde – Features

The SEAT Leon Verde is powered by a 90kW 1.4-liter TSI petrol engine, a 75 kW electric motor, and an 8.8 kWh battery, which translated into a combined maximum output of 125kW and an electric-only range of about 50 km. The SEAT Leon Verde has an overall range of 816 km which equates to a combined fuel consumption of 1.6-litres/100 km with CO2 emissions of as low as 36 g/km.

The holistic approach to electric vehicle development undertaken by the Cenit Verde project resulted not only in an entirely new electric vehicle, but an entirely new approach to charging infrastructure as well.

Technology

In keeping with its futuristic theme, the SEAT Leon Verde is equipped with an advanced Human-Machine Interface (HMI) integrated into a smartphone app including a Driving Cycle Predictor and a smart energy management system.

The smartphone app enables users to monitor things like energy consumption, battery status, recharging status and estimated CO2 savings in electric mode, while the Driving Cycle Predictor analyses and memorises the routines of the owner and then use that information to optimise energy consumption and reduce CO2 emissions. The smart energy management system recharges the battery when the rates are low, however, if the owner doesnt have the time to wait for a charge, they can override the system and start recharging the battery immediately.

SEATs leadership capability and its technological experience, which embraces the study and development of electric vehicles, have facilitated the integration of the magnificent contributions made by all participants. This partnership has underscored the first-rate competitiveness of Spanish industry, said Fermin Soneira, Director of Whole Vehicle Development, Electro-mobility and Innovation.

According to SEAT, there are no plans to put the SEAT Leon Verde into a series production.

Winter driving tips to stay safe on the road

Winter weather can make road conditions unpredictable, and sometimes treacherous. Even though in South Africa, where winters are usually mild, unusual freezing temperatures or unexpected snow and ice may bring winter driving surprises that youre unlikely prepared for. Like last years widespread snow which found a large number of motorists suddenly learning to drive all over again.

Winter driving tips

Ease up on the speed when driving in snowy or iced over road conditions. Accept that you wont be getting anywhere fast and drive as slow as you are able to without losing momentum. If you do lose momentum, it will take greater effort for your car to regain it and greater skill not to slide the vehicle in the process.
Drive in a lower gear to improve traction and dont speed up for hills, because doing so will set your wheels spinning in the snow or on ice.
Keep at least three times your usual following distance to allow sufficient distance for braking. When you brake, do it gently and release the brake if your wheels start spinning. Then, if your car doesnt have ABS, gently pump or tap the brake to slow the car down. With ABS brakes you should apply gentle but firm and constant pressure; youll feel a light shuddering that is perfectly normal.
If your vehicle slides on the ice or snow dont overcorrect by steering in the opposite direction to the slide, this will put your vehicle in a spin. Should your rear wheels slide to the left, steer to the left until you regain traction before gently and slowly correcting the steering in the direction you want to go.
Even if ice or snow dont make the forecast this winter, Tiger Wheel & Tyre cautions all motorists to ensure their driving safety by keeping tyres inflated to the correct pressure and making sure they have at least the 1mm minimum legal tread depth.

Unlike countries that experience severe winters, we dont need winter tyres tyres with a high silica rubber compound and special tread pattern, that perform optimally in conditions of 7°C and below, in ice, rain or snow, says Joe du Plooy Marketing Executive of Tiger Wheel & Tyre

We are blessed with moderate winters, but on the rare occasion when it does snow or the roads become iced over, we dont have the experience or skill needed to drive safely under these conditions. At the very least, South African motorists should be mentally prepared for the possibility of adverse winter conditions and have a game plan for driving on ice or snow.

*Tips provided by Tiger Wheel and Tyre

Peugeot RCZ R set for Goodwood Festival of Speed

Peugeot will internationally showcase the production version of its most powerful car to date, the Peugeot RCZ R at the Goodwood Festival of Speed taking place this July.

Peugeot RCZ R to stun at Goodwood Festival of Speed

Introduced last year at the Paris Motor Show as a concept, the Peugeot RCZ R is powered by a four-cylinder turbocharged 1.6-litre engine delivering 194kW of power and has CO2 emissions of just 155 g/km.

According to Peugeot this car also promises intense dynamic sensations from the legacy of its race-bred experiences. It is setup with a unique suspension, a specific wheel design and a new Torsen limited-slip differential to harness the huge reserves of power and torque available.

While the Goodwood Festival of Speed this year celebrates its 20th anniversary, Peugeot will also be marking 100 years since it first demonstrated its performance prowess by winning the French Grand Prix, coming in first and second.

Toyota Sales Summary for May 2013

The month of May was the strongest for Toyota since the market peaked in 2007. The brand retained its market lead with a total of 10 370 units. The Hilux maintained its top position in the brands top 5 cars and was South Africas most popular car with local sales of 3076 units. Here is a Toyota sales summary including Top 5 model sales and the most popular Toyota used cars for May 2013.

Toyota sales summary in South Africa May 2013

Total new car sales: 10 370 units
Total market share: 19.2%
Total passenger vehicle sales: 5494 units
Total Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) sales: 4568 units

Top 5 Toyota new car sales May 2013

Toyota Hilux 3076 units
Toyota Etios 1507 units
Toyota Corolla/Auris 1458 units
Toyota Quantum 1210 units
Toyota Fortuner 940 units

Toyota in the news

The refined Toyota Yaris line up for 2013

Toyota Hilux the best selling bakkie in South Africa

The Cars.co.za May Motoring report infographic

The Cars.co.za Motoring report is a monthly infographic that details the South African automotive scene. We will be covering a number of features and statistics and presenting them to you in a format you can use.

Motoring report sections

The inaugural Cars.co.za motoring report covers the following sections:

Top 5 motoring brands
Most popular international brands
New car market share
Most popular cars in South Africa
Hot release of the month

*The new car statistics included in the infographic were sourced from the Naamsa new car sales report.
**The used car statistics used in the infographic are sourced directly from Cars.co.za

Cars.co.za – May motoring report

* Click the below image to view the full infographic

Chevrolet Captiva revised for 2013

The seven-seat Chevrolet Captiva SUV has been enhanced for the 2013 model year. The model is fitted with a styling and features package and an extended range of factory fitted options.

2013 Chevrolet Captiva gets fresh look

Engine Capability

The Chevrolet Captiva is powered by either a 2.4 litre Ecotec engine with variable valve timing that produces 123 kW and 230 Nm of torque, or a common rail direct injection 2.2 litre diesel engine that produces 135 kW with 400 Nm of torque. Both units are the latest generation engines from Chevrolet that offer exceptional economy during operation.

Combined cycle fuel economy is rated at 8.8-litres/100km for the front wheel drive 2.4 litre model and 8.0-litres/100km for the 2.2 litre diesel all-wheel drive model.

The Captiva 2.4 LT with front wheel drive is available with a choice of 6-speed manual transmission or 6-speed automatic with electronic control, while the Captiva 2.2 LTZ has a 6-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission with on-demand four-wheel-drive.

Enhanced Styling Features

As before, Chevrolet has continued to revamp the Captiva with contemporary styling enhancements. New design features across the range of 2.4 LT FWD (Front Wheel Drive) manual and automatic and the top of the range 2.2 LTZ AWD (All Wheel Drive) models include a refreshed front bumper, fog lamp surrounds and grille, a revised rear bumper, exhaust outlets, and a new set of LED taillights.

Furthermore, the Chevrolet Captiva variants now feature a ‘touch-pad’ tailgate mechanism and passenger seat belt warning, while dual-zone climate control air-conditioning is standard on the 2.2 LTZ AWD and available as an option on the 2.4 LT manual and automatic models. The flagship 2.2 turbodiesel LTZ model gains keyless start system as well as illuminated door-sill covers, a tyre pressure monitor, and engineers have fiddled with the final drive ratio to improve acceleration.

The entry-level 2.4 petrol LT model comes optional with a new Luxury Package that adds an on-board computer and dual-zone climate control systems to the model.

2013 Chevrolet Captiva Price

View the new Chevrolet Captiva

Chevrolet Captiva 2.4 LT FWD Manual	R322 100
Chevrolet Captiva 2.4 LT FWD Automatic	R337 900
Chevrolet Captiva 2.2 LTZ AWD Automatic	R443 000

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive sets new record

The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive circled the Nurburgring Nordschleife in a record time of 7:56.234, making it the first electric vehicle to master the legendary race track in less than eight minutes.

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive offers dynamic performance

The record was hit in the Grune Holle SLS AMG Coupe Electric Drive which is currently the strongest AMG high performance car. It has four electric motors with a total output of 552kW and maximum torque of 1000NM. The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive Coupe accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds and can reach an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h.

Mercedes-AMG impressively shows the potential of the SLS AMG Coupe Electric Drive with the new record on the Nurburgring Nordschleife, said Ola Kallenius, Chairman of Mercedes-AMG GmbH. Mercedes-AMG is the first vehicle manufacturer which makes it possible to circle the Nordschleife in under eight minutes with an electrically-powered series production vehicle. This record run is another proof for our constant innovative vigour.

The extremely powerful 400 volts battery voltage for the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Coupe Electric Drive is the result of the collaboration between Mercedes AMG and Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains in Brixworth, UK, and is setting the pace in energy density, power density and efficiency. The gullwing car is fast becoming the strongest and fastest electrically-powered series production vehicle in the world.

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive Gallery

View the Gallery here

MG back in South Africa with expanded MG6 range

After nearly two years British brand MG is set to return South Africa. Its initial offering will comprise of an expanded range of its MG6 fastback and sedan models.

During its two years of absence, MG has built a network of 15 dealers across South Africa, and as the dealer network has expanded, so has the management with the appointment of a new CEO of Mandarin Motors which covers MG and Maxus.

MG3 coming to SA

South Africans can look forward to the arrival of the MG3 later in 2013, with at least two new products joining the line-up in 2014. It will initially only be available with a four-cylinder petrol engine, mated to a five-speed manual transmission.

Until the arrival of the MG3, MG is focusing on its MG6, which is available in both hatchback and sedan versions with prices from R239 900 for the 1.8T Comfort model with a three-year/90 000km service plan, one-year AA Roadside Assistance and a three-year/100 000km warranty.

Ipsos announces 2013 Quality Award winners

The 2013 Ipsos Quality Awards has seen some of South Africas popular car brands maintain their top positions in the customer sales and service categories. These awards have been awarded to the industry for the past nine years and remain the benchmark in measuring customer perspective on experiences and vehicle quality in the South African automotive industry.

In contrast to new vehicle sales statistics for 2012 in which Volkswagen dominated, the top performing passenger car brands according to Ipsos include Chevrolet, Audi and Volkswagen while in the Light Commercial segment Chevrolet, Isuzu and Toyota have delivered the strongest performances.

These rankings are based on Ipsoss Competitive Customer Experience (CCE) where the questionnaire covers all elements of both the sales and service process, from the appearance and staff at the dealership itself to the financing or pricing aspects of the sale or service and then to the post-sale or post-service follow up.

The study gathered information from more than 22 000 South African vehicle owners between January and December 2012, while the survey represents approximately 83% of all new vehicles sold in the Passenger Car market and 98% of the Light Commercial Vehicle market.

The top achievers

The Passenger Vehicle Purchasing Experience received the highest average score for the quality of customer experience at 93.8%, with all the Gold award winners attaining a score of no less than 94.4%

According to Patrick Busschau, Automotive Business Unit Director at Ipsos South Africa, there have been significant advances in technology, facilities, systems and financing processes which have not only made the consumer experience more pleasant but have also contributed to improvements in the product itself.

He added that manufacturers and dealerships are increasingly focusing on the interpersonal and emotional elements of the customer experience. Its become a matter of providing customers with what they want and need from a product perspective, but in order to do so, really spending time understanding the customer and who they are is becoming increasingly important.

The average score in the Passenger Vehicle Servicing Experience category is at 85.8% which is an increase from last years 84.8%. Top winners include Audi, Chevrolet, Volkswagen and Lexus which have maintained Gold in this category for four years in a row.

The Light Commercial Vehicle Purchasing Experience category ranked a very high average of 92.7% which is also a substantial increase from last year, because this category has traditionally performed at a slightly lower level than the Passenger Vehicle Purchasing Experience, however it is catching up to the performance of the Passenger Vehicles.

Lastly, the average score in the Light Commercial Vehicle Servicing Experience category has improved again from last year to 86% in 2013 which is very similar to the passenger car service average.
The service areas of dealers have become very good at standardising processes and delivering consistently to customers. Again the zone for improvement in recent times is in the softer skills dealer staff is developing to really make the customer feel important to the dealership and that they are receiving value for money with as little inconvenience as possible, said Busschau.

Passenger Vehicle Purchasing Experience top achievers

Audi
Volkswagen
Chevrolet
Toyota

(Brands excluded from the Passenger Vehicle Purchasing Experience include Mitsubishi, Citroen, CJD, and KIA)

Passenger Vehicle Servicing Experience top achievers

Audi
Chevrolet
Volkswagen
Lexus

(Brands excluded from the Passenger Vehicle Servicing Experience include Kia, CJD)

Light Commercial Vehicle Purchasing Experience top achievers

Isuzu
Toyota
Chevrolet
Nissan
Volkswagen

(Brands excluded from the Light Commercial Purchasing Experience include Ford, Mitsubishi, and Mazda)

Light Commercial Vehicle Servicing Experience top achievers

Volkswagen
Toyota
Isuzu
Nissan
Chevrolet