Archive for June, 2009

New car finance slows in May

The slowdown in new motor finance continued into May, prompting fresh calls for greater government support for dealer finance.

Consumers bought 32 per cent fewer new cars with dealer finance through car showrooms in April 2009 compared with April 2008.

Sales down 28 per cent

In the first four months of 2009, the volume of sales was down 28 per cent compared to 2008.

Geraldine Kilkelly, head of research and chief economist at the FLA, said:

“The downturn in the motor finance market continues. There remains an urgent need for Government support in the wholesale finance markets in which motor finance companies raise the funds they need to lend to customers.

“Otherwise we risk a widening gap between supply and consumer demand.”

The FLA submitted evidence to the Business and Enterprise Committee in May, urging the department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR), the Bank of England and HM Treasury to expend their lending support to independent non-bank lenders and the lending subsidiaries of manufacturers.

Scrappage scheme welcome

It said in May that while it welcomed the government vehicle scrappage scheme, if it was successful in stimulating demand, it will add to the growing gap between demand and the supply of finance.

It added that while the European Investment Bank had announced its automotive support package, the loans were for energy efficient production and this id not provide the short term cash injection that was necessary.

Sourced via motortrader.com

New Car Prices: Mazda

MAZDA2
Mazda2 1.3 Active    R153 571        Petrol
Mazda2 1.3 Dynamic    R 171 050       Petrol
Mazda2 1.5 Dynamic    R 179 250        Petrol
Mazda2 1.5 Individual    R 197 150       Petrol

OPTIONS:

Metallic Paint R710

MAZDA3
Mazda3 1.6i    R181 050    Petrol
Mazda3 1.6 Original    R 195 049     Petrol
Mazda3 1.6 Active    R 215 200     Petrol
Mazda3 1.6 Dynamic    R221 200    Petrol
Mazda3 2.0 Dynamic    R 237 449    2Petrol
Mazda3 2.0 Individual    R252 850    Petrol
Mazda3 2.3 Individual    R264 880     Petrol
Mazda3 Sport 1.6 Original    R 195 401    Petrol
Mazda3 Sport 1.6 Active    R213 600    Petrol
Mazda3 Sport 1.6 Dynamic    R 219 650    Petrol
Mazda3 Sport 2.0 Dynamic    R 237 350    Petrol
Mazda3 Sport 2.0 Individual    R249 300    Petrol
Mazda3 Sport 2.3 Individual    R261 500   Petrol

OPTIONS:
Metallic Paint R 750
6CD Shuttle with MP3 R2100
6CD Shuttle with MP3 and Trip Computer R2700

MAZDA3 MPS
Mazda3 2.3 DISI Turbo MPS    R299 850   Petrol

OPTIONS:
Metallic Paint R750

MAZDA5 FACELIFT
Mazda5 2.0 Original    R239 771     Petrol
Mazda5 2.0 Active    R 251 290    Petrol
Mazda5 2.0 Individual    R 286 100    Petrol

OPTIONS:
Metallic Paint R750

MAZDA6
Mazda6 2.0 Original    R 250 950     Petrol
Mazda6 2.0 Active    R273 750      Petrol
Mazda6 2.5 Dynamic Activematic    R310 330     Petrol
Mazda6 2.5 Individual    R 318 280        Petrol

OPTIONS:
Metallic Paint R750

MAZDA MX-5
2.0 Soft Top        R296 170     Petrol
2.0 Roadster Coupe R330 510    Petrol

OPTIONS:
Metallic Paint R1200

MAZDA RX-8
RX-8 5-speed        R324 400     Petrol
RX-8 6-speed        R375 000     Petrol

OPTIONS:
Metallic Paint 1200    1053

MAZDA CX-7
CX-7 2.3 DISI Turbo 6 speed A/T     R421 100    Petrol

OPTIONS:
Metallic Paint 1150    1009

MAZDA BT-50
Single Cab
Mazda BT-50 2500TDi SLX 4×2    R240 950        Diesel
Mazda BT-50 2.6i 4×2    R185 770      Petrol
Mazda BT-50 2.6i 4×4    R 223 750     Petrol
Mazda BT-50 2.6i 4×4 (Safety)    R234 949     Petrol
Mazda BT-50 Drifter 3000CRDi SLX 4×2    R263 200       Diesel

Freestyle Cab
Mazda BT-50 2500TDi SLX 4×2   R 260 310      Diesel
Mazda BT-50 2500TDi SLX 4×4     R305 100        Diesel
Mazda BT-50 3000CRDi SLX 4×2     R286 050        Diesel

Double Cab
Mazda BT-50 2500TDi SLE 4×2   R304 401        Diesel
Mazda BT-50 2.6i 4×4 (Safety)    R271 950      Petrol
Mazda BT-50 2.6i SLE 4×2    R289 790       Petrol
Mazda BT-50 3000CRDi SLE 4×2    R327 991       Diesel
Mazda BT-50 3000CRDi SLE 4×2 Auto   R339 990       Diesel
Mazda BT-50 3000CRDi SLE 4×4    R372 101       Diesel

OPTIONS:
Metallic Paint R750
Leather Trim – Single Cab & Freestyle Cab R2500

*the above prices include DIFF-LOCK as standard fitment. *Effective 1 April 2009

Volvo S40 DRIVe is the Green Car of the Year

Volvo S40 DRIVe awarded green car of the year

The Volvo S40 1.6D DRIVe, featuring the new Start/Stop technology, has received top honours in the 2009 What Car? Green Car Awards. The ceremony took place at London City Hall on Monday 7 June and the award was handed over by Boris Johnson, the mayor of London.

Volvo has been serious about caring for the environment long before it became the latest buzz-word, making real inroads in production methods, the cars we build and the personal car space for the Volvo owner. This Green Car Award is part of the yearly awards from What Car?, Britain’s biggest consumer automotive magazine and car buyer’s guide.
The Volvo S40 DRIVe beat the BMW 118d and the Renault Megane to the top spot in the Small Family category and then stormed ahead to achieve victory over all the other category winners, including the Audi A8 and MINI Cooper S, to be awarded the overall What Car? Green Car of the Year title.

Offering exceptionally low CO2 emissions of just 104g/km and fuel consumption of just 3.9 litres per 100 kilometres, What Car?’s judges praised the S40 DRIVe’s unique combination of low emissions, practicality, safety and driver enjoyment as key reasons for the win.

Steve Fowler, What Car’s editor, heaped praise on the car, saying “Volvo’s S40 DRIVe is one seriously appealing eco-friendly car. Its low emissions don’t come at the expense of quality, safety or driver enjoyment and it is great value, too. It’s everything we look for in a Green Car of the Year.”

Upon receiving the award, Stuart Kerr, Volvo’s Regional President of Europe said, “Volvo has a strong commitment to its environmental activities and we have worked hard to reduce the carbon footprint on all our cars by focusing on health, resource utilisation and the ecological consequences right through from production and use to disposal.”

“The recent launch of the DRIVe range enables Volvo to offer mid-sized cars with the same fuel consumption and CO2 emissions as competitor’s small cars. For customers, this means that they don’t have to compromise on anything when they choose a Volvo. This highly important award recognises Volvo’s desire to build the most fuel efficient cars possible,” he concluded.

Start/Stop in detail
In order to reduce CO2 emissions to 104 g/km, the new S40 DRIVe has been equipped with a Start/Stop function.

When the driver puts the gear lever into neutral and releases the clutch while at standstill, the engine switches off. The next time the driver presses the clutch, the engine starts up again. Volvo’s Start/Stop system also continuously monitors the comfort levels in the cabin and automatically reactivates the air conditioning if, for instance, the temperature increases in the passenger compartment.

This innovative monitoring system has been made possible due to an additional small battery which supports the larger battery by providing extra power. Thanks to this extra battery, Volvo’s DRIVe models also feature particularly quick and smooth start-up. The audio system also remains unaffected when the starter motor is activated.

This distinguishes Volvo Car’s solution from other systems offered by the competition. The standard larger battery has also been upgraded to handle up to 175,000 Start/Stop cycles. The Start/Stop technology is also available in the Volvo C30 SportsCoupe and V50 Sportswagon DRIVe models.

Volvo offers a wide range of DRIVe models and joining the Volvo S40 in this fuel efficient line up is the C30, V50, V70, S80, XC60 and XC70.

South Africa is looking forward to receive its first DRIVe model early next year with the launch of the very car that won this prestigious award – the S40 1.6 DRIVe.

New Nissan 370Z – All the trimmings and more

In one of the most anticipated launches of the SA motoring environment this year, Nissan is thrilled to introduce this latest generation of the iconic Z-car sports coupe, the all-new Nissan 370Z, to expectant motoring enthusiasts across the country. The new 370Z is set to continue the global success story of the Z car, a model which in its rich history has racked up sales of 1.7-million units to date, making it one of the highest-selling sports car of all time, with good reason.

A SHIFT_ in true sports car performance
With the task of upholding forty years of proud Z-car heritage as we move towards the close of the first decade of this new millennium, Nissan’s latest 370Z has been crafted using the same exceptional engineering standards and performance know-how which has catapulted the latest R35 GTR to the forefront of the hypercar pecking order. In fact the new model draws notable styling cues from this ultimate incarnation of a red-blooded world-beater, most instantly obvious is the front splitter and air intake which unequivocally links the 370Z and GTR to the same family, the new breed of Japanese sports car, while the powerful proportions flowing behind this dominant face perpetuate and indeed further enhance the legend of the Nissan Z.

Built by Nissan’s highly talented team of craftsmen and engineers, the new Nissan 370Z blends time-honoured recipes with high-tech manufacturing techniques and materials to create the epitome of the modern sports coupe. This vehicle’s overtly sporting nature is matched only by the meticulous attention to every performance-oriented engineering detail to deliver an overall package which is pure performance art.

“It has been forty years since the debut of the first-generation S30 in 1969. Six years since the launch of the 350Z. And now the Z has experienced a full model change that represents a quantum leap. Without doubt, the Z is the world’s best-selling sports car of all time. Z fans worldwide, an irreplaceable asset for Nissan, share the same passion and expectations. And we couldn’t let them down. We made sure to build “Z-ness” into the new 370Z, but also “newness” – a new design and new performance. We guarantee that it will offer ample thrills and surprises,” explains Shinjiro Yukawa, Chief Product Specialist.

Exciting new engine and choice of two sports-optimised transmissions
The new 3.7-litre V6 beneath the sculpted, flowing bonnet is a latest-generation petrol motor packed with potency and permeated throughout with sheer technological prowess. It provides a wholesome 245kW of power and the broadest possible spread of torque throughout its 7500 rpm operating rev range thanks to the application of even further advanced Variable Valve Event and Lift (VVEL) technology, which despite the heavyweight dyno results make the new motor even more efficient than the previous-generation V6 which propelled the 350Z. This fourth-generation VQ motor delivers 6% more power while achieving a marked 11% reduction in fuel efficiency over previous high-performance petrol engines.

This impressive swell of power catapults the new Nissan 370Z from rest to 100km/h in just 5.3 seconds for the manual variant, while the 7-speed automatic blitzes the benchmark sprint in 5.6 seconds. Both gearboxes will run the 370Z right up to it’s electronically-limited 250 km/h top speed with relative ease.

In addition to more power, Nissan engineers have examined the vehicle as a whole in minute detail to realise
the astonishing result that is the 370Z. Weight-saving initiatives include a carbon-fibre composite radiator mounting and prop shaft, improving the engine’s ability to rapidly achieve optimum revolutions while providing an even stronger, more rigid pathway for that substantial amount of twisting force being channelled to the driven rear wheels. The end result is that this, the most powerful Z-car ever comes in at a weight 80kg less than the car it replaces, despite Nissan adding significant new safety features and an even plusher, more luxurious driving experience.

Those successful, adrenaline-hungry and individual customers looking for genuine sports car credentials now also have a choice of transmissions to have fitted to their 370Z. An all-new sports-optimised 7-speed automatic combines the traffic-easing convenience of a self-shifting vehicle with the ultimate driver involvement of a paddle-shift semi-automatic. Perfectly complementing the everyday nature of this new breed of sports car, this transmission features automatic rev-matching on downshifts and a shift program specifically tailored to perfectly respond to the needs of the enthusiast driver once free of the traffic grind, it’s seven ratios and effortless operation in fact improving the fuel efficiency of the automatic 370Z marginally over the 6-speed manual without detracting from the purity of involvement.

Those who insist on the granular control of a clutch pedal and stick shift, Nissan has reinvented this traditional shift mechanism with the world’s first SynchroRev Matching 6-speed manual transmission fitted to the 370Z. The perfect downshift is one which stabilises the vehicle entering bends at full commitment by matching engine revs with road speed so that the reengagement of the clutch has no unsettling effect on the rear end, and was previously only achievable (and even then, sporadically on the road) by drivers with exceptional levels of hardcore experience. The manual transmission on the new 370Z delivers the same levels of peerless dynamic execution to a much broader driver base by providing this ideal downshift every time thanks to an electronic “blip” of the throttle administered at the perfect moment on both up- and down-shifts. This ingenious solution can be disabled at the touch of a button for the everyday commuting scenario.

Top drawer dynamics
That seductive new form clothes a chassis which has been honed with an unflinching focus on besting the best sports cars the globe has to offer, and the 370Z chassis is now shorter for even sharper agility, lower for improved body control in all situations, and wider for generating even more lateral grip than ever before.

What’s more, the 370Z features ideally-calculated weight distribution. Bucking the commonly-held belief that a 50/50 split front to rear is the optimal, this vehicle is built to a 53/47 weight distribution formula, which places more weight over the front wheels on turn-in to maximise grip and therefore helm response, which then shifts to a near-perfect 50/50 distribution as the driver unleashes the power on the exit of the corner, firing the vehicle onto the next straight with natural, controlled grace and precision.

On the limit control is further enhanced by reduced unsprung mass thanks to high-strength aluminium suspension components, while the use of the same material in the hatch and roof structures contribute to a further optimised centre of gravity. Electronic Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) systems ensure that even when pushing the limits of this vehicle the driver is kept as safe as possible thanks to sensors monitoring all four wheels, and a software program which will react instantly to quell potentially life-threatening slides.

A comforting cabin
Inside the new 370Z features a modern cabin architecture with strong ties back to its performance car roots. Cabin materials have been substantially improved and every surface the driver or passenger touches feels built and finished to the highest standards of quality. A premium entertainment system featuring eight Bose speakers and two subwoofers has been purpose-built for the 370Z, and blends seamlessly with the flow of the new cabin, while in its own small way contributing to the dynamic prowess of the vehicle by shaving a full 1.6kg of weight! This system also incorporates an iPod dock as well as full integration with the Bluetooth connectivity system for making and receiving mobile phone calls without ever touching your cell itself.

The comfortable but grippy sports seats feature leather upholstery with high-grip cloth inserts, all crafted to Nissan’s unimpeachable global quality standards, and both seats feature full electrical adjustment as well as built-in heating elements for those chillier early morning starts. A full complement of six airbags deploy in the event of a collision to protect the occupants as much as possible. All of this is accessed via a Nissan Intelligent Key for the first time, which makes opening and setting off in the new 370Z an entirely keyless pleasure every time.

Adds Associate Product Chief Designer George Yanaka; “In concluding, the “Z” experience is not simply about driving or riding in the car but also about truly enjoying all of its unique and beneficial features. I do not believe that a “Z” can be rightfully called a sports car if it does not provide people with an uplifting feeling, which is why I’m very pleased when people are able to spend an enjoyable time riding in the car, even if it is only for a short while.”

Unbridled passion, undeniable value
The meticulous attention to detail, high-tech components, quality materials and outright dynamic excellence packed into the striking form of the new 370Z cement it as a superb buy. The fully-laden latest generation sports car enters the SA market at a price point only marginally above that of the highly successful 350Z it replaces!

Considering the added safety features, enhanced quality all around, and precision-crafted performance package, the 370Z manual is practically peerless at R499 000, with the convenience of an automatic available at only R516 200. So not only can the successful, energetic, and thrill-seeking target customer enjoy one of the finest sports cars ever made in the 370Z, they can also revel in their own purchasing savvy at selecting the best car for the best price.

SHIFT_ into the new era
Nissan’s latest 370Z sports car is an exceptional statement of the SHIFT_ methodology embodied by Nissan as a global brand. Rather than competing with established benchmarks, its sets the new yardstick by which its competitors will be measured. It is, in every way, the physical realisation of a whole new breed of sports coupe.