highlands panorama page 12 (19 may)

8/6/2019 Highlands Panorama Page 12 (19 May)

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12 Motoring19 May / Mei 2011

NISSAN has won an exclusive contract to build the nextgeneration of yellow taxi cabs for New York City, in a 10 year dealestimated to be worth $1-billion.The new cabs will be a big change to the existing models, with chargingstations for passengers’ mobile phones and laptops and a transparentroof for sightseeing, as well as passenger airbags. The new taxis willcome fitted with GPS devices, too - a useful addition in a city in whichcabbies often appear flummoxed by destination requests as simple as

“Wall Street, please”. Michael Bloomberg, the mayor of New York,announced the contract recently, at the end of an intense round of bidding in which Nissan beat Ford and Karsan - a Turkish car maker.He wanted taxis that could “expand and redefine the legendary imageof New York City cabs” he said. The Nissan Nv200 will replace the 16models authorised by the New York Taxi and Limousine Commission,the most common being the Ford Crown Victoria, none of which weredesigned to be taxis. The commission said it hoped that people wouldfall in love with the heir apparent, adding “ For the first time we’ll have ataxi cab that isn’t off the rack but rather custom-tailored.” - The Times,London.

Bespoke taxis for Big Apple

SOUTH African motorists, many of whomalready feel like revenue-creatingscapegoats every time they exceed thespeed limit, might have to contend witheven lower speed limits in future - in theinterests of saving fuel, according togovernment.

Energy Minister Dipuo Peters has requestedan investigation into the possibility of reducingspeed limits as one of the ways of increasingfuel efficiency while prices escalate. “I haveinstructed my team to determine the level atwhich a reduction of the speed limit may benecessary. This will include consultation andconcurrence of the Department of Transport,”she was quoted saying in a statement fromher office.Her spokesman Ndivhuwo Khangale said:“Nothing concrete has been finalised,” of theidea that evokes memories of the rationing of the 1970s when anti-apartheid sanctionslimited fuel supplies in South Africa. Peterssaid last week's increase, which saw fuelprices hover around the R10 a litre mark, hadthe potential of disrupting economic growth inthe country and could cause major disruptionsin countries that have not had the currency

strength to counter the increases. In the lasttwo years, crude oil prices have quadrupledfrom around US$30 a barrel. “I am concernedabout the impact on the ordinary farmer andthe impact paraffin price increases have onthe poorest of the poor,” Peters said.Three factors beyond the government'scontrol influence prices, she explained.“Whilst the loss of Libya's volumes of crude oilsupply has been made up by others, thequality of Libyan crude is of such a nature thatit cannot be easily replaced. It is easier to

Oil Prices may lower  

process and as such its absence in the marketadds to the complexity in crude oil refinerydiets. “Secondly the speculators in the marketdo take advantage of prevailing challengesand add a premium of their own. “The third is amore worrying reason and one that leaves usno option but to implement fuel efficiencymeasures. This is the demand for crude oilwhich has just about reached levels last seenin 2008 and is rising.”Production facilities may find it difficult to keepup with the demand and this will inevitablyresult in sustained high prices even when theconflicts have relaxed.She urged people to consider whether theyreally need to drive somewhere, or whether they can walk and go to work with a lift club.She questioned speeding away from trafficlights and recommended not using air conditioning during winter, as this could addeight percent to fuel consumption. South

 Africa is not the only country grappling withfuel prices. Some of the proposals in the UKinclude fuel duty stabilisers and the grantingof energy credits which can be used onvehicles or in the home. Peters claimed thatSouth Africa's fuel taxes are already relativelylow and among the lowest in the G20.IOL & Sapa

SA speed limits

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 Voortrekker str, Lydenburg www.longtomnissan.co.za

L o n g t o m G ro u pissan• Lydenburg • Ermelo • Standerton

• Hercules Coetzee: 082 225 8090 • Henry Moyo 083 237 5171• Shakes Shabalala 073 933 8715

• Dicky Roux (Sales Manager): 072 255 4929

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