26/27 SEPTEMBER

Newdevelopments

explodeeast of SW

Since approval of all services,

growth at The Somerset has been

extremely active.

The building team of Westacre

Devco has commenced with their

fifth foundation and an additional

52homesandapartmentshavebeen

purchased by the Cape Peninsula

Organisation for the Aged (CPOA)

for an amount in excess of R80 mil-

lion.

Theseunitswill be offered for life-

right ownership on very attractive

terms and financial packages.

Dennis Moss Partnership have

submitted the plans of an elegant

clubhouseand frail care facility, be-

ing the first phase, which will be

suitable to accommodate 150 resi-

dents in this prestigious estate.

The developers boast of it being

the first lifestyle and retirement de-

velopment which conforms 100% to

the new South African National

Building Standards.

Clients can expect to have up to

60% energy saving when purchas-

ing a home in this development.

Twoadditional showcottageswill

be launched on 5 November, and if

you are one of the almost 1 000 cli-

ents who have admired the main

show house, then take a run out to

The Somerset and view thewide va-

rietyof cottages thatwill beonshow

from the above date.

Acrosstheroad, thenewshopping

centre is expected to break ground

early in the new year.

Amost exciting precinct is on the

drawing board of the urban design-

er, comprising an office park, bou-

tique hotel and a small building of

apartments and restaurants.

Adjoining the new shopping cen-

tre will be a 27-unit gated village of

2-and3-bedroomhomessellingfrom

R1,9 million, known as Beechwood.

Thisdevelopment is the21stgated

village by the Westacre Property

Group and will also be of a high

standard of finishes conforming to

the SANS requirements.

There has been ahigh demand for

the new block of apartments in the

retirement village, says Jane Mar-

tin, and plans are due for comple-

tion and submission before the end

of October.

North and sea facing 1- and 2-bed-

room apartments will be available

for occupation by about August/

September 2014.

Every resident in the retirement

village will be connected to optical

fibre cabling, connecting them to a

television circuit without display-

ing any television dishes on their

homes.

Every resident will be equipped

with aCall 4 Care unit, and amobile

wrist button, or pendant that, when

activated, will be a call to a 24/7 ex-

change with state of the art compu-

ter equipment.

This equipment will display full

details of the caller to the operator.

The result will enable the operator

to divert this call to an emergency

service.

A recent purchase of 150 trees and

40 000 plants are in the process of

being landscapedbyRodGilson, the

landscaper employed by the

Westacre Property Group, who are

well known for their quality of land-

scaping in their previous develop-

ments in Somerset West.

ThemanagementofTheSomerset

have just invited all estate agencies

in the Helderberg to introduce pos-

siblebuyers to the sales team,ondu-

ty seven days a week, at the site of-

fice in Bizweni Avenue.

A very attractive introduction

commission package has been of-

fered.

For any enquiries about the pre-

cinctorTheSomersetpleasecall the

agents at our sales office 021 8400018

or 021 8527035.

The sales team of Westacre Property Group comprises Jane Martin, Okkie

Potgieter, Liezel Visage and Kim du Plessis.

Interior of one of the homes on show at The Somerset.

Official entrance to The Somerset. PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

2Districtmail

26 September, 2013

BOLAND

SOLD

HELDERBERG

Biggest and Best Property guide in the Boland

SOLD bied die grootste en maklikste toegang tot die

mark vir eiendomkopers en -verkopers in die Boland.

021 870 4600021 841 4285

021 887 2840

3Districtmail

26 September, 2013

BOLAND

SOLD

HELDERBERG

4Districtmail

26 September, 2013

BOLAND

SOLD

HELDERBERG

5Districtmail

26 September, 2013

BOLAND

SOLD

HELDERBERG

6Districtmail

26 September, 2013

BOLAND

SOLD

HELDERBERG

7Districtmail

26 September, 2013

BOLAND

SOLD

HELDERBERG

8Districtmail

26 September, 2013

BOLAND

SOLD

HELDERBERG

Healthierhousingmarket

The South African housing

marketisinthehealthiestpo-

sition since 2009, says Seeff

chairman, Samuel Seeff.

Weareinamuchhealthierpo-

sition thanin2009andeven2010

when market activity was bu-

oyed by the positive sentiment

of the FIFA Soccer World Cup.

Seeffs year-to-date sales fig-

ures for example are not only

18%upon last year, but the best

since 2007.

Despite the fact that the win-

ter months are historically a

quieter period, our July nation-

al sales turnover of just under

R1 billion is not only the best in

recent years, but about 20% higher than in

2007.

National sales volumes have settled down

over the last two years at just over 19 100

monthly transactions on average; 5% higher

than the 2010 monthly average of 18 255 and

16% higher than the 2009 average of 16 452.

Bond registrations have also strengthened

to an average of around 14 450 monthly regis-

trations, about 78%more than the 2012 aver-

ageof 13 374and the2009averageof 13 530, says

Seeff.

Leadingmortgageoriginator,oobaforexam-

ple recently reported that its bond approvals

were up in August by 24% on a year-on-year

basis and up by 227% over the corresponding

period in 2009.

Thisyear inparticular,wehaveseenthebal-

ancebetweensupplyanddemandimproveand

indications are that we are moving closer to

a position of equilibrium in the primary hous-

ing market, although still predominantly in

the sub-R1,5 million sector, says Seeff. Nation-

wide, our branches are reportingmore buyers

at show days, with some areas noting about

40% more buyers than last year. For the first

timesincepre-2007/8, offers arenowbeing tak-

en on show days, continues Seeff. Major stock

shortages have become an al-

most universal challenge for es-

tate agents countrywide.

While the macro-economic

environment is still not condu-

cive to induce a real recovery of

thepropertymarket, conditions

are healthy for both buyers and

sellers.

For buyers, it is still the best

time to buy in over three dec-

ades and, since there has been

no major capital appreciation

over the last few years and the

interest rate is still at a historic

low, the value on offer is out-

standing.

Conversely, now is a good

time to sell. Well-priced proper-

ties are not only moving, but they are moving

fast. In some instances sellers are gettingmul-

tiple offers with many deals being concluded

at quite close to the asking price.

Prices, though, are likely to remain flat for

the foreseeable future as buyers, largely for

economic reasons, are just not able to put in

bigger offers.

Looking at FNBs recent House Price Index

forexample, thebankreportsmarginalgrowth

in the August rate to 6,4%, a slight improve-

ment on the 6,3% reported in July. While the

interestratehasbeenflat forthelastyear,Seeff

says that it now looks as if bond holders may

need to prepare for a rate hike sooner than ex-

pected. The weakening of the rand by about

30% since the start of the year, may prompt

the Reserve Bank to increase the rate before

the end of this year to strengthen the rand, he

says.

Indications are thatwe are heading towards

a healthy summer trading period, but with a

potential interest rate hike looming, buyers

should perhaps consider fixing their interest

rate.

They may initially pay a premium for this,

butSeeff says that itwill provide certaintyand

will level out over time.

Samuel Seeff

9Districtmail

26 September, 2013

BOLAND

SOLD

HELDERBERG

CroydonOlive Estateoffers lifestyleandvalue

Forcenturiesanolivebranchhasrep-

resented peace, andwhen you visit

Croydon Olive Estate its not hard to

understand why.

Walk past lush olive groves, look

across thecalmingwatersof thedamand

enjoy views of the majestic mountain

ranges, before relaxing in the Lifestyle

Centre lounge with a cup of coffee.

Perhaps you feel like awork-out in the

private gym or a braai with friends in

the communal braai area while your

children swim in the sparkling pool.

No, this is not a holiday resort. This

is another day enjoying the unique life-

style inCroydonOliveresidentialestate.

With just over 200 properties in this ex-

clusive gated village, 24-hour security

and luxury facilities in theLifestyleCen-

tre, this is a rare opportunity to invest

in a way of life that is synonymous with

peace.

Youd be forgiven for thinking that

owning property that offers such advan-

tages comes at a price that is out of your

reach. But for many, you will be pleas-

antly surprised toknowwhat value is on

offer, andhowaffordable such a lifestyle

is.

Harcourts Platinum, on-site agents at

CroydonOliveEstate,havearangeofdif-

ferent purchasing options available to

meet the needs of discerning buyers.

Completed homes ready to move in

areavailable fromR2 250000.Othercom-

pleted homes developed by a master

builder,withexceptionalattention tode-

tail, are priced at R 2 395 000, including

VAT.

Also on offer are vacant plots, most of

them priced between R550 000 and

R750 000, but with a few under R500 000.

The plots are very competitively priced,

especiallywhenoneconsiders this isnot

just a plot, but a lifestyle in a lowdensity

security development.

A third option is to purchase a plot-

and-plan where you choose the plot

youwant, andHarcourtswill put you to-

gether with one of their preferred build-

ers already active on the estate, to create

a home that meets all your needs, and

fits your budget. This is packaged as a

plot-and-plan so that you submit your

bond application for your total finance

requirement.

The architecture and mood of the es-

tate takes one back centuries to a time

when lifewas calmer timemoved slow-

er and families grew up in an environ-

mentmuchmorepeacefulthantheworld

we live in now.

Buthere, inCroydonOliveEstate, you

can still enjoy someof that lifestyle. Eve-

ry property opens onto an olive grove.

Every family receives their own alloca-

tionofoliveoilproducedonthisworking

olive farm. And every family deserves

their bit of peace. Come and claim

yours at Croydon Olive Estate today.

Harcourts Platinum has their site of-

fice open at the estate on Wednesday,

Thursday and Sunday afternoons. Ap-

pointments can be made at any other

time and on short notice. CallNicki Piek

on 084 962 8234 or Deline Gough on 079

775 1313 for more information.

One of the homes on the Croydon Olive Estate The Lifestyle Centre on the estate

The dam on Croydon Olive Estate

View of an olive grove on the Croydon estate

10

Eikestadnuus

26 September, 2013

BOLAND

SOLD

STELLENBOSCH

11

Eikestadnuus

26 September, 2013

BOLAND

SOLD

STELLENBOSCH

12

Eikestadnuus

26 September, 2013

BOLAND

SOLD

STELLENBOSCH

13

Eikestadnuus

26 September, 2013

BOLAND

SOLD

STELLENBOSCH

14

Paarl Post

26 September, 2013

BOLAND

SOLD

PAARL/WELLINGTON

15

Paarl Post

26 September, 2013

BOLAND

SOLD

PAARL/WELLINGTON

Lifestyle farmfor sale in Franschhoek

The townofFranschhoekhasbe-

comesynonymouswith fine food

and wine, clean mountain air

and panoramic views.

Thevillage has a distinctlyGallic

flavour thanks to itsFrenchHugue-

not heritage, and offers a cosmopol-

itan lifestyle of pavement cafes and

restaurants, coffeeshops,artgaller-

ies and antique collectibles. The

surrounding farmland is also re-

nowned for its rich soil and abun-

dant vineyards, producing some of

South Africas most famous wine

brands. Pam Golding Properties

(PGP) reports that this rich agricul-

tural heritage and chic lifestyle

make the valleyhighly sought-after

as a weekend getaway, holiday des-

tination or place of permanent resi-

dence.

One of themost popular property

options forbuyers inall of thesecat-

egories is the lifestyle farm typi-

cally a smallholding with a gener-

ous homestead and some small-

scale farming activity. Buyers in

this category usually seek a warm

family home in a picturesque set-

ting, where they can enjoy quality

time togetherandperhapsdabble in

a little wine-making or artisan

farming on the side as a hobby.

Prices for such farms can vary tre-

mendously depending on their size,

location and condition, say PGP

agentsDougGurr andShelly Schoe-

man, aswell as on the size, historic

value and luxury features of the

homestead.

One can pay anything from R10

million to R40 million for farms in

this category but the lifestyle on

offer is priceless.

PGPs area manager for Fransch-

hoek, Surina du Toit, adds that for

those seeking to escape the rat

race and raise their families in a

wholesome rural environment,

Franschhoek offers the best of both

worlds a small village lifestyle in

a magnificent rural setting, that is

still within easy reach of amenities

such as Cape Town International

Airport, major shopping facilities

andmedical care. The townalso of-

fers an excellent private co-ed

schooltheacclaimedBridgeHouse

making it a feasible option for

those with school-going children,

she adds. And once they reach stu-

dent age, the University of Stellen-

boschis just20minutesdriveaway.

What better environment can there

be for children than to grow up on

a farm where they can enjoy a

healthy outdoor lifestyle, fresh air

and sunshine, surrounded by mag-

nificent mountains?

PGP currently has the exclusive

mandate to market what Gurr de-

scribes as the quintessential life-

style farm a 9,75 ha property

namedFleurVue (meaningview

of flowers), located on the banks of

the Franschhoek River, just min-

utes from the village centre. The

farm consists of an immaculate

main homestead, guest cottage and

managers house, surrounded by

vineyards and olive groves. The

property is on the market at R16,5

million.

The main homestead offers four

bedrooms and four bathrooms, in-

cluding a well-appointed master

suite with a fireplace and his and

hers dressing rooms, as well as a

study or fifth bedroom. The spa-

cious double-volume living areas

are open plan, with easy flow from

the gourmet kitchen to a dining

room,coffeenookandlounge.These

inturnflowoutviaFrenchdoorson-

toa largeundercoverpatio, ideal for

outdoor entertaining, with views

across the gardens, vineyards and

mountains.

A large entertainment room of-

fers a more informal space to relax,

with a built-in braai, pizza oven and

wine cellar. The entire home is fin-

ished with travertine tiles, and un-

der-floor heating ensures the living

areas remain cosy all year round.

Thecharmingguest cottageoffers

twoen-suitebedroomsplusanopen-

plan living roomandkitchen, a fire-

place and undercover patio with

built-in braai. Additional buildings

on the property include a three-bed-

roomed managers house, a large

barn for storage of farm vehicles

and tools, and a cold room for wine

storage.Automated garaging is pro-

vided for three vehicles.

The farms fully irrigated mani-

cured gardens include a swimming

pool, herb and vegetable garden as

well as an orchard with a variety of

trees - several nuts andcitrus fruits,

plus mangos, figs and plums. The

garden and household obtain their

water from a borehole, and are pro-

tectedby electronic security beams.

Fleur Vue currently has just over

5 haundervine, includingCabernet

Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and

Chenin Blanc varietals. The olive

grove spans another 2 ha, and in-

cludes over 1 650 trees, including

both mission and kalamata olives.

The farming areas are watered by

micro/drip method from the Rob-

ertsvlei River, for which the farm

has pumping rights. The current

owners bottle a relatively small

quantity of wine for personal use,

and sell the rest of the grapes on to

largerproducers.Theyalsoproduce

theirownbottledolivesandoliveoil

in small quantities. Schoeman says

while the next owners could contin-

ue to operate on this small scale,

they could also opt to expand the

production to the level of a more es-

tablished boutique wine or olive es-

tate.

To viewFleurVue, or formore in-

formation, call PGP agents Doug

Gurr (0726107208)andShellySchoe-

man (083 301 8833) or contact their

office on 021 876 2100 or wine-

landsint@pamgolding.co.za.

Pam Golding Properties has the exclusive mandate to market this 9,75 ha lifestyle farm named Fleur Vue, on the

banks of the Franschhoek River, at R16,5 million.

16

Paarl Post

26 September, 2013

BOLAND

SOLD

PAARL/WELLINGTON

Dont delay,upgrade today

owners who want to upgrade might then find

it more difficult to qualify for a new bond in

addition to having to budget for bigger-than-

expected monthly repayments.

Thus their newhome could end up costing

much more than necessary in the long term.

For example, the monthly repayment on a R2

million home bought nowwith a R1,8 million

bond at the 8,5% prime rate would be about

R15 600, putting the total cost over 20 years

at some R3,749 million.

But an interest rate increase of just one

percentage point would push up the monthly

bond repayment on the same bond to R16 800,

and the total cost over 20 years to R4,027 mil-

lion.

Andfinally,hesays,expertspredict that the

credit amnesty which government intends to

introduce before the end of the year is likely

to make it more difficult for anyone to get a

home loan. The banks are opposed to the am-

nesty, which will see millions of credit

recordsexpungedfromthecreditbureaux,be-

cause it will make it extremely difficult for

them to tell the difference between high risk

and low risk borrowers. Thus they are going

to become extremely cautious about lending

oncemore, andmaywell pass their additional

risk on to consumers in the form of bigger de-

posit requirements and higher interest rates.

In short then, there really is no time like

the present for anyone planning a home up-

grade.

prices to start showing any significant up-

ward movement.

Although there are many more buyers in

the market now than there have been for the

past few years, it is not quite a sellersmarket

yet. In addition, the banks are keeping a tight

reinon thingsbyvaluingproperties very con-

servatively for home loan purposes.

There is thus no point in delaying the sale

of an existing property in the hope of getting

a higher price to assist your upgrade.

The second reason to make an upgrade

move now, Geffen says, is that interest rates

could very well move off the current historic

lows within the next 12 months, and home-

Sellers immediately want more for their

properties while buyers still want to pay

recessionpricesthisisalwaysthescenar-

iowhen a real estatemarket starts to turn

upwards.

However, says Lew Geffen, chairman of

Sothebys International Realty in SA, this

should not deter those with plans to upgrade

to bigger or better-located properties fromdo-

ing so as soon as possible.

Indeed, he says, there are several very good

reasons for doing so, particularly in the cur-

rent SA market, the first of which is that it

is probably going to take some time for home

Biggest and Best Property guide in the Boland

SOLD bied die grootste en maklikste toegang tot die

mark vir eiendomkopers en -verkopers in die Boland.

021 870 4600

021 841 4285

021 887 2840

1726 September, 2013

HELDERBERG

SHOPPER

18

26 September, 2013

HELDERBERG

SHOPPER

FURNITURE

Assorted Dining tables and suites

Assorted bar chairs - designer chairs - dining chairs and benches

Sales Agent: Mariana Dijkstra Tel: 021 852 6877 Cell: 083 506 6339

Ardeer Street, The Interchange, Somerset West

sales@verifurn.co.za - www.verifurn.co.za

Assorted dressers - sideboards - plasma units - ottomans - headboards and pedestals

Assorted bar chairs - designer chairs - dining chairs and benchesAssorted bar chairs - designer chairs - dining chairs and benchesAssorted bar chairs - designer chairs - dining chairs and benches

Status diner pool table

convert to dining table

SMALLDIESEL ENGINE:CAPABLE 4X4MAKES SENSE

RenaultspurposefulDuster

FRANS LE ROUX

Back in the day, 4x4 vehicles

were strictly reserved for the ul-

tra rich. Peoplewho could afford

a purposeful all terrain vehicle,

went out andbought one. The big

hitterswere of course the likes of

Land Rover, Jeep and Toyota.

Luckily for us, themarket for fuel

efficient, car-like 4x4s has ex-

panded vastly in the last decade. I

recently had a go at the very latest

offering in this segment, namely the

Renault Duster.

Tostartwith, is theveryoddname

Renault have gone with. With Dust-

er they might mean that this very

vehicle will kick dust into the head-

lights of its opposition, although

this still needs to be proven.

The demo vehicle I was handed

was a brand new top of the range

1.5dCi Dynamique 4x4. Priced at

R239 900, you do get a lot of value for

your money.

The engine, is exactly what you

need in these trying economic

times. A small, four cylinder turbo

diesel, sips fuel through a strawand

loves the open road. Power is rated

at 80 kW/240 Nm and when this is

combined with a smooth 6-speed

manual gearbox, you quickly dis-

cover that this Duster is a pleasure

to drive. Onmyweekend trip the fu-

el consumption never dipped below

12 km/F. It has to bementioned that

because this is a 4x4, its gear ratios

are shorter than its 4x2 sibling. So

if you want the best fuel consump-

tion, I would suggest opting for the

4x2.

I took the Duster in and around

Paarl during yet another wet and

windy weekend. Having the luxury

of full four wheel drive, I felt confi-

dent when I approached muddy

tracks and slippery gravel roads.

Not even a washed out and eroded

PaarlMountaincouldstop this little

Duster. Apart from the odd slip and

wheel spin here and there, theDust-

er truly owned up to being a compe-

tent 4x4.

Haveaseatinsideandafewthings

immediately grab your attention.

For starters, there is a massive 8-

inchmultimedia touch screen neat-

ly situated in themiddle of the dash-

board. Having previously worked

with the same system in the new

Clio, I could quickly launch the Sat-

NavandpairmyphonesBluetooth.

My only criticism is that I would

have tilted the screen upwards so

that taller passengers could benefit.

Seats are nothing fancy, they do

their job. Leg and headroom is am-

ple, because nothing feels cramped

inside the Duster. Hard plastics

dominate the cabin, but their pur-

pose is longevity. Class leading lug-

gage space (408F) is perfect for those

weekends away. If you opt for the

4x2 you get an even bigger boot be-

cause they fitted the spare-wheel to

the chassis at the rear.

Lets briefly discuss the looks,

uhm, there is not much to discuss.

The Duster wont win any style

awards, but if you are interested in

looks, then you are kind of missing

the point here. The Duster has

210 mm of ground clearance. With

abashplate in the frontandrear, its

made to do gravel roads. There is a

purpose with the high roofline and

shortoverhangsat therear.Renault

has some method in their madness,

and the Dusters styling is spot-on

if you consider what it should be

used for.

Rivals inthiscategoryincludethe

likesof theSuzukiSX4andDaihatsu

Terios.Notonly is theDuster cheap-

er, bigger and has better ground

clearance, but it is also the only one

of the three with a diesel engine in

the line-up. On paper the Duster is

starting to make even more sense.

With the 1,6 petrol (4x2) starting at

R194 900, it is sure to shake up the

market.

After spending a weekend with

the Duster I came to some conclu-

sions. Yes, there is most definitely

amarket for it.No, it is certainlynot

the prettiest thing I have driven.

Yes, the diesel engine is definitely

the pick of the bunch, and if it was

my money I would certainly keep

some change and go for the 1.5dCi

4x2.The4x2 isextremelywellpriced

at R219 900. Combine that with a

3 yr/45 000 km service plan a a

5 yr/150 000 km warranty, and this

looks like a done deal.

Drive over to Renault Paarl and

test drive the Duster today.

A decent diesel engine, great interior space and good ground clearance make the Duster an exciting prospect in the small SUV category.

PHOTO: QUICKPIC

20

Donderdag

26 September, 2013

BOLAND

SOLD

AUTO

FordBuilds2millionth fuel-efficient EcoBoost engine

QUICKPIC

Ford Motor Company today celebrated a

manufacturing milestone for its fuel-sav-

ing EcoBoost engines: Two million have

been produced globally since the 2009

launch of the engine line.

Growing customer demand for EcoBoost-

powered vehicles in Fords major markets

worldwide is driving engine production,with

output now averaging more than 100 000 en-

gines per month, up from 65 000 in 2012.

FordEcoBoostdeliversgreatperformance

with lower fuelbills, arecipewhichisproving

incredibly popular with consumers around

the world, said Joe Bakaj, vice president,

PowertrainEngineering,Ford. EcoBoost en-

gines are attracting new customers to the

Ford brand every day, and our plants are

working hard to keep up with de-

mand.

A Ford Escape (known as Kuga in

SouthAfrica) poweredby the twomil-

lionth production EcoBoost a 2.0-li-

tre unit rolled off the line at Fords

Louisville, Ky., U.S., assembly line.

EcoBoost technology combines

smaller overall size with turbocharg-

ing, direct injection and variable

valve timing to bring customers out-

standingperformanceand fuel econo-

my.FordEcoBoost enginesdeliverup

to15percentbetter fueleconomythan

larger displacement petrol engines.

FordsglobalEcoBoostenginefami-

ly now includes the 1.0-litre three-cyl-

inder; the 1.5-litre, 1.6-litre and 2.0-li-

tre four-cylinder engines; and the

powerful and efficient 3.5-litre V6.

EcoBoost will be offered on nearly 80

per cent of the companys global

nameplates by the end of 2013.

European expansion

In Europe, exceptional demand for

the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine Inter-

national Engine of the Year 2012 and 2013

is fuelling a doubling of production capacity

at the Cologne, Germany, engine plant to

more than 1 000 engines a day.

Already available on five European name-

plates, the 1.0-litre engine will be fitted to 11

models by 2014. The three-cylinder unit is be-

ing chosen by a growing share of customers

during 2013, accounting for 43 per cent of B-

MAX sales, 32 per cent for Focus, 26 per cent

for Fiesta; and 24 per cent for C-MAX and

Grand C-MAX sales.

EcoBoostpowertrainsalsoaredrivinghigh

demand for the Fiesta ST (1.6-litre EcoBoost)

andFocusST (2.0-litreEcoBoost),while 18per

cent of customers for the Kuga are selecting

the 1.6-litre EcoBoost option in a segment

which traditionally favours diesel engines.

Nearly 40%more European customers are fa-

miliar with EcoBoost technology today com-

pared to 2011, internal Ford data shows.

The Cologne plant also has begun produc-

tion of the 1.0-litre EcoBoost for the North

American market. The new 2014 Ford Fiesta

on sale later in 2013 will be the first vehicle

available intheUnitedStateswiththe1.0-litre

engine, and is expected to be certified most

fuel-efficient non-hybrid car available in the

United States.

Popularity, demand rising in North

America

InNorthAmerica, internalForddatashows

that the EcoBoost engine is now themost rec-

ognised fuel-efficient engine among consum-

ers. In addition, consumers are nearly 50 per

cent more likely to consider purchasing a

Ford vehicle if they are aware of EcoBoost

than those who are not familiar with the en-

gine.

ThepopularityofEcoBoost inNorthAmeri-

ca is reflected in high take rates on key mod-

els:

90 per cent of Ford Escape models are

equipped with EcoBoost engines

50 per cent of Fusion customers select one

of three available EcoBoost models

42 per cent of F-150 trucks are purchased

with the 3.5-litre EcoBoost

This year, EcoBoost will be available on

more than 90 per cent of North American

nameplates, rising to 95 per cent by 2015.

Tomeet demand for the award-winning 2.0-

litre EcoBoost engine, Ford is investing near-

ly $200million to build the engine at its Cleve-

land, Ohio, engine plant, with production

starting in 2014.

Growth in Asia Pacific

In Asia Pacific, sales of EcoBoost vehicles

are up 202 per cent year-over-year in 2013, in-

cludinga189percentrise inChina.Fordplans

to offer the fuel-efficient engine in 20

vehicles in the region bymid-decade,

a five-fold increase from 2012.

Ninety five per cent ofKugabuyers

inAsia Pacific are choosing the 1.6-li-

tre or 2.0-litre EcoBoost engines,

while 90 per cent of Edge owners and

62 per cent ofMondeo buyers are opt-

ing for the efficient engines.

Ford will soon begin production of

the 1.0-litre EcoBoost at the $500 mil-

lion Changan Ford engine plant in

Chongqing, China, which opened in

June.

South Africa got its first taste of

EcoBoost technologywhen the Focus

STwas introduced in the last quarter

of 2012 while the 1.0-litre EcoBoost

unit was introduced in January of

this year.

EcoBoost is offered in SouthAfrica

in the Fiesta, Fiesta ST, Focus ST,

EcoSport and Kuga. To date nearly

5 300 EcoBoost engines have been

sold in South Africa with demand

continuing to grow.

In Europe, exceptional demand for the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine International Engine of the Year 2012 and

2013 is fuelling a doubling of production capacity at the Cologne, Germany, engine plant to more than

1,000 engines a day. PHOTO: QUICKPIC

21

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22

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LimitedEditionCorsaOPCNrburgring

lands inSouthAfrica

QUICKPIC

The Corsa OPC has emerged out

of Sir Jackie Stewarts Green

Hell as an agile and feisty hot

hatch ready to thrill South Afri-

can drivers. With only 65 of the

limited Corsa OPCNrburgring

Edition models produced by

Opel globally allocated to South

Africa, the latest addition to the

Opel range is likely to become a

sought after collectors item.

TheCorsaOPCNrburgringEdi-

tion arrives in South Africa boast-

ing an arsenal of performance en-

hancing features including lower

ride height, newly developed

spring and damper units by Bil-

stein and as a further high-tech

detail a new lightweight front

braking system from specialists

Brembo with bespoke, high-per-

formance brake linings. The con-

trol algorithms for the chassis sup-

port systems ABS, Traction Con-

trol (TC) and the Electronic

Stability Control (ESC) have all

been recalibrated by the engineers

at the Opel Performance Centre to

match the cars new configuration.

Largely regarded as themecca of

performance car engineering, the

Nrburgring Nordschleife circuit

in Germany shares a rich, fifty-

year-strong history with the Opel

brand, where several of the

marques performance derivatives

have set and still hold lap records.

The Corsa OPC has been no excep-

tion with Opels OPC engineering

team using the track to create an

exceptionally quick and exhilarat-

ing hot hatch.

Based on the already impressive

Corsa OPC, the Nrburgring edi-

tion has received numerous up-

grades and enhancements to im-

prove acceleration, handling and

braking along with a long list of

standard features for amore enjoy-

able day-to-day ownership experi-

ence.

The Nrburgring editions addi-

tional power is delivered by modi-

fiedenginemanagementandturbo-

charger systems, and a sports ex-

haust with reduced back pressure.

As a result, the maximum output

of the 1.6-litreOPC turbo engine in-

creases fromthestandardvehicles

141 kW to 154 kW, giving a specific

power rating of 96.2 kW per litre

which is exceptional in this engine

class.

Themaximum torque of the base

engine (230-266 Nm) also increases

to250Nm,and280Nmwhenthetur-

bochargers overboost function

is activated. The increase in output

combined with the overboost func-

tion on the turbocharger result in

animproved0-100km/hsprinttime

of just 6.8 seconds, with a top speed

of 230 km/h.

The Euro 5-compliant engine is

still able todeliveroutstanding fuel

efficiency of just 7.6-litres per 100

km on the combined average cycle

and carbon emissions of 178 g/km.

In order to convert the 154 kW of

power into efficient propulsion,

Opel engineers have equipped the

frontaxlewithamechanical,multi-

plate limited-slip differential

which helps to reduce wheel slip

when there are very high lateral

forces under acceleration, or

changes in the texture of the road

surface. It isalso ideal for forayson-

to the race track.

Inkeepingwith theNrburgring

Editions sporty nature, the trac-

tion control and ESP programmes

havebeenadjusted to suit the extra

grunt and improved dynamics.

Even at the limit, the Corsa OPC

Nrburgring Edition remains a

composed and sure footed sports

car.

Other changes include a body

that sits 20 mm lower than before,

with new Bilstein dampers and

springs to both absorb bumps and

ensure sure-footedness at all times

the shock absorbers are now gas

pressure monotube units with al-

tered characteristics.

Braking isbyventilateddiscsall-

round, the front brakes having

been specially designed by Italian

experts Brembo. The new four-pis-

tonbrakingsystemfeaturesunique

high-performance pads which pro-

vide 10% more braking surface

than the pads used in a normal

Corsa OPC, while a weight reduc-

tion of 30% in the brake callipers

adds to the overall result of im-

proved cooling, responsiveness

and feel under maximum load.

Visual highlights include two

new, exclusive body colours ap-

ple-green Grasshopper and red

Henna as well as newly-de-

signed 8 x 18-inch, forged alumini-

umwheels in high-gloss grey, shod

with 225/35 R18 V tyres. Other fea-

tures distinguishing the Nrbur-

gring Edition from the existing

Corsa OPC are a front spoiler lip

andanewdual exhaust in stainless

steel, aswell as Nrburgring log-

os on the B-pillars.

The sports interior features

unique sill plates with black and

red Nrburgring lettering, and

decorative white stitching on the

frontRecaro sports seats, aswell as

the rear seats, handbrakeandgear-

shift console. The front seatbacks

are also embossed with the

Nrburgring logo and the steer-

ingwheel insert is finishedinpiano

black. Added extras include auto-

maticheadlights, rain-sensingwip-

ers,heated frontseats,anauto-dim-

ming rear-viewmirror and climate

control.

Standard performance figures

give only hint of what the Corsa

OPC Nrburgring Edition is capa-

ble of. It hits 100km/h fromastand-

ing start in just 6,8 secondswith in-

gear elasticity boosted by the extra

torque. The Nrburgring Edition

completes the transition from 80 to

120 km/h in 5th gear in just 6,2 sec-

onds, and with a top speed of 230

km/h it is among the performance

leaders in its class.

The top-of-the-line Corsa had to

prove its brilliant driving dynam-

ics during testing and tuning runs

under maximum load on the Nr-

burgring north loop, the worlds

most demanding race track.

But thedriving funonoffer isnot

restricted to speed and handling

precision alone. It also includes an

exciting aural experience: the

sound of the newly developed ex-

haust system is tailored to suit the

character of the vehicle, as well as

giving optimal performance.

The limited edition Opel Corsa

Nrburgring Edition retails for

R343 200 including VAT and emis-

sions tax. The price also includes

a 5-year/120 000 km warranty and

Opels 3-year/60 000 km warranty.

Visual highlights include two new, exclusive body colours apple-green Grasshopper and red Henna as well as newly-designed 8 x 18-inch,

forged aluminium wheels in high-gloss grey, shod with 225/35 R18 V tyres. PHOTO: QUICKPIC

23

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TeamFordRacingprepares2014DakarRally

QUICKPIC

Team Ford Racing is preparing for its as-

sault on the 2014 Dakar Rally in South

America with an intensive nine-day test

session in the remote desert wilderness

near Walvis Bay in Namibia.

The full-scale test encompassed a complete

shake-down and set-up of the mighty Dakar-

specification 5.0-litre V8 Ford Ranger, and

featured almost the entire local and interna-

tional Ford racing crew including teamman-

agement, drivers and navigators, race engi-

neers and mechanics.

This is the first time theDakarRallyRang-

er has really been tested, says Neil Wool-

ridge, teammanager. Wedid a short two-day

test in Pietermaritzburg straight after the

launch of the Dakar campaign in July, but

this is our first opportunity to evaluate all as-

pects of the vehicle and focus on the race set-

up.

The test was conducted approximately

30 km from Walvis Bay and was based at the

Lauberville Camp, a concession area run by

West Coast 4x4.

We chose this area near Walvis Bay as it

has a bit of everything and replicates a lot of

the conditions we will encounter on the

Dakar, Woolridge explains. Theres a huge

dryriverbedwithsoftsandandlotsofundula-

tions that really gives the suspension a good

work-out. The area is also famous for its dune

driving, plus there are vast open rocky plains

thatallowedusto test thehigh-speedperform-

ance of the Ranger.

Argentinian lead driver Lucio Alvarez,

whohas completed threeDakarswith two top

10 finishes, agreed that the area is ideal for

the Rangers first full test. The location was

very good for training and testing because

you have all the different types of terrain ex-

perienced on Dakar.

It matches a lot of the Dakar stages weve

done throughArgentina, Peru andChile over

the past three years, which makes it the per-

fect place to test thevehicle in the right condi-

tions, he says.

An exhaustive schedule was put together

for the Namibia test, according to

Wooldridge, with one of the main priorities

being to set up the suspension and dampers

on the Team Ford Racing Ranger.

We gave BOS, our suspension partners in

France, all the dimensions of the vehicle, the

weights, wheel travel and specifications and

they built the dampers and tested them on a

suspension dyno according to those require-

ments, Woolridge explains.

However the final set-up had to be done

on the car andwehad twoof their technicians

with us during the Namibia test to upgrade

the dampers to the latest specification and

fine-tune the settings.

The second main objective was to run the

5.0-litre V8 engine used in the Ranger with

a 36 mm restrictor and Avgas as used on

Dakar. The South African-spec Ranger, as

campaignedinthe localCrossCountryCham-

pionship, uses a 35mmrestrictor and normal

unleaded fuel.

The Ranger uses an advanced Magneti

Marelli engine management system, and a

specialist engine technician from Oreca

Motorsports Engine Technology division in

France was also on hand to optimise the en-

gine mapping for the mighty V8 to maximise

its performance.

We also set out to do as much mileage on

this brand new car as possible, Woolridge

says. Although its similar to the SA-spec

Ranger, the FIA specification for the Dakar

allows us to use a totally different independ-

ent rear suspension compared to the live rear

axle used in local racing.

Furtherchangesincludehigh-performance

Brembo 6-piston brake callipers and pistons

compared to production-based versions on

the local version, and the engine ismoved 100

mm back. The vehicle also boasts a massive

500-litre fuel tank for the long stages versus

a 200-litre tank thats required for the SA

championship, which poses a unique set of

challenges in terms of weight distribution

and suspension configuration.

As the lead duo for the Ford Racing Dakar

campaign, Alvarez and navigator Ronnie

Graue believe the Ranger, which is built in

Pietermaritzburg by Neil Woolridge Motor-

sport, is an impressive package.

Its early days but the Ranger is very

good, Alvarez says. The design and chassis

are excellent and we simply need to fine-tune

someaspects of the vehicle, including finding

the perfect set-up for the suspension and opti-

mising theengineandgear ratios.But overall

the Ranger is great to drive.

Although the 2014 Dakar Rally will be the

first for Chris Visser and co-driver Japie

Badenhorst, they are front-running competi-

tors in the South African Cross Country

Championship and have been part of thewin-

ning formula that has seen the new Ranger

take victory on its debut in March, followed

up by podium finishes in every race since.

Visser was equally impressedwith the per-

formance of the Dakar-specification Ranger

in the arid Walvis Bay test area. This was

the first time we drove this Ranger and it is

superb. The independent suspension gives it

a much softer ride than our SA-spec vehicle,

which makes it very comfortable.

It is really good in the dunes and once the

suspension, engine mapping and gear ratios

are all sorted we will have a really competi-

tive vehicle, Visser says. The Ford Racing

Ranger has performed extremely well so far,

and this is exactly the right environment to

test in, as it has a bit of everything and is very

close towhatwewill encounter on theDakar.

Its also important for Japie and I to get

as much time as possible in the dunes, as its

not something were used to. The navigation

and GPS systems are very different to what

we use in the local championship, so we have

a bit of work to do on those fronts but Lucio

and Ronnie have been very helpful and sup-

portive and we have no doubt that well be

competitive on the Dakar Rally.

The test was conducted approximately 30 km from Walvis Bay and was based at the Lauberville Camp, a concession area run by West Coast

4x4. PHOTO: QUICKPIC

24

Donderdag

26 September, 2013

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Peugeot extends208 range

withvalue-addednewcomer

QUICKPIC

Peugeot South Africa has ex-

tendeditshighlysuccessful208

compact hatchback line-up

withtheadditionoftheafforda-

ble, three-door Access 1.0 mod-

el.

The newcomer brings the 208

ownership experience within

reach of a wider audience, while

still offering buyers an overall ex-

ceptional motoring package.

The 208Access 1.0VTi showcas-

es the French marques latest de-

sign language, but its three-door

configuration adds a further ele-

ment of youthful flair and sporti-

ness to the already popular range.

The striking grille, with its

black honeycomb grille and dark

aluminium surround, is flanked

on either side by boldly propor-

tioned headlights, with close at-

tention to finedetail as trueof this

entry-level model as it is across

the 208 range.

The boomerang-shaped tail

lights are another visually dis-

tinctive feature, while the overall

silhouette is sleek and wind-

cheating, but also compact and

athletic. A smooth roofline and

sculpted sides add to the dynamic

aesthetics.

The interior echoes the smart

functionality of the entire 208

range. The front bucket seats and

rear bench are upholstered in at-

tractive, yet durable cloth uphol-

stery,while the overall fit and fin-

ish is exemplary.

Standard equipment includes

electric front windows, central

locking, Isofix child seat mounts,

and an on-board trip computer.

ABS brakes with EBD and dual

front airbags for the driver and

front passenger ensure a high de-

gree of active and passive safety.

A full-size spare wheel is stand-

ard.

The three-door Access 1.0 is

powered by an efficient, in-line

three-cylinder engine. The 999 cc

unit has a maximum output of 50

kW at 6 000 r/min, combinedwith

a torque peak of 95 Nm at 3 000 r/

min. That urge is delivered to the

frontwheels via a five-speedman-

ual gearbox.

The 208Access 1.0VTi is a brisk

performer, with a 0100 km/h

sprint timeof14seconds,anda163

km/h top speed. Of even greater

interest is the Peugeot 208s fuel

efficiency, which comes to an im-

pressive average of 4,3 litres/100

km. Open-road consumption

drops to an exceptional 3,8 li-

tres/100 km.

The three-door Peugeot 208 Ac-

cess 1.0 VTi has a three-year war-

ranty, as well as Peugeots Premi-

um Plan a 5-year/60 000 km

maintenance plan included as

standard.At justR147500, itrepre-

sentsstrongvalueandaffordabili-

ty,making the newcomer an ideal

purchase for first-time buyers.

The 208 Access 1.0 VTi is a brisk performer, with a 0100 km/h

sprint time of 14 sec and a 163 km/h top speed. PHOTO: QUICKPIC

VolkswagenGroup: Top

employer in SouthAfrica

QUICKPIC

Volkswagen Group South Africa

(VWSA) has been certified by the

TopEmployer InstituteasaTopEm-

ployer in South Africa for the third

year inarowandastheNo1employ-

er in the automotive industry for

20132014.

VWSA was one of 71 organisa-

tions recognised in the 20132014 re-

search into the human resources

policies and practices of leading

South African employers. The sur-

vey, which measures HR benefits,

working conditions, training and

development, career advancement

and culture management, is based

on an international standard that is

applied across 45 countries world-

wide.

TheTopEmployers Institute is an

international group that certifies

excellence in conditions that em-

ployers create for their people. The

award itself comes after the culmi-

nation of intense research, with

findings independently audited by

Grant Thornton.

Our comprehensive independ-

ent research revealed that VWSA

provides exceptional employee con-

ditions, nurtures and develops tal-

ent throughout all levels of the or-

ganisationandhasdemonstrated it-

self as a leader in the human

resources environment, striving to

continuously optimise its employ-

ment practices and develop, al-

ways, explains David Plink, CEO

of the Top Employers Institute.

Percy Smith, HR Director at VW-

SA, credited the staff as the corner-

stoneof theorganisationsconsider-

able achievements. This recogni-

tionof excellence is anachievement

that we are very proud of. Together

with other recent accolades in cus-

tomer sales and satisfaction, and

dealer satisfaction indices, is a cul-

mination of great effort by our em-

ployees.

Our employees work in a fast

paced and exciting environment,

where training and development is

actively encouraged providing am-

ple opportunity for personal

growth. This, combined with our

performance-based culture, trans-

lates into a great reason for talented

individuals to want to associate

themselveswithVWSAand to grow

a career here, says Smith.

Anthony Hunneyball from HR accept-

ing the award on behalf of Volkswa-

gen Group SA with David Plink, CEO

of Top Employers Institute.

PHOTO: QUICKPIC

21

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