Hyundai introduces AWD Tucson Sport
Following the success of the Tucson 1.6 TGDI Executive Sport with its eye-catching body skirts, black 19-inch wheels and bold exhaust pipes, Hyundai Automotive South Africa has decided to give the top-of-the-range All-Wheel Drive Tucson 1.6 TGDI Elite the same treatment, and to let it carry the Sport moniker as well.
“We have sold more than 50 Tucson 1.6 TGDI Executive Sport models in July,” says Stanley Anderson, sales and operations director of Hyundai Automotive South Africa adding “Some of our customers requested this same body kit and engine power upgrade to be applied to our top-of-range Tucson 1.6 TGDI Elite All-Wheel Drive derivative with its Dual Clutch Transmission. It convinced us to add another Tucson Sport derivative to our range”.
This new derivative of Hyundai’s SUV model is known as the Hyundai Tucson 1.6 TGDI Elite Sport AWD, which means it is powered by a turbocharged 1,6-litre petrol engine that delivers 150 kW peak power and 295 Nm torque, distributed to the road via All-Wheel Drive (AWD) and a Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT).
Motor Industry Shows Great Interest In Digital Marketing
There was great interest from South African motor industry stakeholders in digital marketing, which was the subject at the 2017 CAR Digital Dealer Conference held at the Kyalami Conference Centre on the opening day of the WesBank Motoring Experience (1 September).
The theme was “The digital economy – How dealers need to adapt to align with consumer buying trends”.
The various speakers covered a wide range of topics around the digital communication space, but the underlying thrust was that this is not something that lies in the future; it is happening right now. There is no time to waste.
One of the highlights of the conference was the talk by Madhu Nutakki, the Chief Digital Officer of Nissan Motor Corporation, who is based in San Francisco.
CAR Magazine is an official media partner to the 2017 Wesbank SA Motoring Experience.
Goodyear using Soybean Oil-Based Rubber in Tyres
The Goodyear Tyre & Rubber Company is harvesting some unique “seeds” of innovation as it introduces a new tyre technology with support from the United Soybean Board (USB).
The soybean oil-based rubber compound is helping Goodyear enhance tyre performance in dry, wet and winter conditions. A Goodyear team of scientists and engineers created a tread compound, or formulation, using soybean oil, which is naturally derived, cost-effective, carbon-neutral and renewable.
By employing soybean oil in tyres, Goodyear found a new way to help keep the rubber compound pliable in changing temperatures, a key performance achievement in maintaining and enhancing the vehicle’s grip on the road surface.
The Haval H6 C
Haval products, the luxury sub-brand of GWM, have begun to hit the South African market, with the recently launched H2.
The local unveiling of the Haval H6 C has also begun. With the “C” standing for Coupe, its heartbeat comes courtesy of a high-tech, four-cylinder, turbopetrol, two-litre mill. And with 140kW and 310Nm of torque between 2 000 and 3 600rpm on tap, progress is brisk, with zero to 100km/h coming up in nine seconds.
Like the smaller H2, the H6 C boasts a five-star C NCAP rating.
Volkswagen Customer Interaction Centre Amongst the best in SA
The Volkswagen Customer Interaction Centre (CIC) run and managed from the Volkswagen Manufacturing Plant in Uitenhage, scooped five awards at the prestigious 2017 Contact Centre Management Group National Awards held in Johannesburg on 26 August.
The awards won by the Volkswagen Team are as follows:
Best Contact Centre Agent – Junene Wildeman (Second place – Silver)
Best Contact Centre Supervisor – Moegamat Hendricks (Third Place – Bronze)
Best Contact Centre Operations Manager – Thabisa Magxwalisa (Second place – Silver)
Best Use of Social Media in the Contact Centre – CIC Emerging Media Team (Second place – Silver)
Best Medium Sized Outsourced Contact Centre – Third place, Bronze.
Continental presents innovations for the fast-growing electric mobility market
Electric-powered mobility is becoming increasingly important globally, and in the build-up to the 2017 IAA Frankfurt Motor Show in September, Continental is showcasing examples of new production applications in the field of electrification, while looking ahead to what the near future holds in this respect.
Along with its cutting-edge tyre technologies, Continental is one of the world’s leading electrification pioneers, both in terms of production applications that are already up and running, and of the breadth of its portfolio of solutions. These range from 48V mild hybrid applications to high-voltage powertrains for electric and hybrid vehicles.
Continental’s components have reached a high level of production maturity and are used among other applications for high-performance high-voltage powertrain modules.
Continental’s engineers are already developing components to meet the requirements that electric mobility will present going forward for vehicle systems outside the powertrain itself.
Volkswagen Race Day draws over 1200 runners
Over 1200 eager but cold running enthusiasts gather at the Volkswagen PeoplePavilion in Uitenhage for the annual 5km Fun Run and 10km Run. The 10km race saw runners starting at the PeoplePavilion, turning in Despatch, running a lap of the VW Test Track with the finish back at the PeoplePavilion. The shorter 5km Fun Run, had participants running from the PeoplePavilion, along Algoa Road, turning and finishing back at the PeoplePavilion.
Melikhaya Frans from the Ikhamva Athletics Club won the 10km in a time of 29 min 13 seconds, while Ntombesintu Mfunzi from the Nedbank Athletics Club was the women’s winner in 37:02.
The VW Race Day was hosted and organised by the VW Athletics Club and the 10km race is supported and endorsed by Eastern Province Athletics.
Volkswagen Group South Africa is the Exporter of the Year!
VWSA walked away with three awards at the recent Eastern Cape’s Exporters Club Awards. These three awards, namely the 2017 SJM Flex Environmental Merit Award, the 2017 Best Exporter OEM Award and the 2017 Exporter of the Year Award, were presented at a gala event held in Port Elizabeth.
