April 19, 2021 - Heels & Horsepower Magazine

Toyota boss Akio Toyoda named 2021 World Car Person Of The Year

vuyi on April 19, 2021

President of Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) Akio Toyoda has been unanimously voted 2021 World Car Person of the Year by 93 World Car jurors from 28 countries.

Also in contention for the prestigious honour were finalists Luc Donckerwolke (Chief Creative Officer, Hyundai Motor Group), Euisin Chung (Chairman, Hyundai Motor Group), Tomiko Takeuchi (Mazda’s first-ever female chief engineer and programme manager of the MX-30) and Pratap Bose (Tata Motors’ Vice President, Global Design, who is the first-ever Indian to be nominated in the competition).

I would like to change this award from car ‘person’ of the year, to car ‘people’ of the year, because it’s the collective effort of all that have made Toyota what it is today
– Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC)

Akio Toyoda joined TMC in 1984, having graduated from Keio University with a degree in law and a master’s degree in business administration from Babson College in the USA. After working in many different areas of the business in Japan and overseas, he joined the TMC board of directors in 2000. Subsequently he held further senior and executive vice president roles before becoming TMC President in 2009.

The award celebrates individuals who have made significant contributions to the global automotive industry during each calendar year. Such contributions could include a significant impact to their brand or company or a significant safety, engineering, design or technical advancement.

https://heelsandhorsepowermag.com/watch-here-are-the-finalists-for-the-world-car-person-of-the-year-2021/

The World Car Person of the Year award is just one of six awards handed out annually by the World Car Awards. On receiving the award, Toyoda said: “On behalf of all 360 000 Toyota Team members around the world, thank you for this tremendous honour. If you don’t mind, however, I would like to change this award from car ‘person’ of the year, to car ‘people’ of the year, because it’s the collective effort of all our global employees, retailers and suppliers that have truly made Toyota what it is today.”

What Parents Auto Know About The Different Types of Car Seats

vuyi on April 19, 2021

Parents should not only understand car seat categories but also need to strap their toddlers in at all times.

-vuyi mpofu, editor, heels & horsepower magazine

I find it truly mind boggling that some parents elect not to strap their infants and toddlers into appropriate child car seats; what is also incredulous, is that they themselves securely buckle themselves in. When you consider that most motorists drive above the speed limit as well as drive distracted my sense of bewilderment increases all the more.

Similar to seat belts, car seats are an essential piece of safety apparatus. They are built to withstand tremendous amounts of pressure in the event of an accident and when used correctly, could save your child’s life.

It is imperative that parents ensure that their children travel in appropriate child restraints, which:

Conform to the United Nations standard, ECE Regulation 44.04 (or R 44.03) or to the new i-size regulation, R129. Look for the ‘E’ mark label on the seat.
are suitable for your child’s weight and size
are correctly fitted according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Parents are responsible for their child’s safety and it is an unforgivable act of selfishness not to strap them in.

– vuyi mpofu, editor heels & horsepower magazine

There are many different types of child seats available. These are divided into categories, according to the weight of the child. Car seats correspond broadly to different age groups, but it is the weight of the child that is most important when deciding what type of child seat to use.

Here are the various categories parents should know when shopping for a child’s car seat.

Type of Child Restraint	Weight Range	Approx. Age Range
Rearward-facing baby seat	Group 0: 0 – 10kg Group 0+: 0 – 13kg i-size : Not based on weight, but check child’s height is within the range for the seat	0 to 6 – 9 months 0 to 12 – 15 months Up to at least 15 months
Combination seat (Rearward & Forward-facing)	Group 0+ and 1 : 0-18 kg Group 0+, 1 & 2 : Birth to 25 kg	0 to 4 years 0 to 6 years
Forward-facing child seat	Group 1 : 9-18 kg Group 1, 2 and 3 : 9 – 36 kg	9 months to 4 years 1 to 11 years
High-backed Booster Seat	Group 2 : 15 – 25 kg Group 2 and 3 : 15 – 36 kg	4 to 6 years 4 to 11 years
Booster Cushion	Group 2 and 3 : 15 – 36 kg Group 3 : 22 – 36 kg	4 to 11 years 6 to 11 years

You and your family will never overcome the loss of your child should you be involved in an accident

– vuyi mpofu, editor heels & horsepower magazine

Parents are responsible for their child’s safety and it is an unforgivable act of selfishness not to strap them in. The fact that children don’t like car seats and prefer the freedom of jumping about on the seats in a moving car, does not excuse parents from doing the right thing.

Granted, some little ones scream blue murder at the suggestion of being buckled up and rather than fight with the, most parents relent. After all, who wouldn’t opt for a peaceful drive? However, there are two important things to remember about strapping your child:

Your child will eventually stop making a fuss irrespective of how loudly they protest.
You and your family will never overcome the loss of your child should you be involved in an accident

Make it a rule that everyone in the car is buckled up, no matter the distance of your travels. It’s the loving thing to do.

WATCH: LED Light Technology on the BMW R 1250 GS & R 1250 GS Adventure

vuyi on April 19, 2021

More radiance. More visibility. More prominence. In short – let there be light!

The full-LED swivelling headlights and adaptive headlights on the R 1250 GS and GS Adventure guarantee superior illumination to the side, up and down. In this way, the light is with you wherever you ride.

The LED turn signals with Cruising Light option provide an eye-catching appearance with constantly dimmed lighting at the front. At the rear, the multifunctional LED indicators increase passive safety. Further highlights include the Welcome and Goodbye function as well as the driving lights, which can be activated when the ignition is switched off – very practical when manoeuvring in the dark.

The BMW R 1250 GS is priced from R322 900.00

The BMW R 1250 GS Adventure is priced from R343 700.00

Rats in your engine! Here’s What you Auto Know

vuyi on April 19, 2021

Rats and mice can cause colossal damage to your car, ranging from chewing through electrical wires to gorging on upholstery

Rats love dark, balmy places and as winter approaches rodents, similar to humans, will be looking to snuggle up wherever they can find warmth. As it turns out, your car’s engine not only provides 5-star accommodation for them but is also a great source of materials on which they can trim their incisors. Many motorists may be unaware that in order to keep their choppers from over growing, rats – and other rodents – need to chomp constantly, else their teeth could grow to impractical lengths.

The vast number of electrical wires, components and other bits and bobs under the bonnet, make a gourmet buffet for cold, hungry furry pests. Just one well chewed wire could be the difference between your car firing up in the morning and you being magnificently late for the school run.

Is the move towards green mobility to blame?

The problem with rodents feasting on your car’s engine components isn’t new but has become increasingly worse over the years. In the past, auto-makers used polymer-based plastic materials to coat electrical wires in an effort to adhere to global recycling and sustainability policies. This has led to car manufacturers switching to plant based substances instead, which are largely made from soy, corn and rice husks. However, these environmentally friendly, yet appetizing ingredients have turned many vehicles into mobile diners for armies of rats.

Cost of repairs

Bad rodent orthodontics could get you a sympathetic smile from your local technician which will disappear once the conversation turns to the labour intensive and expensive repair work necessary to get your car back in working condition. And of course, rodents partying on your engine components is not covered under warranty.

Tips to keep furry pests at bay

To help keep you from forking out more than a pretty penny for rodent based repair work…..

Seal every hole in your garage with sheet metal or steel mesh
Invest in a durable car cover which completes seals your car
Run your engine every few days (don’t let it sit unused for long periods of time)
Set mousetraps using blobs of peanut butter or pieces of cheese as bait. Peppermint oil and used cat litter are also effective rodent repellents.
Get a cat!

WATCH: Build-up to the World Car of the Year 2021 Finals announcement

vuyi on April 19, 2021

World Car Awards and its 94 global jurors are missioned with recognizing and rewarding automotive excellence on a global scale. Jurors test drive and evaluate all new or fully redesigned vehicles that are for sale on more than one continent from May to May each year. The final votes determine the World Car Design, World Luxury Car, World Performance Car, World Urban Car and World Car of the Year.

Now in their 17th year, the annual World Car Awards are the number one awards program in the world for the eighth (8th) consecutive year based on Cision Insight’s 2020 media report.

Credit: World Car TV

The awards were inaugurated in 2003, and officially launched in January 2004, to reflect the reality of the global marketplace, as well as to recognize, reward and inspire excellence, leadership and innovation in a rapidly changing automotive industry.

The awards are intended to complement, not compete, with existing national and regional Car of the Year programs.