Just when you thought you’d seen it all, along comes the world’s first bullet proof Golf, proudly armoured in South Africa.
Armormax has just taken the wraps off its latest project – a VW Golf 8 GTI – armoured to a B4 ballistic level. This is the first armoured Golf 8 GTI both in South Africa and globally. While it may seem misplaced to have a bullet-proof hatchback offering, the demand for such a vehicle is quite high.
Using the lightest synthetic armour available globally, the armouring conversion adds less than 180 kg to the vehicle ensuring that economy and performance remain largely unaffected.
The armouring package on the Golf 8 GTI includes replacement of all standard glass with Optima ballistic glass, which, from the outside looks no different from that found on a standard vehicle.
All doors, panels, pillars, rear seats and hatch are armoured with lightweight synthetic armour. The same ballistic protection is included in the roof and sunroof, the latter remaining operational just as the front windows are.
A PTT intercom system finishes off the package giving you the safest performance hatchback on the road today.
‘The B4 Golf was a daring project back in 2018 but was met with immense interest and several orders were taken. There was never a question that we would develop the world’s first armouring package for the new model. Its most popular application remains in the private security sector as a chase, rapid response and principal extraction vehicle’ says Michael Broom, Marketing Manager for Armormax.
When it comes to vehicle finance, balloon payment deals are possibly the most commonly misunderstood of all installment-type payment options.
In this article, Lebogang Gaoaketse, WesBank’s Head of Marketing and Communication sheds light on the subject of balloon payment deals and shares advice for consumers considering this type of repayment option for their next car purchase.
Lebogang Gaoaketse, Head of Marketing and Communication at WesBank
Q : What is a balloon payment deal?
Lebogang Gaoaketse : When taken at face value, balloon payment deals may seem like an easy way to drive a car you simply cannot afford. You’re basically taking an amount owed on the purchase price of a car and setting it aside, in turn making monthly instalments lower because they are calculated on a smaller initial debt owed to the bank. It’s important to remember, however, that the amount set aside at the start of the deal is still the buyer’s responsibility and will need to be settled.
Q : What are the benefits associated with balloon payments?
Lebogang Gaoaketse : Balloons are designed to help ease the burden of monthly expenses, but the luxury of lower repayments every month does come with a great deal of responsibility for the buyer. When used correctly, the money saved on repayments should more than cover the costs of a loan needed to refinance the lump sum of debt at the end of a balloon term. Put simply, customers should aim to reserve the money they save every month in order to make settling the outstanding amount owed on a vehicle easier after years of driving it.
Q : Saving money isn’t easy even at the best of times but why is there an emphasis on savings when it comes to balloon payment deals?
Lebogang Gaoaketse : Extremely responsible budgeting is key to maximising the benefits of a balloon deal, so if you know you might struggle with saving money every month, then this option is probably not the best one for you.
There is a big difference between being able to afford driving a car and being able to afford owning it. We advise customers to consider much more than only monthly repayments when calculating vehicle finance affordability. While installment amounts may seem like the bottom line, other responsibilities such as fuel, insurance, tyres, regular upkeep, unrelated living expenses and, in the case of balloon payments, that all important lump sum owed also needs to be taken into account when looking at affordability.
Q : We often hear the term ‘breakeven point’. Tell us what it is and how it becomes a factor when financing a vehicle.
Lebogang Gaoaketse : Breakeven points are critically important to understand. A breakeven point occurs when a financed vehicle’s trade-in value falls in line with the amount still owed to the bank. Depending on the finance deal structure, a breakeven point may come sooner or later during your term, with sooner always being the goal. By nature, balloon payments will push your breakeven point to a later date within a loan period.
South African drivers have an unhealthy tendency to upgrade their vehicles and enter new finance deals more often than is financially viable. Rolling outstanding debt into a new purchase, or in other words, paying off a portion of your old car while driving your new one is a dangerous trap to fall into. Irresponsible buyers who do this multiple times not only push their breakeven point very far out of reach, but in extreme cases can owe the bank an amount that is more than what their asset, or car, will ever be worth.
It’s also important to not see a balloon payment as an alternative to a deposit put down at the start of a loan. A healthy deposit on a new or used car will always make your financial road an easier one to travel, as repayment costs and the deferred balloon debt will be lower.
WesBank strongly advises keeping monthly repayments, the value of a current car, and balloon debts evenly balanced.
Buying a car, new or used, is a big commitment, but with proper planning it does not have to be a daunting one.
There is a vast selection of cars available from a large variety of sellers, making it difficult to find the one that’s right for you. The first thing to do is to ask yourself how much you are prepared to spend on a car and to be realistic about what you can afford.
New or used, that is the question
Which of these is the correct choice? There is no right or wrong answer, but understanding the pros and cons of each is vital for making the best decision for you.
Benefits of buying a new car
The upside of buying a new car is the certainty of knowing exactly what you are buying. No one else has ever owned it, and there’s a guarantee that it has no hidden secrets from previous owners.
You also get the advantage of a full manufacturer’s warranty and in most cases, a service or maintenance plan. These plans can vary from brand to brand in terms of length of validity periods and what’s covered, so do your research and compare what’s on offer from different manufacturers.
Benefits of buying a used car
Choosing a pre-owned car or an earlier year’s model might be more prudent for your purposes. Some used cars, including dealer demo models, are often in almost new condition and still benefit from lengthy aftersales warranties and service plans, with reasonably discounted sticker prices depending on mileage and age.
Most car brands also offer approved pre-owned programmes, meaning these cars come with some added benefits such as extended aftersales plans and guarantees. They also undergo thorough checks by certified workshop technicians in order to get the stamp of approval for ‘approved’ status.
While depreciation is an unavoidable reality of owning a car, used vehicles almost always suffer less depreciation from purchase price than a new one. In other words, the original owner, who bought the car new has already incurred a significant amount of depreciation simply by taking ownership. When buying a used model, you’re starting off from a lower initial outlay and the effects of depreciation are felt less in your wallet.
There are some excellent deals to be found in older model used vehicles, but it can also be a riskier purchase as vehicles’ histories get cloudier as they age. Try to identify cars with full service histories, and even better are those with full histories at official franchise dealers. Also, try to take a trusted mechanic with you to view an older car to make sure there are no major issues before taking delivery.
It’s also worth considering buying extended warranties, either from the manufacturer itself where applicable or from a third party.
Start with a budget
The most important part of the car-buying journey is compiling a list of all current expenses and income. It is important to shop around and compare car prices to find a sensible and affordable car that fits within your budget. Don’t forget to budget for fuel, insurance, tyres, service costs and more – and remember that these costs can change over time.
It is also advisable to build some leeway into your budget to accommodate for rising fuel prices, interest rate increases and unexpected costs associated with driving.
Choose a reputable dealer
If a deal seems too good to be true, it normally is. It might be tempting to buy a newer, fancier car advertised at a low price by a small independent dealer or private seller, but you must let common sense prevail. There is probably a reason why that car is priced the way it is, and you might run into issues with it down the road.
It’s safer to do business with reputable dealers who will go to great lengths to protect their reputation through quality products and customer service.
Bridgestone now offers Lamborghini drivers the world’s first-ever supercar all-terrain tyre featuring Run-Flat Technology
Bridgestone has been chosen as the sole and exclusive tyre partner for the new Lamborghini Huracán Sterrato, providing All-Terrain and Winter fitments for the world’s first all-terrain super sports car equipped with a V10 engine and all-wheel drive powertrain.
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Specifically designed for the unique engineering requirements of the Lamborghini Huracán Sterrato, the new Bridgestone Dueler All-Terrain AT002 tyre offers drivers maximum on-road and off-road performances.
The Bridgestone Dueler All-Terrain AT002 is the world’s first-ever supercar all-terrain tyre to feature Run-Flat Technology (RFT), supporting drivers to continue driving safely even after a puncture – for 80km at 80kph with 0-bar pressure.
These custom-designed Bridgestone Dueler All-Terrain AT002 tyres are available in two dimensions: 235/40 RF19 96W XL RFT for the front wheels, and 285/40 RF19 107W XL RFT for the rear.
Bridgestone’s partnership with Lamborghini is part of the company’s vision to provide customer and social value as a sustainable solutions company.
Audi South Africa, in partnership with Rubicon, has brought 43 additional electric vehicle (EV) charging stations online across the country
Audi has installed 76 fast and ultra-fast EV chargers across South Africa. With the latest addition of chargers, the total number of DC and AC charging connectors contributed by Audi now stands at 127.
These chargers can accommodate a total of 57 EV cars simultaneously, at varying capacities, regardless of model or brand ownership. This is in addition to the brand’s contribution of 70 EV charging connection points nationwide a year ago, when Audi was the first to bring ultra-fast chargers to South Africa.
The latest rollout includes the very first DC 200kW ultra-fast charger in South Africa, which is installed at the largest shopping mall ever built in a single phase – Mall of Africa – enabling compatible cars to ultra-fast charge.
The EV battery of an e-tron GT can be recharged within 15 minutes*. The solar photovoltaic (PV) system installed at Mall of Africa is one of the largest of its kind in the Southern hemisphere, making this installation a progressive statement towards sustainable charging.
EVs are the future of mobility and we’re investing not just in hardware infrastructure, but in making electric mobility simpler and more widely available for South Africans
Sascha Sauer, Head of Audi South Africa
The rest of this second phase of infrastructure investment comprises four 100kW (DC), eight 60kW (DC), five 25kW (DC) and twenty-five 22kW (AC) fast EV charger installations at convenient locations across the country to serve all EV customers. The commissioning of the first and second phase of charging infrastructure means that Audi and partners GridCars and Rubicon, have installed 76 fast and ultra-fast EV chargers across South Africa, representing about 28% of public charging stations in the country.
“The rollout of our second phase of EV charging stations is the next step in realising our vision of sustainable mobility and living our mantra that the ‘Future is an Attitude’,” says Sascha Sauer, Head of Audi South Africa. “EVs are the future of mobility and we’re investing not just in hardware infrastructure, but in making electric mobility simpler and more widely available for South Africans, thus enabling the local EV market to grow. By fulfilling our promise from early 2022, we’re demonstrating our commitment to helping take SA into the future of mobility”.
The partnership between Audi, GridCars and Rubicon includes a roaming agreement, which allows billing cards to be interoperable across the two networks, making charging even easier, seamless and accessible for Audi e-tron customers and users of other EV brands.
Local availability of more and more EVs, coupled with the increase in fossil fuel costs, will be a major catalyst for EV adoption in South Africa
Sascha Sauer, Head of Audi South Africa
Greg Blandford, Director of Rubicon Energy & E-mobility, says that as public interest in EVs grows, so will the drive to integrate charging infrastructure, renewable energy and energy storage systems. “Rubicon is fully immersed and committed to the advancement of renewable energy and deployment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in South Africa.
With a range between 350 and 480km the Audi e-tron models typically do not require a charge every day
Sascha Sauer, Head of Audi South Africa
The global adoption of artificial intelligence, smart devices, greener technologies and carbon reduction initiatives has highlighted and accelerated the adoption of electric vehicles. Local availability of more and more EVs, coupled with the increase in fossil fuel costs, will be a major catalyst for EV adoption in South Africa,” he says.
“While load shedding is a reality to which South Africans have become accustomed, it is worth pointing out that our charging network also capitalises on solar installations, where possible, to keep the charging stations optimally operational,” says Sauer. “With a range between 350 and 480km the Audi e-tron models typically do not require a charge every day, so depending on driving style and daily commuting distances, owners will be able to find their nearest charging station and charge their vehicles regularly, with ease”.
The newly added 43 chargers are spread across the provinces as follows:
In this day and age, time is a very important resource. People seem to get busier and busier every day, cramming more and more into their packed schedules which makes car maintenance a chore they could very well do without.
Increases Safety Sticking to your regular car maintenance services increases your safety while on the road and prevents break-downs. Ensuring that your vehicle is serviced accordingly to the manufacturer’s prescription gives you peace of mind as the risk of malfunctions decreases significantly.
Keeps Your Car Performing at its Best Along with the increased safety, your car will also perform better than it would if you were inattentive to the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance service schedule. Regular maintenance ensures increased engine performance, better fuel efficiency, consistent steering control and prolonged tyre.
Saves You Money Taking care of your vehicle on a consistent basis, prevents larger, more costly issues from arising. Its far cheaper to pay a set amount every few months to keep your car in check than to have to fork out thousands when you have a major breakdown.
Lowers The Cost of Fuel Servicing your car regularly maintains its fuel consumption. But skipping a .When you take good care of your car, it won’t waste any drops of fuel. But if you skip one of the services, your car is likely to burn more fuel, causing its consumption to increase exponentially. As a result, you will quite likely become a regular visitor at your nearest fuel station, which in turn will cost your time and money.
Saves You Time By staying on top of your maintenance schedule, you will be preventing larger issues which could keep your car from running. If you get really unlucky and have to deal with a huge auto repair issue, you may not be able to drive your car for days or even weeks.
Keeps Car Value High you should stay on top of your car maintenance schedule if you are planning on selling your vehicle at some point. Regular services with an industry recognized workshop helps keep the value of your car high. Should you wish to sell your car, chances are you will get more money for it than you could have hoped for.
Higgins has been at the wheel in the last four James Bond films, including No Time To Die (2021)
Mark Higgins and co-driver Claire Williams won the North Wales leg of the 2022 Defender Bowler Challenge in Dolgellau in a time of 55 minutes and 12 seconds. The duo finished one minute and 41 seconds ahead of their nearest rival.
In celebration of the 60th anniversary of the James Bond film franchise, a Land Rover Defender 90 with a unique 007 livery made a winning one-off appearance in the Defender Bowler Challenge in Dolgellau, Wales, driven by Bond stunt driver and rally champion Mark Higgins.
The one-off Bowler Defender 90 featured a special 007 60th logo on its roof and sides in a trademark satin black and gold finish, with a host of performance and competition upgrades by the team at Bowler.
After nearly 35 years in the business, Chris de Kock is retiring as CEO of WesBank and handing over to Ghana Msibi.
WesBank today announced that after nearly 35 years in the business, Chris de Kock is retiring as CEO of WesBank and handing over to Ghana Msibi who is the current CEO of WesBank’s motor retail division.
Chris joined WesBank in 1987 and has held the role as CEO since September 2013.
Chris de Kok
Commenting, Chris said that it was time to hand over the reins to the next generation of leadership.
“I am very proud of the business we have collectively built over the years. WesBank is a market leader in vehicle and asset finance with an unparalleled portfolio of partnerships. Our unique model has allowed us to deliver a long track record of growth and returns to the shareholders of WesBank’s parent FirstRand Limited. I am pleased that Ghana has agreed to take on this role and I have every confidence that he will make it a great success.”
Ghana Msibi
Ghana who has been with WesBank for the last 7 years, said he was excited to step up and lead WesBank.
“It’s a very special business, with passionate people and high quality, long-standing partnerships. It’s a privilege to take over from Chris,” says Ghana Msibi.
Chris will retire as WesBank CEO effective 30th June 2022 but will remain with the FirstRand group for the next twelve months to ensure a seamless handover and finalise a number of strategic projects currently underway.
Global Land Rover ambassador Kingsley Holgate and well-known local Land Rover ambassadors musician Lira and rugby legend Bryan Habana recently embarked on an 8 day adventure to deliver food parcels to an early childhood development centre in Thembisa, Johannesburg.
What started as an objective to deliver 200,000 meals to impoverished South African communities during national lockdown in 2020, has become one of the Kingsley Holgate Foundation’s biggest ever humanitarian successes with the total tally now reaching more than 2-million meals over the past two years.
The mission was captured in a short film under the banner of #TeamDefender which is an initiative to build a community of like-minded people, who aspire to go above and beyond to make more of their world.
Kingsley Holgate, said: “When we set off almost two years ago on our Mzansi Edge expedition – an 8-day, 16,000km journey to track the land borders of South Africa, we set a target of 200,000 meal deliveries to families in rural areas bordering game reserves that were suffering losses of income due to the pandemic. By the end of the expedition in December 2020, we had surpassed our goal and delivered 250,000 meals in the form of nutritious porridge.”
Award-winning vocalist Lira, said: “I may have only played a small part in the 2-million meal accomplishment, but charity and volunteering are close to my heart. Witnessing the joy that Kingsley and his team have brought to millions of people for many decades first hand has left me with an immense sense of pride. I encourage anyone to seek new experiences and find the courage it takes to make more of their world.”
Former Springbok Bryan Habana, said: “It’s a privilege to use my role as a Land Rover ambassador to give back, and I’m honoured to have joined Kingsley and his team for part of his latest expedition. The work his Foundation has done throughout the pandemic is of massive importance to communities in South Africa, and I bid him and his team farewell as they leave Mzansi’s borders to continue humanitarian efforts across Africa and into Europe.”
Kingsley Holgate’s year-long Defender Transcontinental expedition promises to be one of his most challenging geographic and humanitarian journeys to date. The expedition involves a 30,000km journey through 30 countries from the southern tip of the African continent to the most northern point of Europe, and then on to the birthplace of Land Rover at the mystical Isle of Anglesey in Wales.
It will be the first real-life expedition test for Land Rover’s new Defenders outside of South African borders, across two continents and over some of the most extreme terrain on Earth, undertaken by an experienced team that has already completed 39 gruelling expeditions to every country on the African continent and beyond – many of them world-firsts.
Humanitarian objectives for the Defender Transcontinental expedition include eye tests and reading glasses for the elderly in remote areas, the distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets to mothers and children, the delivery of two million meals to creches, educational conservation work near elephant and rhino populations, and the supply of water to communities with water shortages.
Watch the film featuring Lira, Bryan Habana and the Holgates here:
Land Rover South Africa has opened order books and confirmed prices for the New Range Rover Extended-Range plug-in hybrid.
Land Rover South Africa has opened order books and confirmed prices for the New Range Rover Extended-Range plug-in hybrid, while revealing performance figures are even stronger than originally estimated.
The P510e Extended-Range Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) offers exceptional efficiency, producing CO2 emissions as low as 18g/km and providing up to 113km of EV range* – exceeding initial expectations and offering customers even greater breadth of capability. At its reveal last year, Land Rover suggested an EV range of 100km and CO2 emissions below 30g/km would be attainable.
Nick Collins, Executive Director Vehicle Programmes, Jaguar Land Rover, said: “New Range Rover is the most desirable, elegant and capable luxury SUV in the world. Our efficient new Extended-Range Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle powertrains elevate the driving experience with a fine balance of performance, refinement and efficiency, enabling owners to complete whisper quiet zero emissions journeys of up to 113km.”
Electrified future
New Range Rover will become the first in a series of all-electric Land Rovers when the 100 percent electric model debuts in 2024, with every Land Rover set to be available with pure-electric propulsion by the end of the decade – helping Jaguar Land Rover achieve net zero carbon across its products, operations and supply chain by 2039 as part of its Reimagine strategy.
New Range Rover Extended-Range Plug-in Hybrid is available to order now from R3,527,000.
Jaguar Land Rover has partnered with Pramac, to develop a portable zero-emission energy storage unit to give new life to Jaguar I-PACE batteries.
Jaguar Land Rover has partnered with Pramac, a global leader in the energy sector, to develop a portable zero-emission energy storage unit powered by second-life Jaguar I-PACE batteries.
Called the Off Grid Battery Energy Storage System (ESS), Pramac’s technology – which features lithium-ion cells from Jaguar I-PACE batteries taken from prototype and engineering test vehicles, supplies zero-emission power where access to the mains supply is limited or unavailable.
The partnership is the first in Jaguar Land Rover’s plans to create new circular economy business models for its vehicle batteries. As part of its commitment to net zero status by 2039, the company will be launching programmes that deliver second life and beyond uses for its electric vehicle batteries.
Post-vehicle applications exist because Jaguar Land Rover’s batteries are engineered to the highest standards and can therefore be safely deployed in multiple low-energy situations once battery health falls below the stringent requirements of an electric vehicle.
Second-life battery supply for stationary applications, like renewable energy storage, could exceed 200 gigawatt-hours per year by 2030, creating a global value over $30 billion*.
The flagship system has a capacity of up to 125kWh – more than enough to fully charge Jaguar’s multi-award-winning all-electric I-PACE performance SUV, or to power a regular family home for a week**. Pramac directly reuses up to 85% of the vehicle battery supplied by Jaguar Land Rover within the storage unit, including modules and wiring. The remaining materials are recycled back into the supply chain.
Charged from solar panels, the unit is a self-contained solution that consists of a battery system linked to a bi-directional converter and the associated control management systems. Available for commercial hire, the units are fitted with Type 2 Electric Vehicle (EV) charge connections with dynamic control and rated at up to 22kW AC to allow electric vehicle charging.
An Off Grid Battery ESS will also be deployed at Jaguar Land Rover Experience Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa – the world’s biggest – to help the site cope with inconsistent power delivery from the mains
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