ARTICLES THIS MONTH
More options for NP200
The base model NP200 was launched in September last
year and the range has now been extended to offer more
punch and power from a new 1,6-litre 16-valve engine in
mid and high versions. The 1.5 dCi diesel engine (from
the Nissan Micra) is also offered in base and high versions.
Taking people places
In a tough market rumours flourish! With a new capital injection of R30-million, Mahindra South Africa is flying well
under that radar and is set to open up a new market segment with its most progressively styled vehicle to date – the
Xylo. Colin Windell investigates.
Improved handling, improved safety
Good road handling in a vehicle could be the
fine line between life and death on South
Africa’s congested roads, which are often in a
dangerously poor condition. It is vital for fleet
managers and drivers to understand the critical importance
of the components that ensure good road handling.
Driver stress impacts the bottom line
Stress negatively impacts a driver’s ability to make fast,
accurate decisions that can save lives and get the job
done safely and cost-effectively. This makes managing
driver stress an imperative for fleet managers who
appreciate the impact poor driving has on the bottom line.
The significant impact of employee wellbeing on a company’s
bottom line is recognised worldwide. Stress is intricately linked to
performance levels and general health, and companies whose
employees are stressed face an increase in poor performance,
absenteeism and health costs.
Other than money
A decade ago, even
range-topping
compact executive
saloons struggled to
break the 150 kW barrier –
and that was with big capacity
six cylinder petrol engines. To
see how far cars have come in
the last few years, consider the
bristling spec sheet of the BMW
330d – which boasts 180 kW
from its 3,0-litre turbo-diesel
plus a walloping 520 Nm of
torque. That is more power
than the previous generation
330i petrol could muster.
A surfeit of zoom-zoom
Over the last decade
or so, Mazda’s
medium-sized
sedan has been
a regular ‘Car of the Year’
finalist, but is yet to crack the
nod yet from the gaggle of
motoring writers that scores the
competition. Because just the
winner is announced, it is hard
to determine where the rest of
the field places compared to
the eventual COTY.
Serenely wafting along
Being green has
been the flavour
of the decade so it
may seem odd that
Mercedes-Benz has chosen a
blue theme to highlight cars
and technology which are
especially environmentally
friendly, such as this C180
Blue Efficiency model.
Meeting market needs
The Renault Twingo is
the perfect example of
a boutique hatchback,
where form overrules
function and practicality is
not the vehicle’s prime raison
d’ être. So it is not a car
reviewed solely in the cold
light of objectivity, for that
is not the way the purchaser
– invariably car allowance
individuals who are young,
footloose and primarily female
– will buy a Twingo.