AMG's take on the latest Mercedes SL is slimmer and packs a force-fed punch.

The basic synopsis of the all-new Mercedes-Benz SL 63 could really have been cut and pasted from that of any other modern sports car - less weight and a 'downsized' force-fed engine that pumps out more power while using 30 percent less fuel.

That heart, of course, is AMG's latest 5.5-litre direct injection V8 twin-turbo and opting for it in Merc's flagship roadster is much like ordering a curry in Durban, in that you can have it in two flavours - piping hot or downright deadly.

The tamer standard option gives you 400kW at 5000rpm and 800Nm between 2000 and 4500rpm, which will allegedly get you from 0-100km/h in just 4.3 seconds.

PERFORMANCE PACKAGE

Tick the box for the performance package, however, and you're playing with 421kW at 5500rpm and 900Nm at 2250 - 3750rpm, enough to dash to 100 in 4.2 seconds. The top dog also gets its top speed nanny moved from the usual 250km/h to 300km/h.

Perking up the pleasure factor at just about any speed is AMG's sports exhaust system that's said to produce a distinctive engine sound.

Power is shoved to the back wheels via AMG's seven-speed sports automatic transmission with four selectable modes.

Mercedes claims a combined fuel consumption of 9.9 litres per 100km for both versions, making it 30 percent more efficient than before, but we wish you the best of luck in achieving that.

A REAL LIGHTIE

There's no denying that it will be more efficient than before, though, with technologies like idle-stop and an overall kerb weight that's been reduced by 125kg thanks to an all-aluminium body shell and gluttonous use of lightweight materials all over.

Even items like the steering knuckles, the spring links on the four-link front suspension and most of the components of the multi-link rear suspension are made from aluminium.

On that subject, the SL 63 is endowed with an improved version of AMG's Active Body Control spring and shock system that allows firmer damping and less body roll in 'Sport' mode or a more comfy ride when the driver selects 'Comfort'.

Fully revised elastokinematics and a more negative camber at each corner add further to its agility in the bends. Buyers insisting on the ultimate in cornering ability can also tick AMG's rear axle diff lock on the options list.

To provide the necessary driver feedback, this roadster packs in AMG's new electro-mechanical speed-sensitive sports steering system, which varies its assistance in accordance with the suspension settings at the time.

Your safety net comes in the form of a three-stage ESP stability control and a newly-developed AMG high-performance compound braking system that features 390x36mm compound discs with six-piston fixed callipers at the front and 360x26mm integral discs with single-piston floating callipers at the back. Fork out more and you can even have AMG's ceramic compound braking system as seen on the SLS.

MAGIC ROOF

Like all its AMG siblings, the SL 63 receives the necessary visual bits and pieces to set it apart from lesser SLs as well as bespoke 19-inch alloy wheels, which can be swopped for a 19-inch front/20-inch rear combo that's also available in matt black.

As much as the SL 63 sounds like a dedicated performance machine in every respect, it still does the job of an open-top boulevard cruiser, complete with an electrohydraulically operated retractable hard top that can do its trick in under 20 seconds.

Merc's Magic Sky Control is offered as an option - this feature allowing the tint of the panoramic roof to be made lighter or darker at the touch of a button thanks to some advanced moleculer manipulation. If that's not your scene, a conventional painted or transparent glass roof can also be opted for.

Latest EuroNCAP results show cars are getting safe, but not in every case.

It's been more than a decade since getting a poor EuroNCAP safety rating was the norm and a five star achievement like the Renault Laguna was something to shout about.

Today most cars achieve a five-star rating, with a few only managing four and the odd one here and there making just three.

But the latest results released by the European crash testing authority show that some carmakers still have some way to go with certain products - in this case Jeep with its Compass crossover vehicle.

POOR PROTECTION LEVELS

The compact Jeep managed only two stars against the latest crash test criteria. It was one of two cars that have been tested this year, the other being the latest Honda Civic hatch - which joined the five-star club.

Despite being fitted with an optional side thorax airbag, the Compass "showed poor protection levels" according to EuroNCAP, particularly in the side pole test.

Although the passenger compartment remained stable in the frontal impact, "structures in the dashboard presented a risk of injury to the knees and femurs of both the driver and passenger dummies and the car was penalised.

"In the side pole impact, dummy readings of rib deflections indicated a high risk of serious chest injury, even with the airbag fitted, and the car scored no points in that test."

The Jeep did, however, score maximum points in the side barrier test.

FIVE STARS REGAINED

Meanwhile, eight cars that were assessed last year have been reissued with a five-star rating because they also meet the more stringent requirements for 5 stars in 2012. These include the BMW 1 Series, BMW X1, Ford Focus, Ford Ranger, Mercedes M-class, Nissan LEAF, Subaru XV and Volvo V60.

"Many carmakers have moved on and so have we."

EuroNCAP's Secretary General Michiel van Ratingen concluded: "The results published today show clearly that a 5 star today means a lot more than a 5 star some years ago. Many carmakers have moved on and so have we. Cars based on older technology, brushed up and marketed as new are not providing the same levels as safety as the newest models developed against the new targets. Consumers interested in a fair comparison will not be fooled by these results."

Continued pressure from Gauteng motorists has paid off: toll fees for the improved freeways have been slashed and the National Treasury will be paying off R5.75 billion of the debt incurred in building them.

Continued pressure from Gauteng motorists has paid off: toll fees for the improved freeways have been slashed and the National Treasury will be paying off R5.75 billion of the debt incurred in building them.

Tolls will start being levied from 30 April and transport minister Sbu Ndebele warned that compliance would be enforced through the promulgation of new laws.

Finance minister Pravin Gordhan on Wednesday told journalists ahead of the national budget being tabled before parliament that this was not necessarily the model that would be followed with future infrastructure projects but said that the government had learned lessons from the extremely negative public reaction.

Ndebele acknowledged that Gauteng motorists’ demands were “not unreasonable” but that it was not possible for national government to have picked up the entire R20 billion tab for the upgrade of the road network.

Gordhan said that the national government’s direct contribution to the costs and the cutting of toll fees showed that it was “extremely sensitive” to the concerns that had arisen about how much motorists were going to have to pay to use the 185km network.

However he warned that there would be no deviation from the user pays principle, saying that nothing can be provided – except to the poorest – without some contribution from the user.

Vehicles with e-tags will pay 30c per kilometre, down from 66c previously, motorcycles will pay 20c per kilometre and non-articulated and articulated trucks would pay 75c and R1.51 per kilometre respectively.

An important concession for regular road users is that their monthly tolls will be capped at R550 a month and here will be a 15% discount in the rates after their toll fees reach R400.

Heavy vehicles will qualify for a 20 percent discount if they use the roads at certain times. This will also help avoid congestion.

Taxis and other public transport operators will be exempt from toll fees.

Gordhan also said that the Gauteng provincial government would upgrade the R55 and R101 provincial roads to provide alternatives to the tolled roads and that there would be a continued investment in other forms of public transport.

The SA National Roads Agency (Sanral) will be left with a total debt of R59 billion and, according to a statement released at the press conference, “to ensure sustainability, the minister of transport will table the necessary legislation to provide Sanral with enforcement powers for tolling.” - Political Bureau

The DA has challenged a public finance economist on his finding that the e-tolling system will not affect the poor.

The DA has challenged a public finance economist on his finding that the e-tolling system will not affect the poor.

“The statement… that toll fees on the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP) will only make the rich poorer and not hit the poor, cannot go unchallenged,” DA MPL Neil Campbell said on Wednesday.

“(The) claim that most poor people will not have to pay tolls as they use public transport is not accurate as not all taxis and buses will travel toll free, but rather only those with licences and on approved routes.”

On Tuesday, Dr Roelof Botha told reporters that the GFIP would result in unmitigated success and tangible benefits for South Africa.

“It will make the rich poorer, not the poor poorer,” he said in Joburg.

Botha's research found that the project would result in the highest income earning quintile (20 percent of the richest people) in Gauteng paying up to 94 percent of the toll fees, while most of the poor people would stick to public transport.

He said the project would maintain South Africa's international credit ratings, obviate the need for fuel levy increases, allow rapid investment in road construction, alleviate traffic congestion, and enhance safety.

Botha argued that commuting time saved (because of four lanes) would translate into productive earnings.

Campbell disagreed and said that the cost of every item transported along the toll roads would increase because hauliers would resort to raising their prices for transporting goods.

“This will impact on every resident in Gauteng, as the price of every item transported, including food, will rise.”

He contended that every home owner would also have their rates increased because of additional municipal road maintenance required due to increased pressure on roads by drivers avoiding the toll roads.

“The so-called benefits mentioned by Botha of decreased traffic congestion on the tolled roads will be temporary as the number of cars using the freeway will increase by seven percent a year, reaching capacity in just two years,” said Campbell.

“He (Botha) also disregards the enormous toll collection costs that will be saved with a simple fuel levy.”

The DA strongly disagreed with Botha's stance and reaffirmed its opposition to toll roads in Gauteng.

Last year, the SA National Roads Agency Limited announced that tolling was imminent on 185km of the N1, N3, N12 and R21 around Johannesburg and Tshwane.

In terms of GFIP, these roads and their interchanges had been improved and costs estimated at around R20 billion would be recouped through toll charges.

Light motor vehicles were expected to be charged R0.40/km, medium vehicles R1/km, “longer” vehicles R2/km, and bikers R0.24/km.

Qualifying commuter taxis and buses would be exempt.

E-tolling was placed on hold in January after a huge outcry that tolls were unaffordable. – Sapa

Sales are weak in Europe, strong in China - and now JLR wants to build cars there.

Tata Motors has selected a partner to build an assembly plant for its luxury British brands Jaguar and Land Rover in China, a senior executive has revealed

“We are waiting for the necessary regulatory approvals,” Tata finance chief C. Ramakrishnan told reporters, without giving any further details.

“An announcement will be made very soon,” he added.

China has emerged as a key market for Jaguar and Land Rover (JLR), whose sales in Europe remain weak due to the current economic uncertainty.

Earlier this month, Tata Motors announced a 41 percent jump in quarterly net profit of 34.06 billion rupees ($681 million) for the three months to December, thanks to strong sales of Jaguar and Land Rover.

Tata Motors, which also makes the world's cheapest car, the Nano, bought Jaguar and Land Rover from US Ford Motor Co in 2008 for $2.3 billion as part of its plans to expand beyond Asia.

Ramakrishnan said Tata Motors plans to double its investments in JLR to 1.5 billion pounds a year, starting in the new financial year, to help launch new products and technologies. -AFP

South Africans likely to be charged more than R11 for a litre of petrol from April.

If trends of the past three years are anything to go by, South Africans will be paying more than R11 for a litre of petrol from April – the most that fuel has ever cost.

Senior Econometrix economist Tony Twine and Gary Ronald of the Automobile Association predict that as the past two annual Budget speeches announced a steady increase in the fuel levy, it would be surprising if today’s speech did not follow suit with the fuel and Road Accident Fund (RAF) levies.

Last year, the fuel and RAF levies had a combined increase of 27 cents a litre and, according to Ronald and Twine, the taxes are likely to increase by a similar amount this year.

Ronald estimated that the average middle-income family used about 2000 litres of petrol per vehicle a year, or about 167 litres a month.

Currently, unleaded petrol 95 costs R10.95, unleaded 93 costs R10.77 and diesel costs R10.26 per litre.

The fuel levy for each litre is about R1.77 for petrol and R1.62 for diesel, with the RAF taking another 80 cents per litre.

Each month, the average South African pays tax of R296.42 for their petrol cars and R271.37 for their diesel cars. An estimated jump of 30 cents will raise those figures to R346.52 and R321.47. -The Star

Independent study concludes that Gauteng e-tolling will save money in the long term.

The Gauteng e-tolling system will save motorists money in terms of time saved, unlike an increase in the fuel levy, which will cause massive inflation.

This is the view of Dr Roelof Botha, an adjunct professor at the Gordon Institute of Business Science, who conducted an independent study into the benefits per cost ratio for light passenger vehicles that travel on the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project. The study was done this month.

FUTURE INFRASTRUCTURE

Botha said he was worried that putting the e-tolling project on hold or cancelling it altogether would put a stop to future major infrastructure projects in the country, and this had led him to conducting a study into whether the system did hold benefits for car owners. Botha said it was no secret that Gauteng was the most congested province in the country.

His comments seemed to be in line with recent findings by the IBM Commuter Pain Index, which measuring stress experienced in Joburg traffic, that the city was third worst in the world after Beijing and Mexico City.

But in the past year, with only a partially completed highway, stress levels have already dropped.

“MAKING THE RICH POORER”

Botha said one of the major findings in his research was that high-income earners would pay for 94 percent of total toll fees paid. The researcher said this was very different to the idea that tolling would make the poor poorer. He said the figure was based on the assessment that passenger vehicles make up 92 percent of all users of the improved freeway. This figure also proved that food and retail goods would not increase in costs because of tolling.

Botha said his calculations said the electronic tolling had led to a huge time-saving for motorists that would lead to an annual benefit in productivity of R2.1 billion annually. He said this would go into the SA economy, leading to R26.5bn over 20 years and 5 percent inflation, “which is 32 percent higher than the total cost of the project”.

Botha conducted this analysis on the approximately R20bn spent to improve the roads and had not factored in the operating costs of the toll system that The Star has reported on. These costs could be as high as R14bn over eight years.

This cost benefit was far more beneficial than paying for the road infrastructure through the fuel levy as it could increase the petrol price by R1 a litre, causing an increase in inflation.

Botha said he hoped the toll system would go ahead immediately. -The Star

The 'first come, first to go' rule does not apply at these new traffic circles.

A learner driver was first into the traffic circle next to the Moroka police station.

She was in the circle when a Rea Vaya bus full of passengers also entered and started to hoot.

The loud noise and the approaching bus confused the woman. She struggled to get the car into gear and it stalled. Fortunately, the bus waited for her to proceed on her way.

This is one of many scenes that occur frequently in Soweto in the new traffic circles also used by Rea Vaya buses.

Motorists who do not drive there often don't know how to use them.

Constable John Serala, the spokesman for Moroka police station, who witnessed the incident, said it was not the first time; confusion was common.

"There is still some learning that needs to be done. The problem is that some people do not know who has (the) right of way as… they enter the circle.

"There have to be… signs that show how the movement of traffic should be. There also needs to be a campaign on how these circles operate, pamphlets need to be given out and (Rea Vaya) also needs to be part of it.

"Motorists need to have it explained to them why the (buses have) a right of way. Drivers think they have a right of way because they were the ones at the traffic circle first, but it's not like that with these circles," he said.

Synock Matobako of the Johannesburg Emergency Services Management agreed.

He said some accidents they attended to had been a result of people not knowing who had right of way.

"There needs to be more information on the usage of those circles. When people go for a driver's test, they are told that the person at the circle has the right of way, but now, with the bus rapid transit (BRT) system, it's different," Matobako said.

But Thulane Makhubela of the Joburg Roads Agency said the circles followed the "normal rules of the road" and there was nothing extraordinary about them. Neither were the rules contrary to what is taught in the K53 system.

The traffic circles, he said, also gave "right of way" to traffic approaching from the right. However, to accommodate the additional requirement of the Rea Vaya buses, which proceed straight through the centre of the circle, stop signs have been introduced to the circle.

By stopping at these stop signs, motorists can check whether there is a Rea Vaya bus approaching before proceeding safely.

While Serala and Matobako feel that notices should be put up at the circles to inform |road users how they work, Makhubela said it was not common practice to place such boards on site.

"However, the need for public education is important and the Rea Vaya BRT, together with the transport departments, will be running education campaigns in and around the areas where we have erected traffic circles.

"Motorists need to be vigilant at these circles and obey the signage and paint markings on the road.

"If correctly utilised, the traffic circles are safe for all road users," Makhubela said.

Vettel quickest in Tuesday tests while chassis problems forced Lotus team to pull out.

Two-time defending Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel posted the fastest time in testing at the Montmelo circuit in Spain on Tuesday.

The 24-year-old Red Bull driver clocked a fastest lap time of 1m23.265 in his 79-lap spell on the circuit.

“One thing is for sure, the cars have less grip than last year (due to new rules),” said Vettel. “But I felt good and it was a good day. We took a long break at lunch in order to make adjustments, but nothing was broken.”

His compatriot, Nico Hulkenberg, put in the second fastest time in his Force India car.

“It was a very positive day and the car was very balanced,” said the former Williams driver, who failed to get a drive last year.

Lotus, though, did not have a great day, despite having recorded the quickest times out of all the 2012 cars at a previous testing session in Jerez.

French driver Romain Grosjean had such a serious problem with his car's chassis that the team have decided to pull out of testing for the rest of the week.

“It wasn't an easy decision to take but it would be more productive to do this, working on both chassis,” said team director Eric Boullier.

“Our design department has already found a solution and we will be back for the final session of testing.”

Testing continues here until Friday and there will be a final series of testing back here on March 1-4, before the teams travel to Australia for the opening race of the season in Melbourne on March 18.

TEST TIMES - 21 FEBRUARY

1. Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull-Renault) - 1m23.265

2. Nico Hulkenberg (Force India-Mercedes) - 1:23.440

3. Lewis Hamilton (McLaren-Mercedes) - 1:23.590

4. Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso-Ferrari) - 1:23.618

5. Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) - 1:24.100

6. Michael Schumacher (Mercedes-AMG) - 1:24.150

7. Sergio Perez (Sauber-Ferrari) - 1:24.219

8. Bruno Senna (Williams-Renault) - 1:25.711

9. Heikko Kovalainen (Caterham-Renault) - 1:26.035

10. Romain Grosjean (Lotus-Renault) - 1:26.809

11. Charles Pic (Marussia-Cosworth) - 1:28.026

What better way to double a vehicle's price than by attaching a prestigious badge to it?

What better way to double the price of a vehicle than by attaching a very prestigious badge to it? Admittedly we are talking very small volumes here but now the Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari (a Fiat 500 with some very fancy trimmings) has gained a Maserati brother.

Limited to just 499 vehicles and said to represent the bond between Abarth and Maserati, the Abarth 695 Tributo Maserati is based on the 500C cabrio and features exclusive style details and special technical features developed by Abarth engineers in collaboration with Maserati.

So it's not just a fancy style job. To start with, the 1.4-litre turbopetrol engine has been boosted to 134kW (the standard Abarth 500 makes 99kW) and mated to the automated-manual Abarth Competizione gearbox with steering wheel controls.

The little 'Maser' sits on 17-inch alloy wheels featuring a special “Neptun” design from Maserati.

The braking system has also been strengthened to cope with the extra power, compliments of Brembo 305mm brake discs with fixed four-piston calipers.

Of course, you're not going to hear the hum of a V8 when flooring the loud pedal, but to make the most of the four-pot's acoustics, engineers have thrown in a 'Record Monza' variable back-pressure dual-mode exhaust, designed to improve engine performance and deliver an inspiring sound at 3000rpm and above.

Also furthering the 'bond' with Maserati, the tailpipes have been bent into the hexagonal shape that has always characterised Maseratis.

As for the styling, this Abarth is (naturally) pained in a three-layer Maserati colour - Pontevecchio Bordeaux to be precise.

A lot of Maserati mimicking has also gone on inside, with seats upholstered entirely in sand beige Poltrona Frau leather and special matt-finish carbon lining for the dashboard and gearbox trim. The black leather steering wheel is characterised by leather inserts and a tricolour hub and houses gearbox controls, while the instrument panel has been specifically produced by the Jaeger brand.

Other details enriching the interior are an aluminium pedal unit and sill plate, the carbon fibre kick plate with customised “Abarth 695 Tributo Maserati” graphics and a plate with the car's series number.

A video showing Beijing drivers refusing to give way to a fire engine has gone viral.

A short film showing car drivers in Beijing refusing to give way to a fire engine has gone viral online and renewed concern over increasingly selfish behaviour patterns in fast-developing China.

The amateur video - filmed on Thursday in an area of Beijing where a noodle restaurant was on fire - has been viewed by hundreds of thousands of netizens and has been widely featured in newspapers and on television.

It shows a fire engine attempting to get through traffic, with its sirens and flashing lights on, but none of the cars make way and some even pull over in front of the vehicle, blocking its way.

Later, other cars blocking the road refuse to make way by doing a u-turn when they clearly have the opportunity to do so, and the fire engine stays stuck in traffic - a scene not unusual in Beijing.

The video, which has already been viewed more than 1.2 million times on YouKu, has sparked strong indignation and concern over the “selfishness” of China's drivers.

“The 5000 years of history and civilisation of our heavenly dynasty,” one netizen named Kuandiangeiwo wrote ironically.

“If one person doesn't give way it's a moral shortcoming, but if two people don't make way it's the sorrow of the community,” another said.

Online users have even posted videos filmed in Germany or Russia showing cars pulling over on roads and highways to make way for emergency vehicles, in a bid to illustrate what happens in other countries.

There has been much soul-searching in China about a perceived rise in selfish behaviour after footage from a security camera showing people ignoring a toddler lying in the road unconscious and bleeding shocked the country.

The two-year-old Yue Yue later died in hospital, and the incident in October sparked strong condemnation and concern that China's rapid development and urbanisation has seen people lose their sense of shared values. -Sapa-AFP

Road safety director drops some figures in aggravation of Humphreys' sentence.

Deaths caused by minibus taxi accidents in the Western Cape have increased by more than two percent since 2005, the Western Cape High Court heard on Tuesday.

Provincial road safety programme director David Frost said taxis accounted for 10 percent of casualties in 2005 compared to 12.48

percent in 2010/2011.

Frost was testifying in aggravation of sentence in the trial of taxi driver Jacob Humphreys, who crossed over the Buttskop level crossing in Blackheath on August 25, 2010, and collided with a train.

Ten of the pupils he was transporting were killed. Four others were seriously injured.

Frost said the taxi industry had evolved to suit the needs of drivers and fleet owners rather than those of passengers. The industry revolved around driving fast to get as many fares in a day, clearly disregarding the safety of commuters.

Frost said there had been an increase in damage to provincial level crossing booms, with almost one incident for every working day of the year.

“This is clearly indicative of the disregard for the booms when they are down,” he said. “There is a vast disparity of the weight, mass and momentum of a train compared to a motor vehicle. It's like a fight between a heavyweight and a lightweight.” -Sapa

Unveiling was a special moment for Schumi, who looks forward to being a contender again.

Michael Schumacher looked forward to being a contender again as his Mercedes team belatedly pulled the wraps off their shiny new Formula One car before testing at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya on Tuesday.

If the F1 W03 was far from attractive, with the by-now familiar stepped nose seen on all the other 2012 cars with the sole exception of McLaren, the sport's most successful driver declared it a beautiful moment.

“I have done quite a few roll-outs and launches of new cars, but even after all these years, I must say it still feels special,” said the seven times champion before beginning the second official pre-season test.

The German and team mate Nico Rosberg had both driven 50km in the car last week for a filming day at Silverstone but had used their 2011 car at the first pre-season test in Jerez last month.

Their main rivals Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari all unveiled their new cars before the start of the first of three tests scheduled before the 20 race season kicks off in Australia on March 18.

“Days like this are precious moments, as they are always filled with hope and anticipation,” Schumacher said. “Already last week, when we were driving the F1 W03 for the very first time, it instantly gave us good feedback and sensations.

“Starting today, we will work intensively to make it a competitive runner,” added the 43-year-old, who started his comeback in 2010 after retiring as a Ferrari driver in 2006.

“Obviously, we will only see over the next couple of weeks how big the step is that we have made... For my part, I am eager to fight again, looking forward to the new season, and I can't wait for it to begin.”

Schumacher has not been on the podium since 2006 and Mercedes have finished fourth in the two seasons since they bought 2009 champions Brawn GP, run by team principal Ross Brawn.

Brawn said the team, who have invested heavily in technical staff, had to go forward in the standings and were quietly confident they could do that.

Mercedes said the new car was better packaged and more efficient and also composed of some 200 more parts than the 2011 one while having a lower core weight.

“The F1 W03 is a car that I believe, and hope, our team can be proud of, and which will deliver the on-track results that everybody has worked so hard to achieve,” said Brawn, who recognised the stepped nose was “an acquired taste”.

The Briton said the new car was a clear step forward over its predecessor in sophistication and also a better integrated package.

“Last year, we produced a very bold car and, although its more radical elements didn't always deliver the results we had hoped for, the experience we gained has been invaluable to the design of the 2012 car,” he said. -Reuters

Martin Brundle and son Alex aiming for a class win at the 24-hour race this year.

Morning mist, barbecue smoke wafting across the Mulsanne straight and the dazzle of headlights in the darkness are part of the Le Mans experience that former winner Martin Brundle looks forward to sharing with his son Alex this year.

The dangers, at a circuit that saw two huge crashes involving the dominant Audis last year, will have to be negotiated with care.

The two Britons will join Spaniard Lucas Ordonez in a Greaves Motorsport-run Nissan LMP2 team for the 24-hour sportscar race at the La Sarthe track on June 16/17 with the aim of getting to the finish as best in class.

There have been other father-and-son pairings over the years, with 1992 Formula One champion Nigel Mansell and his sons making a short-lived appearance in 2010, but this will be the first time former F1 racer and commentator Brundle has taken part since 2001.

“We are taking it very seriously as I'm sure Nigel was. You can't play around with Le Mans,” he told Reuters in an interview.

“It's a hell of a challenge and we need to get to the end. We've got 18 cars in our class, 56 cars in the race, it's the equivalent of a grand prix season more or less in a day that you do in terms of miles that you are going to cover and it's hard to get to the end of it.”

Brundle won Le Mans with Jaguar in 1990, before he became a full-time Formula One driver, and calendar clashes with his other commitments have kept him away in recent years.

He freely admits that there is an element of “the old guilt trip”, making up for all the birthday parties missed and parental absences in his years on the road, but mainly it is about racing.

Alex, 21, competed in Formula Two last year and is ultimately aiming to follow his father into Formula One. He will be in GP3 at Formula One's European weekends this year and also the European Le Mans series.

STRANGE SENSATION

Brundle senior said it would be a strange sensation to be battling in the midfield at Le Mans with the Audis and other LMP1 cars blasting past.

“I have only ever been there in the fastest cars, with the works cars, as team leader,” said the 52-year-old, whose last lap at Le Mans was as race leader for Bentley.

“Funnily enough these cars that we are in (now) do about the same lap time as I used to do in the works cars. They are not slow cars, it's just that the Audis are going unbelievably quickly now.

“What I am going to struggle with is that I am not used to anybody catching me at Le Mans and passing me. And apparently the lights on the Audi burn your paint off, they are so bright. And you can't tell whether they are one km behind you or 100 metres behind,” added the Briton.

Alex tested at Le Mans last year, with his father on hand to advise him on potential perils.

“Alex's job is probably to help me go faster on a lap-by-lap basis but my job...is to say: 'Here's where it went wrong for me in the past' and: 'Here's some near-misses I had' and: 'Here's how to cope with this situation',” said Brundle senior.

“I suspect it's completely different for the pair of us but for me it will be 'that's my boy', and helping strap him in the car and sending him off down into the night will be something quite amazing.

“Sharing that incredibly intense experience with your son is something pretty amazing...but first and foremost we are there to win the class, we are there with our racing heads on.”

Le Mans, he said, was the perfect timing.

“It just fits, father and son. It works for the sponsors, it works for the manufacturer, it gives Alex a starting point in sportscar racing. He's doing the whole championship and it's a window of opportunity for me before I get too old,” said Brundle.

“I'll be 53 when I do the race, while I can still just about hang on to his shirt tails speed-wise and get the job done. I won't be a burden to him that's for sure but you don't know how much longer that will be the case for.” -Reuters

Bigger, lighter and more efficient 3 Series lands here soon. Here's the low-down.

The sixth-generation BMW 3 Series will be launched in South Africa next month and it's one of those cars for which we could easily use the 'improved' cliché in just about every sentence - except the styling, you might argue.

Longer, wider and more spacious yet 40kg lighter than the car it replaces, the new Three also brings a raft of new technologies to the line-up.

Yet having found the pricing and specification chart, we can also tell you that those improvements also double as extra rungs on the price ladder. Without further ado…

THE DAMAGE

320i - R363 052

320i AT - R380 539

320i SAT* - R387 639

320d - R390 500

320d AT - R408 500

320d SAT* - R415 600

328i - R440 979

328i AT - R458 808

328i SAT* - R465 908

335i SAT* - R543 000

*SAT = Sports Automatic Transmission

MODERN POWER

This latest 3 Series takes a leap into the modern age with the entire line-up being turbocharged.

Rather than downsizing to the 1.6-litre turbopetrol found in the new 1 Series, the baseline 320i petrol has a 2-litre engine with a twin-scroll turbocharger. It produces 135kW at 5000rpm and 270Nm between 1250 and 4500rpm.

BMW reckons this one will run from 0-100km/h in just 7.3 seconds (7.6 for the automatic) and sip 6.1 litres per 100km/h on the combined cycle.

An even more frugal option that matches the aforementioned power output but thumps out 350Nm of torque, and sips just 4.4 l/100km in automatic form, is the 320d. This 1995cc turbodiesel will also run from 0-100 in 7.5 seconds, says BMW.

The 328i uses a more powerful version of the 320i's 2-litre turbopetrol, with 180kW at 5000rpm and 350Nm from 1250rpm allowing a 5.9-second 0-100 and 6.4 l/100km/h consumption penalty. The 335i flagship produces 225kW from 5800rpm, 400Nm from 1200rpm, takes 5.5 seconds to 100km/h and consumes 7.2 l/100km.

The 335i comes standard with BMW's eight-speed automatic gearbox, which is optional on the other three engines (a six-speed manual 'box being standard) but one thing that all versions do come with is a fuel-saving idle-stop system is standard on all models.

STILL A DRIVER'S CAR

Of course those traditional 3 Series institutions like rear-wheel drive and 50:50 front to rear weight distribution are still in place, but engineers have sought to improve its cornering ability further with retuned suspension that makes abundant use of light alloy components.

MORE FEATURES

Although the pricing might seem a bit steep at first glance, considering that the entrance fee has jumped from R318 540 to R363 052, there is a more generous helping of standard equipment.

All models come with Dakota leather seats, automatic dual-zone climate control, cruise control with brake function, iDrive with 6.5-inch colour display, keyless engine start, automatic lights and windscreen wipers and a multifunction leather-covered steering wheel. Safety kit includes front, side and curtain airbags, the latter also catering for rear passengers, and Dynamic Stability Control and Dynamic Traction control are also part of the package.

Not surprisingly, there is an options list as long as all of our arms put together and you might need to buy your bank manager more than just a few drinks to have him fund the R21 500 19-inch wheel option, R22 350 surround view system or R14 700 full-colour head-up display to name just a few. Unfortunately, your health insurance is not going to subsidise any of the nifty safety features, like the lane changing warning (R8650) or adaptive headlights (R15 050).

NEW EQUIPMENT LINES

Just like the latest 1 Series, BMW offers a convenient way to dress up your 3 Series to make it a bit more unique than the standard model. Each boasts a long list of unique trimmings outside and in.

The Sport Line, most notable for its high-gloss black invasion, will set you back an extra R18 100 on the 320i and 320d, R17 400 on the 328i and R14 200 on the 335i.

Taking a more blingy approach, you'll notice the Modern Line pack for its abundance of matt chrome. This option adds R12 900 to the price of a 320i or 320d, R10 900 to the 328i and R7600 in the 335i's case. Finally, the Luxury Line can be had for an extra R14 400 (320i and 320d), R10 900 (328i) and R7600 (335i.)

PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN

Like all but the first generation, the new 3 Series is being built at our Rosslyn assembly plant north of Pretoria but this one comes with an even bigger export contract than the previous two generations.

Representing a R2.2-billion investment into South Africa's economy, production of the new 3 Series will create 600 new jobs.

About 85 percent of the cars produced here will be exported and the plant's capacity is expected to grow from 55 000 a year to more than 90 000.

The City of Cape Town wants to introduce more than 3 300 new paid parking bays across the city.

The City of Cape Town wants to introduce more than 3 300 new paid parking bays across Cape Town, with after-hours tariffs for parts of the CBD, Claremont, Observatory, Camps Bay and Strand.

This is part of the city’s new parking plan, the tender for which goes out for public participation at the beginning of next month.

The city said it hoped the extra bays would boost economic activity in those areas and encourage more people to use public transport.

According to the city, the main reason for the paid system is that some motorists park in bays for hours, hurting business at nearby retailers. The new system would ensure that bays were more easily available.

The after-hours system aims to regulate parking at night and will address safety concerns raised by businesses which had approached the city to come up with a formal after-hours parking system.

The argument is that paid parking means a higher turnover of bays and more space for potential customers for retailers.

Apart from advertising the contract for new service providers, the new parking tender includes a proposal for at least 3 320 bays to add to the existing 4 990.

At the moment, motorists have to fork out for parking in bays in the city centre, Bellville, Claremont, Gordon’s Bay, Sea Point, Somerset West and Strand.

With the new system, motorists would also be able to pay for parking with the city’s electronic travel payment card.

Service providers would have hand-held meters to print detailed receipts. Currently motorists are given hand-written receipts.

The rates in the Cape Town CBD are R2.50 for 15 minutes, R5 for 30 minutes and R10 for an hour.

In Bellville and Claremont it costs R1.50 for 15 minutes, R3 for 30 minutes and R3 for every 30 minutes thereafter.

In Gordon’s Bay, Somerset West and Strand it costs R2.50 for 15 minutes, R5 an hour and R2.50 for every 15 minutes thereafter.

In Sea Point motorists pay R2 for 15 minutes, R3.50 for 30 minutes and R3.50 for every 30 minutes thereafter.

Bellville has 550 bays, the Cape Town CBD 2 000, Claremont 240, Gordon’s Bay 570, Sea Point 400 and Somerset West 260.

Strand has 500 bays and an additional 470 from December to April.

The new bays will be set up in the Athlone CBD (250), Bellville (970), Camps Bay (200), Green Point including Gallows Hill (200), Fish Hoek (470), the Kalk Bay harbour (200), Kloof Street near Gardens (200), Muizenberg (150), Newlands (100), Observatory (75), Parow (280), Rondebosch, including the library, (75) and Simon’s Town (150).

Proposed suburbs and areas for paid-for after-hours parking: Camps Bay, Long Street, Greenmarket Square and surrounds, Cavendish Square and surrounds, the Jetty parking area in Strand, and Lower Main and Station roads in Observatory.

The current tenders expire at the end of June.

There are three service providers currently handling kerbside parking. The rates are set by the council.

In 2009, the city awarded Street Parking Solutions the tender for central Cape Town.

In Bellville, Claremont and Sea Point, Numque handles the system.

Ace operates in Gordons Bay, Somerset West and Strand.

Brett Herron, the mayoral committee member for transport, roads and stormwater, said the new tender would probably be awarded early next year.

This depended on public participation, which would run from March 1 to 31.

Herron said the current contracts would be extended until the new agreements were finalised.

He explained that the after-hours tariff could apply between 5pm and midnight.

It was to “support busy restaurant areas”.

“In most instances, business owners have made the requests, based on complaints they receive from customers.

“Weekend parking is alongside amenity areas where parking space is often utilised for the whole day, with no turnover of the parking space for other motorists.

“This can be very seasonal,” said Herron.

The report from the city’s transport department on the new tender was tabled at the Good Hope sub-council meeting on Monday.

Dave Bryant, ward councillor in the city centre, said the cost of parking was “quite problematic”.

“It has escalated along with basic inflation, but it started off quite high.”

Bryant’s ward also includes the Foreshore, Gardens and Oranjezicht.

He told the sub-council it was especially difficult for motorists spending short periods in different parts of the city.

“If you’re running errands from one side of the city to the other, you’ll end up spending a lot of cash.”

Bryant said sub-council chairman Taki Amira had earlier suggested a grace period where parking would be free for up to 20 minutes.

Bryant then suggested the city either postpone immediate tariff increases or reduce the cost by 25 percent.

Speaking to the Cape Argus, he said that in parts of the city centre, ad hoc car guards manned bays after hours.

With no set rates, motorists ended up paying as much as, or even more than, the daytime rate.

In some cases motorists hadbeen intimidated. And cars had also been vandalised.

“The parking marshals are our eyes and ears for security. They are linked to the CID (Central Improvement District).”

Marc Truss, the chief executive of the Oranjekloof and Green Point Central Improvement District, was at Monday’s sub-council meeting to lend support to the after-hours tariff.

After the meeting Truss said the CID had noted an “influx” of car guards after hours.

“They can earn money, they have a captive audience. It’s not formalised. If you monitor parking after hours, you have no more damage to motor vehicles or theft,” said Truss.

He said this did not mean motorists would have to fork out much more. There could be a flat rate – R10 for instance.

“This is not to make money, but to provide a service at a nominal rate,” said Truss.

Tasso Evangelinos, the chief operations officer of the Central City Improvement District, agreed that the evening parking operation would have to be very different from the current one.

The biggest benefits from implementing it would be standardising parking after hours, and job creation, while motorists would have peace of mind.

“There will be a person, in uniform, linked to either us or Cyclops (cameras). It will regulate the space.”

After-hours parking has been proposed for the area around Cavendish Square, and Ian Iversen, the ward councillor, supported the plan.

He said that over weekends, stores were negatively affected when motorists parked in bays for the entire day.

The new system would also be an incentive for motorists to leave their cars at home.

“The bottom line is people need to start using public transport.”

In the Athlone central business district, 250 bays have been suggested. Suzette Little, the ward councillor for the area, said there were very few parking bays in Athlone and the bulk were not in the CBD.

“Athlone CBD is one of the areas of development,” said Little.

bronwynne.jooste@inl.co.za - Cape Argus

Car jamming scams have resulted in an increase in the number of fraudulent claims being made to insurance companies.

Car jamming scams have resulted in an increase in the number of fraudulent claims being made to insurance companies.

Insurance companies find it difficult to prove whether such claims are valid.

This is according to Nazeer Hoosen, executive director at PPS short term-insurance, who said they were getting a number of claims that were very suspicious.

In one instance, he said, a woman claimed that she lost her bag worth R20 000, a laptop, a cellphone, about R3 000 in cash and an iPad when she allegedly fell victim to car jamming.

Car jamming refers to when criminals use a remote device operating on the same frequency as your car’s remote locking system prevents you from locking your vehicle by pressing their device as you try to lock it at the same time you activate your device.

Another client claimed to have lost two laptops and two cellphones that were in the car through a similar modus operandi.

“We are not saying that it’s not possible that the above-mentioned incidents could have happened, but sometimes you tend to doubt. However, we are not in the business of interrogating customers. We ask them reasonable questions and take everything at face value.

“But about 60 percent of claims have been repudiated by us due to a lack of corroboration from an independent source.

“Ultimately, our premiums will increase if these incidents increase. If claims get to the point where we are unable to settle them from the premiums we collect, the premiums will go up,” he said.

But Nazeer said they considered a claim only under three circumstances.

If there is CCTV camera footage, if an independent third party witnessed the theft and if any of the items stolen in the car were found in someone else’s possession.

“We have to stick to our terms and conditions of our policy as this will deter people from being negligent and will also make them more cautious,” Nazeer said.

The ombudsman for short-term insurance has ruled that if clients were to suffer any loss due to the remote jamming scam, their claims would be rejected because they are supposed to check whether their cars were locked first before walking away.

The ombudsman stated that motorists should not assume that their cars were locked merely because they pushed a button.

“This type of loss would be rejected because cover for items in vehicles is subject to forcible and violent entry into the vehicles. If there is no forcible and violent entry into the vehicle, there is unfortunately no claim. We are not in favour of relaxing our underwriting rules on something that can result in frequent losses for something where reasonable precaution should be taken.”

Santam spokesman Donald Kau said they warned their clients and motorists in general to double-check that their vehicles were locked after they have pressed the immobiliser button early last year when they became aware of incidents of car jamming.

“Some insurance policies specify that items need to be locked in the boot when unattended. Santam provides optional cover for claims on stolen groceries and household goods from cars. The car, however, needs to have been locked at the time of the theft.” - The Star

TV watchdog ok with the fact that Jeremy Clarkson suggested striking workers be shot.

Jeremy Clarkson, presenter of popular BBC auto show “Top Gear,” did not breach broadcasting rules when he suggested that striking public sector workers be shot, the British television watchdog has ruled.

Ofcom launched the probe after 31 700 people complained following the motor journalist's quip, made on the BBC1 light entertainment programme “The One Show,” that he would take striking workers and “execute them in front of their families.”

Clarkson later apologised after trade unions threatened legal action and Prime Minister David Cameron branded him “silly.”

Ofcom said the comments were “potentially offensive” but had to be judged in context.

The presenter of the global hit show initially praised the November 30 strike, saying it had led to clear roads, but then made the controversial remark in an apparent satire of BBC's strict impartiality laws.

Ofcom said that because of Clarkson's high profile, viewers of the live show, which was aired on the evening of the mass walkout, were well aware that he was liable to make “potentially controversial or offensive statements.”

It also concluded “that his comments were not an expression of seriously held beliefs.”

Karen Jennings of Britain's largest public sector trade union Unison said Clarkson had spoken “almost like (late Libyan leader Moamer) Kadhafi would have spoken about demonstrators.”

“It's an incitement to hatred,” she added shortly after the remarks were made.

In a statement issued at the time, Clarkson said: “I didn't for a moment intend these remarks to be taken seriously - as I believe is clear if they're seen in context.

“If the BBC and I have caused any offence, I'm quite happy to apologise for it alongside them.”

Clarkson previously caused outrage when he described former prime minister Gordon Brown, who lost his sight in one eye in an accident suffered while playing rugby as a teenager, as a “one-eyed Scottish idiot.”

In February, the BBC apologised to the Mexican ambassador to London after the “Top Gear” presenters described Mexicans as “lazy,” “feckless” and “flatulent.” -AFP