21 AUGUSTUS

FIBRENETWORK:THE SPEEDOFACHEETAH!

Highspeed Internet connection forPvlei

A fully scaleable open access fi-

bre network officially launches

at Paardevlei, Somerset West on

1September,withthefirstclients

already utilising this state of the

art connectivity system.

Paardevlei, a mixed development

of business, industrial and residen-

tial developments, managed by

Paardevlei Properties (previously

known as Heartland Properties) on

behalf of AECI, spans some 730 hec-

tares between Somerset Mall, Som-

erset West, Strand and False Bay.

Regional manager Mark Bezen-

con, notes that just under two mil-

lion square metres of bulk is desig-

nated for development at Paarde-

vlei. Apart from numerous

commercial and industrial entities

already operating on site, two state

of the art medical facilities are ear-

marked for completion by years

end. For this already commercially

established area, the addition of the

fibre network adds immense value

intermsof infrastructure.Randfor

rand fibre networks offer the most

efficient, affordable and reliable

connectivity technology available

in South Africa, and are a must for

any future driven business, said

Bezencon.

Paardevlei has entered into an

agreement with Frogfoot Technolo-

gies to operate the network. Accord-

ing to Frogfoot project manager,

Hannes Pieterse, the network has

been designed to carry future de-

mand for a completely developed

mixed-use node. He said fibre net-

worksarealso themosthighlyavail-

able. Chances of going offline are

therefore very close to zero.

The network has two routes back

to Cape Town where it physically

terminates at the Teraco Data Cen-

tre, the largest vendor-neutral data

centre in the country. This provides

anumber of advantages for consum-

ers. Firstly, explains Pieterse, it en-

sures a very quick turnaround for

thosewishingtoconnect.Userscan

be connected to the system within

less than a month of signing con-

tracts. In addition, the fibre net-

works circular route creates geo-

graphical diversity, meaning there

will always be two routes for con-

necting to the grid, ensuring con-

stant connectivity. Connection to

the data centre is also a great advan-

tage forbusinesseswithbranches in

Johannesburg or Durban, since

they can all link up directly via the

highly reliable fibre network. Be-

cause the network is open access,

companies and private userswill al-

so not be tied into using one service

provider exclusively, leaving them

freedom to negotiate.

Fibre is the fastest and most effi-

cient connectivity technology cur-

rently available. States Pieterse,

comparing 3G mobile technology,

orWiFi orADSL technologies to the

lightning fast speeds provided by fi-

bre networks is rather like compar-

ing a cheetahs speed with that of a

tortoise. Now Paardevlei boasts

something much faster even than

the cats at the Cheetah Outreach

Trust!

The fibre network offers users

quadruple play services, which in-

clude seamless Internet speeds, ex-

tremelyhighqualityvoicecalls, real

time video and other low latency

services such as gaming and online

trading. Its amust-have for any fu-

ture-minded business, while simul-

taneously offering private residents

withfantastic,highspeedandhassle

free connectivity, states Bezencon.

Paardevlei will launch its fibre network for high speed internet in September.

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021 841 4285 021 887 2840 021 870 4600

SOLD is die mees koste-effektiewe ho-impak keuse vir die bemarking van eiendom in die Boland

Biggest and Best Property Guide in the Boland

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HELDERBERG

Citywelcomes small-scaleelectricitygeneration

The City of Cape Town has set it-

self a target to source 10% of its

electricity fromrenewable ener-

gyresourcesby2020andtheroll-

out of the small-scale embedded

generation tariff supports this

goal.

Simply put, those residents and

businesses that generate their own

electricity through alternative re-

newableenergyresourceswill soon

have the option of feeding a limited

amount of surplus generation back

into the grid, for which there will

be an off-set against their electrici-

ty accounts, said the Citys Execu-

tive Mayor, Patricia de Lille.

In a pilot project, a small number

of residential, industrial and com-

mercial consumers have already

connected rooftop photovolta-

ic (PV)generationto theCityselec-

tricity grid.

However, conventionalmetering

installations do not allow for a two-

way flowof electricity and theCity,

for over a year now, has been in

search of a solution that will allow

consumers to feed power back into

the grid and to receive an off-set for

doing so.

This has been a complex process

as numerous factors have had to be

addressed, including: theestablish-

ment of suitable tariffs; identifica-

tion of suitable metering systems

which can measure power flow in

two directions; and the implemen-

tation of automated billing systems

which take into account both the

purchase and sale of electricity.

The implementation of the small-

scale embedded generation (SSEG)

tariffs will make it legally possible

to feed electrical power back into

the municipal grid.

Consumers who wish to feed

SSEG electricity into the munici-

pal electricity grid will be required

to have a bidirectional advanced

meter infrastructure (AMI) credit

meter installed by the City at their

own cost and take their electricity

supply at the appropriateSSEGtar-

iff.

Most SSEG projects generate

electricity from renewable sources

like the sun andwind. SouthAfrica

is blessed with sunshine and the

City isembracingSSEGtechnology

to assist with the countrys acute

power supply. By doing so, we are

assisting businesses and house-

holds to minimise their own elec-

tricity consumption fromthegrid,

De Lille said.

Consumers who generate their

own electricity are not always able

toconsumeallof thegeneratedelec-

tricity immediatelyandwillnowbe

able to receive anoff-set against the

cost of their electricity purchases

for excess electricity fed back into

the municipal grid.

One of the major advantages to

consumers is that they can gener-

ate electricity for their own use

without having to invest in expen-

sive batteries to provide electricity

after the sun has set or after the

wind has stopped blowing.

Prior to the publication of the

guidelines, interested parties are

encouraged to contact the City for

further information.

Please send an email to

green.electricity@cape-

town.gov.za or power@cape-

town.gov.za

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Securing your property increases its

value and desirability

We all want to live in a safe en-

vironment. The safety of our

family and our possessions is

of paramount importance to

every property owner. The re-

cent increase in crimes relat-

ing to housebreaking and hi-

jacking in theHelderberg area

is of concern to all residents.

When communities stand to-

gether against crime they send

a strong message to the perpe-

trators.

Increased vigilance and

speedy reporting of suspicious

situations assist Neighbour-

hoodWatches and the police to

act swiftly.

Buyers are aware that crime

will always be a concern. Its

no surprise that, over the last

two decades, the number of

gated estates has increased

dramatically.

Initially buyers may have

resisted the secure estate

lifestyle, stating additional

levies and a reluctance to con-

form to additional rules and

regulations as a deterrent.

Yet, when you come toweigh

up the pros and cons it would

seem that the benefits of added

security are winning the bat-

tle.

This doesntmean that prop-

erties outside of estate are not

in demand.

Butwhat it doesmean is that

these buyers are keenly inter-

ested to know what security

measures are in place should

a listing not be located in a gat-

ed village.

It is advisable to get an opin-

ion and a quotation frommore

than one Security Company.

Weigh up your options and en-

sure your property has the

best security you can afford.

Other simple measures that

can be taken are to ensure you

trim back trees and shrubs

that overhang your boundary

walls. Ensure that dark areas

are well lit.

Do your gates close and lock

properly? Do all your doors

and windows lock securely?

From time to time carry out

an inspection on your proper-

ty to make sure that all your

alarm sensors are in good

working order, and covering

the areas they are intended

for.

Its also a good habit to

change your alarm codes from

time to time in case they have

been compromised. The same

applies to passwords that you

have with your alarm moni-

toring service.

Do you have a backup ar-

rangement with your neigh-

bours if anything goes wrong?

Its not a bad idea for you and

your neighbours to meet and

discuss what you would do in

certain situations. There is

strength in numbers, and hav-

ing an emergency plan may

come in handy one day when

you least expect it.

Give the issue of security

some forethought and ensure

youhave done the best you can

to secure your property and

your loved ones. If and when

you decide to list your proper-

ty for sale, a discerning buyer

will take note of the level of se-

curity your property offers.

This will add to the value of

your property and increase its

desirability. But most impor-

tantly of all, you will have the

peace of mind of knowing you

have done your very best to

protect the ones you love.

Talking Property, by Steve

Caradoc-Davies, principal of

Harcourts Platinum

Flipping easier in

residentialmarket

There are many people, or inves-

tors, in the property market who

strive to make money by flipping

a property, or buying and selling

properties within a short space of

time. This can be very rewarding,

but it comes with a high level of

risk, especially in the office prop-

erty market.

This is according to Org Gelden-

huys, MD of property development

and management company, Abacus

Divisions. Lots of people buyproper-

ty in the hope that it will increase,

enabling them to flip the property by

selling it in the short term, and, in

so doing, make a healthy profit. But

this is speculation, which can obvi-

ously be risky.

Buying and then quickly selling a

property at a higher price is only via-

ble if you are astute enough to buy

the property at a price that is below

the market value, or if the market is

buoyant and prices are in an upward

spiral.

Timing is often the key issue and

this can determine whether there is

sufficient demand for the property

from buyers.

It is also easier to follow this meth-

odology in the residential property

than in the commercial property sec-

tor. One of the reasons for this is the

cost of entry.

In the residential market a buyer

could get awaywith spending as little

as R1 million. But the ticket prices

and the point of entry are far higher

in the commercial sector.

If youwant to speculate in the com-

mercial property market you would

arguably be looking at several mil-

lion rands, and not just one or two.

The buyer would then have to come

up with a 30% deposit and find a ten-

ant, or tenants, who receive the

banks approval. If the bank thinks

that the tenant is not in a solid finan-

cial position themselves, the bond

could be declined. This makes specu-

lation a lot tougher in the commercial

property space, says Geldenhuys.

But investors can also adopt a spec-

ulative approach if they build for

their own purposes to occupy the

building as an owner/occupier. By

doing this, the investor also leaves

the door open for selling at a later

stage, either in the short term, or in

the medium to long term.

A persons asset base can be im-

proved if they buy, or buy and build,

in the right place like a secure office

park. It is likely that the value of the

property would increase more in a

sought-after office park, meaning the

buyer could make a profit, whether

he is an owner/occupier or someone

who builds to rent.

In either scenario the property

could possibly be sold after a short pe-

riod of time in other words, flipped

, potentially realising a handsome

profit for the owner.

Geldenhuys concludes: Naturally,

if the investor has a pile of cash in

his pocket, speculation is a lot easier.

However, it is still possible to burn

cash reserves if the wrong decisions

are taken, if building maintenance is

ignored, a tenant is lost, or if themar-

ket simply turns.

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Sitari Country Estate

salesnowopen

Sitari Country Estate, set to become

a trail-blazing R4 billion new suburb

in theHelderbergbasin,wasofficially

launched at an event held at Waterk-

loof Estate on 31 July.

Master of Ceremonies, popular radio

personality Ryan OConnor of Kfm 94.5,

told an array of invited guests from the

financial, architectural and property-re-

lated industrywhatwasonofferandwhat

will be included in this unprecedented

lifestyle offering.

Uvest Property Group are the property

developers of Sitari Country Estate, and

the launch sees the first phase of sales

opening. First phase sales officially

started on 1 August, and since then we

have been selling at an average rate of

two to three properties per day. Our on-

site sales centre officially opened on 16

August, where clientswill be able to view

our large-scale estate model and engage

with our sales professionals, said John

Coet-zee, one of the executive directors

of Uvest.

There are three types of products on of-

fer at Sitari Country Estate, the country

plots, village homes and luxury apart-

ments.

The country plots are the quintessen-

tial option for larger families, and offer

the freedom to choose your own architect

and builder from an accredited panel.

They are competitively priced from

R530 000 to R987 000.

The Grand Olive luxury apartment

complex will consist of 69 units, which

range from large studios of 53 m to two

bedroom, two bathroom apartments of

83 m and three bedroom, two bathroom

unitsof122 m.Allapartments feature top

of the range fittings and finishes selected

by Uvests interior design firm. These in-

clude porcelain-tiled kitchen, dining and

lounge areas and carpeted bedrooms; ov-

en, hob and extractors by German appli-

ance specialist Miele; grand bathrooms

with walk-in showers, wall-hung toilets

with Geberit systems; and taps byGrohe.

Details released at the launch include

the fact that it will include an inspiring

main gatehouse and office; an unparal-

leled24/7 security solution; countryclub-

house with restaurant, kids play zone,

pool and day spa, revolutionary Crossfit-

TRF gym, a 22 hectare wetland with tim-

ber decks and bird hides, various play

parks as well as a central park spinewith

windmill, gardens and water features, a

14 km cycle and running route, a Curro

Castle (crche) and Curro School (junior

and high) catering for over 2 000 children

from threemonths to high school; as well

as a shopping centre, retirement village

and medical centre.

Power Construction has already com-

mencedwith civilworks and the first reg-

istrations are expected in mid-2015.

The development construction is set to

roll out over the next seven years, and

once complete therewill be a total of 3 150

residential units with the coveted ad-

dress of Sitari Country Estate.

John Coetzee (left), one of the executive directors of Uvest, developers of Sitari Coun-

try Estate, chats with guests next to a large-scale model of this new suburb, at the re-

cent launch event at Waterkloof Estate.

Biggest and Best Property guide in the Boland

SOLD is die mees koste-effektiewe, ho-impak

keuse vir die bemarking van eiendom in die Boland

Paarl Post 021 870 4600District Mail 021 841 4266 Eikestadnuus 021 887 2840

11

Districtmail

21 Augustus, 2014

BOLAND

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HELDERBERG

021 841 4285 021 887 2840 021 870 4600

SOLD is die mees koste-effektiewe,

ho-impak keuse vir die bemarking

van eiendom in die Boland

Biggest and Best Property guide in the Boland

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PAARL/WELLINGTON

Live fornow,butplan for tomorrow

While taking the step from

renting to buying is very ex-

citing, it is a major financial

commitment that should not

be entered into without the

proper consideration, says

Adrian Goslett, CEO of RE/

MAX of Southern Africa. He

notes that there are a

number of essential aspects

that should be carefully

measured beforehand to en-

surethatthebuyerismaking

the right decision and is pur-

chasing a property that

meets their needs both now

and in the future.

Buying a home is not a deci-

sion that will only affect the

buyers financial well-being

now - it will have ramifications

in the future as well. That is

why it is so important for abuy-

er to make an informed deci-

sion based on their life plans

and what their criteria are at

the moment and how their

plans and needs could change

over the next five to ten years,

saysGoslett. Making a rushed

decision and purchasing a

home that will not fit into your

future plans could end up cost-

inga lotmoremoney in the long

run.Property shouldbeviewed

as a long-term investment and,

as such, decisions regarding

property should be made with

futuregoalsandplansinsight.

He notes that before a buyer

goes out looking for a property,

they need to sit down and de-

cide what features they cur-

rently need in a home andwhat

features they may need in the

future. Some things to consider

would be the number of bed-

roomsandbathrooms, theneed

for a garden or the number or

typeofparking facilities.There

may also be special criteria

such as energy-efficient fea-

tures, a swimming pool and

fireplace or wheel-chair acces-

sibility.

Goslett says that no matter

what type of housing a buyer

chooses, theymust have a clear

ideaof theirneeds todayaswell

as their possible future

needs.

According to Goslett

every buyer will have

their own unique re-

quirements based on

their life stage and what

they have planned for the

future. For example, for

buyers planning to have

children, proximity to

good schools could be a

priority, while older buyers

facing retirement might want

something further away from

the hustle and bustle.

Goslett says that when look-

ing to purchase a home that fits

in with future plans there may

be certain financial restric-

tions due to the buyers level of

affordability, so there could be

aspects that the buyer might

need to compromise on. If the

buyers are a young couplewith

future plans of having a family,

theymaywanta threebedroom

home to have the space they

would need to grow. However,

if theirbudgetonlyallowsthem

to purchase a two bedroom

home, they could try and find

a property with the space to

buildonandadd theextraroom

at a later stage.While the home

may not currently meet all the

requirements immediately, it

is important to findahome that

can growand changewith your

needs, explains Goslett.

He notes that regardless of

the type of home the buyer de-

cides on purchasing, sustaina-

bility is a key issue to home-

ownership. Buyers need to en-

sure that they can afford and

sustain the necessary financial

obligation before making the

commitment. To precisely as-

sess this, a buyer can use the

resources available to them

such as financial advisers,

banks and bond origination

companies. This will give the

buyerestimatedrepayment fig-

ures based on bond require-

ments, says Goslett.

It is important to remember

that it is not just the bond re-

payments that should be taken

into consideration as there are

other costs involved in a prop-

erty transaction and home-

ownership.These costs canadd

up to a relatively large amount

and it is essential to include

these when assessing afforda-

bility.

According to Goslett, anoth-

er essential aspect to consider

is location. A property that has

everything the buyer needs but

is situated in the wrong loca-

tion is probably not going to be

the right property to

buy.

Location is a key in-

fluencer when it comes

to a homes future in-

vestment potential. It is

far better to compro-

mise on the features of

the home than onwhere

it is located, advises

Goslett.

He notes that when

looking at an area, buyers

should consider the general up-

keep along with proximity to

amenitiessuchasschools,med-

ical facilitiesandshoppingcen-

tres.

Goslett concludes by saying

that buyers who purchase a

property in the right location

that meet both their short and

long-term needs will be able to

enjoy the benefits of an accom-

modating home that grows in

value over time.

Buyers need to ensure that they

can afford and sustain the

necessary financial obligation

before making the commitment.

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Demandgrows forhomesatPearlValleyGolf Estate

ThePearlValleyGolf Estate enjoys an en-

viable location and lifestyle, a combina-

tion that is increasingly drawing upper

income buyers according to Seeffs agent

for the estate, Elza Oberholzer.

Located about midway between Fran-

schhoekandPaarl, the212 haaward-winning

estate is framedby the toweringDrakenstein

and Simonsberg mountains and boasts spec-

tacular views, top class security and out-

standing facilities including a JackNicklaus

Signature Golf Course.

The estate comprises about 500 residential

properties with a mix of freehold homes and

66 sectional title apartments. About 200 va-

cant plots are also still on offer. The freehold

properties around thegolf courseareonplots

of 1 000 m to 3 000 m while plot sizes around

the lake area range from450 m to 650 m. The

apartments, knownasResort Lodges are also

in the lake area and have between two and

four bedrooms.

The estates lifestyle offering is enhanced

by facilities that include a stunning club-

house with a golf shop, restaurant and bar,

lounge and conference facilities. Then, there

isalsoa spaandgymnasium, swimmingpool,

tennis courts, cricket nets, boule courts and

equestrian facilities.

The childrens play areas and hiking, run-

ning and cycling trails add to the superb life-

style on offer.

In terms of the performance of the estate,

about 140 sales to the value of just under

R500 million have been recorded here over

the last five years. Activity has also strength-

ened year-on-year. Last year for example,

about 33 properties sold, about 80% more

than the 18 sales of 2009, Oberholzer says.

With an average price of around R5,6 mil-

lion and a highest price achieved of just over

R15 million, the estate ranks amongst the top

golf estates in the country.

Current rental rates are excellent and

range from about R11 900 at the bottom end

to R30 000 per month for a top-end home.

Holiday demand is also strong and the

agent says that fully furnished homes cur-

rently on offer for rent are already fully

booked until the end of March 2015.

Prices for the apartments start at around

R2,5 million for two bedrooms and range to

around R3,3 million for four bedrooms.

Mid-sized houses sell for upwards of

R4,2 million for three bedrooms to just under

R7 million for a luxurious four bedroomed

home with loads of extras.

Top end homes though can range up to

R22,5 million, says Oberholzer.

Vacant plots around the lake area sell for

upwards of R950 000 while the larger plots

around the golf course cost upwards of about

R1,9 million.

The beautiful Lake Homes at Pearl Valley.

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TougherRangerunveiled for

SecondOdysseyChallenge

QUICKPIC

To coincidewith the 2014Ranger

Odyssey off-road challenge, Ford

Motor Company of Southern Af-

rica (FMCSA) has unveiled a

new, limited edition version of

the locally-built Ranger thatwill

be available from mid-August

until the end of September 2014.

The inaugural Ranger Odyssey

challenge in 2013 saw ten finalists

settingupcampanddriving insome

of Africas most gruelling environ-

ments. Contestants embarked onan

action-packed cross-continent ad-

venture,with only the toughest pro-

gressing to the final rounds.

We set out to find the hardiest

contestants to take onAfricasmost

demanding conditions, saysGavin

Golightly, marketing manager at

FMCSA.

We wanted a personality that

was as tough as the Ranger itself.

In September, this years Ranger

Odyssey competitors will get to ex-

perience the most testing terrain

that Namibia has to offer over 12

days,13stages,and2 500kilometres.

One team of two people will each

win the opportunity to drive an Od-

yssey Ranger vehicle for a year,

along with a R5 000/month fuel al-

lowance.

To offer Ranger fans the opportu-

nityofhavingtheirownodysseys,

Ford has built the limited-edition

Odyssey Ranger. This double-cab,

off-road-readyversionofFordspop-

ular bakkie will be fitted, as stand-

ard, with an accessory pack that in-

cludesasnorkel, allowingdrivers to

cross deeper bodies of water without

endangering the engine, as well as a

steel bullbar to protect the front end of

the vehicle, and a diff guard to protect

its running gear.

This year the general publicwill get

a chance to drive their own Odyssey

Ranger, says Golightly.

Weve taken the toughestRanger on

offer the XL-Plus, built to withstand

punishingmining environments and

given it a Bushveld makeover.

Other extras fitted to the Odyssey

Ranger also include a rubberised load

box to deal with the most gruelling de-

mands, and black 17-inch alloy wheels

that complement the vehicles tough

appearance.

The Odyssey Ranger is based on the

mine-hardened XL-Plus model, recent-

ly unveiled by FMCSA at the Go Fur-

ther event in Johannesburg.

In addition to the off-road ac-

cessoriesbuyerswillalsobenefit

from the uprated components

and heavy-duty design imple-

mented in the XL-Plus.

Improvements here include a

corrosion-treated, uprated

frame that allows for a 3 6500 kg

towing capacity; front-drive

shaft jointsdesignedtocopewith

extrememudenvironments; and

stone protection for the rear sus-

pension.

Power is provided by the 2.2-

litreDuratorq enginebuilt at the

Struandale Engine Plant in Port

Elizabeth. It produces 110 kW at

3 700 rpm, and 375 Nm between

1 500 and 2 500rpm. Mated to a

six-speed manual transmission,

a locking rear differential, as well

as a transfer case offering high- and

low-range four-wheel drive, this

limited edition Ranger will be able

toconquerthetoughroadsthatcom-

petitors will encounter in the Odys-

sey competition.

Pricing for the double-cab model,

including the Odyssey accessory

pack, isrecommendedatR415750in-

cluding VAT.

All Ranger derivatives comewith

acomprehensive4-year/120000 km

warranty and a 5-year / 90 000 kms

service plan with service intervals

of 15 000 km.

Customers will also benefit from

3-years of roadside assistance and a

5-year corrosionwarrantyaspart of

the Ford Ranger package.

Improvements here include a corrosion-treated, uprated frame that allows for a 3 500 kg towing capacity; front-

drive shaft joints designed to cope with extreme mud environments; and stone protection for the rear suspension.

PHOTO: QUICKPIC

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Kia reveals first official photosof Sorento

QUICKPIC

First photos of the all-new Kia

Sorentoreleased todayshowthat

the third generation of the popu-

larSUVfeaturesanewlook,with

bold, swept-back styling and so-

phisticated surface detailing.

Longer, lower and wider, with an

extendedwheelbase, thenewSoren-

to builds on the success of the outgo-

ing model, delivering a premium

look and feel, with more space and

numerous innovative features.

With the brands hallmarkdesign

features and amoremature appear-

ance, thenewmodel is instantly rec-

ognisable as a Sorento. The new

look is an evolution of the current

vehicle, incorporating fresh visual

elements inspired by the Kia Cross

GT concept that debuted at the 2013

Chicago Auto Show, carrying over

the long bonnet and the distinctive

treatment of thewideD-pillars from

the previous generation.

The exterior styling of the new

Sorento was led by Kias Namyang

design studio inKorea,with signifi-

cant levels of input from thebrands

Frankfurt, Germany and Irvine,

California design studios.

The front of the new Sorento fea-

tures a larger, more upright tiger-

nosegrille,witha three-dimension-

aldiamondpattern,andlong,swept-

back headlamps. The lower

roofline,higherbeltlineand muscu-

lar, rounded shoulders at the rear

give the car a dramatic appearance.

The sleeker look is enhanced by

an increase in length (+95 mm to

4 780 mm)* and a 15 mm reduction

in height (down to 1 685 mm), while

the 80 mm longer wheelbase (now

2 780 mm) ensures more passenger

space in all three seat rows.

Soon-Nam Lee, vice-president of

overseas marketing, Kia Motors

Corp, said, Whilewehave retained

the name based on the tremendous

success of the outgoing model, the

all-new Sorento has been complete-

ly redesigned and re-engineered,

and promises to surprise customers

with its thoroughlyupdatedstyling,

a host of new convenience and safe-

ty technologies, aswell as enhanced

space, driving comfort and han-

dling response. The all-new Kia

Sorentowillmake itsEuropeanpre-

miereonThursday,2October,at the

2014 Paris Motor Show.

The exterior styling of the new

Sorento was led by Kias Namyang

design studio in Korea, with signifi-

cant levels of input from the

brands Frankfurt, Germany and Ir-

vine, California design studios.

PHOTO: QUICKPIC

23

Donderdag

21 Augustus, 2014

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BMW420iCoupe: theprettier twin

HANJO STIER

BMW recently announced two

newranges, the2-Seriesand4-Se-

ries.These followinthe footsteps

of other even-numbered models

to designate coup and cabriolet

vehicles. With the bizarre excep-

tion of gran coups, this makes a

lot of sense and we keenly wel-

comed a 420i to our test fleet.

The 4-Series is essentially a two-

door 3-Series, much like any new 2-

Series is basedon the 1-Series. Shar-

ing everything fromplatforms to in-

terior components, youwouldnt be

wrong to view a 420i as the 320is

prettier twin. Something for child-

lesspurveyorsof finedesignandele-

gant touring.

Its not exactly good value when

BMW charges you about R67 500 to

remove the two rear doors but the

resulting shape is just so graceful.

Slightly longer, a bit lower with a

beautiful window-line and big

doors,youretradingspace(the445F

boot is 35F smaller than in a 3-Se-

ries) for elegance.

Most comparable dimensions of a

420i interior are also down on its

four-door siblings but front passen-

gers can remedy that by moving

their seats towards the unoccupied

rear.Shouldyouwishtousetherear

bench, be advised that space is

slightly limited for two adults; even

more so if theyre tall or bring a

friend.

The cabin layout is also similar to

the donor sedan yet it shows the

same amount of extra streamlining

and style as the 420is exterior.

Someone noted that the centre air

vents looked like nasty plastic but

I couldnt agree all modern BMWs

have qualitative materials and

what seems like a durable level of

craftsmanship.

Should stylish design not be

enough to extract your extra invest-

ment, BMW sweetens the 4-Series

with additional luxury and conven-

ience featuresoverandabovestand-

ard items such as auto (Xenon)

lights and wipers, power windows

andmirrors, remotecentral locking

anddriveraids likeABSandstabili-

ty control.

Other goodies such as 18-inch al-

loys, chrome trim, ambient lighting

and fancy door sills can be found in

the various options packages, our

test car being a Luxury Line. Fin-

ished in metallic dark blue, every-

one took great delight at how well

it contrasted thecaramelbrownand

black leather trim of the cabin.

BMW SA offers many more op-

tions and fitted almost all of them

to this vehicle. The ones I was quite

fond of and highly recommend are

keyless access (R7 200), head-up dis-

play (R14 500), Harman/Kardon

sound system (R9 800) and the big

daddy hard-drive navigation sys-

tem (R22 200).

Anotherrecommendationisthe8-

speedSteptronicautomaticgearbox

with Driving Experience Control.

This system lets youadjust the cars

performance, steering, and damp-

ing response to Eco Pro, Comfort

and Sport. The difference it makes

to the cars character is quite pro-

found and each setting has its own

merits. Eco Pro encourages frugal

drivingwhileComfort is best suited

to this stylish cruiser; despite the

frontendbottomingoutquitequick-

ly. Select Sport mode and the 420i

becomeswide-eyed and busy-tailed,

thediluted tractioncontrol teaming

up with harder steering and damp-

ing toprovideadditionaldrivingen-

joyment. The steering wheels cen-

tralhubobscuressomeof theinstru-

ments and a set of shift paddles

wouldve been nice, yet that BMW

gear lever provides tip shifting and

even works in the correct manner:

forwards for down, backwards for

up. For the occasional spurt of

naughtiness in a classy cruiser, it

works just fine.

Providing just enough fire power

for such wickedness is the 2-litre

four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine

delivering maximum figures of

135 kWor 270 Nmto reach 100 km/h

in 7,3 seconds (we achieved 7,8) or

236 km/h. Claimed average con-

sumption from the 60F tank is

6F/100 km and CO2 emissions just

144 g/km.

In town, our 420i helped itself to

9F/100 km, while careful highway

cruising yielded about 7. All testers

found that these figures are highly

variable depending on your driving

style and the selected mode. Anoth-

er thing we all agreed on is that the

420i is somethingBMWandthe3-Se-

ries can be proud of.

This car is a stylish, entry-level

petrol coup with seatbelt butlers

and the good kind of multiple per-

sonality disorder.

PricesstartatR479 000 forastand-

ard manual 420i, this Luxury Line

Steptronic costing R514 400 without

options. BMW includes a 5-year/

100 000 km motor-plan as well.

Galimoto Media

The cabin layout is also similar to the donor sedan yet it shows the same amount of extra streamlining and style

as the 420is exterior. PHOTO: QUICKPIC

24

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Cleaning tips

foryour car

CLEANING AFRICA

Sothereyouare,Saturdayafternoon

and the mother-in-law calls to ask

you to drive her to her bridge club.

Youre just back from themuddy car

bushandyourcarswearingsixinch-

es of custom mud.

And worst of all, Cleaning Africas

closed!

Dont panic.Here are someuseful car-

cleaning tips weve discovered for these

unexpected emergencies but please,

use with caution, and at your own risk.

To clean upholstery use mild, soapy

water (eg Sunlight dishwashing liquid)

and a soft brush. Vacuumup any excess

water with a Wet-Vac.

For hard-to-reach corners use ear-

buds and toothpicks.

For shiny-clean dashboard and vinyl

wipe over with furniture polish on a

soft cloth.

For little paintwork scratches rub

over with a wax crayon in the same col-

our as your paintwork and buff off any

residue with a soft cloth. Works well

with key scratches too.

Greasy, grimy windscreen? Pour a

bottle of soda water over it and use a

squeegee to wipe off excess.

Forbluntwiperblades sharpenboth

sides with an emery board.

Out of car wax? Furniture polish

should shine it up just as well.

For dirty hubcaps scrub with soda

bicarbandawetbrushthenhoseoffwith

water.

And lastly, use these tips to make the

interior of your car smell fresh and

clean. Refresh any existing air freshen-

ers with a few drops of your favourite

essential oil. Spray the interior with a

quick burst of air freshener.

Put a sheet or two of tumble dryer sof-

tener sheets under the seats.

Cover any bad spills/odours with

ground-up coffee beans and leave for a

few days before vacuuming up. Smells

should be gone, or at least smell awhole

lotbetter.Sprinklingthecarpetswithbi-

carbonate of soda and vacuuming up a

few days later also works a treat.

http://www.cleaningafrica.co.za/

2011/07/27/sos-car-cleaning-tips/