CHEVROLET GOES SPINNING

The 2013 Chevrolet Spin, an all-new, small multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) designed for families on the go and their gear, will join Chevrolet’s growing global portfolio when it launches in Brazil later this month. The Spin will go on sale in Indonesia in 2013 and additional markets will be announced at a later date.

The announcement of the all-new model was made by GM Chief Executive Officer Dan Akerson at the company’s Annual Meeting in Detroit.

“Spin is a great-looking, efficient and functional small MPV, and the only vehicle in its class to offer a six-speed automatic transmission,” said Akerson. “Spin will be affordable to purchase and – just as important – affordable to own.”

The Chevrolet Spin will offer seating for five or seven passengers. It delivers flexibility, car-like handling, cargo-carrying capability and great fuel economy with the look of an SUV, thanks to its muscular exterior and wide stance. Inside, the Spin cabin illustrates Chevrolet’s commitment to provide more-than-expected value with details and levels of execution usually associated with more expensive vehicles.

After a record sales year in 2011 and a record first quarter, Chevrolet continues to meet diverse customer needs around the world by expanding its portfolio with strong new entries.

The Chevrolet Spin is an important addition to the Chevrolet portfolio globally, and follows the successful launches of other vehicles around the world such as the Malibu midsize sedan, Colorado, TrailBlazer midsize SUV, Cobalt sedan and Cruze wagon.

In 2011, when Chevrolet sold a record 4.76 million vehicles around the world, the top 10 markets were the United States, Brazil, China, Russia, Mexico, Canada, Argentina, Uzbekistan, India and Colombia.

STORY BY GENERAL MOTORS

OFF-ROAD LEGEND GROBLER TO RETIRE

Multiple SA off road and rally champion Hannes Grobler plans to finish his remarkable 36-year motor sport career at the end of the 2012 motor racing season.  He will make his final appearance in racing overalls, boots and gloves on November 24 at the season-ending eighth round of the Absa Off Road Championship.
 

“It’s time to hang up the driving gloves,” says the immensely popular racing driver, who is probably the world’s longest serving competitor in motor sport who is still a genuine contender for overall victory in a national motor racing championship.
 
“I still enjoy my racing,” he says with his ever present smile “but there comes a time when you need to spend more time with your family.  I’ve been blessed with a long and enjoyable career, with more than my fair share of success. These last few years I have concentrated on helping RFS Motorsport to develop the BMW X3 into a competitive off-roader that can win any national championship event and also to help Christiaan and Henk gain the confidence to take over and win races for the team in the years ahead".
 
During his long and distinguished career Grobler has won two SA amateur rally drivers championships (1979 and 1980), two national rally drivers championships (in 1986 and 1991), two rally production car drivers championships (1998 and 1999), and four national off road drivers championships (1986, 2003, 2004 and 2006).  He was awarded his Springbok colours for motor sport in 1987 and his National Colours in 1999. 
 
“Mooi man!” as Hannes is fond of saying.
 
Unlike some other respected sports personalities, the irrepressible 57-year-old father of two daughters, Adelle and Nicolette, whose mother, Elmarie, he has been married to for 35 years, is not ending his career as an also-ran.  He is still very much a contender for overall honours in the 4.8-litre V8 Retirement Fund Solutions Racing BMW X3 and respected as such by his peers.  His most recent win with co-driver and long-time friend Hennie ter Stege, also a former champion, was in the final round of the 2011 championship in his sponsor’s own event, the RFS Magalies 400 in Gauteng.
 
Grobler is one of South Africa’s most loved and recognised sportsmen and his good natured and fun loving personality has enriched the sport he has dedicated himself to with distinction and created for him an army of devoted fans.  Always professional in his approach to competition, but never forgetting that it is a sport and to be enjoyed, he is a tough competitor who doesn’t know the meaning of giving up. 
 
His propensity to throw whatever racing car he is driving sideways whenever he passes through a spectator point illustrates his innate desire to be a showman, but belies his dedication and skill that has earned him more off road racing wins and fans in the last 12 years than any other driver.
 
There are five more rounds of the Absa Off Road Championship before Grobler hangs up his gloves and it would be a foolish punter who bets against him standing on the top step of the podium one more time and spraying champagne with his ever-present smile.
 
His next outing in the mighty X5-engined BMW X3 is on June 22, 23 and 24 in the famed Toyota Kalahari Botswana 1000 Desert Race, a marathon he has won a record six times, most recently in 2010.

STORY COURTESY OF Peter Burroughes Communications

FERRARI 599XX EVO GOES ON AUCTION FOR QUAKE VICTIMS

The on-line international charity auction organised by Ferrari will started has in order to raise funds for the families of the victims of the recent earthquakes in the Emilia Romagna region of Italy.
 

Clients, collectors and Ferrari enthusiasts alike will be able to make their contribution on the www.ferrari.com web site which opens with a message from the company’s Chairman, Luca di Montezemolo. “I am sure,” he said, “we can count on the generosity of those close to Ferrari around the world who have always kindly supported this kind of initiative in the past. A terrible earthquake struck our region and the people we know, and together we want to help the families of the victims in this time of need. We are holding an auction of some truly unique and exclusive items for all Ferrari’s friends and enthusiasts to whom I would already like to express my heart-felt thanks.”

The principal offer of the auction, which can be accessed via www.ferrari.com or directly on www.ferraristore.com, is a 599XX Evo, the extreme, non-homologated sports berlinetta with a reserve of €1.35 million (about R14 million). The car will be built specifically for this occasion and will have a number of unique features, including a special plaque dedicated by Ferrari’s Chairman, Luca di Montezemolo, and the Scuderia Ferrari drivers, Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, who will hand the car over to the lucky new owner at the Monza Grand Prix weekend in September.

There are a number of rare pieces from the world of Formula 1, starting with a 2008 V8 engine, with which the Scuderia won its 16th Constructors’ World Championship title, with a reserve of €50 000 (about R526 000). Collectors and enthusiasts can also bid on racing suits, gloves and helmets autographed by Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, an original nose cone from the F60, the F1 car that saw Ferrari celebrate its 60th consecutive year in the World Championship, and a Formula 1 racing suit from Giancarlo Fisichella.

To contribute to the fund-raising efforts it will also be possible to purchase from www.ferraristore.com Scuderia watches, the proceeds of which will go towards the auction funds. The auction will end on the 20th of June. 

STORY BY FERRARI

NEW 2012 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER BEGINS PRODUCTION

The first production units of the all-new Chevrolet Trailblazer are now rolling off General Motors Thailand’s (GM) production line in Rayong.

The range-topping LTZ model fitted with the 2.8-litre Duramax turbo-diesel engine was greeted by the facility’s 5 200 employees, key suppliers and Chevrolet dealers from across the country. The Rayong plant is the first in the world to build the new Trailblazer, which will be sold in Thailand and exported to more than 50 markets across Southeast Asia and beyond, including South Africa.

Based on General Motors’ new global body-on-frame midsize truck architecture, the seven-seat Trailblazer features premium ride comfort and handling dynamics for urban and highway driving, matched by superior off-road capabilities.

“The Trailblazer is strong and capable. Ready for rugged off-road conditions but equally well-mannered for city and long distance road trips,” said Martin Apfel, President of GM Thailand/Southeast Asia. “It’s yet another world-class Chevrolet product that demonstrates the capability, commitment and attention to detail of our dedicated Thai workforce.”

“The Trailblazer will be built in Thailand for Thailand, and soon also make its way into the rest of the world. And delivery of the Trailblazer to our customers in Thailand starts right now,” Apfel continued.

According to Apfel, parts suppliers are ready to support GM, and the expected demand for the Trailblazer. As much as 70 percent of the Trailblazer’s parts will be sourced locally from Thai suppliers.

“Production is now getting into full-swing. Since May this year, we have added a third shift to our assembly and powertrain plants,” he continued.

“We will also continue to look for more skilled workers to join us, as we respond to the increased demand for our products, locally and overseas.” Apfel added.

STORY BY GENERAL MOTORS

TOYOTA CLOSES RALLY GAP

Johnny Gemmell and Carolyn Swan (Castrol Team Toyota Auris) closed the gap to championship leaders Mark Cronje and Robin Houghton (Ford Fiesta) after finishing sixth in the Toyota Gauteng Dealer Rally, which finished at Zwartkops Raceway west of Pretoria on Sunday.

Despite losing some four minutes on Saturday’s opening stage after stopping to replace a flat wheel, Gemmell was able to reduce Cronje’s championship lead to just three points after the Ford failed to finish day one and eventually came 11th overall after restarting on Sunday under the Super Rally rules.  Cronje hit a donga 1.5 kilometres into the opening stage, destroying the Ford’s rear suspension. 

Leeroy Poulter and Elvene Coetzee retired the second Castrol Team Toyota Auris at the end of the second stage on Sunday with engine problems. They were in eighth place at the time, one place behind their team-mates, after also stopping to replace a flat wheel on Saturday’s opening stage.

Privateers Jean-Pierre Damseaux and Grant Martin flew the Toyota flag high when they finished in third place in their Team Total Toyota Auris, 4.9 seconds behind second-placed Hein Lategan and Johan van der Merwe (Peugeot 203) and 11.8 seconds behind the winning Ford Fiesta of Jon Williams and Cobus Vrey.

“Without the puncture Johnny would have almost certainly won,” said Castrol Team Toyota boss Glyn Hall.  “The wheel change took too long due to soft ground and difficulty keeping the jack upright.  With a normal, two-minute tyre change there was still a possibility to win.  The Auris was quick and Johnny pushed hard with the championship in mind.  Leeroy was also on the pace until his engine problem.”

The next round of the championship is the Volkswagen Rally in the Eastern Cape on July 13 and 14.  

STORY BY TOYOTA